What time should you visit the Empire State Building?

If I added up all the hours I’ve spent at the top of the Empire State Building, I’d have spent several full days there! In any case, I can answer a question many of you have asked me regularly: what’s the best time to visit the Empire State Building’s observation deck? Unfortunately, there’s no single perfect hour—instead, there are three ideal times:

Morning

• On a clear day, if you head to the Empire State Building’s observation deck before 11 am, you’ll enjoy stunning views of lower Manhattan. The sun will illuminate Greenwich Village, SoHo, Lower Manhattan, Downtown, and One World Trade Center. In the distance across the harbor, you’ll clearly see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to the right, with the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the left.
• Closer by, directly below you, you’ll also have a perfect view of the Flatiron Building. Before noon, though, you’ll be backlit when trying to see the Chrysler Building, Midtown’s skyscrapers, and Central Park.

Afternoon

• Around 2 pm to 3 pm is ideal for panoramic views of the Chrysler Building and Midtown. Because the Empire State Building sits so close to Midtown, it offers the best aerial vantage point of the Chrysler Building—worth the visit on its own.
• Most press photos of Midtown taken from the Empire State Building are shot in the afternoon or early evening, thanks to the sun’s angle. In the distance, you’ll spot touches of green: Central Park. Directly below, you’ll also have a bird’s-eye view of Bryant Park.

Sunset and night

• To make your choice even harder, know that sunset at the top of the Empire State Building can be absolutely spectacular. As the sun dips below the New Jersey horizon, the sky can turn brilliant shades of red that set the towers of the Financial District ablaze.
• The nighttime view is equally essential: you must see New York glittering from above, especially the brilliant, almost surreal glow radiating from Times Square.

So which time should you choose?

• Now that I’ve shown you the three best times, which one to pick? Here’s my tip: check the sunset time for your visit day, then head to the top of the Empire State Building two to three hours before. This way, you’ll enjoy daytime views and the beautiful perspective of the Chrysler Building. You’ll watch the light fade and might witness a memorable sunset, then see New York transform into its nighttime version.
• You’ll also witness something remarkable: because of how tall the buildings are, darkness falls differently in New York. When the streets below are pitch black, light still lingers above the rooftops. And if you worry about spending 2 to 3 hours at the top of the Empire State Building, don’t—there’s so much to see that time flies.

How to visit the Empire State Building

• The Empire State Building is located on Fifth Avenue between 34th Street and 33rd Street. The building is well served by the subway: 33 St station (line 6), 34 St Herald Square (lines N, Q, R), or 34 St-Penn Station (lines 1, 2, 3, A, B, C). The building is open daily from 10 am to midnight.
• You can book your Empire State Building tickets in advance. You also have the option of purchasing an express ticket that lets you skip the elevator lines.
• The Empire State Building is included in several passes: the New York City Pass, the New York C3 pass, the New York Explorer Pass, and the New York Pass.