Since its opening in 1931, New York City’s Empire State Building has dazzled both tourists and locals alike. In fact, the 102-story skyscraper is the most photographed building in the world. For a full visit, (the building is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., 365 days per year) allow at least two hours, suggests Lia Batkin, co-founder of New York-based In the Know Experiences. And consider the weather. On a clear day, you’ll see as far as five states (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts). If it’s cloudy, you won’t see a thing.
Then consider visiting at these times.
At 5 a.m.
Early birds can watch the sunrise from the 86th floor observatory before it opens to the general public at 8 a.m. Limited to 100 people per morning, the Sunrise Experience ($100) provides access to the observatory 30 minutes before sunrise, allowing people to watch the city that never sleeps wake up. Buy tickets in advance online or at the ESB’s ticket office.
Between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Thanks to fewer crowds, this is one of the time frames the Empire State Building itself suggests visiting (though you can always view wait times in real-time on the building’s website). Early morning is also a particularly good time to go if you’re new to New York, says Kitt Garrett, founder and CEO of Discover New York. “It provides an incredible overview and a feel for the city that simply looking down a street can’t provide.”
Book a weekday trip and bypass the (often crowded) ticket office by purchasing a ticket online ($54). Choose the VIP express pass ($60) to skip the lines.
After 9 p.m.
The last elevator up to the observatory leaves at 1:15 a.m—and hitting the ESB between midnight and closing time means you can enjoy both a night out and the world’s most famous building. Garrett says: “It’s the exclamation mark you want at the end of the evening.” Romantics, wander up Thursday to Saturday, 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. (and till 1 a.m. during the summer) to catch a live saxophonist. Says Batkin: “He takes requests.”