Is The Empire State Building Worth It? (Honest Review & Guide)

Which New York City Passes Include the Empire State Building? (2026)

We priced these in June 2026 directly from each pass provider's website. The Empire State Building (86th-floor Main Deck) is covered by the following passes — the 102nd floor is an add-on not included in any pass.

Current as of June 2026. Prices are adult rates, before applicable taxes and booking fees. Child prices typically apply ages 6–12.

For the full breakdown of each pass and the complete attraction lists, see our New York City Pass comparison and Go City New York vs CityPASS guide.

The Worth-It Math: Does a Pass Actually Save You Money?

We built three scenarios using verified 2026 à-la-carte prices. All prices are adult, sourced directly from each attraction's website in June 2026.

Scenario 1: New York CityPASS ($164) — Classic 5-Attraction Bundle

CityPASS includes: Empire State Building + Top of the Rock + American Museum of Natural History + 9/11 Memorial Museum + either Statue of Liberty or Edge.

Verdict: CityPASS pays off if you visit all 5 attractions within 9 days. The skip-the-line benefit alone is worth $8–15 in time at peak season. If you only plan 3 of the 5, the C3 at $109 is sharper value.

Scenario 2: Go City Explorer Pass — 2-Attraction Pick

Explorer 2-attraction pass starts at $89. If you pick Empire State Building ($44) + Top of the Rock ($40), à-la-carte total is $84. The pass costs $89 — you lose $5 on 2 attractions. The pass only pays off at 3+ attractions ($44 + $40 + $33 = $117 à-la-carte vs. ~$109 for the 3-attraction Explorer).

Verdict: Don't buy the Go City Explorer for just the ESB. Buy it if you are combining 3+ attractions across 60 days — ideal for the selective traveler or a second visit.

Scenario 3: Go City All-Inclusive 1-Day Pass ($154)

To break even on a 1-day All-Inclusive at $154, you need to visit attractions worth $154 in one day. That is roughly 3–4 mid-tier attractions. The ESB alone at $44 is not enough. This pass only makes financial sense if you are doing a power day of 4+ attractions — see our New York in 3 days with a City Pass itinerary for a realistic schedule that hits break-even.

86th Floor vs. 102nd Floor: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

The 86th floor (Main Deck) is the one covered by all city passes — open-air, 360-degree views, the one in every movie poster. The 102nd floor is a glass-enclosed observatory at 1,250 feet and costs $30 extra above the Main Deck ticket price. No pass covers the 102nd floor add-on.

Our take: Skip the 102nd floor upgrade for most visitors. The 86th floor delivers the authentic, breezy ESB experience — and the 102nd floor is noticeably smaller, feeling cramped above 20 people. The floor-to-ceiling glass is impressive, but the view difference is marginal. Save the $30 for a meal. The one exception: if cold or rain is a factor and you want a sheltered alternative to the wind on the 86th floor, the 102nd makes the visit more comfortable.

Photography tip for the 86th floor: press your phone lens directly through the gaps in the protective fencing for a clear, fence-free shot. Works far better than shooting through or over the barrier.

Inside the Empire State Building: What You Actually Get

The experience starts before the elevator. The second floor holds a multi-room museum tracing the building's construction in the early 1930s — genuinely interesting, not filler. The King Kong exhibit on the same floor is a crowd favorite: giant ape hands appear to crush the walls around you.

The 80th floor has an interactive landmark-identification station — digital arrows point toward the Chrysler Building, Central Park, Statue of Liberty — useful for orientation before you hit the open deck. The Art Deco gold-leaf lobby at street level is worth five minutes on the way out. Learning what is included in the New York Pass helps you plan the full day around these stops efficiently.

Operating hours: 9 am to midnight daily; last entry at 11:15 pm. Peak wait times hit 45–60 minutes between 11 am and 3 pm. City pass holders access a dedicated security lane that typically cuts wait time by 20–30 minutes at peak.

Best Time to Visit: Crowds and Timing

Peak months: June, July, August, and December. Shoulder seasons (April–May, September–October) have mild weather and 30–40% shorter lines. If you are visiting peak season, go at opening (9 am) or after 9 pm — late-night visits deliver the city lights with none of the queue.

Sunset slots sell out weeks in advance and are worth booking early — but arrive 90 minutes before your entry window to clear security without stress. If you are on a city pass, you still need to book a timed entry slot at esbnyc.com; walk-ups during peak season can wait 60–90 minutes even with a pass.

For a full pass-optimized itinerary, see New York in 3 days with a City Pass — it sequences the ESB with Top of the Rock and the 9/11 Museum to avoid backtracking across Midtown.

Empire State Building vs. Top of the Rock, Edge, and Summit

Each deck does something different. Here is the honest breakdown for 2026:

• Empire State Building (86th floor, $44): Best open-air experience; iconic cinematic history; covered by CityPASS and Go City. Wind and fencing are real trade-offs.
• Top of the Rock ($40): Best view of the ESB spire — this is where photographers go. Also covered by CityPASS. Glass barriers mean no wind, but no open-air feel either.
• Edge at Hudson Yards ($42): The outermost deck in the western hemisphere — glass floor + triangular outward lean = maximum vertigo. Covered by CityPASS (as the alternative to Statue of Liberty).
• Summit One Vanderbilt ($49): Immersive digital art, mirrors, and a glass gondola. Not in CityPASS or Go City — full $49 out of pocket. Worth it for the aesthetic; not a traditional observation deck.

Our recommendation: if you are buying CityPASS, do ESB + Top of the Rock as a pair — one to stand on, one to photograph. See the full Top of the Rock vs Edge vs Summit comparison for side-by-side details. For families, see our New York City Pass for families guide for child pricing on every pass.