We Climbed To The Top Of The Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is undoubtedly one of the most iconic buildings in New York  and the third tallest in the city (second only to One World Trade Center and 432 Park Avenue). It is also fifth in the national ranking (in addition to the two mentioned, it is surpassed in height by the Willis Tower and the Trump International Hotel & Tower, both in Chicago). And best of all, we can access it to enjoy beautiful views! In this article we will tell you about the experience.

Fun facts about the Empire State Building

We really like the history of the places we visit, so it is worth knowing some interesting facts about the Empire State Building, which for 40 years held the title of being “the tallest building in the world” :

• It was inaugurated in May 1931 by then President Hoover … who was not personally there but who turned on the lights from Washington.
• The works (which had begun in March 1930) were a record for the time and the total cost was nearly $41 million.

• 3,000 workers worked and 4 and a half floors were erected per week on average. The total weight of the building is around 365,000 tons.

• It has 102 floors and measures 443.2 meters, has a broadcast tower and an antenna and on the 86th floor it offers a terrace (320 meters high). On both floors are the observatories, which receive 2.5 million people a year.
• In 1945 a bomber crashed on the north side of the building, between floors 79 and 80. 14 people were killed and damage totaled $1 million.

• The Empire State Building has 73 elevators, 6 of them forklifts and 8 high-speed elevators (they reach the 80th floor in 45 seconds).
• Every February 14 (Valentine’s Day), 14 couples are chosen to marry at the top of the building.

Facts and tips for climbing the Empire State Building

This symbolic New York building is located at 350 5th Avenue (between 33rd and 34th Street) and to get there we can take the 6 subway line. It opens every day from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., although the last elevator goes up at 1:15 a.m.

You must bear in mind that at any time of the year there are people waiting to enter the building. While the lines are shorter in winter, they exist too. So, arm yourselves with a little patience.

Once the tickets are paid (about $30 per adult) the staff guide the tourists to the first elevator that leads to the second floor. There they give audio guides (available in Spanish) with multimedia content and a touch screen.

During the tour to the other elevators we can see different exhibitions that show the history of the construction and life of the building as well as New York.

It is not possible to go up the stairs and most people only go to the 86th floor observatory as it is cheaper than going up to the 102nd floor.

If you choose the first case … no problem, you will not be disappointed at all. The views that you will enjoy from there are incredible. Try to find a space among the other people to take pictures of the island of Manhattan.

Going at night is beautiful because you can see the city all illuminated (taking into account that New York is one of the ones that spends the most budget on lights) but if we travel in winter it will be necessary to wear warm clothes because the cold up there really feels.

As with other cities, New York also has its CityPass and it is worth acquiring it if you are one of those who wants to go from here to there on your trip. It also allows you to go up to the Empire State Building twice in the same day (ideal to compare the views during the day or at night), pay cheaper access to the 102nd floor and…. Avoid the line at the ticket office! This is perfect for those who don’t have a lot of time available.

A good idea to avoid crowds is to go early in the morning or opt for midday. Although undoubtedly the best time to go up is at sunset … but also the busiest.