Great view but make sure the weather is good and you arrive early or late (Empire State Building)

Member Name: R8IT

Product:	Empire State Building
Date:	18/05/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: History, view from the top,

Disadvantages: Expensive, gets very busy if you dont get there early (or late)

Visiting New york for the first time you have to visit the Empire state building just to say youve done it but was it worth it?

Well in some ways yes, the building is full of history and the views are great - although this was helped with sunny weather. You have the opotion to get a headphone set which I would say is worth it as it gives you the history of the building whilst you work your way to the observation deck. Then on the observation deck it highlights different buildings andexplains a little history.

Unfortunately its not all good. Yes picking the time to go is important get there at opening time and you will be glad you did. It gets very busy and cues start outside the building then you go through a barrier and cue again for an elevator, then you move into a room and a huge snaked queue before you hit the security checks - you can be waiting for several hours to get to the observation deck if your unlucky.

Thankfully I had heard of the New York city pass which gets you entry into lots of places one of which is the Empire state building and as its an express pass you skip a lot of the queue, but in some ways if doesnt help as when you hit the observation deck you are packed in like sardines, and everyone shuffles about to get to the view points which for safety have iron bars across. Inside on the observation deck level is the gift shop with the usual stuff.

Im glad I didnt have to queue up for the pleasure, and recommend you get there very early or very late (for a night view). Opens at 8am and last lift is 1.15am (closes at 2am)

Its around $18-20 for a normal ticket and about $40 for an express ticket - whilst a lot more expensive if you arive late you will almost certainly be waiting 2+ hrs to get to the top. Alternatively if your seeing the sights get a city pass which is around $120 for a 3 day pass and spend 3 days seeing all the sights. Obviously when I visited it was around $2 to the £1 not so favourable at the moment with the low dollar.

Summary: Something you have to do to say youve done it, but its a popular so gets vey busy very quickly