Empire State Building Opening Hours

On most of the days, Empire State Building opens at 10 am and closes at midnight.

The historic observatory in the heart of New York is open throughout the year.

The Empire State Building opening hours keep changing depending on the season.

Dates	Hours
1 Jan to 19 Jun	10 am to 11 pm
20 Jun to 30 Oct	10 am to 12 am
31 Oct to 23 Nov	10 am to 10 pm
24 Nov to 27 Nov	10 am to 12 am
28 Nov to 23 Dec	10 am to 10 pm
24 Dec to 30 Dec	10 am to 1 am
31 Dec	10 am to 11 pm

The last elevator to take you up to the observation decks will leave 45 minutes before the day’s closing.

For example, if the closing time is 12 am, the last elevator to take you to the top will leave at 11.15.

Best time to Visit Empire State Building

The best time to visit the Empire State Building is as soon as it opens at 10 am, or between 3 to 5 pm before the crowd gathers to see the sunset views. 

The best time of the day to visit Empire State Building for family groups is around 9 or 10 pm, while couples can find a more private atmosphere around 11 pm.

You can also visit for an amazing night view near midnight. Night-time visits guarantee a unique experience of gazing at the busy city lights.

Mondays and Tuesdays are usually the quiet and the Empire State Building would be an excellent choice to visit on these days.

Office hours are also relatively less crowded.

Weekends and holidays like Christmas should be avoided at all costs. Christmas day is extremely crowded.

Since the 86th floor observatory is open-air, it gets chilly during late winters, attracting a smaller group of people. If the cold isn’t a bother for you, it is a great time to visit.

You may also wonder if Empire State Building is better at night or day?

With the Sunrise Experience ticket, you can forget the opening hours and see the sun rise and shine from the Empire State Building’s observation deck. You will watch the city of New York light up much before the observatory opens for the public.

Featured Image: ESBNYC.com