EMPIRE STATE BUILDING AT SUNSET
An experience we’ll all remember forever, – our visit to the self-titled “world’s most famous building” on our amazing New York family Citybreak in February 2024, is something we would really highly recommend you do on your family trip to New York.
A few days before we flew to New York, in early February 2024 we booked tickets on the Empire State Building website.
There are 2 options to book- 86th Floor or 86th and 102nd. The 86th floor viewing area is outdoors all around the building, with the diamond-shaped fencing you often see in the photos. In wintery weather like the day we visited you can’t stay outside long but there is a warm indoor area where you can take refuge.
For an additional cost and using an additional elevator you can access the 102nd floor. The 102nd floor access is indoors only and has floor to ceiling glass. The views as the sun sets and darkness descends and lights started to come on, were incredible.
Planning your visit
On the date we visited, 14th February 2024 (how romantic!) sunset tickets started at 4pm, we booked for 4.15pm. Since February is low season we were blessed with no queues. Obviously sunset is at different times at different times of year, the sunset times are denoted with a sunset symbol on the booking page.
As you enter the Empire State Building, past the security scanners, there are interactive exhibits that share the history of the building, the famous events and visitors and the build. We had visited over 25 years ago and couldn’t believe the improvements in the exhibits. Forty minutes after entering and one toilet break later after we boarded the first lift to the 82nd floor.
(Look up as you go, there’s video footage on the ceiling) After a look around the stunning city skyline from every angle and taking hundreds of photos (and another toilet break) we boarded the elevator to the top.
model in the lobby
Visiting the 102nd floor is more expensive, but visiting the Empire State Building as a family is a once in a lifetime experience so we decided to go to the top! It’s standing room only on the top floor so we went upstairs to get get a good spot
Timeline:
Sunset tickets booked for 4.15pm
Arrrive ESB 3.55pm, allowed entry straight away
4.40pm on 86th floor viewing platform
5.05pm got elevator to 102nd floor
5.30
The Sunset slot costs more (and indicated by a symbol when booking) but it is worth every cent, as you see daylight, twilight and darkness over the course of 2 hours.
Tickets online at our time of booking in February 2024 were $100.16 for those aged 13+ and $93.63 for those 12 and under. After tax and a “sunset service fee” it was $499.71 for 4 adults (ie 2 adults, a 15 year old, 13 year old) and 1 child, a truly priceless memory.
Highly recommended, our children all rate it the top experience of our New York trip. 
It is cold and windy on the outdoor platform in February so make sure to dress appropriately
Nearby
If you arrive early pop in to nearby Macy’s Department Store, a New York icon
If you’re peckish before your visit there’s a Dunkin’ hatch on Herald Square, a coffee and some sugary goodness should keep you ready to stand for your sunset Empire State experience.
