What is the difference between 86th and 102nd floor Empire State Building?

The 86th floor is an open-air observation deck that offers 360-degree views of New York City and beyond. It is also the main observation deck that all visitors can access with their tickets. The 102nd floor is an enclosed observation deck that offers floor-to-ceiling glass windows for a more immersive experience.



People Also Ask

It's an unforgettable experience when the doors of the elevator open up on the 86th floor and you can admire the maze of skyscrapers at a vantage point of 1,250 feet. Many of you are wondering if it's worth paying extra to go to the 102nd floor and without taking away too much, I'd say YES.

MORE DETAILS

There is no time limit to your visit. The entire experience usually takes around an hour. If you wish to come back to see the view again at night, you can purchase a night pass and return later that day without purchasing a second ticket.

MORE DETAILS

For the best views from the Empire State Building, you must visit the 102nd floor. From up here, you'll be 1,224 feet high and able to see up to 80 miles into the distance. It's the ultimate panoramic view of New York's bridges, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, and other iconic sights.

MORE DETAILS

Visitors reach the 86th Floor Observatory by elevator in less than one minute. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Weddings event was held in 1994.

MORE DETAILS

It's an unforgettable experience when the doors of the elevator open up on the 86th floor and you can admire the maze of skyscrapers at a vantage point of 1,250 feet. Many of you are wondering if it's worth paying extra to go to the 102nd floor and without taking away too much, I'd say YES.

MORE DETAILS

It's rarely anything other than busy but you can avoid long waits and jockeying for position on the observation decks by visiting early in the morning or late in the evening. For families with young kids, the best time to visit the Empire State Building is in the mornings before around 11AM.

MORE DETAILS

WINNER FOR THE BEST VIEW: Depends on what you want to see/ or have on your picture: The Top of the Rock has more impressive views of Central Park and the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building is higher and has better views of Manhattan and Statue of Liberty, and of other US states on the clearest days!

MORE DETAILS

Whether to see the Empire State Building during the day or at night is largely a matter of personal preference, as both options offer their own unique perspectives and experiences. During the day, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the city, with clear visibility that allows them to see for miles in every direction.

MORE DETAILS

The biggest difference between main deck: 86th floor and top deck: 102nd floor is that main deck is open air observatory and top deck is much smaller room enclosed by glass. As question mentions the view of these floor isn't significantly different, many articles claim the view is largely same, just a little higher.

MORE DETAILS

After that, there's a second elevator up to the outdoor observation deck on the 86th floor. The real question is: how long are the lines at the Empire State Building? And the answer is that it depends. You can expect to wait between 20-45 minutes, although this could reach an hour during public holidays.

MORE DETAILS

The uber famous Empire State Building and One World Observatory make the list of best observation decks in NYC by many first-time visitors to Manhattan. However, the views from the Top of the Rock are incredible.

MORE DETAILS

One World Observatory is much newer but has a history of its own because of its ties to the terror attacks of 9/11. The Empire State Building offers views from further up in Manhattan, so you'll see more things like Central Park and the famous museums than you could from the One World Observatory.

MORE DETAILS

86th Floor Observatory Take advantage of 360° views & see all of NYC including the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty and so much more.

MORE DETAILS