Empire State Building

The closest subway stops are 34th Street on the 1,2, or 3 lines (Penn Station), or the B, D, F, N, Q, R to 34th Street (Avenue of the Americas).

To avoid the ticket-window queue, buy tickets online in advance or a City Pass (see below). The only way to avoid often-enormous queues for the lifts inside is stealthy timing or to pay double for an Express ticket.

The City Pass

The mobile-delivered City Pass gives you entry to 6 top New York attractions at a 40% discount: the Empire State Building’s 86th-floor observatory, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, ferry access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island or the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

The building is open all year round, seven days a week. Dawn (8am) and late afternoon (around 3pm) are best for queues. Avoid mid-morning to mid-afternoon when the queues are largest and the light is flattest.

Grey and wet days are obviously likely to be disappointing. Just after a giant rainstorm is genius – tiny queues and sharp light.