Empire State Building & Ellis Island Ticket + 24-Hr Bus
About this tour
This combo ticket packs three of New York's best-known sights into one booking. You get standard admission to the Empire State Building observatory, a ferry out to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, and a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass to move around the city at your own pace. The bus comes with earbuds for the onboard audio commentary, and your ticket also throws in a bike rental deal: pay for one hour and the second is free.
Highlights
- 360-degree views over New York City from one of the world's most famous observation decks
- The Empire State Building's Art Deco design and its lasting spot on the NYC skyline
- Interactive exhibits on the tower's construction, history, and cultural impact
- Observation decks on both the 86th and 102nd floors for wide city panoramas
- The tower's color-changing lights that shift the skyline's look through the year
- A 1931 Art Deco landmark that reigned as the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years
- A Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street location that pairs easily with Times Square and Bryant Park
Places You Will Visit
Included / Excluded
- 24-hour New York City hop-on hop-off bus ticket
- Standard entrance to the Empire State Building
- Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Bike rental deal: rent one hour, get a second hour free
- Earbuds for the onboard audio commentary
Good to Know: Inside the Empire State Building, Getting There, and Hours
Your visit to the Empire State Building is more than just the view from the top. You enter through the restored Art Deco lobby, with its marble walls, geometric detailing, and the well-known ceiling mural of the tower itself. From there, a set of interactive exhibits walks you through how the skyscraper was built and its long run through film and pop culture, using historical photos, models, and multimedia displays, so you get the backstory before you even reach the elevators.
There are two observation decks. The 86th-floor observatory, included with standard admission, sits 1,050 feet (320 meters) up and wraps around in the open air with sweeping sightlines over Manhattan, Central Park, the Hudson River, and the surrounding area. The 102nd-floor observatory is higher still and enclosed behind floor-to-ceiling glass, a quieter space that requires a separate ticket upgrade.
The building stands in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The simplest way in is by subway: take the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, or W train to 34th Street - Herald Square, a short walk from the entrance, and several bus lines stop nearby as well. The Empire State Building is typically open daily, year-round, from 09:00 to 00:00, though hours can change.
Weather in New York
Local time 5:40 AM, UTC-04:00
Available Days / Times
- Monday : All day
- Tuesday : All day
- Wednesday : All day
- Thursday : All day
- Friday : All day
- Saturday : All day
- Sunday : All day
Last updated: Oct 23, 2026
Important Information
- Booking online with timed entry helps you skip the long ticket lines at this very busy attraction
- Standard tickets cover the open-air 86th-floor deck; the higher 102nd-floor observatory needs a ticket upgrade
- The 86th floor is open-air with classic photo spots; the 102nd is smaller with floor-to-ceiling glass and a higher view
- All visitors pass through airport-style security before the elevators
- Sunset is the busiest slot; early morning or late evening are quieter, and an express pass skips the lines
- Some tickets add extras like sunrise visits with breakfast, skip-the-line entry, or combos with other NYC attractions
- No outside food or drink allowed
- Smoking is prohibited throughout the building
- Follow all posted signs and instructions from security staff
- No disruptive behavior is permitted
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