Empire Sate: best time; best vendor etcx
 

When is the best time to visit the Empire State end August. Should we go at sunset or after (or before). Someone suggested between 5 and 8pm as it is less busy does this coincide with sunset? Are crowds heavier on Saturday/Sunday as opposed to other day we can go, Tuesday?

Should we buy direct with the website or try someone like Expedia?

Is it worth the extra money to go right to the very top?

Thanks for any help.

IMHO there is no point in going if you don;t go to the top. Definitely do during the week versus on the weekend to avoid the worst of the crowds.

buy the tickets in advance directly from the ESB web site. And no 5 to 8 pm is prime time and will be mobbed. The least crowded times are late at night - after 11 pm - or first thing in the am (the first hour or so).

I prefer ToTR and think the best time to go - but also VERY crowded - is around sunset (check the exact time on google) so you can see the city both in daylight and at night with all of the lights lit.

Note: for any sight in NYC requiring advance tickets ALWAYS get them directly from the official seller - or you will likely pay more than necessary and often have to wait on an extra line to trade your voucher in for a live ticket.

1. The "best" time to go to the top of the Empire State Building (other than never, which is my recommendation) is late at night ... after midnight, when lines are a bit shorter and you can see the lights of the city. If you want a great sunset view, you can get that for free on the Highline (and it's superior, in my opinion) or the Top of the Rock, which rarely has lines.

2. Never buy NYC attraction tickets from anyone but the venue, as nytraveler says.

3. No, it's not worth the money to go to the very top. It's a stupidly high surcharge and has no better view. Unless you are looking for bragging rights.

Thanks for your responses. Doug, sounds like Empire State isn't your favourite site. What's the Highline?

The Highline is a recently "rehabilitated" elevated former freight railway line in Manhattan. We walked the length of it during our trip to New York last month and thoroughly enjoyed it.
http://www.thehighline.org/

In terms of NYC views it's hard to ignore that the Empire State Building lacks the number one iconic view in NYC -- a view of The Empire State Building.

Thanks again for al your responses.

If you go to either ESB or TOTR, be prepared to see a lot of wooden water tanks on the tops of buildings, at least during the day. Not very appealing.

And without water tanks on the roof how would one get the water to the apartments on the upper floors? Complaining about the roofs of residential buildings seems an odd perspective on such an incredible city.