Hi all,

I know its peak of summer and that it is hard to guess, but has anyone been to the ESB lately and can tell me how long it took to go up, view and come back down?

I went in Aug. 2001 and I think it took about 3 hours. We will be there this Saturday for a cruise that leaves Sunday and my friends want to go. I am trying to convince them it is too much time to spend out of our one day! If they insist I am trying to aim for evening/night. Will this work better?

Please and thanks! The lastest post I could find on this was 4/03, so I am hoping someone can help me with summer time estimates!

You can buy tickets ahead of time online & avoid waiting on line.

http://www.esbnyc.com/index2.cfm

We had thought of that, but have been told that it is the elevators that are the problem, not the ticket sales. (even a poster here said you can buy tickets outside the building from ESB staff)

Is this wrong? Thanks for the website mclaurie!

The ticket line can get long but moves quite quickly (dont buy the 3d ride ticket, it sucks)and the line for the lower elevators also moves preety quickly, but that takes you up to only the 80th floor, the line can take a while to get to the next elevator which will get you to the obeservatory at 86 or 88th floor (dont remember which one, but u dont need to know since there are people who pres the buttoons for u).

Oh and getting down takes no more then a few minutes.

Went last month to the ESB... got there around 7:30 pm with tickets previously purchased. The wait was not as bad as expected- approximately 20 minutes in a (rapidly moving) line to hand over our ticket and go through a turnstile, then another 10 minutes or so in the elevator line. I thought this was an ideal time to visit as we were able to watch dusk settle over the city and the lights come on. We saved a little time by walking down several flights of stairs to the next bank of elevators instead of waiting to descend with the crowd at the observation deck.

The best time to go is late at night. I think it is open until 11PM. If that doesn't work, go from 5-8PM.

I agree with GoTravel. I've always gone (even in summer) after 9 p.m.and never encountered any long lines.

Yev is right that you go up to the 80th floor in the elevator, get out and then queue for another elevator which goes up to the 86th floor.

The queues at the bottom move quickly but when I was there the queues on the 80th floor to go up the last six floors were not only long but VERY slow moving.

What amazed me more was that there are stairs you can take to go up the last six flights instead of waiting for the elevator and virtually noone bothered to take the stairs. This was despite ESB staff telling people how long they may have to queue for the elevator to avoid walking six flights of stairs.

Another useful tip I think is to buy your tickets in advance on the internet.

I was there in May and spent about 45 minutes at the top and about 10-15 minutes each way to get up there and get back. It may well be be a lot busier in summer.

We ran to get up before they closed and had no line and plenty of time to see what we needed. I have been up day and night and much preferred night - so many lights! I say go later if possible.

I concur w/ Sara, night time is the right time. I've been up a number of times and have very seldom had to wait more than 15 minutes to get up or down. I would recommend going after 8:00 pm and trying to avoid a weekend if possible.

Thanks for the suggestion on the stairs, I know I didn't notice them when I was there. I am just hoping to go at night before we take the train back to Jersey, as it sounds beautiful then!