Empire State Building
After the fall of the twin towers, it's NYC's undisputed landmark building
After the collapse of the World Trade Center the Empire State Building is again the tallest building in New York and one of the most famous buildings in the world – 3.5 million people visit it every year. From the observatory on the 102nd floor there is an incomparable view of Manhattan; in clear weather the visibility is said to be 128km/80mi.
In 1929, construction began on the site where once the first Waldorf-Astoria Hotel stood. After only 19 months the 381m/1,250ft (with antenna 443m/1,454ft) colossus was complete; it was named after the nickname of the State of New York. The Art Deco building is a kind of city in itself – over 30,000 people live and work here. The building used 365,000 tons of steel, cement and granite; 100km/60mi of water pipes and 5,630km/3,498mi of telephone line were laid. 73 lifts travel through 11km/6.8mi of shafts, in only 45 seconds they transport people and freight up to the top. There are also stairs: runners at the peak of fitness require eleven minutes for the 1,860 steps in the annual Empire State Run up. The building is worth a visit both in the daytime and the evening – there are two observatories, one on the 86th and the other on the 102nd floor – but the security checks for visitors are very strict since 9/11. A tip: in hazy weather, as is often the case in New York in the summer, enjoy the view during the early morning hours
Beat the queues: Visitors can saves themselves the wait at the ticket office by buying tickets in advance on the internet, paying with a credit card and printing it out. Then jump the queue and go directly to the lifts and the observation deck.
In 1929, construction began on the site where once the first Waldorf-Astoria Hotel stood. After only 19 months the 381m/1,250ft (with antenna 443m/1,454ft) colossus was complete; it was named after the nickname of the State of New York. The Art Deco building is a kind of city in itself – over 30,000 people live and work here. The building used 365,000 tons of steel, cement and granite; 100km/60mi of water pipes and 5,630km/3,498mi of telephone line were laid. 73 lifts travel through 11km/6.8mi of shafts, in only 45 seconds they transport people and freight up to the top. There are also stairs: runners at the peak of fitness require eleven minutes for the 1,860 steps in the annual Empire State Run up. The building is worth a visit both in the daytime and the evening – there are two observatories, one on the 86th and the other on the 102nd floor – but the security checks for visitors are very strict since 9/11. A tip: in hazy weather, as is often the case in New York in the summer, enjoy the view during the early morning hours
Beat the queues: Visitors can saves themselves the wait at the ticket office by buying tickets in advance on the internet, paying with a credit card and printing it out. Then jump the queue and go directly to the lifts and the observation deck.
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