The Indoor Guide Tour with Ticket of Empire State Building costs $79 per person and pairs a live guide with entry to the 86th Floor Observation Deck and the building's indoor exhibitions. It starts in the Art Deco lobby, where the guide tells the story of the building's construction during the Great Depression and its pop-culture legacy, King Kong included, then takes in the 2nd-floor and 80th-floor exhibitions before the 86th-floor open-air deck. The route takes about 90 minutes and involves almost no outdoor walking. The 102nd floor and the Express Pass are paid add-ons, not included.
Book Empire State TicketsKey facts
guided-tour- Duration
- About 90 minutes
- Starts
- Shown when you check availability
- Meeting point
- Art Deco lobby, Empire State Building; the exact meeting spot is in your booking confirmation
- Price
- $79 per person
- Entry ticket included
- Yes
- Accessibility
- ADA-compliant building: the 20 West 34th Street entrance and ramps are wheelchair accessible (esbnyc.com/visit/accessibility, checked 2026-09-12).
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation, according to the listing; the cutoff time is shown when you book
Included
- ✓ Guide service
- ✓ Admission to the Empire State Building 86th-floor observatory
- ✓ Access to the indoor exhibitions
Not included
- ✗ 102nd-floor observatory upgrade
- ✗ Skip-the-line Express Pass (available as an add-on)
- ✗ Guide gratuity
- ✗ Food, drinks and personal expenses
Meeting point
20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10118
Nearest transit: Subway B/D/F/M/N/Q/R/W to 34th St–Herald Square, or 6 to 33rd St
What the guided route covers
The tour opens in the Art Deco lobby, where the guide covers the building's construction during the Great Depression and its film and pop-culture cameos, King Kong included. It then moves briefly through the 2nd-floor and 80th-floor exhibitions and up to the 86th Floor Observation Deck for 360-degree views toward Central Park, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. The listing describes the route as easy, with almost no outdoor walking.
Timing and what can slow it down
The route is built to take about 90 minutes, for visitors with limited time. The listing notes that elevator queues can stretch it slightly at peak hours and recommends the Express Pass add-on to cut the wait.
Want a closer look? Indoor Guide Tour with Ticket of Empire State Building, from $79 See timesPrice versus the plain ticket and the private tour
At $79, this sits between the $50 self-guided Observation Deck & Museum Ticket and the $489 private VIP tour, and costs $35 more than the $44 base price of the official 86th Floor Only ticket. It buys a live guide and the 86th floor, but not the 102nd floor or the Express Pass, which cost extra here. The VIP tour includes the Express Pass and both decks.
Short on time? Indoor Guide Tour with Ticket of Empire State Building, from $79 See timesWho this suits
Book this for a short visit where a person answering questions matters more than an app or a gallery panel. Skip it if you want the 102nd floor included or a private group; the VIP tour, or the plain ticket with the 102nd-floor option, suits those better.
Ready to compare prices? Indoor Guide Tour with Ticket of Empire State Building, from $79 See timesWho should not book this
- Visitors who want the 102nd floor included by default
- Anyone who wants a private group (see the VIP Private Tour instead)
-
New York City Small Group Holiday Tour With Empire State
$119if you want a small-group holiday-season tour that includes the Empire State Building
-
Express Pass VIP Private Tour of the Empire State Building
$489for a private group and both decks with the Express Pass built in
Read the full page
How to book
Choose a date and time slot, and add the 102nd-floor or Express Pass upgrades at checkout if you want them. The tour starts in the Art Deco lobby; the exact meeting spot is in your booking confirmation. Free cancellation is available, with the cutoff shown when you book. This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Does the guide come up to the 86th floor too?
Yes. The guide leads the route through the lobby and the 2nd- and 80th-floor exhibitions and up to the 86th Floor Observation Deck. The 102nd floor is a separate paid add-on.
Can elevator queues make the tour run long?
Yes. The listing notes that elevator queues can extend the roughly 90-minute route slightly at peak hours, and recommends the Express Pass add-on to reduce waiting.
How much walking is involved?
Very little. The listing describes the route as easy, with almost no outdoor walking.
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