Waiting time in queues for Empire State Building
How long do you have to queue for going up the Empire State Building in general? As I've seen, they offer a special ticket where you are allowed to skip the elevator queue, but you have to queue for the security check nevertheless. How much time could you save with this express ticket?
Best Answer
Queue are huge in peak hours (especially weekends) but not if you go early in the morning (try to be there before it opens, 8 am, or a little later) or late at night (1.30 am) when you should be able to enter within minutes.
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How long does it take to queue for Empire State Building?
If you just have a regular ticket the queue can be anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes long depending on the time of your visit. After their reopening in July 2020, the Empire State Building is starting off with online sales only to avoid long lines and crowds at the attraction.Do you have to wait in line for the Empire State Building?
Though usually to get inside one is required to wait in three different queues (security, tickets, and for the elevator), you'll be able to skip at least the one for the tickets if you buy them beforehand. Consider buying the Express pass if you plan to visit the Empire State Building during peak periods.What is the best time of day to visit the Empire State Building?
To avoid the heavy crowds, you should go either right when the observatory opens at 8 a.m., around 3 p.m., or really late, around midnight \u2014 crowds tend to be thinnest at these times. It's also a good idea to avoid weekends.How long should I plan for Empire State Building?
While I recommend allowing at least two hours to visit the Empire State Building, visitors can linger as long as they'd like (closing time permitting). So don't rush through the second-floor exhibits, and take your time enjoying the views from the observation deck.More answers regarding waiting time in queues for Empire State Building
Answer 2
I was told by a friend to go at 5pm on a Sunday (well, an hour before sunset) - as they had no queues.
I dutifully went along at the time - perfectly clear day, and for some reason, there was no queue. I walked straight past all the empty lines, straight up and had a short wait at the intermediate elevator.
I've been told however, that during peak tourist times it's possible to take two hours to get to the top. I can only imagine the frustration. So I guess that's the theoretical time you could save.
Answer 3
I'm just back from NYC and I will say on a weekday it should not take more than 45 minutes to get inside except evening. Everyone tries to go evening around 7pm to watch NYC in daylight and sunset time. We were there by 6.30pm and reached top by 7pm.
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