Others who work with the observatory say tours can easily be customized - for example, a group of engineering-minded individuals can use the tour to learn about that aspect of the building. He added that the tour is an experience for “visitors who thirst for more knowledge” about the iconic building. We have incredibly talented hosts,” said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. “It’s about the connection we’re creating.

Of course, you also get to take in the views from the building’s two observation decks - on the 86th and 102 nd floors - with the rest of the non-VIP visitors, but you’ll have the advantage of a personal guide (you’ll also skip any lines for elevators). From there, you spend time in the building’s green room, where you can partake of Champagne or other beverages and snacks.

It’s also a tourist destination that makes a particular push for the money-is-no-object set, with a VIP viewing option that could qualify as the city’s most expensive observatory experience.Ĭalled the ESB All-Access Tour and priced at $460.06 ($500 with tax) - or about the cost of the average car payment - for a party up to four, it allows you to visit the building the way celebrities do - through a private entrance. But don’t forget the Empire State Building, which is owned by the Empire State Realty TrustĪt 90 years old, it’s the granddaddy of New York skyscrapers, an edifice that has been made all the more famous through its appearances in countless movies, from the original “King Kong” (1933) to the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan romcom “Sleepless in Seattle” (1993).

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