Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Columbus Circle Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Columbus Circle

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ebony M.

    Recently stopped by the Shoppes at Columbus Circleand had a pleasant experience overall, warranting a solid 4-star review. The main draw is the location, shop, and grab a few items from Whole Foods. The shoppes are situated near Central Park South, and next to rhe Lincoln Center. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of Central Park, especially the spectacular vistas from the second and third floors. The interior itself is clean, bright, and easy to navigate with several levels connected by escalators and elevators. The circular layout is a refreshing change from typical rectangular malls. The retail mix is high-end but a mix of bargain priced stores. You'll find luxury brands alongside mainstream favorites. While it is certainly geared toward a more affluent clientele, there is still enough variety to appeal to different tastes. The center is home to famous names like Per Se and Masa, which are fantastic if you have the budget and reservations, but casual, quick-bite options are fewer and farther between compared to other NYC shopping centers. It would benefit from a few more mid-tier casual spots. Overall, it is a sophisticated shopping destination that excels in ambiance and location. Whether you are browsing luxury goods, enjoying the architecture, or grabbing a coffee with a view, it's a lovely place to spend an hour or two while in the Columbus Circle area. I would recommend visiting, perhaps not for budget shopping, but certainly for the experience.

    Pavol C.

    Columbus Circle is a beautiful and lively place in the city center with plenty of options for relaxation and entertainment. I liked its connection to Central Park and the overall atmosphere. The fountain, greenery, and city buzz create a great combination. It's an ideal place to start or end your New York tour. Nice statues and always full of life.

    Mari T.

    I used to hang out with my friends at Columbus Circle, and it had been a long time since my last visit. Over the years, many of the stores have changed, but Whole Foods is still there, which is great. To me, it's still an upscale mall, especially with the beautiful holiday decorations and lights. There are also a few restaurants, including Shake Shack. I was planning to eat there, but it's a small spot and was very busy at the time, with no seats available. I also noticed that they offer free performances during the holiday season, which I thought was really nice for children and families to enjoy. Overall, it's definitely a place where I like to hang out and do some window shopping.

    David Jr R.

    Located at the south west corner of Central Park, This place is bustling with tourist and working class people at all times. There is a mall in the time warner building and an awesome statue in the middle of a roundabout. There are many shops located around the area either going north or south. Cool place to go to hang out or to just spend some money

    Sky scrapers at Columbus Circle
    Susan C.

    When you mention Columbus Circle in NYC, this traffic circle and the surrounding neighborhood get lumped together--basically you're talking about the intersection of Broadway, 8th Avenue, West 59th Street and Central Park West, and the adjoining couple blocks in each direction. There are several notable buildings/landmarks directly adjacent the traffic circle which features a statue of Christopher Columbus. - Deutsche Bank Center (formerly Time Warner Center): a multi-story retail and residential skyscraper with about two dozen retail stores and a several famous restaurants (including Per Se, Bar Masa, Bad Roman). Afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental is also a classic. - Museum of Arts and Design: six story museum featuring functional design such as jewelry, furniture, ceramics, fashion and digital design, with a functional artists studio, gift shop and educational facilities. Plus modern American restaurant Robert on the top floor. - Central Park: access to the park directly from the SW corner. The Maine Monument is located here, dedicated to soldiers lost on the USS Maine in 1898. - Frederick P. Rose Hall: a concert venue part of the Lincoln Center performing arts campus that hosts jazz and other musical performances. The area is considered pretty upscale if you're a resident, up there in terms of rent considering the proximity to Central Park and multiple forms of transit. Easily reachable by multiple bus lines, subway lines A/C/B/D/1/N/Q/R/W, with A/C/B/D directly below the circle. Aside from the Shops at Columbus Circle, there's a fair amount of other shopping (including Nordstrom's and TJMaxx a couple streets away), and restaurants (Marea and Jean-Georges are two of the better known ones that come to mind).

    Karen N.

    A good starting point for Central Park, especially if taking the subway. It is a very busy intersection of Central Park West, 59th St, 8th Ave and Broadway. It is very busy and often chaotic. The shops at Columbus Circle are worth stopping in and also a good bathroom stop before going to Central Park. In the center of the circle is a statue of Christopher Columbus.

    Isao S.

    I visited here before the Corona pandemic happened. I previously wrote a review of when I went to New York, but I have business that I haven't written about yet, so I'll write one. The Columbus Monument was placed at the center of the circle in 1892. The monument is the statue of Christopher Columbus, and was designed as part of Frederick Law Olmsted's 1857. Now, Columbus Circle is a traffic circle and heavily trafficked intersection in the New York City, And there is subway station in its underground. In addition, this circle is the point from which official highway distances from New York City are measured.

    Veronika B.

    I like stopping by Columbus circle when I'm in the area. I love the the globe statue at the north. The shops on the west side and Central Park to the east paid with the massive amount of subways going in every direction you need make it a great point to travel to and from. The view from the mall gives a unique persecutive full of NYC charm.

    Mei T.

    I dined at the Robert restaurant that's located inside the Museum of Art and Design at Columbus Circle and had a perfect view from the 5th floor. I love the circular design and could just sit there and watch the cars drive by in what looked like circles. One of the main attractions in this area is The Shops at Columbus Circle. It's an indoor mall with many great restaurants.

    59th St. Subway station
    Taylee M.

    The shops at Columbus Circle are really nice and they have good bathrooms if you don't want to stand in line waiting for a stall at the central park south ones. I generally pass through the holiday market every year: it's on the smaller side but they have really good gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate. My even found decorative ukrainian egg ornaments this year. It's also a convenient station with an underground food court. We often transfer from the 1 to the D, B,C,A lines here.

    Phil H.

    With the statue of Christopher Columbus ( sorry, but he didn't discover anything as the Native Americans were already here, and The Vikings also beat him out ) centering this circle off Central Park it's a very busy area. Between pedestrian and auto traffic you need to keep your eyes open in this bustling part of town. A lot to see here with multiple monuments, tall buildings, shopping, horse carriages, and an MTA station close by. I've run a bunch of NYRR races up the street and into the Central Park entrance here. The NYRR headquarters is just a few blocks away. Right now there are protective barrier railings around the Columbus statue probably because there has been an outcry to remove it. Maybe the city is afraid a mob will tear it down.

    Circle
    Steve A.

    Beautiful even if it's not that exciting. Columbus Circle is located on the southwest corner of Central Park. It basically is a traffic circle with a statue. A lot of attractions are here. The park is the best of course, but there's also shops and theaters. Even though it's not that big, there's still a lot to see here. It most famously has a large statue of Christopher Columbus located in the middle. This was dedicated in 1892 to commemorate the anniversary of his voyage. Other features in the circle include lots of benches. There's open space for performers. An MTA station is here. This is a pretty busy station because there's several important Lines going through. Close to here is the Lincoln Center. There's many theaters around here. It of course is congested. It's better going as a pedestrian. There's also the close by subway.

    Columbus Circle
    Renee D.

    The intersections of four major thoroughfares, 8th Avenue, Broadway, Central Park South and Central Park West meet here to form this bustling circle that pays tribute to explorer Christopher Columbus whose statue sits atop the center of his monument. Here you can find the entrance to Central Parks southern most southwest tip which easily leads to Umpire Rock, Heckscher Playground, Central Park Carousel and Tavern on the Green (if you're so inclined). Across from the park is home to Trump International Hotel and Tower, the beautiful Time Warner building whose bending fascade mimics the circle and the New York Institute of Technology. Below Columbus Circle you can explore the shops at Turnstyle.

    See all

    1 day ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of The Critical J.
    221
    2442
    7608

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 34
    Thanks 13
    Love this 34
    Oh no 3
    Photo of Pavol C.
    8
    8361
    297553

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 23
    Thanks 7
    Love this 17
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Karen N.
    113
    1214
    3742

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 4
    Love this 24
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Isao S.
    272
    276
    14090

    3 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 3
    Love this 8
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A C.
    4310
    918
    21

    1 year ago

    Helpful 33
    Thanks 11
    Love this 34
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Nice green patch in nyc. Good meeting spot for friends or a kickoff point to head into the park. It's a safe area to walk.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of William G.
    3758
    2426
    6757

    8 years ago

    Helpful 18
    Thanks 0
    Love this 17
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gyr N.
    0
    519
    29473

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joseph G.
    2199
    2906
    40311

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa A.
    294
    806
    1788

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nina R.
    621
    774
    4774

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    Columbus Circle Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Columbus Circle

    Review Highlights - Columbus Circle

    Whole Foods for groceries or just a bite to eat at their buffet, a carriage ride or walk through Central Park.

    Mentioned in 96 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Landmarks & Historical Buildings 5,041 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Grand Central Terminal - Inside terminal

    Grand Central Terminal

    4.6(1.7k reviews)
    1.1 miMidtown East

    Architecturally, Grand Central is gorgeous. Inside you're…read moretreated to a massive lobby with iconic steps and balcony. It's a marvel to behold when you're in it. It's a big station so it can be a bit daunting at first but you have signs and proper directions to get you where you need to go. I'd suggest for first-timers to arrive early and take your time. You don't want to rush through here.

    I guess the first thing you'll want to know is how I ended up dragging myself out of bed to catch…read morethe damn F train to 47 Rockefeller Plaza almost in the middle of the night, sure felt like it at 4:45AM. It was freezing, or maybe it was warm, maybe it was my cold, but it felt cold as hell anyway because who the hell wants to be awake when the sun isn't even trying yet? ​So I walk all the way over to Lexington Ave and 42nd Street which is a hell of a walk when you're half asleep and your feet feel like two sacks of wet sand, just to get to Grand Central and catch the 6:18 AM train to Scarsdale. I have this part-time paralegal job up there. It depresses the hell out of me, strictly speaking, but a person's got to keep a job or people start looking at you like you're a total crook or crackhead or something. ​Grand Central at six in the morning is actually pretty grand, if you want to know the truth. It really is. It's not full of all these phony tourists snapping pictures of every single thing like they've never seen a ceiling before. The main concourse is just vast and quiet, with that big greenish ceiling with all the stars painted on it, even though the stars are drawn totally backward, which is just like people, if you think about it. Nobody even notices. ​There's that big clock right in the middle sitting on top of the information booth. It just sits there, looking very old and very expensive and not giving a damn about anybody's problems. I stood there for a second looking up at it, and for a minute it almost made me feel less miserable about going all the way to Scarsdale to look at legal briefs or whatever the hell I was going to do. ​The guys working the tracks at that hour don't yell at you, which is a nice change. You just walk down the ramp to your track, get on the Metro-North, and sit by the window. It's almost nice, except you know as soon as the train starts moving that you're actually on your way to work, which ruins the whole thing. ​If you have to go to work at six in the morning, Grand Central is about the only place in New York that doesn't make you feel like a complete loser for doing it. I mean it. It really doesn't. ​

    Photos
    Grand Central Terminal - Free magnet

    Free magnet

    Grand Central Terminal - 10/10/2025

    10/10/2025

    Grand Central Terminal - Restaurant inside the train station

    See all

    Restaurant inside the train station

    Bowery Savings Bank Building

    Bowery Savings Bank Building

    5.0(3 reviews)
    1.2 miMidtown East, Murray Hill

    Tour historic buildings and designated landmarks of New York. Bowery Savings Bank building is one…read moreof many historic. Any history buff or avid amateur architecture enthusiasts would have a full appreciation and admiration of this stone building as old world architectural craft is no longer in use. This building still stands with the passage of time and nature's elements. The correct location of Bowery Savings Bank Building is in Chinatown, Lower Manhattan- NOT Midtown East, Murray Hill. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=132531

    You might find a few Bowery Bums in the doorway of the Bowery Savings Bank Building, but it's New…read moreYork, and more to the point it's the USA, and that goes with the territory. This building is very special to me because when I needed to get my citizenship it was here that my awesome lawyer (whose office is in the upper reaches of this magnificent building) helped me through the process and got me over the line - and I will always be grateful for that. He's David Gottfried of Gottfried & Gottfried, by the way. I would recommend him to anyone as the perfect immigration lawyer for my situation and I wish nothing but the best for him. As for the building it's a typical old rustic early 20th century New York stunner, and it seems haunted. They do make you go through a security check to get up inside here but then so does Barbie with her clients.

    Photos
    Bowery Savings Bank Building - Exterior

    Exterior

    Bowery Savings Bank Building - Lil Bowery Wow

    Lil Bowery Wow

    Bowery Savings Bank Building

    See all

    Van Gogh's Ear - Van Gogh's Ear, a public art sculpture by Elmgreen & Dragset

    Van Gogh's Ear

    5.0(3 reviews)
    0.7 miMidtown East, Midtown West

    Don't look for this work of art. It's not there. If you were lucky enough to see it, write a…read morereview. It's pretty cool if you stare and stare. Then all of a sudden you realize what you're looking at! My photos are from April 14, 2016. It was a beautiful Spring Day. I am enjoying reminiciing about today during the Arctic Blast!

    "Van Gogh's Ear", a public art sculpture by Elmgreen & Dragset, is in place at 30 Rockefeller…read morePlaza, right across the street from the entrance to Sak's 5th Ave. The sculpture, by the same duo that brought us the Prada Marfa Store in the middle of the Texas desert, is a tribute to the ready-made style of Marcel Duchamp. The sculpture is a 30 foot tall swimming pool, taken out of its normal context and displayed in its side with a diving board built in at the top. One of my favorite elements are the working lights on the inside left and right of the pool sculpture. Being that it's out of context - a recreational object in the middle of a commercial center - it creates a sense of longing and desire for recreation over industry and gives you an off-kilter feeling (why am I going to work when I could be swimming!). Overall a great piece of colorful public art at placed I a great spot for the perfect season. The piece is on display from April 13th though June 3rd, 2016. Catch it while you can!

    Photos
    Van Gogh's Ear - The sign for Elmgreen & Dragset's piece "Van Gogh's Ear"

    The sign for Elmgreen & Dragset's piece "Van Gogh's Ear"

    Van Gogh's Ear - Van Gogh's Ear beautifully backlit by NYC last night.

    Van Gogh's Ear beautifully backlit by NYC last night.

    Van Gogh's Ear - They removed the street-side barricades.

    See all

    They removed the street-side barricades.

    Bryant Park - Carousel rules

    Bryant Park

    4.6(1.4k reviews)
    1.0 miMidtown West

    Just blocks from Times Square and the Theater district in Midtown Manhattan, Bryant Park is…read moredirectly next to the main branch of the New York Public Library. It's a park that my wife and I have passed by during the day on visits to New York City. But we finally saw it come alive as a community gathering place at night, with its many tables to talk or eat, permanent and temporary food trucks and carts, and a large greenspace lawn that was cordoned off this night, but can be the location for free summer movies on the lawn and an ice skating rink in the winter. On a warm summer night, the night atmosphere was magical, especially walking through the walkways with the London plane trees, after a great Broadway show. The current park is 9.6 acres and is located on two city blocks (5th and 6th avenue on the NW/SE, 40th and 42nd street on the NE/SW). The western half of the park contains a lawn, walkways, and a french-inspired carousel. Down below are the repository/stacks of the public library, located on the eastern half of the park. It opened in 1847 as Reservoir Square, later renamed for abolitionist William Cullen Bryant in 1884. It fell into disrepair in the 1960s. In 1980, the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation was formed as a non-profit, to try to create a long term solution for the maintainability of the park. Massive renovation was planned and implemented, with a complete rebuilding of the park (after the library stacks had been first built underneath). It reopened in 1992, to great acclaim. Since then, the value of the real estate around the park has greatly increased, attracting new development. The reclamation of the park has been often used a model for a successful urban renewal.

    If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you notice about Bryant Park is how everybody…read moreis trying so damn hard to act like they're having the time of their life. I walk by there on my way to Grand Central Terminal to get Metro North to my goddamn job at the law firm whichbis 45 minutes away, its so far,I think im gonna quit. It's right behind the New York Public Library on 42nd Street, trapped right in the middle of all these massive, skyscrapers looming over the trees like giant glass monsters. ​During the warmer months, they've got this giant green lawn laid out, and people sit around in these little green metal folding chairs looking like they're in some kind of advertisement for happy urban living. You see all these tourists and families sprawling out on the grass, taking pictures of each other with their fancy phones and fancy shopping bags and laughing at what seems to me like absolutely nothing. They sit there eating overpriced sandwiches and pretending they aren't surrounded by millions of tons of steel and exhaust fumes. It depresses hell out of me, it really does. Every single one of them acts like they just discovered nature because someone put a patch of sod between 5th and 6th Avenue. ​Then in the winter, the whole place transforms into this "Winter Village" deal. They put up a big ice skating rink right in the middle and surround it with all these tiny wooden kiosks selling fifty dollar scarves and gourmet hot chocolate whichbis pricd probably at about ten bucks. The tourists go completely crazy for it. You watch these parents pushing their little kids out onto the ice in those goofy plastic skate aids. Half the grownups are wobbling around like they're about to break a leg, but they keep smiling for the cameras because they want everyone back home in Ohio Belgium or wherever they are from to think they're having a marvelous time in New York. ​I mean, the kids are alright, it's actually kind of nice seeing a little kid who hasn't been ruined by everything corporate yet having fun on the ice, but the whole commercial spectacle of it kills me. Everybody's acting, and everybody knows everybody else is acting, but they just keep on doing it anyway. ​It's not the worst place in the city, I guess. If you need to sit down for ten minutes and watch a bunch of outta towners pretend to be relaxed, you could do worse. Just don't buy the hot chocolate unless you want to spend your last ten bucks on hot water and cocoa powder.

    Photos
    Bryant Park - Fountain view

    Fountain view

    Bryant Park - Skating rink

    Skating rink

    Bryant Park - First snow of the season

    See all

    First snow of the season

    Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Plaque

    Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Plaque

    5.0(1 review)
    1.1 miMidtown East

    "Don't know much about history Don't know much biology…read moreDon't know much about a science book Don't know much about the French I took" (Sam Cooke) I guess you can call me a history nerd. After all, I did major in history and rarely walk past a plaque or memorial or marker that I don't stop to read and more than likely Yelp. So when we were walking out to the street from Grand Central Station's Park Avenue/East 42nd Street entry and saw a wall plaque with the portrait of a familiar woman, I just had to stop and check it out. The portrait was of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Those of my generation will always remember the traumatic and terribly sad photographs of her from Dallas on November 22, 1963 with her pink pill box hat and her blood splattered pink dress. Twelve years after JFK's assassination the former First lady was engaged in a high stakes 1975 battle to save one of her hometown's iconic landmarks. At issue was a plan to take the wrecking ball to New York City's Grand Station Terminal and demolish it, just as Penn Station has been demolished and rebuilt in 1964. She became outraged when she learned of the plan and led a coalition of New Yorkers and the the Municipal Art Society to stop it. She was the star of a famous press conference from Grand Central and declared "If we don't care about our past we can't have very much hope for our future, we've all heard that it's too late, or that it has to happen, that it's inevitable. But I don't think that's true. Because I think if there is a great effort, even if it's the eleventh hour, then you can succeed and I know that's what we'll do." She also wrote an eloquent letter to NYC 's Mayor Beame and asked him "...is it not cruel to let our city die by degrees, stripped of all her proud moments, until there is nothing left of all her history and beauty to inspire our children? If they are not inspired by the past of our city, where will they find the strength to fight for her future? Americans care about their past, but for short term gain they ignore it and tear down everything that matters..." The plaque was dedicated on June 24, 2014 to mark renovations to the station's main entrance. The renovations honor her legacy with photographs, a video display, and the plaque. The entry itself was renamed "The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Foyer".

    Photos
    Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Plaque

    See all

    Empire State Building - Photo opportunity with King Kong himself

    Empire State Building

    4.0(2.4k reviews)
    1.4 miKoreatown, Midtown West

    Wow! What an amazing and immersive experience! The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco…read moreskyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, famous for its iconic design, rapid construction, and its status as the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years. My wife was a bit reluctant to go on this tour (she's scared of heights, obviously), but somehow I managed to convince her (with my charm of course). And she was so happy I did. The Empire State Building remains a defining global symbol of New York City. Its total height reaches 1,454 feet (now that's tall). I'd be lying if I didn't say that was a bit intimidating. But when we got to the 86th floor (observation deck), there was an apparent stillness and quietness in the air. Kind of peaceful! Looking down from above, everything seemed minuscule- like the world below us was built with little tiny Legos. It truly was quite the experience!

    This is a review of purchasing your tickets online ahead of time. DO NOT get scammed by the Empire…read moreState Building. Let me explain. DO NOT book in advance unless you know all the conditions of NYC, the Empire State building and whatever else the DAY OF your visit while you are standing in NYC. Better to wait in line because you know that you are able to go to observation deck. Or call them if they are opened before making the trek to get into a line. I have wanted to go here and see the building. It has a wonderful history. I had my day in NYC. Check. I had my flight to NYC. Check. I saw the weather the day of good. Check. I got my ticket to Empire State Building. Check. My problem, I do not live in NYC. The day before getting to NYC, there were severe flooding and possible tornado. My flight got canceled, I was stuck in DC. I called the Empire State Building to ask about a refund and the employee on the phone said they had to cancel tickets for all the people that day due to bad views and storms! She said contact the sales and maybe they will give me a refund. I emailed and immediate reply.. no refunds per our website. I explained that my flight was cancelled and that it was not myself that was causing the issue. No response. I even asked for a voucher for a future visit since I go to NYC for work in a few months. No response. Yes, the website warns you "Tickets are non-refundable. No refunds due to weather conditions, length of lines, or wait times at the building. The Empire State Building reserves the right to close the Observatory early on very busy." So not only myself but potentially hundreds of people were denied entry to Empire State Building because of the storms and lost $57 (cheapest ticket). Do yourself a favor and don't book in advance and wait till the day of so you can assess the situation, call them to confirm if they are letting people up to the observation deck and then go purchase a ticket. No desire to go on a tour in the future. Off my list. There are many other cool things to see/do in NYC.

    Photos
    Empire State Building - King Kong poster

    King Kong poster

    Empire State Building - Ahhhh godzilla got me

    Ahhhh godzilla got me

    Empire State Building - Empire State Building image 2023

    See all

    Empire State Building image 2023

    Columbus Circle - landmarks - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...