EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

Now surpassed by seven other skyscrapers in Manhattan, the Empire State Building remains unrivalled for both its prestige and its 360-degree views. Standing at 443 m in the heart of New York, it remained the world's tallest building for almost forty years. Inaugurated in 1931, this symbol of American grandeur and genius has lost none of its splendor or popularity: over 4 million visitors climb to its summit every year. The Empire State Building has reinvented itself. In 2019, after a $165 million renovation, the 360-degree observatory on the ^102nd floor (at an altitude of 381 m), has been given a facelift. A new observatory has also opened on the ^86th floor, with an outdoor platform, and an interactive museum has been created on the^2nd floor. The Empire State Building is also a leader in sustainable development, running entirely on renewable energy.

To climb to the top, you need to book your ticket in advance. When booking online, opting for the ^102nd floor also gives you access to the ^86th floor observatory. While the view is breathtaking whatever the time of day, the best time to go up is at sunset. That's when the wait is longest, but the view is even more spectacular when the orange light floods Manhattan and the buildings gradually light up. Rockefeller Center is opposite, as is the Chrysler Building, slightly off-center. From up here, Midtown radiates all its raw power.

Repeatedly depicted on the big and small screens, the Empire State Building is rooted in the collective mind and in popular culture. From the 1930s to the present day, it has appeared in over 250 films. Inevitably, it's King Kong in the 1933 film of the same name that comes to mind as we drift up to the observatories.

On certain days, the Empire State Building is lit up in particular colors, in reference to a singular event. It's green for St. Patrick's Day, red and blue for Independence Day, or blue to celebrate the city's baseball team, the Yankees. When there's no event to celebrate, it's lit up in white. Finally, a few dizzying figures on the Empire State Building: 113 kilometers of pipes, 257,211^m2 of surface area, 760,000 meters of electrical wiring and a total weight of 347,000 tons. Last but not least: 10118, the zip code that was created just for this skyscraper!