One of New York City’s most recognizable landmarks was just crowned the top attraction that travelers have enjoyed visiting in the United States.
Standing at 1,454 feet tall and 103 floors, the Empire State Building was spotlighted as the highest-rated attraction in the U.S. on TripAdvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things To Do list. Construction of the historic building began in 1931, and within just over a year, it debuted as the world’s tallest building. The latter title was one the Midtown, Manhattan skyscraper proudly held until the early 1970s.
The Empire State Building currently features Art Deco design elements and has two observation decks (on floors 86 and 102), museum levels (on floors 2 and 80), and seven restaurants. Inside, there’s also a full-scale miniature version of the building itself that visitors can snap photos next to. Many companies also hold corporate offices and business space at the noteworthy location.
At over 4 million visitors a year, the building sees significantly less annual foot traffic than other NYC landmarks like Times Square, Central Park, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. However, those who’ve visited the former tallest building in the world continue to rave about it, even almost a century later. Common aspects people love the most are the unique weight of the site’s icon status and history. Not overrated as some may assume, people love the absolutely incomparable views from the top of NYC and even from several nearby states, especially on the clearest days.
What’s Unique About Visiting The Empire State Building?
TravelAdvisor emphasized that “The Empire State Building is arguably the most iconic building in New York City.”
As an attraction, the site is highly versatile, being a perfect place for photo ops, learning, and dining. Moreover, it’s an ideal location where solo travelers, families, friends, foodies, multigenerational groups, and couples can all find things to keep them entertained and interested.
If you’re looking for a unique, challenging experience that you can brag about, consider participating in the annual Empire State Building Run-Up. The race sees runners compete to achieve the best time ascending 1,576 stairs inside the building — a whopping 86 flights.
