Empire State Building sunset: which time slot to book
Allow time for the exhibits and two elevator rides before you reach the 86th floor. Open-air 86th floor with all four sides.
Short answer: On 2 Nov 2026, sunset at Empire State Building is at 16:51 local time. Book the 16:00 entry slot to be in place for golden hour from 16:12.
Mon 2 November 2026
Book the 16:00 slot
Sunset 16:51 · If it is sold out, 15:30 is the next best (earlier, not later)
| Golden hour starts | 16:12 | warm, low light on the city |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset | 16:51 | sun touches the horizon |
| Blue hour | 17:09–17:20 | city lights on, sky still blue |
Sunset slot by month
| Mid-month | Sunset | Golden hour | Book slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 16:38 | 15:57 | 15:30 |
| December 2026 | 16:29 | 15:45 | 15:30 |
| January 2027 | 16:52 | 16:10 | 16:00 |
| February 2027 | 17:30 | 16:52 | 16:30 |
| March 2027 | 19:02 | 18:26 | 18:00 |
| April 2027 | 19:35 | 18:58 | 18:30 |
| May 2027 | 20:06 | 19:26 | 19:00 |
| June 2027 | 20:29 | 19:47 | 19:30 |
| July 2027 | 20:26 | 19:46 | 19:30 |
| August 2027 | 19:55 | 19:17 | 19:00 |
| September 2027 | 19:06 | 18:30 | 18:00 |
| October 2027 | 18:16 | 17:39 | 17:00 |
Is it under scaffolding?
Tickets
Empire State Building sunset by month
How we pick the slot
We take the sunset time for your date and subtract 50 minutes for security, lifts and finding a spot, then round down to the ticket slot (every 30 minutes). You see golden hour, the sunset itself and the start of the blue hour when the city lights come on. Earlier is always safer than later.
Times are local (America/New_York). Slot lengths vary by season and operator; confirm on the booking page.
Questions
What time is sunset at Empire State Building today?
On 2 Nov 2026, sunset at Empire State Building is at 16:51 and golden hour starts at 16:12 (local time).
Which time slot should I book for sunset at Empire State Building?
Book the slot that starts about 50 minutes before sunset, rounded down to the 30-minute slot. On 2 Nov 2026 that is 16:00. Allow time for the exhibits and two elevator rides before you reach the 86th floor.
When are the earliest and latest sunsets at Empire State Building?
Over the next 12 months the earliest sunset is 16:28 on 4 Dec 2026 and the latest is 20:31 on 22 Jun 2027 (local time).