Timeline
16:07
Grab a shake and sit in Madison Square Park. The park offers clear views of the Empire State Building, letting you track the light as it shifts toward the WSW.
16:37
Walk up the stairs to the 86th floor observatory of the Empire State Building. Arrive just before the sun dips below the horizon to see the city catch the final golden glow.
17:22
Head to Cho Dang Gol for dinner. This Korean restaurant is only a four-minute walk away, making it an easy end to the evening.
Local tip
The observatory tickets sell out fast. Book them online in advance to skip the line. The view is best when the sun is low, so aim for the 5 PM slot on winter days.
Check before you go
- Empire State Building hours: Mo-Su 08:00-02:00.
- Cho Dang Gol hours: Mo-Th 12:00-15:00,17:00-21:30, Fr-Su 12:00-21:30.
Getting there
- Broadway & 23rd Street at Northeast Corner (subway) · 2 min walk
- Broadway & 23rd Street at Southeast Corner (subway) · 2 min walk
- 34th Street & Broadway at Northwest Corner (subway) · 5 min walk
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Manhattan (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).