Empire State Building

One of the most iconic skyscrapers in the world, if not the most iconic one, is the Empire State Building in midtown Manhattan.  Whenever one thinks of the New York City skyline, this building usually stands out in people's minds.  When it was originally built in 1931, it was the tallest building in the world, and retained that title for 40 years.

While viewing the building from the ground or from a distance is impressive, the best view is from the top.  You can go up to the 86th floor for $19.79 a person and get a gorgeous view of New York.  You can walk around the entire building so that you can see the city from all angles.  You should be cautioned though that it can get crowded up on this floor, so you'll need to have some patience to get a good viewing angle.

For an additional $15/person, you can go up to the top of the building on the 102nd floor.  Being higher up does give you a better angle on the city, especially when looking at Central Park.  However, you are indoors for this floor which gives it a different feel than the 86th floor.

Whether you're someone visiting New York City for the first time or a lifelong resident, getting a view of this city from the top is something definitely worth doing.