New York City is a labyrinth so finding your way around the place can be tough but that’s what I’m here for!
In this guide, I’ll be explaining exactly how to get from Times Square to the Empire State Building by foot, subway and taxi.
Let’s jump straight in…
Table of Contents
How Far is the Empire State Building from Times Square?
You’ll be glad to know that the Empire State Building and Times Square are pretty close to each other.
In fact, the Empire State Building is just 1km (0.6 miles) away from Times Square which would only take around 15 minutes to walk.
By car, this would only take 4 minutes without traffic…but this is New York we’re talking about so it could take up to 15 minutes at busy times of day.
Both are located in the heart of Manhattan with Times Square being found on 42nd Street and the Empire State Building being found on 34th Street so there’s just 8 blocks between them.
Getting to the Empire State Building from Times Square
There are 3 main ways to get from Times Square to the Empire State Building – by foot, by taxi or by subway.
Here’s a brief overview of each option including how long they take and how much they cost.
Travel Options:
- Walking: 15 minutes, completely free
- Subway: 8 minutes, $2.90
- Taxi: 4-15 minutes (depending on traffic), $9 – $12
In the rest of this guide, I’ll be going into more detail on each option and I’ll provide you with a map as well as step-by-step directions on how to get there.
Insider Tip
Make sure to pre-book your Empire State Building ticket BEFORE visiting else you may be disappointed.
The Empire State Building is one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions so it often sells out.
I’d recommend pre-booking your ticket here on Viator as it’s the exact same price as on the official website but it also comes with free cancellation.
Tickets booked on the Empire State Building website are non-refundable.
Save even more money by booking the New York Pass which includes unlimited access to over 100 top New York attractions.
Walk from Times Square to Empire State Building
Personally, I think walking is one of the easiest ways to get there and it doesn’t take much longer than a taxi or the subway.
In fact, if you’re traveling during peak times it may actually be faster than a taxi.
It’s also great to know that Manhattan is pretty safe to walk around.
If you have a lot of luggage or mobility issues then walking may not be ideal so you might prefer to take the subway or hop into a taxi.
It’s also worth noting that the streets are often very busy with lots of people (which can slow you down) and you’ll have to cross the street at several traffic lights. That’s New York though.
It takes between 13 and 15 minutes to walk from Times Square to the Empire State Building depending on your walking speed.
Times Square is pretty safe after dark so you’re fine to walk even late at night. The majority of the walk is along Broadway so if it’s late at night, you’ll often be joined by people leaving shows.
Directions from Times Square to Empire State Building
Times Square sits at the junction of 3 roads: Broadway, 7th Avenue and 42nd Street.
To get to the Empire State Building, you’ll want to exit Times Square onto Broadway. This is the quickest way to get there by foot.
Here’s the exact directions:
- Exit Times Square onto Broadway.
- Walk south along Broadway.
- Turn left onto 34th Street.
- Go straight until you reach the Empire State Building.
Overall, this walk will take around 15 minutes and it’s pretty straight forward so you shouldn’t get lost.
Times Square to Empire State Building Map
I’ve also created the below map to help you visualize the route.
Times Square is super central and well connected to pretty much all of Manhattan. It’s also pretty easy to get to the Statue of Liberty.
Subway from Times Square to Empire State Building
Another option is taking the subway which will take approximately 8 minutes and is more ideal for people with luggage or anyone that doesn’t fancy walking.
It’s just one stop on the subway so it doesn’t take long at all. Another bonus is that the trains run 24/7 and usually come every few minutes so you won’t be waiting very long.
Here’s the exact directions:
- You should take the subway from the Times Sq – 42 St station which sits at the junction between 7th Avenue and 42nd Street within Times Square.
- Take the Q line towards Coney Island-Stillwell Av.
- Get off the subway at 34 St – Herald Sq (just 1 stop).
- Exit the station onto 34th Street and turn left.
- Keep walking until you reach the Empire State Building. It’s just a 3-minute walk.
The 3-minute walk at the end is pretty simple – you’ll have trouble missing the Empire State Building as it’s so huge!
The subway will cost $2.90 per person making it cheaper than a taxi.
Taxi from Times Square to Empire State Building
Taking a taxi may be a better option for you if you have a lot of luggage, mobility issues or if you’re some kind of celebrity.
Taxis are readily available around Times Square so it should be pretty easy to hail one down.
Alternatively, you could use ride-sharing apps like Uber or Lyft which are popular in New York.
I personally prefer ride-sharing apps over traditional taxis as you don’t have to awkwardly hail down a taxi, you can easily pay using your phone and you know you’re not being overcharged.
If there was absolutely no traffic (which is essentially impossible in NYC), it would take just 4 minutes to drive from Times Square to the Empire State Building.
With New York traffic, it could take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to get there. If you’re traveling during the main part of the day then expect it to take 10 – 15 minutes.
As walking between the two also takes 15 minutes, you won’t really be saving much time by taking the taxi.
Taxi Cost
A taxi from Times Square to the Empire State Building will cost between $9 and $12. This is based on the price estimate by Lyft.
And that’s it!
Thanks so much for reading this guide on how to get to the Empire State Building from Times Square.
The Empire State Building is totally worth visiting as it’s one of New York’s most iconic buildings. It was personally one of the highlights for me!
