There are 6 ways to get from Upper East Side to Empire State Building by subway, bus, ferry, taxi, or foot
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Subway
best- Take the subway from 86th Street to 34 St-Herald Sqsubway Q / ...
13 min$3Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to 5 Av/W 36 Stbus M1 / ...
36 min$2–8Ferry
- Take the ferry from East 90th St to East 34th Streetferry As / ...
44 min$5Taxi
- Take the taxi from Upper East Side to Empire State Buildingtaxi 3.2 mi
7 min$17–21Bus via Lexington Av/E 34 St
- Take the bus from Lexington Av/E 86 St to Lexington Av/E 34 Stbus M102 / ...
39 min$3–8Walk
- Take the walk from Upper East Side to Empire State Buildingwalk 3.2 mi
1h 1m
Upper East Side to Empire State Building by subway and foot
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Upper East Side to Empire State Building is to subway which costs $3 and takes 13 min.
The fastest way to get from Upper East Side to Empire State Building is to taxi which takes 7 min and costs $17 - $21.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from 5 Av/E 84 St and arriving at 5 Av/W 36 St. Services depart every five minutes, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 34 min.
Yes, there is a direct ferry departing from East 90th St and arriving at East 34th Street. Services depart hourly, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 27 min.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from 86th Street and arriving at 34 St-Herald Sq. Services depart every 10 minutes, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 11 min.
The distance between Upper East Side and Empire State Building is 4 miles.
The best way to get from Upper East Side to Empire State Building without a car is to subway which takes 13 min and costs $3.
The subway from 86th Street to 34 St-Herald Sq takes 11 min including transfers and departs every 10 minutes.
Upper East Side to Empire State Building bus services, operated by MTA Bus Company, depart from 5 Av/E 84 St station.
Upper East Side to Empire State Building train services, operated by MTA, depart from 86th Street station.
What companies run services between Upper East Side, NY, USA and Empire State Building, NY, USA?
MTA operates a subway from 86th Street to 34 St-Herald Sq every 10 minutes. Tickets cost $3 and the journey takes 11 min. Alternatively, MTA Bus Company operates a bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to 5 Av/W 36 St every 5 minutes. Tickets cost $3–8 and the journey takes 34 min. Westchester County Bee-Line System also services this route every 4 hours.
- Phone
- 877-690-5116
- Website
- MTA Homepage
Subway from 86th Street to 34 St-Herald Sq
- Ave. Duration
- 11 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $3
- Schedules at
- MTA Schedules
- Website
- MTA Homepage
- Website
- MTA: World Cup 2026
- Adult
- $3
- Phone
- 877-690-5116
- Website
- MTA
Bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to 5 Av/W 36 St
- Ave. Duration
- 34 min
- Frequency
- Every 5 minutes
- Estimated price
- $3–8
- Website
- MTA
- Schedules at
- MTA scheduled
- Website
- MTA: World Cup 2026
- Standard Fare
- $3–8
Bus from Lexington Av/E 86 St to Lexington Av/E 34 St
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Frequency
- Every 5 minutes
- Estimated price
- $3–8
- Website
- MTA
- Schedules at
- MTA scheduled
- Website
- MTA: World Cup 2026
- Standard Fare
- $3–8
- Phone
- 1-844-469-3377
- [email protected]
- Website
- NYC Ferry
Ferry from East 90th St to East 34th Street
- Ave. Duration
- 27 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5
- Website
- NYC Ferry
- Schedules at
- NYC Ferry Routes
- Adult one-way
- $5
- Ave. Duration
- 7 min
- Estimated price
- $17–21
Babes Taxi
- Phone
- +1 201-944-6800
- Website
- babestaxi.com
Fort Lee Taxi & Car Service
- Phone
- (201) 944-1166
- Website
- fortleetaxi.com
Lee Taxi
- Phone
- (201) 944-5566
Teaneck Taxi
- Phone
- (201) 833-2222
- Website
- teanecktaxiservice.com
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including Why you should take the train in the US, How to get from Stansted Airport into central London, and The London Underground: Essential tips to navigate the Tube - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Booking & Getting There
Upper East Side to Empire State Building bus services, operated by MTA Bus Company, arrive at 5 Av/W 36 St station.
Upper East Side to Empire State Building train services, operated by MTA, arrive at 34 St-Herald Sq station.
There are 3750+ hotels available in Empire State Building.






