Late Night with the City That Never Sleeps

Starting tomorrow (March 1), the observatory at the Empire State Building will remain open until 2 a.m. every night of the week. Since June 22, the extended hours have been offered on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and, according to a press release, have had the lovely effect of reducing lines during the day (nice to know for those who aren't night owls). Regardless of what time you visit the New York landmark (doors open at 8 a.m.), tickets cost $18 to get to the 86th Floor Observatory, and an additional $15 for the 102nd Floor Observatory. Keep in mind that while the Observatory stays open until 2 a.m., the last ticket will be sold at 1:15 a.m. and the final elevator up will around 1:35 a.m.

How do other view-from-the-top tourist sites around the world match up?

Paris: Currently access to the top of the Eiffel Tower costs 11.50 â‚¬ (about $15.20; there are also cheaper tickets to the lower levels) and is as follows: Jan. 1 to June 14 and Sept. 2 to Dec. 31, 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; June 15 to Sept. 1, 9 a.m. to midnight. Just in time for spring break, between March 31 and April 14 (as well as several weekends in May) the top of the Eiffel Tower will be open until 12:45 a.m.

Seattle: Entrance to the top of the Space Needle costs $14; opening hours are Sunday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to midnight.

Toronto: The CN Tower has three observation decks, all of which are open in winter Sunday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (the spring/summer hours aren't yet posted). Tickets range from CAN$22.78 (about $19.60) to CAN$27.55(about $23.70).

For other high-in-the-sky sites (including Kuala Lumpur's Menara KL and Auckland's Sky Tower, check out the World Federation of Great Towers, an association of . . . great towers . . . around the world.

By Anne McDonough | February 28, 2007; 2:00 PM ET | Category: Anne McDonough , Mid-Atlantic Destinations
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