Securing a great vantage point is all-important if you want to enjoy New York City’s Fourth of July fireworks display.

The Manhattan skyline makes it so…a background of skyscrapers undoubtedly adds to the drama of a firework display, but such tall buildings also wreak havoc with sightlines.

There are some great free-to-access viewing points at street level – namely Hoboken (New Jersey) and the West Side Highway below 59^th.

Naturally, though, the best spectator spots are up high. Perhaps the best of them all is city’s second-tallest building – the Empire State Building.

Every year the building closes the doors to its 86th Floor Observatory for a private party. Only individuals with special Fourth of July tickets can gain access between 6.30pm and 10pm.

There tend to be around 300 tickets available. That’s around half the regular capacity.

They’re available to the general public, and sold on a first-come, first-served basis on the official Empire State Building website. They cost $149 each, which is a lot. But that price does include drinks and nibbles.

Featured image: Anthony Quintano