One of the busiest cities of the World, New York surely does have an endless array of museums, art galleries, restaurants, fashion streets, cultural hubs, and various other tourist attractions to offer to its visitors. However, this endless list itself ends up the visitors confused about what to do in New York and what to add to their itinerary for exploring the city.
To help you out exploring the city in the best way possible, we have curated this exclusive list of Top 10 things to do in New York which must not be missed out ! To make your visit to New York Even more interesting, you can add on a Walking Tour – New York to your itinerary to know the below mentioned places in a better way with the help of a tour guide.
1) Go to the Top of One World Trade Centre and the Empire State Building: Also Known as the Freedom Tower was built in the memory of the World Trade Centre, to preserve its soul. It stands as the tallest building in the whole of America and the 6th tallest in the world. Go all the way up to the One World Observatory situated at the top of the building to capture the best view of the whole city, with a backdrop mesmerizing skyline of New York. Also, to have a 360 degrees night view of the city, do not forget to visit the Observatory situated on the 86th floor of the infamous Empire State Building. All thanks to its late-night operating hours till 2 A.M., this is one of the best things to do in New York at Night.
- Timings (One World Trade Centre): Variable
- Ticket Prices (One World Trade Centre): $38 (adult), $36 (senior citizen aged 65+), $32 (kids aged 6-12), free for kids below 5 years of age
- Booking Link: https://www.oneworldobservatory.com/en-US/buy-tickets
- Timings (Empire State): 8 A.M. to 2 A.M.
- Ticket Prices (Empire State): $42 (adult), $40 (senior citizen), $36 (child)
- Booking Link: https://www.esbnyc.com/buy-tickets
2) Take a Ferry ride to Statue of Liberty and learn about America’s Past: Your travel to New York cannot be considered complete unless you take a ferry all the way to Ellis Island to admire this icon of New York City. Ensure to make your bookings well in advance if you wish to climb up the statue. You can also visit the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration to learn about America’s immigration story from the colonial times to the present day. Moreover, the ferry ride will allow you to admire the city’s beautiful skyline from a distance.
- Timings: 8:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. (Ferry Departure Timings)
- Tickets: $26.25 (adult), $21 (senior citizen), $21 (Child) (Includes Ferry Ride, Entry to the Base of Statue and Entry to the Museum)
- Booking Link: https://www.statuecruises.com/
3) Spend some time lazing around in Central Park: You can spend several days, just exploring the iconic Central Park of New York City. However, the southern part of the park, from 59th to 72nd street is which attracts most of the visitors. You can even rent out a bicycle to explore this very heart of the city or just find a spot to enjoy a picnic or just lay down to enjoy your beautiful surroundings. If time allows, you can even plan to have a boat ride in the Lake, explore the Central Park Mall, and visit the Central Park Zoo.
- Timings: 6 A.M. – 1 A.M. (For Park only)
- Entry: Free of Cost (For Park only)
- Information Link: https://www.centralparknyc.org/
4) Visit the 9/11 Memorial to pay your Homage: Situated on the former World Trade Centre Site itself, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is one of the most important places in the whole of New York. It stands as a memoir to one of the darkest days in US history and pays homage to the people who lost their lives in the tragic incident. The exhibits of the museum details the day of the 9/11 attacks, the stories of people who lost their lives, its relics, and its aftermath on the US. The memorial is also famous as a photographic location due to its iconic waterfall and lighting effects.
- Timings: 8 A.M. – 9 P.M
- Tickets: $15 (Entry Free with New York Pass & Explorer Pass)
- Booking Link: https://www.911memorial.org/visit/visit-museum-1
5) Spend a night at the Times Square: The Heart of the New York City, Times Square is one of the liveliest as well as the most chaotic locations in the whole world. There is so much to see and do at Times Square that it will make you come back again and again. From some of the best shops and restaurants to flashing gigantic billboards and digital displays all around you, the place will surely leave you dazzled. Also, do not forget to catch a glimpse of the place where the New Year Ball drops each year. Just grab a bite from one of the most famous eateries and let yourself go with the flow of this iconic place and enjoy the New York nightlife without any safety concerns. You can also try out a lot more on your visit to the Times Square.
- Information Link: https://www.timessquarenyc.org/
6) Walk all the way to Brooklyn through the Brooklyn Bridge: One of the most beautiful bridges in the whole of the world and an icon for New York City, the Brooklyn Bridge connects Manhattan with Brooklyn. Just walk across the bridge over the East River and capture some of the most beautiful views of Manhattan as well as Brooklyn. Plan your walk somewhere around the sunset to experience the best of the view. A walk on the wooden planked structure would take you approximately 40 minutes to cross over the entire bridge.
- Entry Fee: Free of Cost (You can book a Walking tour for approx. $50)
- Information Link: https://www.nycgo.com/attractions/brooklyn-bridge
7) Go Museum hopping and explore some of the best museums in the World: New York is famous for housing some of the largest as well as the most iconic Museums around the World. A visit to each and every museum in the city would probably take you months. However, some of the must-visit museums of the city include the Americal Museum of Natural History, Whitney Museum of Americal Art, Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). However, due to a shortage of time or based on your interests, you may skip on a few of them. To save your time as well as money, you can get a New York Museum Pass, which will include most of the museums mentioned above.
- Museum Pass: One Day Pass- $134 (adult), $99 (child), Two Day Pass: $180 (adult), $149 (child). You can book a museum pass for up to a maximum of 10 Days.
- Get a Pass: https://www.newyorkpass.com/new-york-pass-prices.php
8) See one of the Legendary Broadway Shows: More than three dozen Broadway theatres are situated in the near vicinity of Times Square, hosting some of the most iconic plays around the world. Ranging from magical musicals, to high-budget plays starring Hollywood stars, these theatres have something to offer for everyone. If you wish to watch one of the most popular shows on the list, ensure to make your bookings well in advance. However, if you just wish to grab the experience of a Broadway show, you can buy discounted tickets, the same day of your visit, from one of the ticket booths in Times Square.
- Ticket Price Range: $20 – $175
- Booking Link: https://www.broadway.com/shows/tickets/
9) Shop your heart out at some of the best Fashion Stores: New York is a shopaholic’s paradise. From the most iconic designer boutiques to cheap roadside stalls, it has it all. A few of the most iconic places to look out for include the Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Hershey’s Chocolate World, and Toys “R” Us. Moreover, most of the shops in Times Square are open tile late at night. Therefore, stuff up your pockets with dollars and enjoy an endless shopping spree!
10) Gorge on some of the most authentic cuisines from all around the world: Apart from stuff your face with a mouth-watering slice of pizza, a bagel and a hot dog, which will be available in almost every neighborhood of New York, the city is also famous for serving authentic food items from all across the globe. Stop by at Café D’Alsace for some authentic French cuisines, explore the 86th Street in The Upper East side for some German Delicacies, and 79th Street to grab some Hungarian food. To try out some fusion Indo-Chinese dishes, you can drop by the Spicy Symphony, and the list goes on.
If you are short of time during your visit to New York and wish to experience the true essence of the city in the shortest time possible, all you need to do is indulge in the above-mentioned activities and you shall be all good to go. Moreover, even if you have ample time to explore the whole city, not one of the things mentioned above must be missed out while preparing your list for places to visit in New York.
If you wish to travel cheap and save on some money, you can follow these 10 Tips to save Money and Travel Cheap in New York. If you get a chance to extend your trip to NY, you surely must add on a visit to Los Angeles, one of the most magical cities of US.
