New York · USA
Things to Do in New York: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
The best things to do in New York, ranked by real traveller reviews: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Top of the Rock and Summit One Vanderbilt, the 9/11 Memorial, a harbour cruise, Central Park, a Broadway show, a Chinatown and Little Italy food tour, and day trips to Washington DC, Niagara Falls and Philadelphia. Compare 3,000+ tours, tickets and day trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
2,659 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in New York
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in New York
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Typical tour price in New York City: €65 per person, 8% above the global medianHow much do tours cost in New York City? →
New York City
Official NYC Horse Carriage Rides in Central Park since 1979 ™
from$99/ person
via Viator
New York City
Statue of Liberty and New York City Skyline Sightseeing Cruise
from$79/ person
via Viator
Browse
Explore New York by interest
Whatever brings you to New York — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Statue of Liberty
Liberty & Ellis Island.
ExploreObservation decks
Empire State, Edge & more.
ExploreCruises
Skyline and sunset sails.
Explore9/11 Memorial
Tribute and museum.
ExploreFood tours
Pizza, bagels and more.
ExploreHelicopter tours
Aerial Manhattan flights.
ExploreNiagara Falls
The great natural wonder.
ExploreDay trips
Niagara, DC and more.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in New York
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Statue of Liberty
Liberty & Ellis Island.
300+ toursView tours
Empire State Building
The classic skyscraper.
250 toursView tours
Top of the Rock
Best skyline views.
200 toursView tours
9/11 Memorial
Reflecting pools and museum.
150 toursView tours
Central Park
The green heart of the city.
180 toursView tours
Broadway
World-famous theatre.
120 toursView tours
Helicopter Tours
Aerial Manhattan flights.
80 toursView tours
Food Tours
Iconic NYC flavours.
200 toursView tours
2 days
New York in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Liberty & downtown
- 2Day 2: Midtown & decks
- 39/11 Memorial
- 4Broadway evening
3 days
New York in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Liberty & downtown
- 2Day 2: Midtown & decks
- 3Day 3: cruise & food
- 4Icons, views & flavours
With kids
New York with kids
- 1Statue of Liberty
- 2Central Park
- 3Observation deck
- 4Harbour cruise
Evening
New York at night
- 1Sunset from an observation deck
- 2Skyline cruise after dark
- 3Broadway curtain at 7pm
- 4Times Square before midnight
Any day
New York on a budget
- 1Staten Island Ferry, free harbor views
- 2Downtown walking tour
- 3High Line & Chelsea Market
- 4One view worth paying for
4 hrs awayWashington DC
The National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol and the White House on a 16-hour coach day from Midtown; the most-booked trip from the city.
from $95View trips
2 hrs awayPhiladelphia & Amish Country
Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in the morning, then Lancaster County’s Amish farms and a buggy ride in the afternoon.
from $110View trips
7 hrs awayNiagara Falls
The Maid of the Mist and the American and Horseshoe Falls; a very long day tour or, better, a two-day trip with an overnight.
from $60View trips
1 hr awayWoodbury Common Outlets
250 designer outlet stores in the Hudson Valley; round-trip coaches from Midtown with a full day to shop.
from $48View trips
1 hr by train awaySleepy Hollow & Hudson Valley
Washington Irving’s village, the Old Dutch Church and the Walkway Over the Hudson on a guided train day; spectacular in October.
from $118View trips
In city awayStatue of Liberty & Ellis Island
The reserved ferry from Battery Park, Liberty Island and the immigration museum — take the first boat of the day.
from $25View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every New York visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (April–June) and autumn (September–November) bring mild, pleasant weather ideal for sightseeing, parks and cruises — the prime times to visit New York.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Mild and blooming, with Central Park at its prettiest — a lovely, comfortable time to explore.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Hot and humid but lively, with outdoor events and rooftop bars; busy and pricier.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Crisp air and stunning fall foliage; arguably the best season for the city and day trips.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold but magical around the December holidays, with ice rinks, lights and festive markets.
Holiday season
Late November to early January is festive but very busy and pricey; book decks and shows well ahead.
One day
Enough for Liberty, a deck and a cruise.
Two days
Add the 9/11 Memorial and a Broadway show.
Three days
The sweet spot: icons, decks, a cruise and a food tour.
Four to five days
Add museums, Brooklyn, and a Niagara or DC day trip.
A week or more
Explore every borough and several day trips at leisure.
Travelling with kids
Mix Liberty, Central Park and decks at a relaxed pace.
The subway
The 24-hour subway is the fastest, cheapest way around New York; pay by tapping a contactless card or phone (OMNY).
On foot
Manhattan’s grid makes walking easy, and neighbourhoods like Midtown and Lower Manhattan are best explored on foot.
Taxis & ride apps
Yellow cabs and ride apps are everywhere, handy for late nights or with luggage, though traffic can be slow.
Hop-on hop-off buses
Open-top sightseeing buses link the major sights, useful for first-time visitors.
Ferries
The free Staten Island Ferry and NYC Ferry offer great skyline views; tour ferries reach Liberty Island.
From the airports
JFK, LaGuardia and Newark connect to the city by train, subway, bus and taxi; the AirTrain links JFK and Newark to the rail network.
Consider a city pass
If visiting several decks and attractions, a New York pass (CityPASS, Sightseeing or Explorer) can save money.
Book timed tickets
Reserve observation decks, the Statue of Liberty ferry and Broadway shows in advance to skip queues and avoid sell-outs.
Tipping culture
Tipping is expected in the US — around 18–20% in restaurants and for taxis and tours; budget for it.
Tax on top
Sales tax is added at the register, so prices shown are before tax; factor it into your budget.
Tap to ride
Use contactless OMNY on the subway and buses — no need to buy a MetroCard for short visits.
Dress for the season
Summers are hot and humid, winters cold; pack accordingly and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Observation decks
Timed deck tickets sell out at peak times — book ahead.
Statue of Liberty
Pedestal and crown access are very limited — reserve early.
Broadway shows
Popular shows sell out weeks ahead — book in advance.
Helicopter tours
Flights have limited seats — reserve early.
9/11 Museum
Timed museum tickets are popular — pre-book.
Holiday season
December is extremely busy — plan and book early.
Observation decks
Around $35–45 each for the Empire State, Top of the Rock, Edge or Summit.
Statue of Liberty
About $25–40 for the ferry with Liberty and Ellis Island.
Cruises
Roughly $35–60 for a sightseeing cruise; more for dinner cruises.
Broadway shows
Around $80–200 depending on the show and seats.
Helicopter tours
About $200–300 for a Manhattan flight.
How to save
Use a city pass for multiple decks, walk and use the subway, and enjoy free sights like Central Park and the Staten Island Ferry.
When to visit
New York through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Apr–Jun
- Best for
- Mild weather and parks.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely; book around events.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Jul–Aug
- Best for
- Events and rooftops.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot, humid and busy.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Sep–Nov
- Best for
- Fall foliage and day trips.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Arguably the best season.
Winter (Dec–Mar)
Dec–Mar
- Best for
- Holiday magic and lights.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold; festive crowds in Dec.
People also ask
New York travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in New York?
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Top of the Rock or Summit One Vanderbilt, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, a Broadway show, Central Park, a harbour cruise, the Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO, the Met, a Chinatown and Little Italy food tour, and the High Line. Book the ferry and the observation deck ahead; everything else can be decided on the day.
How many days do you need in New York?
Four days for a first visit: downtown and the Statue of Liberty, Midtown and a show, Central Park and a museum, Brooklyn or a food tour. Add a fifth for Washington DC or Philadelphia. Stay in Midtown or Lower Manhattan to save subway time, and plan each day around one part of the city.
What can you do in New York for free?
The Staten Island Ferry, Central Park, the High Line, the Brooklyn Bridge, the 9/11 Memorial plaza, Grand Central, the New York Public Library, Times Square at night, Governors Island in summer, the Bronx Zoo on Wednesdays, Chelsea Market, the Oculus, and Roosevelt Island by the tram (subway fare). Many museums have pay-what-you-wish evenings.
What are the best day trips from New York?
Washington DC (from $95), Philadelphia and Amish Country (from $110), the Woodbury Common outlets (from $48), Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley (from $118 by train with a guide) and the Hamptons in summer. Niagara Falls is a two-day tour (from $293), not a day trip. All leave from Midtown with no car needed.
What is there to do in New York at night?
A Broadway show, Top of the Rock or the Edge at sunset, a night harbour cruise past the lit-up skyline, Times Square, a jazz club in the Village, the Brooklyn Bridge walk after dark for the skyline, a comedy club, a night helicopter flight, rooftop bars in Midtown, and the Museum of Modern Art’s late Saturday hours. The subway runs all night.
What can you do in New York in winter?
December is the classic: the Rockefeller Center tree and rink, the Fifth Avenue windows, the Bryant Park Winter Village, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the Dyker Heights lights in Brooklyn. January and February are cold but cheap and empty: shorter lines at the Statue of Liberty and the decks, Restaurant Week, Broadway Week 2-for-1 tickets and the museums at their quietest.
What are the best things to do in New York with kids?
The Statue of Liberty ferry, the Museum of Natural History’s dinosaurs, Central Park’s zoo, carousel and rowboats, the Intrepid aircraft carrier, Top of the Rock, a harbour cruise, the Brooklyn Bridge walk to Jane’s Carousel, Coney Island in summer, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the Lego and M&M stores in Times Square and a family-friendly Broadway show like The Lion King.
When is the best time to visit New York?
April to June and September to early November: mild weather, Central Park in bloom or fall colour and long days for walking. December is magical but crowded and expensive; January and February are the cheapest months; July and August are hot, humid and busy at the decks and ferries.
Is New York worth visiting?
Yes — no other city concentrates this many world-class sights within walking distance of each other, and the free list alone (the ferry, the park, the bridge, the High Line) fills two days. Plan the ticketed icons ahead and give it four days rather than a weekend.
2,659 New York experiencesfrom $20 · free cancellation
Explore tours