New York Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best New York tours, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the observation decks of the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Edge and Summit One Vanderbilt, harbour and skyline cruises, the 9/11 Memorial, Broadway shows, helicopter flights and food tours, plus a day trip to Niagara Falls. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect NYC itinerary.
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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.
ExploreTop 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.
Empire State Building
The classic skyscraper.
Top of the Rock
Best skyline views.
9/11 Memorial
Reflecting pools and museum.
Central Park
The green heart of the city.
Broadway
World-famous theatre.
Helicopter Tours
Aerial Manhattan flights.
Food Tours
Iconic NYC flavours.
New York in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Liberty & downtown
- 2Day 2: Midtown & decks
- 39/11 Memorial
- 4Broadway evening
New York in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Liberty & downtown
- 2Day 2: Midtown & decks
- 3Day 3: cruise & food
- 4Icons, views & flavours
New York with kids
- 1Statue of Liberty
- 2Central Park
- 3Observation deck
- 4Harbour cruise
New York at night
- 1Sunset from an observation deck
- 2Skyline cruise after dark
- 3Broadway curtain at 7pm
- 4Times Square before midnight
New York on a budget
- 1Staten Island Ferry, free harbor views
- 2Downtown walking tour
- 3High Line & Chelsea Market
- 4One view worth paying for
Harbour ferry awayStatue of Liberty
Liberty & Ellis Island.
Downtown away9/11 Memorial
Reflecting pools and museum.
Midtown awayTop of the Rock
Best skyline views.
Downtown Heliport awayHelicopter Tour
Aerial Manhattan flights.
Various awayFood Tour
Iconic NYC flavours.
Day trip awayNiagara Falls
The great natural wonder.
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.
New York through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild weather and parks.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely; book around events.
- Best for
- Events and rooftops.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot, humid and busy.
- Best for
- Fall foliage and day trips.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Arguably the best season.
- Best for
- Holiday magic and lights.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold; festive crowds in Dec.