Top 10 things to do in New York City
Ranked for a first visit. For each we name the one ticket or tour we would book, or say when you do not need one. Prices checked on 11 October 2026 and exclude sales tax.
Finding experiences…
1Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Statue City Cruises is the only authorised ferry, from Battery Park; ignore the street sellers nearby. General admission costs $26, and pedestal or crown access $26.30, but those often sell out months ahead. Start before 2pm, or you will not have time for both islands. For the view alone, the free Staten Island Ferry passes the statue.
Read our guide2Empire State Building
The classic Art Deco view from the 86th floor, from $46, or $81 with the 102nd floor; prices change with the time slot and sunset costs most. Open 9am to 10pm. If you want the Empire State Building in your photos, choose Top of the Rock or SUMMIT instead; see the comparison below.
See the options3Central Park
Walk in from Columbus Circle or the Plaza and head for Bethesda Terrace at 72nd Street. The fountain there is switched off for about a year of restoration, but the terrace and its tiled arcade are open. A pedicab or walking tour covers the highlights; Citi Bike day passes cost $25.
See the options49/11 Memorial and Museum
The memorial pools are free and open daily from 8am to 8pm. The museum needs an advance ticket, is closed on Tuesdays and admits its last visitors at 5:30pm. On Mondays from 5:30pm to 7pm entry is free, with a limited number of tickets released at 7am that day.
See the options5Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO
The walk across is about 1.1 miles and takes 30–45 minutes. The Manhattan entrance is on Centre Street opposite City Hall (subway 4, 5 or 6 to Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall). Many people take the subway to Brooklyn and walk back towards the Manhattan skyline.
See the options6The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Adults pay $30; pay-what-you-wish is only for New York State residents and some local students. The Met is closed on Wednesdays and open until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays, the quietest times to visit. The ticket also covers The Met Cloisters on the same day.
See the options7A Broadway show
The TKTS booth under the red steps in Times Square sells same-day tickets at up to 50% off, plus an $8 service fee; the Lincoln Center booth has shorter lines. Many shows also run rush and lottery tickets from about $30–49. The average Broadway ticket sold for about $131 in the 2025–26 season.
See the options8The High Line and Hudson Yards
A free elevated park on an old rail line, open 7am to 10pm, from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards. At the north end, Edge has an outdoor sky deck with a glass floor, now reached through new indoor installations, from $42 plus a $2 fee.
See the options9A harbour cruise
A Circle Line landmarks cruise from Pier 83 passes the Statue of Liberty and the downtown skyline with commentary. On a budget, the free Staten Island Ferry runs 24 hours from Whitehall Terminal and takes about 25 minutes each way; sit on the right-hand side leaving Manhattan to see the statue.
See the options10Day trip to Washington, DC
The capital is about three hours each way by Amtrak’s Acela, so a coach tour is the simpler way to see the monuments in one day. Niagara Falls is 6.5–7 hours each way by road: better as an overnight trip or a flight to Buffalo.
See the options
Where available, you can reserve now and pay later. Payment dates and eligibility depend on the experience and the options shown at checkout.
New York itinerary for 1, 2 or 3 days
Spend one day downtown, one in Midtown and one uptown, and use the subway between them.
Not on the map (outside the city): Day trip to Washington, DC.
Day 1: Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn
- Morning: the first ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from Battery Park.
- Afternoon: the 9/11 Memorial and Museum (closed on Tuesdays).
- Evening: walk the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO for the skyline at dusk.
Day 2: Midtown
- Morning: the High Line from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards.
- Afternoon: an observation deck, timed for sunset.
- Evening: a Broadway show; the TKTS booth sells same-day deals.
Day 3: Central Park and the museums
- Morning: Central Park from the south end to Bethesda Terrace.
- Afternoon: the Met (closed on Wednesdays) or the American Museum of Natural History across the park.
With more time
Add MoMA, a harbour cruise, Woodbury Common outlets or a day trip to Washington, DC.
New York observation decks compared: which one to choose
Choose by the view you want: from the Empire State Building you see the rest of the city; from the others you see the Empire State Building.
- All four sell timed tickets with prices that change by time of day; sunset slots cost most and sell first.
- One deck is enough for most first visits; a city pass makes sense only if you also want several museums or the cruise.
| Deck | Adult price from | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Empire State Building | $46 (86th floor), $81 with the 102nd | The classic Art Deco experience in the middle of Midtown |
| Top of the Rock | Varies by time slot | Central Park to the north and the Empire State Building to the south; no time limit once inside |
| SUMMIT One Vanderbilt | $44 | Immersive art rooms and views next to Grand Central; open 8am to midnight |
| Edge, Hudson Yards | $42 plus a $2 fee | A glass floor and the Hudson River at sunset |
When to visit New York City: weather and big events
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable; summer is hot and humid, and winter brings snow and the holiday season.
- Weather: average highs of about 85°F (29°C) in July and 40°F (4°C) in January; February is the snowiest month.
- The New York City Marathon is on Sunday 1 November 2026, closing roads across the five boroughs.
- The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is on Thursday 26 November 2026, and the Rockefeller Center tree is lit on Wednesday 2 December.
- New Year’s Eve in Times Square is free with no tickets, first come, first served; once you leave your spot you cannot return.
- The weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year are among the busiest of the year, so book hotels early.
Christmas and the holiday season in New York
From the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday 26 November 2026 to the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, our holiday guide has the confirmed dates, where to stand, and the lights, rinks and shows worth booking.
Holiday season in New York: read our guideMoney in New York: tipping, taxes and city passes
Prices in New York usually exclude 8.875% sales tax, and tips of 18–20% are expected in restaurants.
Tipping and taxes
- Restaurants: 18–20% of the bill; check for an automatic gratuity on groups of six or more. Doubling the sales tax gives roughly 18%.
- Taxis and rideshares: 15–20%; bartenders at least $1 a drink.
- Clothing and shoes under $110 are exempt from sales tax.
- Hotels add 14.75% in taxes plus $3.50 a night in fees.
City passes and free things
- New York CityPASS costs $149 for adults for any five of ten attractions, including the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Museum, valid for nine days. The Met is not included.
- Free: Central Park, the High Line, the Brooklyn Bridge, the 9/11 Memorial, the Staten Island Ferry and Times Square.
- The Guggenheim is pay-what-you-wish on Tuesdays and Sundays from 4pm to 5:30pm.
Getting around New York: airports, subway and taxis
Tap a contactless card or phone at the subway gates: each ride costs $3, and you never pay more than $35 in seven days.
From the airports
- JFK: the AirTrain costs $8.75, so with the subway the trip to Manhattan is $11.75; via the Long Island Rail Road it is about $14 off-peak. Taxis charge a flat $70 to Manhattan plus surcharges, tolls and tip.
- LaGuardia: the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus is free and runs 24 hours to the subway at Jackson Heights.
- Newark: NJ Transit trains to Penn Station cost $17.25, including the AirTrain fee.
Subway and buses
- The fare is $3. Tap the same card or phone each time to benefit from the seven-day cap of $35; each traveller needs their own card.
- MetroCards are no longer sold.
- Do not drive into Manhattan: below 60th Street, cars pay a $9 congestion charge at peak times, and parking is expensive.
New York with kids, on a rainy day or as a couple
Dinosaurs and boats for children, the great museums for wet days, and a deck at sunset for two.
With kids
- The American Museum of Natural History ($37 for adults from outside New York State).
- The Staten Island Ferry, Central Park and the Statue of Liberty.
On a rainy day
- The Met, MoMA ($30) and the Natural History Museum.
- A Broadway matinee.
For couples
- An observation deck at sunset, then dinner in the West Village.
- A harbour cruise in the evening, or a Broadway show.
New York tours and tickets by type
Browse every bookable option by type, with live prices and availability for your dates.
- Attraction ticketsObservation decks, museums and the 9/11 Museum.
- Guided and walking toursThe Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO, and the 9/11 Memorial.
- Broadway showsMusicals and plays; book the hits ahead and try TKTS for the rest.
- Harbour cruisesLandmark, sunset and full-island cruises from Midtown.
- Day tripsWashington, DC, Woodbury Common outlets and Niagara Falls.