Our Essential Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For flights, we recommend Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates. Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you! We always use Expedia's easy to use platform for hotels. To keep cell service while traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi. For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Get Your Guide also does the trick. Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance. Lastly, my packing list for any international or domestic travels.
Getting Around in New York City
The best way to get around New York City is by taking their public transportation. My personal favorite, and what I think is the easiest and quickest way to get around, is by using the subway. If you want, you can use an OMNY card which you'll have to buy at a station, but nowadays the easiest way to get in and out is just by using a contactless debit or credit card.
Compared to taxis and Ubers, this is the cheapest and fastest way to get around within the city. The best part is, you won't need to worry about getting stuck in traffic. Plus, you'll never know what you'll find, making it pretty entertaining as well. If you're not sure about the subway system, then calling a taxi or Uber is your next best bet.
Our Favorite Tours in New York City :
- Empire State Building Entry - NYC Helicopter Tour - Statue of Liberty & Cruise
30 Best Things to Do in New York City
1. The Statue of Liberty
Many people visiting New York already have this at the top of their list, but just in case you don't, this might just be the most iconic stop in New York City. You can even add on a visit to the inside of the Crown of the Statue itself. We personally did the General Admission tour since the Crown was closed when we visited, but this option will still bring you to the Statue of Liberty Museum & Grounds and Ellis Island. 2. Empire State Building I'll be honest, I've wanted to visit the spot in New York City ever since I watched Sleepless in Seattle. We recommend planning your visit early in the day and purchasing your tickets ahead of time, this will give you the best chance a clear views, and hopefully have the least amount of people. This tour will also bring you to the highest observation deck of the building on the 102nd floor. 3. Broadway Show We've been to 2 shows on Broadway so far and can't recommend it enough. Prices can get a little spendy for seats up close (try a matinee show if you're looking to save a little cash) but worth it to experience Broadway in New York City. Our favorite shows that we can recommend are Wicked for a heartfelt story and The Book of Mormon for some laughs. While you're there check out this "Behind the Scenes" Tour of Broadway!
4. Visit the MET & MET Cloisters
Most people make a stop at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when they're in New York City, but have you ever heard of the MET Cloisters in Harlem? Admission is actually included. with your ticket to the MET, and we highly encourage you to visit both to make the most out of your visit! The MET Cloisters focus on European medieval art & architecture, and are about a 40 minute subway ride from the MET on Line A. 5. Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock, Christmas Tree & Ice Skating Ok, yes this is a lot to do in one area, but there's simply a lot to do at Rockefeller Plaza. We recommend carving out a bit of time to visit the Top of the Rock for some incredible views, go ice skating, see the Rockefeller Tree, and stop at the public restrooms in the bottom of NBC Studios (they're the cleanest we found in New York city). You can also join the studio audience here for The Late Show with Seth Meyers, but you'll need tickets! (Check out #25 on our list on how to get free studio tickets!) 6. National September 11th Memorial A must stop for everyone visiting New York, this is the most somber attraction on our list. The memorial itself is free to visit and is located in a public plaza, however there is a $29 fee for the Museum Entrance, which we highly recommend.
7. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge & Manhattan Bridge
Even though this spot is very busy, it has some great views of the New York City skyline. We highly recommend visiting early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the majority of crowds at midday. Most people choose to walk the Brooklyn Bridge and photograph the Manhattan Bridge from below, and you'll see lots of people climbing the structures, but it's worth noting that this is very dangerous and we do not recommend. 8. Staten Island Ferry Another unique ride, the Staten Island Ferry is actually free, and connects Manhattan to Staten Island! It is worth knowing that there any many scammers nearby who will try to tell you that a ticket is needed to boarded, but don't worry, this ferry is completely free and you do not need a ticket. The ride itself last about 25 minutes and also have some great views of the New York City skyline. 9. Roosevelt Island Tram If you love seeing the skyline from the water, then you'll also wanna try the Roosevelt Island Tram. For just $2.75, this ride that takes you to Roosevelt Island - a place with great parks and epic skyline views! We actually did a house sit here and ended up staying about two weeks, we recommend bringing a picnic to enjoy the parks and views of Manhattan.
10. Washington Square Park
If you've seen August Rush then you know this location well. A lively park where you can see kids playing, vendors selling their art, live musicians and chess matches! Located near Greenwich Village. It's a great area to explore, play some chess, and meet some locals. 11. Grand Central Terminal Another iconic stop is Grand Central Terminal, especially for any Gossip Girl fans. With shopping and dining on location, you can even take a historical tour with insider information. We highly recommend checking out the Zodiac Ceiling and Information Booth Clock, two of the most well known areas inside. 12. The Oculus This unique building is located near the National September 11th Memorial, and this giant shopping center is quite the architectural marvel. You can go shopping, grab a snack or a coffee, and enjoy the unique area. 
13. Explore Central Park
If you're visiting New York City what you might not know is that Central Park is over 2.5 miles long with over 58 miles of walking and hiking trails - meaning exploring the entire park is pretty much impossible. You could easily spend the entire day here visiting the many sights inside the park like Belvedere Castle, Bow Bridge, Central Park Zoo, Wollman Ice Skating Rink, the Conservatory Garden, really the list goes on. The MET is also located on the eastern edge of the park if you're hoping to stop there also. If it sounds a bit overwhelming, try booking this guided walking tour! 14. Pizza Tour Pizza in New York is a must, it's literally known around the world! Even though our personal favorite is the 99 Cent Pizza located on Broadway - you'll find amazing (an amazingly cheap) pizza spots everywhere. If you're looking for more than just a cheap slice of pizza, then try this guided walking pizza tour of Brooklyn! 15. Take the Subway (Subway Performers!) Arguably one of the best places to people watch, you'll have the best time watching the subway performers if you're lucky enough to catch them! Most locals find it annoying, but personally, I could watch them all day long. Most rides will cost around $2.75 one way or $30 for a one week unlimited pass.
16. Little Island
We recently visited this spot for the first time on our most recent trip, and loved how unique it was! It almost looks like a floating park in the middle of a metropolis, and we loved how modern and futuristic it felt. Plus it had some great views of New York City and New Jersey with not too many crowds! 17. Times Square Another iconic spot you'll want to prepare yourself for plenty of people and lots of stimulus! If you can, try to time your visit for midnight, and no we're not joking. We've personally only visited during the day, but we've been told that every night from 11:57 pm to midnight exactly, there is a digital art display on all the screens known as the Midnight Moment. If you want to visit during the day, try to go early to avoid the biggest crowds. 18. Flatiron Building This triangular, 22 story building was one of the first skyscrapers built in New York in 1902. Although it was under construction when we visited, the neighborhood itself was super cute with lots of cafes and places to eat. If you're interested in other architecture in New York, try this guided tour.
19. The Vessel
Another recent addition to our list is the Vessel, which you've most likely seen on social media. This unique building at Hudson Yards was closed during our visit, but typically costs $10 per person to go inside (other than the first hour they are open, which is free for visitors). If you do make it inside, you can expect some very unique views as you climb the stairs. 20. The EDGE Located right above The Vessel, this adrenaline pumping experience will definitely be the highlight of your trip. Although they have General Admission to the Observation Deck, we recommend splurging for the City Climb for an epic adventure you'll be talking about for years to come. This will take you into the open outdoors while you gaze out at the skyline, you'll even get to lean out over the edge! Make sure to book this epic adventure in advance! 21. Koreatown Food Tour Koreatown undoubtedly has some of the best food in New York City, other than the pizza, of course. Located right next to the Empire State Building cortone is one of our favorite neighborhoods to explore, and if you're looking for a bite to eat make sure to stop at Food Gallery 32 and find a Korean Karaoke spot for some fun! If you're interested, we have an entire guide to our favorite places to eat in Koreatown.
22. F.R.I.E.N.D.S Tour
Any FRIENDS fans here?! As one myself, you already know I had to make Tyler stop at all the known FRIENDS locations in New York City, including :
23. Attend an Event at Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden hosts everything from sports tournaments to concerts and everything in between. Even though we haven't intended an event here ourselves yet, it's an iconic stop. That's definitely high on our list. If you're not too interested in paying ticket prices, or there's just nothing going on during your visit, then try this all access tour for only $48 per person! 24. Attend a Unique, Seasonal Event We all know New York City is special, and each season there's also plenty of unique events that take place in New York City. Some of our personal favorite seasonal events are listed below.
25. Donut Walking Tour
The most fun tour we've ever done in New York City, and no, I'm not joking. If you love donuts, then I 100% guarantee you'll love this tour. Each donut included on the tour was so unique and delicious - plus the the actual amount of donuts we got on our tour was surprising, and I think we ended up taking at least 7 donuts home with us! Our tour began near the Flatiron Building and ended near the FRIENDS apartment building, you can book it here! (Not into donuts? Try this cupcake tour instead!) 26. Bagel Tour Is New York City most known for their pizza or their bagels? Honestly I'm not sure if anyone could answer that. If you're not as obsessed with pizza as Tyler, (or maybe you're just looking for another food tour) head out on a bagel tour! You can Google the best spots around the city and head out on your own, or check out this bagel tour! 27. Helicopter Tour The absolute best way to see the New York City skyline and experience the absolute best views are through a helicopter tour over the city! The views and photos you'll get of the skyline are absolutely incredible, and it's definitely at the top of our list.
28. Sit in on a Studio Audience
Arguably one of our favorite and most unique things we did on our recent trip to New York City was to sit in on a studio audience, and we were able to join 3 shows for free! Our favorite was the Late Night Show with Seth Meyers, but we also loved joining the Drew Barrymore Show and sitting in on The View. If you're not sure about how to get your own tickets, it's surprisingly simple, just sign up on 1iota.com and apply for the shows you want to sit in on! 29. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Another incredible observation deck experience, the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is a bit unique as they incorporate multi-sensory immersive art experiences into their observation deck - think floating orbs large shiny sculptures. Check out the SUMMIT One experience here! 30. Murals, Gospel, Jazz and Soul Food in Harlem Undoubtedly one of our favorite finds in New York City, we loved walking the streets of Harlem - there is so much unique culture on the streets and some amazing food as well! We ended up spending about a week in Harlem during one of our house sits, and we're genuinely surprised at how much we enjoyed it. You can easily take the subway from Times Square or central New York up to Harlem for a day trip.
Watch our New York City Adventures Here!
Other New York City Blogs :
-> Koreatown Food Guide -> Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Guide -> One Day Guide to Harlem
Pin this NYC Guide for Later!
|
Hi, we're Deborah & Tyler!
After our first move to Alaska, we decided to take a gap year and visited 30+ countries on a budget of $100 a day. This blog shares our best budget saving travel tips & international itineraries.
Our Ultimate Guides!
Hundreds of hidden gems to use in real time. Including places to stay & eat. 
\\\ Our blog is free to read, but some links may be affiliates. This means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. Learn more here. \\\
Categories:
All
|
|
© COPYRIGHT 2026. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PRIVACY POLICY |