This is one of the first questions we ask ourselves when we start planning our upcoming trip to NYC:

☞ What are the best attractions in New York? What are the absolutely must-sees attractions of the Big Apple?

Every year, the list of places and attractions to discover is growing in NYC. But let’s face it, some of these activities have become iconic over the years! So today, we’re going to explore these iconic attractions you shouldn’t miss in New York City. You will find all the best attractions to fill your schedule. And if you don’t have enough time to do it all, this will be an opportunity to come back to NYC 🙂

Statue of liberty & Ellis Island

This attraction is available in:

➜ The New York City Pass ➜ The New York C3
➜ The GoCity Explorer Pass ➜ The New York Pass

If we had to choose only one attraction in New York City, it would probably be this one. Even after several trips to New York, we never really get tired of admiring the Statue of Liberty. Right next, the visit of Ellis Island takes us to the heart of the history of New York and the United States since it is the point of entry of all immigrants from 1892 to 1954.

More information about the visit:

The Statue of Liberty is located on a little island just next to Manhattan: Liberty Island. Each ticket allows you to board a boat that makes a first stop on Liberty Island. Depending on the ticket you choose, you can either walk freely around the statue or climb up to the pedestal or the crown. The boat then makes a second stop at Ellis Island where the Museum of Immigration is located.

You might be interested in :
➜ Statue of Liberty crown access : everything you need to know

Times Square

Free attraction.

The most famous place on Earth according to some people. The center of the world according to others. Times Square is undeniably a place apart, even for New York City! Times Square never sleeps, Times Square is vibrating 24 hours a day, according to the rhythm of the giant screens and the crowd that rushes to spend an unforgettable moment in this iconic place.

But Times Square is of course mostly street animations, stores (often crazy and huge), restaurants, theaters and a vibrancy that can’t be found anywhere else.

The Empire State building

This activity is available in:

➜ The New York City Pass ➜ The New York C3
➜ The GoCity Explorer Pass ➜ The New York Pass
➜ The Sightseeing Day Pass ➜ The Sightseeing Flex Pass

Let’s continue the list of the most famous places in the world! Of course, it is impossible to go to New York City without making a stop to the Empire State building. You can admire this iconic landmark from the 34th street and the 5th Avenue but the must is of course to climb to its top!

From the top, you can enjoy a fantastic 360° view of New York City. The Empire State building observatory is open 365 days a year (except extreme weather conditions). So you have no excuse not to go there during your trip!

Other NYC observatories

In recent years, the number of observation decks in the city has multiplied, for our great pleasure! Each observatory offers a unique view of the city and some of its most famous places. In addition to the Empire State Building, here are the other observatories in the city:

  • The Top of the Rock

This activity is available in:

➜ The New York City Pass ➜ The New York C3
➜ The GoCity Explorer Pass ➜ The New York Pass
➜ The Sightseeing Day Pass ➜ The Sightseeing Flex Pass

The Top of the Rock is the Rockefeller Center observatory. Located in the heart of New York, it allows to enjoy a direct view on the Empire State building.

  • The One World Observatory

This activity is available in:

➜ The GoCity Explorer Pass ➜ The New York Pass
➜ The Sightseeing Day Pass ➜ The Sightseeing Flex Pass

Located at the top of the One World Trade Center, just steps away from the 9/11 memorial, the One World Observatory is part of the neighborhood’s renaissance and offers a panoramic view of Manhattan island (and also of the Statue of Liberty!).

  • Edge

This activity is available in:

➜ The New York C3  
➜ The GoCity Explorer Pass ➜ The New York Pass
➜ The Sightseeing Day Pass ➜ The Sightseeing Flex Pass

Opened in March 2020, only a few days before the Covid lockdown, the Edge Observatory is located in the last neighborhood built in Manhattan: Hudson Yards. With its open-air platform that extends into the sky, it’s a total immersion into the New York City atmosphere!

  • Summit

This activity is not currently offered in any pass. Tickets can be booked directly here.

This is the latest addition to the New York observatories opened by the Vanderbilt family. With its transparent elevator and its glass floor above the streets of the city, it is quite simply extraordinary sensations that await us!

Central Park

You will probably never have seen such a vast city park! It is not a legend, Central Park is indeed the green heart of New York. It’s the ideal place for New Yorkers to walk and relax. The park is also full of activities that will enjoy the whole family (bike and boat rental, carousel, ice rink, restaurant…).

All the activities are to be discovered here. And if you don’t want to miss anything about Central Park, read the full article about the park here.

Other parks in New York City

In addition to Central Park, there are many other amazing parks to discover in New York. Among them, don’t miss: 

  • Little Island: A new park created on an artificial island over the Hudson River.
  • Bryant Park: One of the most beautiful parks in downtown, just steps away from Fifth Avenue and the NY Public Library. A real gem of nature amongst the buildings.
  • Brooklyn Bridge Park: The perfect place to enjoy the New York City skyline and the amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge. Just unforgettable!

Fifth Avenue

Simply the most iconic avenue in New York City but also one of the most beautiful avenues in the world! If you also dream of this famous New York atmosphere, you will find it on the 5th Avenue…

Between its luxury stores and its famous buildings (Empire State building, Rockefeller Center, Trump Tower…), it is a real condensed version of the best that New York can offer us. Simply magic, just like in the movies!

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

This activity is available in:

➜ The New York City Pass ➜ The New York C3
➜ The GoCity Explorer Pass ➜ The New York Pass
➜ The Sightseeing Day Pass ➜ The Sightseeing Flex Pass

This is the perfect activity to enjoy the most beautiful views of New York and its skyline! Day or night, Circle Line cruises take us on fascinating explorations of Manhattan’s coasts. In addition to the skyline, you can admire some of the most famous places and monuments of NYC: the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State building, Lower Manhattan and the One World Trade Center… And the list goes on!

Several types of cruises are proposed:

  • Landmarks (half island cruise): The most popular, that allows you to admire the main iconic places and monuments of the city (duration: 1h30).
  • Best of NYC (full island cruise): That goes around Manhattan Island in 2h30.
  • Harbor lights (evening cruise): That takes place at sunset, to admire the skyline at dusk then illuminated (duration: 2 hours).

The Brooklyn Bridge

Free attraction.

Probably the most famous bridge in the city! The one that thousands of tourists and New Yorkers cross every day to enjoy an absolutely sensational view of Manhattan. And it is of course a great spot to take wonderful pictures!

If you want a tested and approved advice: go there for the sunrise! The view is amazing and you will be almost alone on the bridge! Otherwise, the view is just as magical at night…

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum

The 9/11 Memorial is a free activity.

The 9/11 Museum is available in:

➜ The New York City Pass ➜ The New York C3
➜ The GoCity Explorer Pass ➜ The New York Pass
➜ The Sightseeing Day Pass ➜ The Sightseeing Flex Pass

The place where the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001 took place are now the site of a vast memorial dedicated to the memory of the victims and their families. This memorial takes the form of 2 basins located at the exact emplacement of the twin towers. The names of the 3000 victims who disappeared during the disaster can be found on the sides of each basin.

Underground, just below the memorial, is the 9/11 Museum, which traces the history of the event through various exhibitions. Each exhibit is housed in separate spaces and it is possible, for the more sensitive people, to choose which areas of the museum  to explore.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) and the Museum of Natural History

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is not currently offered in any pass. Tickets can be booked directly here.

The Museum of Natural History is available in:

➜ The New York City Pass ➜ The New York C3
➜ The GoCity Explorer Pass ➜ The New York Pass
➜ The Sightseeing Day Pass ➜ The Sightseeing Flex Pass

New York is home to some of the most beautiful museums in the world! The MET and the Museum of Natural History are two of the most popular museums in the city.

The MET, with the richness of its collections, offers a superb overview of the the history of humans and civilizations. The Museum of Natural History is also a huge museum that fascinates young and old people. Astronomy, ethnology, naturalism, archaeology… The exhibits are all more exciting than the others even if the museum is mainly known for its fantastic collection of dinosaur skeletons.

The High Line

Free attraction.

Want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the NYC streets for a few hours? Here is the perfect attraction! This suspended walkway offers wonderful views of the city’s streets, neighborhoods and skyline. Suspended 10 meters (33 feet) above the ground, the walkway extends over the route of an old aerial railroad.

You might be interested in :
➜ The New York City Highline : what you shouldn’t miss

Enjoy guided tours of New York’s iconic neighborhoods

You’ll quickly notice once you arrive in New York City: all of the city’s neighborhoods have their own atmosphere and architecture. They also all have different histories and influences. So, to really understand the city and its heritage, there are guided tours of the most emblematic districts. You can discover :

Broadway musicals

These shows are not currently offered in any pass.

We’ve all heard about the great Broadway musicals! Whether you are a child or an adult, there are shows for all interests and all ages. If you want to have a magical evening, as a couple, with friends or with your family, here are the most beautiful  Broadway shows:

Shopping

How can you not put shopping in the list of New York best activities? The Big Apple is indeed a real shopping PA-RA-DISE because the prices of clothing are very attractive. Of course, there is also an incredible concentration of stores, of all styles and budgets. In short, you are sure to find what you are looking for in New York City and even more!

The subject would probably deserve a blog just for it but to start, you can already read the articles of the shopping section 🙂

Enjoy a basketball, hockey, baseball or football game

These games are not currently offered in any pass.

Do you want to fully enjoy the American tradition during your trip? Then go to the stadiums! New Yorkers are unconditional supporters of their local teams, whether it is basketball, hockey, football or baseball. The atmosphere is so captivating that you could think you’re an unconditional fan too!

Between October and April, you can go and support : 

Between September and January, you can go and support : 

Between April and October, you can go and support : 

Take a helicopter tour

This activity is not currently offered in any pass.

Probably the best for last! When I was planning my very first trip to New York, I was far from thinking that we could fly over New York City in a helicopter, without being a celebrity or a businessman… But yes, it is possible! Many companies offer flights around Manhattan to enjoy the amazing view of the skyline.

It is an incredible experience, full of thrills, which leaves an unforgettable memory. You can choose between 15, 20 or 30 minutes flights and the booking is very easy through the booking platforms.

Book a helicopter flight

That’s it! Now you know what the best New York attractions are! If you still have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments 🙂

You might be interested in :
➜ New York City neighbourhoods guide: all you need to know
➜ Where to see the Friends apartment building in NYC?

Written by

Laura

I’m a french travel blogger, crazy about New York City! Since I discovered NYC in 2014, each trip is an opportunity to learn more about the secrets of this fantastic city. I wish you a pleasant visit on my blog, with I hope, a lot of beautiful discoveries!