27 guides · prices checked 24 Oct 2026
The best fun things to do in NYC
The Statue of Liberty ferry, SUMMIT, the 9/11 Memorial, Broadway and Central Park; here is what to book and what is free, with honest advice on refunds if plans change, what is worth the price and long lines.
The best fun things to do in NYC are the Statue of Liberty ferry and a sky deck like SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. Add the 9/11 Memorial, a Broadway show and a walk in Central Park.
The memorial, the park and the Staten Island Ferry are free. The sky decks, the statue ferry and the museums need a ticket. Book those ahead, and do the free sights on your own.
Our top 27
Top 27 things to do in NYC
Ranked by what most visitors come for, with the tour or ticket we would book for each and a guide that compares the options.
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Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
The official ferry from Battery Park lands on both islands. Start early: boats begin at 9:00 AM.
Our pick: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, from €29 per person
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SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
A sky deck next to Grand Central, with glass skyboxes and an open-air terrace.
Our pick: SUMMIT One Vanderbilt ticket, from €43 per person
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9/11 Memorial and Museum
The memorial pools are free, daily from 8 am to 8 pm. The museum below needs a timed ticket.
Our pick: 9/11 Museum timed ticket, from €22 per person
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Broadway shows
Tickets for the big musicals, from The Lion King to MJ. Show tickets cannot be refunded, so pick your date with care.
Our pick: Disney's The Lion King ticket, from €129 per person
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Central Park
Free and open from 6 am to 1 am. See it by rented bike, on a guided bike tour or in a pedicab.
Our pick: Bike and e-bike rental, from €12 per person
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Top of the Rock
Three floors of decks at Rockefeller Center, with a straight view over Central Park.
Our pick: Top of the Rock ticket, from €41 per person
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Empire State Building
The classic deck on the 86th floor, with an upgrade to the 102nd.
Our pick: Empire State Building ticket, from €45 per person
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Edge at Hudson Yards
An outdoor sky deck with angled glass walls and a glass floor, next to the Vessel.
Our pick: Edge observation deck ticket, from €38 per person
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Museums
The Natural History museum, MoMA, the Met and more. A good plan for a rainy day.
Our pick: American Museum of Natural History ticket, from €33 per person
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New York City walking tours
Walk SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown with a guide, or try a Gilded Age or gangsters tour.
Our pick: SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown walk, from €25 per person
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Times Square
The lights are free to see. Add a ticket for a skywalk high above the square.
Our pick: One Times Square Skywalk, from €24 per person
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One World Observatory
The sky deck on top of One World Trade Center, next to the 9/11 Memorial.
Our pick: One World Observatory ticket, from €27 per person
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Harbor cruises
See the skyline and the Statue of Liberty from the water, by day or at sunset.
Our pick: Sunset and harbor lights cruise, from €40 per person
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Hop-on hop-off buses
Open-top buses loop past the big sights. Get on and off for 1 to 3 days.
Our pick: Open-top hop-on hop-off ticket, from €55 per person
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Brooklyn
Street art, the Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO, on foot with a local guide.
Our pick: Bushwick street art walk, from €18 per person
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Food tours
Dumplings, pizza and cannoli on a walk through Chinatown and Little Italy.
Our pick: Chinatown and Little Italy food tour, from €63 per person
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Helicopter tours
A short flight over Manhattan for the skyline from above.
Our pick: Manhattan sightseeing flight, from €243 per person
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Sightseeing passes
The New York Pass, CityPASS and the Explorer pass bundle the big sights. They do not include the subway.
Our pick: New York CityPASS, from €133 per person
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Grand Central Terminal
The main concourse is open to all. A guided tour shows you its secrets.
Our pick: Secrets of Grand Central tour, from €35 per person
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Harlem and gospel
Gospel concerts and tours of Harlem, uptown.
Our pick: Harlem gospel concert, from €22 per person
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Live jazz
Jazz clubs, concerts and jazz cruises on the harbor.
Our pick: Evening jazz cruise, from €120 per person
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Comedy shows
Stand-up shows in Greenwich Village and Midtown.
Our pick: Stand-up comedy and mini-golf, from €21 per person
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Sports games
See the Brooklyn Nets or the New York Rangers play, or tour Madison Square Garden.
Our pick: Brooklyn Nets game ticket, from €29 per person
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Day trips from NYC
Washington DC, Philadelphia, outlet shopping and more, by bus from Manhattan.
Our pick: Washington and Philadelphia day trip, from €103 per person
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Washington DC day trip
A guided day in the capital, there and back from New York.
Our pick: Guided Washington DC day trip, from €96 per person
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Niagara Falls
Two-day and longer tours from New York to the falls.
Our pick: Niagara Falls 2-day tour, from €264 per person
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Woodbury Common
A shopping day at the outlets north of the city, by bus from Manhattan.
Our pick: Woodbury Common shopping trip, from €49 per person
The 8 tickets we would book in NYC
The statue ferry, four sky decks, the 9/11 Museum and two big museums. Each ticket is sold on GetYourGuide by the venue or its official ferry, with free cancellation. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
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from €29 per person Our top pick 5 hours 4.6 (21,216) reviews on GetYourGuide
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry
Statue City Cruises' own round-trip ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, with audio guides and both museums. Crown and pedestal access are not included.
Best for A first visit, and history
Check availability: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry on GetYourGuide -
from €43 per person 1.5–2 hours 4.7 (61,614) reviews on GetYourGuide
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt ticket
A sky deck next to Grand Central with art rooms, glass skyboxes and an open-air terrace. Go by day or by night. The listing says it does not suit people with vertigo.
Best for Views and photos
Check availability: SUMMIT One Vanderbilt ticket on GetYourGuide -
from €22 per person 1 hour 4.8 (35,327) reviews on GetYourGuide
9/11 Museum timed ticket
A timed ticket for the museum under the memorial. The memorial pools and the Survivor Tree outside are free. A guided tour and the audio guide cost extra.
Best for Paying respects
Check availability: 9/11 Museum timed ticket on GetYourGuide -
from €33 per person Any time that day 4.5 (17,821) reviews on GetYourGuide
American Museum of Natural History ticket
Over 40 halls, the dinosaur fossils and the Gilder Center, by Central Park. You enter at any time on your date. Special shows can be added.
Best for Families, and a rainy day
Check availability: American Museum of Natural History ticket on GetYourGuide -
from €41 per person 2 hours 4.6 (22,842) reviews on GetYourGuide
Top of the Rock ticket
Three floors of indoor and outdoor decks at Rockefeller Center. You look straight over Central Park and at the Empire State Building. Tax is included.
Best for The Central Park view
Check availability: Top of the Rock ticket on GetYourGuide -
from €45 per person 1-day ticket 4.7 (29,252) reviews on GetYourGuide
Empire State Building ticket
The 86th-floor deck, the Art Deco lobby and 12 galleries on the building’s history. The 102nd floor is an upgrade. Children under 6 go free.
Best for The classic deck
Check availability: Empire State Building ticket on GetYourGuide -
from €38 per person 1 hour 4.6 (23,765) reviews on GetYourGuide
Edge observation deck ticket
The outdoor sky deck at Hudson Yards, 1,100 feet up, with angled glass walls and a glass floor. Indoor rooms come first.
Best for The glass floor, and sunset
Check availability: Edge observation deck ticket on GetYourGuide -
from €27 per person Any time that day 4.6 (14,445) reviews on GetYourGuide
MoMA entry ticket
Entry to the Museum of Modern Art on 53rd Street, with Monet's Water Lilies and Warhol's soup cans. The audio guide is free on your phone.
Best for Art lovers
Check availability: MoMA entry ticket on GetYourGuide
NYC tickets compared
| Ticket | From | Duration | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry | €29 per person | 5 hours | A first visit, and history | The only official ferry that lands on both islands: 4.6 from 21,216 reviews. |
| SUMMIT One Vanderbilt ticket | €43 per person | 1.5–2 hours | Views and photos | The most-reviewed of our picks: 4.7 from 61,614 reviews. |
| 9/11 Museum timed ticket | €22 per person | 1 hour | Paying respects | The museum’s own ticket: 4.8 from 35,327 reviews. |
| American Museum of Natural History ticket | €33 per person | Any time that day | Families, and a rainy day | A full day indoors for the family: 4.5 from 17,821 reviews. |
| Top of the Rock ticket | €41 per person | 2 hours | The Central Park view | The best view of Central Park from a deck: 4.6 from 22,842 reviews. |
| Empire State Building ticket | €45 per person | 1-day ticket | The classic deck | The best-known deck in the city: 4.7 from 29,252 reviews. |
| Edge observation deck ticket | €38 per person | 1 hour | The glass floor, and sunset | The listing calls it the highest outdoor sky deck: 4.6 from 23,765 reviews. |
| MoMA entry ticket | €27 per person | Any time that day | Art lovers | Modern art in Midtown: 4.6 from 14,445 reviews. |
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry
€29 per person5 hours 4.6 (21,216)
Details
- Who it suits
- A first visit, and history
- Why we picked it
- The only official ferry that lands on both islands: 4.6 from 21,216 reviews.
€43 per person1.5–2 hours 4.7 (61,614)
Details
- Who it suits
- Views and photos
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed of our picks: 4.7 from 61,614 reviews.
€22 per person1 hour 4.8 (35,327)
Details
- Who it suits
- Paying respects
- Why we picked it
- The museum’s own ticket: 4.8 from 35,327 reviews.
American Museum of Natural History ticket
€33 per personAny time that day 4.5 (17,821)
Details
- Who it suits
- Families, and a rainy day
- Why we picked it
- A full day indoors for the family: 4.5 from 17,821 reviews.
€41 per person2 hours 4.6 (22,842)
Details
- Who it suits
- The Central Park view
- Why we picked it
- The best view of Central Park from a deck: 4.6 from 22,842 reviews.
€45 per person1-day ticket 4.7 (29,252)
Details
- Who it suits
- The classic deck
- Why we picked it
- The best-known deck in the city: 4.7 from 29,252 reviews.
€38 per person1 hour 4.6 (23,765)
Details
- Who it suits
- The glass floor, and sunset
- Why we picked it
- The listing calls it the highest outdoor sky deck: 4.6 from 23,765 reviews.
€27 per personAny time that day 4.6 (14,445)
Details
- Who it suits
- Art lovers
- Why we picked it
- Modern art in Midtown: 4.6 from 14,445 reviews.
- Group size is not stated on the booking pages.
- None of the 8 includes hotel pickup: you meet on site.
- All 8 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Must-see places to visit in NYC
The must-see places in NYC are the Statue of Liberty, a sky deck, the 9/11 Memorial, Broadway and Central Park.
Statue City Cruises is the only official ferry that lands on Liberty and Ellis Islands. Boats start at 9:00 AM, and the last one leaves Battery Park in mid-afternoon. Times change by season.
For a sky deck, pick SUMMIT by Grand Central, Top of the Rock for the park view, or Edge for the glass floor. The Empire State Building is the classic.
New York City tickets: what to book ahead
Book the statue ferry, the sky decks, the 9/11 Museum and a Broadway show ahead. These sell timed tickets, so book early to get the time you want.
On GetYourGuide, the deck and museum tickets are sold by the venues themselves. All eight of our picks have free cancellation there. The Empire State Building’s own tickets cannot be refunded, but they can be moved to another date.
Statue City Cruises says no ferries run on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day. If you enter after 2 pm, there is no time for both islands.
Free things to do in NYC
Many of the best things to do in NYC are free. You pay nothing for the 9/11 Memorial, Central Park or the Staten Island Ferry.
- 9/11 Memorial: the pools and plaza are free, open daily 8 am to 8 pm. The museum needs a ticket.
- Central Park: open every day from 6 am to 1 am, with no entrance fee.
- Staten Island Ferry: free and running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Things to do in Manhattan
Most of the top things to do in NYC are in Manhattan. Start downtown with the statue ferry and the 9/11 Memorial. Then go up to Midtown for a sky deck and a Broadway show.
End with Central Park and the museums on its edges. The subway links them all, at $3 a ride.
Indoor activities in NYC on a rainy day
On a rainy day, go to a museum or a Broadway matinee. The Natural History museum and MoMA take a full morning each. Edge also has indoor rooms before the outdoor deck.
Things to do in NYC this weekend
For this weekend, book a timed ticket now: a sky deck, the 9/11 Museum or the statue ferry. Then add the free sights. The live list at the bottom of this page shows what you can still book.
Booking tips for NYC
Timed tickets beat the line
The sky decks and museums sell tickets for a set time. Book one, and you skip the ticket line on the day.
If your plans change
Keep free cancellation. All eight of our picks have it on GetYourGuide. Check the rules before you book anywhere else.
Start the ferry early
Boats to the statue start at 9:00 AM. Enter after 2 pm and you will not have time for both islands.
Tap to ride
The subway costs $3 a ride. Tap a contactless card or phone at the gate.
Questions people ask about New York City
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More things to do in NYC, live
More New York City experiences with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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See every New York City tour with today's prices on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideEvery NYC guide
Views, harbor & shows
- Broadway show ticketsBroadway tickets
- Brooklyn Nets tickets and New York sports gamesSports tickets
- Edge NYC ticketsEdge NYC
- Empire State Building ticketsEmpire State Building
- New York boat tours and harbor cruisesHarbor cruises
- New York helicopter toursHelicopter tours
- One World Observatory ticketsOne World Observatory
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island toursStatue of Liberty
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt ticketsSUMMIT One Vanderbilt
- Top of the Rock tickets and Rockefeller Center toursTop of the Rock
Tours & museums
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum tickets and Ground Zero tours9/11 Memorial
- Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO and Brooklyn toursBrooklyn & DUMBO
- Central Park tours, bike rentals and pedicab ridesCentral Park
- Grand Central Terminal toursGrand Central
- Harlem gospel tours and Sunday church servicesHarlem gospel
- Hop-on hop-off and bus tours in New YorkHop-on hop-off buses
- New York City toursCity tours
- New York food toursFood tours
- New York museum ticketsMuseum tickets
- New York sightseeing passes comparedSightseeing passes
- Times SquareTimes Square
Nights out, day trips & planning
- Comedy shows in New YorkComedy shows
- Day trips from New York CityDay trips
- Getting around New York CityGetting around
- Live jazz in New YorkLive jazz
- New York City on a budgetNew York City on a budget
- Niagara Falls tours from New York CityNiagara Falls tours
- Washington DC day trip from New York CityWashington DC trip
- Woodbury Common outlet shopping trips from NYCWoodbury Common
Sources (6), facts checked on 24 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in NYC editorial team.