Central Park. An 843-acre green oasis at the heart of Manhattan, Central Park draws roughly 42 million visitors a year with its meadows, the Loeb Boathouse, Shakespeare in the Park, and the Henry Luce Nature Observatory at Belvedere Castle. It is the most visited urban park in the United States and is equally magical at dawn or…
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met's Fifth Avenue building holds more than 5,000 years of global art across 17 curatorial departments — from Egyptian antiquities and Impressionist paintings to armor, instruments, and contemporary works. Plan at least half a day; the rooftop garden alone offers skyline views worth the visit.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Ferries run from Battery Park to Liberty Island, where visitors can climb inside the statue's pedestal or — with advance crown tickets — ascend 354 steps to the torch level for sweeping harbor views. The adjacent Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is an essential companion stop, tracing the 12 million people…
The High Line. A 1.45-mile elevated linear park built on a former freight rail line, the High Line threads through the Meatpacking District, Chelsea, and Hudson Yards, offering rotating art installations, lush plantings, and sweeping Hudson River views. Free and open daily, it is one of the great urban reimaginations of the 21st…
Broadway and Times Square. Broadway — the 41-block Theater District — stages everything from long-running classics like The Lion King to fresh-run musicals, with hundreds of performances weekly. Times Square itself pulses with towering digital billboards and the famous TKTS booth, where same-day discounts of up to 50 percent on available shows…
Brooklyn Bridge Walk. The 1.1-mile pedestrian walkway across the 1883 landmark delivers some of the city's most photographed views of the Manhattan skyline, the East River, and lower Brooklyn. Completely free, it typically takes 30 to 60 minutes to cross and connects naturally to the cobblestone streets of DUMBO on the Brooklyn side.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). MoMA houses one of the world's premier collections of modern and contemporary art — Van Gogh's The Starry Night, Picasso, Warhol, Pollock — across six floors in Midtown, with audio guides available in 40 languages. The in-house restaurant The Modern carries a Michelin star, making a meal here a natural extension of…
National September 11 Memorial and Museum. The twin reflecting pools set in the footprints of the original towers, surrounded by engraved names of the nearly 3,000 victims, make this among the most powerful memorials in the world. The underground museum documents the events and aftermath of September 11, 2001, in extensive, carefully curated detail.
Top-rated tours & activities in New York City
Private Central Park Pedicab Tour — 5.0★ (7,437 reviews)
Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights — 4.9★ (2,534 reviews)
Official NYC Horse Carriage Rides in Central Park since 1979 ™ — 4.9★ (2,440 reviews)
True Crime NYC: Mafia Walk w/Ret. NYPD Detective and Local Food — 4.9★ (1,142 reviews)
The Original Greenwich Village Food & Cultural Tour Since 1999 — 4.9★ (286 reviews)
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour with Reserved Ferry Entry — 4.8★ (14,551 reviews)
New York City Mafia and Local Food Tour led by NYPD Guides — 4.8★ (1,402 reviews)
Statue of Liberty and New York City Skyline Sightseeing Cruise — 4.8★ (862 reviews)
Private Central Park Pedicab Tour — 5.0★ (7,437 reviews)
Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights — 4.9★ (2,534 reviews)
Official NYC Horse Carriage Rides in Central Park since 1979 ™ — 4.9★ (2,440 reviews)
True Crime NYC: Mafia Walk w/Ret. NYPD Detective and Local Food — 4.9★ (1,142 reviews)
The Original Greenwich Village Food & Cultural Tour Since 1999 — 4.9★ (286 reviews)
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour with Reserved Ferry Entry — 4.8★ (14,551 reviews)
New York City Mafia and Local Food Tour led by NYPD Guides — 4.8★ (1,402 reviews)
Statue of Liberty and New York City Skyline Sightseeing Cruise — 4.8★ (862 reviews)