advertisement
Discover the best tourist attractions in New York, from iconic landmarks to local favorites that New Yorkers actually recommend to out-of-town visitors.
Fact-Checked By: Maya Whitfield—Senior Travel Editor at WakaAbuja
The best tourist attractions in New York are the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Times Square, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 9/11 Memorial, and the Brooklyn Bridge. For a first trip, give Manhattan 3 full days and add 1 to 2 days if you want Brooklyn. Book the Statue of Liberty ferry and the Empire State Building at least a week ahead, and know that several top attractions like Central Park and the High Line are completely free.
New York has more must-see attractions than any reasonable itinerary can fit, so this guide does the sorting for you. Below, the icons you should not skip are organized by neighborhood and trip length, with what each one actually costs, how long to budget, and whether you need to book ahead.
I have spent years exploring this city on foot, and the advice here comes from actually doing it, not just reading about it.
Jump to: Top 12 Must-Sees | Midtown | Downtown | Uptown & Museum Mile | Brooklyn | Free Attractions | Kid-Friendly | 1-Day / 3-Day Plans | FAQ
Key takeaways
- Do not try to see everything. Pick one neighborhood or theme per day and go deep instead of sprinting across Manhattan.
- Book the Statue of Liberty ferry and the Empire State Building ahead. Same-day tickets sell out or come with long waits in high season.
- Central Park, the High Line, and the Brooklyn Bridge are free. Some of the best experiences in the city cost nothing.
- Manhattan is walkable but bigger than it looks. Group attractions by neighborhood to avoid wasting an hour on the subway between sights.
- Go early or go late. Times Square at 8 a.m. is empty. The Met at 3 p.m. on a Saturday is a wall of people.
- Skip the Staten Island Ferry if you are short on time. It is free and gives you a harbor view, but it eats half a day for a view you can get from the Statue of Liberty ferry.
The Top 12 You Shouldn’t Skip
If you only have time for a dozen, these are the ones. They are the icons, the places you will be asked about when you get home, and the ones that justify the trip on their own.
1. Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Time needed: Half a day with the ferry.
Cost: Ferry ticket required, around 25 USD (confirm the latest price directly with the operator).
Book ahead: Yes, at least 1 week ahead for pedestal access.
Insider tip: Take the first ferry of the day from Battery Park. You will have the island almost to yourself.
2. Central Park
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours for the highlights.
Cost: Free.
Book ahead: No.
Insider tip: Enter at 72nd Street and walk north to Bethesda Terrace. Skip the south end; it is the most crowded.
3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Time needed: 3 hours minimum, a full day if you love art.
Cost: 30 USD for adults, pay-what-you-wish for NY residents (confirm the latest price directly with the operator).
Book ahead: Recommended on weekends.
Insider tip: Go on a Friday or Saturday evening when it stays open late and the daytime crowds have thinned.
4. Empire State Building Observation Deck
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours.
Cost: Around 45 USD (confirm the latest price directly with the operator).
Book ahead: Yes, timed entry is recommended.
Insider tip: Skip the 86th floor and pay extra for the 102nd. The view is better and the crowd is smaller.
5. Times Square
Time needed: 30 minutes unless you are seeing a show.
Cost: Free to walk through.
Book ahead: No.
Insider tip: Go at 8 a.m. for an empty photo, or at 11 p.m. for the full sensory overload without the daytime crush.
6. 9/11 Memorial and Museum
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours for the museum, plus time at the memorial pools.
Cost: Museum entry around 33 USD (confirm the latest price directly with the operator).
Book ahead: Yes, museum timed entry is recommended.
Insider tip: The memorial pools are free and open to the public. Visit them at dusk when the lights come on.
7. Brooklyn Bridge
Time needed: 1 hour to walk across.
Cost: Free.
Book ahead: No.
Insider tip: Walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan so the skyline is in front of you the whole way. Go before 9 a.m. to avoid the crowds.
8. The High Line
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours.
Cost: Free.
Book ahead: No.
Insider tip: Enter at 14th Street and walk north, then exit at 30th Street for Hudson Yards. Weekday mornings are the quietest.
9. Top of the Rock Observation Deck
Time needed: 1 hour.
Cost: Around 40 USD (confirm the latest price directly with the operator).
Book ahead: Recommended.
Insider tip: This is the best view of the Empire State Building itself. Go at sunset for the classic shot, but book the slot 30 minutes before sunset.
10. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours.
Cost: 30 USD for adults (confirm the latest price directly with the operator).
Book ahead: Recommended.
Insider tip: Go straight to the fifth floor for the heavy hitters, then work down. The sculpture garden is free on Friday evenings.
11. Grand Central Terminal
Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes.
Cost: Free.
Book ahead: No.
Insider tip: Stand in the center of the main concourse and look up at the ceiling. Then whisper in the corner by the Oyster Bar for the famous acoustics.
12. Broadway Show
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours for the show.
Cost: 60 to 200+ USD depending on the show and seat (confirm the latest price directly with the operator).
Book ahead: Yes, weeks ahead for popular shows.
Insider tip: Try the TKTS booth in Times Square for same-day discounts, or enter the digital lottery for a chance at cheap front-row seats.
Midtown: Observation Decks, Times Square, and Grand Central
Midtown is the most tourist-dense part of Manhattan, and for good reason. The Empire State Building, Times Square, Grand Central, Rockefeller Center, and MoMA are all within walking distance of each other. You can string together a full day here without touching the subway.
Rockefeller Center
Time needed: 1 hour, more if you go up to Top of the Rock.
Cost: Free to walk through, observation deck extra.
Insider tip: In winter, the ice rink is the postcard scene. In summer, the plaza hosts free events.
New York Public Library Main Branch
Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes.
Cost: Free.
Insider tip: The Rose Main Reading Room on the third floor is the room you came for. Quiet, vast, and free to visit.
Downtown: History, Memorials, and the Brooklyn Bridge
Downtown Manhattan is where New York started, and it holds the city’s heaviest history. The 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street, Battery Park, and the Brooklyn Bridge are all here, and they are all walkable in one long day.
Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty Ferry
Time needed: 30 minutes in the park, plus the ferry trip.
Cost: Park free, ferry ticket required.
Insider tip: Battery Park has the best harbor views without a ticket. Walk the esplanade at sunset.
Wall Street and the Charging Bull
Time needed: 30 minutes.
Cost: Free.
Insider tip: The bull is crowded all day. Go early or skip it and walk to the nearby Fearless Girl statue instead.
Uptown and Museum Mile: The Met, Guggenheim, and Central Park
Museum Mile is a stretch of Fifth Avenue along Central Park that holds the densest concentration of world-class museums in the country. You cannot do them all in one day, but you can do two well.
Guggenheim Museum
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours.
Cost: Around 30 USD (confirm the latest price directly with the operator).
Insider tip: The building itself is the main exhibit. Walk the spiral ramp all the way to the top, then look down.
Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes.
Cost: Suggested donation.
Insider tip: This is the largest cathedral in the world, and it is mostly empty compared to the Met across the park. The scale is humbling.
Brooklyn: The Bridge, DUMBO, and Prospect Park
Brooklyn is a city unto itself, and the best parts are the ones tourists often skip. DUMBO gives you the iconic Manhattan Bridge photo, and Prospect Park is Central Park’s quieter, more relaxed sibling.
DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge Park
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours.
Cost: Free.
Insider tip: The famous photo spot is at Washington Street and Water Street. Go at sunrise for no crowds.
Prospect Park
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours.
Cost: Free.
Insider tip: The Long Meadow is the largest open green space in Brooklyn. Bring a picnic and sit for an hour.
Best Free Attractions in NYC
You can see a remarkable amount of New York without spending a cent on admission. The city’s best free attractions are not consolation prizes; they are some of the best experiences, period.
Central Park
843 acres of free green space in the middle of Manhattan. Walk the Mall, sit by Bethesda Fountain, and watch the rowboats on the lake.
The High Line
A former elevated rail line turned into a linear park. It is free, it is beautiful, and it gives you a perspective on the West Side you cannot get from the street.
Brooklyn Bridge
Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge costs nothing and gives you the best skyline view in the city.
Staten Island Ferry
Free ferry ride past the Statue of Liberty. It takes about an hour round-trip and gives you harbor views for zero dollars.
Best Attractions for Kids and Families
New York can be overwhelming for kids, but the right attractions turn it into a giant playground. These are the ones that actually hold a child’s attention instead of just checking a box.
American Museum of Natural History
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours.
Cost: Pay-what-you-wish for NY residents, around 28 USD for others (confirm the latest price directly with the operator).
Insider tip: The dinosaur halls are the crowd-pleasers. Go straight there, then explore the rest.
Central Park Zoo
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours.
Cost: Around 20 USD for adults (confirm the latest price directly with the operator).
Insider tip: It is small, which is perfect for young kids. The sea lion feeding is the highlight.
How to Plan Your Visit: 1-Day and 3-Day Itineraries
Here is how to string the top attractions into a real plan, depending on how much time you have.
If you have 1 day
Start at the Statue of Liberty ferry from Battery Park, then walk through Wall Street to the 9/11 Memorial. Cross the Brooklyn Bridge, take a photo in DUMBO, and return to Manhattan for Times Square at night. That is a full, exhausting, perfect day.
If you have 3 days
Day 1: Downtown—Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial, Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO.
Day 2: Midtown—Empire State Building, Times Square, MoMA, Grand Central, and Top of the Rock at sunset.
Day 3: Uptown and Central Park—The Met, Central Park, the High Line, and a Broadway show in the evening.
Frequently asked questions about NYC attractions
What are the top 5 attractions in New York?
The top 5 are the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. If you only have one day, do these five, and you have seen the essential New York.
How many days do you need to see the top NYC attractions?
Three full days is the minimum for the top attractions without rushing. That gives you one day for Downtown, one for Midtown, and one for Uptown and Central Park. Add a fourth day if you want Brooklyn or a Broadway show.
Which NYC attractions are free?
Central Park, the High Line, the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, and the Staten Island Ferry are all free. The 9/11 Memorial pools are also free, though the museum has an admission fee.
Do I need to book NYC attractions in advance?
Yes, for the Statue of Liberty ferry, the Empire State Building, and the 9/11 Museum. Book these at least a week ahead. Most other attractions can be done same-day, though weekend lines are shorter with a timed ticket.
What is the best time of year to visit New York?
May, September, and October are the best months. The weather is pleasant, and the crowds are smaller than summer. December is magical with the holiday markets and decorations, but it is cold and crowded.
Which observation deck is better: Empire State or Top of the Rock?
Top of the Rock has the better view because you can see the Empire State Building itself. The Empire State Building is more iconic, but you cannot see it while standing on it. If you only do one, do Top of the Rock.
Plan your trip: booking platforms we trust
These are the platforms I actually use to plan and book New York trips. Always cross-check official attraction sites against at least one of these before paying.
Booking.com
Best for comparing hotel rates in Midtown, Downtown, and Brooklyn.
Expedia
Useful for bundling NYC flights and hotels into one package.
Kayak
Best for checking if New York flight prices drop before you book.
GetYourGuide
Good for booking Statue of Liberty tours, Empire State Building tickets, and guided walks.
TripAdvisor
Essential for reading recent reviews of NYC hotels and restaurants.
Hotels.com
Useful if you collect rewards nights and want to apply them to a New York stay.
WakaAbuja does its best to keep all information accurate at the time of publishing. Prices, policies, and availability change regularly. Always verify with official sources before you travel. We are not liable for errors caused by outdated information. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
