These Five NYC Tourist Attractions are Actually Worth Your Time
Hello, travelers!
I’ve been going to New York every year since I was 12 years old, and I’ve had the opportunity to see quite a lot! Besides the usual Broadway show viewings each night, I try to experience, visit, or do something that I haven’t done on previous New York trips. I’ve grown to really love NYC, and I’m always down for a quick getaway weekend in the city that never sleeps!
Since there’s so much to see, it can sometimes be overwhelming to try to narrow down how to spend your time there. I mean, I haven’t even done everything there is to do in New York, and I’ve been going for a decade! But if you’re planning your first trip and want to see some of the most famous spots in New York City, that’s where I can help! I’ve gotten some major tourist attractions out of the way, and I can guarantee that these five are worth your time and money.
Disclaimer: When making this list, I looked up “top NYC tourist attractions” to see what the Internet’s verdict was. I gathered all their suggestions, and picked the top five that I think are the best of the best.
1. The Empire State Building
For some reason, the Empire State was one of the last major tourist spots in New York that I checked off my list, and I don’t know why I waited. It was such a special and cool experience! A historic building, the Empire State Building is Art Deco at its finest with amazing 360 views of the city to boot. The open air deck on the 86th floor was absolutely beautiful as I stood in the sunshine and looked around at all the buildings. It’s also right in the heart of the city, close to major department store Macy’s, so if you want to feel those special Norah-Ephron-New-York-vibes, this is it.
2. The Museum of Modern Art
If you are a museum fan (like me!), you will love walking around the Museum of Modern Art. Even if you aren’t a big museum person in general, you have to trust me on this one. MoMA is not only a beautifully laid out building that you could easily spend hours getting lost in, but also features some amazing artwork, including some very special and famous pieces that many people know and love. When I visited, I had the chance to see works like Salvador Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory, Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, and my personal favorite, Dance (I) by Henri Matisse. It took my breath away when I saw these famous paintings in person! But, like I said, if you are unsure about the idea of spending a day in a museum, MoMA can still be enjoyed with its interactive and immersive exhibits, outdoor garden, delicious cafe, and extensive gift shop. Consider spending a day here, especially if rain is in your NYC forecast!
3. Central Park
It’s in countless movies and mentioned in many song lyrics for a reason. Central Park, whether you come in the middle of summer or the snowy months of winter, is always breathtaking. Its winding paths, countless trees, and views of New York skyscrapers make it the perfect blend of urban life and nature. There’s so many ways to explore the park, whether that be walking, biking, sitting under some shade, or even taking a horse-drawn carriage ride (which I’ve done before and is actually super fun!). Yes, it’s always full of people because it is quite touristy, but I highly recommend visiting at least once!
4. The High Line
If you’re looking for a different kind of park experience, this next spot might be up your alley. The High Line is a park built on an old rail line 30 feet above street level, and allows you to wander through Greenwich Village, West Chelsea, and Hudson Yards. This “park in the sky” is only about a mile and a half long, features public art, is beautifully landscaped, and offers some awesome views of the city. One of my favorite parts about it is that Chelsea Market, an iconic indoor food hall, is located directly on the High Line. So, if you’re walking along the park and want a snack or quick bite of lunch, Chelsea Market is right there offering over 50 vendors!
Quick note: There are some spots for shade, but be careful if you’re on the High Line on a hot day. I was there in the middle of summer, and I was happy to have water and sunscreen! If you want suggestions on our favorite SPF products, read this article from our Pack & Prepare section.
5. Radio City Music Hall
This is a general title, but I want it to be a catch-all for the amazing things I’ve seen and done at Radio City. I’ve participated in the Radio City Music Hall tour where I’ve gotten to see all the behind the scenes of how shows are put on in the historic theater, I’ve watched the Christmas Spectacular (multiple times), and I’ve even just taken photos near it. Radio City, in all its glitz and glamour is a gem every time. If you have the chance to do the tour, I say go for it, since it’s truly amazing to walk through all the rehearsal spaces and watch the hydraulics that move the pit orchestra. If you aren’t a Broadway person but want to see some good entertainment, it doesn’t get any better than the Rockettes. And if you want great photo ops, Radio City is within walking distance from Rockefeller Center, Saks Fifth Avenue, and St. Pat’s Cathedral. It’s truly a perfect, quintessential New York spot!
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
Some of you may be asking this. Don’t worry! I wanted to address the ever-so-famous Lady Liberty. I saw the Statue of Liberty my very first time visiting New York as a pre-teen. While some of my memory of this is slightly fuzzy, I do remember thinking it was a cool experience. What I wish I would have done was also visit Ellis Island! I will admit that I have yet to see Ellis Island (once again, proving that it is so hard to truly do everything in New York, as there is always so much to see), but I’ve heard that the experience of visiting the Statue of Liberty is best paired with a stop at Ellis Island. I personally don’t think taking the short boat trip over to see the statue is enough, and wouldn’t recommend doing just the Statue of Liberty on its own. If you’ve ever been to Ellis Island and have stories, I’d love to hear! My grandparents came to America from Italy and my mom is first generation, so I’d probably find it a moving experience.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Of course, all of this is dependent on you, dear traveler! I’ve known some people who went to New York City only to see Broadway shows, and that’s it. I’ve also known people who when I asked them when they did in New York, their response was, “…you know, just…walk around.” However you want to spend your trip is up to you! New York City is vast and has many amazing experiences to try. But, if you have never been to NYC and want to make sure to get the best out of your first trip, these five tourist spots will do just that! Ryan and I always want to make your trip planning a little easier, so hopefully this post narrowed down your NYC search.