There is so much to see in New York spread over a very large area. We spent 7 days there, and still did not see everything on our list. This really is a city that never sleeps, so what are the key attractions to visit?

  1. Accommodation – we definitely wanted to stay near Times Square and so chose the New York Marriott Marquis. It is not the most modern of hotels, but its location is excellent, and it has an open air bar which overlooks Times Square. Not that we ate in the hotel often, but when we did the food was of a good standard and the staff were very friendly.
  2. Statue of Liberty – definitely worth a visit, but it is an extremely busy tourist attraction. There is only one official website to buy your tickets which is Statue Cruises. We took the first tour of the day and purchased tickets with Crown access, meaning we could go to the top of the Statue of Liberty. If you are not comfortable with tight spaces or steep stairs, then this is probably not for you. But the view is worth it, and we can say that we climbed to the top of the Statue of Liberty! If you are purchasing Crown tickets they can only be collected from the ticket booth on the day of your visit.
  3. 9/11 Memorial – an extremely well presented and respectful memorial. You need a decent amount of time to get through it, and it can be quite emotional at times. We used our New York City Pass for this attraction, and there is a dedicated line for pre-purchased tickets.
  4. One World Observatory – located next to the 9/11 Memorial the Observatory is in the new One World Trade Centre. You can purchase tickets for ‘Day and Night’ entry, which allows two visits on the same day. Note that the night entry is after 7.00pm.
  5. Empire State Building – such an iconic building and the views from the top are amazing. Check the weather forecast and try and pick the best day, as it will make a difference to your photography.
  6. Top of the Rock – this is at the top of the Rockefeller Centre, so they are one and the same place.  It gives you similar views as the Empire State Building. Again, if you don’t have a lot of time in New York just pick one tall building to take in the views.
  7. Central Park – you seriously need a few days to get through the park. There is so much to see and so many different attractions. We only had one day, so unfortunately we had to be very selective about what we did. Download a map to pick the best attractions and also find out what is happening in the park and plan ahead.

Travel Tips

  • We pre-purchased some of our major tourist attraction tickets on-line through New York City Pass. There are two options – buy a city pass that offers entry to 6 attractions, or entry to 3 attractions. It definitely saves you money and most of them have dedicated pre-purchased ticket lines, which saves you time as well.

Travel Alerts

  • If you are taking a trip to the Statue of Liberty and catching the boat from Battery Park then you will be standing out in the hot sun, with no cover, until the gates open. Once inside you collect your tickets from the ticket office, and then head to the boat. The crowds start gathering early before the gates open, so be prepared for a crowd.

Travel Adventures

  • Madison Square Garden – we did a bus tour which included a drive by of Madison Square Garden. Tours are available if you are interested.
  • Sidewalk Food Tours – this was lots of fun as there are plenty of food carts to be found around the New York streets. But this tour takes you to the cream of those carts, and you get plenty of food to sample.
  • Harbor Lights Cruise – it’s the best way to see New York lit up at night.
  • Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar at the Conrad Hotel – great views and worth a visit, but it doesn’t take reservations and only 75 guests can be there at any time. Very popular bar.
  • The High Line – an elevated park created on a former rail line. If you like gardens and architecture then you will enjoy this walk.
  • Baseball Game – whether you are a baseball fan or not, this is an experience that you will not forget.
  • Eataly – this is a vibrant Italian marketplace, with cafes and restaurants, produce for sale and cooking schools. There are two locations – one at Eataly Flatiron and one in Downtown New York. The food is great, there is plenty to buy and it’s just a nice place to sit and relax for a few hours.
  • Macys – if you like shopping then a visit is worthwhile, but we thought it was no different to any large department store in the world. Your time could be better spent at other attractions.
  • Theatre – there are plenty of shows in New York if you have the time. Book on-line before you go as they are always booked out.
  • Charging Bull/Wall Street – there is no such thing as a ‘good photo’ at the charging bull. The place crawls with tourists so the best you can do is take one with the whole world in it!
  • Little Italy – this is a heavy tourist area, but there are plenty of souvenir shops and eating establishments.