New York is one of the most famous cities in the world, some say the ‘capital of the world’ and it’s so obvious why! It’s unlike any other city, there are so many different cultures represented, all mixed together to create a city full of life, color, opportunity & excitement. I’ve visited New York City a few times now so have put together a list of the city’s greatest experiences.

From a tourist perspective, there’s literally a bit of everything here and I couldn’t imagine ever getting bored. It’s hard to say how long you should visit New York for, there’s so much do to and I’m sure you could spend months filling your days with experiences New York City has to offer. But if you’re on a holiday & really want to cover all the highlights, then you need at least a week.

But before that you’ll need somewhere to sleep;

New York City Accommodation

Before heading to NYC I was searching and searching for accommodation that was within my budget. It’s always been an expensive city but I found this much harder compared to my last visits. Then a friend told me about a booking website called Hotwire! This was such a blessing because we ended up with a four-star hotel in Times Square and saved over 50% compared with other booking websites. So Hotwire has the option to book mystery hotels (under the ‘hot rate hotels” tab). You can filter down your search results and once you’ve booked you’re told straightaway which hotel you’ll be staying at.

We were so happy when we learned we’ll be staying in the Holiday Inn Express, Times Square, it was such a great location.

Now to the greatest collection of New York City experiences;

Times Square:

I have no doubt you’ll stumble across Times Square most days while you’re in the city. It’s such an awesome and unique place and I suggest really taking some time to just sit on the big steps and watch everything that is going on. Grab a hot dog and just hang out for a while. With the big and bright adverts, street performers & tourists posing for photos, there is always (night or day) something going on. 

Studio Audience, (Late Night with Seth Myers):

America is the entertainment capital of the world right?!? One of the funniest things we did in New York was to join the studio audience of Late Night with Seth Myers. The tickets are free, you’ll just need to create an account on 1 iota and request seats for the show you want to see and on what date. There are a number of shows listed on this site so it’s definitely worth checking out their website.

It was a really fun night, very well organized and always something going on, even in-between shooting. Hopefully, you aren’t too attached to your phone because you can’t use any phones or camera’s in the studio. 

Staten Island Ferry:

If you wanted a free way to see the Statue of Liberty, this is it! The Staten Island Ferry crosses the harbor and sails right past her. The ferries leave every 30 minutes and tickets are always free.

Statue Of Liberty Tour:

If you want to see Lady Liberty up close and even get inside her crown, then I highly recommend this tour. These tickets are surprisingly cheap, $29 per adult, but you need to book well in advance as tickets are limited and in my experience book out weeks in advance.

When you purchase the crown tour you will have access to visit the crown once. Before going up there you do need to pass through security and apparently this can take ages. But we were lucky and the morning we went there was very minimal queuing. The tour will also include an auto tour of Liberty Island and Ellis Island. On the tickets, it notes the tour is 3 hours but that’s only a guide. Apart from visiting the crown, there is no time limit and you can spend hours exploring both islands. I recommend taking a photo of the ferries timetable so you don’t end up spending unnecessary time waiting at the doc.

As touristy as it is, this was one of my favorite experiences in New York City. It was great seeing her so close but and the view from the crown was stunning. 

High Line:

The high line is an old railway track that’s now a walking path with a view. It’s 2.3km and runs on the west side of Manhattan. Before it was refurbished to the artsy walking track it is today, it was overrun with weeds, rubbish & junkies. It’s about 30feet off the ground and has great views of the city and the Hudson River…. and also into some people’s apartments. It’s one of the few places you can walk in NYC without having to stop at traffic lights every 100m. The high line represents acceptance and is a place that anyone, no matter your beliefs or where you come from, go & enjoy. 

Central Park:

If you’re tired from all your site seeing, I always love grabbing some food and finding a quiet spot in Central Park. In a big city it’s so nice to get a bit of peace and quiet away from the traffic. When I first went to New York I was surprised at how massive central park actually is, it’s huge! You could easily spend the whole day just in the park. Be sure to check out Strawberry fields, dedicated to John Lennon and where you’ll see the Imagine mosaic sign. The Alice in Wonderland statue is pretty cool and Central Park Zoo. 

On the outskirts of the park, you’ll see plenty of people who you can hire push bikes from. It’s a great way to cover a large amount of the park.

If you’re ever in New York during winter and you get a snow day. Go straight to Central Park! I was there in January and we had one day where it full on snowed and Central Park was absolutely breathtaking. It was a winter wonderland & nowhere else you could get away with throwing so many snowballs.  

From late October to April there is also an ice skating rink in Central Park. The rink is so big and has the city skyline as your backdrop, making it even better. The prices vary depending on the day and time. 

Walking Tour:

Free Tours By Foot offers many different walking tours and food tours all over Manhattan. Head over to their website and once you’ve picked the tour you want to do, just add your name to reserve your place. I’ve done a few walking tours and always really enjoy them. The guides are full of interesting stories and history about the area.

My two favorite tours that I’ve done were mid-town and Harlem. The Mid-Town tour is the heart of New York City and it’s interesting to hear about how mid-town has transformed over the years. You’ll learn so much about the city’s most iconic buildings as well.

The Harlem tour had a very different feel, and not at all in a negative way. This neighborhood has such a beautiful sense of community, rich culture, and incredible history. We had strangers welcoming us to the area and people we passed on the street (we were clearly a group of tourists) who wanted to have a chat and tell us about the area of upper Manhattan that they have always called home. Also how it’s changed over the recent years. I loved Harlem and would be happy to spend more time there when I’m next in New York City.

Now, these are ‘free’ tours but it’s expected that everyone leaves a tip. 

Tom’s Restaurant:

This will probably only interest you if you watched Seinfeld…. But you know that shot of the coffee shop they used in every episode, well that’s Toms restaurant. The inside isn’t the same but I still needed to go so I could get a photo out the front. After you’ve finished posing, the food inside is very good as well.

Cheap Theatre Tickets:

To get the full New York City experience, you need to see at least one Broadway show. If you’re a bit turned off by how expensive some of the tickets are, that’s ok, because you can get some tickets at a discounted price.

Under the big staircase in Times Square is the TKTS discount booths. There’s a sign next to the booth listing the discounted tickets available and for what showtimes.

9/11 Memorial:

I think they have done an amazing job creating a memorial that will always preserve the memories of everyone who lost their lives that day. The memorial is so beautiful and free to enter. They ask everyone to be as quiet as possible while visiting. 

Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge:

This is something that every man and his dog seem to do nearly every day. Visiting in the morning you’ll find it much quieter. But if you can deal with the afternoon crowds, the golden hour is such a beautiful time to go and get photos. The sun going down making Manhattans skyline a gorgeous pink color.

Brooklyn Bridge was the first steel-wire suspension bridge constructed and is one of the oldest bridges in the United States. It’s really beautiful and definitely worth the walk. 

On the Brooklyn side of the bridge, you’ll be in the area of Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass)! And only a short walk away is the 1hotel. I highly recommend heading up to their rooftop bar for a drink. The views are insane, one side you’ll have the sunset & the other a perfect view of the Brooklyn Bridge. 

American Museum of Natural History:

The museum is super easy to get to with a subway station right underneath. The entry fee is a suggested donation of $23 per person, but you can pay whatever you want. If you wanted to see any specific exhibitions then they’ll be an additional cost. The dinosaurs are covered under general admission. The first time I went to New York City, a visit to the museum didn’t even cross my mind. I’m so glad I’ve been since though because seeing the dinosaurs is so incredible, and an experience you have to have!

Top of the Rock:

This is one of my favorites experiences I’ve ever had in New York City! There are two levels of the rooftop, take your time looking around as there is so much to see. One side you get the most perfect view of the Empire State Building & downtown! Then from the other side, you see Central Park.

Admission is $34 per person and you have to book for a certain time. Or for $39 per person you’ll get a map of the skyline and a professional photo taken of you on the rooftop that they later email to you. I wouldn’t bother paying extra for the photo, there will always be someone around to take a photo for you! To avoid crowds I recommend booking to go up early morning, we went up at 8 am.

Circle Line Cruises:

Circle Line Cruises is the only sightseeing cruise that goes all the way around Manhattan. It was awesome to sail under the Brooklyn Bridge and see the New York skyline from the water. The boat goes really close to Liberty Island as well, which added to the experience. We booked these tickets online a couple of days out and it cost $42 per person. There is a host on the boat who is full of fun facts and interesting stories. 

Shopping:

Of course, shopping in New York City is a given. I love that even though New York is a high roller in the fashion industry, you can still find something for everyone here and for every shopping budget. I’ll list a few of my favorite shopping areas – 

Broadway, along the whole street there are so many shops from big retail stores to smaller boutiques, mainly between Soho area and Times Square. 

Soho, just amazing. There are fewer big retailers here and smaller chains. You could start at the corner of Canal St & Broadway, head north then turn right down spring Street.  

5th Avenue. This is where you’ll find your high-end retailers. You need to make a least one visit to the iconic Tiffany & Co. even if it’s just to browse, it’s so beautiful in there. 

Times Square, there are heaps of shops around here, mainly big chains like Forever 21, Sunglasses Hut, Champs Sports & Sephora. 

Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, known for nightclubs and music venues by night and cafes and boutique shopping by day. 

Empire Outlets, this outlet mall is located on Staten Island and is right next to the ferry terminal.

One of the best things about experiences in New York City is that you don’t need to have something booked or planned every day. Wake up, walk outside and I promise there will always be something going on. New York is the perfect place to just wander, with the cities grid system it’s near impossible to get lost.

You’re in the city of dreams, somewhere you can be whoever or whatever you want. Enjoy every moment and I hope my list of New York City Experiences excites you!

I have also put together a list of FREE things to do in New York, click here to have a read.

Do you want up to 60% off New York hotels? 

Thanks for reading, 

Happy Travels