Now you’ve decided to visit NYC what are you going to do? It’s not an easy answer. I always ask people what is the one image that they conjure up when thinking of NYC? Is it the Statue of Liberty or Central Park? The NY Yankees or a Broadway show? What is it? I love hearing the answers. From there we can put a plan together, based on my top things to do in NYC, of what to see and do.
After 18 years of living here, with Kiwi visitors every year, this is my go to of what I highly recommend. Accommodation, food and drinks are not the focus of this post. I will do a separate blog on that soon!
1. Helicopter Ride
Why not start off with something big! A scenic helicopter ride over Manhattan. It’s a pretty cool thing to do! Budget depending of course.
I love seeing NYC from air. I first did this back in 1997 when I visited for 3 days, and then 3 more times since moving here in 2000. What time of day is best? Night time was my favorite but I recommend day time as you get the daylight view of where everything is at.
It isn’t cheap ranging from $US170 to $US250 at this moment in time. You can see the latest prices from Liberty Helicopter at this link. If you aren’t freaked out by taking a helicopter ride I say do it.
2. The High Line
A fantastic edition to NYC, The High Line that many have not walked, as it only opened in 2006. My friend John lives nearby and often when I text him he is walking it. I mention that so you know it’s a place where New Yorkers do go (unlike the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty). What is it? An above ground walk way on the West Side of Manhattan from the Meatpacking district (Gansevoort Street) up through Chelsea into Hudson Yards to 34th Street. When it first opened it stopped at 20th Street.
Let me do a better job of describing it! It’s an awesome transformation from an old freight rail line to a space that includes art, sculptures, gardens and small food/craft stalls. You can read all about the history here. New Yorkers are so thankful to The Friends of the High Line nonprofit organization that ensured the order to demolish it didn’t go ahead.
The High Line can be congested and ideally I recommend not going in the peak time over the weekend. Or go early morning before it gets too nuts.
A new addition to the Hudson Yards is the stunning sculpture, currently being called The Vessel. It opened on March 15th 2019 and you can read about it in this blog post : A visit to the Vessel (TKA), Hudson Yards, NYC.
3. Take in the view
Top of the Rock or Empire State Building?
You’ll get a fantastic view of NYC no matter which one you choose. I have been up the Empire State five times, and the Top of the Rock just twice. I really loved Top of Rock as you got to look back at the Empire State Building and are closer to the view of Central Park.
Going up the Empire State Building to me was the thing I had to do when I first visited NY. It was that and seeing the Statue of Liberty. New Yorkers don’t share the same enthusiasm. To me and my many guests it’s so cool to realize that after years of seeing it on movies and TV we are actually there doing it! Stand proud as a tourist and go check it out! Be prepared for queues.
The Empire State Building is on 33rd Street and 5th Avenue. Top of the Rock is on 50th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue. The entrance is across from the Radio City Music Hall.
Get tickets ahead of time. I trust your skills with google re figuring out what website to buy tickets from and what packages are out there. I know for a fact buying tickets in advance will help you afford queues. That is totally worth the preparation!
One World Observatory
I say this is a must. Initially I wasn’t keen to go up the Freedom Tower with the memories of what was there prior to September 11th 2001 and what we all saw post 9/11. Located on floor 100-102 of One World Trade Center. It opened in May 2015 and took my brother visiting in January 2016 to convince me to go check it out. I have been up a few more times since then. It’s got the latest technology with screens in the elevator and a few other surprises. The images you see when you exit the elevator at the top definitely get you in a New York state of mind, but that is all I will tell you! I don’t want to spoil it for you. From there you can walk around, go to the little cafe and listen to audio tours. Not something I ever do as I never remember a thing! But if you love details and facts definitely do it.
Roof top bars/ restaurants
An alternative to going up the landmark buildings is checking out roof top bars that are located all throughout the city. There are a lot of options as well as hotels that have great bars. My favorite? I love The Roof NYC.
Use the power of google to see what is hip and the latest. Many you can book a table (look on OpenTable or Resy). Time out has this article on the 23 best rooftop bars in NYC for 2019.
You can also make it your fancy dinner splurge and book a restaurant that has a view.
Staten Island Ferry or Circle Line?
You’ve got to see NYC skyline from the water. The Staten Island Ferry runs 24/7 every 30 minutes (weekend) or 15-20 minutes during rush hour weekdays from Whitehall Ferry terminal at the bottom of Manhattan across to Staten Island (one of the 5 boroughs that make up NYC).
You’ll get to take great photos of downtown NYC and Statue of Liberty. It’s free which is great for the budget traveler. A little annoying is having to exit the ferry and walk though the terminal and reboard the ferry. Best that you know this and realize it is what it is!
When you go to board the ferry you may get there and think with the amount of people it will be packed. It’s amazing how many people can fit on this multi-level ferry. The ferry takes around 25 minutes and I always include it as part of my downtown tour. Nice to have an opportunity to sit down after walking many many miles (kilometers).
The Circle Line sightseeing cruises has lots of options. 1 hour to 2.5 hour hour rides. Lovely in the warm summer months to escape the heat and get a nice breeze.
Most the time I recommend people do the 1.5 hour landmarks cruise that heads south from Pier 83 (West Side highway/42nd street) on the Hudson River around the bottom of the island up the East River past the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges turning around to head back to Pier 83. This cruise I have done a handful of times but I did enjoy the cruise that completely circles Manhattan. It was cool to see what is up North and around the top tip of the island. That one is over 2.5 hours so it might be a bit long for the more active traveler.
Check out their website and see what appeals. Or this sight for Bus and Boat Tours.
Hop On and Hop Off Bus Tours
The popular tour buses offered throughout the world are a great way to get your bearings and see a lot of Manhattan while getting on and off as you want. Ticket options range from 24 hours to 96 hours. There are a number of bundles with tickets for the attractions. You can research online or you will find them looking to sell you tickets outside places like the Empire State Building.
4. Remembrance
9/11 Memorial Plaza and Museum
The museum is a somber experience. Not something I recommend to my friends who live here as it really is very sad. The museum is so well done and I truly believe it’s so important to fully understand what was experienced that day. I am proud to be an annual 9/11 member as the memorial supports the mission to honor the memories of those killed on 9/11.
The 9/11 Memorial plaza is free and open from 7.30am to 9pm. The name of every person who died in the terrorist attacks is listed in bronze, including the February 1993 attack. The twin reflecting pools feature a man made waterfall and sit within the footprints of where the Twin Towers once stood.
The museum is an impressive exhibition space and there is a lot to see, take in and sad feelings will surface. I feel like, instead of me insensitively writing about it, it’s best to just let you experience it. Get a ticket in advance and ideally go first thing in the morning. Make you way down into the museum and before it gets too crowded go through the historical exhibition area. That part of the museum focus on the events of the actual day, as well as before and after 9/11. Take tissues.
5. Walk, walk and more walking
You’ll get your steps in on this trip! NYC is such a walkable city. With the help of prominent landmarks you can get your bearings quite quickly. Be careful when walking in the summer months where your feet will sweat more. When Catherine was staying with me way back in 2007 she was constantly buying band aids (plasters) for her blisters. I thought it was funny, her not so much.
The Brooklyn Bridge
This is a well trodden tourist attraction and rightly so. The middle of the bridge is designated for pedestrians to walk, run or cycle (remember to keep right!). It connects Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn. Most people walk it from Manhattan and back again to take in the views and get the perfect Instagram shot. It take less than 30 minutes to walk across it. Most of the time I have walked 3/4 of the bridge to take the skyline shots, as well as include the Statue of Liberty. You may want to include a stop over in Brooklyn and check out the famous pizzeria, Grimaldi’s at 1 Front Street, Brooklyn. It is open from 11.30am to 11.00pm (Midnight on Saturday). If just walking over it and back is your focus I recommend early morning or early evening. Sunset provides a different perspective. It’s a popular destination and be warned if you going during the peak hours of the day you will be walking slow.
Visit the Parks
Central Park
This deserve a separate blog. What a wonderful place Central Park is. It’s New Yorkers back yard. There’s so much do it. Museums, restaurants, the Central Park zoo, large paddocks (Great Lawn and Sheep Meadow), ice skating rink in winter, bridges, fountains, the lake and reservoir. Open from 6.00am to 1.00am and stretches from 59th Street to 110th Street between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West. You’ll see baseball games in the summer. I recommend going in the weekend to see how the locals use the park. Here’s a link to check out all the Things to See and Do at Central Park.
Washington Square Park (WSP)
I love going to this park. It gets a special mention as I live close to it. No surprise that it’s name in honor of George Washington, the first American President. The arch, view looking up to see the Empire State building, the fountain, local entertainers, chess playing area, dog area and the sight of squirrels makes me smile. We don’t have squirrels in NZ but my American friends have called them rats with tails. A bit harsh! I think of WSP as my local playground. I often walk though with my kiwi visitors and they ask, in typical tongue and check kiwi humor when was the arch built (I am talking to you Liz and Jake). If you do a tour with me you know I am more about the look or view and taking that in vs all the facts! The answer is 1892. A fun park to visit during lunchtime, end of day and any time over the weekend.
6. Sporting Events
One of my favorite things to do. Go see an American sport! I will never forget my first NY Knicks Basketball game in January 2001 with Michele or the Yankees Baseball in July 2001 with Lynda. What sport you can go see will depend what time of year you are visiting. Baseball in the summer, Ice Hockey in the winter and the special annual event of the US tennis open are my personal favorites.
Baseball: Yankees or Mets?
The season starts late March/early April and goes through October. Tickets become harder to get late in the season as that is playoff times. Early in the season it can be a quite cold weather wise and I generally don’t go to see a game til summer is truly here. That’s from June onwards!
Yankees play up in the Bronx. You can get a subway from Manhattan that stops right by the stadium at 161St Street. Many people will be traveling so you will feel safe. Extra bonus in taking the subway, it will make you feel like a real New Yorker!
The Mets play in Queens. Right next to the Billie Jean King national tennis center. You can get the 7 subway from central Manhattan or the Long Island Railroad from Penn Station. I love the LIRR, it costs more but it is just a few stops and you are there. The 7 subway seems to take a long time.
You can also drive, cab or uber! Traffic can be diapolical and if you like to have a few beers mass transit (subway or train) is the way to go!
I like to get to the stadium before the game starts so I can appreciate the national anthem and the patriotic pride of the Americans. Surprising for us Kiwis who wouldn’t dare leave an All Blacks game before it finishes, is many people will depart before the game is over. In their defense the games go a lot longer. Be warned that if the game is tied in the 9th innings it will keep going until there is a winner.
Ice Hockey, Basketball and American Football
For Ice Hockey it’s the choice of the Rangers, Devils or Islanders! The Rangers play in Madison Square Garden which makes it the one to see.
NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden, 20019 
Ice Hockey, 2018
Basketball, the NBA is the NY Knicks or Brooklyn Nets at Barclay Center or Women’s New York Liberty at an arena outside of NY in Westchester.
American Football (the name for it down under is grid iron) is the NY Giants or NY Jets. They play at the same stadium outside of Manhattan in New Jersey. It isn’t easy to get tickets and it will be cold. The local watering holes around NY will be busy with fan watching their teams so that can be fun to experience too.
Special mention: US Tennis Open
This is my all time favorite sporting event to go to in NYC. I have been 11 times and kick myself for not going more! Late August to early September you will find New Yorkers heading out to Flushing, Queens to see the best of best in Tennis. I first went in 2001 when Leyton Hewitt from Australia won but it was seeing Roger Federer beat Leyton Hewitt in the final 6-0, 7-6, 6-0 that began my love of Roger. Seeing an athlete in the zone is a special experience.
The US Open has day and night sessions which really makes the buzz and the glamour of the event so addictive. Many late night men’s matches go into the early hours. Tough for the athletes but super exciting for the spectators.
If you are an American Express card holder you will be able to get access an over the ear radio to listen to the commentary. Nothing like having John McEnroe in your ear!
To get there take the 7 Subway train to Mets-Willets Point Station or the Long Island Rail Road. Car/Parking is another option.
Going to the early rounds will ensure you get to see a whole range of players. You need a ticket for access to the grounds where you can enjoy the many bars and food areas as well as watch the players on the outside courts. Stadium access needs a ticket. Here’s the official website to get all the details. Ticketmaster is where you buy tickets and they charge high fees for any of the sporting events I mention. Row Z (yes Andrew I know I know!) is up in the nose bleeds but I still will argue any seat in Arthur Ashe is a good seat.
PRO TIP: Travel light when going to a sporting event. Read the rules online re what you can and can’t take in.
7. Culture
Like any big city there is a wide range of cultural events to check out. My favorites are museum and music events.
Musuems
New York have no shortage of Museums. When you are down at The High Line you might want to check out the Whitney Museum of American Art. Other museums that are well known include MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), American Natural History Museum, the fabulous Metropolitan Musuem of Art (located on the edge of 5th Avenue and in Central Park), Guggenheim and the Frick Collection.
I am sure I have forgotten some other impressive ones. The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space museum, located at Pier 86 at 46th Street on the West Side highway is popular with kids.
What do I recommend? The Met. There is just so much to see there. PRO TIP: Check out the Rooftop Garden Bar at the Met which is open seasonally (Late April to October). I personally love Modern Art as well as anything by Matisse which gets me to visit MoMa. Brooklyn Museum had an awesome David Bowie exhibit in 2018.
Check out what exhibits are on and make sure to double check what days the museum are shut. The Frick Collection is unique as it’s located in a house (mansion!) on 5th Avenue at 70th street and includes painting, fine furniture and sculptures. Like anything I recommend I am all about getting there early before the crowds.
Broadway Show
Hamilton, 2019 
Come From Away, 2018 
Springsteen, Oct 2018
The talent on Broadway is world class. Seeing a show is a must. There are many wonderful plays if musicals aren’t your scene. A number of shows have a limited run or special guest appearance which can give you the opportunity to see TV and Movie stars on Broadway. Seeing Jim Parsons from Big Bang Theory TV show in Harvey (2012) and in An Act of God (2015) was really cool.
TKTS Discount booth in Times Square, South Street Seaport and Lincoln Center give you a change to buy same-day theater tickets from 20% to 50% off. Get there early so you can get the best pick of lower priced tickets. I use the app TodayTix that my younger hip niece put me on to. For the “in” shows (which means impossible to get tickets at a reasonable price) you will have to search on ticketmaster or broadway.com or telecharge.com. It’s also worth visiting the actual box office at the theater. You just never know, it might be your lucky day! StubHub is what I use should the event I want to go to be sold out.
Have a search for off Broadway shows. The public theater on Lafayette near me in the East Village recently had Jake Gyllenhaal in a play. There is no shortage of talent on display!
NOTE: When going to see a Broadway Show the lights of Times Square will be near. While it is a zoo of people it has to be seen. See where the ball drops on New Years Eve (look South!). The billboards, energy and general craziness awaits!
Live Music
Live music is a must in NYC. Whether at a small venue or at a large one. You can find it all here.
This is where a lot of my money have gone over the years.
Prince, Beyonce, Depeche Mode, Police, U2, Madonna, Red Hot Chill Peppers, Aerosmith, George Michael, Adele, Elton John, The Cure, Eminem, Lenny Kravitz, Keane, Jay-Z, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran….probably time to stop name dropping. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to see the best of the best as well as the best in small venues. Snow Patrol at Irving Plaza or Terminal 5 rocks!
Local bars in the Village are fun to check out too. Thanks to my friend Jennie introducing me to a little Jazz club on MacDougal Street I have been going there for over a decade now. Blue Note is just around the corner on West 3rd Street, it can be a little crammed but for the right artist worth it.
What have I not mentioned? So much I am sure! I want you to experience NY like a true New Yorker. Don’t be afraid to check out the subway (during the daylight!) and hail that Yellow cab. New York like any big city has issues but you know what Frank says “if you can make it here you can make it anywhere”.
Special thanks to everyone who has come and stayed with me. Together we experienced the special vibe that is New York City. If that is you I’d love to hear what you loved about New York. I recently found a piece of paper from a Kiwi family of 4 that stayed in 2007 and the words they wrote when describing NYC were “Cool, Awesome, Fantastic, Hip, Historical, Happening, Exciting, New, Fabulous, Black Flower, Mojitos and Architecture”. What’s a Black Flower. See image below!
Leave a comment below if you have a specific question on visiting NYC. You can connect with me on Instagram @kiwlizb
To read a sample list of things to do over four full days check this blog out.