Things to See

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Empire State BuildingEveryone’s “must-see” list for New York City is going to be a little different, depending on your personal interests. There are a few things, though, that seem to define a trip the city.

The Statue of Liberty – Plan in advance if you want to go out to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. You’ll need ferry tickets and pedestal or crown tickets to get inside the monument. See details at the NPS website. Another good (and free) way to get a nice look at the Statue of Liberty is to take a 25 minute ride on the Staten Island Ferry. You’ll get great views of the statue and the city skyline. Great views of the Statue of Liberty are also available from the many NYC harbor cruises available.

Rockefeller Center – See the famous golden statue, get a great view of the city from the Top of the Rock observation deck, and take an NBC Studio Tour. This is also the location of the famous Radio City Music Hall.

Empire State Building – You’ll at least want to see the building. And if you have time, take the elevators up to the Observation Deck.

Metropolitan Museum of Art – One of the great museums of the world. It’s huge. You should really plan on spending at least several hours there.

9/11 Memorial – A tribute of remembrance and honor to those killed in the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. A pass is required to visit the memorial. Passes can be reserved in advance or obtained on the same day of visit (first come, first served basis). Please visit the 911 Memorial website for details on planning your visit.

 

More ideas for things to see:

Free Things to Do in New York City

Time Magazine’s 10 Things to Do in New York City

New York City attractions with traveler ratings and reviews

“Must-See NYC” from the Official NYC tourism website

15 Fun Things to Do With Kids in New York City