Regular full-price adult general admission is $36. Tickets purchased online at the Gulliver’s Gate website are $31
Regular full-price kids general admission (ages 6 to 12) is $27. Kids tickets purchased online at the Gulliver’s Gate website are $22.
Children ages 5 and under are admitted free.
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About Gulliver’s Gate
Gulliver’s Gate is a new Times Square NYC attraction featuring a miniature New York City, plus many other locations around the world. The highly detailed and interactive miniatures include moving parts and little hidden scenes (look for the tightrope walkers between the chandeliers at Grand Central Station). Travel & Leisure published a good article about the exhibit in March of 2017. The exhibit has received many good reviews at TripAdvisor.
The exhibit is large – 50,000 square feet in size – so allow plenty of time for your visit.
Gulliver’s Gate is located the Times Square area of Manhattan, at 216 W 44th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues).
A great way to learn about Central Park is to take one of the tours offered by the folks responsible for maintaining the park, the Central Park Conservancy.
The Conservancy offers both paid and free tours. We’re going to focus on the free tours here, but the paid tours, priced at just $15, are also a good deal and you can find out all about them at the Conservancy’s website.
Free Central Park Conservancy Tours:
Southern Welcome Tour – Introductory tour to the southern portion of the park. Highlights include Grand Army Plaza, Chess & Checkers House, Wollman Rink, Gapstow Bridge, Dairy Visitor Center and Gift Shop, The Pond. No registration required
Heart of the Park Tour – This tour takes you straight through the heart of the park. Space is limited, so registration is suggested.
East Side Evening Stroll – This tour starts at 6:00 p.m. and covers the area from the southeast corner of the Park to Bethesda Terrace. No registration required.
Discovery Walks for Families – Special, kid-friendly tour for families with kids age 5 +. Space is limited and registration is required.
New York Sightseeing Pass is running a Memorial Day Sale with 20% off 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 10 Day Sightseeing Passes & 20% off 4, 6 & 10 Attraction Flex Passes. The offer ends Monday, May 28, 2018.
The Sightseeing Pass is the only attraction pass that includes One World Observatory and Go Airlink airport shuttle, plus meals at Buffalo Wild Wings and Planet Hollywood.
The Sightseeing Pass is priced based on the number consecutive days it’s good for. You can purchase a 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, or 10 day pass. Use the pass to visit as many attractions as you like.
The FLEX Pass is priced based on the number of attractions included. Pick a 2,3,4,4,5,7, or 10 attraction pass. The pass is valid for 30 days after your first attraction visit. Choose as you go, from any of the included attractions.
With either option, there are over 90 attractions to choose from.
Some popular NYC attractions covered by the Sightseeing Pass include Top of the Rock Observatory, One World Observatory, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, MoMA, Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum, American Museum of Natural History, Circle Line Landmarks Cruise, Circle Line Liberty Cruise, Gulliver’s Gate, Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Ride bus tour, Luna Park at Coney Island (24 Ride Pass), Grayline CitySightSeeing Night Tour, Central Park Bike Rental, the NFL Experience, and Hop-on-hop-off Ferry Tour,
Bank of America’s “Museums on Us” program provides free general admission to hundreds of museums across the US on the first full weekend of every month. Present your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card and a picture ID at the participating museum. [spacer height=”20px”]
2018 Participating Museums
The list of participating museums changes each year. The following New York City museums are on the 2018 Museums on Us Participants Roster.
American Museum of Natural History
Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
Museum of the City of New York
Queens Museum
Staten Island Zoological Society
The Jewish Museum
The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Fifth Avenue, Breuer, and Cloisters
Whitney Museum of American Art (Through August 4th & 5th only)
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum has opened a new USS Growler exhibit in celebration of the Growler’s 60th commissioning anniversary. The exhibit, which offers historical artifacts, oral histories and immersive experiences to provide a behind-the-scenes look at life on board, is free to visit. If you wish to board and tour the Growler, Intrepid Museum admission is required.
The Intrepid Museum and the Growler exhibit are located at Pier 86 on the Hudson River.
Discount Admission: You can save a few dollars buy purchasing Intrepid Museum tickets through Goldstar. They have Adult General Admission tickets for $24.75 + $4.25 service fee for a total of $29, and Child tickets (ages 5 – 12) for $18.00 + $3.25 service fee for a total of $21.25. Good for admission any day through December 31, 2018. See the offer details.
The One World Tower at the World Trade Center is the tallest building in New York City and the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The observatory at the top of the building is now open for visitors.
In addition to the view from the top, the One World Observatory experience includes a welcome center with a large video wall featuring stories of the tower’s construction, the sky pod elevator’s a time-lapse view of New York City’s evolution, and a New York City film in the See Forever Theater. At the 100th floor observatory, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, New Jersey, and the surrounding waters. The Sky Portal allows you to look down and observe the city streets 100 stories below.
There are several dining options on the 101st floor. The One Cafe has soups, salads, and sandwiches. One Mix is a bar/bistro serving cocktails and small plates. One Dine is a sit-down restaurant (reservations required).
Regular ticket prices are $34 for Adults ages 13 – 64; $32 for Seniors ages 65 and over; $28 for kids ages 6 – 12; and free for children ages 5 and under. Tickets are for timed entry (entrance at a specific time).
Discounts:
Living Social Offer: $19.99 admission (Two for $37.99).Discount is good through May 21, 2018. You’ll receive a voucher from LivingSocial that you can then redeem online at the One World Observatory website for your timed ticket.
Expedited Entry with MasterCard: Show your World Elite or Black MasterCard at the Box Office or to plaza attendant and have your standard admission ticket upgraded to an expedited entry ticket.
One World Observatory is located at One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street.
Get the Grand Central Terminal audio tour for just $5. Regular full-price for the tour is $9 for adults and $7 for seniors, military, students, and children.
The Groupon discount is good for 90 days after purchase.
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The Grand Central Terminal Audio Tour
MTA Metro-North Railroad, which operates the Terminal, has teamed up with Orpheo USA to create a self-guided audio tour of the Grand Central Terminal.
For a small fee (regularly $9 for adults and $7 for seniors, military, students, and children), you’ll get to use one of Orpheo’s state of the art audio devices, which provides information about the terminal’s architecture, history, and interesting facts. The tour takes 30 minutes to a little over an hour to complete.
The tour is available in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, and German.
The audio tour is available seven days a week (closed only on Thanksgiving day and Christmas day) at specially marked “GCT Tour” windows on the Main Concourse, hours are 9am to 6pm, but may be extended during the holidays.
This package includes unlimited hop-on, hop-off access to CitySights NY’s 48-Hr All Around Town Tour, plus entry to the 86th floor Observatory Deck at the Empire State Building. Also included is access to the CitySightseeing New York Hop-on, Hop-off Ferry Tour, and entrance to either the Museum of the City of New York or the New York Historical Society.
The All Around Town Bus Tour consists of 4 different bus tour loops – Downtown, Uptown, Brooklyn and Night Tour.
The package deal price is $65 for adults and $55 for children.
Use Promo Code CPS50BRA at Central Park Sightseeing for a 50% discount on bike rentals. Just enter the promo code at checkout and your bike rental fee will be discounted by 50%!
Central Park Sightseeing has Cannondale Hybrid 24-Speed Men’s and Ladies’ bikes available for rent, plus kids bikes, tandem bikes, and Cannondale CAAD8 road bikes.
In addition to the bike, your rental comes with a helmet, basket or bike bag, bike lock, and a map of Central Park.
With the 50% discount, you can get a 4 hour hybrid rental for just $15 or a day pass for just $20.
Central Park is huge and if you want to see much of the park, a bike is a great way to get around.
Three bike pick-up locations are available, at 56 W 56th Street, 111 W 110th Street, and 346 W 57th Street.
It’s time for our annual round-up of New York City holiday activities and entertainment. Each year we provide information on some of the best things to do in NYC during the Christmas season. And since this website is all about experiencing the best of NYC for less, we emphasize things to do that are free, inexpensive, or for which discounts are available.
We’ll keep this page updated as more information about the 2017 season becomes available. Check additional online event resources such as TimeOut and the Official NYC Guide at nycgo.com to find more events. Dates, hours of operation, and fees should be verified with the official websites.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – Santa’s arrival at the end of this big Thanksgiving Day parade helps usher in the holiday season. Thousands and thousands of people line the parade route each year to see the bands, floats, and giant balloons go by. The parade is on Thanksgiving Day and the start time is 9:00 a.m.. The parade starts at 77th Street and Central Park West, turns at Columbus Circle onto Central Park South, continues to 6th Avenue, then continues south along 6th Avenue until it gets to the end at 34th Street (Macy’s Herald Square).
You can see the Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons inflated outside the American Museum of Natural History on the night before the parade. It’s a great opportunity to see the balloons up close, but lots people show up to see the inflation, so be prepared for lines and crowds.
Handel’s Messiah – Enjoy the New York Philharmonic’s performance of this classical masterpiece. Performances are December 12 – 16, 2017 at Lincoln Center. Discount tickets available.
Messiah … Refreshed – Enjoy Handel’s Messiah re-orchestrated for full symphony orchestra performed in the beautiful, iconic Carnegie Hall. At the Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, Sunday, November 27th. Discount tickets available.
Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square – November 27, 2017. Annual street festival that stretches along Broadway from the Time Warner Center to 68th Street. There’s lots of free entertainment and performances, plus food tastings from neighborhood restaurants.
Caroling at Washington Square Park – Christmas Eve caroling under the Washington Square Arch is an annual tradition. The caroling usually starts at 5:00 p.m. but watch for an official announcement on the Washington Square Association website.
Holiday Edition of The Ride – Enjoy the sights of New York City from the comfort of The Ride’s high-tech interactive buses with stadium-style seating. The Holiday Edition of The Ride combines sightseeing with holiday-themed street performances.
Holiday Lights, Trees, and Displays
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Christmas Decorations
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree – This is the big one – and it really is a big tree. The tree, lights and decorations at Rockefeller Center are beautiful and a must-see for any holiday season visit to New York City. The tree lighting event will take place on November 29, 2017 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The tree stays lit until 11:30 each night until the lights go off at 9:00 p.m. on January 7th, 2018. Free.
The Origami Tree at the American Museum of Natural History – November 20, 2017 – January 7, 2018. The holiday tree at the American Museum of Natural History is decorated with a collection of paper-folded origami ornaments. The theme for the ornaments changes each year. It’s a unique and beautiful display. Admission to the museum is free during the last hour of operation each day (4:45 – 5:45), so that’s a good time to visit if you just want to see the tree.
Metropolitan Museum Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Creche – This beautiful tree is decorated with cherubs and angels and a classic Nativity scene is arranged beneath. Lighting ceremonies are held each day, visit the museum website for details. The museum operates on a recommended admission policy, with a recommendation of $25 for adults, $17 for seniors, $12 for students, and free admission for children under 12.
Bryant Park Winter Village and Christmas Tree – There’s a big tree next to the skating rink at Bryant Park. The ice skating rink here is free (there’s a charge to rent skates if you don’t have your own). This park also features a very nice holiday market with little shops nestled in between the park’s trees. Bryant Park is located behind the New York Public Library, between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The 2017 Bryant Park Tree Lighting and Skate-tacular takes place December 1st at 6:00 p.m. Free.
Park Avenue Memorial Trees – Fir trees along Park Avenue are lit each year in memory of those who have sacrificed their lives at war. This tradition began in 1946 when a group of Park Avenue families lit trees in honor of those lost in WWII. The Brick Church at the corner of Park Avenue and 91st Street holds a tree lighting ceremony and carol sing on the night of the first Sunday in December. The trees stretch along Park Avenue from 54th to 96th Streets. The 2017 tree lighting date has not yet been announced. Free.
Star Display at the Time Warner Center
The New York Stock Exchange Christmas Tree – A tree has been decorated in front of the NYSE each year since 1923. The Stock Exchange Christmas Tree is located on Broad Street, between Wall Street and Exchange Place. The 2017 tree lighting ceremony is November 30th. Free.
Washington Square Park Christmas Tree – This tree has a spectacular location, right at the foot of the iconic Washington Square Arch. The park is located at the foot of Fifth Avenue in the Greenwich Village neighborhood. Washington Square Park also has a popular holiday market. Free.
Lincoln Center Christmas Tree – There’s always a nice holiday tree in the plaza in front of Lincoln Center. It’s a pretty setting with the fountain and Lincoln Center’s lighted architecture in the background. While you’re in the neighborhood, pay a visit to the Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium, located on Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets. This public space is open until 10:00 nightly, has free wifi, restrooms, a cafe, free music on Thursdays, and is the box office for discount tickets to same-week performances at Lincoln Center venues. Free.
Holiday Under the Stars at The Time Warner Center – Twelve large stars suspended from the ceiling of the Time Warner Center atrium shift colors in a display choreographed to holiday music. The Time Warner Center is located across from Columbus Circle, where you’ll find an outdoor holiday market. Free.
Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Gardens – November 22, 2017 – January 15, 2018. Think train shows aren’t your thing? You might want to re-think that. This train show is special. Trains run around a landscape of real plants and detailed replicas of New York City’s landmarks, created completely out of natural plant material. It all takes place in the nice warm conservatory building of the New York Botanical Gardens. There are special adults-only Bar Car Nights with entertainment and holiday cocktails.
Store Window Holiday Displays – Elaborate holiday window displays are a long-standing tradition in New York City. Macy’s, Saks, Lord & Taylor, Tiffany, Bergdorf Goodman, and Bloomingdale’s are some of the best. If you’re traveling with children, see Mommy Poppins’ “NYC Holiday Windows Walk 2013: Seeing Department Store Christmas Displays with Kids” for good information and photos. And don’t just look in the windows at Macy’s, the interior of the store has great decorations, including the famous Santaland.
Ice Skating
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Wollman Rink, Central Park
The Rink at Rockefeller Center – This is the most famous, and most crowded of the city’s skating rinks. If it’s always been your dream to skate at Rockefeller Center, you show go for it. And if you’re not much of a skater, the rink and surrounding decorations are still something worth seeing. The rink opened for the 2017 season on October 11th.
Wollman Rink in Central Park– This is probably the second most famous ice rink in the city. It’s a large rink located near the southern entrance to Central Park, where the city’s skyline provides a picturesque background. Try to go during the week when the rink is less crowded and the fees are lower. Wollman Rink opened for the 2017 season on October 21st.
Bryant Park Ice Skating – Skating at Bryant Park is free, although if you don’t have your own skates, there is a skate rental fee. The 170′ x 100′ rink here is smaller than the one a Central Park, but larger than the rink at Rockefeller Center. The park also has a nice holiday market. Bryant Park is located right behind the Main Branch of the New York Public Library, so you can stop by there to see the tree in Astor Hall and the wreaths decorating the lion statues at the entrance. The Bryant Park rink opened for the 2017 season on October 28th.
Holiday Markets
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Holiday shops and tree at Bryant Park
The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park– October 28, 2017 – January 2, 2018. The glass-enclosed structures that house the shops at the Bryant Park holiday market allow shoppers an opportunity to get out of the cold and the glass shops nestled among the park’s trees make for the very pretty setting. There are over a hundred little boutique-type shops set up along the park’s pathways. Bryant Park also has a skating rink and large Christmas tree here.
Columbus Circle Holiday Market– November 28 – December 24, 2017. This outdoor market has a great location, right at the southern end of Central Park. Combine shopping here with a trip to nearby Wollman Rink in Central Park or the lights display in the Time Warner Center.
Union Square Holiday Market– November 16 – December 24, 2017. Vendors of gift and food items sell their wares from temporary outdoor stalls topped with red & white striped awnings. The scene at this popular market is reminiscent of European Christmas markets. Located in Union Square Park, Greenwich Village.
Grand Central Holiday Fair – November 13 – December 24, 2017.Grand Central’s indoor holiday market is a good way to escape from the cold. About 40 vendors sell a variety of goods in Vanderbilt Hall.
