Five New York City Tourist Attractions That Are Actually Worth Visiting
No one wants to waste money on a New York City vacation on tourist-traps and over-hyped attractions. In fact, sometimes these NYC Tourist Attractions can feel like outright NYC scams. Yet, there are a select few NYC tourist attractions that are 100% worth it. These are the NYC must-sees and the NYC must-dos. The reason why so many tourists visit and rave is because these NYC attractions are awesome. Jaded locals like to feel special by saying “don’t go to Times Square,” but we happen to disagree and believe Times Square is fabulous. You just need to know where to go and what to do! Here are five top “worth it” NYC tourist attractions.
SUMMIT ONE VANDERBILT
New York City has 5 main observation decks. You have the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, Edge, and Summit. Summit is the newest kid on the block and it is such a magnificent experience. The main attraction is the hall of mirrors, which you encounter as soon as you get off the elevator. It feels like you have entered the multiverse and the photo opportunities are stunning. (Perfect photos for putting on our Welcome to Times Square billboard!) You will be face-to-face with both the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. In fact, Summit might be the best view of the Empire State Building in all of New York City. The most instagrammable space at Summit is the room of silver beach balls! It’s so much fun and whimsical to walk through this silvery wonderland while gazing at the skyline below. Even the most jaded New Yorker is amazed at the Summit! Our verdict is Summit One Vanderbilt is 100% worth it!
Statue of Liberty
Jaded New Yorkers love to tell you that visiting the Statue of Liberty is not worth it. Our belief is that they are wrong. There is something incredibly magical about seeing the Statue of Liberty up close, and perhaps even visiting her pedestal and her crown! There is a Statue of Liberty museum on the island which helps you understand her history, or you can take a free ranger tour with a NPS Ranger! It can take 3-4 hours hours to visit Lady Liberty, so the faster and cheaper option to not visit directly, but VIEW Lady Liberty, is to hop a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. The whole experience is free and takes approximately 1 hour. On her way to Staten Island, the Staten Island Ferry gets pretty close to the Statue of Liberty! Dinner cruises are another fun way to view the Statue of Liberty.
Ellis Island
so many people skip Ellis Island when they visit New York City, but we think it’s one of the coolest things to do in NYC. Ellis Island is home to an interactive immigration museum. When you visit Ellis Island, you will be walking in the footsteps of over 12 million immigrants who passed through these walls on their way to becoming U.S. citizens. If you want an elevated and more exclusive experience, check out the Save Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour, where you visit a second of the island normally closed to the public. This is the hospital wing, and your guide will make it come alive again before your very eyes. Many claim the Save Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour is their favorite thing they did on their NYC vacation!
Times Square
Times Square is an absolutely NYC must-do. Times Square is full of shops, restaurants, entertainment, and there are always outdoor free performances happening. One of the best things to do in Times Square is to appear on Times Square billboard! You become part of New York City. Renting space on a Times Square billboard is more affordable than you might think. Thanks to Welcome to Times Square, you can rent space for just $150 a day! Learn more on our website!
See a Broadway Show
While you’re in Times Square, check out a Broadway show. There are 42 active Broadway theatres, so there is bound to be a show for everyone. Some buzzy new shows this Broadway season include Two Strangers: Carry a Cake Across New York, Ragtime, and The Queen of Versailles. Long running shows like The Lion King, Aladdin, and Hamilton are always sure bets for a fun night. It’s also a great surprise to see a Broadway show and then have your plus one walk outside the theatre and see their face on the Welcome to Times Square billboard.