New York Trip Guide
NEW YORK CITY GUIDE
Breathtaking Views
Circle Line https://www.circleline.com/
Today, Circle Line is the only cruise company in New York Harbor exclusively dedicated to sightseeing with boats specifically designed to let you see as much as possible in any weather. Their dedication to offering the best possible NYC experience has earned them worldwide recognition as one of the best boat rides in the world.
All cruises take off from Pier 83 Midtown
Cruises daily starting at 10 AM
Reserve tickets: https://www.circleline.com/sightseeing-cruises
Seating starting at $45
Edge New York at Hudson Yards https://www.edgenyc.com/en
As the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, Edge is a marvel of architecture, engineering and technology with panoramic views of New York City. Your adventure begins as you enter as immersive multimedia experience—before heading up over 1,100 feet into the air.
Located on level 4 of The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards
Open daily 8 AM – Midnight
Reserve tickets: https://www.edgenyc.com/en/buy-tickets
Adults starting at $38, Seniors starting at $36
Empire State Building https://www.esbnyc.com/
Intended to be the world’s first 100+ story building, construction of the Empire State Building began on March 17, 1930. Construction was completed in a record-breaking 1 year and 45 days.
20 W 34th Street, (212) 736-3100
Open daily 11 AM – 10:30 PM
Main Deck: 86th Floor Observatory, Adult $44, Senior $42
Top Deck: 102nd & 86th Floor Observatories, Adult $77, Senior $75
90-minute tour: Adults & Seniors $175
One World Observatory https://www.oneworldobservatory.com/en-US/
SkyPodTM Elevators climb 102 stories in 47 seconds. This astonishing ride reveals the transformation of New York City from unsettled lands to today’s remarkable forest of skyscrapers.
Located at 117 West Street, (212) 602-4000
Open Thursday – Monday, 11 AM – 7 PM
Reserve tickets: https://www.oneworldobservatory.com/en-US/buy-tickets
Adult & Seniors starting at $43
Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock https://www.rockefellercenter.com/buy-tickets/top-of-the-rock/
Take in the 360-degree views of NYC from 70 floors up on three observation decks, both indoor and outdoor.
45 Rockefeller Plaza, (212) 588-8601
Open daily 10 AM – 10 PM, last elevator at 9:10 PM
Adult tickets $40, Senior tickets $38
Staten Island Ferry https://www.siferry.com/
The Staten Island Ferry is one of the last remaining vestiges of an entire ferry system in New York City that transported people between Manhattan and its future boroughs long before any bridges were built. In Staten Island, the northern shores were spiked in piers, competing ferry operators braved the busy waters of New York harbor. Today the Staten Island Ferry provides 22 million people a year (70,000 passengers a day not including weekend days) with ferry service between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan.
Ferry leaves from Whitehall Ferry Terminal, 4 South St., 24/7
Free ferry schedule: https://www.siferry.com/schedules.html
Historical Landmarks
Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm
“The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World” was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886. It was designated as a National Monument in 1924. Employees of the National Park Service have been caring for the colossal copper statue since 1933.
Ferries run from Battery Park https://www.thebattery.org/ 9 AM – 3 PM
Reserve tickets: https://www.cityexperiences.com/new-york/city-cruises/statue/cruises/new-york-reserve/
Round-trip ferry ticket and access to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Adults $24, Seniors $18
St. Patrick’s Cathedral https://saintpatrickscathedral.org/
At St. Patrick’s Cathedral, visitors from all nations and all walks of life are welcome. St. Patrick’s is a vibrant, active community of faith and a magnificent example of Neo-Gothic architecture.
5th Avenue between 50th & 51st Streets, (212) 753-2261
Open Monday – Friday 6:30 AM – 2:00 PM, Saturday 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM, Sunday 8 AM – 2 PM
Masses held Monday – Friday 7 AM & 12 PM, Saturday 8 AM, 12 PM & 5:30 PM, Sunday 10:15 AM, 1:00 PM
Museums
9/11 Memorial & Museum https://www.911memorial.org/
During this 20th anniversary year, The 9/11 Memorial Museum invites visitors to learn about the history of the 9/11 attacks and 1993 World Trade Center bombing at the site where the Twin Towers once stood. The Museum’s dynamic blend of architecture, archaeology, and history creates an unforgettable encounter with the story of the attacks, their aftermath, and the people who experienced these events.
180 Greenwich Street, (212) 312-8800
Open Thursday – Monday, 10 AM – 5 PM
Reserve tickets: https://www.911memorial.org/visit/visit-museum-1
Adults $26, Seniors $20
American Museum of Natural History https://www.amnh.org/
Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition. The Museum is renowned for its exhibitions and scientific collections, which serve as a field guide to the entire planet and present a panorama of the world’s cultures.
200 Central Park West, (212) 769-5100
Open Wednesday – Sunday from 10 AM – 5:30 PM
Reserve tickets: https://ticketing.amnh.org/#/tickets?_ga=2.16253684.350218111.1628277045-2074375086.1628277045
General Admission + all featured exhibits Adults $23, Seniors $18
The Guggenheim Museum https://www.guggenheim.org/
An internationally renowned art museum and one of the most significant architectural icons of the 20th century, the Guggenheim Museum in New York is at once a vital cultural center, an educational institution, and the heart of an international network of museums. Visitors can experience special exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, lectures by artists and critics, performances and film screenings, classes for teens and adults, and daily tours of the galleries led by museum educators. Founded on a collection of early modern masterpieces, the Guggenheim Museum today is an ever-evolving institution devoted to the art of the 20th century and beyond.
Please note much of the museum will be closed due to a new exhibit installation.
1071 5th Avenue, (212) 423-3500
Open Thursday – Monday, 11 AM – 6 PM
Reserve tickets: https://secure.guggenheim.org/events
Adults $25, Seniors $18
The Museum of Metropolitan Art https://www.metmuseum.org/
The Met was founded on April 13, 1870, “to be located in the City of New York, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining in said city a Museum and library of art, of encouraging and developing the study of the fine arts, and the application of arts to manufacture and practical life, of advancing the general knowledge of kindred subjects, and, to that end, of furnishing popular instruction.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy.
1000 5th Avenue, (212) 535-7710
Open daily 10 AM – 5:30 PM
Reserve tickets: https://www.metmuseum.org/visit/plan-your-visit
Adults $30, Seniors $22
Museum of Modern Art https://www.moma.org/
MoMA celebrates creativity, openness, tolerance, and generosity. The museum is committed to sharing the most thought-provoking modern and contemporary art.
11 West 53rd Street, (212) 708-9400
Open daily 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Must reserve timed-entry tickets online, in advance: https://www.moma.org/tickets/select
Adults $25, Seniors $18
Whitney Museum of American Art https://whitney.org/
As the preeminent institution devoted to the art of the United States, the Whitney Museum of American Art presents the full range of twentieth-century and contemporary American art, with a special focus on works by living artists. The Whitney is dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting American art, and its collection—arguably the finest holdings of twentieth-century American art in the world—is the Museum’s key resource. The Museum’s flagship exhibition, the Biennial, is the country’s leading survey of the most recent developments in American art.
Located at 99 Gansevoort Street, (212) 570-3600
Open Friday 10 AM – 10 PM, Saturday 11:30 AM – 7 PM, Sunday 11:30 AM – 6 PM
Must reserve timed-entry tickets online, in advance https://visit.whitney.org/ga/ticketing.aspx?node_id=540044#/step1
Adults $25, Seniors $18
Parks
Central Park https://www.centralparknyc.org/
New York’s Central Park is a world-famous public park, created beginning in 1858 to address the recreational needs of the rapidly growing City. Its original purpose was to offer urban dwellers an experience of the countryside, a place to escape from the stresses of urban life and to commune with nature and fellow New Yorkers. Over 150 years later, the Park still provides this essential purpose, and welcomes all visitors, while accommodating newer forms of recreational activities.
Don’t miss the pedicabs! They’ll show you the entire park!
Governor’s Island https://www.govisland.com/
Governors Island is a 172-acre island in the heart of New York Harbor. Just minutes from Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront by ferry, the Island is a popular seasonal destination open to visitors from May to October.
Ferries run from The Battery Maritime Building, 10 South Street, 10 AM -4:40 PM
Roundtrip tickets are $3 for Adults, Free for Seniors 65 and over
Ferry tickets must be booked in advance: https://www.govisland.com/plan-your-visit/ferry
The High Line
The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. Saved from demolition by neighborhood residents and the City of New York, the High Line opened in 2009 as a hybrid public space where visitors experience nature, art, and design.
Elevators located at Gansevoort Street, Washington St
Park-level access is also available at 30th Street at Hudson Yards
Open daily 7 AM-10 PM
https://www.thehighline.org/visit/
Little Island at Pier 55 https://littleisland.org/
Rising from the remnants of Pier 55, Little Island sits on a site that has played a pivotal role in the story of the Hudson River and its surrounding communities. Every visit to Little Island is a reminder of the dynamic evolution of New York City’s waterfront.
Located at Hudson River Park at 13th Street
Open daily 6 AM – 11 PM
Shopping, Dining & Entertainment
Chelsea Market https://www.chelseamarket.com/
Iconic culinary destination Chelsea Market has become an internationally-renowned brand and is considered one of the greatest indoor food and retail marketplaces in the world today.
75 Ninth Avenue (Between 15th & 16th Street), (212) 652-2111
Open Monday – Saturday 7 AM – 2 AM, Sunday 8 AM – 10 PM
Hudson Yards https://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/
Hudson Yards is unlike anything ever built before – a living, breathing neighborhood that champions first-to-New York experiences. Take in the scene from thrilling new heights at Edge — the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. Climb Vessel, the interactive centerpiece of Hudson Yards. Or visit The Shed, a new center for art and inspiration.
Located between 10th and 12th Avenues from West 30th to West 34th Streets
Open Monday – Saturday 10 AM – 9 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 7 PM
TKTS Ticket Booths https://www.tdf.org/nyc/7/tkts-ticket-booths
TKTS Discount Booths are the perfect way for everyone to experience the arts in New York City at affordable prices. Choose from a wide array of Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals, plays, and dance productions on sale every day at 20% to 50% off regular prices.
TKTS Times Square for matinee performances: Saturday, 11 AM – 8 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 7 PM
Located “under the red steps” at Broadway and 47th Street
TKTS Lincoln Center for next-day matinee performances: Saturday 12 PM – 7 PM
Located in the David Rubenstein Atrium at 61 West 62nd Street
Neighborhood Guide
5th Avenue – www.visit5thavenue.com/
Fifth Avenue is a shopper’s paradise where you can find every kind of store imaginable, with fashion brands ranging from the affordable to the ultra-fancy.
Chinatown – https://www.nycgo.com/boroughs-neighborhoods/manhattan/chinatown/
New York City’s Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in the United States and the site of the largest concentration of Chinese in the western hemisphere is located on the lower east side of Manhattan.
Little Italy – https://www.nycgo.com/boroughs-neighborhoods/manhattan/little-italy/
When Italian immigrants moved to this Manhattan neighborhood in the late 1800s, they brought their customs, food and language. That heritage remains evident today—Little Italy’s streets are lined with restaurants serving Italian staples on red-and-white checkered tablecloths.
Meatpacking District – https://www.nycgo.com/boroughs-neighborhoods/manhattan/meatpacking-district/
The Meatpacking District is one of Manhattan’s most glamorous neighborhoods. The area has come a long way from its slaughterhouse origins, transforming into a luxury destination filled with clubs, stylish restaurants and several of the City’s trendiest hotels.
Union Square – https://www.nycgo.com/boroughs-neighborhoods/manhattan/union-square/
Bounded by 14th Street, Union Square East, 17th Street, and Union Square West, the area is a bustling hub for both work and leisure, and the neighborhood surrounding the park holds some of New York’s finest restaurants and best shopping spots.
Flatiron District – https://www.nycgo.com/boroughs-neighborhoods/manhattan/flatiron-district/
The triangular shape of the landmark Flatiron Building looms large over the the Flatiron District, an area of Manhattan that features an abundance of Beaux-Arts and cast-iron buildings. The neighborhood is home to a rich dining scene, including elegant Mexican food and Michelin-starred New American eateries, plus the massive Italian culinary bazaar that is Eataly.