Things to Do in New York | See Lady Liberty, Central Park & NYC Museums

It’s likely you’ve seen many of the top things to do in New York City on television or in movies already, but seeing NYC’s best attractions in person is a can’t-miss experience in itself. Plan a New York itinerary that includes stops at the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and some of the city’s top museums. Plus, enjoy discovering tons more activities while traveling from one landmark attraction to the next.

Statue of Liberty

A long-standing symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognized historical landmarks in the United States. “Lady Liberty,” as she is affectionately called by many, has stood on Liberty Island in Hudson Bay (on the New Jersey side) since her dedication in late 1886. The copper statue, which has turned “Liberty Green” from oxidation over time, was given to the United States by France and is regarded as a welcome symbol for immigrants arriving by sea. The only way to get to the Statue of Liberty is by ferry.

Hours: Statue Cruises run every 20 to 25 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily at Battery Park ferry terminal.
Ticket prices: the price to ride the ferry is $19.25 for adults, $9 for children 4 to 12 years old and $14 for seniors 62 and older. Children 4 and younger ride for free. Access to the crown costs $3 extra per person. Children under 4 years old are not allowed inside the crown area. Tickets can be booked in advance online or purchased at Castle Clinton National Monument inside The Battery park.

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Empire State Building

Towering over the island of Manhattan, the Empire State Building once held the record as the tallest building in the world. Today, it stands at number 48, but a view from the Empire State Building’s two observatories remains impressive. Visitors can take panoramic photos in the open air on the 86th floor, where tickets are sold for the glass-enclosed observatory on the 102nd floor.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily
Entry fees: Tickets to the 86th floor observatory start at $42 for adults, $36 for children and $40 for seniors; tickets to the 102nd floor observatory start at $72 for adults, $66 for children and $70 for seniors; premium experience tickets, which include VIP behind-the-scenes tours, are $161.55.

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Central Park

Marking the center of Manhattan, Central Park is perhaps New York’s most well known and popular attraction. Besides several lakes, playgrounds and scenic walking paths, Central Park also is home to a flurry of things to do in New York. Visitors will want to block out a few hours to visit sights like The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Belvedere Castle and Strawberry Fields, a memorial dedicated to Beatles member John Lennon. Central Park Zoo also is another can’t-miss activity in Central Park.

Hours: 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily

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Times Square

No trip to New York City is complete without a tour of Times Square and the surrounding theater district. Located in midtown Manhattan, Times Square runs from west 42 to 47 streets, and the bustling business area welcomes more than 50 million visitors every year.

Top things to do in New York at Times Square

• Catch a show at Broadway Theatre
• View the famous statues in Father Duffy Square
• Tour Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square & Madame Tussauds New York
• Satisfy a sweet tooth at Hershey’s Chocolate World & M&M’S World
• Take an underwater tour at National Geographic Encounter

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NYC Museums

New York could easily be called the museum capital of the U.S. as it hosts some of the most exquisite and largest museums in the world. Many NYC museums can be found in the Chelsea district of Manhattan, but tourists will notice that museums in New York can be spotted about anywhere. Tourists who visit famous Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue on the east side of Central Park will find Museum Mile, a road packed with historic institutions like The Jewish Museum, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Most popular museums in New York City

• Metropolitan Museum of Art – known lovingly as “The Met,” this landmark located in Central Park is the largest art museum in the U.S. and has been wowing visitors since 1870.
• The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) – nestled between Central Park and Times Square, MOMA features artwork from artists like Vincent van Gogh and Andy Warhol along with a sculpture garden.
• American Museum of Natural History – guests will find this natural history museum, complete with dinosaurs and spacecrafts, just outside Central Park in Upper West Side.
• Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration – from The Battery park in Lower Manhattan, tourists can ferry out to Ellis Island, which served as the gateway for more than 12 million immigrants to America from 1892 to 1924. Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday and for 24 hours on Sunday.
• 9/11 Memorial & Museum – built to honor victims of a 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers guests tours of Ground Zero and artifacts that were salvaged from the tragedy.

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Where to Stay in New York City

Arthouse Hotel

The Box House Hotel

Chelsea Cabins New York