Visiting New York City for the first time can be thrilling and a bit overwhelming. With so many iconic sights and attractions, where do you even start? đ¤ Donât worry â weâve got you covered! Below are five must-do NYC experiences that will give you a taste of the cityâs culture, history, and unforgettable views. Each of these activities is hugely popular with visitors (for good reason) and will help you create lifelong memories in the Big Apple. So throw on your walking shoes, charge up your camera, and get ready to explore NYC in style! đ˝â¨
1. New York CityPASSÂŽ â Your Ticket to NYCâs Top Sights
If youâre planning to hit several major attractions, the New York CityPASSÂŽ is like your golden ticket. This handy pass lets you visit 5 of NYCâs must-see attractions while saving up to 41% on combined admissionâ. Itâs perfect for first-timers who want to see as much as possible without blowing the budget. With CityPASS in hand, you get 9 days to use your tickets, so you can explore at your own pace instead of racing from place to placeâ. A straightforward purchase â many of your tickets are sorted, which seriously lowers the stress of planning.
What can you see with CityPASS? For starters, entry to the Empire State Building (yes, the famous 86th-floor observatory is included) and the American Museum of Natural History are coveredâ. Then, you get to choose 3 more attractions based on your interestsâ. You might take in the skyline from Top of the Rock, pay your respects at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, hop on a Statue of Liberty ferry cruise, or dive into other options like the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, or the Guggenheim Museum. In other words, CityPASS gives you a little taste of everything: towering skyscrapers, fascinating museums, a scenic boat ride, and more. Itâs an awesome way to experience NYCâs highlights hassle-free, especially if youâre here for a short stay. Just pick your favorite five, flash your CityPASS, and enjoy the best of New York! đđ˝
2. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt â Sky-High Views with a Twist
Inside the mirrored observatory at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, where the cityscape reflects all around you in a multi-sensory art experience. Ever been 93 floors up inside a funhouse of mirrors? At SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, youâll ascend to one of NYCâs newest observation decks and step into a mind-bending, multi-sensory worldâ. This isnât just any observation deck â itâs part immersive art installation, part futuristic space, and 100% jaw-dropping. As you wander through rooms with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, the Manhattan skyline is reflected in every direction around (and below!), creating a surreal, dreamlike version of the city. Day or night, the views are insane â weâre talking sweeping 360° panoramas of New York from high above Midtownâ.
What makes SUMMIT extra special (and super Instagrammable) are the interactive elements. Do you dare step out onto transparent glass skyboxes protruding off the building? At SUMMITâs âLevitation,â you can literally stand on clear glass 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue, feeling like youâre floating over the cityâ. đą If your heart isnât pounding enough, head to the âAirâ exhibit â a giant mirrored space designed by artist Kenzo Digital â where floating silver orbs and shifting lights play tricks on your perception. One moment you see the horizon above you, the next itâs below your feet! For a playful touch, thereâs even a room with shimmering balloons you can toss around. By the time you reach the open-air terrace on the top floor, youâll have experienced New York in a completely new way. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt takes the classic âtall building viewâ and turns it into an all-out sensory adventure, making it a must for thrill-seekers and photographers alike. đâ¨
3. Downtown and Statue of Liberty Sightseeing Cruise â NYC from the Water
See the NYC skyline from a new perspective. A sightseeing cruise is a relaxing way to soak in Manhattanâs landmarks â like these happy cruisers enjoying views of One World Trade Center and the downtown skyline. One of the best ways to appreciate New Yorkâs grandeur is from the water. On the Downtown and Statue of Liberty Sightseeing Cruise, youâll hop aboard a comfortable tour boat and set sail on the Hudson River for a scenic loop around the tip of Manhattan. Feel the breeze as you glide past the emerging skyscrapers of Hudson Yards and the quirky offshore park of Little Islandâ. As the boat cruises by Lower Manhattan, youâll get unbeatable views of the skyline â the towering One World Trade Center, the financial districtâs high-rises, and the Brooklyn Bridge all make for fantastic panoramas.
Of course, the star of the show is Lady Liberty herself. đ˝ The boat will take you right up close to the Statue of Liberty, pausing long enough for everyone to snap the perfect selfie or family photo with the statue in the backgroundâ. (No need to elbow through crowds on Liberty Island â you get your statue moment without leaving the boat!) Many cruises even have a guide on board, so as you pass each sight, you can learn fun facts and stories about NYCâs history. After circling Liberty Island, the tour isnât over â youâll sail under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges for that classic New York Harbor experienceâ. đ¸ Pro tip: stand on the open deck as you go under the bridges for a really cool view, looking straight up through the steel beams. Finally, youâll loop back to the pier with a camera roll full of epic skyline shots. Whether you go in the afternoon or catch an evening cruise for golden sunset views, a harbor cruise is a laid-back, picturesque adventure that gives you a whole new appreciation for New York City. đ˘đ
4. 9/11 Memorial & Museum â A Powerful, Moving Tribute
New York isnât just about flashy lights and tall buildings â it also has places of deep reflection. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a must-visit to understand the cityâs history and resilience. This experience is more somber in tone, but incredibly meaningful. At the outdoor Memorial, youâll find two vast reflecting pools set in the footprints of the Twin Towers, with water cascading down their sides into an open void. The names of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 are inscribed around the edges, and itâs a profoundly moving sight to behold. Many visitors spend a quiet moment here, under the shade of the oak trees, to pay their respects. Keep an eye out for the famed Survivor Tree â a pear tree that somehow withstood the attacks and still grows at the site as a symbol of hopeâ.
Inside the 9/11 Museum, the story of that day and the days that followed comes to life in vivid detail. Itâs a beautifully designed underground museum filled with artifacts and personal stories. Youâll see wreckage pieces from the World Trade Center, like twisted steel beams and a damaged fire truck, as well as personal mementos that honor those who were lostâ. Through powerful displays and recorded testimonies, you listen to the voices of survivors and first responders, and witness images and videos that recount the events and heroism of 9/11â. One striking exhibit is a wall covered in 2,983 watercolor squares â one for each victim â in varying shades of blue, representing the clear sky that morning, with a quote in the center: âNo Day Shall Erase You From the Memory of Time.â Standing in front of it truly gives you chills. Itâs fair to say this museum can be emotional â many people describe it as a humbling and deeply touching experienceâ. However, itâs done with great respect and care, making it a profound tribute to the lives affected. Visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum reminds us of the strength and compassion that arose from tragedy. Itâs an experience that will stay with you long after you leave, and an important part of understanding New York Cityâs spirit.
5. Empire State Building Observatory â Iconic Views with VIP Vibes
No trip to NYC is complete without going to the top of the Empire State Building â the cityâs most iconic skyscraper. From King Kong to Sleepless in Seattle, this building is a Hollywood superstar, and the real-life experience is just as magical. With skip-the-line Observatory tickets, youâll whisk past the crowds and head straight into the Art Deco lobby like a VIP (thereâs even a red carpet for express ticket holders)â. After a speedy elevator ride, you step out onto the 86th-floor open-air observation deck and â wow â the view hits you. The entire New York City skyline stretches out in every direction from this central viewpoint. Look north and youâll see Central Parkâs green rectangle; look south and catch the glimmer of One World Trade Center downtown. Turn around for the Chrysler Buildingâs gleaming spire, or gaze across the rivers toward Brooklyn, Queens, and New Jersey. On a clear day, you can see as far as six different states from up thereâ! Itâs a 360-degree panorama that truly makes you feel like youâre on top of the worldâ.
Visitors enjoying the 86th-floor Observatory. From the Empire State Buildingâs open-air deck, you get unforgettable views of New York City (and beyond) â all while feeling the wind 1,000+ feet above the streets below. Thereâs nothing like the exhilaration of spotting famous landmarks from this height. đ¸ You might find yourself saying âOh, thereâs the Statue of Liberty in the distance!â or tracing the route you walked earlier through Midtownâs grid of streets now tiny below. The observation deck is spacious, with those classic coin-operated binoculars if you want a closer look at faraway sights. Take your time soaking it all in â both day and night views are incredible in their own way (sunset is especially romantic đ). Before or after heading to the top, you can also explore the second-floor immersive museum inside the Empire State Building. There are interactive exhibits about the buildingâs construction, historic photos, and even a goofy photo-op with King Kong (donât worry, his actual giant gorilla hand is just a replica popping through the wall!). Itâs a fun way to appreciate the history of this 1930s masterpiece. Visiting the Empire State Building is the ultimate âIâm in New York City!â moment â whether youâre a kid marveling at the toy-sized cars below or an adult ticking off a bucket-list item, youâll definitely catch the NYC skyline fever from up here. đđ
