Do you hate ending up in a queue when trying to visit your carefully planned destinations? Would you like to know which attractions in NYC are the best and easiest to visit? We know all the answers and will be happy to share them with you! We have tested and ranked attractions in the City that doesn’t sleep based on 3 criteria: wait time, price and Tripadvisor rating. Do you have a list of attractions you want to visit while in NYC? Great, now you can check how long would you have to wait to get in, how many dollars would it set you back and how likely your fellow travellers are to recommend these attractions. Find our rating under each of the famous sights alongside other interesting information!
1. 9/11 Memorial Museum
Average wait time: 30 minutes
Tripadvisor rating: #2 of 1,279 things to do in New York City
You will hardly find a more emotional place in NYC. Whether you feel like honoring those that lost their lives during and after the attack or whether you simply want to learn more about it, this will surely be a visit to remember.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is a memorial and museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks, and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
When to visit:
- Late afternoons and early evenings
- Early in the mornings
What to avoid:
- Summer months
- School vacations
- Peak hours – noon to 3PM
Good to know:
- Ticket price: $28 (adult), $22 (senior and youth)
- The best way to avoid the lines is purchasing a ticket in advance – for a specific time slot
- Tuesdays the admission is free
- In case you prefer to only see the 9/11 Memorial, it is free to visit, however, together with the Museum they create an unforgettable experience
Our rating: 😊
2. One World Observatory
Average wait time: 20 minutes
Tripadvisor rating: #16 of 1,279 things to do in New York City
Also known as the Freedom Tower, One World Trade Centre is the tallest building in the United States, offering mesmerising 360-degree views over Manhattan and the Hudson River.
Enter one of the “SkyPods” and get whisked up to the 102nd floor in only 47 seconds, while enjoying a presentation that outlines the history of the landscape in New York City.
When to visit:
- Early mornings (8am-10am) or late evenings
- If you want the best pictures, try to arrive at the top around noon
- For the most magical experience, visit at sunset
What to avoid:
- Weekends
- Bank holidays
Good to know:
- Buy an online ticket for a timed visit and bypass the line.
- Ticket price: $37 (adult), $35 (senior), $30.5 (youth)
- You can rent an “Explorer iPad”, which works as a Digital Skyline Guide.
- The restaurant on top of the tower – One Dine – is the highest restaurant in the USA and requires reservations.
Our rating: ☹️
3. Top of the Rock
Average wait time: 10 minutes
Tripadvisor rating: #7 of 1,279 things to do in New York City
Yet another of the many observation decks in New York City, Top of the Rock offers an unique view – you can see both the Empire State Building and the One World Trade Centre from it, among others.
Soar 70 stories high in a state-of-the-art glass-ceiling elevator for an unobstructed look at the stunning NYC skyline from every vantage point.
When to visit:
- As early as it opens for the shortest lines
- An hour before the dusk for the best views, but it tends to be crowded.
What to avoid:
- Weekends and holidays
Good to know:
- Ticket prices: $38 (adult), $36 (senior), $32 (child 6-12), FREE under 6 years
- There is $10 additional fee for the visits at sunset
- Buy your tickets online to bypass the line
Our rating: 😊😊
4. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
Average wait time: 1 hour
Tripadvisor rating: #18 of 1,279 things to do in New York City
The Museum of Modern Art is considered to be one of the largest and most influential museums of modern art and it attracts millions of visitors yearly. Founded in 1929, it was the first museum ever devoted to the modern era.Collection highlights include Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, and Pablo Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, along with others.
When to visit:
- Come after 11:30am, mornings are very busy
- There is a FREE entry on Friday afternoons (4pm to 8pm)
- Friday midday (12 to 4pm) is the calmest time at the museum
What to avoid:
- School holidays
- Easter week, Thanksgiving, Christmas and NYE
- Rainy days attract double the visitors
Good to know:
- Ticket price: $25 (adult), $18 (seniors), $14 (students), FREE for children under 16
- Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” is the most popular painting in the museum and attract crowds
- For popular exhibitions buy timed-entry tickets online
Our rating: ☹️☹️
5. American Museum of Natural History
Average wait time: 1 hour
Tripadvisor rating: #20 of 1,279 things to do in New York City
One of the most famous museums in the world attracts around 5 million visitors each year. Would you like to see the skeletons of dinosaurs, a giant blue whale, animals, that are now extinct or meteorites? This is the place!
When to visit:
- Early in the morning, people start queuing before the opening
- Middle to late afternoon on weekdays
- Last week in June and last two weeks in September, when the student groups tend not to be scheduled
What to avoid:
- Holiday dates
- Weekends
- The museum is the most crowded between 12 and 3pm
Good to know:
- Buy the tickets online to avoid the queues
- Ticket price: $23 (adult), $18 (seniors and students), $13 (children 2-12)
- Download the Museum Explorer Map to navigate easily and get more info
- If it’s your first time in the American Museum of Natural History, take a Highlights Tour offered hourly from 10:15 am. to 3:15 pm
Our rating: ☹️☹️
6. Statue of Liberty
Average wait time: 1-2 hours
Tripadvisor rating: #14 of 1,279 things to do in New York City
Who wouldn’t know the famous Statue of Liberty, a gift to the city of New York from France? Built by Gustave Eiffel, the statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886. It is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.
When to visit:
- Weekdays
- December to March, with an exception of Christmas and New Years holidays
- If visiting in the summer, June is the best month
What to avoid:
- Weekends
- April to September are the peak months
Good to know:
- Book your tickets online well in advance
- Ticket price: Access with visit to the crown : $22.25 (adult), $17.00 (senior), $12.00 (child). Access with visit to the pedestal: $19.25 (adult), $14.00 (senior), $9.00 (child). Ferry reservation: $19.25 (adult), $14.00 (senior), $9.00 (child)
- Choose a time slot early in the morning, before the ferries get crowded, and arrive at least 30 minutes before the departure time
- Plan your visit for the first half of the day, else you won’t be able to visit both Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island
Our rating: ☹️☹️☹️
7. Empire State Building
Average wait time: 45 minutes
Tripadvisor rating: #13 of 1,279 things to do in New York City
One of the most significant skyscrapers on the NYC skyline, the Empire State Building, was built in 1931 in an Art Deco style and with its 102 floors it used to be the tallest building in the world until 1970. The views from the observation deck are unforgettable.
When to visit:
- At the opening time (8am)
- After 10pm for the night views
- Come during off-peak periods
What to avoid:
- Sunset time is the most popular, it usually takes at least 30 minutes of waiting even with already pre-booked ticket
- Avoid public and school holidays, weekends (Saturday is the busiest day), and summer months
Good to know:
- Ticket price: Main Deck Only (86th Floor): $29 (adult), $26 (senior), $23 (child above 6). Main Deck + Top Deck (86th & 102nd Floors): $46 (adult), $43 (senior), $40 (child above 6)
- Check the weather. The best views from the Empire State Building are on clear, dry days. On the first clear day after a number of rainy days there will be many more visitors and longer lines. Coming during bad weather will mean you lose less time with queues, but the outside area may be closed and you may be disappointed with the view.
Our rating: ☹️
8. Metropolitan Museum of Art
Average wait time: 5 minutes
Tripadvisor rating: #4 of 1,279 things to do in New York City
“The Met” is the largest art museum in the United States and the fourth most visited art museum in the world. The collection consists of works of art from antiquity and ancient Egypt, paintings, and sculptures from nearly all the European masters, and an extensive collection of American and modern art.
When to visit:
- Wednesday and Thursday mornings are the best for visit without crowds
- Early mornings
- February and September
What to avoid:
- Weekends – Saturday is the busiest day
- School and public holidays
Good to know:
- Ticket price: $25 (adult), $17 (seniors), $12 (students), free for children under 12
- Flash photography and video cameras cannot be used inside the museum
- The Met was featured in many movies and TV shows, such as When Harry met Sally or Gossip Girl
Our rating: 😊😊
9. St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Average wait time: 5 minutes
Tripadvisor rating: #5 of 1,279 things to do in New York City
St. Patrick’s is a distinctive catholic cathedral on Manhattan, built in Neo-gothic style. It is the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.
When to visit:
- Visit during off-peak hours – arrive at the opening time or 20 minutes before opening
- It is a place of worship and prayer, but witnessing one of the masses is a great experience
Good to know:
- It is free to visit – just walk in
- You can take a virtual tour of the Cathedral
- The Cathedral was named after St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, in response to the increasing numbers of Irish immigrants in the city
Our rating: 😊😊😊
10. Trinity Church
Average wait time: 5 minutes
Tripadvisor rating: #113 of 1,279 things to do in New York City
Trinity Church is a historic parish church at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway. During the 9/11 attacks, the church was a refuge to the people running from massive debris cloud.
When to visit:
- Try coming during one of musical performances that are often held in the church
Good to know:
- The entrance is free
- Pack a picnic and enjoy a serene lunch in the lush green Trinity Churchyard
- The Trinity Graveyard is the final resting place of such luminaries as founding father Alexander Hamilton
Our rating: 😊😊
What do you think? Which is your favorite NYC attraction?
We hope that you’ll find our tips useful and that you will not get stuck in an unnecessary queue while in NYC! And in case you end up roaming the streets of this beautiful city with your bags after you have already checked out from the hotel, why not store it in one of many luggage storage options? We recommend LuggageHero.
Waited a full hour when visiting the Statue of Liberty last summer…total nightmare but worth it!