First visit to New York: the complete guide
Planning your first trip to New York? Here are our tips to make the most of the city without blowing your budget.
The 10 must-sees
- 1. Empire State Building - The iconic observatory ($44)
- 2. Statue of Liberty - The ferry to Liberty Island ($24)
- 3. Top of the Rock - The best view of Manhattan ($43)
- 4. Central Park - On foot or by bike (free or $49 for a tour)
- 5. 9/11 Memorial Museum - Moving and essential ($33)
- 6. Brooklyn Bridge - Walk across it (free)
- 7. Times Square - Magical at night (free)
- 8. MoMA or The Met - Depending on your taste ($30)
- 9. High Line - The elevated park in Chelsea (free)
- 10. Circle Line Cruise - NYC from the water ($44)
How many days should you plan?
The bare minimum to see the highlights. An intensive pace is required (3 attractions/day).
The ideal for a first visit. Time to wander, explore neighborhoods, and see 8–12 attractions.
The luxury option. You can venture beyond Manhattan, discover Brooklyn, the Bronx, and take your time.
Attraction budget
Paid attractions cost on average $35–45 per person. For 8 attractions, budget around $300 per adult at individual ticket prices.
With a pass, you can save 20–40% depending on your selection. Our comparator calculates exactly how much you save.
Warning: Watch out for prices shown by Go City — they are inflated by $5 to $15 per attraction compared to real official prices. Our comparator uses real prices.