New York City Travel Tips
In and Around the City
Bring great walking shoes - you will walk and walk and walk for hours...
Bring a backpack for water and other food on the go rather than stopping for food - saves time - and - it is great if you can lunch in Central Park or Battery Park
The city is organized in a grid and what I would usually do is start on the south side and work my way up to avoid wasting time zigzagging back and forth - for me - time was always very constrained when I visited
You can take the subway to all the major places in and around the city - inexpensive, safe and fast
Must Do
Tours
Take a boat tour around the island with a few stops - this is the best way to orientate yourself to the city and how it is organized, etc.
Example: https://www.circleline.com/sightseeing-cruises/landmarks
Example: https://www.newyorkpass.com/En/new-york-attractions/tickets/Circle-Line-Sightseeing-Cruises/ (I have done this one a few times)
Example: https://www.citysightseeingnewyork.com/boat-tours-and-cruises.html - find a tour that makes sense - there are lots of options (did this once)
Central Park tour - a great second day to dig deeper into the city
Had a friend recommend this group, http://www.nycpedicabs.com/, and we had a great experience using them
Book IN ADVANCE though it is non-refundable so check the fine print in regards to weather issues
You get to see all the major sites in Central Park including John Lennon's memorial and his apartment building if you're a fan and all the movie sites - plus - they take your photos along these major sites. Quite cool. Highlight of our trip.
I have not done the bus hop on / hop off tours as I am too independent for that - I like to explore on my own and set my own pace.
Museum(s)
The 911 Museum is an unbelievable experience - beyond what I expected. Give yourself around 3 hours though you can do once section in an hour if you only want to see the main part and not the in depth part. It is very impactful and emotionally intense.
Hit up at least one art museum and the best one is Metropolitan Museum of Art
Other options depending on your taste in art / other:
Museum of Modern Art
American Museum of Natural History - AMAZING
Hayden Planetarium (American Museum of Natural History)Whitney Museum of American Art
Children's Museum of the Arts
Sea Air and Space Museum - Inteprid - the WWII aircraft carrier and space shuttle
Skyscraper(s)
Get to the top of AT LEAST one major skyscraper - and - at night if possible - they are usually open until 2AM though check off season hours
One World Observatory - amazing to get up there
Empire State Building - if nothing else - walk into the entry way because it is 1920s architecture beautiful
Rockefeller Tower - you can see Central Park and Times Square
Walking Around Must See
Wall Street (you will partially see this from a boat tour) / Trinity Church - this is the birth of America where the first government center was, etc. - very historic and great for photos
One World Observatory
Rockefeller Tower - some nice gardens, the infamous skating rink
Brooklyn Bridge (you will see this from a boat tour)
Battery Park (you will see this from a boat tour)
Apple Store
Grand Central Station
Washington Square Park
East Village - great way to experience
Flatiron Building
Chrysler Building
Shopping
The tone of shopping's history in the world is set in New York - it is great to see the stores where they all began
Regardless of your enjoyment of shopping hit up SoHo area - unique neighborhood and great shopping
Fifth Ave Shopping is a must - just to walk it - you can pick up seeing Rockefeller Center along the way
FAO Schwartz toy store
Tiffany's
Bergdorf Goodman, 5th Avenue, New York, NY - just walk in and take a look at one of the floors - crazy over the top merchandise
Ralph Lauren's store is a museum in and of itself
Food
Pizza - yes - the NY pizza is GREAT
Bagels - buy a bagel!
Not Recommended
Going up into the Statue of Liberty - it takes a LOT of time (wait for the ferry, go to the top, wait for the ferry can take four or more hours) and unless you have the time it isn't worth it. An alternative is to take a boat tour which gets you up next to the statue - it is great to see it up close like that
Central Park zoo is rather lame but you will walk past it
Bronx Zoo - haven't been - but it is supposed to be good
Transportation
Airport: Take a cab / Uber or train from the airport - the train will avoid traffic which can happen any time of day and you can get stuck for a long time
Around the City: Obtain a multi-day pass for the trains as you can ride / walk everywhere you need to go. Seven day pass offers the best value for multiple days
Restaurants
A Checklist
Radio City Music Hall
Rockefeller Center
Bryant Park
Times Square
Empire State Building
One World Observatory
Wall Street
The Oculus
Ground Zero
Trinity Church
Grand Central Station
NY Public Library
SoHo
Central Park - Lennon Memorial
Museum of the Moving Image
Hayden Planetarium (American Museum of Natural History)
Sea Air and Space Museum - Inteprid
International Center of Photography