New York City Travel Answers

If you've never been to NYC before, I'd start with just having lunch in Grand Central. Not the greatest food, but its definitely got some history and it a great people watching place. A trip to "The Lady" would be in order. Tickets can be picked up in Battery Park at the dock, or if you don't want to actually pay to visit, take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry; it's free. You get a ride around the harbor and some great photo ops. If you're into theater, TKTS in Times Square will always have same day discount tickets to many of the popular shows. Some like Wicked will not be there as it's too popular. Still going to the box office of the various theaters, you can get same day tickets. I try to avoid the "sightseeing tours" as you typically pay too much and get too little, but you do get a quick tour of the city. Eating in NYC is always an adventure. I try to check the various cafes that are off the beaten path along the side streets in the Village. A walk down Broadway from Times Square to the Financial District will also present you with a variety of offerings. For dinners, I always like Jacks between 6th and 7th on 41st if memory serves me. There's a lot to do and much depends on your likes and dislikes. Add some of that to your post and you'll get more info from others.

There are excellent VT pages regarding 'things to do' on Virtual Tourist. Its a good idea maybe to read a few, to get ideas. Go to destination search box (top right hand side of page) enter New York- and click GO. I have also posted some tips on my NY page- if you would like to have a read. I do not recommend sightseeing tours-they are so rushed. NY is a really easy city to navigate, and great for walking and exploring. Enjoy.

NY is a really manageable city to navigate, and there are hundreds of fun/cultural/interesting/exciting things to do that aren't part of a tour package, but if you're dead set on taking a tour, I'd recommend the City Sights Nighttime tour - it's part of the hop-on-hop-off double decker bus line, but this specific tour takes you all over the city at night and it goes over the Brooklyn Bridge (stopping in Brooklyn to give you a really great view of Manhattan you might not have gotten otherwise). My mother came to visit a while back and we did partook of this tour and it was really very lovely and memorable. (www.citysightsny.com)

WElcome to VT! As your profile is blank, we know nothing about you. Do you like to walk about; fancy arts, Broadway, museums? IMHO walking around flat NYC is better than a tour bus, but, again, we don't know if long walks are a problem for you. Read the 100's of NYC tips right here on VT. ENjoy my city!

I know there are those who disagree with me, but I do recommend the New York Pass. I got mine for 2 days and within 3 attractions it had more than paid for it's self in reduced ticket prices. It also allows you to skip through several lines.

You really should provide more information about your interests and your personal style... are you the shopping type, the pub/club/lounging type, can you handle a walk tour, etc. There's a lot going on in the city.

Hello Miss D, I also tell visitors to contact New York Guest. They assit with travel planning in New York. They can help with Sightseeing, Restaurant reservations and Theatre tickets to name just a few things. www.newyorkguest.com 212-302-4019 I really love this company. I am not from New York Originally and they help me get familiar with the City!

I work in a hotel/private club near to Grand Central and live in Manhattan. The Circle Line is an obvious but great tourist "must" since it helps one to see Manhattan as an actual island surrounded by water. The best view of NYC is from the "Top of the Rock"- even better than the Empire State Building. The best LONG walk you can take is from in front of the Flat Iron building, 23rd and Broadway, and walk SOUTH all the way down to lower Manhattan terminating at Bowling Green Park. You will walk through a multiple neighborhoods (Flatiron,Greenwich Village, SoHo, Tribecca, Chinatown, Financial District)that display incredible cultural/architectual energy and diversity as only NYC can deliver. Your reward after this hike will be the fantastic views of the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island from Robert F. Wagner park which is nearby to the Battery historic site. A walk from the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset is quite special, too, as well as saunter along the Brooklyn Heights promenade.