Your Essential Guide to Planning a Trip to New York

Climb 1,050-ft into the sky and witness the beauty of Manhattan’s skyline and water bodies. Wake up early and watch the sun rise over lady liberty or time your visit for a stunning sunset over Times Square.

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Movies and TV Series have made valiant efforts to capture the essence of Central Park. And while they do share a taste of the iconic NYC spot with the rest of the world, there’s nothing quite like experiencing it for yourself. This 2-hour walking tour is an exploration of the park’s best spots and hidden nooks.

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Manhattan’s mega entertainment center, Times Square thrives with energy and life. From musicians to street performers, neon flashing lights to Broadway marquees, a visit to this popular intersection will without doubt put you in that ‘empire state of mind’.

Enter the One World Trade Center, a.k.a. The Freedom Tower, and climb aboard the out-of-the-world Sky Pod elevators to ascend a whopping 1,254 feet in just 60 seconds! The views will make you feel like you’re floating above the city.

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Soar 70 floors into the sky and take in stunning 360-degree views. From the Top of the Rock, you’ll have the best vantage point of iconic NYC monuments including Freedom Tower, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and more.

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This iconic landmark, located on the original site of the twin towers pays homage to the victims of 9/11. Memorabilia, multimedia exhibits and artefacts adorn the museum, taking you deep into the history of the towers and the tragic events that led to their fall.

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Home to the world famous Christmas Tree, ice skating rink, NBC Studios, The Associated Press, and much more, explore one of NYC’s most iconic buildings. Marvel at the magnificent Art Deco architecture and learn all about the history of family behind the landmark.

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Home to over 4,000 animals, the Bronx zoo is spread across 265 acres of lush green terrain. Enjoy rides and attractions, explore the butterfly garden, spot the lions, feed the penguins and ride the WIld Asia Monorail to see elephants, antelopes and rhinos.

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Aladdin on Broadway brings the movie’s magic from the screen, to the stage. Capturing the journey of a man who finds magic, overcomes, evil and discovers true love, this heartwarming story lights up the theater with irresistible music and an explosion of color.

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Chronicling the journey of young Simba to the throne, The Lion King is a brilliant retelling of the 1994 Disney animated classic. Broadway’s third longest-running show, it’s also highest grossing production to date, having earned over $1 billion since its debut.

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Based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T. S. Eliot, Cats has been enchanting audiences since its debut back in 1981. Join this lively bunch of felines at the Jellicle Ball and find out which cat gets selected to move on from the junkyard to the Heaviside Layer.

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Following two young missionaries sent to Uganda to convert local citizens to the Mormon religion, The Book of Mormon offers full-fledged black-comedy satire. But don’t be fooled by the show’s seemingly witty tone; the musical’s overall message is actually a sweet one.

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Based on the life of one of America’s founding fathers, Hamilton revolutionized the way we think of Broadway. An instant hit, the musical geniously blends history and fact with hip-hop and rhythm.

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Who doesn’t love Bette Midler? The singer-actress returns to the stage as the infamous, loveable matchmaker Dolly Levi. Packed with energy and heartwarming humor, Hello, Dolly! is one the season’s hottest shows.

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Tackling the challenging years of high school, Dear Evan Hansen is a deeply moving, contemporary story about what it’s like to be an outsider and the impact a seemingly simple lie can have. Don’t miss Ben Platt’s groundbreaking performance.

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Join the elusive Phantom and Christine, a young soprano, as they engage in a torrid, unconventional romance. With iconic songs like “Music of the Night”, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score has gone down as one of theater’s greatest masterpieces.

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Adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”, The Great Comet is a stirring tale of love and longing during the time of war. Featuring a career-making performance from Denee Benton as Natasha, and exemplary work from Broadway regular Josh Groban, the musical rallied an astonishing 10 Tony Award nominations.

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Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan’s adaptation of the classic George Orwell dystopian novel, “1984”, is one of this season’s most anticipated productions. Torture, despair, tyranny, and the struggle to find truth, watch the classic novel come to life on stage.

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Performed by the American Ballet Theatre, Swan Lake continues to define what incredible classical ballet looks like. Breathtaking choreography coupled with magnificent set design work together to evoke the magnificent era of the Renaissance.

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Based on one of Pushkin’s greatest novels, Onegin captivates audiences with it’s sincere approach to classical opera. Set in St. Petersburg in the 1820s, this story of unrequited love, loyalty and heartbreak is sure to pull at the heart’s strings.

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State-of-the-art technology, music and comedy brilliantly come together in this multisensory experience. The Blue Man Group has mesmerized audiences with its captivating performance in over 20 countries.

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Winner of the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q tells the story of a recent college graduate named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment. Join him as he meets Kate (the girl next door), Rod (the Republican), Trekkie (the internet sexpert), and Lucy (the slut).

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Spanning six floors, MoMA’s collection numbers more than 150,000 works of art, along with a substantial film and photography collection. See world famous art, including Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans, and Jackson Pollock’s One: Number 31, 1950.

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Explore over 2 million works of art at NYC’s MET, the largest art museum in the country. With collections spanning over 5,000 years of history, the museum showcases incredible creativity from across the globe.

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Founded in 1869, this museum is one of the largest and oldest in the world. See dinosaur bones, explore distant galaxies, check out the colossal Hayden Sphere at the Rose Center for Earth and Space, and much more.

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A work of art itself, the spiraling Guggenheim building houses some of the world’s most renowned works of art. Impressionism, post-Impressionism, early modern art, and contemporary art – discover artists from the past and present.

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Dive into this intimate exploration of NYC’s immigration history. Through personal accounts and stories from the working class of late 1800’s, the Tenement Museum celebrates the role immigrants have played in shaping America’s identity.

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Learn about the USS Intrepid and its brave missions from World War II, discover the role early space missions played in today’s achievements, and immerse yourself in the science and history of the Enterprise – the prototype NASA space shuttle that paved way for America’s successful space shuttle program.

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Spread over 220,000 square-feet, browse over 21,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, films, videos, and artifacts by more than 3,000 brilliant artists. The permanent collection consists of works by American artists like Louise Bourgeois, Man Ray, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol.

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Explore over 500 bizarre and unique exhibits spread across 20 themed galleries. Make your way through a web of laser beams in Ripley’s Impossible LaseRace, brace yourself for a head-shrinking Amazonian makeover and walk through the sense-altering Black Hole tunnel.

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Walk around the hip neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn on this eclectic food tour. The neighborhood, also known for its street art, has seen a recent rise in top notch eateries/restaurants. On this tour, you’ll taste some of the finest food this borough has to offer.

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A lovely walk from the iconic Flatiron district to Union Square, coupled with tastings at New York’s most iconic food joints – it doesn’t get any better than this. The grub includes a tasting at Eataly, and a full portion of the classic New York cheese burger.

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The Chelsea Market is New York’s biggest & oldest indoor food market. Explore this 117-year old marvel and taste food from the best vendors. Wander through the trendy Meatpacking District and finish up New York’s only elevated recreation zone, The Highline Park.

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NYC’s diverse culture adds to its aura and charm. Italian heritage has long lived within the colorful neighborhoods on the city. Head to Little Italy and immerse yourself in the rich Italian cuisine and culture.

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A day long, glass-full event, celebrate whiskey at the Tuthilltown Distillery, one of the best in the Hudson region. Choose five spirits to taste and learn the history and practices of the distillery.

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Sip on some of the city’s best microbrews and learn all about what goes into producing good beer. Check out two 19th century brewery buildings, watch the bottling process and grub out on pizza and, of course, more beer.

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Stroll through Brooklyn’s best beer joints, taste over 10 types of beer, munch on local snacks and learn all about the brewing process. This exploration into one of America’s favorite beverages will leave you feeling like a true brew expert.

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Step into the provocative world of speakeasies and gangsters. This Prohibition-inspired pub crawl will transport you to the thrilling days of the 1920s one cocktail at a time.

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For over forty years, artists have been taking their creativity to the streets of NYC, transforming the city’s walls into galleries. Graffiti murals, Picasso sculptures, landscape art and the mysterious ‘Earth Room, awaken your inner poet, rebel and artist.

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Immerse yourself in the culture and history of Little Italy. Hear stories about the elusive mafia and visit landmarks that evoke the bloody feud between New York’s most notorious families.

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Explore Harlem’s roots in this celebrity-guided tour. Hip-hop, culture, the Graffiti Hall of Fame, jazz clubs and more – experience the best of this NYC neighborhood.

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Boozers and history buffs unite! Welcome shots and a visit to four Greenwich Village pubs, drink your way through New York’s history in this informative yet fun 2-hour tour.

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The history of New York’s speakeasies is thrilling and often obscured. Immerse yourself in this walking tour of the city’s Prohibition-era bars. Learn about the rich history of midtown Manhattan, especially about the prohibition, the women’s rights movement, alcohol in America, and, Irish and German immigration.

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This exciting and interactive tour begins in the heart of New York City. Your guide will take you to some of the most famous movie and TV locations in Manhattan. Get ready to explore where the TV and Movie magic takes place!

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Spend an evening on the beat with a retired NYPD officer, learning the shocking truth of New York’s organized crime rings and modern scandals. Together you’ll visit the Lower East Side, Wall Street, and Little Italy; breeding grounds for all types of outrageous NYC criminals.

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A global fashion capital, this shop, hop and top style tour takes you through the best shopping centres in the city, the popular sites and attractions and puts you on top of the iconic Empire State Building.

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This section of Midtown is one of the most luxurious retail havens. Visit upscale department stores like Bergdorf Goodman, multinational retailers like Zara and H&M, as well as dozens of other popular non-clothes stores like the 24-hour Apple Store and Tiffany & Co.Midtown (between 49th and 60th streets)

This SoHo street is home to a hip collection of trendy boutiques and independent designers. Less trafficked than Broadway, the six-block stretch still boasts some excellent shopping options.

Where
Crosby St (Runs from Bleecker at its northern end, to Howard at its southern end)

What
From bargain shops to upscale boutiques, SoHo has it all. On weekends, vendors along Prince Street and West Broadway sell a variety of unique jewelry, art books, paintings, and more.

Where
SoHo (Bordered by Canal Street to the south, Lafayette Street to the east, Sixth Avenue to the west and Houston Street to the north)

Explore over 100 vendors at this year-round weekend bazaar. Furniture, jewelry, vintage clothing, art pieces and more – bring your haggling skills and see what treasures you can find.

When
Every Sat & Sun

Where
West 39th Street at 9th

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Whether you’re looking for handmade jewelry, silkscreened tees, or baby clothes – NoLita Artisan Market has it all. You can also place custom orders with many of the vendors.

When
Every Fri, Sat & Sun, from 10am – 7pm March – Dec

Where
On Prince Street between Mott St. and Mulberry St. in Manhattan

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This canopied bazaar specializes in fantastic African crafts, clothes, textiles, drums, sculptures and accessories. It’s an excellent spot to soak up some culture and get your hands on traditional treasures.

Where
Harlem, Manhattan