If you’re coming to New York City, you know that you have to visit the big attractions—the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the American Museum of Natural History and the other places you can see for less with CityPASS tickets. But do you know how to get the most out of them? We’ve got the hacks you need to have a perfect NYC visit, starting with these: buy your tickets in advance and make sure to review each attraction’s reservation policies before your visit. Read on for the rest of the insider secrets.
American Museum of Natural History. Photo: Marley White
American Museum of Natural History
• Download Explorer, the museum’s free mobile app, which provides turn-by-turn directions to exhibits, customized recommendations and more.
• The museum offers a number of self-guided tours, including one that features all the real exhibits behind the characters in the Night at the Museum movies.
• Head to the fossil halls to see a 122-foot-long cast of a titanosaur, a newly discovered dinosaur species.
Courtesy, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
• Choose the tour that works for you. CityPASS admission includes morning and afternoon options, and you can choose between cruises that include just Manhattan’s west side or both the east and west sides. Though the landmarks you’ll see will differ slightly, all the cruises offer amazing views of the Statue of Liberty.
• Listen closely to your tour guide. These guys are often New York City natives, and they’re always knowledgeable.
• In the warmer months, wear sunscreen and bring a light jacket. It’s sometimes a bit cooler out on the water, and you’ll get some sun.
View from Empire State Building Observation Deck. Photo: Julienne Schaer
Empire State Building
• For a fun, only-in-NYC experience, visit late. The observation deck is usually open until midnight (with the last elevator going up at 11pm)—though it can vary between 10pm and 1am.
• Or…visit early (and why not twice in a day, as CityPASS offers two same-day admissions)! You’ll get the chance to compare skyline views at morning and night.
• On your way up, check out all the exhibits on the 2nd and 80th floors, including the one where King Kong’s hands have broken through the windows…seriously!
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
• Experience some major thrills in the on-site 4-D flight simulators.
• With your ticket, you can see the Enterprise—a NASA space shuttle prototype that played an important role in the American space program.
• For kids of all ages, check out Exploreum Hall, a fully interactive exhibit space where guests can steer the wings of an airplane and step inside a real submarine.
September 11 Memorial. Photo: Brittany Petronella
9/11 Memorial & Museum
• Beyond the general admission that a CityPASS offers, you can book a 60-minute Museum Tour; a 90-minute Memorial + Museum Tour; or a 60-minute Early Access Museum Tour, an intimate experience offered before the site opens to the public.
• For a self-guided option, download the 9/11 Memorial Audio Guide, which provides deeper insight into the events of 9/11, the victims of the attacks and the design of the memorial.
• Spend some time above ground at the memorial’s reflecting pools, located within the footprints of the former Twin Towers.
Courtesy, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
• Head through the keyhole-shaped doorway on the second floor to access the Aye Simon Reading Room, a contemplative space where you can learn more about the museum’s history and world-renowned collections.
• Hear directly from curators and educators through the museum’s Digital Guide on your phone. Pro tip: don’t forget your headphones.
• Shop and dine on the Upper East Side after your visit. Or walk two minutes to Central Park for a picnic on the Great Lawn or a stroll around the reservoir.
Statue of Liberty. Photo: Julienne Schaer
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
• Visiting early in the day means smaller crowds, shorter wait times and more time to explore. Taking the afternoon ferries (post 2pm) allows access to only one island.
• At the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, head to the first floor’s Family History Center to examine immigration documents and find connections to their own ancestry and heritage.
• Eat and shop in Lower Manhattan before or after you catch the ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands.
Photo: Christopher Postlewaite
Top of the Rock Observation Deck
• Consider a nighttime visit—the decks close at 11pm, with the last elevator up at 10:10pm (though check the schedule ahead of time to confirm).
• All three observation decks have outdoor space, but to really feel like part of the skyline, head for the highest of them, on the 70th floor, which is completely open-air.
• There’s plenty of fun on the ground too. Check out the rest of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where shows like Saturday Night Live are filmed, and Midtown’s vast options for shopping, dining and sightseeing. (Psst…you’ll be just minutes from the iconic Radio City Music Hall.)