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Things to Do in New York City: Tours, Tickets & Experiences
New York rewards planning. The headline sights — the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Broadway — run on timed entry and sell out days ahead in busy months, so the smart move is to lock in tickets before you land and keep your days loose around them.
This guide groups the experiences most worth booking in advance: island ferries and observation decks, theater tickets, food tours through the boroughs, and the museum passes that actually save time at the door.
Top experience categories in New York City
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Ferries, pedestal and crown access, and guided island tours.
See optionsBroadway & Theater Tickets
Musicals, plays, and off-Broadway shows across the Theater District.
See optionsObservation Decks
Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, SUMMIT and Edge.
See optionsGood to know before you book
- Book Statue of Liberty and observation deck slots several days ahead in summer and around holidays.
- A walking food tour on day one is the fastest way to learn a neighborhood's layout.
- Many museums have limited free or pay-what-you-wish windows — check before buying a pass.
Browse everything
Viator lists thousands of tours, tickets and activities in New York City, most with free cancellation windows.