First time in New York? These 10 must-do activities await!
New York is truly a bustling, beautiful city full of stories—every few steps feel like stepping into a movie scene.
I've carefully curated this list of 10 essential New York experiences, all personally tested and guaranteed fun!
✅1. Stroll down Fifth Avenue and become the "main character" of your own story 👠
Walk from Central Park to Rockefeller Center, with luxury flagship stores on your left and Apple's glass cube on your right, all set to the soundtrack of street saxophonists. Who says you're not the star?
📸 Must-capture spots: Tiffany & Co. entrance, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Grand Central Terminal interiors
✅2. Take a Statue of Liberty cruise and feel true "freedom" 🗽
Skipping Lady Liberty is like visiting Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower! Choose between a ferry ride around her or landing on the island to explore the museum.
🕐 Best in the morning—fewer crowds and perfect photo light!
✅3. Stand in Times Square until dark and watch the lights never sleep 🌃
Call it tacky or flashy, but when those neon billboards light up, the moment is undeniably awe-inspiring.
Plus, it’s *the* spot for night photography—pure "New York vibes"!
✅4. Walk across Brooklyn Bridge, traversing old and new New York 🌉
Red bricks against the Manhattan skyline? Iconic. Walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn and turn back for a magazine-cover-worthy city view.
📸 Photo ops: Bridge pedestrian path, Manhattan skyline lookout
✅5. Feast on "local-approved" NYC classics 🍕🥯
Skip the hype—here’s what real New Yorkers love:
✔️ Joe’s Pizza (famous movie spot)
✔️ Katz’s Deli (legendary pastrami sandwich)
✔️ Ess-a-Bagel (one of NYC’s best bagels)
✔️ Levain Bakery (decadent cookies)
✔️ Shake Shack (don’t just eat it at the airport!)
✅6. Lock eyes with Picasso at MoMA 🎨
The museum’s collection is staggering—Van Gogh’s *Starry Night*, Picasso, Warhol—every gallery is like an art history textbook come to life.
🎟️ Book tickets online early! Free Friday evenings sometimes!
✅7. Add a Broadway show to your lifetime must-see list 🎭
No English? No problem. The music and drama will sweep you away. Top picks: *The Lion King*, *Harry Potter*, *Phantom of the Opera* (closing soon!)
🎫 Book ahead! Discounts on official sites/TodayTix.
✅8. Slow down in Central Park and play "background New Yorker" 🍃
Unexpectedly vast, peaceful, and lovely. If time allows, sit by the lake watching joggers and dog-walking couples—pure therapy.
P.S. Don’t miss the nearby Natural History Museum—dino heaven!
✅9. Hunt vintage treasures (and snacks!) at these markets 🛍️
For local flavor, hit:
✔️ Quincy Market: Food galore + street performances
✔️ Newbury Street: Hip shops + photogenic brownstones
✔️ Chelsea Market: Indoor food hall with creative eats
✅10. Catch street music and a Manhattan sunset 🌇
Top spots:
✔️ Brooklyn Bridge at dusk
✔️ Hudson River Park
✔️ Riverside benches near the UN
✔️ Rockefeller or Empire State observatories (epic night views!)
📌 In a nutshell: New York crams the world onto one island.
The city moves fast—but you can stroll slow.
Landmarks abound, but magic hides in corner shops and chance encounters. 🗽
❤️ Bookmark this list for a foolproof New York trip next time!
The Statue of Liberty cruise with landing is an unforgettable experience! Enjoy breathtaking views of NYC, explore Liberty Island, and visit the museum. A must-do for history and sightseeing lovers! #StatueOfLiberty #Cruise #NYC #Travel #History
The on-site ticket was $25. At that time, the purchase was urgent and there was no price comparison for the flying pig. The on-site sign is clear, and it is basically no problem to go by yourself. The boat 🛳️ drove very steadily, but if it was relatively backward when disembarking, the hull was still shaking more strongly. It is recommended to disembark early.
This is a must see attraction! The statue is a symbol of American history and a reminder of people's struggles to improve their lives. And for many entering the country looking for new opportunities for themselves, Lady Liberty symbolized the possibilities of a new life.
Buy tickets in advance and make an appointment, and there is no need to arrive strictly according to the appointment time, as long as you arrive before 12 am on the same day. To the dock of Fort Park, you can see the tourists waiting for the security check to board the ship. The queue is quite long, but the queue is quite orderly. We started to queue at the pier around 9:30, and boarded at close to 11 o'clock, and then ferryed to the island where the goddess of freedom is located. After landing on the island, the museum introduced the entire process of the construction of the Statue of Liberty, which was designed and built by the French and presented to the United States. There are actually many versions before the final production is completed. This historical process is quite interesting to see. After visiting the museum, take a close photo at the foot of the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of the United States, and it is quite commemorative to take pictures at the foot of the Statue of Liberty. After a round, buy souvenirs at the visitor center, sit on the stool at the door and rest in the sun for a while, then take another Ellis Island on the boat, which is mainly a museum of immigration-related history, and then board the boat from Ellis Island, returning to the Fort Park at about 3:30 pm. When I went to the cloudy day, when I came back, the sun was shining, and when the sun was good, I took pictures and made movies. There is a spiral staircase inside the Statue of Liberty, you can go to the crown of the Statue of Liberty to play, but this needs to be reserved 30 days in advance, very popular, I made an appointment late, did not make an appointment to the ticket to the crown, unfortunately, look forward to coming again next time.
The Statue of Liberty is a must-have item for New York City on the Free Island. You can take a cruise to enjoy the Statue of Liberty from different angles around the island.
We are taking a boat from Manhattan Battery Park, the route is Manhattan-Freedom Island-Ellis Island-Manhattan. The boat has three floors. It is recommended to run up as much as possible without fear of the wind and sun. The view is better. There are also various snacks in the boat, such as hot dogs, the price is not expensive, although we did not buy food.
The Statue of Liberty is an important tourist attraction. It is a guarantee of freedom from poverty and oppression in the old world and a symbol of the United States. The island cruise gives you the opportunity to take a photo with her from an excellent angle that you can never get on the island, get in touch with the goddess at close range, and feel the magnificence of the goddess of Liberty
an absolute must if you’re going to this part of New Jersey. part of the American story that is the American dream. everyone should visit the Statue of Liberty at least once in their life.