https://https://au.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/new-york-state/best-things-to-do/10070021670090
Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do in New York State [2025]
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art
4.8
/5
2325 reviews
10
Based on 55,432 reviews
Upper East Side | >100 km from downtown
Phone +1-212-5357710
Address: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Virtual experience beyond borders
Rooftop garden with Manhattan views
Saved by 1056 users1455 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
- Wide variety: collection of 3 million artworks from all over the world, spanning more than 5,000 years of history, covering ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Asia, Africa, Oceania and other regions, as well as European paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, etc. There are also a large number of American and modern art works. - Many boutiques: with many famous collections, such as the Danyu Temple in ancient Egypt, China's "Light Night White" and "Medicinal Buddha Changing Map", as well as many paintings and sculptures by ancient European masters. Architecture and layout - Majestic exterior: Neoclassical style architectural exterior, solemn and elegant, complements Central Park and becomes one of New York City’s iconic cultural buildings. -Reasonable layout: 19 exhibition departments are distributed on different floors and regions, the exhibition space is spacious and bright, the exhibits are displayed in an orderly manner, and the focus is on creating a display atmosphere that matches the exhibits, so that the audience can better appreciate and understand the artworks.
🚶 Plan at least 3 hours for the highlights
10:00-11:30: Egyptian Pavilion (Mummy, Sphinx) → American Wing (Oil Painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware River)
11:30-12:30: Asian Pavilion (Bronze, Ukiyo-e) → Medieval Armor Exhibition Hall (Knight Armor Array)
12:30-13:00: Roof Garden (Central Park Panorama + Contemporary Art Installation)
📌 Practical Tips
Tickets: Non-New York residents need to pay $25 full price ticket, and can enter the branch museum The Met Cloisters for free within 3 days with the ticket.
Guide: Download The Met App to get free Chinese audio guide, or rent a guide on the first floor ($7 including map).
Taboo: Backpacks need to be stored, selfie sticks and flash are prohibited, and only plastic bottles of water are allowed.
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Statue of Liberty
4.7
/5
2884 reviews
10
Based on 44,283 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +1-212-363-3200
Address: New York, NY 10004, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Climb to the Crown and Overlook New York Harbor
Climb Crown & view NYC skyline
Saved by 1125 users1465 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
This is a must do when in NYC, and trip.com has made it easy to enjoy the tour around Liberty Island. The ferry ride was pleasant and the museum has of Statue of Liberty was very informative. The underground is also located close to the ferry station. A good trip to visit Statue of Liberty. Thank you trip.com
To see the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, you need to buy tickets in advance, the earliest boat is 9 o'clock. The boat dock is in Battery Park, very close to the Wall Street Copper Bull. The park itself is not big, but you can also stroll around. You need to check in before taking the boat, and then line up, so you have to arrive early. Get on the boat or stand in front of the right side of the boat to see the Statue of Liberty with the best view. The second or third floors are fine. The boat time is about 20 minutes. After going to the island, it is mainly to see the Statue from multiple perspectives. There are pedestal tickets and crown tickets. If you have bad legs, don't buy crown tickets. There is also a museum on the island, the interpreter can be picked up for free, there is Chinese. After returning to Alice Island, you can't disembark if you don't want to see it, and you can come back directly to the pier.
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Empire State Building
4.7
/5
2446 reviews
10
Based on 96,789 reviews
Gramercy | >100 km from downtown
Phone +1-212-7363100
Address: 20 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
360° view from 86th floor
24 hours, bars and restaurants for a drink
Saved by 1296 users1234 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Ten years later, I took the opportunity to accompany my son on a research trip to New York for the second time, and finally realized my dream of climbing the Empire State Building to watch the sunset and night view... All my obsessions came from the memories of classic movies. After experiencing it in person, it was really worth the trip... The interactions along the way were full of fun, and the scenery during the day and at night was very shocking. The weather was very good that day, and the sunset was beautiful, awesome 👍
- Art Deco style: The Empire State Building adopts a typical Art Deco style, emphasizing symmetry, geometry and fine decoration, and the top minarets are uniquely designed to make them exceptionally strong and unique in the New York skyline. - Fine structural design: The backbone of the building is composed of 210 steel columns, of which 12 directly reach the top of the building, providing a solid support for the building. With the increase of height, the floor area gradually shrinks, forming five major changes, this design not only considers structural stability, but also increases the aesthetic of the building. Historical and Cultural Values - Witnessing Historical Changes: The Empire State Building was built during the Great Depression of the 1930s, and its completion not only provided a large number of jobs in the United States at the time, but also marked the beginning of the rise of American industry and the peak of modern urban development. - Bearing cultural symbols: As one of the cultural symbols of the United States, the Empire State Building has appeared in many films, literature and art works, such as the film "King Kong", further enhancing its global visibility and cultural influence.
No.
4
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The Museum of Modern Art
4.7
/5
629 reviews
9.6
Based on 18,573 reviews
Midtown West | >100 km from downtown
Phone +1 212-708-9400
Address: 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
New nighttime art appreciation experience
Admire masterpieces by Monet, Van Gogh, and Picasso
Saved by 866 users358 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
a must mustsee in new york! such a nice and big museum to learn about history and art! arrive early though
Museum of Modern Art, New York: Abbey of Pioneer Art This six-story concrete box contains the most insane imaginations of modern people. The $25 ticket is a pass to the 20th-century art temple where Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Monet’s Waterly Lily are separated by two fire doors, as if the entire history of modern art were compressed into a walking corridor of time and space. The "Modern Classic" exhibition hall on the fifth floor is always crowded. Before Dali's "Eternity of Memory", tourists crooked their heads to mimic the shape of the melting clock; and Mattis's "Dance" ring composition, always allows the mobile phone lens to automatically switch to panoramic mode. The media gallery on the ground floor hides real surprises: Bill Viola's holographic images burn in the water, and the Infinity Mirror House in the grass makes every entrants into particles of the universe. The most moving moment is free Thursday night. When the New Yorker stands alongside the backpacker in front of Jackson Pollock’s drip painting, and the security guards begin urging closure in ten languages, you suddenly realize that the museum’s greatest work is its stubborn belief in democratizing art. Don't forget to touch the steel tree in the atrium when you leave the venue - this Calder sculpture will tell you that modern art never stops growing.
No.
5
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Central Park
4.8
/5
1786 reviews
9.4
Based on 134,315 reviews
Upper West Side | >100 km from downtown
Phone +1 212-310-6600
Address: New York, NY, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Park tour by carriage, 30min
Castle overlooking panoramic autumn park views
Saved by 890 users880 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Central Park is very fun. There are large lawns and many squirrels running around. You can rent bicycles and ride horse-drawn carriages in the park. It is also nice to just walk around. There is a huge children's playground not far from Columbus circle. Children from all over the world who come to New York come here to play. They can play in the sand and water, and there are slides, swings, and rockeries. It is easy to play for half a day. There are also many people playing on the lawn. Many people there like to throw frisbees. Many families come here for vacation. It doesn't get dark until about 8:30 in the summer in the United States, so it's no problem to play in the park for a whole day!
Walking through New York's Central Park, it seems to fall into the gentle cracks of the steel forest. Morning light penetrates the forest, spreads powder and white brocade on the cherry blossom avenue, the wind is outdated petals fall, and the corners of the skyscraper soften into a background sound in the flower shadow. The city code on the bench is the most moving. The cold chair was stroked by the fingertips, and the short text on the nameplate hid the New Yorker's temperature: "Give my wife Carol, because she loves Central Park, and I love her" - the separation of life, the young encounter, the mother and son bonding, all condensed into a dew in the wood grain. When high school students spread out books and laughed on the sheep lawn, and when the reciting of Shakespeare’s poems drifted from Cherry Hill to the lake, the park became an emotional resonant box, full of human narratives that transcended language. In the afternoon, I closed my eyes in the Ramble Forest area. Bird song and stream sound woven into natural white noise, suddenly understand the deep meaning of Olmsted: this 3.4 million square meters of green lung, originally dedicated to "the handicrafts of tired industrial workers", so that people who can not travel far can drink nature here. The boat house pier at dusk is the most magical, The wooden paddles smashed the red-stained lake, and the wild ducks swam through the reflection of Manhattan. The hustle and bustle of the city sank to the bottom, leaving only the breathing in the shadow of the oasis of the oars. "When the whispers of the bench fell into the palms with the cherry blossom rain, I knew that the oasis in this concrete wasteland, It was New York's prose poem to the world. "
No.
6
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Rockefeller Center
4.7
/5
701 reviews
9.2
Midtown Manhattan | >100 km from downtown
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
69th-floor 360° NYC view
Top of the Rock overlooks New York's night lights
Saved by 615 users342 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
It is recommended to queue up at the time of booking tickets. You can enter after the time and you don't have to wait;
The diversion guidance is good and not too crowded;
The observation deck is crowded and windy, and it is quite cold in May;
The ticket price for watching the sunset in the evening is a bit more expensive, so make a reservation in advance.
A must-visit spot in NYC! Rockefeller Center is not just iconic—it’s also incredibly functional. Walking through the building is a great experience, with beautiful architecture, vibrant public spaces, and plenty of food options in and around the concourse. One of the best features is the subway station right in the lower level, making it super easy to get to. And of course, it’s home to my favorite observation deck in the city—Top of the Rock. The views are unbeatable!
No.
7
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SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
4.7
/5
123 reviews
9.0
New York City Center | >100 km from downtown
Address: 45 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
90,000-gallon rainwater system showcases sustainability
Take a glass-bottom elevator for panoramic city views
Saved by 731 users114 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Due to the schedule, we went there in the morning and started queuing at the arrival hall: In fact, it is difficult to start the scheduled time completely according to the time marked on the ticket after queuing, security check, and going up the building. It belongs to a batch of time. There are a lot of people in each batch. The observation deck is very unique among the several in New York. Children like the space full of balloons the most... Not only should you control not to take pictures too hard, but also control not to be hit by others' pictures
A stunning observation deck with interesting locations (a mirror room, a room with balloons) is a must-visit. But there are a lot of people who have to stand in line.
No.
8
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American Museum of Natural History
4.7
/5
887 reviews
8.9
Based on 26,486 reviews
Upper West Side | >100 km from downtown
Phone +1-212-769-5100
Address: 200 Central Park W, New York, NY 10024, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-5 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Immersive cosmic exploration experience
See giant dinosaur models in the Fossil Hall
Saved by 554 users424 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
- Rich and authoritative collection: more than 33 million specimens and cultural relics, covering paleontology (such as Tyrannosaurus rex, tangle skeleton), mineral gemstones (such as "hope diamond"), human civilization (Egyptian mummies, African tribal artworks), and other fields, It is one of the largest natural history museums in the world, with high scientific research and popular science value. - Exhibition Chen design is exquisite: known for immersive scene restoration, such as the grassland ecological set of the "African Mammal Hall", the starry sky dome of the "Cosmic Exhibition Hall", combined with multimedia interactive devices (such as dinosaur fossil dynamic demonstration), so that the exhibits "live", taking into account professionalism and fun. - Strong educational function: Opening workshops, lectures and planetarium screening activities for different ages, and even providing youth research internship projects, is a holy place for parents and nature lovers, attracting more than 5 million visitors per year. - Architecture and historical heritage: The classicist complex built in 1877 is itself a landmark, with red brick exterior walls with clock towers, internal promenades and dome murals highlighting a sense of solemnity, and has appeared in films such as "Museum Wonderful Night", which has both cultural and artistic charm. Disadvantages - The tour line is complicated: the number of exhibition halls is more than 45, some areas are not clear enough, the first visit is easy to get lost, it is recommended to download the official guide APP in advance to plan the route. - Intensive crowds in peak season: especially on weekends and summers, popular exhibition areas (such as dinosaur halls) often need to wait in line, take pictures or watch the exhibits up close, it is recommended to visit the staggered peak. - Tickets and consumption are high: tickets use the "suggested donation" model (adults usually start from $23), if you add special exhibitions, planetarium screenings and other projects, per capita consumption can reach more than $50, the restaurant options in the museum are small and the price is too expensive. - Some exhibits are updated slowly: some pavilions and interactive equipment in the paleobiology exhibition area are slightly outdated, and compared to the emerging science and technology museum, they are slightly behind in the digital experience.
Gemstone Exhibition Hall·Glittering Mineral Universe
Stepping into the Mignone Gemstone and Mineral Hall on the second floor, you will be instantly overwhelmed by more than 3,000 exhibits. The most eye-catching is the giant amethyst geode in Uruguay - the nearly 3-meter-high deep purple crystal cluster is like a glacier pouring down, reflecting a dreamy rainbow under the light. Turning around, you will see the "Star of Hope" blue diamond (45.5 carats), the faint blue light flows through the bulletproof glass, and the mystery and luxury of the legendary "cursed stone" are intertwined. Napoleon diamond necklace and Logan sapphire brooch are displayed on the side wings, emeralds and rubies are pouring down like stars, as if you have entered the treasure cave of "Arabian Nights".
Dinosaur Exhibition Hall·The Silent Roar of Prehistoric Monsters
Go straight to the Fossil Hall on the fourth floor, the 122-foot-long Titanosaurus skeleton is suspended in the air, and the cervical vertebrae run through the exhibition hall like a giant suspension bridge, and the oppressive feeling of the Jurassic period is overwhelming. Tyrannosaurus "Stan" is frozen in an attacking posture: the sharp teeth are only an inch away from the neck bone of Apatosaurus, and the life-and-death struggle 66 million years ago is frozen here. The most surprising thing is Diplodocus "Dippy" - 80% of it is a real fossil, and the 27-meter-long tail vertebrae are like a whip mark that cuts through time and space. When standing under the skeleton and looking up, humans are as small as dust.
"When the tail bone of the Titanosaur casts a shadow in the twilight, we know that humans are just a short-term audience of a magnificent performance on this planet." - Quoted from the closing remarks of the exhibition hall
No.
9
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Statue Of Liberty Cruises With Landing
4.7
/5
139 reviews
8.9
Wall Street/Financial District | >100 km from downtown
Phone +1-877-5239849
Address: New York, NY 10004, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Statue's top & harbor view
Capture Statue & view NYC
Saved by 561 users130 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
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 ticket on site is 25 US dollars. I was in a hurry to buy it, so I didn't go to Fliggy to compare prices. The on-site signs are clear, and it's basically no problem to go there by yourself. The boat 🛳️ is very stable, but if you are farther back when getting off the boat, the boat will shake quite a lot. It is recommended to get off the boat early.
No.
10
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Broadway Shows New York
4.6
/5
29 reviews
8.4
Harlem | >100 km from downtown
Address: Broadway, New York
Featured in 2025 Americas 50 – Family-Friendly Attractions
Highlights:
Near Times Square & Central Park
41 theaters in 12 blocks
Saved by 188 usersRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
Verified User Reviews
This show used Michael Jackson's style to interpret a superstar, from a teenager to a young adult to fame and the whole process of intense inner struggle and contradiction in the end. It reproduced Michael Jackson's classic, but it was not a simple copy, but a high-quality musical that combined classics with innovation. There was no dazzling star, and the audience couldn't even remember the names of the actors, but they saw the professionalism of the entire team of actors and staff. At the same time, they also saw the serious attitude of the actors, expressing their respect for the parents who feed and clothe the audience. The whole place was packed, and I sighed at two very different situations. Most of the audience were middle-aged or older. Second, on this occasion, I didn't see Chinese people everywhere. I won't comment on it, so as not to be scolded!
After experiencing a different culture, I found that Broadway musicals are indeed a paradise for art. There are more than 100 different versions of The Lion King alone. It is also a good place to check in. You don't need super high skills, so you can just take a casual shot and it will be a good place for photography. It is a paradise for photographers and a must-go experience for artists.
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