New York solo trip: 3 days of must-see sights

Manhattan is all about skylines and Top of the Rock is up there with the best.You’ll hop in a glass elevator and whizz 70 floors up to the Top of the Rock Observatory. Comprising both indoor and outdoor spaces, this 55,000 square-foot area is made up of three observation decks that give you unobstructed, 360-degree views of the city, including Central Park, the Hudson River and even Connecticut on a clear day. Best of all, the Art Deco building offers something the Empire State Building never will – a view of the Empire State Building.You can explore the exhibits and see the short films covering Rockefeller Center’s historic 10-year construction during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Then ascend to the top in less than a minute with a ride up 850 feet (260 m) on the Sky Shuttle. You’ll spot classics of New York’s famous skyline, including the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the George Washington & Brooklyn Bridges, One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty.Your pass also includes entry to a multimedia exhibition so you can learn all about the building and the man behind it – John D. Rockefeller.Visit during the day for amazing panoramic views or at night to see the electric city all lit up.

Make your way through fun-themed areas and interact with the characters. You can hop on a flying bike with E.T., warm-up for late-night TV with Jimmy Fallon or compete to win the Hunger Games with Katniss Everdeen. You can even attend an A-list party with the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway, and Morgan Freeman, and shake hands with world leaders including Donald Trump and Abraham Lincoln.It’s not just about snapping selfies either, there are plenty of immersive, multi-sensory exhibits where you can get involved. At the Kong: Skull Island experience, you’ll explore a replica jungle, meet an 18-foot animatronic King Kong and come face-to-face with the biggest spider you’ve ever seen.

The American Museum of Natural History New York is one of the largest in the world, and over five million history, science, nature and space buffs visit every year. You might even recognize it as the star of the movie Night at the Museum.The impressive exhibits include a 94-foot whale model, the 563-carat Star of India sapphire and a giant Sequoia tree almost 2,000 years old. You’ll also find one of the biggest collections of fossils and dinosaur bones in the world.Our pass gives you access to all exhibition halls and one ticketed exhibition of your choice.Paid exhibitions you can choose from are: Invisible WorldsExplore nature’s hidden realms, from ocean depths to DNA strands, in this immersive family-friendly experience. Life at the Limits: Nature’s SuperheroesMeet the amazing species that survive and thrive on planet Earth. A spectacle of colors, textures, behaviors, specialized parts, and exacting skills. Encounters in the Milky Way A time-traveling journey about the cosmic movements that shape our galactic neighborhood, narrated by Pedro Pascal. The Giant-Screen FilmLupita Nyong’o narrates Worlds Beyond Earth, exploring our solar system’s dynamic worlds and Earth’s unique conditions for life. Butterfly VivariumEnjoy 80 species of free-flying butterflies in the year-round Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium. Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs explores the before-and-after story of the cataclysmic asteroid collision that led to the mass extinction of the majority of life on the planet. Discover what happened sixty-six million years ago, and how it paved the way for new species.

This two-hour narrated Harbor Lights Cruise tour departs just as the sun sets and the skyline comes alive at night. The cruise follows the same route as the Semi-Circle Cruise and provides a host of iconic, New York City skyline views.The Circle Line Cruise in New York City is an amazing way to explore the city from a unique perspective. Offering unparalleled views of some of Manhattan’s most iconic landmarks, Circle Line Sightseeing takes you on a luxurious cruise around the island with plenty of stops for sightseeing and shopping along the way. As one of the largest sightseeing cruises in New York City, Circle Line has been providing visitors with an unforgettable experience since 1945.From day trips to sunset cruises, Circle Line offers something for everyone. On board their ships, guests can relax while taking in breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, and more! With knowledgeable tour guides on hand to answer questions about each landmark as you pass by it makes Circle Line Sightseeing even more enjoyable.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City is a place of remembrance, reflection and historical understanding. Located at the former World Trade Center site, it documents the events of September 11, 2001, and their lasting impact through carefully curated exhibitions and original artifacts.Inside the museum, exhibits present a detailed account of the day’s events, from the moments leading up to the attacks to their immediate and long-term consequences. Through a combination of recovered objects, multimedia displays and recorded testimonies, the museum highlights both the scale of the tragedy and the individual human stories behind it. Personal narratives from first responders, survivors and victims’ families provide insight into the courage, cooperation and resilience shown during and after the attacks.Your visit ends at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza, where two large reflecting pools mark the footprints of the Twin Towers. The engraved names surrounding the pools honour the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives, offering a calm and contemplative space in the heart of Lower Manhattan.The 9/11 Memorial & Museum serves as both a historical record and a place for quiet reflection, ensuring the events of September 11 – and those affected by them – are respectfully remembered.

Discover the dizzying heights of the One World Observatory, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. You’ll be amazed by the 360°-degree views from its indoor observation deck, reaching out to Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and more.

Edge is New York City’s most exciting new attraction, set high above the fabulous, glimmering, brand new Hudson Yards!Perched high above Manhattan's skyline, the Edge New York is an architectural masterpiece that delivers breathtaking views of the city. As the Western Hemisphere's highest outdoor sky deck, it offers visitors a unique vantage point to soak in the Big Apple's grandeur. Constructed as part of the Hudson Yards development, the Edge is an iconic structure that pushes the boundaries of engineering and design. This 1,131-foot-tall observation deck provides you with an unparalleled perspective of the city's landmarks and the Hudson River.As part of your visit, you’ll ride the elevator 100 stories into the sky, then step out in the open air onto a vast viewing platform with the famous skyline right before your eyes. What’s more, the center of the platform has a giant glass floor! You’ll have the feeling of floating on air. Are you brave enough to step onto it and view the buzz of the city from high above? Lean out on angled glass walls or sip champagne as you take in the views. This is a truly breathtaking experience unlike any other!

Navigate Manhattan with ease with a Big Bus tour, where you can hop on and off at all the city's top attractions, and enjoy commentary along the way.Explore Downtown with ease on the Classic Tour, with the chance to see Times Square, 5th Avenue, Broadway, and Wall Street. Jump off in Little Italy for your foodie fix, or stop off at the Brooklyn Bridge for a selfie.You can also head to Uptown, where you can hop off and enjoy the tranquility of Central Park or pop into the world-famous MoMa for your cultural fix.With convenient stops across the city, this tour is a hassle-free way to navigate New York while taking in all the must-see sights. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, it’s the perfect way to experience the Big Apple.Popular stops Times SquareBrooklyn BridgeThe Statue of Liberty and Battery ParkCentral ParkChinatownGrand Central StationW 42nd Street and BroadwayEmpire State Building: 5th Avenue and 32nd StreetBrooklyn Bridge / City Hall: Park Row & BeekmanBattery Park: State Street between Battery Place and Bridge Street7th Avenue and W 48th StreetW 42nd Street and 8th AvenueGet the Big Bus Hop on Hop off Route Map.The tours run year-round and are perfect for visitors who want to maximize their time exploring the city. Instead of navigating the city on your own, the Big Bus New York's Hop-on Hop-off bus tours allow you to relax while you sightsee.Two Bus Routes Uptown Loop – explore the Upper East Side, home to some of New York's most popular museums. Get lost in history and the arts by exploring the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The loop also takes you through Midtown, passing by the Grand Central Terminal and the famous Chrysler Building.   Downtown Loop – take in the lower part of Manhattan while passing through the Flatiron District as well as Union Square, Greenwich Village and Chinatown before the bus tour heads back toward Times Square along the Hudson River, stopping at Pier 84, where you can hop off to take the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. Both the Uptown and Downtown routes last approximately 90 minutes when done in full.