So, you’re planning a trip to NYC and you’re all set to experience nightlife in the city that never sleeps. But what do you do while the sun’s still up and the clubs are still closed? Well, we hope you’ll consider checking out a few of these daytime New York attractions. Whether you’re a culture buff, an artsy sort, or you just love nature, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in the Big Apple.
If you’re looking for daytime activities in New York, check out a few of our favorites, including...
- Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Tour
- Madame Tussauds
- Empire State Building
- Central Park Bike Tour
- American Museum of Natural History
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum
- The Met
- And more!
Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Tour
To get a true sense of the city during the day, a comprehensive bus tour seems in order. This hop-on hop-off option from Big Bus is a smart choice because it offers flexibility and freedom alongside entertainment. Choose from more than 25 stops across two popular routes, Downtown and Uptown. If you need any more convincing, you’ll appreciate the fact that Big Bus is the highest-rated bus tour company on TripAdvisor.
Getting In: Big Bus New York tickets are included on all New York passes.
Madame Tussauds New York
This perennially popular attraction is full of fun and playfulness and is among the top-visited daytime spots in the city. See exquisitely realistic wax replicas of famous people and characters from NYC and around the globe, and snap a selfie with your favorites. Due to its Times Square location, Madame Tussauds New York is also easy to fit into a broader NYC itinerary.
Getting In: Madame Tussauds New York tickets are included on all New York passes.
Empire State Building
You can’t leave NYC without taking advantage of the opportunity to see the city from above on one of its most famous observation decks. (The view from the street is pretty cool, too!) The Empire State Building Observatory is located on the 86th floor and provides 360-degree views of Midtown Manhattan and beyond. There are many informative exhibits that highlight the building’s history, its Art Deco architecture, and more.
Getting In: Empire State Building tickets are included on all Go City® New York passes.
Central Park Bike Tour
For those who love the great outdoors, you simply can’t miss out on exploring NYC’s very own slice of natural paradise – the inimitable Central Park. This massive urban greenspace contains so many attractions within, like Cherry Hill Fountain, the Strawberry Fields and Imagine Mosaic, the Shakespeare Garden, the Naumburg Bandshell, and more. Take a bike tour to explore these sites on two wheels. It’s easy, convenient, fun, and great exercise.
Getting In: Central Park Bike Tour tickets are included on all Go City® New York passes.
However short or long your trip, see it all with Go City®
Read our New York vacation itinerary series:
American Museum of Natural History
One of the most enchanting museums in the entire country, the American Museum of Natural History is filled with exhibits, artifacts, and natural objects. Some of their most popular exhibits include their famous collection of dinosaur fossils, brilliant gems, and vivid animal dioramas. Visitors especially love the exhibits in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life. Be sure to also check out the Museum store for some souvenirs that will prove you did more than party.
Getting In: American Museum of Natural History tickets are included on all Go City® New York passes.
9/11 Memorial and Museum
To truly appreciate this iconic global city, you’ll want to spend a little time honoring its past. A visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a somber but informative experience that allows you to explore archives, photographs, multimedia displays, and more. Don’t forget to scope out the exterior, with twin reflecting pools that contain the largest manmade waterfalls on the entire continent, inscribed with the names of those who perished that fateful day.
Getting In: 9/11 Memorial and Museum tickets are included all Go City® New York attraction passes.
The Met
Art lovers from around the globe flock to NYC to explore the impeccable collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The seemingly endless galleries feature a wide variety of art objects, from Ancient Egypt to Modern and Contemporary Art. They’ve even got exhibits on Arms & Armor, Asian Art, and Musical Instruments. You can easily spend an entire day roaming these halls.
Getting In: The Met is separately ticketed.
NYC shopping
If you love a good afternoon spent shopping – whether or not an exchange of money and goods actually occurs – you’ll love roaming through the shops of New York City. Still the shopping capital of the U.S. in the age of online retail, NYC has a store to sell you just about anything you can think of.
Visitors love to explore the pricier stores along Wall Street and across Lower Manhattan generally, as well as the more affordable options in SoHo and Union Square. The Macy’s in Herald Square and the Bloomies in Midtown are also popular spots.
Getting In: Window shopping is free!
Can't choose? No need, see it all with Go City®
Discover our full line-up of New York attractions, including The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock Observatory, the Statue of Liberty, and more.
🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.
😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option.
