Shashia Mitchell

One Day in New York - Day Trip to New York Itinerary

1 Day in New York City - Sample Itinerary with The New York Pass®

With The New York Pass, your sightseeing possibilities are endless. Choose from over 90 included attractions and create an itinerary tailored to your interests and what you want to do and see in the city.

We put together a sample 1 Day in New York City Sightseeing Itinerary using The New York Pass to give you some inspiration to start planning your trip and to show how The New York Pass helps you save on combined admission to top New York City attractions.

With The New York Pass you can get into all of the attractions in this itinerary for less than it would cost to buy tickets at each attraction. But remember, this is just one of the many 1-day itineraries you could create with The New York Pass – follow the itinerary below, or, visit any and as many of the other included attractions as you want.

This Sample 1 Day Itinerary Includes:

  • Big Bus New York Hop-on Hop-off Tour
  • Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
  • Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
  • Radio City Music Hall Tour
  • Empire State Building

Big Bus New York Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Get a full overview of New York City by starting your trip off with a narrated tour of it all. On the tour, you’ll have a double-decker view of all the city’s top attractions, landmarks, sights, and layout so you can take note of any areas and attractions you want to go back to and visit.

You’ll have access to the tour’s 3 routes: Uptown, Midtown, and Downtown and be able to hop on or off at any of the 25+ stops

An on-board tour guide will direct your attention to notable sights while providing entertaining and educational narration along the way, so you’ll learn some NYC history, fun facts, unique culture, and more.

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises (Seasonal)

Get out on the water for some unique New York City views. Your New York Pass lets you choose from 6 Circle Line cruise options, but to get the most out of your day, choose one of the 2 options that will have you back on land before lunch:

  • 30-minute BEAST Speedboat/Thrill Ride: zoom around the Hudson River at speeds of up to 45 mph on the 70-foot BEAST speedboat. You’ll cruise towards the Statue of Liberty while your captain performs tricks like sharp turns, twists, corkscrews, and more—all with Midtown and Lower Manhattan as your backdrop.
  • 1-hour Liberty Cruise: get up-close views of the Statue of Liberty while learning all about the history and cultural importance of the statue and how she became an icon of freedom, hope, and liberty that extends beyond her physical presence in New York City from educational and entertaining narration. You get unbeatable views of Lady Liberty, Ellis Island, the New York City skyline, and more.

No matter which cruise you choose, Circle Line’s knowledgeable guides will narrate your experience with fun facts and information, so you’ll learn some of the city’s fascinating and notable history while seeing the sights from the perspective of the water.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Explore American military and maritime history at Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, where you can climb on board four important historic vessels: the museum’s namesake aircraft carrier, Intrepid, the submarine Growler, the space shuttle Enterprise, and the British Airways Concorde.

In addition to the four vessels, the museum features an Exploreum Interactive Hall, a hands-on exhibition space and education center dedicated to inspiring an appreciation for history, science, and all those who serve our country.

Planet Hollywood - Save 15%

Grab a late lunch and save 15% off food, beverages, and merchandise with your New York Pass at Planet Hollywood.

You’ll get to dine in an atmosphere dedicated to celebrating all things Hollywood and movie magic with a hint of nostalgia for the films and celebrities of yore—a restaurant venue worth a visit on its own!

Radio City Music Hall Tour

Take a 75-minute tour of this world-famous entertainment venue and walk in the footsteps (or leg kicks) of legends, like its resident headline performers, the Rockettes.

On the tour, you’ll get to meet one of the world-famous Rockette performers, see the celebrity-signed guest book, explore the revered Art-Deco interiors, learn some of the secrets of the show biz trade, and more.

Empire State Building

Finish your day of sightseeing off with a visit to one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, the Empire State Building. You’ll get some of the best views in the entire city from its 360-degree open-air observation deck and after a full day of touring, you’ll be able to put some context to the views you’ll get from above.

During your visit, check out the Empire State Building Experience which includes access to the newly restored Art Deco lobby, the historical Dare to Dream and Sustainability exhibits before hopping in the elevator to the observation deck on the 86th floor.

From the deck, you’ll have unobstructed views of the city in every direction from 1,050 feet above ground. Free, self-guided multimedia tours are available to help you identify buildings and landmarks along the skyline.

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