New York City is one of the globe’s great cities. It’s a bustling metropolis which is a feast for the senses. Last year (2016), over sixty million people chose to visit the Big Apple. This is the highest number of yearly visitors ever! Clearly, New York hasn’t lost its magic. Today, we want to show you some of the best ways to tour NYC.
From Ellis Island to the Empire State Building to the glittering jewel that is legendary Central Park, this is a city that has it all…it’s the city that never sleeps!
There are tons of tour operators out there. Before signing on for New York City Tours, be sure to vet provider companies carefully. Check Yelp reviews, visit their official websites and compare tours and prices. You’ll find that there is a tour from a reputable company which fits your budget and hits all of the right local attractions.
Here are three New York City tours which are perennial favorites!
1.) Explore NYC’s Heritage at Historic Ellis Island
Did you know that twelve million immigrants came to the USA via Ellis Island’s famous gold-toned door? These immigrants were filled with hope for a better life and many did manage to make the American Dream come true!
When you take a ferry from Battery Park in the Big Apple, out to The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, you’ll be able to learn so much about the history of the city. It’s quite possible that some of your ancestors arrived at Ellis Island for processing before entering the city proper. To get to the museum, you’ll need to book with a company called Statue Cruises. It provides ferry services to the Island and it’s the only cruise company which is approved by the National Park Service, for the purpose of transporting passengers by ferry to Ellis Island.
2.) Check Out America’s Most Famous Lady
The Statue of Liberty is a gorgeous and inspiring symbol of hope and freedom. However, it wasn’t made in America. It’s actually a gift from France. It’s now located upon the grounds of Liberty Island, in the New York Harbor. Crafted from copper, this wonderful statue of America’s most famous lady was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and then constructed by Gustave Eiffel. The dedication of this statue took place on the 28th of October, 1886.
To see the statue up close and personal is an unforgettable experience…especially if you’re seeing it for the very first time. You’ll need to take the ferry from Liberty State Park or Battery Park. E-tickets are available and we do recommend using e-tickets which you may download and print out at home and then take with you. When you have e-tickets for the ferry passage, you’ll be able to go right to the security check.
We recommend the open level of the ferry, as it offers the most superlative views. Once you arrive at Liberty Island, walk across the pier and then visit the information building. If you wish to, you may sign on for a guided tour of the park. If you prefer to wander and take it all in, without a tour guide, you’ll be free to do so. The Island features a gift shop and refreshment concession.
The ferry which travels to Liberty Island stops at Ellis Island afterwards. So, there’s always the option of getting on the ferry again and heading out to Ellis Island. How much you do in one day is really up to you.
3.) Unwind in Central Park
Some New York City tours will put you in contact with big crowds. With the sheer volume of tourists flooding into the city each year, it’s no surprise that the city’s key attractions are often surrounded by lots of people. If you want to escape from the crowds, while still enjoying one of the New York’s most appealing attractions, why not book a pedicab tour of the Big Apple? When you do, you’ll discover so much natural beauty.
Since the park is large (3.41km), there’s plenty of room for everybody. There’s room to breathe in fresh air, see the sights and take plenty of beautiful photographs. The park allows for superb people-watching and also gives people space to think and chill. It’s really a great place to be and some of its attractions, including Strawberry Fields (a tribute to late Beatle, John Lennon), Bethesda Fountain and the Loeb Boat House, are so much fun to see!
It’s best to book a pedicab tour, as the park is vast and you will be likely to miss its key attractions if you try to cover it all on foot. Central Park Tours NYC will make sure that you are comfortable as you snuggle into the back of a rickshaw-type vehicle. He or she will pedal you along a route that takes you past some amazing park highlights. Tours and tour durations will vary, as will tour prices.
A two-hour tour should be extremely relaxing. An hour-long pedicab tour will also be great fun, but may leave you wanting more.
When you see the park from the padded passenger seat of a pedicab, you won’t need to tire yourself out, as you’ll be pedaled around. This is nice, as you’ve probably spent some time pounding the pavement on the city sidewalks already, or will after your tour.
As a bonus, Tavern on the Green (one of New York City’s most iconic restaurants) is right in Central Park. A perfect day in the city might include a pedicab tour, followed by a luxurious supper at Tavern on the Green.
Gossip Girl Tour is one of the popular pedicab tours among teenagers.
Plan Your Big Apple Itinerary Today
You deserve to take a big and flavorful bite out of the Big Apple. Now that you know three New York City tours which really deliver, why not plan the ultimate NYC itinerary?
In New York City, there’s never a shortage of things to see and do. A mixture of outdoor and indoor activities will provide the right balance, so consider visiting the Metropolitan Museum, the flagship Tiffany’s jeweler on Fifth Avenue and the The American Museum of Natural History, which is located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.