🗽 New York City Vibes: What to Do, Where to Eat, and How to Soak It All In
New York is one of those places that somehow lives up to the hype and still manages to surprise you. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, there’s always something new to stumble into—literally. We walked over 20,000 steps a day and still didn’t see it all (but our feet sure felt it).
Here’s a breakdown of some of our favorite stops, some tips we wish we knew sooner, and a few Amazon finds that made the trip way smoother.
🏙 First Stop: Top of the Rock & Rockefeller Center
Start strong with a view from the Top of the Rock—seriously, the 360° skyline views are unreal. Unlike the Empire State Building, you can see the Empire State Building from three indoor and outdoor viewing decks. (Insider win!)
We booked the Rock Pass for the full tour + viewing deck. If you want to catch both the day and night skyline, grab the Sun & Stars ticket upgrade so you can come back within 24 hours.
While you’re there, don’t miss the Lego store window (designed by architect Adam Reed Tucker), the famous Atlas statue, and if it’s the right season, the Rockefeller Tree and ice rink.
Tickets
- Top of the Rock: $34 for adults, $28 for children 6-12 years, and $32 for seniors. – Open from 8:00 Am – Midnight Daily
- Rockefeller Center Tour: $25 – Tours are every half hour from 10 am–7:30 pm (excluding 6 pm and 6:30 pm), daily.
- Rock Pass: $48 – The Rockefeller Center Tour & Top of the Rock.
- Sun & Stars: +$15 – Top of the Rock twice within 24 hours. During the day and after sunset.
The Rockefeller Tour
The Rockefeller Center Tour was not what we expected, but we were pleasantly surprised to learn so much about the History of the Rockefeller family and how the building came to be what it is today. An unscheduled ticket is $25.00
We had the best tour guide who showed us all the little details that came with the building and the history of the buildings that surround the Rockefeller Center.
Tours are every half hour from 10 am–7:30 pm (excluding 6 pm and 6:30 pm), daily. I would suggest taking the tour as early as possible and preferably on a weekday to avoid all the crowds.
Great photo opportunities around the plaza:
- The Famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree
- Ice Skating Rink
- Statue of Prometheus (the gold statue at the ice skating rink)
- Radio City Music Hall
- Statue of Atlas facing St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center
- Fountains of Rockefeller Garden
⛪️ Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
A few steps from Rockefeller is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and it’s gorgeous. Entry is free, though you can light a candle with a small donation. Mass is held throughout the week, and walking inside is a peaceful pause in the middle of a buzzing city.
📷 Photo Tip: Step across the street for a wide-angle view of the cathedral’s architecture with surrounding skyscrapers.
Mass Times
SATURDAYS 8 AM in Lady Chapel / NOON | 5:30 PM with Music
SUNDAYS
- Without Music: 7 AM / 8 AM / 1 PM |
- With Music: 9 AM / 10:15 AM / NOON / 5:30 PM
- Spanish Mass Music: 4 PM
MONDAY – FRIDAY
- Without Music: 7:30 AM / 8 AM |
- With Music: 7 AM / 12:30 PM / 1 PM / 5:30 PM
CHRISTMAS MASS
- Christmas Eve (Children’s Mass), 5:30 PM (no tickets required)
- Christmas Day: Midnight Christmas Mass (tickets required)
🎭 Times Square, Big Bus Tours & Night Views
Grab some lunch and take in the sights of New York’s famous Times Square! There are plenty of places to shop, eat and explore at any time! The lights of Times Square are always on. Get a glimpse or a picture with The Naked Cowboy, usually around 45th and Broadway just before noon!
Yes, Times Square is touristy. Yes, it’s worth a stop anyway. We recommend hopping on the Big Bus Tour (especially the night one!) for a ride through Manhattan, over the Brooklyn Bridge, and past all the icons—with a guide giving fun facts the whole way.
Bonus: Ask your night tour guide for local dinner ideas—they often know hidden gems not on Yelp!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/1.-Big-Bus-New-York-580901ff3df78c2c731abb2b.jpg)
Ride the Big Bus Tours
Purchase the Night Tour Package for $28.00. The night tour pick up is in Times Square in front of M&M’s World store every 15 minutes from 6 PM – 8 PM and goes through lower Manhattan, over the Brooklyn Bridge, past the Empire State Building, and Little Italy.
Bonus: Ask your Big Bus tour guides for local dinner ideas—they often know hidden gems you won’t find on Yelp!
🍽 Foodie Highlights: From Chelsea to Little Italy
From bagels to cannoli, this city will feed you well.
Eat breakfast at the Plaza
If you love crepes, The Plaza is the perfect place to grab a quick breakfast before hitting Central Park. In this underground upscale food court, you will find the beauty of the plaza. There is a small entrance on the Central Park facing side.
Just walk down a couple of steps from the sidewalk and you will be transported to a somewhat underground shopping center. You will have to go straight before you hit the escalators, then make a right and another right at the end and you see the Creperie sign on the Left-hand side!
lunch in chelsea market
Check out the highly recommended Chelsea Market. The entrance is difficult to find and not very prominent, so keep your eyes open or ask someone. The picture above is one of the entrances we luckily stumbled across. Spot a massive brick building across the street from the Highline, you are probably in the right place. It is a stretch of a full square block of indoor shops with NY residents above.
Get a quick seafood lunch at The Lobster Place with a wide variety of seafood, from sushi, fresh-baked lobster, seafood sandwiches, and clam chowder.
Other places to check out in Chelsea Market
- The Lobster Place Seafood
- Corkbuzz – Wine Bar
- Cull & Pistol – Seafood
- Doughnuttery – DOUGHNUTS!
- Los Tacos No. 1 – Mexican Food
- Mokbar – Ramen
- Num Pang – Sandwiches
- Takumi – Japanese/Mexican fusion
Dinner in Little Italy
You have to eat in Little Italy at least once. We loved La Nonna for dinner and Ferrera Bakery for dessert (get the salted caramel gelato, trust me).
dinner places in Little Italy
- La Nonna – Every thing was amazing!
- Gelso and Grand – The best late night Margherita pizza
- Mulberry Project
- Emporio
- Peasant
- Public
- Lombardi’s
- Sal’s Little Italy
dessert at ferrera bakery
There is only one place I will ever go for dessert in Little Italy, and that is FERRERA BAKERY.
Everything on their menu is delicious! They have biscotti, cannoli, chocolate, and my husband’s favorite – espresso. The salted caramel Gelato. OMG, their dessert cocktails are to die for. Everything was so rich. Prepare to wait in line if you don’t make a reservation.
🎉 Nightlife: Dinner + Drinks in Hell’s Kitchen
Ready to go out after dinner? Go to Hell’s Kitchen, checking out local pubs like Deacon Brodie’s and The New York Beer Company. Nothing beats that post-pizza stroll. Start around 49th and 8th street and walk around the quiet neighborhoods, teeming with small restaurants. You will be sure to find something that matches your taste buds..
After dinner, there are pubs and small bars around every corner! Just need to keep your eyes open!
Here are some bars we have visited…
- Deacon Brodies – A tiny Irish pub perfect for those who don’t want to act like tourists
- New York Beer Company – Large quiet spot.. If you get hungry again, they have a late-night menu!
- Iron Bar – More of a dance club with hookah. They stay open til 4:00 AM
🌳 Central Park – Walk, Bike, or Just Wander
You will love getting lost in Central Park, but if you want to cover more ground without breaking your feet, rent a bike. There are rental spots all around the park. Bring some cash to grab a hot dog anywhere you see a stand.
Attractions:
- Bethesda Terrace for iconic movie scenes.
- Belvedere Castle for views
- The Alice in Wonderland statue
- See the full list of attractions here
Central Park apps
- Central Park Entire: $2.99
- Central Park NYC Lite – FREE
- MyNav: Central Park – $1.99
- Central Park Visitor Guide – FREE
- Fun Central Park APP for Kids – Hidden Objects Central Park New York
Tours
- 1 Hour: $40 | 2 Hour: $50
- 1 Hour Private: $60 | 2 Hour Private: $75
- Sunrise Yoga Walk – 1 Hour: $39
- Hidden Secrets – 2 Hour: $65
- Walking Tours
- Horse & Carriage – Private 30 min ride: $110 | 45 min: $155
- Bike Rentals – 8am – 8pm (Apr-Aug) & 9am – 6pm (Sep – Mar)
- Single Bike: $15
- Tandem Bike: $40
- Printable Bike Map
Bike Tours
Go to a Ballet at Lincoln Center
The Lincoln Center is a beautiful home of the performing arts. It is conveniently just two blocks from the lower part of Central Park.
If you want a few drinks and some appetizers, the popular PJ Clarke’s is a great bar/pub to grab something… But if you want to sit down and have dinner, make a reservation. Even the bar had very few seats available. Another spot that looks great to try on a warmer day would be The Empire Hotel’s Rooftop Lounge. Here is a list of their dining areas within the hotel.
Other places nearby to catch a show
🕯 Visit The 9/11 Memorial & Museum
It’s emotional and powerful. Give yourself a few hours to take it all in. Museum members pay a $108 one-time tax-deductible fee to skip the line and support the space—worth it. It takes a few hours to get through the museum and walk around the memorials.
If you have time for nothing else, take the time to visit the 911 Memorial. The Memorial is very beautiful during the day, but there is a sight to see at night when it is lit up.
It is open every day between 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM. Get there early to schedule one of the walking tours, they fill up fast!
The Museum is open Sunday–Thursday 9 AM – 8 PM / Friday & Saturday 9 AM – 9 PM.
Just across the street is the Hudson Eats section of Brookfield Place (mall). Grab some breakfast before heading into the museum. Tartinery’s avocado toast? Game changer.
Museum Tickets
• $39 Adult
• $33 Senior
• $33 Veteran
• $33 College
• $30 7 – 17
Museum Member’s Benefits
• Access to express members-only Museum admissions line.
• Access to members-only Museum reservations line.
• Complimentary audio guides for members at the Membership Desk.
• Receive members-only event invitations and newsletters.
• Discounted tickets to select public programs.
• 9/11 Memorial Museum exclusive membership gift.
• 20% discount with first purchase at Museum Store, 10% thereafter in-store, online, and the Café.
🗺 Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island – Worth the Ferry Ride
Catch the ferry from Battery Park (lines get long, so go early!). The views of downtown Manhattan from the water are breathtaking—and yes, you can borrow free headphones for the audio tours on both islands. The pictures we took at Battery Park look surreal. It was the best photo spot of the entire trip.
- You can spend as much time as you want on each island. No need to feel rushed.
- No food or drinks are allowed on the ferry. They will be thrown out during the checkpoint.
- Grab a bite before the tour. Get something at one of the carts around Battery Park. Both islands have food options, but it’s pricey and not that great.
- Don’t buy souvenirs on the islands. You will find plenty of them in NY Chinatown for a fraction of the cost.
Tour Prices
The New York departure leaves Battery Park at 17 State Street, New York. The ferry departs every 15 to 20 minutes 8:30 AM – 4:40 PM. It goes from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and then back to Battery Park.
- Statue of Liberty Tour & Ellis Island: $25
- Pedestal Access: $25
- Crown Ticket: $28
- Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island: $60 – Guided 90-min tour to select areas of the 750-bed Ellis Island Hospital, including infectious and contagious disease wards, kitchen, mortuary and autopsy room.
🛍 Souvenirs in Chinatown & The Financial District
Save your souvenir shopping for Chinatown, where bargaining is part of the fun. If you’re short on time, try Memorial Tees near the Charging Bull—great selection and fair prices.
Places of interest in the Financial District
Every corner you turn there will be something new. It is so interesting to see how the financial district vibes are completely different than those of Mid-town Manhattan. (especially around lunchtime on a weekday!)
- Wall Street – New York Stock Exchange
- Stone Street
- Federal Hall National Memorial
- The Trump Building
- Skyscraper Museum
- Charging Bull – We cheated the line during the person switch for pictures, my husband quickly ran in front of the bull’s stomach & I snapped a pic! Super Stealthy…
