USA · TICKETS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 tickets & entry passes worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Visit SUMMIT One Vanderbilt above Grand Central for mirror rooms, glass skyboxes, silver balloons, panoramic city views, and a rooftop bar. Plan 90 minutes to two hours, wear trousers or tights, and choose daylight, sunset, or Air at Night for a different mood.
“Amazing for us and the kids alike (14yo) would recommend to all looking for a great view and a fun experience!”
Enter the 9/11 Memorial Museum at a reserved time, then visit the twin reflecting pools, Survivor Tree, and Memorial Glades. Inside, follow the story through artifacts, films, personal accounts, and memorial records covering the 2001 attacks and 1993 bombing. Allow at least two hours, and more if you read everything.
“This was a really poignant experience, very thought provoking and sad. We felt the power of the tragedy that this museum commemorates, but the celebration of the people who lost their lives and carrying on their memories. I love that the money goes towards the charity and would recommend this museum to anyone visiting.”
Visit New York’s Empire State Building for 360-degree views from the 86th-floor deck, optional floor-to-ceiling panoramas from the 102nd floor, and interactive galleries covering construction, Art Deco design, King Kong, and film history. Choose a standard or Express ticket, with visits lasting 45 minutes to two hours.
“It was a smooth and easy experience from start to finish. The whole experience was interesting and very informative inside the building with the history behind the building. The views from the 86th floor were amazing and we had the bonus of seeing the sunset this made my trip to NYC complete. A definite must do in NYC”
Visit New York’s Empire State Building, explore interactive galleries and the Art Deco lobby, then ride to the 86th-floor open-air deck. Choose the 102nd-floor upgrade for floor-to-ceiling windows, or pay more for Express entry when queues matter.
“It's 20 years since I last visited the Empire State Building (as a 30 year old working in New York) now I'm 52 and visited with my teenage sons and partner. It didn't disappoint. Staff were great, helpful and considerate, and the experience is much more immersive: animations showing the build in 1931, King Kong peering through the windows, spy holes looking down on New Yorkers back in the 30's – it really was great, a classic, a must see!”
Visit Edge at Hudson Yards for a one-hour high-rise experience with multimedia displays, a glass floor, angled glass walls, Skyline Steps, and wide views from Central Park to the Statue of Liberty. You can add champagne or cocktails at the rooftop bar, but food and drinks cost extra.
“Very good, you get a immersive walk through experience then you see amazing views. Would definitely recommend as it’s great value for money.”
You get all-day entry to more than 40 permanent halls, the Rose Center, and the new Gilder Center. Add one or all ticketed exhibits for shows such as Encounters in the Milky Way, the butterfly vivarium, or the dinosaur extinction exhibit. The Explorer app helps you find your way.
“Great experience. We spent few hours and didn’t see everything. Great for a rainy or cold day. We visited NYE week and it was very crowded. It would be nice if they had a max number of ticket sales to prevent overcrowding. And maybe kids area would also be nice.”
Ride the 43-second elevator to Top of the Rock’s three observation levels at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. You’ll get wide views of Central Park and the Empire State Building, outdoor photo spots, the Weather Room Café, and optional Beam or VIP upgrades.
“Staff were excellent. View is amazing. The information given was interesting.”
Enter New York’s Museum of Modern Art with a one-day ticket, bypassing the ticket desk. Explore six floors of modern and contemporary art, including Starry Night, Water Lilies, Warhol’s soup cans, films, design, and special exhibitions. Bring a charged phone and headphones for the free multilingual audio guide.
“One of the best museums I’ve seen in my life. Monet, Klimt, Picasso, Van Gogh, Kahlo, Hopper, Magritte.. I am just sorry that not all the artwork they have is displayed, sadly”
Enter One World Observatory on West Street, skip the ticket purchase line, and ride the SkyPod to floors 100 through 102 in 47 seconds. See the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, harbor, and 9/11 Memorial. Upgrade for priority security, flexible entry, digital guide, or a 60 to 90 minute VIP tour.
“Excellent! Great place to visit with superb views, friendly staff, and a great store.”
Visit the Empire State Building’s 86th Floor Observatory for open-air views of New York, then upgrade to the 102nd floor for glass-window panoramas across six states. Your mobile ticket also covers exhibits on construction, films, design, and sustainability.
“It was so much fun!! We fully enjoyed the day and had a great time. Definitely a need to do item!! We learned and laughed a lot. The staff were so nice.”
Meet near the Oculus for a small-group Ground Zero walk led by guides such as Sean, Paul, Amy, or James. Visit St. Paul’s Chapel, the FDNY Memorial Wall, and the 9/11 Memorial pools. Choose a self-guided museum ticket or a one-hour guided museum visit.
“It’s cold out dress warm. Be prepared to do a lot of walking. Take lots of pictures and take it all in”
Visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum below the Twin Towers’ former footprints with a timed mobile ticket. Explore first-person accounts, artifacts, memorial displays, and exhibits on the 2001 attacks at your own pace. Plan at least two hours, and allow more time if you want to hear and read everything.
“It’s a lot to take in given I was born 8 months and 8 days later it was just sad about what happened and the items in the museum just was wow. Will come back again one day.”
Step into two floors of FRIENDS scenes in New York, pose on the orange couch, visit Monica and Rachel’s kitchen, relax in Joey and Chandler’s chairs, and browse props, costumes, and memorabilia. Your one-hour entry includes staff help with photos, while Central Perk drinks and snacks cost extra.
“I thought it was perfect and nothing should change.”
Spend a full day at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex exploring Space Shuttle Atlantis, the Saturn V rocket, Gateway, Rocket Garden, live shows, 3D films, and hands-on simulators. Your ticket includes the Apollo/Saturn V Center, internal bus tour access, most attractions, and the reimagined Launch Complex 39 gantry.
“It was fantastic, being on holiday here from the UK this was a must do and it did not let us down. We spent 8 hours here so made the most of it, our real bonus was a genuine rocket launch happened the following day which we were able to see at 6:45am. Fantastic experience”
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt gives you timed access to three floors of skyline views, mirrored rooms, floating silver balls, and the LEVITATION glass skyboxes. Plan on one to three hours, dress for reflective floors, and arrive on time. ASCENT glass elevators are not included.
“Not organized when you first get there, the lines are super long and you are standing in chaos for about an hour or more, oh and hundreds of people are standing with you, when you finally take the elevator up the night skyline is absolutely gorgeous, took lots of pictures! Everything else was just ok.”
Pick a skyline, a canyon or a coastline.
