New York is one of the most iconic vacation destinations in the world, and for good reason! If you also have a dream of experiencing the end of the year, finally get inspired and plan your trip.
Imagine admiring the beautifully decorated windows of 5th Avenue, ice skating in Central Park, tasting roasted chestnuts from a street vendor and feeling the cold kiss of a snowflake in Times Square.
Tip:
- Make your planning well in advance;
- book flights months in advance.
For a first trip to NY while on vacation, I recommend considering getting a discount pass, especially if you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing.
We had a great time being tourists and went to almost all the famous attractions in the city! See how we managed to spend Christmas in New York on a budget! 🙂
discount cards
- New York CityPass: If you just want to see the main sites or you only have 1-2 days to tour, I recommend getting the New York CityPass. It costs US$ 89 and gives you access to 6 must-see attractions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Empire State Building Observatory.
- The New York Pass: If you're a super tourist like me and have a week to explore the Big Apple, I recommend The New York Pass. The 3 and 7 day passes offer great savings. The pass grants you entry to over 70 attractions around New York. For this pass to really make you money, you need to put it into practice! Which is exactly what we did. We got the discounted three day pass for US$ 150 and planned our one week stay in advance.
Keep an eye out for discounts on these cards!
Day 1 in New York
The Museum of Sex
(Free with pass. Normal entry price: Adult: $ 17.50)
I think it goes without saying that the Sex Museum is only for mature audiences. “Museu do Sexo’s mission is to preserve and present the history, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality.” Definitely one of the most unique museums I've ever been to!
Open Sunday to Thursday: 10 am to 8 pm Friday and Saturday: 10 am to 9 pm
Go to the Empire State Building Observation Deck
(Free with pass. Normal entry price: Adult: $ 25)
Ascend to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building for incredible views of the city. It gets very windy up there so be sure to dress warm if you are there during the holidays!
Open daily from 8:00 am to 2:00 am
Cycling through Central Park
(3 hours free bike rental with pass)
Take a stroll along the snowy sidewalks of Central Park. Central Park is 2.5 miles long by 0.5 miles wide. It's absolutely huge! Go ice skating, take a horse-drawn carriage or simply enjoy the surroundings from a park bench.
Christmas shopping at Macy's
Put on your helmet and visit the biggest store in the world. Macy's Herald Square is absolutely packed during the holidays, but a trip to New York wouldn't be complete without a visit to this iconic store. Built in 1902, this store offers history and great shopping!
151 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001
Track at Rockefeller Center
(US$ 25 session + US$ 10 skate rental)
This activity is not exactly economical. The Rockefeller Christmas tree and the ice rink make the whole setting absolutely magical.
Open daily from 7:00 am to midnight
top of the rock
(Free with pass. Normal entry price: Adult: $ 25)
Visiting the top of Rockefeller Center was also one of my favorite things I did during my trip. The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking.
There are three top-view levels that provide 360-degree views of the city. You can even see the Empire State Building lit up with the red and green Christmas spirit.
Open daily from 8 am to 12 pm
Day 2 in New York
Statue of Liberty Ferry
(Free with pass. Regular price: Adult: $17)
There's no better way to see the Statue of Liberty than from a ferry. The ferry takes you through the harbor, offering an audio tour of the history of the Statue of Liberty.
You can get off at the famous Ellis Island where Lady Liberty is located and visit the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. (Note: Ellis Island is currently closed due to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy)
Ferry crossings: Daily: 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Ellis Island Immigration Museum
(Free)
Take the ferry to visit the “Golden Door of America” that welcomed millions of immigrants in search of a better life. “Four out of 10 Americans can trace their ancestry to Ellis Island, which between 1892 and 1954 processed more than 12 million new immigrants.”
Come and discover the history of the American dream. The view of the Manhattan skyline from Ellis Island is also fantastic. (Note: Ellis Island is currently closed due to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy)
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Daily: 9:30am – 4:30pm
9/11 Memorial and Homage Center
(Free with pass. 9/11 Memorial: Free. Regular Tribute Center admission price: Adult: $ 15)
Be sure to reserve your free 9/11 Memorial pass before planning your visit to New York. Pay tribute to the memory and honor of the men, women and children killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
9/11 Memorial open daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Tribute Center open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm
Stroll through Lower Manhattan
(free activities)
Be sure to explore lower Manhattan and see the famous Wall Street bull statue. Also, be sure to visit Trinity Churchyard and the famous tombstones.
Snack from a street vendor
A trip to New York wouldn't be complete without visiting a traveling salesman. Grab a hot dog or freshly roasted chestnuts as you stroll the streets of Manhattan. (You might even meet Santa Claus!)
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
(Tickets from R$ 40)
The Rockettes Christmas show was one of the most exciting things I saw in New York over Christmas. The show itself is phenomenal and really gets you in the holiday spirit!
Save money on tickets by purchasing same-day tickets through a discount Broadway show ticket website. You can also find many of these discount ticket sellers around town.
Day 3 in New York
Walking food tour
(Free with pass. Normal admission price: Adult: $ 49)
The best way to experience New York culture is through food! We went on the World Famous Sweet Tooth Tour which took us all over Manhattan tasting some of the most delicious treats around.
The tour guide is fantastic and you learn a lot about some historic food spots around town. Be sure to book in advance to reserve your spot!
Also, food is not included, but they are small delights. We split each treatment and only spent an additional US $ 10 on the tour)
big central station
(free)
Be sure to stop at the beautiful Grand Central Station while taking the subway through Manhattan. It is the largest train station in the world in terms of number of platforms.
NBC Studio Tour
(Free with pass. Normal admission price: Adult: $ 24)
This is a fun tour where you will have the opportunity to visit famous NBC studios like Saturday Night Live. Be sure to book in advance. It's really popular!
Mon-Thurs 8:30am to 5:30pm, Fri-Sat 8:30am to 6:30pm, Sun 9:15am to 4:30pm.
American Museum of Natural History
(Free with pass. Suggested entry $ 19)
I'm obsessed with museums. Travel back in time and come face to face with dinosaurs and learn about the fauna and flora native to different regions of the USA.
Be sure to download the Explorer iPhone app to help you navigate the museum.
Open daily from 10 am to 5:45 pm
The MET Metropolitan Museum of Art
(Free with pass. Suggested entry $ 25)
The MET is New York's most visited attraction. Check out world-famous collections from around the world. It's easy to spend an entire day here with over two million works of art spanning 5,000 years of culture.
Friday and Saturday: 9:30 am – 9:00 pm Sunday, Tuesday to Thursday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm Closed: Monday
Times Square
Last but not least, be sure to visit Times Square at least once during the day and once at night.
Your senses will be overwhelmed, but the sights and smells of this famous square.
Times Square is also famous for its New Year's celebration.
Other recommended attractions:
Madame Tussauds
(Free with pass. Normal entry price: Adult: $ 36.00)
Madame Tussauds, the world famous wax attraction, is located in the heart of Times Square. See if you can trick your friends with a photo featuring one of over 225 incredibly realistic wax stars and icons.
Monday to Thursday: 10:00:Friday from 00:00 to 20:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
(Free with pass. Normal entry price: Adult: $ 22.00)
This museum is a work of art in itself! “You will see masterpieces by famous artists like Chagall, Kandinsky, Picasso and van Gogh.” It's one of my favorite museums in the whole world!
Sunday to Wednesday: 10:00-17:45 Thursday: CLOSED Friday: 10:00-17:45 Saturday: 10:00-19:45
So, as you can see, there is never a dull moment in the city that never sleeps! It's definitely possible to do New York on a budget without the discount card, which is why I've included the admission price for adults.
Plan your trip in advance, book activities in advance and have a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
Enjoy and also read:
Where to eat well and cheaply in New York
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