New York City Visitor Guide 2024: Everything you need to know

Worldwide, there are a handful of cities that stand above all the rest. Huge cosmopolitan metropolises that seem to contain an entire world all of their own. Even among these cities, New York stands out. Sometimes described as the capital of the world, the Big Apple is unlike anywhere else on the planet.

Located in New York State on the East Coast of the United States, New York has been the gateway to America for centuries. Millions of people have come from around the world to settle or to pass through in the hope of a new life. It's a process that continues today. A capital of finance, culture, and art, New York is home to the United Nations and several other multinational organizations. Whether you're one of the millions who come to the city on vacation or for business, or even if you live in this fabled town, you'll never run out of things to do in the city that never sleeps.

A weekend in New York

12 Best Things to do in New York 2024

Any visit to the iconic Big Apple is going to be filled with memory-making adventures. It is a melting pot of cultures, art, and cuisine, and your hardest choices are not going to be finding something to do, but deciding what to leave off your list.

You are going to find yourself spoiled for choice in this great city but you don’t want your adventures restricted by having to haul heavy bags. That at least is one problem you can overcome. Bounce luggage storage services operate all over the world. By joining forces with trusted local businesses, they are able to offer cheap, reliable, and convenient storage facilities no matter where you are.  

Best Musical Discovery Tour – Walk on the Wild Side Tours NYC

Jesse Rifkin is a New York musician whose curiosity about the legends of the music industry and how they made it in the city led him to delve deeply into the subject. On his walking tours, he shares with you some of what he has discovered from a working musician's point of view. He offers a range of genre-specific walking tours with titles such as The Birth of Punk, Beastie Boys and Indie Rock and many more. He will also tailor tours to individual requirements.

To book your tour call 1 410-693-7170 or email at walkonthewildsidetoursnyc@gmail.com

Best Tours of Central Park – Central Park Tours by NYC Tour

Visitors to New York are often surprised by just how large Central Park is and how much there is to discover within its boundaries. NYC Tour makes discovering the park far easier by offering pedicab guided tours. Your guide will do the heavy work of pushing the pedals and still be able to introduce you to the most important sites and explain their significance. 

Call them on 1 646-954-2512 or email them at selfaaslan@ssonlinetrade.com

Best Tour for Budding Actors – Tour Noir NYC

If you are fascinated by theatre and the performing arts, you will love this one. You get to assist Jason Thompson and Veronica as they walk the streets of New York on a quest to locate Veronica's mysteriously missing husband. You will be asked to assist in their venture and at the same time will pass many of the city's better-known sites. 

If you are up for helping to solve a mystery then call 1 646-403-6909 or email at jaso@tournoirnyc.com

Best Tasting Tours – Ahoy New York Food Tours

If you fancy spending three hours tasting your way through some of the multiple culinary delights that this diverse city has on offer, then you will definitely want to chat with these guys. Their tours include stops in Little Italy and Chinatown and kids are welcome. You will get to cover different neighborhoods, while at the same time experiencing some of the magical dishes that make up a crucial part of their individual characters. 

Call 518-332-4386 or email them at info@ahoynewyorkfoodtours.com

Best NYC Ghost Tour – New York Ghost Tours

If you are brave enough, a ghost tour of New York will help you see the Big Apple in a whole different light – after dark. There are over four hundred years of macabre history to discover here, including the Black Plague and Native American burial grounds, and all have left their ghostly mark. Tours last for sixty minutes and children and pets are welcome.

Email for tour descriptions at contact@nyghosts.com or call 1 917-858-7159

Best Bike Tours – Scott’s New York

Scott is a licensed New York tour guide with years of experience guiding cyclists to some of the city's most famous landmarks as well as some of the less famous ones. He offers Brooklyn Bridge tours that include the Waterfront area, but you may prefer him to show you some of the city's best street art or guide you through the highlights that Central Park has on offer.

Call Scott to arrange your adventure on 1 917-426-7401 or use the contact form here https://scottsnewyork.com/contact/

Best Helicopter Tours – New York Helicopter

This city welcomes millions of visitors each year, but how many of them can claim to have seen some of the most iconic landmarks from a bird's eye point of view? This helicopter company offers you the unique chance to do just that. Departing from Kearny NJ, they offer a range of tours lasting from fifteen to twenty-five minutes. During that time, you will experience the thrill of soaring over the city in what will be a memory of a lifetime.

Email them at info@newyorkhelicoptertours.com or call them on 212-480-8300

Best NYC Sea Tours – NYC by SEA

If you are one of those people who likes to do things in style, then this company has just the thing for you. They offer tours of the waterfront regions of the city on their twenty-eight-foot power cruisers, which means that you will be viewing the city in sophisticated luxury. They carry a maximum of six passengers and their guides are also skippers recognized by the US Coast Guard, so you will be in expert hands. They offer a range of tours but are also open to customizing tours to your taste. 

Call them on 1 347-617-5124 or email at info@nycbysea.com

Best Photo and Video Tour – Freefall NYC

Want to blow your Instagram follower’s minds? This company offers tours with a difference. Not only will they guide you to some of the hottest spots in the city, they will also take pro photos and videos along the way. You will come away with picturesque mementos that are bound to make your friends green with envy. Let your personal photographer guide you through Central Park, the Freedom Tower, or the Mid-Town art world, and record your visit in style.

You can find out more when you email info@freefallnyc.com

Best Walking Tour - Custom NYC Tours

If you are put off by the idea of being herded through the city like a sheep in the midst of a large tour group, then Custom NYC is the tour company you need to talk to. They can walk you through some of the most popular spots where you will be part of a small group of not more than ten people. They offer tours with tempting names such as Hidden Secrets or Boroughs, but they are equally open to hearing what you want and creating a tour around your needs.

Email jeremy@customnyctours.com or call on 1 347-617-5124

Best Private Car Tours – NY Tour Monkey

Here is a company that doesn't believe in the 'one tour fits all' business model. They prefer to tailor their tours to the individual tastes and needs of their clients. You will be chauffeured in your choice of a limo or luxury SUV, and each vehicle will have a guide so that the driver focuses on the road while the guide exposes you to what this city has to offer. This is a tour for the thinking traveler who likes to control what he sees and then have it explained to him in greater depth by native New Yorkers. 

Call to custom create a tour on 1 646-801-8503 or email at info@nytourmonkey.com

Best History Tours – Portable NYC Tours

If you are a lover of history or want to dive deep into NY City culture, then Iren Gurarye is a guide you need to speak to. She has been a licensed guide in New York for more than ten years and studied History of Art, so she knows what she is talking about. She offers a range of tours with fascinating themes such as Writers, Prohibition and History or Fifth Avenue and Live Jazz. Her small tours of six people or less last between four and five hours so that she is really able to share her passion for New York and its colorful history and characters.

Call her on 201-951-3904 or email privatetoursny@gmail.com

A couple of days really isn't enough to get to grips with a city this big and vibrant. Then again, a whole lifetime might not be enough either. Whether you find yourself with some time on your hands on a business trip or only have a few days to vacation in New York, there's so much to see and do it can be overwhelming. Here's some ideas to get you started.

• Lose yourself in the impressive halls of the American Museum of Natural History. This Upper West Side institution never fails to delight kids with its hall of dinosaurs, but there are thousands of fascinating exhibits on display here. Spend a rainy day exploring, and you'll come away with a better understanding of the intricacy and beauty of the world we live in.
• New York is a world capital of fashion, and the high-end brand names of the Upper East Side are a shopaholic's dream come true. But if you're looking for something a little more unique, head to the Lower East Side and explore the boutiques and vintage stores where real New York fashionistas hunt for bargains.
• Sample some of the best cuisine in the city at Chelsea Market. The indoor food court at this vibrant market offers food from around the world, all of it enhanced by New York flair. Some of the hottest up-and-coming chefs in the country can be found here, so drop off your heavy bags at a New York luggage storage shop and bring your appetite.

New York lockers

One of the best things to do in New York is to simply take a walk through one of its many fascinating neighborhoods. Plus, the world-famous subway system makes it easy to get from one area of this huge city to the next. But whether you're traveling on vacation or for business, or whether you live in the city and just need a place to stash your bags while you're on the move, you'll find it easier to get around if you don't carry more than you need to. Store your belongings at a New York luggage storage service and get on with enjoying the city.

Off the beaten path in New York

New York is a city full of famous attractions like the Empire State Building, the 9/11 Memorial, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty. If it's your first time in New York, you'll want to see them all. But once you get off the classic tourist trail, you can get a deeper understanding of this most complex of cities at some of the lesser-known spots.

• Whisper sweet nothings to a partner in the Whispering Gallery. Located in New York's Grand Central Station close to the oyster bar, this unique location is an acoustic marvel. Stand under one of the arches, and anything you whisper will be carried up across the dome ceiling and down to the opposite arch. It makes for a slightly unnerving but truly incredible experience.
• Visit a secret garden in the heart of the city at the Rockefeller Center. The rooftop gardens offer stunning views of St. Patrick's Cathedral and are a green oasis right in the heart of the city.
• Go underground at the Old City Hall subway station. Accessible only by guided tour, the station was closed in 1945 and hasn't changed since. Wandering through this echoing subterranean space is like taking a trip back in time. Drop off your bags at a New York suitcase storage and see this haunting place for yourself.

What to do alone in New York

As paradoxical as it may seem, busy cities are often the best places to explore by yourself. And they don't come much busier than New York. Traveling by yourself allows you to pick and choose exactly what you want to do, and whatever you're into, you'll find it here.

• New York has a restaurant scene that’s second to none, and dining alone can often get you a spot where a large group would struggle. If you're willing to eat at the bar, you may be able to visit legendary eateries like Balthazar or Gramercy Tavern, where some seats are first-come first-served.
• Explore the unique street life in Greenwich Village. Pop in and out of quirky bookstores, record shops, restaurants, and anywhere else that strikes your fancy as you wander this lively area. In a place so vibrant, you'll never feel alone.
• See more of the city on a bike tour. Small group bike tours can help you safely navigate the city streets, and the guide will fill you in on what you're seeing. It's a great way to meet fellow travelers and explore the city together. Just make sure to drop off your bags at a New York bag storage shop before you head out on two wheels.

The best souvenirs in New York

In a city known for shopping, there's no need to go home empty-handed. Sure, you could pick up a miniature Statue of Liberty or an iconic I Love New York T-shirt from just about any bodega or souvenir store in town. But if you're after something a little more impressive, check out the jewelry made from old subway tokens you can get at Grand Central Station. Or head to Junior's Cheesecake and pick up a box of black and white cookies that have been a popular New York treat for over a century.