New York City Travelers Recommend

One interesting way to explore New York is by taking a helicopter tour. While a bus or walking tour allows you to come face-to-face with the city, a helicopter tour takes you above its massive skyscrapers, flashing lights and mix of architectural styles to take in its diverse beauty all at once. Best of all, you’ll get great pictures without having to deal with NYC traffic. While there are many great New York helicopter tours to experience, one top pick is a Manhattan Sky Tour: New York Helicopter Flight. One of the more budget-friendly options, the tour takes you over downtown Manhattan and provides a bird’s eye view of some of the Big Apple’s most iconic sites. Another great New York helicopter tour is the Complete New York, New York Helicopter Tour, which flies you over all five boroughs. And for those who want a mix of experiences, a NYC Night Helicopter Flight and Statue of Liberty Cruise gives you the best of both worlds.

New York City is a traveler's dream, and this metropolis truly has something for everyone. See below for our top picks and standout experiences that make the Big Apple a traveler favorite.

For an all-encompassing view of Manhattan, the Harbor Lights Cruise (2 hrs, early evening) takes you nearly all of the way around Manhattan with stunning views of the islands and the bridges without the need to lift so much as a finger. Photography is difficult from a moving boat at night but it's still a lovely trip. (As you leave the dock, take a peak at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum on the next pier.) From any New York cruise, it's Manhattan's architecture that is the star of the show. The Empire State and Chrysler buildings both hark back to an era when cities were built by people, rather than by corporations and banks. There are - as you'll see - no skyscrapers between the Empire State Building at 34th Street and Wall Street. This is geology.

Niagara Falls is located in what is known as the Finger Lake region of New York and is surrounded by countryside. A drive through this landscape is a delight, and from New York, many 2-day bus tours offer highlights of the region. While other summer tours take you into the mist of the falls on either the historic Maid of the Mist ferryboat, or by exhilarating, finger-biting jetboat. However for a truly unforgettable experience, you can fly to the falls and get a bird's eye view of the horseshoe shaped falls, before plunging in behind the falls in a glass elevator, or feeling the mist on your face with a brave ferryboat ride. Be sure to book early, however! The Niagara Falls from New York air trip routinely sells out.

Without a doubt, the Empire State Building still ranks high on the list of wonderful viewing spots. Built in 1931, this 102-story iconic skyscraper, is not only an architectural wonder but it offers wondrous 360-degree views of Manhattan from its two observation decks. Glass-enclosed high-speed elevators shuttle visitors to both decks, where high-powered binoculars allow for zeroing in on favorite New York attractions from above. 30 Rock is not just the name of a hit television sitcom, but the true address of New York icon, Rockefeller Plaza, and home to Top of the Rock Observation Deck. You'll see New York's famous landmarks, including the Chrysler Building, Times Square, the Hudson River, the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. Definitely worth checking out. The Rise bar at the Ritz is another stunner. Though only 14 floors up, the aptly named Floor Bar allows stunning views of New Jersey and the New York Harbor.

Only have one day to explore Manhattan? It may seem daunting but with a few tips and access to some wheels you're in good shape to cover quite a bit of ground. Choose a full-day bus tour or a hop-on hop-off bus to cover the most area and make sure to get an early start. With so much to see, you may want to focus on a few must-see attractions and spend more time at those. The Viator VIP tour gives you early access to the Empire State Building which leaves you plenty of time to see the Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial and more. Prefer to see the city at a slower pace? Rent a bike and tour the city on two wheels, which is really the best way to explore places like the sprawling Central Park.

Day 1: Get Oriented A CityPass will help you to gain entry into a number of 'must-see' monuments and museums, all while skipping the line. Alternatively, take a hop-on hop-off bus tour and roam the Big Apple at your own pace. Day 2: Museums, Shopping, and Eating The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MOMA) and The Guggenheim on Fifth Avenue are among the must-see galleries in New York. Explore the city's Garment District in Midtown, Soho and its boutique shops and the Meatpacking District, Greenwich Village's Bleeker Street, NoLita, and the Lower East Side. Finally take a romantic dinner cruise or experience some culturally rich soul food and jazz in Harlem. Day 3: More Why not take an exhilarating helicopter tour of the city and then see a famous Broadway play, but don't forget to visit Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Take a day trip or overnight tour and explore the capital of the USA. Traveling to Washington DC from New York you will pass through the states of New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland before arriving at Capitol Hill, home to the Capitol, Senate and White House. You can choose unescorted or guided tours, day tours or overnight tours, from New York to Washington DC to suit your interests, travel style and budget.