Top tips for booking tours in NYC: What to book in advance, what you can leave onsite

Millions of people visit New York annually. It is one of the most visited cities in the world. Some of the most visited attractions in New York include Times Square, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty. Therefore, it is natural to expect crowds at almost every attraction in NYC. So, you might have to book your tickets in advance for some of these attractions. For some others, it may not be necessary to book tickets in advance. So, how do you know this? Read on to find out the top tips for booking tours in NYC: What to book in advance, what you can leave onsite.

Top tips for booking tours in NYC: What to book in advance, what you can leave onsite

Here’s a summary of what to book when.

Reservation 1 to 3 months ahead

• Statue of Liberty Pedestal/ Crown
• Broadway Shows

Reservation 1 to 2 weeks ahead

• Observatories
• Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

Reservation required

• Tenement Museum
• The FRIENDS Experience
• Fine Dining Restaurants
• Special Tours

Reservation optional

• American Museum of Natural History
• 9/11 Museum
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Museum of Modern Art
• Guggenheim Museum
• Arte Museum

No reservation required

• Brooklyn Bridge
• Madame Tussauds
• Intrepid Museum
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• Vessel

Moreover, note that New York gets busiest in the summer and winter. So, make sure you book at your earliest convenience if you plan to travel during that period.

Top tips for booking tours in NYC: What you must book in advance

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most visited attractions in NYC. You must expect long queues at the ticketing lines. Moreover, tickets get pre-booked months ahead, making it practically impossible to purchase onsite. Visitors can reach this most famous landmark in NYC via ferry. However, you need to reserve a seat at least 1 to 3 months in advance if you want to experience this.

General tickets are easy to get, but tickets to the pedestal are limited due to crowd control mechanisms. Moreover, crown tickets are even more scarce. Your best bet is to book well in advance if you want to experience the crown or the pedestal. The CityPass provides you with general access to the statue. Try to book the first ferry of the day to avoid large crowds and enjoy the best views of the Statue of Liberty and the NYC skyline.

NYC Observatories

Observatories are another popular place that many people visit when they travel to New York. The views of the NYC skyline from these observatories are absolutely stunning. Due to this, you must book tickets at least a week in advance. This helps you skip the lines and get direct access to the observation decks.

Some observatories have a rescheduling policy for bad weather conditions. So, you have to check on that before you book, so that you can reschedule it on days when the visibility is bad. Booking tickets targeting sunset will be tough as everyone aims for this time slot. If you book late, you might have to settle for another time slot for viewing.

The CityPass provides you with admission to the Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building. Moreover, you can book tickets to any of the following observatories in NYC via their official websites.

• Empire State Building
• Top of the Rock
• One World Observatory
• SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
• The Edge

Broadway Shows

Hit Broadway shows also get booked quickly. If you want to watch a particular show or have a specific seating in mind, you have to buy tickets well in advance. This could mean booking 1 to 3 months in advance. Big Broadway shows could sell out pretty fast, especially close to the show day. If you don’t mind going to any show, then you can go to whatever is being offered when you are in NYC. There are always tickets available for some show.

The FRIENDS Experience

Fans of the FRIENDS TV show always want to have this experience when they are in NYC. You can buy tickets for this experience at the entrance. However, it is safer and cheaper to buy tickets online as they could sell out at times. This way, you are guaranteed entrance at a reasonable price. Check the booking calendar if you have a specific time slot in mind and book it if it’s available.

Fine Dining Restaurants

NYC has a wide variety of restaurants for every budget and taste buds. However, if you are planning to dine in a fancy or popular restaurant, you must make a reservation. Prior booking is generally required for higher-end restaurants, which are also the more expensive ones in the city. You don’t have to worry about prior reservations if you are planning to dine in at a cheaper place.

Tenement Museum

The Tenement Museum is a bit different from other museums in NYC. That is because you can only visit this museum on a tour. These tours can sell out up to a week ahead. So, it’s best if you can book in advance if you want to visit the Tenement Museum. However, you may be able to buy tickets onsite, but it is not worth taking a risk.

Special Tours

In addition, if you are planning on taking on any special tours in NYC, it’s always best to book in advance. How far ahead you should book depends on the type of tour or activity you plan to do. A tour of the Christmas lights or a helicopter ride around NYC would require you to book at least 2 to 4 weeks ahead. It could be even more if it is during peak season. For a day trip to Washington DC or Niagara Falls, you must book at least 2 months in advance. It is because these tours aren’t always available.

Top tips for booking tours in NYC: What you may need to book in advance

9/11 Museum

If you have a specific time slot in mind for visiting, it is ideal to buy tickets in advance to the 9/11 Museum. Apart from that, if you have a flexible schedule, you can buy tickets onsite. You may have to wait in a line, but it won’t be too bad. You can also visit the 9/11 Memorial pools located just outside the museum. They are free to visit anytime. With a CityPass, you gain general admission to the museum.

American Museum of Natural History

You may have to wait in a long line to buy tickets at the American Museum of Natural History. It is better to book your tickets online. Moreover, even if you change your mind, it’s easy and absolutely free to change the date on your tickets. A simple email just a few days before would be sufficient as a notification method. The CityPass includes admission to the museum and one special exhibit.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is flexible in issuing tickets and date changes. However, it is still a good idea to book in advance to save time waiting in line. For a weekday, booking simply the day before will still be fine. Weekends are busier, so you may want to book in advance. A guided tour of the museum requires prior booking.

Wrap-Up

These top tips for booking tours in NYC will let you enjoy your trip without the added stress of spending time in long lines. Moreover, you are always sure of gaining entry to attractions and will not be let down at any point.