12 NYC Tourist Traps To Avoid
There is so much to see in New York that planning can be overwhelming! Every neighborhood has it’s own unique charm, and there are so many iconic locations to check out. However, there are a few tourist destinations that in my opinion, can be done without, or done better. From a local, here are 12 tourist trap locations to avoid, and what to do instead:
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
This New York icon attracts thousands of tourists per day, but with tickets ranging from $42 - $72 (PLUS waiting in line) it’s not worth the time or money. And once you’re up, you don’t really get the true NYC skyline view, since you’re standing inside it’s biggest landmark.
INSTEAD
If you really want that skyscraper view, get tickets for Top of the Rock. Adult tickets are $38 and you get a much better view than Empire State, plus tickets are for a timed-window so lines are way shorter.
OR
Take the subway down to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, start at the Remsen St entrance and walk all the way up. You’ll get gorgeous views of the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade, Empire State Building, and Brooklyn Bridge, and it’s FREE. Plus, this park is mostly filled with Brooklyn locals, so there are no tourist crowds. (Take the 2,3,4 or 5 trains to Borough Hall or the R to Court St)
JUNIORS CHEESECAKE
I will admit, thier cheesecake is delicious, but standing in line for over an hour with screaming children and hoards of tourists packing into Times Square is a terrible way to spend your trip, especially when NYC is filled with hundreds of equally as amazing bakeries and dessert shops that aren’t so overcrowded.
INSTEAD
Some amazing local alternative dessert spots:
Levain - These are the most incredible cookies on the planet. Do not take my word for it, go try them. There are 5 Manhattan locations, so you’re sure to find one close to you.
Dough - You will never see doughnuts the same way again. My personal favorites are the Mocha Almond Crunch and the Hibiscus doughnuts. There are 5 NYC locations, and tons of coffee shops also carry thier fresh doughnuts daily.
Milk Bar - They are famous for thier cereal milk ice cream, but in my opinion, the birthday cake truffles are where its at. They have 8 NYC locations, but the Flagship at 29th and Broadway is a fun experience.
MADAME TUSSANDS / RIPLEYS BELIEVE IT OR NOT
Just don’t go here. It’s overcrowded and a waste of money and time. New York has so many incredible museums that are worth seeing, but this is NOT one of them.
INSTEAD
The Met - The Met has almost every kind of art you could want to see and is a New York icon. Plan to spend an entire day here, or select specific sections to go see if you only want to spend a few hours. My personal favorites are the Impressionist wing, Fashion wing, and Greek & Roman art.
The 9/11 Museum & Memorial - This place holds such an importance to NYC and the museum is extremely well done. Go early in the morning and spend a few hours seeing for yourself the ruins, photos, audio recordings and more from this tragic day.
The Frick Collection - One of my favorite museums in New York, the Frick Collection was the private art collection and residence of industrial tycoon Henry Clay Frick. The mansion is as stunning as the art it houses, and it’s well worth a few hours.
PEDICABS
You may think a cute bike ride around Central Park would be a fun idea, but please do not waste your money on one of these. They are overpriced, and riding on a tiny bench behind a sweaty man is really not much fun.
INSTEAD
Go rent a Citibike and ride through the park at your own pace! They’re very inexpensive and you can make your own way through the park.
Wollman Rink in Central Park
ICE SKATING AT ROCKEFELLER
I get it, you’ve seen a thousand Christmas movies and want to go ice skating in Rockefeller just like them, but I promise there are so many better rinks in NYC that are way less crowded, less expensive, and you still get that quintessential Christmas in New York feeling.
INSTEAD
The best NYC ice rinks are Vale Rink at The William Vale, Wollman Center in Central Park, or LeFrak in Prospect Park.
GRIMALDI’S
Grimaldi’s has been a New York institution for decades, and now has locations all around the US, however the lines are insane and honestly not worth it. The original owner sold Grimaldi’s back in 1998 and shortly after opened a new (and better) place a few blocks away called Juliana’s.
While I will say Juliana’s is superior, the lines can still get pretty long, and I wouldn’t say its the best pizza in New York. Skip the crowds and check out a lesser known spot
INSTEAD
Prince St Pizza - Famous for thier Soho Square, this icon (the original site of Rays Pizza) serves up single slices and full pies seven days a week (and is open until 4am on Friday and Saturday, making it a very popular post-club spot for young NY’ers)
Keste Bleecker - This amazing pizzeria founded by Italian chef Roberto Caporuscio has some of the best Neapolitan pizza in New York. There are two locations, but Bleeker is the original
Brado BK Heights - a favorite local spot for the best thin crust pizza. They also have sister restaurants all around the city.
TIMES SQUARE
Nicknames that NY locals call Times Square: 7th ring of hell, Where culture goes to die, The blight of NYC, etc. Basically, no self respecting New Yorker would ever voluntarily go here, and neither should you.
If you’ve never seen it, I understand wanting to walk up and catch a glimpse of the classic jumbo tron shot, but that’s where the excitement ends. The rest is creepy cartoon characters that smell like cigarette smoke, WAY too many people, and obnoxious flashing signs from every cheesy chain restaurant you can imagine.
INSTEAD
Literally anything else.
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
Similar to the Empire State, this landmark is best enjoyed viewing it, not actually at it. While tickets only set you back about $25, it’s extremely overcrowded, and difficult to actually see the statue.
INSTEAD
Take the Staten Island Ferry for FREE at the Whitehall St station. It takes about 20 minutes each way, and if you go outside on the upper deck, you’ll get great views of the statue each way.
CHELSEA MARKET
Chelsea Market used to be a chic space with tons of independent artisan food shops, book stores, clothing stores and more, but in the last few years big-box brands have taken over, and it’s become packed with tourists. The only part of Chelsea Market I’d still recommend visiting is the Artists & Fleas market, which houses tons of amazing local artists.
INSTEAD
For food, check out the Time Out Food Hall for hundreds of local favorites all in one space or if you’re near Central Park, The Plaza Hotel actually has an underground foodhall that’s still relatively secret.
LITTLE ITALY
Little Italy is a few city blocks right above Chinatown where the Italian community first settled in NYC. Today, it’s mostly junk souvenir shops and tourist-trap restaurants that are overcrowded and overpriced.
INSTEAD
The real little Italy is on Arthur Ave in the Bronx. Here you’ll find authentic bakeries, restaurants, and many more specialty stores, all of whom can trace thier roots back to immigrant grandparents or great-grandparents that started the stores. It’s an easy ride up from Grand Central station on the Metro North Harlem line, getting off at Fordham.
BUS TOURS
New York is meant to be walked. It also has the most extensive public transit system in the world, so please skip the dinky tour buses.
INSTEAD
NY Metrocards are $2.75 per ride or $33 for a Weekly Unlimited. If you’re staying at least 3 days, you’ll probably end up saving more money by getting the weekly, and they work on all subways and buses (including to and from the airport if you come through LGA or JFK)
Or just walk! Unless you’re headed somewhere far away, it’s often faster and more fun to just walk the city. You’ll be seeing it like a real local. (though be forewarned, we walk fast, and please do not abruptly stop in the middle of a sidewalk)
CENTRAL PARK
Hear me out. Central Park is a New York icon and I do think you should go visit it. However, most tourists enter either at Columbus Circle or at The Plaza Hotel entrances, and stay only at that lower end of the park (below 65th St), making it extremely crowded.
INSTEAD
There are some beautiful landmarks inside the park, and planning which areas you want to see can help you skip the crowds. Some recommendations moving from South to North:
Bethesda Terrace & Fountain - This an extremely popular spot, and has been in many shows and movies (this is ‘The Friend’s Fountain’) but it’s beautiful, and definitely worth seeing. Enter at 72nd St on either side of the park and walk to the center.
Loeb Boathouse - Also an iconic spot, this actually tends to be a quiet lakeside view that draws tourists and locals alike. Renting a boat and rowing around the lake is a fun and relaxing way to spend an afternoon if you have the time
The Ramble- This area is comprised of thick wooded pathways that transport you to the great outdoors, even in the center of Manhattan. It can be a relaxing breathe of nature after the busy city, and is a beautiful walk up to Belvedere Castle.
Belvedere Castle - This mini-castle in the center of Central Park has stunning views of the park, and is one of my favorite spots.
Have any spots you love to visit in NYC? Leave them in the comments below!
xoxo,
Audra
