Top 10 Places to Visit in New York City
Recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy since its dedication in 1886, The Statue of Liberty has long been one of the most popular places to visit in New York. Here, visitors can climb to the top of the Crown for unmatched views of New York Harbor, learn about Lady Liberty’s history in the Statue of Liberty Museum, or tour the Main Immigration Building at Ellis Island, each offering a unique experience in honor of all those who have immigrated to the United States in pursuit of the American dream, regardless of whether they passed through Ellis Island. To visit the Statue of Liberty, you’ll have to board a ferry at either The Battery in Manhattan or Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey. At Battery Park, charter buses can use the designated curb spaces for tour buses on Whitehall Street and South Street before moving elsewhere for parking. If you’re taking the ferry in Liberty State Park, your vehicle can park, load, and unload in one of the Park’s parking lots (lot 8 is the closest).
1 Ellis Island, Jersey City, NJ 07305
(212) 363-3200
The 9/11 Memorial Museum tells the story of 9/11 and of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing through artifacts, imagery, personal stories, and interactive technology. The Museum offers programs tailored to different audiences so visitors of all ages can learn from the Museum’s stories of loss, recovery, and hope. Groups generally load and unload near the Museum along Greenwich St, but you’ll need to coordinate with them directly for drop-off and pick-up, due to increased security. A small number of bus parking spaces are available near the World Trade Center for buses with appropriate permits, just be sure to ask the Museum staff about how to obtain the appropriate permits when you call.
180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007
(212) 312-8800
Add a visit to the Empire State Building to your New York itinerary for an exclusive bird’s eye view that stretches all across Manhattan, New York, and five other states. The 86th Floor is where you’ll find the well-known open-air observation deck featured in movies like Sleepless in Seattle, while the 102nd Floor provides a fully enclosed viewing area with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. After drinking in the view, make sure to check out the exhibits on the 2nd and 80th Floors detailing the history of “The World’s Most Famous Building” to complete your visit. Here, we'll drop you off near the main visitor entrance at 20 W. 34th St (there are other entrances to the Empire State Building, but they are reserved for tenants and their guests and are not open to the public).
20 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001
(212) 400-3311
At The Metropolitan Museum of Art, art comes alive and connects people to over 5,000 years of creativity, knowledge, ideas, and cultures. View their permanent offerings like the Arts of Oceania exhibition and Claude Monet’s “Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies” or check out what temporary exhibits are currently on display while you’re there. Regardless of the art you favor, your charter bus will load and unload passengers in the dedicated bus lane outside The Met’s front entrance on 5th Avenue.
1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028
(212) 535-7710
In contrast to The Met’s 5,000 year-old artworks, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) focuses on modern and contemporary art (1880s-present) by artists who challenged the guidelines of their time and pushed the boundaries of what art is and what it can be. Unmissables in their collection include Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night”, Frida Kahlo’s “Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair”, and Glenn Ligon’s “Warm Broad Glow.” Here, we’ll provide drop-offs near MoMA’s main entrance, located in the Rockefeller Building on 53rd Street.
11 West 53 Street, Manhattan, New York, New York, 10019
(212) 708-9400
Even if you’re not here to take a train, Grand Central Terminal is well worth a visit. Take a tour of the 150+ year-old destination and stop in at Vanderbilt Hall, tell secrets in the Whispering Gallery, snap pictures of Grand Central Clock, and look inside the Chrysler Building. We can load and unload your group at either the main entrance on 42nd Street and Park Avenue or the Vanderbilt Avenue entrance, just remember to be mindful of the many New Yorkers who travel through Grand Central as part of their daily commute while visiting.
89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017
(212) 340-2583
Times Square–though actually shaped like a bowtie– is one of the city’s largest entertainment hubs and a must-see for first-time visitors. If you plan to see a Broadway show while in town, Times Square is also central to most theatres in New York’s theatre district and is where you can score discount theatre tickets at the TKTS discount booth. Provided you’re not visiting during a major event like New Year’s Eve, a NYC charter bus can easily drop you off close to the action along West 41st Street and 11th Avenue.
The Bronx Zoo offers a unique view into the natural world from the heart of the Bronx. Their star attraction, Jungleworld, showcases the creatures found in jungle habitats across Asia, from Otters and Leopards to Tapirs and White-cheeked Gibbons. To visit the Bronx Zoo, buses can utilize the Southern Boulevard parking lot (2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460) for parking, loading, and unloading during their Zoo visit.
2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460
(718) 220-5100
The American Museum of Natural History offers a wide range of programming based on scientific research for the purpose of sharing knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe. Set your own course and see the Star of India, dinosaur skeletons, and dioramas of North American animals in their habitats, or take advantage of their free guided tours offered throughout the day. Many groups choose to do their loading and unloading nearby along Central Park West, but if you’d like something closer, the Museum allows loading and unloading at their 81st Street driveway (56 West 81st Street, New York, NY 10024) upon request–just make sure to call and arrange this in advance!
200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5102
(212) 769-5100
New York City’s 843-acre backyard, Central Park welcomes over 42 million visitors each year to its greenspace. Relax in the grass, rent a boat out onto the lake, listen to stories at the Hans Christian Andersen Statue, or see Red Pandas up close at the Central Park Zoo. With its large footprint, there are a few different places you can have a charter bus load and unload your group at Central Park, all depending on which area you’d like to start at. We recommend working with your driver to select a prominent landmark, like Grand Army Plaza on Central Park South or The Metropolitan Museum of Art on 5th Avenue, that’s near the area of Central Park you plan to explore for drop-off and pick-up.
Central Park Conservancy
717 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022
(212) 310-6600
718-233-4974
