Tripadvisor just released its 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things To Do, and New York City is well-represented across multiple categories. Whether you’re a local planning a day out or a visitor trying to make the most of limited time, these are the experiences and attractions that real travelers ranked highest this year.
Central Park Pedicab Guided Tours
Topping Tripadvisor’s newly introduced Top New York City Experiences list for 2026, the Central Park Pedicab Guided Tours offer a fun, low-effort way to take in one of the most iconic green spaces in the world. A knowledgeable guide pedals you through the park’s highlights — perfect if you’re short on time or traveling with kids.
9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero Tour
Ranking second on the NYC list, this guided walking tour covers one of the most significant and sobering sites in American history. The optional museum ticket adds even more depth to the experience. It’s moving, educational and something every visitor to the city should do at least once.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour
Few experiences are more quintessentially New York than a trip to Lady Liberty. This tour includes reserved ferry entry, which means you skip a lot of the headache and spend more time actually exploring both the statue and Ellis Island — a must for anyone interested in American immigration history.
NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens: Art, Food and Sports
If you want to get beyond Manhattan, this multi-borough bus tour is one of the best ways to do it. It covers art, food and sports landmarks across three of the city’s most culturally rich neighborhoods — a great option for repeat visitors who feel like they’ve already done the usual tourist circuit.
NYC: Chinatown and Little Italy Food Tour
With seven tastings included, this food tour through two of the city’s most beloved neighborhoods is a serious bang-for-your-buck experience. You’ll try dumplings, cannoli and everything in between while learning the history of both communities from a local guide.
NYC: Greenwich Village Food Tour
Greenwich Village has long been one of the most charming and walkable neighborhoods in the city, and this food tour leans into that. Six dishes from local favorite spots, plus the stories behind them — it’s equal parts delicious and fascinating.
Empire State Building Observation Deck
The Empire State Building holds the No. 1 spot on Tripadvisor’s Top Attractions in the U.S. list for 2026, and it’s not hard to see why. The Art Deco landmark — known for its stainless-steel canopies, black granite detailing and iconic spire — offers some of the most sweeping views of the city skyline you’ll find anywhere. Book tickets in advance to avoid long lines.
Artistic, Alternative Greenwich Village Walking Tour
A different take on the Village than the food tour, this walking experience highlights the neighborhood’s bohemian history — think Beat Generation haunts, LGBTQ+ landmarks and offbeat architecture. It’s a great option for culture lovers who want to dig a little deeper.
High Line and Chelsea Small Group Tour
The High Line is one of the great urban renewal success stories of the last two decades, and this small-group tour makes it even better. Your guide brings the elevated park’s history and the surrounding Chelsea art scene to life in a way that’s hard to replicate on your own.
“The Met” Metropolitan Museum of Art Exclusive Guided Tour
Rounding out the top 10 is an exclusive guided tour of one of the greatest art museums in the world. The Met’s collection is so vast that going without a guide can feel overwhelming — this tour solves that problem and makes sure you actually understand what you’re looking at.
Whether you’re a lifelong New Yorker or planning your first visit, this list is a solid starting point for building an itinerary that goes beyond the obvious. Tripadvisor’s rankings are based entirely on traveler reviews, which means these aren’t paid placements, just real experiences that real people loved.
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