Ah, New York City. The city that never sleeps and apparently never stops charging $47 for a hot dog in cart water. NYC is one of a kind, but it’s also booby-trapped with overpriced, overhyped, and overcrowded scenes that even pigeons avoid. So if you’d rather not spend your time elbowing your way through Times Square just to be shouted at by a man in a knock-off Elmo costume, read on. Let’s talk NYC tourist traps.
I lived and worked in New York for several years, so I’m here to give it to you straight. Here’s your brutally honest, battle-tested guide to what NYC tourist traps to avoid, and what to do instead that won’t make you feel like a walking dollar sign.
1. Avoid: Times Square
Why?
It’s loud. It’s chaotic. It smells like hot trash and frustration. Unless you’re starring in a Broadway show or have a burning desire to be part of a giant LED advertisement, steer clear.
Pro tip: if you’re headed to a show, get to the right street on 6th or 8th Avenue, then cross over. Don’t brave the downtown/uptown trek along Broadway.
Do This Instead:
Take a stroll through DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). Cobblestone streets, skyline views, cute coffee shops, and zero people dressed as Minions trying to charge you for a photo.
Bonus: amazing sunset shots of the Brooklyn Bridge from Pebble Beach.
2. Avoid: The Empire State Building
Why?
Unless you’re desperate for an overpriced elevator ride and an hour-long line with people sneezing directly into your personal space, give this one a pass. The view? Good. The experience? Pain.
Do This Instead:
Head to Top of the Rock or One Vanderbilt’s SUMMIT. You’ll get panoramic views including the Empire State Building itself (kind of the whole point, right?). Plus, SUMMIT has glass floors and mirror rooms. It’s like walking through an Instagram filter… if you’re into that sort of thing.
Bonus Bonus tip: Top of the Rock is located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (my old stomping grounds), so I’d be remiss if I didn’t give one other tidbit: You can head to Bar 65 (on the 65th floor) for a cocktail that costs…. about the same as the elevator ride to the Top of The Rock. And Bar 65 lets you stay longer. And sit down.
3. Avoid: Statue of Liberty Tours
Why?
Do you really want to spend half a day in a line, then on a cramped boat, and then craning your neck at Lady Liberty with 1,000 selfie sticks in your peripheral vision? No. You do not.
Do This Instead:
Take the Staten Island Ferry—for free. That’s right. FREE. It floats right past the Statue, so you can get your obligatory photo without the price tag or time suck. Then just stay on board and ride it back. Minimal commitment, maximum payoff. Grab the Ferry from Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and enjoy the crowd-free 25 minute trip to New York’s least visited borough.
4. Avoid: Chain Restaurants in Times Square
Why?
If you travel to New York to end up eating at Olive Garden, I weep for you. There’s nothing “endless” about those breadsticks except the shame. There are plenty of New York institutions that are worth the hype. I’m going to recommend some of the less common destinations.
Do This Instead:
Head to Koreatown, the East Village, or Jackson Heights. Want ramen that’ll bring a tear to your eye? Go to Ippudo. My old roommate used to work there. I get no benefits for recommending it. It’s just that good. While we’re here, Ippudo, can I have some free ramen please?
Craving NY’s best tacos? Taqueria Ramirez in Brooklyn. If it doesn’t have a neon menu or a waiter in a Statue of Liberty hat, you’re on the right track.
Want Italian food that will make nonnas everywhere proud? Check out Paesano’s or Lil Frankies.
5. Avoid: Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides in Central Park
Why?
Beyond the ick factor of making a horse haul you through traffic fumes, these rides are absurdly expensive and deeply uncool. The horses are treated terribly. It’s time we stopped this, seriously.
Do This Instead:
Rent a CitiBike or take a guided walking tour. Central Park is massive and magical- lush trails, hidden waterfalls, strawberry fields forever. You’ll actually see the park instead of zoning out to the clip-clop of horse hooves and the sound of your bank account weeping.
6. Avoid: Buying Souvenirs in Midtown
Why?
Nothing says “I was emotionally manipulated by capitalism” quite like a $20 “I ❤️ NY” t-shirt made anywhere but the United States. It’s one of the most quintessential NYC tourist traps.
Do This Instead:
Check out local markets and indie shops. Brooklyn Flea, Artists & Fleas, and Canal Street Market are all goldmines for quirky, locally made finds. You’ll go home with something cooler than a foam Lady Liberty crown, promise.
Bonus: Avoid Assuming Manhattan = All of NYC
Why?
Because New York is five boroughs, not one overpriced island. Some of the best food, street art, and real-deal neighborhoods are beyond the shadow of the Empire State Building.
Do This Instead:
Explore Queens for unbeatable global cuisine. Hit up the Bronx for Yankee Stadium and hip hop history. Wander into Brooklyn’s Prospect Park (my old neighborhood! Go there on a summer weekend for Smorgasburg) or scoop up some vintage steals in Williamsburg. You’ll get a richer experience… and spend a lot less doing it.
TL;DR – The NYC Tourist Trap Survival Guide
| Tourist Trap | Do This Instead |
|---|---|
| Times Square | DUMBO |
| Empire State Building | Top of the Rock / SUMMIT |
| Statue of Liberty Tours | Staten Island Ferry |
| Chain Restaurants | Local Neighborhood Spots |
| Horse-Drawn Carriage | CitiBike or Walking Tour |
| Midtown Souvenirs | Local Markets |
| Just Manhattan | All Five Boroughs |
So there you have it: your unofficial survival guide to avoiding some of the biggest NYC tourist traps. Come for the skyline, stay for the bagels, and whatever you do… don’t feed the Elmos.
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