If you’re planning a trip to New York City, one of the first questions that comes to your mind is probably what to book in advance.
Overall, the Statue of Liberty is a must-see (since it’s the most popular attraction in New York City), while other things like museums, observatories, and restaurants will depend a bit on the situation.
This travel guide will give some tips on how far in advance you should book New York City activities. It’s based on my own experience!
Summary: What and when to book
Here’s a quick summary of when you might want to book ahead for things in New York City:
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island — Reservations are necessary (1-2 weeks in advance)
- Statue of Liberty Statue/Crown — Reservation is necessary (1-3 months in advance)
- observatories — Reservations are necessary (one week in advance)
- broadway shows — Reservation is necessary (1-3 months in advance)
- Restaurants (fine restaurants) — Reservation required
- Friends experience — Reservation required
- Tenement Museum – Reservation required
- September 11 Museum – My choice
- American Museum of Natural History — My choice
- Guggenheim Museum — My choice
- Metropolitan Museum of Art — My choice
- Museum of Modern Art — My choice
- brooklyn bridge — No reservation needed (free)
- Basil Museum – No need to book
- Madame Tussauds — No need to book
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral — No reservation needed (free)
- vase – No need to book
Note: These are just general guidelines, and things can change a little depending on the hour, day, week, and month you go.
New York City is busiest in the summer (June to August) and winter holidays (November to December), so you may want to book early if you’re traveling at those times, especially on weekends or peak hours.
The hotel we stayed in – M Social Hotel in Times Square
Things you need to book in advance
• Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is one of America’s most famous landmarks, so it is also one of the most visited places in New York City.
The only way to visit Liberty Island is by ferry, and reservations are required. Regular tickets are practically unlimited, but pedestal tickets are somewhat limited, and crown tickets are extremely limited.
If you plan to go inside the Crown, you will need to book this several months in advance. Personally, I don’t think the crown and pedestal are of much importance. General admission allows you to see the best points.
You can book general tickets hereOr crown and pedestal tickets here.
If you have City PassYou can use this for general admission to the Statue of Liberty, but not the pedestal or crown.
If possible, I recommend booking the first ferry of the day (8 or 9 a.m.), that way you can enjoy the island before the largest crowds get there.
Ignore any fake ticket sellers you may encounter near the port; They are scammers!
Book now: Statue tickets / Crown tickets
Ferry on Liberty Island
• New York City Observatories
The rooftop observatories in New York City are very popular, so if you are planning to visit one and have a specific entry time in mind, you should make your reservation about one week in advance.
Some observatories have weather policies so you can rebook if visibility is poor. However, if you prefer to wait and choose a day with good weather, it’s okay to book a few days in advance; You won’t be able to be picky about when you enter.
For example, we reserved Summit One Vanderbilt the day before we went, but had to check in at 3pm because the later times were already sold out for people wanting to see the sunset.
Sunset is especially popular at New York City observatories, and the hours leading up to it usually sell out easily, so if you want one of these special entry times, I would book well in advance.
If you have City Passwhich includes admission to the Empire State Building, and you can also use it at Top of the Rock.
Otherwise, you can book any of the New York City observatories in the links below.
Book now:
One Vanderbilt Summit
• Broadway shows
If there is a hit Broadway show of interest to you, or you have specific seating in mind, it is highly recommended to purchase tickets in advance.
This sometimes means booking one to three months in advance, because larger shows can sell out sooner.
Otherwise, if you are open to a number of offers and want to try your luck, you can go with whatever is offered when you arrive in New York City. There are always tickets for something available.
• Restaurants (fine dining)
If you’re planning to eat at a fancy or popular restaurant in New York City, you’ll need to make a reservation.
This is only required for high-end restaurants. New York City has plenty of restaurants to suit all budgets, so you usually don’t have to worry about reservations if you plan to eat at cheaper places.
• Friends experience
You can buy tickets for the Friends Experience at the door, but it’s cheaper and safer to buy tickets online, as they sometimes sell out.
You can keep an eye on the booking calendar to see what’s available, but if you have a specific entry time in mind, I would definitely book it online.
Book now: Buddy Experience tickets
• Housing Museum
It’s definitely a good idea to book in advance at the Tenement Museum. You may be able to go up and buy tickets if you’re lucky, but overall I wouldn’t risk it.
It is different from other museums, because the only way you can visit it is through a tour. These products can be sold out up to a week in advance.
Book now: Tenement Museum Tickets
Things you may need to book in advance
• 9/11 Museum
It may be a good idea to purchase tickets in advance for the September 11 Museum if you have a specific entry time in mind.
Otherwise, if your schedule is flexible, you can just show up and purchase tickets on the spot. This is what we did. You may have to wait in line, but it’s usually not bad.
The 9/11 Memorial Pools are located outside the museum and are free to visit, so you don’t need to reserve anything for that; You only need tickets to the museum.
If you have City PassYou can use this for general admission to the museum.
Book now: September 11 Museum tickets / Guided tour
September 11 memorial pools
September 11 Museum
• American Museum of Natural History
You can go to AMNH and buy your tickets on the spot, but you may have to wait in line longer. I recommend booking in advance.
Even if your plans change, it’s easy and free to change the date on your tickets. This is what happened to me, and there was no problem at all.
Due to a conflict in my schedule, I had to ask them to change the date on my ticket to a later day. It was quick and easy, even though I only emailed them a few days ago.
If you have City Passincludes admission to the museum and one special exhibition.
Book now: AMNH Museum Tickets
American Museum of Natural History
• Guggenheim Museum
Reservations are not required for the Guggenheim Museum, but can save time at the entrance.
Personally, I’d probably book it the day before just for convenience’s sake, but that’s not really important either way.
Book now: Guggenheim tickets
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
The Met is quite flexible, but booking online is still a good idea to save time waiting in line.
I booked tickets a day in advance (for a weekday), which was fine. Weekends are busier, but you can still buy tickets on the spot if you don’t mind having to wait longer in line.
If you would prefer a guided tour of the museum, you will need to book this in advance.
Book now: The Met tickets / Guided tour
Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is another place that is very flexible.
In general, you do not have to book tickets in advance, but it is still recommended so that you can save time at the entrance.
If you are going on holiday or when there is a special exhibition, making a reservation would be a good idea. Guided tours must also be booked at least a week or two in advance.
Book now: Museum of Modern Art tickets / Guided tour
Museum of Modern Art
Things you don’t need to book in advance
• Brooklyn Bridge
There is no fee to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, and you do not need to purchase any type of ticket to do so.
Even if you use the fast ferry ride from Manhattan to DUMBO, and then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge from there, you don’t need to book anything in advance because tickets for this ferry are not sold out.
Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge
• Basil Museum
In general, there is no need to book tickets in advance for the Intrepid Museum. You can just show up there and buy your tickets at the door. This is what most people do.
If you have City PassYou can use this for general admission to the museum as well.
Other than that, the only time it might be worth buying tickets in advance is if you’re going there on a busy week or weekend.
Book now: Basil Museum tickets
• Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
There is no need to book in advance to visit Madame Tussauds, although I still think it’s a good idea because the online price is about $10 cheaper than buying tickets in person.
We bought tickets on the spot, but if I had known online prices were cheaper, I would have done so to save a little money.
Book now: Madame Tussauds tickets
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Admission to this Roman Catholic cathedral is free, and you do not need to make a reservation to visit or go inside.
Tickets are not required to attend masses either, with some exceptions: Midnight Mass on December 25, Easter Sunday at 10:15 a.m., St. Patrick’s Day at 8:30 a.m., and Columbus Day Mass.
You can learn more at Their official website.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• A vase
This Hudson Yards attraction is usually not very crowded, and tickets are not sold. You do not need to book the ship in advance.
I bought the tickets right away, which is what I recommend. The line to get in took only a few seconds! If you still prefer to purchase tickets online, you can do that as well.
Book now: Ship tickets
More New York City travel guides
Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed these tips on what to book in advance for New York City.
Remember to check out my blog for more New York City travel guides coming soon!
