With hundreds of venerable attractions to choose from, New York City has always been a popular destination for travelers who enjoy personalized tours. As such, it comes as no surprise that several of the Big Apple’s tours are among the “Top Ten Most Popular Tours in the Country” according to TripAdvisor Attractions, the world’s largest online provider of tours, activities and attractions.
The findings reveal the most popular attractions with the greatest amount of traveler interest (based on bookings from March 2016 – March 2017), offering inspiration and highlighting amazing activities and tours that can be booked to get the most out of any upcoming trip.
Big Apple Helicopter Tour of New York
Travelers get an aerial view of New York City on a 15-minute helicopter tour that soars over the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center and Central Park.
Big Bus New York Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Travelers see the Big Apple’s top attractions like Central Park, the Empire State Building and more, and learn about the history of the city from an on-board guide.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour
Travelers can enjoy a four-hour guided tour with Reserve Line Access to avoid the crowds at the statue and Ellis Island.
Although not officially on the list, the Museum Hack Art Tours offer art lovers a very unique, behind-the-scenes look at some of the world’s most famous – and infamous – art collections. These small group tours are led by affable guides who seemingly know every nook and cranny of the museum. And that’s no easy task, considering that at any time there are tens of thousands of works of art and objects on display, and The Met contains two-million square feet of floor space. Guides are a collective of renegade museum educators who are dedicated to engaging people in museums as real people. They have degrees in art history, museum studies, and theater, and have worked in a wide variety of museums.
The Renegade Tour is an enjoyable two-hour, fast-paced walk throughout the museum. Along the way, the guide chooses several paintings and sculptures that have fascinating, albeit little-known, histories. This includes the museum’s most expensive art piece, a $45 million painting that sits in relative obscurity among many other pieces. You’ll have to take the tour to discover why The Met decided to pay such a exorbitant price for this painting.
The Yum Yum MET Culinary Art Tour is an exciting two-hour long walk through many of The MET’s magnificent collections. Every stop has a story. Guests will discover historical facts, art trivia, hilarious details, forgotten rituals, ancient cooking recipes, and techniques. As real foodies, the guides love not just eating food, but also talking food, sharing their food knowledge and celebrating with new friends.
The Shady Ladies of the Metropolitan Museum Tour tells tales of the courtesans, prostitutes and royal mistresses depicted in many of the museum’s masterpieces. From ancient Greece to the Italian Renaissance to 19th-century America and France, painters have reflected their society’s fascination with sexy ladies Your informative guide reveals an unexpected side of these paintings, providing a new lens through which to view the classic art collection.
The Met is one of the world’s most prestigious cultural hubs, up there with the Louvre, the British Museum, and the Vatican for sheer pulling power. Around five million visitors a year flock here to drink in the rarefied air, rest their legs in the Egyptian Temple of Dendur, admire the Tiffany glass, and view Old Masters.
If time allows, you’ll also find Roman statues, musical instruments, modern artworks and Egyptian artifacts. The Met is a fine place to immerse yourself in American art. Take a tour of the highlights, dine on the Great Hall Balcony or have a drink in the rooftop martini bar.
