Whisper it, but it's just possible that RiseNY captures the heart and soul of NYC better than any other ticket in town. Sure, the Empire State Building is iconic, and a trip to the Statue of Liberty is as essential a part of your New York experience as a pastrami-on-rye from Katz’s. But what other NYC attraction allows you to step into the city’s first subway station, fly high over the Manhattan skyline and strike your best Ross and Rachel poses on the iconic Friends sofa?
We used our New York Pass to visit this immersive Times Square experience and – as well as nabbing a few choice selfies – we also got the scoop on all of RiseNY’s best bits, plus practical info, other neighborhood must-sees and more. Strap in, it’s going to be one hell of a ride!
Here's what our guide covers
- What RiseNY is and why it's worth a visit
- How to get there and how to get in
- What there is to see and do
- Where to go when you're done
What exactly is RiseNY?
RiseNY’s strapline – ‘Part Ride. Part Museum. All New York.’ – is a pretty succinct summary of this thrilling attraction. It’s almost as if they employed a professional agency to come up with a snappy hook or something. Let’s break it down.
Part Ride: the experience kicks off with a virtual ride through New York’s O.G. City Hall subway station and concludes with a frankly epic immersive cinema experience, which flies you high over the city, complete with 4D wind and mist effects.
Part Museum: sandwiched between the rides is a series of galleries with exhibits that run the gamut from classic NYC movie, TV and Broadway memorabilia (hello, Friends sofa and Carrie Bradshaw tutu!) to historic Wall Street artifacts and galleries of classic NYC graffiti.
All New York: Yankees Stadium, check. The Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, check. Jeff Goldblum, check. Yep: this thing’s as New York as bagels, Broadway and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Ok, give me three good reasons why I should visit…
- The Ride. RiseNY’s undisputed highlight, this swooping, soaring, state-of-the-art 4D flight over NYC takes in all five boroughs, all four seasons, and countless Big Apple landmarks – looking at you Central Park, Grand Central Station, Empire State Building, Yankee Stadium and Brooklyn Bridge.
- Instagram gold. The galleries here are crammed with New York cultural icons that are guaranteed to make your Insta pop. Grab those essential selfies on the Friends sofa and on the hip-hop DJ decks and snap close-ups of eye-popping fashions worn by Madonna, Biggie Smalls, Sarah Jessica Parker, Barbra Streisand and Cardi B.
- NYC history deep dive. There are some really cool exhibits and films you can check out here. Start in the replica NYC subway station and catch the award-winning documentary about the city’s evolution, narrated by none other than Jeff Goldblum. There’s also a check signed by Alexander Hamilton (they should really make a musical about ths guy), scale models of historic NYC skyscrapers, Bob Dylan’s guitar and an Edison Kinetoscope. Fun, eclectic and unpredictable, just like the city itself.
Ok you’ve talked me into it, how do I get there?
Getting to RiseNY is a piece of cake. It’s on West 45th Street right in the heart of Times Square, between 6th/7th Avenues.
Bus: hop on the M7, M20 or M104 to 7th Avenue/West 44th Street.
Subway: Times Square – 42nd Street or 42nd Street – Port Authority
How do I get in with my New York Pass?
There’s no need to book in advance. Just roll up, show staff your New York Pass and you’re in!
Browse the graffiti and street art display in the entrance area while you wait for your mates to check in. A colorful celebration of NYC’s creative culture – modern, urban, energetic – it sets the tone for the whole experience. Suitably immersed, head upstairs to the second floor to access the main event.
RiseNY’s handy Midtown location means you can give your New York Pass a serious workout at any number of nearby attractions. We’re talking Madame Tussauds, Top of The Rock, MoMA and the Empire State Building, to name just a few. And remember: the more attractions you tick off with your pass, the more $$$ you’ll save.
Can you tell me a little more about what there is to see and do at RiseNY?
Sure. Here’s a quick rundown of the main zones you should expect to encounter…
Underground movies
Step into a replica of the first NYC subway station – City Hall – where a short documentary film narrated by the smooth tones of Jeff Goldlum will have you falling in love with New York all over again. The award-winning movie charts the (literal) rise of the city from Manahatta to modern metropolis. Next up: the museum proper.
Reach for the sky
Come over all King Kong as you get a top-down perspective on some of the titans of the Manhattan skyline. The exhibition features scale models of the Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center, Empire State Building and more. It's a great way to see how these Big Apple giants measure up against each other. You’ll also pick up fascinating facts with which to dazzle your friends, like how the invention of elevator brakes supercharged the city’s upwards growth.
Show me the money!
Discover how New York became an economic powerhouse via its Wall Street stock exchange, and eyeball cool artifacts like a check signed by Alexander Hamilton. Yes, that Alexander Hamilton. All together now… 🎶 He took our country from bankruptcy to prosperity 🎶
The one about the Friends sofa
Unleash your smoothest talkshow banter, strike a pose next to Sarah Jessica Parker’s iconic white tutu dress from Sex and the City, and plonk your derriere on one of the planet’s best-known sofas in this fun paean to the Big Apple’s impressive TV and radio legacy. You’ll discover how media was transformed by the invention of the Tesla coil (in NYC, natch) and ogle fun artifacts, memorabilia and ephemera from Seinfeld to Sesame Street (hey there, Oscar the Grouch).
Style it out
Well of course there’s an area dedicated to New York fashion. As one of the ‘Big Four’ style capitals of the world, it’s had more eras than Taylor Swift! And there are plenty of eye-catching garments to goggle at here: think classic flapper fashions, intricate 19th-century ballgowns, 1990s skatewear and a Bill Blass chiffon gown worn by none other than Beyoncé.
Let the music play
NYC played a pivotal role in the birth of musical genres as diverse as jazz, punk and hip-hop. You’ll find all these and more celebrated in the music zone via ultra-cool artifacts including – deep breath – a hand-painted jacket made for Madonna by artist Keith Haring, a Beatles-branded drumhead, Biggie Smalls’ signature red tracksuit, a Cardi B bodysuit, and the guitar on which Bruce Springsteen composed Born To Run. Don’t forget to grab a DJ selfie on the old-school record decks.
Lights, camera, action!
This one’s a little bit special. Created in partnership with the Tribeca Film Festival, the movie museum zone streams clips from 50+ films set in New York. Yes there really are that many! We’re talking Breakfast at Tiffany’s, When Harry Met Sally, West Side Story, Taxi Driver, Elf and more. This is also where you can take a peek inside a classic Edison Kinetoscope. Pretty cool stuff.
The bright lights of Broadway
Hungry? Good: you can pick up a free popcorn snack before heading into the Broadway theater. Fans of the musicals will be in clover here, where you can check out costumes, posters and memorabilia from classic Broadway hits. Unleash your best Elphaba high notes and Pumbaa low notes as you go behind the scenes of Wicked and The Lion King and soak up some proper old-school Broadway glamor, in the shape of Barbra Streisand’s incomparable Ziegfield Follies costume from the 1960s production of Funny Girl.
The ride of your life
And so, to the part of the experience that puts the ‘Rise’ in RiseNY. This is the bit you’ll still be talking about long after your memories of Cardi B’s bodysuit have faded. Take your seats, strap in and get ready to squeal as you’re elevated 40 feet into the air.
Everything seems high from up here, but just wait until the 8K aerial footage of New York kicks in on that absolutely massive wraparound screen! With the wind in your hair, you might feel like you’re really flying high over the city’s rooftops.
Eyes peeled for classic New York landmarks as you breeze through all four seasons, including spring cherry blossoms, technicolor fall foliage and snowy winter scenes. Look, there’s the Yankee Stadium over yonder! Wow, fireworks over the East River! And is that the Times Square New Year Ball Drop? Why, yes it is. Truly incredible scenes. And that’s not all: at journey’s end, step out onto RiseNY’s replica Statue of Liberty torch for splendid (non-virtual) views of the real Times Square.
Any other facilities of note here?
Exit through the gift shop for all your NYC-themed souvenir needs.
Where are the top photo ops?
RiseNY is one of those immersive experiences that gifts you ace photo ops as you go.
For example, there’s no way you’re going to leave the place without a selfie on the Friends sofa or being grilled by the host (played by your mate) of a classic late-night talkshow. You’ll want a shot behind the decks of the old-school hip-hop DJ set-up, too. Meanwhile, icons of fashion including Beyoncé’s chiffon dress, Madonna’s graffiti jacket and Biggie’s red tracksuit are tailor-made for your Insta reels.
In fact, for safety reasons, the only place you’re not allowed to take pics is on the ride itself: alas heights, mist effects and cellphones just don’t mix.
That was fun! Anything else to do in the area?
You’re right on Times Square, so the short answer to your question is: yes, loads. A more in-depth answer might also wax lyrical about the magnificent New York Pass and how, if you’re planning to rack up a few attractions in Midtown and beyond, you could save some serious cash. Real dollars that you could use to invest in as many bagels, snow globes, Yankees hats, and ‘I ❤️ NY’ tea towels as your heart desires. Here are just a few of your options close to RiseNY…
Enjoyed this little slice of New York?
Take your trip to the next level with our complete Empire State Building guide, filled with visitor hacks and money-saving tips, and get your culture fix with our art-filled complete guide to visiting MoMA.
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