10 Things to Do in NYC for College Students on Vacation

By Casey Makovich

Planning to spend some study-free days in New York City and looking for fun things to do in NYC for college students on vacation? Whether you plan to spend three, five or seven days exploring New York City, we’ve listed the top ten NYC attractions for all of you hard-working college students that includes exciting excursions and tours including:

  • Virtual Reality Downtown Tours
  • Graffiti & Street Art Walking Tours
  • Statue of Liberty Cruises
  • The Empire State Building
  • Radio City Music Hall
  • Much More!

Save on Admission to Top NYC Attractions

With The New York Pass, you and your group can save a bundle on admission to more than 90 attractions amid the city. See the best of NYC and visit as many sites as you want each day your pass is valid for one low price with this flexible pass. Simply put, you decide what to see and when you want to see it! Learn more about our available passes and attractions.

The Downtown Experience: A Virtual Reality Tour

Powered by THE RIDE, this adventure takes you through downtown Manhattan in a theatre-style luxury van with floor to ceiling glass windows and side-facing seating. Passengers are equipped with state-of-the-art virtual reality goggles that allow them to re-live some of the iconic moments that occurred within the community’s most notable landmarks. Don’t miss your opportunity to experience the world’s only virtual reality traveling theater! Getting In: The Downtown Experience tickets are available on the New York Pass.

Big Bus New York: Hop-on Hop-off Tour

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Getting In: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off tour tickets are included on The New York Pass®.

Rated by TripAdvisor as one of the top NYC sightseeing bus tours, jump onto one of these double-decker big busses and hop and off whenever you please to soak in the sites and sounds of Uptown, Downtown, and Midtown at your own pace. Take the full 2.5-hour loop of each district with a full day pass on the Big Bus New York and enjoy the historic commentary and learn facts about the city’s rich history, culture, and architecture from an onboard guide. Some attractions you can see on the tour include:

  • Times Square
  • Empire State Building
  • Statue of Liberty
  • Chinatown
  • Central Park
  • Rockefeller Center
  • Brooklyn Bridge
  • And More!

Graffiti & Street Art Walking Tour

Submerge yourself in NYC’s colorful urban culture in the heart of Brooklyn during this guided tour through the community’s most creative spaces where art abounds. Learn about the history and techniques of street art throughout Bushwick’s open-air ‘galleries’ while enjoying a visual experience like no other. It’s not uncommon to come upon artists in action who are willing to show off for eager audiences. Getting In: Graffiti & Street Art Walking Tour tickets are included on The New York Pass®.

Statue of Liberty Express Cruise

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Statue of Liberty

Join the ranks of four million others who take to the waters of the Hudson River to visit the iconic Lady Liberty on Ellis Island each year. Board the Circle Line Downtown Cruise to get up close and personal with the Statue of Liberty while enjoying panoramic views of the glorious NYC skyline. During this one hour express cruise, your tour guide will share the statue’s long history and cultural significance. Be sure to bring a camera to capture the stunning sights you’ll encounter along the way. Getting In: Statue of Liberty Express Cruise tickets are included with The New York Pass®.

Luna Park at Coney Island

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Luna Park at Coney Island

No trip to the Big Apple is complete without a visit to Brooklyn’s Coney Island to experience the mind-blowing rides at Luna Park. With a free 4-hour wristband that gives pass holders access to two dozen thrilling rides and various activities on the boardwalk. Leave your studies behind and embrace your inner thrill seeker! To access ‘Extreme Thrill’ rides at the park, guests will be required to pay an additional surcharge at the gate. Getting In: Luna Park at Coney Island tickets are included on The New York Pass®.

When Harry Met Seinfeld Bus Tour

Get on location with this entertainment filled guided tour of some of New York’s most famous set locations of popular shows like Seinfeld, When Harry Met Sally, How I Met Your Mother, The Nanny, and many others. You’ll be taken to the doorsteps of your favorite TV characters all around the city just north of nostalgic Times Square. Get into the film scene of NYC with your passes to the When Harry Met Sally Bus Tour. Getting In: When Harry Met Seinfeld Bus Tour tickets are included on the New York Pass®.

Radio City Music Hall: Stage Door Tour

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Radio City Music Hall

Get a behind-the-scenes tour of world-famous Radio City Music Hall—NYC’s premier entertainment complex that’s home to the beautiful Rockettes and has been graced by the biggest names in entertainment. This 75-minute tour takes you behind the curtain to the backstage zones where you’ll get to meet one of the Rockettes in person and peruse the guestbook signed by notable celebrities and performers over the venue’s long and storied history. Getting In: Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour tickets are included on the New York Pass®.

SoHo - Little Italy -­ Chinatown Walking Tour

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SoHo - Little Italy -­ Chinatown Walking Tour

Experience the wealth of culture, arts and regional fare within the districts lovingly known as SoHo, Little Italy and festive Chinatown with a fully-guided walking tour where you’ll learn all about their significance and contribution to NYC’s melting pot. Find modern fashions, hip hangouts, cool art and tempt your taste buds with traditional cuisines along the way during this excursion. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled, as you never know when a celeb will stroll by. See the best of the best of the Big Apple during this day tour with your NYC pass. Getting In: SoHo - Little Italy - Chinatown Tour tickets are included on The New York Pass®.

Empire State Building

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Empire State Building

Capture the sights of the big city and the memorable skyline from the observation deck on the 86th floor of the impressive and iconic Empire State Building. In the city that never sleeps, you can opt to experience the 360-degree views from over 1000 feet in the air during the day or when the city is brilliantly lit up in the evening hours before heading out to enjoy the nightlife in NYC. Take a moment on the way up or before departing to check out the Art Deco lobby to view fascinating displays including the iconic Dare to Dream exhibit. Getting In: Empire State Building tickets are included with the New York Pass®.

Food on Foot Walking Tours

Join one of these award-winning tours to learn the inside scoop from an experienced local guide concerning where to get the most authentic New York City cuisine during a Food on Foot Walking Tour. People travel from around the globe to venture through various boroughs to experience culinary achievements with a distinctly regional flavor representative of NYC’s vast diversity. Don’t miss out on one of these mouth-watering food tours that will put your college cafeteria to shame! Book your reservation using your pass number today. Getting In: Food on Foot Walking Tours tickets are included on The New York Pass®.

Remember to Save on Admission

There’s no limit to the number of things to do in NYC for college students and a lot of the activities and attractions mentioned in this post are included on The New York Pass. Admission to dozens of the most popular attractions in NYC is included for one low price. Save anywhere up to 70% off of the city’s most sought-after attractions with the pass versus regular gate admission prices. Learn more about The New York Pass here.

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Shopping Spree In New York

New York Pass Holiday Shopping Spree The holidays are all about giving and spreading that magical seasons' spirit. With that being said, the New York Pass is giving back to pass holders in a big way this year and allowing them to enjoy their trip to New York City even more. As we get closer to the Holidays, many people are worried about how they will be able to buy gifts for their family or even personal presents for themselves. Especially if you've already spent money on your vacation to New York. Thus, we're giving New York Pass customers the chance to win a special $500 shopping spree. Winning the grand prize means you take home a $500 Century 21 gift card. Selected winners will be able to use the gift card inside of the Century 21 department store. There will also be a number of runner-ups selected to take home a $100 or $50 Century 21 gift card. How To Enter Getting your hands on this shopping spree will probably be the easiest money that you have ever earned. In fact, all you actually need in order to enter is an Instagram account. Pass holders can enter the contest by simply following the New York Pass on Instagram, posting pictures during their trip to NYC, and using the hashtag #NYPHolidaySweep. Piece of cake right? Contestants may post as many pictures from their trip as they like. Just remember to continually tag New York Pass for your chance to win. This is your opportunity to bring out your inner-photographer and show off the sights of the city. Winner All winners for the Holiday Sweepstakes will be selected on December 8th based on the engagement of their posts. Therefore, the more traffic that you drive to your post, the greater chance you have of winning the shopping spree. Make sure that you are sharing your posts and spreading the word to your friends to like and comment on your pictures so that you're more likely to show up as one of the top posts on Instagram in the #NYPHolidaySweep search. Now you're ready to go out and win that shopping spree! Good luck.
Go City Expert
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Best Restaurants and Discounts in NYC

Best Restaurants and Discounts in NYC Millions of people from far and wide visit New York City each year. Many are tourists making their way to New York because of the beautiful sightseeing opportunities or the world-renowned attractions like the Empire State Building. Some visit for New York's rich history or for the unmatched nightlife in the city that never sleeps. There's tons of reasons to visit NYC but one thing is for sure, when you're in New York, you have to take advantage of the amazing department stores and shopping opportunities. Discounts / Special Offers During your trip to New York City, you'll probably be visiting the most famous attractions that the city has to offer, but you'll certainly have some down time. The discounts or "Special Offers" that you receive with the New York Pass are excellent for those moments. You can take your family out to eat or take them on a shopping spree and be confident in the fact that you're saving money on your trip. All you have to do is present your New York pass at these Special Offer locations and you'll receive your discount on the spot. Restaurants You won't be able to wander too far in Manhattan without passing by a mouth-watering, authentic New York style restaurant. Places like Buca di Beppo and John's Pizzeria will help you experience that great New York flavor instantly. You can also use your New York Pass for discounts on your meal at Planet Hollywood, Mangia, Ristoranti Settepani and more. Broadway Tickets A trip to New York City just wouldn't be complete without viewing a good Broadway performance. Luckily Applause Tickets provides a wide variety of the top Broadway shows and you can save 10% off the price of tickets by purchasing with the New York Pass. Shopping Discounts There's always time to shop in New York. Especially when you can visit iconic department stores like Macy's or Bloomingdales where you'll find the best deals on designer brands. Between spurts of touring the city, make a stop at one of these legendary shopping centers to take advantage of discounts with your New York Pass. You can also use your pass for a voyage to Woodbury Commons and enjoy savings up to 65% with a VIP coupon booklet. For a full list of Special Offers that grant you discounts with the New York Pass, visit the Attractions page and scroll all the way to the bottom. Try fitting some of these locations into your itineraries and make the most of your time in the city while saving more money.
Go City Expert
Harlem
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9 things to do in Harlem

We love Harlem. It's definitely one of New York's most vibrant neighborhoods. But what makes it so great? We're glad you asked! It’s historically been home to a large percentage of New York’s African-American community, whose heritage and culture are still abundantly celebrated here. It's also home to some of the best music spots in town, plenty of restaurants to feed the soul and a smattering of historical spots that are definitely worth checking out. Wondering where to hit first? Take a look at our top picks for things to do in Harlem. Take a tour of the neighborhood What better way to get acquainted with Harlem than by taking a guided tour? You’ll gain local insight from your guide and learn things you would definitely never have discovered on your own. Harlem Walking Tour’s Cultural Heritage Tour takes in many of Harlem's historic attractions, including legendary jazz clubs, historic mansions and sites from the Revolutionary War. Or, if you’d rather explore on two wheels, Unlimited Biking’s Harlem Highlights Tour will take you on a journey (both figuratively and literally) of Harlem's historical and cultural hotspots, giving you an understanding of how New York’s various economic booms and busts have shaped the neighborhood. And what’s more, both tours can be found on the New York Pass®. Visit a jazz club Although New Orleans has the claim to fame of being the birthplace of jazz, Harlem is certainly where many of the genre’s most famous musicians made a name for themselves. It is also known as the birthplace of bebop – the improvisational musical style known for its chord and key changes. You can see where it all began at Minton’s Playhouse, once a playground for the scene’s biggest acts. Catch a show there whilst enjoying dinner and a drink. Another good option is Bill’s Place, a venue that dates back to Prohibition-era, where you can catch live jazz on Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM and 10PM. If you’re not a jazz aficionado and don’t know where to start when choosing a show (or you are and just want to see another great performance), you can use your New York Pass to attend the Harlem Jazz Series. Every Tuesday afternoon and Friday evening, you’ll be able to watch some of today's most talented jazz musicians. The show is artistically directed by Craig Harris, a trombonist, composer, and longtime Harlem resident who has been part of the Harlem jazz scene since 1976. So you know you’re in for a treat. Apollo Theater Sticking with the theme of jazz, be sure to make a stop at one of the area’s most cherished buildings, the Apollo Theater. This old vaudeville theater is famous for its legendary Amateur Nights, which began in 1934. The likes of James Brown and Ella Fitzgerald launched their careers here and you can still attend on Wednesday evenings to check out new talent Experience a gospel choir Although Harlem’s music scene is synonymous with jazz, it’s also famed for its gospel choirs and highly spirited church services. A visit to one of these joyous services will have even the most ardent atheist tapping their toes. Inside Out Tours offer a Harlem Gospel Tour, which will give you an understanding of the cultural roots of gospel music and its importance in the Christian community in Harlem today. You’ll visit the famous Abyssinian Baptist Church and the tour will end with a performance from a local choir Museo del barrio Harlem’s diverse Latinx community is celebrated at the Museo del Barrio. It hosts a collection of art showcasing predominantly Puerto Rican artists from its founding community. Over the years, the collection has grown to also include over 6,500 works by Caribbean and Latin-American artists. Studio Museum of Harlem The Studio Museum of Harlem was the first black fine-arts museum in the country and is central to the thriving artistic community in Harlem today. Here, you can view works of African Americans, members of the African diaspora and artists from the African continent, plus you can check out a variety of temporary exhibitions. The museum is also the home of an archive of works by James Van Der Zee, the famous Harlem Renaissance photographer. Hamilton Grange We’re going to hazard a guess and say that your trip to New York may include tickets to see Hamilton. We’re right, right? Once you’ve seen the musical, you can head to Hamilton Grange, the preserved home of Alexander Hamilton himself. Here, you can explore an exhibit that covers some of the major events in Alexander Hamilton's life and you can take a guided tour of some of the historically furnished rooms. Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market This colorful market will transport you to the bazaars of West Africa, with an array of stalls selling a variety of African textiles, cosmetics, foods, sculptures and clothing. It’s a good spot to pick up some unique souvenirs and get a feel for the West African community that thrives in Harlem. Try some soul food There’s nowhere better to get your fill of soul food than in Harlem. The best spot has to be Sylvia’s, which has been serving up Southern comfort stables since 1962. Another popular choice is Charles’ Country Pan Fried Chicken, the no-frills, buffet-style eatery, specializing in old-school skillet-fried chicken. Ready to explore Harlem? Get some of the best tours as part of the The New York Pass®. You’ll also be able to visit attractions all over New York for one low price.
Kirsten McCroskrie

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