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:
- Graffiti & Street Art Walking Tours
- Statue of Liberty Cruises
- Virtual Reality Downtown Tours
- 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.
Big Bus New York: Hop-on Hop-off Tour
Rated by TripAdvisor as one of the top NYC sightseeing bus tours, jump onto one of these double-decker big buses and hop 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
Join the ranks of four million others who take to the waters of the Hudson River to visit 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®.
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 is separately ticketed.
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-themed 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.
Getting In: When Harry Met Seinfeld Bus Tour is separately ticketed.
Radio City Music Hall: Stage Door Tour
Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the world-famous Radio City Music Hall—NYC’s premier entertainment complex is home to the incredible 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 history.
Getting In: Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour tickets are included on the New York Pass®.
SoHo - Little Italy - Chinatown Walking Tour
Experience a 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. On this day tour, you’ll learn all about their significance and contribution to NYC’s melting pot and truly see the best of the best of the Big Apple.
Find modern fashions, hip hangouts, cool art, and tempt your taste buds with traditional cuisine along the way. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled, as you never know when a celeb will stroll by!
Getting In: SoHo - Little Italy - Chinatown Tour tickets are included on The New York Pass®.
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. As New York is the city that never sleeps, you can opt to experience 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 NYC nightlife.
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®.
Experience everything New York has to offer with The New York Pass®
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.
With The New York Pass®, you can explore big-name landmarks, local hotspots, and epic tours, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50%, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.
✈️ Buy The New York Pass® ✈️
