Things to Do in Lower Manhattan and Downtown NYC

By Kirsten McCroskrie

Looking for things to do in Lower Manhattan?

The lower portion of New York City is one of the busiest places in the world; so naturally, there are a ton of fun things to do.

Lower Manhattan is defined as everything south of 14th Street toward the New York Harbor (also referred to as “Downtown”). Downtown Manhattan is known for its presence of government infrastructure and lots of businesses.

From waterfront Battery Park to cruises and museums, Lower Manhattan offers visitors a diverse assortment of activities that you can’t find elsewhere in the city.

Waterfront/The Battery

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The Battery, formerly known as Battery Park, is an excellent area to relax and enjoy the waterfront, as well as numerous water-based activities like harbor cruises.

A historic park in itself, named after the artillery batteries that were stationed there in the early years to protect the city, a visit to the park is a great way to soak up a little bit of early-NYC history.

In addition to The Battery's proximity to the harbor, it’s a popular spot for New York natives to work out, attend seasonal public entertainment events, or enjoy a take-away meal al fresco.

Cruises in Downtown Manhattan

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If you’re looking to cruise in historic fashion, Manhattan By Sail offers the Clipper City Tall Ship Cruise and the Shearwater Classic Schooner; both are notable cruise ships that have stood the test of time and provide beautiful views of NYC.

The Clipper City Tall Ship was originally a cargo ship that was first used in Wisconsin just before the Civil War. As for the Shearwater Classic Schooner, the ship was first launched in 1929 and was officially deemed a National Landmark in 2009.

Battery Park is also where you can hope on the Statue Cruises ferry which takes visitors to and from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The iconic statue is widely recognized as a symbol of hope in New York, the United States, and beyond and attracts visitors from around the world. After visiting Lady Liberty, you head to Ellis Island’s Immigration Museum to learn all about the history of immigration in the US.

Walking Tours in Downtown Manhattan

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With so much history in Lower Manhattan, the area is a great venue for guided walking tours, like the Secrets of Downtown TourNYC Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour, and the NYC Gospel Walking Tour.

Discover interesting little-known facts about Downtown on the Secrets of Downtown – Tour Lower Manhattan. It’s a great way to get familiar with the area’s history and learn about other fun things to do in Downtown Manhattan.

If you’re interested in the role NYC has played in finance, find out everything there is to know on the Wall Street Walks Tour which explores the Financial District and the history of the United States’ financial institutions and some of its most influential players, like Alexander Hamilton.

Museums in Downtown Manhattan

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Continue your financial exploration at the Museum of American Finance, which incorporates high-tech interactive media displays, before checking out some of Downtown Manhattan’s other museums.

One of the most popular NYC attractions, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is located Downtown in the footprints of the Twin Towers. The museum features gorgeous waterfalls honoring the September 11th attack victims. Inside, you can find artifacts from September 11, such as fire trucks that were on the scene, pieces of the original building, and more.

If you’re interested in New York City’s impressive skyline and architecture, head to The Skyscraper Museum. The museum even includes a detailed model of Manhattan with all of the borough’s buildings on display.

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Cab Etiquette In NYC: All You Need to Know

We’ve all been there. You stayed out a little later than you planned, and you’re a little worse for wear. You need to go to bed, but the city’s unfamiliar to you. The public transport maps might as well be Jackson Pollock paintings. So you do what every single person does in films and TV shows based in New York. You raise your hand, and within seconds a yellow cab’s pulled up beside you. Hopefully you’re on your way in seconds and home safe and sound, but if anything seems off or you need help and advice, read on. Here’s what you need to know about cab etiquette in NYC. Can a cab driver ever refuse me service? My taxi is loud and uncomfortable. What can I do? A lot, thankfully. Riders have rights too, after all. If your driver is on a call or using their phone, they’re being super illegal. Feel free to remind them. If the cab is too hot or cold, depending on the time of year, you can also request they put the air con/heating on. And if their music is too loud, by all means, politely ask them to turn it down or off. Just don’t berate their choice of genre. However, if the driver refuses these, or any reasonable requests, you have the right to get out at any time. And remember to take down their medallion number if you want to make a complaint. It’s on their licence plate, the hood of the taxi, and on your receipt if you request one. What if I’m being loud, and making the driver uncomfortable? Should I stare at them creepily through the rear-view mirror? No. No, don’t. Why would you even...? How much should I tip? Tips are big business in New York, as they are in the rest of the US. But sadly you’ll be expected to pay over the odds in the Big Apple. 20% of the fee is the recommended amount. If you’re paying with card instead of cold hard cash, the amount of gratuity will automatically be added to the charge. It could go as high as 30%, so keep that in mind if you’re squeezing pennies. Of course, if you’re an out-of-towner and they’ve been helpful with info or recommendations, why not be a nice little human and show them your gratitude with money? Tipping’s the best way to thank them, but if you want to go above and beyond because they did, hop on the nyc.gov website and leave a glowing review, you selfless beauty. If the driver asks for cash, is it OK to use my card instead? Yes. Every taxi in NYC is required by law to take card, so if your driver says they don’t have a machine or that it’s broken, it’s a ruse. Persist, and victory will be yours. Drivers may also mention they’ve selected ‘Cash’ instead of ‘Card’ and that they can’t reverse the decision. This, too, is a ruse. Stay strong, and wait for the card machine. It’s simply a case of them pressing a single button to make it happen. Also get your receipt - it contains lots of vital information like their medallion number which you’ll need if you lose something in the cab, or want to make a complaint. That’s what you need to know about taxi etiquette in NYC. We hope these tips help. Of course, we’re always open to suggestions, so if you have any other top tips you’d like to add, let us know in the comments below! Stay safe, travelers. Has this cab etiquette in NYC blog satisfied your itch for all things New York? No? Still prefer public transportation? Sure thing, here's more about the metro system in NYC.
Dom Bewley
New York
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2 Days in New York City - A Sample Itinerary with The New York Pass®

With The New York Pass, you can tailor a sightseeing itinerary to your own interests. This two-day New York City sightseeing itinerary below is just an example of how you can use your New York Pass to visit attractions and save big on admission. Follow the itinerary below, or, just use it as inspiration to start planning your trip and visit any and as many of the other included attractions as you want. This sample two-day itinerary includes: Big Bus Classic Panoramic Tour Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island 9/11 Memorial & Museum Top of the Rock American Museum of Natural History and more... DAY 1 Big Bus Classic Panoramic Tour Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Immigration Museum 9/11 Memorial & Museum Madame Tussauds New York Meet all your favorite celebrities and interact with A-Listers at Madame Tussauds New York, right in Times Square. You’ll get to get up close and pose with Lady Gaga, Morgan Freeman, Carmelo Anthony, some of your favorite Marvel superheroes, and more as you explore the museum’s five floors of themed rooms. Get as close to the stars as you want, there are not bodyguards to shield you away! Insider tip: Madame Tussauds opens 1 hour early, exclusively for New York Pass holders. Top of the Rock DAY 2 The Ride Experience New York from the best seat in the city and see the streets transform into a live, Broadway stage. You’ll board a custom-made bus with stadium-style seating and large windows for unobstructed views of street performers on their various ‘stages’ throughout the city. This 75-minute traveling theater features fun, interactive entertainment and takes you to some of the top sights in New York, including Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, Chrysler Building, New York Public Library, Central Park, and more. Central Park Bicycle Rentals American Museum of Natural History Visit one of the largest natural history museums in the world and learn about everything from extinction to the evolution of plant and animal life around the world. From our origins as a human species to Siberian Tigers and a 122-foot titanosaur (a 70-ton herbivore), you can get up close to it all at the AMNH.
Kirsten McCroskrie

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