CitySights New York Bus Tour is The Ticket to Showing Friends Around Town
by Caroline
(New York City, NY, USA)
Strawberry Fields in Central Park
I am a New Yorker, so I'm used to using the subways, buses and good old fashioned walking to get around. But when an out-of-town friend of mine was coming to New York City to visit me, she was a bit overwhelmed and afraid of the subway system. She's from a small town in Arizona and had never been on a subway before and no amount of reassurance on my part could coax her to it!
I wanted to be a good guide. I wanted to show her the NYC of the movies, to show her the main tourist spots that out of town dreams are made of. Showing her around my neighborhood and to the local coffee shop wasn't going to cut it -- but it was over that cup of coffee that I remembered the CitySights tour buses. I must admit that I'd always seen it as a "tourist" thing and something I'd never do... but I also must admit that they always made me curious & looked like lots of fun, too. I realized this would be a perfect solution -- my friend would be able to experience "The Big Apple" in a big way, and I would have an excuse to go along for the ride.
So we took a taxi to Times Square, and purchased the All Around Town tour tickets. The value was pretty good, and would have been even better if we had the time to have used it all up. We were only able to take advantage of the Downtown Tour, Uptown/Harlem Tour and Nighttime Tour, although that package also included a Brooklyn Tour, Circle Line boat trip and free admission to the Museum of the City of New York.
We should have realized ahead of our purchase that we wouldn't have had the time to use everything included, but we were too excited to try. For anyone buying tour tickets, I would recommend thinking realistically about how much time you'll have, also putting into account the time you'll spend stopping off at the hop on/hop off stops. That may help you save some money by choosing the tour that is exactly right for you & your time frame -- or even make you realize you have time for the extras & one of the bigger tour packages!
However, we both thoroughly enjoyed the three tours we took and I would definitely recommend the tours. If you are visiting NYC for the first time, the tours are a very "first time friendly" way to experiencing the city, and will take you straight to the big tourist spots. If you are a local, I'd still recommend the tours as a great idea for when you have friends to show around the city. Even if you don't, it's fun to take the "local" chip off your shoulder and enjoy the tours... especially on the top level of the double-decker bus. It gives a whole new view of the city!
The guides we had on the tours knew their stuff, and were able to offer lots of facts and history for every part of the city. My friend especially enjoyed how the guide pointed out different spots that were movie or TV shoot locations. A few things they shared were pretty obscure & I didn't know them beforehand, either. For example, they pointed out the exact streets the rooftops at the beginning of "West Side Story" were located.
The attractions we "hopped off" at to explore further were Greenwich Village where we went to Washington Square Park, Battery Park where we explored Battery Park and the views along the North Cove & South Cove just beyond it. The views of the Hudson River there are incredible. We also checked out the South Street Seaport for more river views and shopping. This was all during the 'downtown' part of the Downtown Tour.
As the Downtown Tour made its way farther uptown, we went to Macy's for more shopping and window shopped various shops along 34th Street. My friend is a music lover, so of course we stopped all along Times Square and the theater district, as well as getting a good look at the outside of Carnegie Hall.
When we took the Uptown Tour, this also made checking out Lincoln Center a highlight. I made sure to show her the Performing Arts Library within the Lincoln Center, which is a field day for anyone interested in the arts. We also made sure to visit MOMA (Museum of Modern Art).
She was very excited about Central Park which is also one of my favorite spots in the city, so we gladly hopped off and spent lots of time there, especially in the Conservatory Garden in the very north part of the park.
If you can only do one tour, I think the city looks the best at night and that the Nighttime Tour would be the one to pick. Especially when you are on the top of the double-decker bus in a spring or summer night, it really felt like total perfection to see all the lights go by in the breeze.
By the end of all of the tours, my friend felt totally comfortable and safe in New York City. This may be the best thing the tour did. In fact, she wants to visit again and might even try the subway or go off on her own this time! She really liked the maps/guidebooks we got, and brought them back home as one of her souvenirs.
The next time she visits comes around, I think we'd still do the Nighttime Tour for another go-round, or perhaps try out the Tours we didn't have time for. My main tip for visitors, again, is to make a realistic plan of your time available to sight-see so you are not disappointed. I would also recommend taking the time out to go over the list of attractions and to think about them all, and prioritize and personalize a list of the places you truly want to see. While it might seem like Times Square or the Empire State Building is the be-all and end-all of attractions you must see, take a minute to truly think about it -- if you are interested in theater, going to the Lincoln Center or theater district might be more meaningful for you, or if you're a restaurant aficionado stops in Soho & Little Italy might be more rewarding, etc. Prioritize & personalize your time and you'll be on the way to finding the NYC you dream about as you take the CitySights tours!
Back to New York City Travel Guide Home Page
Do you know someone who would like this page?
NYC Insider Guide Table of Contents
Manhattan Monthly
Subscribe to our FREE New York City Newsletter and get a FREE Map of Manhattan NY. Manhattan Monthly brings you the latest on everything you need to plan and experience New York City like a native New Yorker!
NYC Insider Guide Blog - the Insider Scoop
Get the NYC Insider Scoop on what's going on in a "New York Minute." The NYC Insider Scoop brings you the latest discount code, event information and more.
NYC Travel Tips and Stories
Have NYC Travel and Vacation Tips? Great New York City Vacation Photos Or Travel Stories To Share? Whether you've lived in NYC your whole life, used to live here or just spent one day here, we want to hear from you!
New York City Tourist Attractions
See all the New York City Tourist Attractions with tips on the NYC Insider Way of seeing them. Learn when Museums are free and which view is better, Top of the Rock or Empire State Building?
Central Park NY
One of NYC's best and free things to do, Central Park has been showcased for decades in movies, film and books. Check out things to do in Central Park and download our Free Printable NYC Guide including a Central Park Map.
NYC Museums
Learn the difference between admission and "suggested contribution" when visiting NYC museums. With several hundred NYC Museums to choose from, where do you start?
New York City Sightseeing Pass Discounts
In MOST cases, a New York City Attractions Pass can offer a savings. See my review of the three main New York City Pass Discounts, New York Pass, New York City Explorer Pass and New York CityPass.
New York Tourism
See more of NYC Insider Guides' suggested list of top attractions all with tips on the NYC Insider Way of doing them. Learn when Museums are free and which view is better, Top of the Rock or Empire State Building?
New York City Events
Top New York City Events by Month including Broadway Shows, street fairs, free events, kids events, free movies and and half price tickets.
New York City Vacations
See what secrets other NYC Insider Guide visitors have shared in their NYC Vacation Itineraries. Check out Walt's NYC Architecture Tour, Jean's Art Lover's Tour, Lauren's wonderfully inspiring story about Very Special Travel and Kim's NYC Vacation for young girls.
NYC Insider Guide Diary
Living life in NYC moves a lot faster than I can write this website, so I thought, "Hey, why not let my site visitors in on my personal life?"
New York Tours
Top picks for New York Tours, many free! Guided tours to Central Park, top Movie and TV filmed spots, Greenwich Village, East Village, Wall Street, Ground Zero and more. Compare walking, bus tours and Statue of Liberty boat tours.
New York City Bus Tour
Read why NYC Tourists and locals alike think a Bus Tour is a great way to see New York City! See photos and learn how to manage your sightseeing time.
New York Walking Tours
Free New York walking tours are offered by almost every neighborhood organization. You don't hear of them from far away or find them easily on the internet because they are not advertised and no one profits from them.
Manhattan Neighborhood Map and Guide
Our maps shows you the heart and soul of New York City...the places where New Yorkers live, eat, work and breathe, and the reason we all love living in New York City. Find the best restaurants, things to do, sights to see and shopping for every Manhattan neighborhood. Upper West Side, Midtown West, Times Square, Koreatown, Hell's Kitchen, Garment District, Chelsea, Meatpacking District, West Village, SoHo, Tribeca, Battery Park City, Financial District, Lower East Side, East Village, Greenwich Village, NoHo, Union Square, Flatiron District, Midtown East and Upper East Side.
NYC Insider Printable Guide
Tired of printing your own custom guide book from the dozens of internet sites about NYC? Get first hand, practical New York City information you can download and print with one click immediately.
Map of Manhattan NY
Getting a free map of Manhattan NY is easy. Here are dozens of printable detailed maps of Manhattan, NYC street maps and Manhattan neighborhood maps.
New York City Tourist Map
Are you looking for a good New York City Tourist Map? The NYC Insider Guide has several NYC Tourist Maps that include New York City tourist attractions, New York City neighborhoods and NYC Subway Maps.
NYC Subway Map
The subway is the easiest and fastest way to get around Manhattan and is very safe. Learn how to get a Metrocard, get directions and use the subway.
New York City Street Map
New York City Street Map and Subway Map of New York. The top picks and ways to get around by a NYC Insider. Use the Free Maps, Pocket Maps, Online Maps and HopStop Maps to get around New York City.
New York City Shopping and Sample Sales
New York City Shopping and Sales. A real New Yorker's top picks to the best events, sample sales, discounts in New York City. Discounts, coupons and secret sales.
NYC Sample Sale
A NYC Sample Sale is one of our best hidden gems. New Yorkers can get almost ANYTHING at a major discount off the retail price! As a visitor, it is nearly impossible to get the inside scoop on NYC Sample Sales.
New York Broadway Shows
Learn about the 39 New York Broadway Shows and how to get half price New York City Broadway tickets and discount Broadways tickets.
Discount Broadway Tickets New York
There are always dozens of Discount Broadway Tickets New York available to both locals and visitors. Here is a partial list of online discount codes.
New York City Vacation
New York City Vacation Planning Guide with NYC Insider tips, maps, calendars, where to spend and save money, secret ways of getting discounts. Learn how to plan in the exact order to get the most of your New York City Vacation.
Cheap Flights to New York
Before you book your NY Flight make sure to note the hidden costs of each airport. Flights to New York are not that cheap when they charge you round trip tolls and a $15 fee just to leave NYC...
New York City Hotel Deals
New York City hotel deals can be hard to find - but they are out there! Find the best way to search for hotels and see which hotels offer something cool and different, such as a nightclub, great skyline view, roof top, lobby and excellent dining.
Discount NYC Hotels
One of the best discount NYC Hotels is reserved for a certain group and their eligible dependents and spouses. If you fall into any of these categories, rooms start from $25 per night.
NYC Limos
Upon arriving in New York, you can use public transit, taxi, shuttle or NYC Limos to get to Manhattan. Check NYC Insider Guide tips about NYC Limos and save.
New York City Coupons
There are two Visitor Centers in NYC with hundreds of New York City Coupons and they are worth a visit, especially if you are staying near Midtown or Times Square.
New York City Sports Teams
Information about New York City Sports Teams, Giants, Jets, Yankees, Mets, Insider Ways to Get Tickets, Citifield, Yankee Stadium, Giants Stadium.
New York Yankee Tickets
There are plenty of options for getting New York Yankee Tickets to see the 2009 World Series Champions in action. See the Yankee Insider Guide.
New York Yankees Stadium
Heading to New York Yankees Stadium is one of my all time favorite things to do in NYC! Learn how easy it is to get there and how much fun you will have at New York Yankees Stadium!
US Tennis Open
The US Open is one of NYC's top annual events! It's super-easy to get to from NYC (public transportation) and always draws famous athletes along with guaranteed
celebrity-sightings.
Annual NYC Sports Events
NYC hosts many world famous sporting events, including the US Open Golf 4 times in the last 10 years, the annual US Open Tennis, the annual NIT Tournament, the Billie Jean cup, New York Marathon and so much more.
New York Tourism
What isn't available with NYC Tourism? Hardly anything! Attractions, world-famous landmarks, theater, museums, architecture, TV and movies, 843 acres of park, thousands of kids' activities, every food imaginable ...
NYC Visit Questions - asked and answered. My friends and I love to answer your special NYC tourism questions. See if your question has already been answered, and if not, please ask away.
NYC Insider Guide Site Feedback
Tell me what YOU think of NYC Insider Guide! Your feedback is SO important to me - and not just the good stuff. I love to know what you REALLY think, or what else you would like to see on this site.
New York Restaurant Guides
Did you know there are almost 19,000 restaurants in NYC... you can eat at different one every day for 52 years! I've recommended a few in each neighborhood, so you'll always know the best and best-value places to dine.
New York City Pictures
Cool New York photos that are somewhat secret. Actually, some of these New York City locations are so hidden, even I'm not sure where they are!
Best New York City Sites and Information
NYC Insider Guides' Top Picks for the Best New York City Websites for what to do, where to eat and what's going on in NYC right now.
Interesting Facts about New York
Here are some interesting facts about New York and New York City covering fun facts about population, history, costs and size.
New York City Things to Do
Many New York City things to do are FREE, discounted, bargains or just really cheap! If your timing is right, you can eat a three-course dinner at the best restaurants in New York for $35! Or have a world famous facial at Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Spa for $50.
New York City International Tourist Tips
New York City International Tourist Tips, taxes and tipping, Celsius and Fahrenheit converter, Currency and Exchange Converters.
NYC Insider Guide About
NYC Insider Guide is a New York City Travel Guide from a native New Yorker. See the top picks and secrets of locals for restaurants, tourist attraction secrets, retail shopping, sample sales, sports and more. Vacation and see NYC the way real New Yorkers do!
Thank you for visiting the NYC Insider Guide ...welcome to our city and I hope you love it as much as I do!
- 
Welcome to New York City!
