The holidays are a great time to travel and Thanksgiving is no exception to the rule. You may be wondering where to travel on or around Thanksgiving. Today I’m going to cover NYC and the best tour ideas to make your trip to the Big Apple memorable. After all, NYC is one of the best Thanksgiving travel destinations; (The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade draws a huge amount of spectators from across the globe each year). The tours are not listed in any order of preference and can be booked on or around Thanksgiving. Read on to find out more!
Disclosure: This blog post has affiliate links which means if you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at NO additional cost to you. These are my own personal suggestions based on products/experiences I love and use. Read the full disclosure here.
Covid-19 Disclaimer: The recommendations for the tours listed are based on my own suggestions and in no way endorses or condemns travel at this time. If you decide to take a trip, follow national and state guidelines, and of course the CDC when traveling.
Hudson Yards, the Vessel
First on the list is Hudson Yards. The Vessel sculpture at Hudson Yards is honestly one of a kind. It’s a must see structure that will truly amaze you in person. If you’re someone who likes adventure and climbing, this tour is for you. I had so much fun exploring the Vessel plus Hudson Yards is a great area to grab food and drinks. If you’re interested in shopping you can do that too. What makes this tour a great deal, is that it also includes the Highline. The Highline is built on a historic freight rail available to the public. Book this tour here.
Manhattan Sky Tour, New York City Helicopter Flight
Second on the list is to take a Helicopter ride overlooking NYC. Now I know what you’re thinking; “you’ve mentioned this before!” While this may be true, I cannot stress enough how fun and invigorating this tour is. I went on a helicopter ride for the first time a few years ago to celebrate my birthday with my sister and it’s still an experience I cherish to this day. The views are unbelievable and it’s a great way to conquer your fear of heights. Experience it for yourself and tell me all about it by booking here.
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Private New York City Food Tour of East Village and Greenwich Village
If heights aren’t your thing, third on the list is a walking food tour that includes both the East Village and Greenwich Village. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to indulge in good eats and what makes this tour even better is that you get to experience delicious food you don’t have to spend all day preparing. You’ll learn all about historic landmarks, dive into Japanese culture, and walk past the prestigious NYU campus to name a few highlights. Take a gander to book this tour here.
Niagara Falls from New York City
Fourth on the list is a trip to Niagara Falls. I just love upstate New York; its beauty is truly unmatched and you know what’s even better? You can see the views for yourself with a quick tour that leaves directly from Manhattan. Niagara Falls is stunning in person and well worth the trip. I visited a few years ago, and can’t wait until I return. You can view Niagara Falls from both the U.S. and Canada. If you’re short on time, this tour is ideal to view it without the hassle of getting a passport. The tour includes a return trip back to NYC so it’s honestly effortless. Check out more details here to book.
Soho, Chinatown, and Little Italy Tour
Last but definitely not least is a tour of some of NYC’s most popular areas: Soho, Chinatown, and Little Italy. Out of these three, Chinatown is probably my favorite with Little Italy second, and Soho third. However, each neighborhood has their own charm and you get to discover that for yourself. This tour includes stops along the way for you to take pictures, and grab some delicious noms. I’d highly recommend this tour if you’re not familiar with traversing the city, as this tour will cover a lot of ground with an experienced guide. Read more here to book this experience.
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Final Thoughts
That concludes my list of tours to book during Thanksgiving travel in NYC. If you’re traveling to the Big Apple for Thanksgiving I hope you enjoy your trip! If you’ve used any of my tour suggestions in this post, I hope I’ve helped you create memories to last a lifetime. As always, thank you for reading. Did you learn anything new or have any feedback? Let me know. Please comment below and don’t forget to subscribe here. Now that you know what tours to book, make sure to book an all-inclusive resort in New York.
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Disclosure: This blog post has affiliate links which means if you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at NO additional cost to you. These are my own personal suggestions based on products/experiences I love and use. Read the full disclosure here.
Covid-19 Disclaimer: The recommendations for the tours listed are based on my own suggestions and in no way endorses or condemns travel at this time. If you decide to take a trip, follow national and state guidelines, and of course the CDC when traveling.
This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Photo Credits
Thank you to Cameron Venti for the photo on Niagara Falls, Emmanuel Kontokalos for the photo on Greenwich Village, and West Hicks for the photo on Chinatown. I discovered all of their work from Unsplash.com. Please check them out!
Watching the Thanksgiving parade in person sounds like so much fun. We’ve visited NYC plenty, but not over Thanksgiving.
It would definitely be well worth the visit this time of year!
As a native NYer, some of these weren’t even on my list! Thank you for sharing 🙂
I had never thought of visiting NYC for Thanksgiving. Looks like fun!
There’s so much to do! Come down and visit.
What a great listicle of tours to try for Thanksgiving in New York! Thanks for sharing all your recommendations! It sounds like a great way to explore the area with local insight.
You’re welcome! I’m glad to share my experience with others and hopefully you can visit one day.
NYC offers so many cool tours to consider booking for Thanksgiving travel. I’ve never been to Hudson Yards so definitely want to check it out. Great guide!
It’s definitely a must visit! Such an awesome spot. Thanks for reading.
I would absolutely love to visit NYC for Thanksgiving to watch the parade! It’s on my bucket list. These other activities are also great suggestions to enjoy NYC during Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading.
The one nice about the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend being different in Canada and the U.S. is that we can travel to the U.S. for this holiday. NYC looks like a great spot to enjoy for the Thanksgiving holiday. It has been far too long since our last visit. Some great tours to enjoy the sights and the food.
Absolutely! And Canada is a dream during Winter. I’d like to take a trip there again myself. Hope you’re able to visit NYC soon!
This is making me miss NYC so much. I love all the places you mentioned. There’s also nothing like just strolling through the city and exploring by foot.
I’m thrilled you loved my suggestions! I agree, this is a great city to just walk and explore.
Oh mannnn, I bet Niagara Falls in autumn is gorgeous with all the changing colors! Would love to go
I can’t wait to go back! So far I’ve visited in Winter, but I know the Fall is just a dream.
I love NYC but I’ve never been around Thanksgiving. Thanks for the inspo!
You’re welcome! Thank you for reading.
Great tour suggestions! With so much to see in NYC, tours are a great way to truly explore an area of the city.
Very true! You cover a lot of area with someone who is experienced and knows exactly where to go.
I haven’t been to NYC in so long. The vessel looks like a cool place to explore. And I always love visiting China Town and Little Italy when I go to big cities, so I for sure want to stop there!
I agree, they are great destinations to explore when visiting NYC. I hope you’ll be able to visit again soon!