List of Fun Thanksgiving Travel Tour Ideas to Book Now in NYC

Vessel structure at Hudson Yards

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.

The Vessel at Hudson Yards photo by @nitty_ot

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.

Helicopter Ride in NYC with My Sister photo by @nitty_ot

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Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, NYC, USA photo by @Grekoraw

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.

Niagara Falls, NYC, USA photo by @Ventiviews

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.

Chinatown, NYC, USA photo by @Sickhews

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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.

Find me here: I’m on most social media, so let’s be friends! Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. Need suggestions on how to travel safely? More info here. Want to know some of my must have travel items? Read more here. Having wanderlust, or traveling out of the country? Check out my detailed travel itineraries to Aruba, Belgium, London, Paris, and Amsterdam. Need resources related to blogging? Check out my tips on email marketing here and how to protect your blog here.

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Blog Disclaimer

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!

18 thoughts on “List of Fun Thanksgiving Travel Tour Ideas to Book Now in NYC”

  1. 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.

  2. 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!

  3. 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!

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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!

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