Taking a Bus Trip to New York City: Sights to See

New York City skyline view

The Big Apple is an exciting destination for friends, families, school groups, church members and business teams. The city boasts many famous landmarks, attractions, viewpoints and an intriguing mix of neighborhoods. While it’s impossible to explore all of them in a day — or a week — with proper planning, you can enjoy some of the most prominent attractions around the city during a one-day visit.

Before chartering a reliable ride that prioritizes your safety and comfort, create an itinerary of all the NYC places you’d like to see. With limited time on your hands, you’ve got to go in with a plan. Here are some must-see sites in New York to get the inspiration flowing.

1. Times Square

If you want to experience New York in its full glory, you must take a walk in Times Square. The tourist hot spot gives you a feel of the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps. It’s among the world’s busiest pedestrian streets, lined with gigantic digital billboards, talented street performers, live music shows and a whole range of businesses.

If you walk through Times Square or people-watch from one of the many restaurants in the morning, keep an eye out for shows like Good Morning America and the Today Show. And don’t miss a chance to experience the historic Hard Rock Cafe New York, the Paramount Building and the M&M store. There’s also no better place to buy your New York City souvenirs than one of the many gift and specialty shops in Times Square. There’s the Disney Store, Yankees Clubhouse and countless other shops where you can pick up an “I Love NYC” T-shirt.

2. Central Park

Scenic view of Central Park

Central Park is among the oldest and most-visited urban public parks in the United States. The park covers about 843 acres, or 1.3 square miles, of Manhattan and was established over 150 years ago to facilitate the recreational needs of the fast-growing city. Central Park provides New Yorkers and visitors a place to escape the busy and stressful city life.

The serene park is covered with green lawns, Instagrammable trees, broad lakes, winding streams, rolling slopes and stunning valleys. It’s also home to several animal species, including chipmunks, geese, ducks, squirrels and bunnies. When you only have a few hours to explore Central Park, take your pick of attractions like the Conservatory Water, the Alice in Wonderland sculpture, the Central Park Zoo and the Belvedere Castle.

3. Rockefeller Center

An iconic symbol of midtown Manhattan, the Rockefeller Center is a complex of buildings and plazas that house television studios, theatres, corporate headquarters, shops and restaurants. Some of the most iconic attractions you can see include the 70-story skyscraper that houses NBC studios, hundreds of historic art pieces and the Associated Press Building.

You can catch 360-degree views of the city from the Top of the Rock observation decks, explore and relax at the Channel Garden, and shop at the NBC store. Around the holidays, you can skate at The Rink at Rockefeller Center and check out the legendary Christmas tree. Another major attraction worth experiencing is the modern-style gardens on the seventh floor of Rockefeller Center. Looking to enjoy an elaborate dinner in New York? Make a reservation at the Rainbow Room for an unforgettable experience that includes fine dining, excellent skyline views and pleasant service.

4. 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Spend part of your day in New York exploring the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to better understand the events that led up to the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001. The memorial is free and open to the public every day of the week, but you pay for admission to the museum.

The museum blends architecture, archaeology and history to tell the story of the attacks. You can explore artifacts, imagery and rotating displays that pay tribute to the people who were affected. The museum also hosts events and programs online and offline to deepen your understanding of the attack’s continued impact on the United States and the world. You can support the museum by purchasing books, keepsakes and apparel at the Museum store.

5. Broadway Shows

Your day trip to New York isn’t complete without catching a live Broadway show. New York’s Theatre District is home to over 40 theatres, each with a minimum capacity of 500 seats. Bus trips to Broadway are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will bring you closer to your travel buddies in more ways than you can imagine.

Live Broadway shows are exhilarating because you get to indulge in the work of top-tier actors, orchestras and designers. You can enjoy elaborate performances in Broadway staples like “Wicked” or “Chicago,” catch a revival of a classic musical like “Sweeney Todd,” check out a newer option like “The Notebook” or “MJ” or opt for more family-friendly shows like “The Lion King.” It’s best to buy your tickets a few weeks, or even months, in advance. You can also often enjoy discounted rates for groups of more than 10 people.

6. Empire State Building

End your day trip by visiting the Empire State Building. Take in all of New York’s breathtaking beauty from one of the enclosed observatory decks, either 86 floors (1,050 feet) or 102 floors (1,250 feet) above Manhattan streets. On bright days, you can catch clear and stunning views of up to six states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In the evening, you can enjoy panoramic views of the neon-lit New York skyline.

While the Empire State Building has spacious and fully air-conditioned waiting areas, you should book your tickets in advance to avoid long queues and waiting times. You’ll also appreciate the opportunity to take and post photos from the world’s most photographed building.

Trust Executive Coach to Get You to NYC

Trust Executive Coach to get You to NYC

Executive Coach is a luxury bus charter company based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We offer regional day trip transportation for small and large groups in the most comfortable luxury motorcoaches. We can help you plan and schedule one-day bus trips to NYC at affordable prices and with a guarantee of the highest quality customer service.

Our team is made of professionals who enjoy and strive to provide customers with the best travel experience. Contact us for more information on how we can help you plan an amazing day trip to New York. If you have your itinerary ready, request a free quote for your NYC bus trips.

Taking a Bus Trip to New York City: Sights to See

From Our Customers:

 I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation of your driver. He was our driver for the past days from Boston to New York. He was not just a professional driver, he cared for us, he was understanding, and most of all knew where and how to get everywhere. 

- Garry & Carmen

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Sue

 We had a great time yesterday. Thank you so much. Things could not have gone more perfect. Our driver did a great job. We were running over a little on time, and I gave him the choice of skipping the last stop or keep going (which would mean we would get back to our return destination about 40 minutes later than scheduled). He said it was fine with him to keep going and complete our route. It was a great day. Thank you very much to Executive Coach, Inc.! 

- Susan
Threadworks Quilting

 Not only were they reasonably priced, the assigned bus was clean and on time for all scheduled events throughout the day. Our bus driver, Greg, was very professional, warm and welcoming. He helped to make the travels even more interesting by sharing some history of the surrounding area. My family and I are pleased. Looking forward to using your services in the future. Thank you so much. 

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Brian

 I want to extend my appreciation to Executive Coach and our driver for organizing a safe trip to the Women's March in DC this past Saturday. Our driver was courteous and respectful and obliged to our wishes to travel directly into DC for a drop off point after all the metro sites were full. Everyone on the bus loved his accommodating manner and felt safe riding with him. I appreciate the Executive Coach staff working tirelessly to make sure we had all the information available to us. I look forward to working with you all again! 

- Brenda

  On a recent trip to D.C. I was in need of a sudden change in carriers due to safety concerns and the crew at Executive Coach came through for me. They were able to provide service from D.C. to Chicago on a less than 24-hour notice. I will recommend Executive Coach anytime, anywhere! You have restored my faith in a corporate culture that takes responsibility, loves their work and goes the extra mile (literally!) 

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Chiaravalle Montessori School

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Misa Tours

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