Here are 15 NYC Tourist Traps to Skip to make the most out of your trip!

I love NYC dearly, and it breaks my heart to see tourists waste money and time on these tourist traps. I’ve gathered the worst tourist attractions in NYC you should skip, all vetted from a NYC local!
This guide includes where not to go in New York as a tourist, but it’s easy to be negative, so we also include what’s worth seeing instead.
Table of Contents
- Times Square
- Chelsea Market
- Little Italy
- United Nations Headquarters
- Williamsburg
- Bryant Park
- Columbia University
- Rockefeller Center
- Empire State Building
- Madame Tussauds
- Eataly
- Los Tacos
- Joe’s Pizza (Times Square)
- Nathan’s Famous
- Central Park: Pedicab or Carriage Rides
NYC Tourist Traps to Skip
1. Times Square

What it is
For many people, Times Square is the first thing on their minds when they think of NYC. Times Square is full of large, flashy billboards that have been placed on skyscrapers.
Why you should skip it
Is Times Square a tourist trap?
The short answer is, yes.
Times Square is dangerously crowded with tourists. It’s hard to walk anywhere, and it’s super loud. Young kids could get easily get lost in the crowd.
Avoid the people in character costumes asking for a photo (you’ll need to tip them!) and the gaudy restaurants (they are tasteless and expensive!).
You should know that NYC locals do not go to Times Square on purpose! I work in Times Square, so you can take me up on this. I would never plan to meet someone in Times Square.
What to do instead
Watching a Broadway show in the area is worth it, but it can get expensive. If you’re on a budget, I’d recommend trying Broadway Roulette, which lets you pay only $50-60 per ticket and you get matched with a mystery Broadway show.
2. Chelsea Market

What it is
Chelsea Market is a multi-story food market with tons of restaurants. It’s conveniently located if you’re walking the High Line, which I do recommend!
Why you should skip it
The food at Chelsea Market is mediocre and expensive. In addition, Chelsea Market gets extremely crowded, and I’ve gotten hangry many times waiting in long lines for food that wasn’t worth the time or money.
What to do instead
Check out the Brooklyn Flea + Smorgasburg or the year-round Union Square Greenmarket for a NYC market experience that locals frequent.
3. Little Italy

What it is
The Little Italy neighborhood formed in the Lower East Side with the influx of Italian immigrants, which peaked in the 1880s. Little Italy is known for its Italian restaurants.
Why you should skip it
Little Italy has decreased in size to only 3 blocks now. The Italian restaurants here are expensive and not the tastiest. Better Italian restaurants can be found in other pockets of the city.
What to do instead
Lower East Side: Walk through the Lower East Side, which is a culinarily diverse area that not only includes Little Italy, but also includes Chinatown and other Asian eateries.
4. United Nations Headquarters

What it is
The official United Nations Headquarters are actually located in NYC, on the East side of Manhattan. The UN Headquarters building is a high-rise with 39 floors.
Why you should skip it
If you’re a history or politics buff, this might be on your list. But it’s a very unimpressive-looking building, and you can’t really enter it or do anything other than look at a modern building from the outside. In addition, there’s not much to do around the building, making it not worth your time to visit.
What to do instead
For history lovers, visiting the 9/11 Memorial is a touching experience that is worth the visit.
5. Williamsburg

What it is
Williamsburg is known as the hip, grungy and artsy neighborhood of NYC. It’s probably the only neighborhood in Brooklyn that tourists know about.
Why you should skip it
Williamsburg has been gentrified to the point that there’s a Hermes shop (think bags that cost more than $10k!), a Lululemon store and an Apple store. Especially after work-from-home became an option for many white-collar workers during the covid pandemic, many wealthy tech and finance workers moved to Williamsburg, and rental prices are very similar to some of the nicest neighborhoods in Manhattan now.
What to do instead
Greenpoint: Check out Greenpoint, which is one of the most up and coming Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Looking for things to do in Greenpoint? Check out this guide for the 15 Best Things To Do in Greenpoint!
Greenpoint has been gentrifying rapidly since the covid pandemic, so if you’re looking for a more authentic Brooklyn neighborhood, check out the gentrified Bushwick, which is known as where the original Williamsburg hipsters moved out to.
6. Bryant Park

What it is
Bryant Park is a small 10-acre park in Midtown, surrounded by Manhattan office buildings. During the winters, Bryant Park hosts a winter holiday market called the Winter Village.
Why you should skip it
Bryant Park is where locals take a breather during the workday. It’s a small park, and there’s not much to do or see. In addition, the shop booths are the Winter Village are mediocre, so unless you’re ice-skating, it’s not worth it either.
What to do instead
Washington Square Park: If you want to feel the young energy of NYC, go to Washington Square Park. It’s the perfect place to people watch. You’ll spot NYU students and local performers that are pretty talented.
7. Columbia University

What it is
Columbia University is an Ivy League university located in Upper Manhattan. There is an undergraduate college and other graduate schools, such as a law school, school of journalism and a teachers college.
Why you should skip it
There is not much to see around Columbia other than the university itself. Since Columbia is in NYC, it’s not an expansive campus either. Unless you have high-school aged children who are interested in applying to Columbia, you can skip this place.
What to do instead
NYU is located much more centrally, and it’s interesting to see how embedded this university is within NYC. You’ll see NYU buildings and dorms alongside the restaurants, bars and offices that make this city what it is. Some cool neighborhoods in the NYU area worth visiting include the East Village, West Village and SoHo, especially if you love shopping and cafes.
8. Rockefeller Center

What it is
The Rockefeller Center consists of 19 buildings, including the original 14 that were created by the Rockefeller family between 1933 and 1939. The Rockefeller Center is most famous for its Christmas tree, when a huge tree with extravagant ornaments is displayed in the main courtyard.
Why you should skip it
The Christmas tree gets so crowded and looks smaller than expected. It’s hard to get a good photo because it can get super crowded. In addition, the underground shopping complex at the Rockefeller Center is pretty bare bones and expensive, and you’ll spot families tired from traveling sitting on the floor because there’s nowhere to sit.
What to do instead
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights: If you’re visiting NYC for its Christmas fervor, check out some serious decorations at the residential neighborhood of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn. This is where local families and couples go to savor in the best Christmas lights and displays in NYC!
9. Empire State Building

What it is
The Empire State Building is an iconic 102-story building that was built in 1931. Yopu can view the NYC skyline from the 82nd floor observatory.
Why you should skip it
The tickets to the observatory are expensive, at $50 per person! In addition, it’s super crowded at the observatory, and it’s hard to get good pictures of the skyline.
What to do instead
Brooklyn Bridge: For free Instgrammable views of the NYC skyline, walk through the Brooklyn Bridge.
10. Madame Tussauds

What it is
You can spot realistic wax figures of famous people at Madame Tussauds, which is located in Times Square. The NYC location includes wax figures of Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Harry Styles and Christiano Ronaldo.
Why you should skip it
Madame Tussauds is originally from London, and is definitely not a quintessential NYC attraction. There is so much more authentic things to do that you can only see in NYC!
What to do instead
American Museum of Natural History: For memorable and family-friendly attractions, head over to the Natural History Museum and view the ginormous dinosaur bone displays!
11. Eataly
What it is
Eataly is an Italian food hall with Italian restaurants and shops at reasonable prices. There are two locations in NYC, one in Flat Iron and another near the 9/11 Memorial.
Why you should skip it
Eataly is crowded and it is challenging to find seating. Delicious and authentic Italian food can be found elsewhere in NYC. In addition, a big part of NYC culture is the independent restaurants and shops, while Eataly has locations throughout American cities, such as Boston and Dallas. It’s not worth your time or money to eat here, when you could go to an Italian restaurant that only exists in NYC!
What to do instead
Lilia: Try the amazing freshly made pasta at Lilia. Make sure to book ahead!
12. Los Tacos
What it is
Los Tacos is a NYC taco chain serving affordably priced tacos in a casual, seatless location. Since opening its first location in Chelsea Market back in 2013, it now has 6 other locations, including a very popular location in Times Square.
Why you should skip it
I’ve tried Los Tacos at Chelsea Market and Times Square after waiting long lines, and I was disappointed by the quality and flavor of the tacos. There’s definitely better tacos in NYC, including some super authentic food trucks around the city. In addition, there’s no proper seating, making the whole experience not worth it.
What to do instead
Taqueria Ramirez: This spot has some seriously delicious tacos at a reasonable price. It’s located in hip Greenpoint in Brooklyn, which is one of the most trendy and worthwhile neighborhoods to visit.

13. Joe’s Pizza (Times Square)
What it is
Joe’s Pizza is a NYC pizza chain that’s been serving NYC slices since 1975. The Times Square location is extremely popular with tourists.
Why you should skip it
The Times Square location always has extremely long lines, and it’s not worth the wait.
What to do instead: Go to the Joe’s in Greenwich Village, which is the original location, and savor the trendy shopping in that neighborhood while you’re there. Scarr’s Pizza on the Lower East Side has some mean slices, too.
14. Nathan’s Famous

What it is
Nathan’s Famous is a large hot dog stand, and NYC legend says it’s where the hot dog was created. While it’s more likely that hot dogs were created in Germany, Nathan’s has been operating since 1916 and is said to have popularized the hot dog from Coney Island.
Why you should skip it
Nathan’s hot dog is similar to a movie theater hot dog. This makes sense, because it was originally well-known as a nickel hot dog stand. But now it’s overpriced for how much food it is, and the lines are way too long for it to be worth your time.
Where to go instead
Gray’s Papaya: Gray’s Papaya is a NYC chain that offers cheap hot dog meal sets with tropical drinks, including papaya and pina colada flavors. It used to be huge but still has a few locations left, including a location in the Upper West Side. Don’t forget to add sauerkraut to your hot dogs!
15. Central Park: Pedicab or Carriage Rides
What it is
You can hire a pedicab to pedal you around Central Park, or hire a carriage ride to experience the park with a horse.
Why you should skip it
The pedicabs are an inauthentic way to experience the park, and a loud nuisances to the people who are relaxing at Central Park. The carriage rides are expensive and start at $60 before tip.
What to do instead
Rent a Citi Bike instead and go around the Central Park Full Loop. I’d advise getting the e-bike, since Central Park is hilly. You can easily rent a bike through the Lyft app.

NYC Tourist Traps to Skip (Conclusion)
This guide was all about the NYC tourist traps to skip, and what to do instead!
Pin Me for Later!

Leave a Reply