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Field Trips

The Frederick A.O. Schwarz Education Center facilitates programs for thousands of children and adults each year to teach them about our city: the challenges we’ve encountered, the innovations we’ve created, the unique contemporary issues we face as New Yorkers, and the complexity of how the decisions we make today impact our city’s future.    Each field trip is a unique experience, driven by student inquiry, dialogue, and hands-on activities. 

We offer both in-person and virtual field trips. 

Summer booking is now open! Our field trips will be offered from Tuesday, July 9 through Friday, August 23. 

We are also taking reservations for the remainder of the school year, through June 23, 2024. 

Please fill out the Field Trip Request Form to request a trip. 

Field Trip Request Form 

Times: Programs are available Tuesday—Friday beginning at 10am .  

Cost: The pricing of in-person and virtual field trips is different. Please see the relevant section below for group pricing.

Programs: Field trips vary in duration between 60 and 90 minutes. Details are listed below. Programs can be modified for groups of all needs and abilities, and program time can be adjusted under special request.

Scheduling: Advance reservations are required and must be made by using the field trip request form.  Please note that due to the volume of requests, it may take up to three weeks to receive a response from our School Programs Scheduling Team. Field trips are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. More details are listed below. 

In Person Field Trips

Manny Vega: Art in El Barrio / Arte en El Barrio

I Feel You, NYC: Capturing the City's Emotions

“And Scene” 100 Years of New York through Film

Between the Pages: 100 Years of New York Life

I Dream of NYC: 100 Years of New York Life through Art

The Making of New York

Activist New York

The Greatest Grid

What Makes New York New York? Black History Edition

Activist New York: Black History Edition

What Makes New York New York?

In person field trip pricing.

Note: We reserve the right to limit reservations to two groups per school per day. Teachers and chaperones are included for free in the group fee pricing.

Virtual Field Trips

60 min program for Grades 4–8 

75 min program for Grades 9–12  

Explore New York’s rich history of social justice movements to see how activists have reimagined a more just future. Students will use photographs, flyers, posters, and film footage from the exhibition to discuss topics, such as youth action in the Civil Rights Movement, health activism and the Young Lords, and the current Movement for Black Lives. The program will provide space for students to voice their thoughts and participate in a reflective activity about what care for one’s self and community looks like. 

City as Canvas

45 min program for Grades K–1 

60 min program for Grades 2–12 

Explore highlights from the Museum’s graffiti art collection and see original works created by legendary writers such as Daze, Lee Quiñones, Lady Pink, and Keith Haring. Participants will view sketches from the artists’ personal blackbooks, photographs of large-scale pieces on subway cars, and works on canvas as sources for studying graffiti as a dynamic art movement. Students will respond creatively by drafting their own sketches. Participants are encouraged to bring a pencil and paper to the session!   

Getting Around

60 min program for Grades 2–5  

From horse-drawn omnibuses to electric cars, transportation in New York City has undergone many changes from the 1800s to the present day. Students will discuss how New York evolved over time by seeing pictures from the Museum’s collection. Participants will play a matching game and notice how new technologies affected the ways New Yorkers lived and traveled. 

Puppets of New York

60 min program for Grades 2–5  

Explore the many ways that New Yorkers have brought puppets to life on television and in movies, in plays, and on the streets in New York City! Students will see puppets of all shapes and sizes from the Puppets of New York exhibition and examine how puppets are developed, manipulated, and used as tools for building connections and standing up for causes as they draw inspiration from the rich and diverse traditions of puppetry in New York City. 

Civil Rights

75 min program for Grades 9–12 

Explore New York City’s role in the Civil Rights Movement and discover the importance of youth action in the 1964 boycott by NYC students against segregated schools. Participants will hear the stories of Civil Rights activists to learn about New York’s major role in the Black freedom movement and the ongoing movement for racial justice today. 

Virtual Field Trip Pricing

Scheduling a tour:.

We are currently offering field trips from now through June 23, 2024, and from July 9 through August 23, 2024. Please fill out the Field Trip Request Form to request a trip.   

Field Trip Request Form

To schedule a field trip, please complete the Field Trip Request Form. Please have your contact information, preferred program, dates, times, and group size ready before filling out the form. 

Please note that due to the volume of requests, it may take up to three weeks to receive a response from our School Programs Scheduling Team. Field trips are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.  

For in-person field trips, please bring at least one chaperone per 10 students; a maximum of six chaperones may accompany each class. On the day of your visit, please arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before the scheduled visit for in-person field trips. Field trips will be shortened for late arrivals.  

Do you have a special booking request, such as bringing multiple groups, larger groups, or a group with special needs? Please indicate your request on the Field Trip Request Form and a member of our scheduling team will be in touch to discuss options. 

Please contact us at [email protected] with other inquiries and questions. 

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55 Incredible Free Things To Do In NYC Right Now

There's no questioning how energetic, unique and diverse New York City is. But if there's one negative? It's definitely the cost.

But even though it’s one of the most expensive cities in the world, there are loads of completely FREE things to do in NYC. During the week and on weekends , there’s tons of free-pop ups, events, and deals to take advantage of. If you’re paying the rent to live in a city this fantastic, you must take advantage of all there is to do and see.

1. Go searching for cherry blossoms

Spring is officially here in New York City, and that means the city’s gorgeous cherry blossoms are starting to bloom! NYC’s stunning parks and most famous landmarks are starting to show signs of the pink delights, and it’s totally free to stroll around and take them in! Check out our favorite places around NYC to see cherry blossoms here .

2. Macy’s Flower Show

Macy’s annual Flower Show has returned for 2024, and this year’s rendition is in partnership with Dior. The two have collaborated to turn the department store’s interior into floral heaven…complete with a tunnel of florals, blooming strawberries, kaleidoscope displays, and much more ! It’s completely free and it’s happening at the Macy’s flagship in Herald Square until April 7. Learn more about the Macy’s Flower Show here .

Where: 151 W 34th St

3. Tulip Day in Union Square

Stop by Union Square on April 7 (11:30 am – 3 pm) to celebrate the first ever Tulip Day, when over 200,000 tulips will take over the famous square. Visitors are welcome to stop by and pick their own bouquet of ten tulips for free! Learn more about the event here and bookmark the date in your calendar now!

4-15. Free museum days

New York is full of the most prestigious art and history museums , but sometimes their entrance fees don’t feel quite accessible enough to the everyday New Yorker. Luckily, most have special “free” admission days when entrance fees are waived completely. Take a look:

🏛 The Museum of Modern Art (First Friday of every month): Thanks to clothing store UNIQLO, museum admission to the Museum of Modern Art is free for New Yorkers from 4 pm – 8 pm on the first Friday of every month!

🎨 Brooklyn Museum (First Saturday of the Month, 5-11 pm) : Head to the outer boroughs to experience this historic museum whose roots trace all the way back to 1823.

🎛️ K2 Friday Nights at Rubin Museum: Check out the Rubin Museum on select Fridays in order to explore the galleries for free, take a guided tour, and enjoy cocktails and DJ sets after hours. Tickets are typically released on the 15th of every month and allow entrance between 6 pm – 10 pm. Learn more here .

🐘 First Thursday DUMBO Gallery Walks : Stroll through 14 different art galleries in DUMBO for free on the first Thursday of every month! You’ll see art, artist panels, and even live tours with guides. They happen at 6 pm – 8 pm on the first Thursday each month.

📚 Morgan Library & Museum: For some a little more quiet, take advantage of the “Free Friday Evenings” program at this library and museum. There are rotating art exhibits that you can view from 5 pm – 7 pm.

🖼 Bronx Museum of the Arts (Free everyday!): This uptown museum known for its innovative contemporary art exhibitions houses over 2,000 pieces of artwork in a variety of mediums.

🖌 El Museo del Barrio (Pay What You Wish) : More casually known as simply “El Museo,” this museum specializes in the art of Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures through comprehensive collections and exhibits.

🇪🇺 Guggenheim Museum (Pay What You Wish on Saturdays 6 pm–8 pm): Step into a world of modern and contemporary art at the Guggenheim Museum on the Upper East Side. The museum is typically $25 for adults, but hosts a “pay what you wish” program on Saturdays from 6 pm – 8 pm.

✨ Neue Gallerie (First Friday, 4-7 pm): For a more specialty European cultural experience, the Neue Gallerie’s main collection features German and Austrian art created between 1890 and 1940. There is also a Viennese-inspired café in-house! This museum is also pay-as-you-wish until November 10.

🧑‍🎨 Noguchi Museum (First Friday of Month): You may recognize the name of this museum from that line in the iconic film “The Devil Wears Prada,” but the museum is definitely worth an in-person visit. Depending where you live it could be a little out of the way in Queens, but the museum has many interesting sculptural works and performance art pieces you can experience for free on the first Friday of every month.

🗽 Chelsea Art Galleries : The Chelsea neighborhood has a rich cultural history for art and his home to tons of galleries. Spend a day crawling through famous galleries like the Gagosian Gallery and David Zwirner Gallery.

🚢 Intrepid Museum: Learn about nautical history and astronomy at the Intrepid Museum which hosts “Free Fridays” on select days. Check the schedule on their website to see when the next one is.

16. The Culture of Creativity at Tiffany & Co. The Landmark

The Tiffany & Co. flagship store in Midtown is currently hosting a brand new free exhibit, personally curated by renowned architect Peter Marino. The Culture of Creativity features nearly 70 works by 26 artists, including Damien Hirst and Louis Comfort Tiffany to name a few. It’s open now through May 20!

Where: 727 5th Avenue

17. Admire a “Field of Light”

Stop by the Freedom Plaza on the East Side of NYC to see “Field of Light,” a brand new 6-acre installation consisting of 17,000 stemmed glass spheres . Designed by world-renowned artist Bruce Munro, the lights illuminate Manhattan is the most breathtaking way. Learn more about the installation here .

18. Explore NYC’s outdoor public art

Tap into New York City’s artsy side and check out the numerous options of public art that awaits you! These mind-bending open-air installations are free to visit and are pretty cool photo opps too! Check out our favorite public art installations in NYC right here .

19. Cozy in with a book at the New York Public Library

The New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is one of the coziest libraries in all of NYC, and is a great place to snuggle with a book. Acquiring a library card is free for all New York residents, and rummaging the shelves for your next good read is such a great way to spend your wintry time.

20-25. Celebrate Your Birthday in NYC with Free Perks

🧖‍♀️ Relax at the QCNY Spa : Need a refresh before your big birthday celebration? At QCNY Spa on Governors Island, you can enjoy free admission (on your birthday or within 7 days after your birthday) with a paying guest. This special birthday offer applies Monday through Friday.

🍩 Grab a free dozen donuts from Krispy Kreme: Chow down a free dozen donuts from any Krispy Kreme during your birthday month. Simply download their app and register an account with your birthday!

🚴 Take a free SOULCYCLE Class: Get a sweat on for your birthday at SOULCYCLE, where you can ride a class for free!

☕ Sip a free coffee from Paris Baguette: Earn a free coffee from Paris Baguette on your birthday with their app.

💄 Touch up your look with a beauty gift: For our beauty queens, both Sephora and Ulta Beauty offer free birthday gift sets on your birthday. Download their apps to get started.

🍣 Enjoy a trust me box from SUGARFISH: Eat a free “trust me box” of sushi for your birthday if you’ve dined at SUGARFISH at least twice during the year! Learn more about the rewards here .

26-29. Jump On a Walking Tour

Tours in NYC are known to be pricey, but there are actually a variety of walking tours given by volunteers that are completely free.

🍎 Flatiron District: If you’re interested in learning more about NYC’s most iconic triangle-shaped building, the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership sponsors free 90-minute walking tours around the neighborhood on Sundays at 11am. Meet on the southwest corner of Madison Square Park.

🚂 Grand Central (Suspended until further notice but will hopefully be up and running again soon!): Similarly, the Grand Central Partnership hosts a 90-minute guided walking tour led by an urban historian in and around Grand Central and the surrounding neighborhoods. They meet Fridays at 12:30pm.

🌃 Free Tours By Foot.com: Though not completely free, these walking tours are unique in the fact that you pay-as-you-wish. There is no upfront cost and after the tour, you decide how much to give the guide based on the quality of the tour/what you think it was worth.

🌳 Central Park Conservancy: The Central Park Conservancy offers a few free tours. They are: The Southern Welcome Tour, which highlights the noteworthy aspects in the southern part of the park, admiring the Pond, Gapstow Bridge, and the Dairy Visitor Center which used to serve children fresh milk in 1871; the Memorial Tour, which showcases monuments and statues in the park honoring veterans; and the Discovery Walks for Families, which is perfect for children of all ages. Plus they have a few virtual tours to choose from, all which have a suggested donation of $5. See more on their website here .

30-50. Enjoy Free Things You’ll Only Find in NYC

📙 Get a Library Pass for exclusive perks : If you don’t have one already, grab a library card from the New York City Public Library System and enjoy free admission to all sorts of things around NYC! Some places you can go to include MoMA PS1, the Staten Island Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and more!

🛍️ FAD Market: FAD Market will be returning this fall to host pop-up across different NYC locations! Get ready to shop all kinds of brand new makers, artists, and designers with their unique, small-batch goods. There will be summer pop-ups in both DUMBO and Boerum Hill, as well as Governors Island and a one-off at Brooklyn Brewery. Check out all the dates and locations here .

🎤 Biggie Smalls Mural : For the anniversary of his death, there is now a delightful and colorful glass mural of the iconic rapper Notorious B.I.G located in Brookyn. The coolest feature? You can walk up to it and view your reflection in a mirror where his head is. Check out the mural and learn more here .

🛍️ Browse one of NYC’s Sample Sales: With New York Fashion Week coming up, why not get trendy yourself? Stumble through SoHo and the surrounding areas to find sample sales from all sorts of brands! Check out this guide to see what sales are happening now.

📺 Attend a TV show taping : NYC is home to tons of big-name TV shows including Jimmy Fallon, Trevor Noah, and of course SNL. Tickets for these shows are free and are done through a lottery, so try throwing your name in the hat!

🤸🏻‍♂️ While we’re speaking of childhood fun, ride on these giant swings at Pier 35 on the Lower East Side.

🪴 Take a stroll through this hidden indoor garden in Midtown .

🦒 Pay a visit to your furry friends : The Bronx Zoo offers free admission on Wednesdays . Check out all of NYC’s zoos here .

💣 The Arsenal Gallery in Central Park is also always free to enter, Monday-Friday from 9-5 p.m.

🏢 While you can no longer c limb the wacky Vessel at Hudson Yards , access to the ground-level base is open to the public.

🍽️ Stroll through Chelsea Market , a food hall located in the Chelsea neighborhood.

🍴 Visit the Union Square Greenmarket open year-round to peruse goods from regional farmers, fishermen, and bakers.

🇺🇸 Step into the former home of American founding father Alexander Hamilton in Harlem! The Hamilton Grange National Memorial is his preserved 1802 home that is on display to see for all. You can even take a 25-minute, self-guided tour.

⚰️ Visit General Ulysses S. Grant’s tomb in Morningside Heights . Who knew we had such a rich piece of history right here in the city? It’s also the largest mausoleum in North America.

🪦 Another rich piece of history, the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn was founded in 1838 and is 478 acres!

🌭 Walk the Coney Island Boardwalk: Take a trip to Coney Island to Brooklyn to grab a Nathan’s hotdog, play carnival games, and ride rollercoasters. It’s the perfect day trip!

🇺🇸 Explore 9/11 Memorial: Learn about the events of 9/11 at the Memorial Pools and 9/11 Museum. The pools are open to the public and the museum offers free admission on Mondays (need to reserve tickets online).

🛍️ Go window shopping in SoHo: Walk around the streets of SoHo and bask in the beauty of brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton!

51-55. Eat and Drink!

🛒 Eat at an NYC night market : Eat your way through the very best NYC vendors at these tasty night markets! Options like the Queens Night Market and Uptown Night Market in Harlem make it easy to get a taste of the best NYC local food spots.

🎡 Stroll around one of NYC’s street fairs : Street fairs are constantly going on in NYC seemingly every weekend! Have some delicious bites and stroll through different part of the towns while you take in the sights and sounds of these one of a kind events.

🍺 Tour Brooklyn Brewery: Walk through the Brooklyn Brewery and learn how beer is made with a free tour every Sunday from 1 pm – 6pm. We can’t promise you won’t buy a beer on the way though!

🍫 Hershey’s World in Times Square routinely hands out free sample chocolates when you enter the store.

☕ Grab a free coffee at Blank Street: Need a kick of caffeine? Earn a free coffee at any Blank Street Coffee location when you download their app!

TYPE IN YOUR SEARCH AND PRESS ENTER

Educational Tours

School trips to New York City are a great way to have students discover this fantastic metropolis.

 carefully planned educational tours to New York City for middle and high school student groups. We have seen them all, and there are none better.

Students on New York City field trips ( pictured right in Times Square ) will also visit American icons that they’ve been learning about since they started opening books, including the Statue of Liberty ,  Rockefeller Center ,  Central Park , the Empire State Building , as well as  Ellis Island , the September 11 Memorial , the World Trade Center , and many other places of cultural and historical significance.

Visit New York has a series of carefully planned itineraries for three and four day educational tours to New York City. They have been consciously crafted, based on the interests, attention spans and feeding habits of tens of thousands of middle and high school students on its trips over 30 years. Field trips goals are to promote learning and bonding, while giving the students the most out of every minute spent at the destination (but without running them or their adult chaperones ragged).

One of the bets tips we can recommend is the use of New York City’s top, licensed, professional guides. They are hired for their ability to engage, educate and entertain middle and high school students. School groups should always be accommodated in clean and safe first-class hotels that have been inspected and re-inspected by senior management.  Every activity and virtually every meal in every restaurant has been checked and rechecked to make sure that each group’s experience is positive, educational, memorable and consistent.

If there are better educational tour programs anywhere, Visit New York has never seen one.

For additional information about class and school trips to New York City call

617-744-4337

NYC School Trip Information Form

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Here are some citywide opportunities for teachers to supplement traditional classroom instruction with hands on, experiential learning for their students. See a list of current offerings below, organized by borough. 

• Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum Through touch-tours, open-ended inquiry challenges, craft projects, and interactive games, Bartow Pell’s curriculum-rich sessions build critical thinking and evidential reasoning skills that benefit students across disciplines.
• Bronx River Alliance The Bronx River Alliance's Education Program helps schools and community organizations use the river as a classroom, engaging youth and adults in a variety of enjoyable and educational activities. The Alliance provides teachers with training, curriculum consulting, lesson plans, equipment and supplies to support students in becoming river doctors, scientists and more.
• Bronx Zoo The WCS Education Department offers a variety of standards-based learning experiences at our parks and at schools.
• Rocking the Boat Rocking the Boat's On-Water Classroom exposes students to the joy of rowing and the ecological diversity of the Bronx River.
• Wave Hill Immerse your class in nature as you explore Wave Hill’s glorious gardens and woodlands. An experienced educator leads your class in outdoor exploration and hands-on activities that help students at all levels make meaningful connections to the environment.
• 826 NYC storytelling and bookmaking 826NYC hosts classes across New York City for Write Together: an interactive writing experience that encourages creative expression, explore the elements of storytelling and strengthens writing skills. Elementary and middle school classes collaborate on illustrated children’s books, middle schoolers can choose their own adventure with multi-ending stories, and high schoolers learn the art of memoir writing during a fast-paced and whimsical 90-minute narrative program. The Write Together program is now available as either a virtual workshop or an in-person field trip to a "secret library." Read about a 2nd-grade class trip to the Secret Library »
• Aviator Sports and Events Center This 175,000-square-foot facility has two regulation NHL ice rinks, a 20,000-square-foot field house, a gymnastics center, a rock wall and two outdoor fields. Groups can participate in basketball, volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, ice skating, flag football, rock climbing, team-building activities, swimming and bubble soccer.
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden Registered school groups can visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for free. The Garden also offers 90-minute guided workshop programs for students in pre-K through 8th grade ($150 per class; a discount is available for Title I schools) to help students explore trees, plants and flowers.
• Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy The Conservancy offers a variety of programs for children in grades K-12, with topics including the ecology of Brooklyn Bridge Park, engineering, geological formations, sustainability and more.
• Brooklyn Children's Museum The Brooklyn Children's Museum offers on-site school programs as well as "Museum on the Go" art, culture, math and science curriculum kits that can be used in your classroom. A limited number of free school programs for Title I schools are available.
• Brooklyn Navy Yard BLDG 92 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard partners with the Brooklyn Historical Society to offer free education programs. Students visiting the Brooklyn Navy Yard will learn to think like historians and engineers through hands-on investigation of Brooklyn’s material culture, art and written documents. Read about a 3rd-grade class trip to the Brooklyn Navy Yard »
• Brooklyn Robot Foundry Show your students the wonder of building robots with workshops on simple circuits, vibration, switches, LEDs and more.
• Environmental Study Center This 7,000-square-foot learning center in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn, is home to over 200 living organisms, four learning labs, an outdoor learning space with a pond habitat and urban garden, and a greenhouse laboratory.
• New York Aquarium Classes, group tours and self-guided tours are available for all grades.
• New York Transit Museum Led by a staff of skilled educators, school programs complement curricular exploration of the New York City history, the engineering sciences, the mathematics and art of subway and station design, and the urban landscape.
• Newtown Creek Alliance The Newtown Creek Alliance offers guided tours through the Newtown Creek watershed focusing on the history, industrial use and environment challenges in the area.
• Prospect Park Zoo Guided tours on themes including animal adaptations, animal families, animal defenses, diets and habits are available. Self-guided tours and classes are also offered.
• Waterfront Museum Docked in Red Hook, Brooklyn, this floating classroom helps students learn about geography, history, social studies and science aboard the last remaining covered wooden barge.
• Weeksville Heritage Center Weeksville Heritage Center, Brooklyn’s largest African-American cultural institution, is a multidisciplinary museum dedicated to preserving the history of the 19th-century African American community of Weeksville, Brooklyn — one of America’s first free black communities.
• Wyckoff House Museum The Wyckoff House Museum preserves, interprets, and operates New York City’s oldest building and the surrounding one-and-a-half acres of park. Through innovative educational and farm-based programs it builds cultural and agricultural connections within our community, emphasizing immigration, family, food, and community through history.
• American Museum of Natural History The Museum of Natural History is a top field trip destination in New York City: amazing new exhibits, over 32 million objects in their permanent collections, and exceptional programs, resources and classes for students and teachers. 
• Asia Society and Museum Building on the idea of the Museum as an extension of the classroom, Asia Society offers interactive guided tours for school groups in grades 3–12. In the galleries, teachers and students can learn about the works of art on view, discuss how art relates to their own experiences, and discover what’s new and compelling about art today.
• Battery Urban Farm Explore The Battery with lesson materials covering agriculture, urban ecosystems, nutrition and history.
• Cathedral of St. John the Divine This landmark building offers numerous field trips aligned with state standards, some free, for NYC schools. Programs are available in architecture and geometry, medieval journeys, immigration, shapes and patterns, world religions, civic engagement and more.
• Center for Architecture The Center for Architecture offers hands-on workshops at its SoHo location and school-based residency programs for K-12 students.
• Central Park Zoo Self-guided tours, guided tours and classes are available.
• Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Center This 80,000-square-foot center offers a variety of sports activities, including soccer, rock climbing, gymnastics, basketball and more.
• Children's Museum of Manhattan The museum’s theme-based, 90-minute guided group visits for grades K-8 are led by a museum educator and include a tour of a thematic exhibition and a hands-on arts workshop. In-school residency programs are also available.
• Cooper Hewitt Design Cooper Hewitt offers two free design programs for K-12 students. 
• Democracy Now! Give students an opportunity to visit a news studio control room to view a live taping of Democracy Now!, followed by a discussion about independent news and investigative journalism. Trips are free.
• Drawing Center This SoHo center offers two free programs for K-12 students, comprised of on-site and in-school activities. The experience includes a guided tour and hands-on projects.
• El Museo del Barrio El Museo del Barrio offers guided tours of the museum as well as walking tours of the surrounding neighborhood, both of which allow students to participate in sketching, movement and writing activities.
• Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration On ranger-led programs, students in grades 3-12 can play the role of newly arrived immigrants. Self-guided activities for grades 2-12 are also available.
• Empire State Building The Empire State Building offers lesson plans connecting to social studies, science and technology, history and geography, as well as a virtual tour.
• Governors Island Teaching Garden In April through October, students will rotate through hands-on stations that typically include a farm tour, planting or farm work activity, cooking or harvesting and tasting activity, and possible fourth mini-lesson. 
• Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum The Intrepid offers social, studies, history and science programs for students in pre-K through 12th grade.
• Merchant's House Museum The landmark Merchant's House, preserved intact, offers an authentic glimpse into life in the mid-19th century. Students explore four floors of period rooms.
• Metropolitan Museum of Art Guided tours and self-guided group admission are available. Guided tour topics include exploring art across cultures, stories and legends, faces and masks and art explorations of particular locations and time periods.
• Metropolitan Opera Access Opera engages students with the unforgettable experience of watching a performance live on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House and provides teachers with resources for drawing connections across literature, social studies, foreign language, and the arts
• Morgan Library and Museum Explore curriculum in the sciences and humanities through direct observation of primary sources, such as Mesopotamian seals and tablets, medieval and Renaissance manuscripts, rare printed books, master drawings and period architecture. Read a New York Teacher article about a 5th-grade class trip to the Morgan »
• Morris-Jumel Mansion Tour "Manhattan's oldest house" and learn about the Revolutionary War, life in the 18th and 19th centuries, slavery, archaeology and more.
• Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust The Museum of Jewish Heritage is New York’s home for Holocaust education. Tours focus on various topics including issues of cultural identity and heritage, the Jewish immigrant experience, Israel and more.
• National Archives The National Archives offers free trips that explore rich primary sources.
• National Jazz Museum Educational tours and in-gallery workshops at this museum in Harlem allow participants to engage deeply with jazz history and discover timeless lessons of creativity, vision and collaboration.
• National Museum of Mathematics Experience the joys, wonders, and beauty of math at the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath), the only museum dedicated to math in North America. At MoMath, teachers and students from pre-K through high school and beyond are able to explore more than 30 memorable, interactive exhibits designed to make math accessible and fun. Classes are also able to participate in MoMath’s many activities and workshops that bring math to life in exciting and innovative ways. Read a New York Teacher article about a class trip to the Museum of Math »
• New York City Center for Aerospace and Applied Mathematics The New York City Center for Aerospace and Applied Mathematics increases students’ interest and excitement about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) through space and aviation science. Through hands-on activities that simulate real world experiences, students in grades K–12 apply math and science concepts learned in the classroom while working together to solve authentic problems. 
• New York City Fire Museum The museum, in conjunction with the New York City Fire Department, operates a world-class fire safety education program designed to teach participants how to prevent fires within the home and how to protect themselves and escape should a fire occur. The program consists of two components— classroom training and a simulated fire event in a mock home environment.
• New-York Historical Society Bring your students on a trip to the oldest museum in New York! Whether they are visiting a special exhibition or our beautifully redesigned permanent collection galleries, students will be actively engaged with the stuff of history — the artifacts, works of art, and documents that provide a window onto our collective past.
• New York Improv Theatre Interactive shows and workshops entertain audiences with creative comedy arts.
• Paley Center for Media Using programs from the collection of television and radio recordings as a means of illustration and investigation, Paley Center educators lead sessions on a wide range of subjects such as advertising, the documentary form, and the civil rights movement. Inquiry-based classes seek to build analytical thinking, viewing, and listening skills and attempt to provide insight into the roles television and radio play in our culture.
• Rubin Museum of Art Explore Himalayan Asia here in New York! Guided tours at the Rubin help K–12 students develop visual literacy and critical-thinking skills through engaging, inquiry-based discussions. Read a New York Teacher article about a 1st-grade trip to the Rubin »
• South Street Seaport Museum South Street Seaport Museum tells the story of how New York’s great natural harbor gave rise to the metropolis we know today. Dockside programs combine indoor and outdoor hands-on activities to show how the science of the harbor affects how we live today.
• Tenement Museum Through interactive tours of the tenement building and Lower East Side neighborhood, students investigate universal themes of cultural identity, discrimination, and human rights.
• Whitney Museum of American Art In free guided visits, students will learn to think critically, look closely and consider how art can be a voice for expressing different ideas. 
• Alley Pond Environmental Center Alley Pond's class workshops are available on a variety of topics, from invertebrate animals to ecosystems to seasonal species to ecology.
• Bayside Historical Society At its historic "Castle" building at Fort Totten, Bayside History Society offers a variety of hands-on programs for students in grades K through 12 that teach what life was like in Queens more than a century ago.
• King Manor Museum Programs focus on life and work at King Manor in Jamaica, Queens, in the 19th century and the history of the King family in early America and the anti-slavery movement.
• Louis Armstrong House Museum The Louis Armstrong House Museum sustains and promotes the cultural, historical, and humanitarian legacy of Louis Armstrong by preserving and interpreting Armstrong’s house and grounds and collecting and sharing archival materials that document Armstrong’s life and legacy. Read a New York Teacher article about a middle school class trip to the Louis Armstrong House »
• Materials for the Arts The Education Center at Materials for the Arts in Long Island City, Queens, offers programming focused on creative reuse: making art with readily available materials and the ever-changing MFTA warehouse inventory. The Center hosts field trips programs for students and P-Credit courses for teachers in two classroom studios, organizes exhibitions of artwork at MFTA Gallery, and sends teaching artists into schools to share reuse techniques.
• Museum of the Moving Image Exhibition tours, film and television screenings, and hands-on workshops help you teach the core curriculum with the support of a dynamic and interactive environment.
• New York Hall of Science The Hall of Science offers school workshops and programs for all ages, as well as an on-the-go option. Students can learn about design, ecosystems, STEM and more. 
• Queens County Farm Museum This 47-acre farm, the oldest continuously farmed site in New York State, includes historic farm buildings, a greenhouse complex, livestock, farm vehicles and implements, planting fields, an orchard and herb garden. Read a New York Teacher article about a kindergarten field trip to the farm »
• Queens Historical Society The Queens Historical Society offers walking tours of historic sites in Flushing, archaeology workshops, workshops about the Underground Railroad and more.
• Queens Museum The Queens Museum provides pre-K–12 students with fun learning experiences that integrate in-depth observation and interpretation of art and historical exhibits, and hands-on art-making activities.
• Queens Public Library Visit one of their 63 community libraries for student library cards, summer meals, activities for all ages, clubs for teens, as well as books, magazines, ebooks and other media in many languages and formats -- all for free.
• Queens Zoo The Queens Zoo offers guided tours on themes including adaptations, habitats and diets, birds, mammals and domestic animals. Classes and self-guided tours are also available.
• Vander Ende Onderdonk House At the oldest Dutch Colonial stone house in New York City, students can tour the house and grounds, see a slide presentation on early New York history and participate in a colonial craft activity.
• Voelker Orth Museum The Voelker Orth Museum occupies an 1890s immigrant family's house in Flushing, Queens and offers a variety of history, science and art programs. Read a New York Teacher article about a 1st-grade class trip to the Voelker Orth Museum »

Staten Island

• Historic Richmond Town Using history and culture as a foundation, the museum explores the roles and lives of men, women, and children throughout the centuries. School tours and workshops are available.
• Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanic Garden Snug Harbor on Staten Island offers four 90-minute outdoor tour varieties: New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden, Wetlands, Snug Harbor Pastoral Grounds and Gardens, and Snug Harbor Heritage Farm. Each tour may be paired with a class; topics include Chinese calligraphy, wetlands, the water cycle and more.
• Staten Island Children's Museum Guided by a museum educator, students will learn through hands-on experience. 
• Staten Island Museum School and educator programs use the Staten Island Museum’s collection and exhibitions to create a forum for ideas, debate, and exchange. Programs at the Museum and in the classroom offer students and teachers an interdisciplinary and hands-on learning experience.
• Staten Island Zoo The Staten Island Zoo offers animal presentations with topics including animals and folklore, ecosystems, rainforest, safaris and more. Traveling zoo programs are also available.

• Education Programs
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Field Trips

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We welcome educators to use these field trips to expose students to New York City’s environment. Be sure to check out Resources for Educators for lesson plan and activity ideas. For more information, contact [email protected] .

Dynamic H20 Exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Dynamic H20 exhibit in the Sussman Environmental Center at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan features hands-on interactives and cool, colorful graphics. It dives into the City’s water supply system, which delivers about 1 billion gallons of water each day to more than 9 million New Yorkers.

The exhibit features a 16-foot interactive water table that enables children to investigate the path of New York City’s water as they play and explore. Additional features include an interactive building designed to help children understand how gravity and pumps are essential in providing water to houses and skyscrapers across the city. Magnetic tubes that can carry water allow visitors to create the aqueducts and tunnels that transport water from watersheds to New York City and understand the roles that people play to help design and construct systems that deliver a plentiful supply of clean water. Children are challenged to piece together enough pipes to span the “100 miles” from the Catskills to the city. Other special features are outdoor laboratories where children can enjoy inquiry-based exploration, assuming the roles of some of the people involved in maintaining New York City’s water resources, including marine biologists, ecologists and other scientists. A wide range of educator-led workshops will take place throughout the exhibit’s run. Participation is free with admission.

For more information, visit the Children’s Museum of Manhattan .

Connected Worlds Exhibition at the New York Hall of Science

Connected Worlds, a groundbreaking exhibition at the New York Hall of Science, immerses visitors in a fantastical universe where they can affect the health of six distinct biomes. All of the biomes share a common resource: water, which flows across the interactive floor from a waterfall, the exhibition’s centerpiece.

Through gestures and manipulation of physical objects, visitors guide water among the worlds, cultivate them and explore how the complex system underlying Connected Worlds works. As visitors interact with plants and creatures, they discover the interconnectedness of the different environments and experience how individual and collective actions can have widespread impact.

The experience affords the opportunity for teachers to help their students understand how systems thinking relates to understanding sustainability and make analogies to better grasp how the complexity of our own world functions.

For more information, visit the Connected Worlds at the New York Hall of Science .

The Relief Map of the New York City Water Supply System at the Queens Museum

The 540 square-foot model represents the living, working landscape of the watersheds that supply New York with one billion gallons of drinking water each day.

For more information, visit The Queens Museum .

Time & the Valleys Museum

The Time & the Valleys Museum is home to the history of the Rondout and Neversink Watersheds and the geographical area encompassing the Tri-Valley Central School District.

For more information, visit the Time & the Valleys Museum .

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24 Best Free Things to Do in NYC

From exploring the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to visiting the former home of Alexander Hamilton, these activities won't cost you a dime.

There's no shortage of cool things to do in New York City, from visiting historic sites to trying some of the best food in the world to filling your camera with photos of the city's magnificent skyline.

Unfortunately, a lot of the best things to do in the Big Apple also happen to cost a big chunk of change. Heading to the top of the Empire State Building, for example, will give you an incredible view of the city, but it will also cost a pretty penny. A visit to Times Square to enjoy a Broadway show may be on most visitors' lists, but tickets for the most popular plays aren't exactly cheap.

Don't fear, as there are plenty of things to do in New York City that don't cost a dime, but still allow you to appreciate its history and culture. These are the 24 best free things to do in NYC.

Ride the Staten Island Ferry.

The Staten Island Ferry is a great way to get close to the Statue of Liberty without the pricey ticket, making it one of the best free things to do in NYC. Grab a good viewing spot and appreciate the skyline from the water as the boat departs from Battery Park. If you choose to hop off the ferry and explore Staten Island, visit Snug Harbor , once a refuge for retired sailors, now a cultural center and botanical garden. It's a bit of a trek (40 minutes on foot or 15 minutes by bus) but well worth it.

Relax in the sand at the city's public beaches.

You don't need to go to the Hamptons to find a good beach near the city. Head to Coney Island to combine the beach with a trip to the amusement park (the Coney Island Cyclone has been around since 1927). Or, travel further down to Brighton Beach, where you can also find some great Eastern European and Russian restaurants. Hop on the ferry for the cost of a MetroCard ticket and make your way to Rockaway Beach, where you can combine a day of sand and surf with good food (like fish tacos from the Rockaway Beach Surf Club ).

Go bird-watching in Central Park.

There are about 210 different species of birds found in Central Park, with many paying a visit to the Big Apple to rest and feed during their spring and fall migrations along the Atlantic Flyway. Bird-watching novices can find tips and a map of the best viewing points around the park in the Central Park Conservancy's Birding Guide .

Check out the public art at Socrates Sculpture Park.

Socrates Sculpture Park is a free outdoor museum set on an abandoned riverside landfill in Astoria, Queens. The public park hosts temporary exhibitions from emerging and internationally renowned artists across its five waterfront acres. Many works are built on-site in a studio space, giving visitors a peek into the creative process. The park is open 365 days a year, and admission is always free. If possible, plan your visit around the special exhibitions or pair it with a stop at the Noguchi Museum , located only a block away.

Pay your respects at the 9/11 Memorial.

The 9/11 Memorial has two reflecting pools, each marking the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. It honors the lives lost during the terrorist attacks on the site in 1993 and 2001. The names of every person who died in those attacks are inscribed on the edge of the memorial pools. The memorial is always free to visit, and the museum is free on Mondays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

See the mausoleums at the Green-Wood Cemetery.

Founded in 1838, the Green-Wood Cemetery is a National Historic Landmark set on 478 landscaped acres in Brooklyn. Now a destination for history, art, and nature lovers, the cemetery is home to one of the largest outdoor collections of 19th- and 20th-century granite and brownstone mausoleums. Several notable artists, politicians, athletes, and musicians are buried here, including Leonard Bernstein and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Entrance to the cemetery is free, though guided trolley tours and special events cost extra. 

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic attractions in New York City, and walking across it gives you a dramatic perspective on its architecture. When the bridge was finished in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Now, the Brooklyn Bridge has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, and it happens to be one of the best places to view the downtown skyline. Go early, as the bridge gets very crowded during the day.

Take a free walking tour.

New York City is full of history, and a walking tour is one of the best ways to experience it from an insider perspective. Sandemans New Europe offers free two-and-a-half-hour tours of downtown Manhattan, covering some of the most notable sites in the city, including the Charging Bull sculpture, Wall Street, and the 9/11 Memorial. While the tours are technically free, tips for the guides are encouraged, so bring some cash.

Let the kids loose in one of the city's inventive playgrounds.

New York City has no shortage of playgrounds for kids to burn off some energy, but some are cooler than others. At Ancient Playground , next to the Metropolitan Museum of Art , kids can explore pyramid-shaped climbers and check out the obelisk and sundial, both inspired by the Met's collection of Egyptian art. The Imagination Playground at Burling Slip , designed by architect David Rockwell, encourages kids to use their imagination with giant foam blocks, fabric, and crates. Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park features playgrounds like the Sandbox Village, where kids can play in little wooden houses in the sand, and the Water Lab, guaranteed to leave them soaking wet and cool on hot summer days.

Hang with farm animals at the Queens County Farm Museum.

Find cows, sheep, pigs, and more at the Queens County Farm Museum , which dates back to 1697 and is one of the longest continuously farmed sites in New York state. Spread out across 47 acres, the museum is free to enter (except on certain event days), and it allows people to learn all about what the area was like before a bustling city sprang up around it.

See Shakespeare in the Park.

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You don't have to fork over a ton of money to see a great theater performance. Each year, the Public Theater hosts Free Shakespeare in the Park , a summer series at the open-air Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The series draws celebrity names and offers the chance to score free tickets for each day's performance through an in-person standby line in Central Park and digital and in-person lotteries.

Tour the Brooklyn Brewery.

Learn the art of making beer during one of Brooklyn Brewery's free tours , offered every hour from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. While you wait, you can sample the beers in the Williamsburg tasting room.

Kayak at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Get out on the water and try kayaking from Brooklyn Bridge Park any Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday during the summer. Even kayaking novices can join in the fun; the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse will teach you all you need to know, and you can paddle around its protected embayment for 20 minutes. Reservations open two weeks in advance, and limited walk-in time slots are available.

Take a tour of the New York Public Library.

The New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in Manhattan has a storied past, touching on some of the most important moments in world history. During World War II, allied military intelligence used the library's Map Division for research, and the library collected materials "from the left and the right" during the McCarthyism era, despite objections. Sex and the City fans may remember it as the setting where Carrie wanted to marry Big. Now, you can visit the iconic institution with a free one-hour tour .

Admire craft creations at the American Folk Art Museum.

Located on the Upper West Side, the American Folk Art Museum is New York City’s only museum dedicated to self-taught artists from the U.S. and beyond. The collection includes more than 7,000 works of art from four centuries, ranging from quilts to portraits to handcrafted board games. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday and offers free admission, but visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance.

Walk around the floating art installation, Little Island.

Michael Lee/Getty Images

Opened in 2021, Little Island is a public park on stilts set on the Hudson River. With concrete "tulips" resembling oversized golf tees propping it up, the park merges art with outdoor recreation. You can stroll its 2.4 acres via pathways that ascend artificial hills and wind through curated gardens. In the summer you're likely to run across live music, comedy, or theater on the island. The (fully accessible) floating urban oasis, located at Pier 55, is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. or later, depending on the season. While shows held at the amphitheater require tickets, entry to Little Island is always free.

Learn about the city's diverse communities at the Bronx Museum of the Arts.

Exploring the intersection of contemporary art and social justice, the Bronx Museum of the Arts strives to reflect the spirit of the borough’s vibrant communities. Founded on the belief that art should be accessible, the museum offers free admission, which includes temporary exhibitions. The 16,000-square-foot building designed by the Miami-based firm Arquitectonica is a work of art in and of itself, with a main gallery, flexible event spaces, an outdoor terrace, and a floor dedicated to education programs.

See Alexander Hamilton's Harlem estate.

Valerie de Leon/Travel + Leisure

Step back in time at Hamilton Grange National Memorial , which features the restored home of Alexander Hamilton. It was completed in 1802, and Hamilton lived there for two years before he was fatally wounded in a duel with his rival, then-vice president Aaron Burr. The house has been relocated twice and moved to its current site within St. Nicholas Park in 2008. You can see the historically furnished floor of The Grange on a free 25-minute guided tour. Reservations are available Wednesday through Sunday on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early to secure a spot.

Channel your inner flower child at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Spend your morning surrounded by roses and water lilies at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden , a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Located on the northeastern edge of Prospect Park, the garden sits on 52 acres of land. Admission is pay-as-you-wish on weekdays from December through February.

Tour the High Line.

The famous High Line, an elevated freight line-turned-popular park, is always free to visit, but you can learn more about the space and its history, design, and landscape on a free, docent-led tour . Tour dates and times vary by season.

Take a fun (and educational) trip to the Brooklyn Children's Museum.

If you have kids between the ages of six months and 10 years old, head to the Brooklyn Children's Museum for an afternoon of engaging and educational hands-on exhibits. The museum is free to visit on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., thanks to its partnership with Amazon.

Step inside one of the world's most beautiful libraries.

The Morgan Library & Museum is home to J.P. Morgan's beautiful private library-turned-museum, a must-visit space for bibliophiles (in addition to the obvious must-visit New York Public Library). It's free to visit on Fridays between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., but reservations are required . Tickets are available one week in advance.

Catch a live taping of an NBC show.

Many NBC shows — Saturday Night Live , The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , and Late Night with Seth Meyers — are filmed at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. And if you're willing to put in some effort, you can score a free seat in the studio audience. Each show has its own system, from lotteries to standby lines, for distributing tickets to the live tapings. Check out NBC's website for the full list of shows and instructions for landing a coveted seat.

Watch a movie in Bryant Park.

Rounding out this list of free things to do in NYC is a seasonal favorite. Every summer, Bryant Park hosts its free Movie Nights series. Bring some popcorn and candy (or buy some beer and wine), lay down a blanket, and settle in for an open-air screening. Arrive early, as it gets crowded — the lawn opens at 5 p.m. for blankets and picnicking, and the movie starts at 8 p.m.

Related Articles

35 Lesson Plans and Activities to Prepare for a New York City School Trip

How can I make a trip to New York City more educational?

New York City is the perfect learning ground for a variety of focus topic areas. Architecture, foreign language, geography, immigration, history, foreign policy, music, acting, city planning, and more can all be explored in-depth and with hands-on activities on a New York City school trip.

Begin exploring your focus topic prior to departure with these New York City specific lesson plans. Learning in advance of the trip will deepen student engagement and add greater meaning to the travel experience.  Select one focus topic and devote a full day, week, or semester to the study of the topic. Consider collaborating with other teachers to make it a unit.

These lesson plans can help get you started.

Lesson   Plans

9/11 Memorial Lesson Plans – Topics include: 

• Days of Infamy
• Global Responses to 9/11
• The Heroic Actions of the Passengers of Flight 93
• Honoring Our Heroes
• Geology of Lower Manhattan
• Creating a Memorial Museum
• 9/11 Memorials Around the World

The United Nations Lesson Plans – Topics include: 

• History, Structure, and Accomplishments of the United Nations
• The Role of the United Nations – Writing Exercise
• Introduction to the United Nations
• Rights Auction
• Function of the United Nations – Powerpoint
• Peacebuilding: Taking Home Lessons Learned in Africa
• Model UN Courses

New York City Subway System Lesson Plans 

New York City Architecture Lesson Plans – Topics Include:

• Higher and Higher: Amazing Skyscrapers
• What is a Skyscraper?  + Activity
• Designing a Skyscraper + Activity
• Building a Skyscraper  + Activity
• Changes in a City Over Time
• Empire State Building Run-Up

Immigration in America Lesson Plans via the Tenement Museum – Topics Include: 

• Oral Histories
• Primary Sources
• Historical Objects

Foreign Language Acquisition Tools (Free) – Topics Include:

• Italian  – Use in Little Italy !
• Mandarin – Use in Chinatown !

  Musical Theatre Lesson Plans – Topics Include :

• Musical Theatre Components
• Introduction to Musical Theatre
• Learning Through Musical Theatre
• Adapting a Musical
• Les Miserables, Oliver!, Andrew Lloyd Weber Musical Theater Worksheet

City Planning Lesson Plans – Topics Include:

• American Planning Association Lesson Plans
• Urban Growth in America
• Power Builders: Leaders And Cities
• Simulated Urban Planning

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STEM Experiences for a Student Trip to New York City

Class trips to New York are some of the best opportunities to bring math, science, and engineering to life outside the classroom. A city of skyscrapers, New York is a showcase for unparalleled architecture, design, and technology innovation. Here are six museums in New York City to add to your next STEM school trip itinerary.

1) The Intrepid Museum

The Intrepid Museum has specialized programs for STEM field trips that focus on Earth and Space Science, Energy, and Engineering. It also offers rich history lessons.

If you haven’t already, check out our recent post highlighting some of the virtual exhibits the Intrepid Museum has to offer.

2) Museum of Mathematics 

MoMath has begun offering virtual field trips for up to 96 students during the Covid-19 pandemic. If you’re interested, check out a listing of their online field trip descriptions here .

3) American Museum of Natural History

If you aren’t interested in an add-on experience, the museum also provides a printable Self-Guided Tour for you and your group.

4) New York Hall of Science

If you’re looking to get started at home, check out their At-Home STEM Resources .

5) South Street Seaport Museum

• Sailor’s Pi: Ship Tour and Activities (Geometry)
• Haul Away: Simple Machines on Tall Ships (Simple Machines and Energy)
• Bridges and Ferries (Physics and Engineering)
• Dockside Ecology (Ecology and Geography)
• Float Your Boat (Physics)

6) Hudson River Museum

While working from home, be sure to check out the museum’s At Home Resource guide .

Interested in learning more about a school trip to New York City ? Talk to one of our Student Travel Consultants to create a customized itinerary, and be sure to ask about one of these STEM locations as well!

Originally published July 2020, updated March 2021

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6 Coolest High School Senior Trip Ideas: NYC

New York City is arguably the most exciting city in the world, and when planning a high school senior trip to New York , it can be easy to get lost with the countless attractions and places to do and see. It would take months if not years to truly experience New York at its fullest, but with only a few days, you want to make sure every minute counts.

Here are the 6 coolest ideas and places to visit for any high school senior class trip to New York City:

• The Statue of Liberty
• Central Park
• Little Italy
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Times Square
• Six Flags Great Adventure

Read below as we dive into each place, explaining exactly what makes these locations awesome choices for a high school senior trip!

1) The Statue of Liberty

One of the best parts about visiting Liberty Island and Ellis Island is that it gives you a chance to take your seniors out on a ferry, which might be a first for many of them. While you can take your seniors to both islands on your own, there are plenty of guided tours available that run daily.

And if you’re really trying to get your money’s worth, this area is actually one of six stops on the official New York City Pass, which includes the 9/11 Memorial building. This symbol of freedom, hope, and new beginnings is a must-see, and for high school seniors, the trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is one they’ll never forget.

• Visitors were once permitted to climb up to the torch, until the Black Tom incident in 1916, when the Black Tom island was blasted by 2 million tons of TNT and similar explosives
• The “spikes” on top of the statue’s crown are actually supposed to represent a halo
• The statue was originally the color of a penny, and turned greenish-blue after its first 20 years

2) Central Park

With ball fields, skating rinks, meadows, hills, playgrounds, and awesome attractions like the Central Park Zoo, Belvedere Castle, and Strawberry Fields, you can spend an entire week roaming the destination and not see the same thing twice.

Be sure to begin your trip by picking up a free offer map from the visitor center. It’s then up to you and your class to decide if you want to explore it on your own with a walking route, or join up with one of the many daily tours.

So what can you do specifically? If you are looking for more than just a nice walk through nature in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world, the area offers a ton of activities to do and places to explore, such as:

• Central Park Zoo: Over 100 animal species from various ecosystems and habitats call the Central Park Zoo home. From penguins to monkeys, polar bears to red pandas the Delacorte Clock to the 4D Theater, you will have an awesome time at this zoo.
• Conservatory Garden: With thousands upon thousands of shrubs and trees, the Conservatory Garden is the true “formal garden”, with a calmer and more peaceful atmosphere than the rest of the area. This six-acre space is a frequent venue for weddings and other formal events, with sections divided for English, Italian, and French style gardens.
• Loeb Boathouse: With the lake comes its own boathouse, where you can have a nice meal or drink at the restaurant by the water’s edge, or even rent your own boat and take a tour on the lake itself.

Fun Facts:  

• It used to be a place of rocks, swamps, and terrible soil. About half a million cubic feet of soil was imported from the closest place they could find great soil – New Jersey
• Due to budget cuts, the Park has had a few decades where mismanagement and bureaucratic issues contributed to the location almost falling into chaos, in the 30s and the 70s. Thankfully, fundraising bodies kept it alive through tough times
• It was once home to thousands of sheep in the large Sheep Meadow area, from the 1860s until just after the Great Depression

3) Little Italy

New York Italians played a huge part in shaping New York as we know it today, and there is nothing more Italian American than Little Italy. The neighborhood got its name due to the many Sicilian and Neapolitan immigrants that moved into the area in the 1880s. That Italian influence has lived on, morphing into a uniquely Italian New York experience that you can’t see, feel, or taste anywhere else.

So what is there to see and do in Little Italy? While Little Italy has recently shrunk because of the expansion of Chinatown, there is still plenty of Italian American authenticity to be seen and tasted down these streets to make all tourists on trips more than content. Some popular places include:

• Di Palo’s: Di Palo’s is a grocery store that many consider the heart of Italian New York living. Just stepping in and taking a whiff of the air in the store is enough to breathe in an entire culture, with prosciutto bread, hand pulled mozzarella, and many other staple ingredients that make this place one of the few grocery stores that regularly has a line outside the door.
• Grotta Azzurra: If you only have time for one restaurant for the “true Italian American experience”, then you’ve got to check out Grotta Azzurra. With a bustling atmosphere with bright lights and loud guests, this restaurant is a memorial, perfectly capturing the family-friendly attitude while serving up rustic and classic dishes that you won’t forget.
• Italian American Museum: If you are looking for more than just food, the Italian American Museum is a must-see, with a photo gallery of the history and life of Little Italy. Unfortunately, the venue is currently under renovation and won’t be open until Spring 2021.
• Rossi E and Company: Italian gifts, souvenirs, and novelties. For tourists looking to take home a piece of Little Italy with them, Rossi E and Company offers much better souvenirs than a perfect breadstick from your favorite Italian restaurant.
• Little Italy’s Lombardi’s Pizza is known as the first official US pizzeria, first opening its doors back in 1905
• That spaghetti and meatballs dish you love so much? That was actually an invention of Little Italy’s southern Italian population!
• The Italian American Museum is home to the famous Matteo family puppet shows, which entertained residents and visitors of New York from the 1920s to the 1950s

4) Metropolitan Museum of Art

What’s great about the Met is that it has something for every senior in your class – no matter what part of history interests them the most, the Met has something to show. There is no other place on earth where you can experience tours on Egyptian tombs, Renaissance paintings, and Japanese samurai armor in a single day.

With thousands of pieces to see, it can be easy to get lost and miss the most popular attractions. Here are three rooms you need to explore during any Met trips. But with so many things to see, we advise you take several trips if you have the time:

• Asian Art Collection: The Asian Art Collection takes up several mezzanine galleries, and for good reason. Displaying Asian art over various centuries and cultures, your senior students can see depictions of Asian life, culture, and religion (particularly Buddha) over huge spans of recorded human history. One stand-out piece is the “Water Stone” fountain by Isamu Noguchi.
• The Temple of Dendur: Step into the only complete Egyptian Temple you can find in the Western Hemisphere at the Temple of Dendur. Originally built over 2000 years ago in ancient Egypt, the temple was disassembled after it was flooded, and given to the United States as a gift of recognition for their assistance.
• The Greek and Roman Sculpture Court: As a hallmark of Western civilization, no senior student will ever find themselves bored surrounded by Greek and Roman sculptures and statues. This two-story hall is filled with objects from the ancient Greek and Roman empires, with statues, fountains, and an Etruscan chariot.
• One of the many historical artifacts in the Met is the oldest surviving piano in the world. This piano made by Bartolomeo Cristofori – the original Italian inventor of the piano – was built in 1720
• Do your senior students love fashion? The Met is home to perhaps the biggest fashion-history collection in the world, with over 33,000 historical and cultural pieces of clothing and accessories from all over the world
• The NYC Met is one of the most popular museums in the world, with recent reports revealing over 7 million people taking trips to visit annually

5) Times Square

Aside from the glitz and glamour of Broadway, shopping, and awesome billboards, there are tons of attractions and things a group of eager students can see and do in what is known as the “crossroads of the world”.

Enjoy food from all over the world from one of the many NYC food trucks and food stands around the area; sit in on a taping of a popular talk show; listen to the gospel choir at the Times Square Church; interact with the many costumed cartoon characters like Elmo; check out the midnight moment, or the greatest digital art exhibition in the world from 11:57 to midnight every night.

Need more ideas on what to do? Check out the official NYC Information Center for Times Square here .

• Times Square was originally known as Longacre Square, but was renamed to Times Square when The New York Times moved its main offices to the area in 1904
• There is a law that states that every building around Times Square must have a certain minimum display lighting at all times, to maintain the flashy and glitzy look
• The biggest crowd Times Square has ever seen was two million people, when people gathered in the square to celebrate the end of World War II on August 14, 1945

6) Six Flags Great Adventure

Located just between NYC and Philadelphia, Six Flags Great Adventure has 13 rollercoasters and 2 water rides, and operates for most of the year, between March and January.

• The NYC destination first opened in 1974, and was bought by Six Flags in 1977
• There are eleven themed areas in the park, including Fantasy Forest, the Golden Kingdom, Boardwalk, and more
• Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari is the second in size only to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, taking up over 475 acres

Plan Your High School Senior Trip with Junior Tours

Thinking of planning a high school senior class trip or tour to NYC (or anywhere else), and feeling a little lost? Junior Tours is here to help! We’ve been assisting schools, teachers, and classes for decades, taking care of all the essentials to create the perfect school tours and trips.

Whether you are heading to New York, Washington D.C., Canada, or even abroad, we can help you from top to bottom, managing everything from your accommodations to your transportation and even layout every step of your itinerary. We’ll help you plan trips to historic and cultural hearts of the city, from the 9/11 Memorial building to Broadway and everything in between.

Contact us at Junior Tours today , and let us help you create a trip and tour your senior class will never forget!

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Exploring NYC Field Trips

Nyc day trip 1.

Focuses on music related activities in Harlem.

NYC DAY TRIP 2

Features hip-hop and technology related activities.

NYC DAY TRIP 3

Focuses on higher education and the history of Harlem.

NYC DAY TRIP 4

Features NYC’s historic sports and performance arenas.

ROCKEFELLER CENTER CHRISTMAS PACKAGE

Experience a fun-filled day at Rockefeller Center which includes a backstage tour of Radio City Music Hall.

RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS PACKAGE

Partake in a magical day of fun and unique experiences surrounding the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Show.

Book a trip to secure your spot today!

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New York City Classic Class Trip Itinerary

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New York City, New York Classic Class Trip

There is so much to do in the “big apple” it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the endless options, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. we have a classic itinerary that provides a solid foundation for your students’ very first visit to nyc.

Sample Itinerary: 3 Days/2 Nights

Choose from the optional attractions below OR customize to your preferred attractions, meals and more! 

Departure (Motorcoach, Flight, Ferry, Train Transportation) 

Optional Add On Boxed Lunch 

Visit Rockefeller Center

Backstage Radio City Music Hall Tour

Exploration of Fifth Avenue 

Group Sit Down Dinner

Hotel Accommodations (2 Nights) 

Overnight Security Provided (2 Nights) 

Day Two 

National September 11 Memorial & Museum 

Lunch Voucher 

Subway Ride

American Natural History Museum 

Central Park 

Group Sit Down Dinner 

Empire State Building Observatory

Statue Cruises- Battery Park, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island 

Times Square Exploration 

Boxed Sandwich Lunch

Optional Group Sit-Down Dinner

Add Additional Nights Or Destinations To Your Package! 

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NEW YORK Field Trips

To help plan MAY curriculum focused classroom activities, field trips and school assembly programs, these May themed celebrations might be a helpful focus. Monthly : National Inventors Month. May 6-10 : Teacher Appreciation Week. May 3 : World Press Freedom Day. May 5 : Cinco de Mayo. Museum Lover’s Day. National Space Day. May 6 : Herb Day . National Fitness Day . May 8 : World Red Cross Day. May 12 : National Limerick Day. May 13 : International Migratory Bird Day. May 16 : Love a Tree Day. Do Something Good for your Neighborhood. May 17 : National Endangered Species Day. May 18 : International Astronomy Day. May 22 : National Maritime Day. May 28 : Amnesty International Day. May 29 : Learn About Composting Day. May 30 : International Jazz Day. May 31 : National Smile Day. CLICK on the ACTIVITY FILTER below for activity type of field trips to learn about. For those unable to travel to these locations, have the fun come to you. Check out the Outreach Field Trips & School Assembly Programs  section.

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5 Wits Syracuse

Explore immersive environments while putting your teamwork to the test at 5 Wits Syracuse! Be in the middle of the action with interactive challenges and puzzles!

Adventureland

Adventureland has rides for everyone—from Long Island’s only spinning coaster, Turbulence, and water rides like Adventure Falls Log Flume to kiddie rides like the Tea Cups and the Alfie Express.

Adventurers Family Amusement Park

Open since 1966, Adventurers Amusement Park, formerly Nellie Bly, is the perfect place to enjoy a fun day for your group field trip or family outing in Brooklyn.

American Airpower Museum

Located in a landmarked hangar of the former Republic Aircraft factory, the American Airpower Museum is an ideal setting to introduce grade 6-12 students to the role US military aviation played in during World War II.

Area 53 NYC

Area 53 NYC- 3 locations – triple the fun. Choose between Adventure Park, Indoor Paintball and Laser Tag. Field Trips and Parties for school, scout, camp0, homeschool groups and family celebrations.

Ausable Chasm

Otherwise known as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks, Ausable Chasm offers groups a wide range of outdoor adventures for students, scouts, homeschoolers, and campers.

Bailiwick Animal Park and Riding Stables

Family owned for over 60 yrs, Ba iliwick Animal Park and Riding Stables has an Animal Park with 30 exhibits of domestic & exotic animals. Scenic Mountain trail and pony rides. Also, paintball, camping, birthday parties and a traveling mobile zoo.

Buffalo Boat Tours

Buffalo Boat Tours operates Harbor Queen and Spirit of Buffalo.  Harbor queen is a double decker specializing in History Tours.  Take part in a field trip with hands on nautical science programming aboard the City’s Flagship, Spirit of Buffalo.

Camp Herrlich

Camp Wilbur Herrlich operates a dynamic learning and leadership center for all ages by providing positive recreational and outdoor educational programs.

Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts

Experience music, history, horticulture, architecture, and art at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. Take a tour of the historic Rosen House and a lovely stroll through the bucolic gardens.

Children’s Museum at Saratoga

The Children’s Museum of Saratoga provides an interactive space. Exhibits on the first floor include a look at pond life, the art studio, a tree house, and the science center. Upstairs, groups can explore the miniature town complete with a bank, construction zone, diner, and schoolhouse.

Children’s Museum of Science & Technology

The Children’s Museum of Science & Technology (CMOST) focuses on science and technology. The museum features eight interactive exhibits and six exhibits for groups to explore and engage with STEAM learning. 

FieldTripdirectory.com offers enriching experiences for New York school groups, scout groups, homeschool groups, camp groups and families at New York Museums.

New York Museums offer field trips that offer hands-on exhibits, guided tours and guided activities for early childhood through high school grades. New York Art Museums , Science Museums , History Museums , Multicultural Museums and Children’s Museums offers educational experiences that support classroom curriculum and scout badge achievement. Beside museums, you can search for other learning experiences at Botanical Gardens, Planetariums, Living History Programs, STEM & STEAM, Planetariums, Farms, Zoos and Aquariums, Theaters and Concerts, Service Learning and more.

Can’t go on a field trip to a museum, your students, scouts, and families can still experience these fun enriching experience by scheduling a  Museum Virtual Field Trip  anywhere and at anytime.

Want the fun to come to you- book a  School Assembly Programs, Outreach Field Trips or Residency  at your school, homeschool association or scout council. They support and enhance a school’s curriculum, offers opportunities for scout badge achievement and enriches a camp program. There are mobile museum exhibits, traveling planetariums and classroom and grade level workshops and residencies.

To help fund field trips, virtual programs and school assembly programs visit our section on  Grants  and  Fundraising Programs .

FieldTripDirectory.com (formerly ClassTrips.com and CampDirectorsResources.com) offers field trip ideas for class trips, scout group trips, camp group field trips, and homeschool group field trips in New York—early childhood through college. Search for class trips in New York by by group type, cost, activity/curriculum type, grade level, distance, and venue name or keyword. Day class trips are divided by curriculum and subject area:

• ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Find New York art museums, theater, dance, and music concert field trips.
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• LIFE SKILLS Find New York team building field trips, health & safety exhibits, and character education experiences.
• SCIENCE & NATURE Find New York aquariums, botanical gardens, environmental studies & nature centers, farms & mazes, planetariums, science museums, STEAM & STEM field trips, dinosaur exhibits, and zoos.
• RECREATION Find New York field trip ideas for adventure parks, ropes courses, ziplines, boat excursions, amusement parks, waterparks, kayaking, rafting, tubing, laser tag paintball, roller skating rinks, ice-skating rinks, mini-golf attractions, indoor amusement & recreation centers, and outdoor amusement & recreation centers.

Overnight field trips include trips to NYC, trips to Boston, trips to Philadelphia, trips to Washington, DC, trips to Chicago, trips to Atlanta, trips to Austin, and other historic cities throughout the US. Retreats are available for environmental education, team building, and recreation. We created field trip lesson plans to help teachers, scout leaders, camp counselors, and homeschool parents provide an enriching experience for their groups. We know funds for class trips are limited, so we’ve included grants for field trips that cover admission, transportation, and more. It’s important that students and youth explore new environments, learn about other cultures, and develop an understanding of inclusivity as part of the educational process. People learn in different ways—through hearing, seeing, touching, talking, or doing. Class trips can provide a multi-dimensional learning experience. FieldTripDirectory.com can help you find the right trip for your group. A world of experiences is just a click away at FieldTripDirectory.com.

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New York City Class Trip

New York City reigns supreme as a top destination for class trips and performance groups.  There’s so much to see and do, it’s hard to squeeze it all in.  Here are just a few highlights…

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is great for student groups.  It’s a one stop shop for the best of NYC.  The observation deck at Top of the Rock is usually less crowded than the Empire State Building and offers a stunning, unobstructed view of the city.  The NBC Studios tour is popular with students and tons of fun.  If traveling during the winter months, a stop at the ice rink is a must.  If traveling during the holidays, the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center is a spectacular must-see!

One World Observatory

One World Observatory at the Westfield World Trade Center is another favorite stop.  SkyPod elevators climb 102 stories in 42 seconds for a view like none other!

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum offers a rare opportunity for the youth of today to interact with the heroes of the past.  Precious few years remain that will allow younger generations to spend time face to face with those who served on ships like the Intrepid.  Capture these teachable moments before they slip away.

Lower East Side Tenement Museum and Ellis Island

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum is a landmark building that tells the story of immigrants to New York City between the 19 th and 21 st centuries through the personal experiences of those who lived here.  Couple this experience with a trip to Ellis Island to help students understand the role of immigration in our nation’s evolving identity.

Staten Island Ferry

If you want a great harbor view (and photo op!) of the Statue of Liberty , take your students on the Staten Island Ferry .  Leaving approximately every 20 minutes from Battery Park, the free ferry takes you right past the Statue.

Dough and DeKalb Market

NYC has some“sweet” spots.  A favorite is “Dough,” located in Brooklyn and the Flatiron District .  Dough is known for its legendary and mouthwatering doughnuts.  DeKalb Market in Brooklyn is also a great option for all kinds of local flavor – students can taste a little bit of everything!

Manhattan Concert Productions

Your ensemble can perform on stage in famous venues with exceptional guest faculty when you collaborate with Manhattan Concert Productions .  They offer experiences you won’t find anywhere else, including the following: Symphonic Series New York City Jazz Festival Masterwork Series These are just a few of the performance possibilities offered through Manhattan Concert Productions, whose goal is to help your group shine brightly in a professional and supportive setting.

The Town Hall has a 1500 seat theatre and hosts thousands of students each year.  It’s designated a National Historic Landmark because of the important role it played during the women’s suffrage movement – a unique way to combine history and performance in a place where there’s “not a bad seat in the house.”

Broadway Classroom and Disney Theatrical Workshop

If your goal is to make your students more comfortable and confident on stage, you may want to consider a workshop experience like Broadway Classroom or Disney Theatrical Workshop. Broadway Classroom is a series of workshops designed to engage students in the disciplines of theatre.  Popular workshops include Broadway basics, music, choreography and staging, the business of a Broadway career, professional Q & As and an anti-bullying themed class.  Workshops are typically 90 minutes and are held in the Broadway rehearsal studios. If your group wants to dig a little deeper into the art of the theatre, try a Disney Theatrical Workshop .  Running at an itinerary-friendly 90 minutes, these workshops are led by expert Disney Teaching Artists and allow the group to explore the mechanics of a performance – from on stage to behind the scenes.

Our itineraries are just a starting point for your adventure.  We work directly with you to create a student trip that’s perfect for your group.  If you want a unique performance or learning experience, we make it happen. Do you need to change days or add an attraction?  

Day 1:     

• Arrive in New York City and meet your “full-scope” tour director
• Rockefeller Plaza
• Radio City Music Hall Tour
• Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building

Day 2:     

• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
• Chinatown and Little Italy
• 9/11 Memorial
• Times Square
• Broadway show

Day 3:     

• American Museum of Natural History
• New York TV & Movie Sites
• Guided Manhattan Tour
• Guided Midtown Tour
• Depart for home

I have been traveling with Kaleidoscope for 19 years and still continue to be impressed by their expertise and willingness to go the extra mile to make my trip a success!

Christy Hauert

Our trip was a great success! Everything was well throughout and organized. I am very pleased with the level of care that went in to our trip becoming a success. Thank you!

Darcie Bishop

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NYC School Field Trip Itinerary

Among the hundreds of school trips we’ve coordinated transportation for,  New York City  remains one of the top destinations. It’s an epicenter of culture, history, and entertainment that’s perfect for middle-school students all the way to high-school seniors.

Not sure which of NYC’s sites to prioritize on your next  class trip ? We’ve compiled a list below of our customers’ must-see attractions, museums, restaurants and more to make your trip planning simpler.

Book with us for an easy and stress-free experience on your next trip.

Getting to (and through) NYC by Charter Bus

Though some schools we work with are within driving distance from the big city, most groups fly into  John F. Kennedy  or  LaGuardia  Airport. Because New York has such limited parking, most hotels near the heart of the city don’t provide complimentary airport shuttles. Even when shuttles are provided, they’re crowded and small, making traveling with hyper students a challenge.

To simplify your hotel and airport transportation (and to avoid students and chaperones getting lost), rent a private  charter bus  for your group. Depending on the specifics of your trip, the cost of a  full-sized charter bus  may run between $1,200 and 1,700 per day in NYC, which averages out to only $20-30 per passenger. The peace of mind that comes from knowing that your students, faculty, and chaperones are safe in the Big Apple is priceless.

Though every school has its own unique itinerary based on their curriculum and personal preferences, we’ve put together a sample itinerary below with the destinations that frequent our customers’ itineraries. Feel free to use this as a starting point for your own trip to NYC!

Ride from your hotel to the biggest green space in the city-- Central Park . Give your students enough time to ride the Carousel, take a picture with the Alice in Wonderland statue, and wander around the 36-acre park. Hold off on visiting the Central Park Zoo, though--we’ll come back for the lions and tigers and bears on Day 3!

After a few hours of leisure time, meet at the American Museum of Natural Science to see fossils, cultural artifacts, meteorites, plants, animals, and more up close. It’s one of the largest museums in the world, so be prepared to do plenty of walking during your tour.

Central Park S (Columbus Circle)

Address: 59th St 8th ave

Phone: (212) 360-3444

American Museum of Natural Science

Address: Central Park West & 79th St, New York, NY 10024

Phone: (212) 769-5100

Since your feet will likely be sore after park and museum tours, ask your bus driver to meet you at Theodore Roosevelt Park and drop you off at your next stop: St. Patrick’s Cathedral .

The neo-gothic-style church was built in the 1800s and is a beautiful piece of religious architecture among the concrete jungle. Allow students to reverently explore the cathedral on their own, or stick around for a guided tour.

If time allows, swing around to the famed Rockefeller Center for a climb up to the Top of the Rock . Next, head to Times Square for shopping, people watching, and dinner at an iconic restaurant like Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Address: 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022

Phone: (212) 753-2261

Rockefeller Center

Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111

Phone: (212) 588-8601

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Address: 1501 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

Phone: (212) 391-7100

You can’t leave New York City without catching a Broadway show! Check the current showings and provide your students with several age-appropriate options to choose from. Designate a meeting place nearby where your driver can pick up your group after the last performance ends.

Broadway Theatre

Address: 1681 Broadway, New York, NY 10019

Phone: (212) 239-6200  

Start your day early and head to Battery Park. From there, you’ll take a ferry to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty in all its glory. Before you head back to the mainland, stop by Ellis Island to visit the Immigration Museum so your students can learn about the experiences of more than 12 million immigrants who entered the U.S. through New York City.

Battery Park

Address: 75 Battery Pl, New York City, NY 10280-1500

Phone: (212) 417-2000

Statue of Liberty

Address: Liberty Island, New York City, NY

Phone: (212) 363-3200

Immigration Museum

Address: Battery Park, New York City, NY 10017

Phone: (212) 883-1986

From Battery Park, walk a short distance to the 9/11 Memorial for an unforgettable tour of both tragedy and hope. Allow students to wander around the museum and park for a time of remembrance.

If your students are learning about the U.S. economy, the Museum of American Finance and the Federal Reserve are great destinations to include in your itinerary and are walking distance from the 9/11 Memorial.

The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Address: 180 Greenwich St, World Trade Center, New York City, NY 10007-0089

Phone: (212) 312-8800

Museum of American Finance

Address: 48 Wall St, New York, NY 10005

Phone: (212) 908-4110

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Address: 33 Liberty St, New York, NY 10045

Phone: (212) 720-6130

Chinatown has plenty of fun and delicious restaurants like Great NY Noodletown for students to choose from for dinner.  It’s a scenic 20-30 minute walk from Wall Street, and you’ll pass by the Brooklyn Bridge along the way. Even if you opt to take your charter bus to Chinatown, your driver will be more than happy to let your group stop at Pier 17 for photos of the bridge!

Great NY Noodletown

Address: 28 Bowery, New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 349-0923

Address: 89 South St, New York, NY 10038

Phone: (212) 732-8257

Ride to the High Line first thing in the morning for a brisk walk along 1.45 miles of urban greenery and views of the NYC skyline. Ask your charter bus driver to pick your group up at the end of the walk so you can head straight to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. By this point, you’ll be thankful for those cushioned bus seats and air conditioning!

The High Line

Address: 91 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014

Phone: (212) 206-9922

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Address: 234 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036

Phone: (212) 512-9600

Once you’ve gotten a selfie with all of your favorite wax celebrities, grab lunch at a nearby restaurant like Planet Hollywood . Walk or ride to the Museum of Modern Art on 53rd Street where your students will see incredible contemporary sculptures, paintings, photography, architecture, illustrations, and more.

Planet Hollywood

Address: 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

Phone: (212) 333-7827

Museum of Modern Art

Address: 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

Phone: (212) 708-9400

For your class’s final destination, head right back to where it all started: Central Park. Visit the Central Park Zoo for a fun and educational experience to tie everything together.

Central Park Zoo

Address: E 64th St & 5th Ave, New York, NY 10021

Phone: (718) 220-5100

It’s our sincerest hope that your school’s class trip to NYC is unforgettable, safe, and fun. Use this itinerary as a starting point, but feel free to customize it with your own top destinations.

When you call our reservation staff at 718-233-4319 , they’ll gather your information including your itinerary, how many passengers you’ll have, the dates of your trip, and more. This will help them craft an accurate and affordable estimate for your group’s trip.

Looking for more NYC itinerary ideas? Check out our guides to birthday celebrations , family reunions , and museums in NYC. We can’t wait to help you plan your next trip!

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School Trips to New York

New York is probably one of the most exciting cities in the world and certainly one of our most popular school trips. Arguably the capital of the USA for finance, art, music and theatre, the Big Apple offers an exhilarating cultural experience suited to a variety of cross-curricular tours. Whether your students are interested in a trip down Wall Street, visiting popular sites like The Empire State Building or fascinated by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, there’s something exciting (and educational) around every corner!

Take your Students to one of the Most Exciting Cities in the World with Voyager's School Trips to New York

As one of our most popular school trip destinations, New York delights at every turn with its vast array of cultural offerings. Perfect for students learning everything from business and economics to art and design , a school trip to The Big Apple will fail to disappoint with its electric atmosphere. Famed for its tall buildings and illustrious landscape, New York houses some of the world's most renowned sights including The Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty and the ever-popular Times Square. Our school trips to New York are packed full of fun and educational activities that will immerse your students in American culture and stay with your class long after the trip is over.

View our New York City School Trip

School Trips to New York for Business & Economic Students

Business and economics students can take in the USA’s capital of finance, where the world’s stock and trade market is constantly awake. Take a walk down the famous Wall Street and Downtown Manhattan, past the World Trade Center to capture a snapshot of just how busy the life of a trader is.

The heart of the financial district is home to some of the world’s most renowned banks including Goldman Sachs and J.P Morgan, as well as New York’s infamous stock exchange building. The NYSE is a must-see for anyone interested in the world of finance. These provide the perfect backdrop for the cultural and historical learnings of the United States’ financial and economic climate, that will give your students a glimpse into the hustle and bustle of the big league finance world.

School Trips to New York for Art & Design Students

Art and design students will find the appeal of New York and its fantastic galleries, hard to beat. With so many options for inspiration, it can be hard to know where to start! Home to The Guggenheim Museum and one of the most famous museums in the world, and most visited in America, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, your art and design students can experience the beautifully constructed sculptures of Constantin Brancusi and the mesmeric paintings of Pablo Picasso including “Woman with Yellow Hair”. A truly remarkable experience, even students of other subjects will appreciate the Met’s expansive collection of paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and more.

Marvel in the exquisite artistry of Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol with wonderful exhibitions on display at The Museum of Modern Art. Close to Central Park, the MoMA is the perfect gallery to take your students shortly before stopping by the United States' most visited urban park.

School Trips to New York for Music & Drama Students

Music and drama students can visit New York’s Broadway and delight in the spectacle of one of the many shows The Big Apple has to offer. Broadway is a fantastic way for students to learn about theatre, as well as a great way to understand more about New York City’s history, culture and people. Take your students on a guided tour of the Broadway theatre and see how the productions are put together, or go to a show and experience the production first-hand. Either way, your class can learn more about the creative process and how Broadway shows are run! Long-running shows such as The Lion King and The Phantom of the Opera are instant classics that will be certain favourites with your students.

New York is also famous for its various filming locations such as Grand Central Station, New York Public Library and The Empire State Building, all accessible by foot and instantly recognisable to film, television and media enthusiasts. Take your students to must-see destinations and well-known architectural achievements to gaze upon the Art Deco style and beautiful design.

What you Can Expect from Us

We understand that a school trip should be the perfect mix of education, immersion and fun! Our school trips to New York can offer all of the above, and our team will work with you throughout the whole process to ensure your trip meets the whole curriculum and requirements you need. At Voyager, we specialise in creating and organising bespoke trips that will inspire your students to pursue and experience their favourite subjects through real-world exposure to the destinations and attractions with these subjects at the heart.

Whether you want to focus on Drama, Art, Music, Business, History or any other subject, you can be sure that your students will return home with a great amount of knowledge as well as fantastic memories to always cherish!

Book Your School Trip To New York Today

Are you interested in a school trip to New York? Enrich your curriculum and give your students an opportunity to learn outside of the classroom in one of the world’s most popular destinations. Click the button below to request a quote! Our expert team are ready to answer any questions you may have, contact us today.

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Discover the 'big apple' with a school trip to New York

Our bespoke itineraries for school trips to New York are packed with sightseeing experiences while giving your students plenty of time to take in the culture and buzz of one of the most famous cities in the world. Why not incorporate a number of cities across the USA into one trip?

Cross-curricular school trip to New York

We have so many exciting experiences waiting for your students in the Big Apple

History & politics school trip to Washington, D.C.

Uncover the politics and history at the heart of the buzzing US capital

Let our expertise lead you through the empire state

New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world and certainly one of our most popular school trip destinations. A leader in finance, art, music and theatre; the Big Apple is a melting pot of activity.

Besides the standard sights you'll want to see, we specialise in curriculum-driven business and economics trips, including guided walks of the financial district giving students an insight into the history and present-day activities of this financial mecca. We also specialise in art and drama trips to New York, including enriching Broadway workshops for your students to delve into.

Our accommodation is ideally located for visiting many of the famous landmarks and attractions on foot. Highlights for school groups include experiencing a live show on Broadway and visiting the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Need help booking and organising your school trip to New York?

We have created a number of useful guides that can help you plan and book your next school trip with Voyager School Travel.

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Why choose Voyager School Travel for your school trip to New York?

You are in specialist hands

Our team use their teaching, language & destination experience to organise educational trips that are not only enriching but hassle-free.  Read more →

Safety assured, bonded & accredited

As a member of the School Travel Forum & protected through ABTA & ATOL you can be sure of our high standards.  Read more →

Trusted by teachers

Schools trust Voyager School Travel to organise the educational trips for over 32,000 passengers a year.  Read more →

We deliver the educational elements

Signature educational experiences with our own language & activity instructors allow  teachers to enjoy the trip too.  Read more →

Stay at our own residential centres

Groups staying at our own residential centres in France will benefit from high quality learning, safety & service. Read more →

Our own overseas teams

Peace of mind knowing our French m anagers, instructors, coach drivers & support team will look after your every need. Read more →

For teachers who are serious about the educational outcomes of their school trip.

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Senior Class Trip to New York

The state of New York is quite large, but most high school senior trips are to New York City, the largest and most cosmopolitation metropolis in the United States. NYC is a popular destination for graduates because there is so much to see and do in the Big Apple. For students that live in other regions, a senior trip to New York City could be the adventure of a lifetime. Whereas for students in or near the American Northeast, NYC is a relatively economical senior trip option, compared to a tropical destination for example. While hotels in Manhattan can be pricey, there are more affordable accommodations in outlying areas. And few  senior trip travel destinations  compare to the plethora of sights, activitities and eateries available in New York City.

Popular NYC Attractions for Grads

Statue of liberty cruises.

High school seniors can choose between a jet-powered boat tour around New York Harbor or a more leisurely cruise. Either way, students will have the opportunity to see the Statue of Liberty up close and the option to tour Ellis Island, the main port of entry into the U.S. for over 60 years. These boat trips also afford the opportunity to take in the world-famous New York City skyline from the surrounding waters.

Empire State Building

What senior trip to New York would be complete without visiting the iconic Empire State Building? The world’s tallest building for nearly 40 years, this structure has a roof height of 1,250 feet and stands a total of 1,454 feet tall, including its antenna. The Empire State Building receives approximately 4 million visitors each year and boast observations decks on the 86th and 102nd floors, which afford an incredible view of Manhattan.

The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum

U.S. history was forever altered that fateful day when a terrorist attack brought down the twin World Trade Center towers in New York City. As terrible as that tragedy was, the aftermath brought Americans together like never before. High school seniors, who may not even have been born yet at the time, will want to visit the scene and honor the victims and the heroes who valiantly tried to save them.

Innumerable NYC Attractions

The list of must-sees in New York City could truly go on and on, so for the sake of brevity here’s just a few more: Times Square, Broadway, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Central Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Skyline, Grand Central Station…

Get a free quote for your senior trip to New York!

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• Client Testimonials

Our trip was filled with exciting discoveries, incredible adventures and unforgettable moments. One of the most memorable moments of our trip was our visit to the our visit to the Hilo Tsunami Museum. This museum presents the history of history of tsunamis in Hawaii and the efforts made to reduce the risk to the population. We were amazed by the interactive exhibits, the presentation by the of the tsunami geologist and the poignant testimonies of survivors. testimonies of survivors. We kayaked along the coast, swam in the pool, we paddled in the ocean. The students were incredibly exemplary, showing curiosity, … --Emmanuelle LFSF • Lycée Français de San Francisco, Big Island, March 2023

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DC & New York City Middle School Program

Share unforgettable experiences as you explore two of our nation’s most thrilling cities!  

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Take a bite out of the Big Apple!

Immerse yourself in history and culture with Close Up’s middle school student field trip to New York City and Washington, DC. During this seven-day/six-night program, students get a first-hand look at how business can shape politics, making lasting memories in two of the country’s most exciting destinations.  

Guided by our highly trained program instructors, Close Up students have the opportunity to:  

• Discuss the historical events that have shaped our nation through visits to DC’s must-see sites;  
• Engage with peers to debate pressing national issues in an interactive Mock Congress;  
• Walk the Brooklyn Bridge and take in breathtaking views on the field trip to New York City;  
• Explore Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, a universal symbol of freedom and democracy;  
• Visit iconic landmarks such as Strawberry Fields, Imagine Circle, and Belvedere Castle in Central Park;  
• Take in the view from the “Top of the Rock” located on the 70th floor of Rockefeller Center; and  
• See New York City sparkle by night before enjoying a Broadway show in Times Square!  

BROCHURE > EN ESPAÑOL >      VIDEO >

Participation in a Close Up program requires parent or guardian approval for any participant under 18 years of age.  Learn how we keep all students safe, secure, and supervised on every program.

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Close Up has decades of grant experience; contact us today for assistance with using your federal funds!

Close Up brought me CLOSER to politics…

the entire notion no longer seemed obscure. I became very involved in politics on the local and national level.

Close Up made me realize how SIGNIFICANT my thoughts and views are…

Although everyone will not always agree, everyone has a voice and needs to be heard.

I plan to introduce Close Up’s professional development to the teachers I work with…

and use this as a part of my school’s requirement that students take action on issues of local, national, and international importance.

I think Close Up’s virtual program is an amazing experience …

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