New York City offers all kinds of entertainment you can wish for. Vibrant nightlife, a variety of cafes and restaurants, sport competitions, and cultural events – you will never get bored in the Big Apple.

The number of theaters and concert halls is exquisite. All you need to do is choose an event to your liking and book in advance, especially during the high tourist season, as tickets usually sell out very quickly.

Broadway is the street known all around the world, mainly for its theaters and numerous musicals, which have become legendary. We highly recommend you to use a chance and catch one of the best plays in NYC, once you are in New York. And here is the list of Broadway’s best we made for you.

Best Shows in New York City

	The Lion King On Broadway	Phantom of the Opera On Broadway	Chicago On Broadway
Departure Point:	Minskoff Theater, New York City	Majestic Theater, New York	Ambassador Theater, New York
Departure Times:	Your selected show time	Your selected show time	Your selected show time
Duration:	2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)	2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)	2 hours 15 minutes (approx.)
Tour Includes:	Top price location show ticket, all taxes, fees and handling charges	All taxes, fees and handling charges, theater restoration charges	Top price location show ticket, all taxes, fees and handling charges
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Broadway Shows in New York City

1. The Lion King On Broadway
2. Phantom of the Opera On Broadway
3. Chicago On Broadway
4. Wicked on Broadway
5. Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway

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Broadway Shows in New York City Reviews

#1 The Lion King On Broadway

The Lion King musical is a story of Simba, the lion prince, who has to battle his evil uncle Scar for the crown. Banished from the pack, he grows up alongside with two funny friends: meerkat Timon and warthog Pumba, who teach baby-lion their lifestyle philosophy, known as “Hakuna Matata” or “No Worries”.

This Tony-winning musical is one of the best Broadway shows for kids New York City has to offer. Although it is considered a play for kids, adults tend to like it as much and sometimes even more than children do. The show is based on the Disney cartoon, which aired in 1994, and a book by two co-authors: Irene Mecchi and Roger Allers. Elton John, Tim Rice, Hans Zimmer, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, and Lebo M created the award-winning music for the show. It includes the song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”, which has even won an Oscar.

The bright costumes and the play itself will take your family into the magical colorful world of savannah. Don’t miss the opportunity to see one of the best musicals in New York, while you are in the city, and don’t forget to book tickets in advance!

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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#2 Phantom of the Opera On Broadway

The longest-running musical in the history of Broadway, the Phantom of Opera is a definite must-see and one of the best shows in NYC. Based on Gaston Leroux’s classical novel, created by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the musical has been performed on the Majestic Theater’s scene since 1988. Top tickets are usually sold out way in advance, so you should book ahead if you want to enjoy the legendary story of the phantom of the Paris Opera House during your visit to the Big Apple.

One of the best plays on Broadway throughout its history, the Phantom of the Opera tells a story of a masked figure, who lives in the basements of an opera house in Paris and terrorizes its inhabitants. It lasts until he falls in love with a young and innocent soprano singer named Christine. He then does everything to make her a star, nurturing her fascinating talent and using all the available methods, even superstitious.

Not just the longest-running show in Broadway’s history, the Phantom of the Opera has also won numerous awards, including several Tony Awards for Best Director, Best Musical, Best Featured Actress in Musical, Best Leading Actor in Musical, and many more. You don’t want to miss a chance to visit the legendary play, that’s for sure!

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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#3  Chicago On Broadway

Bring some Chicago into your trip to New York! One of the best Broadway shows, it has won six Tony Awards, one Grammy Award, two Olivier Awards, and many other awards, not to mention thousands of minutes of standing ovations.

The play tells a story of the 1920’s Chicago: the mixture of murder, jazz, greed, and showbiz. Created in the style of Bob Fosse and performed by some of the best dancers in New York City, the choreography of the show is simply exquisite. The musical includes such world-known hits as “Razzle Dazzle”, “All that Jazz”, and “Class”.

Entertainment Weekly has even called “Chicago” insanely entertaining, which is not surprising, is it? And, surely, you don’t want to miss one of the best shows in New York, while you are in the city, so book now!

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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#4 Wicked on Broadway

One of the best Broadway musicals, Wicked tells a story of the witches of Oz. It’s a fascinating vivid-colored pleasure for both your eyes and ears. Get to know the story of two girls, who meet in the Emerald City long before Dorothy gets there. One has emerald skin, is intelligent, fiery and, of course, widely misunderstood. The other one is ambitious, beautiful and highly popular. The story tells about their magnificent journey and how they became the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

Created by Stephen Schwartz, the musical is worth attention of both children and adults. And if you don’t wish to miss one of the best plays in New York City, book your tickets in advance, as they sell out like hot bakery!

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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#5 Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway

One of the best current Broadway shows, Aladdin is a new, but already an award-winning musical. Based on the classical animated film by Disney Studio, the play offers you and your kids an opportunity to meet the beloved characters, as well as see the new twists of plot.The show has won many awards, including “A Whole New World” award.

The story brings you into the magical colorful world of the Mid-Eastern city of Agrabah and its inhabitants: sultan and his beautiful daughter, merchants, pickpockets, and, of course, Genie. Audience of all ages will enjoy the magnificent world of flying carpets, Mid-Eastern costumes and music, bright choreography, and songs. The latter include world-known hits, such as “Arabian Nights” and “Prince Ali”, as well as unknown pieces, created by Howard Ashman, which weren’t included in the 1992 film.

Choreography and music are performed by the team of Tony Award winners. And, of course, real Aladdin fans will enjoy scenes, written specifically for the musical. Don’t miss your chance to see the story of magic and romance, while you are on your New York trip!

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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Your Guide to Visiting New York City

• Airports & Entry
• Planning Tips
• Restaurants & Eating Out
• Nightlife & Entertainment
• Getting Around
• Accommodations
• Weather
• Attractions

Airports & Entry

The city of New York has three main airports: John F Kennedy International Airport, La Guardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport.

AirTrain is the most convenient way to get from JFK Airport to the city. It connects the subway with the airport and you can get to Manhattan in an hour and for a cost of just $2.75. Other way to get to the center is to take an express bus to Grand Central Terminal or Port Authority, which will take you 1,5 hour and cost you $18.

The approximate taxi fare is $52, but tolls, tips, and rush hour surcharges are not included. Taxis can be found at the taxi dispatch booths. Or you can use services such as Uber.

Although La Guardia is situated closest to Manhattan, it is considered the least accessible by public transport airport of New York City. To get to the center, you need to take an express bus #Q70, which will bring you to the 74^th Street – Broadway metro station and will cost you $15.

The flat taxi cost varies between $34 and $53, excluding tips and tolls. Uber service is also an option.

To get to New York City center from Newark Liberty International Airport, take an AirTrain to Newark Airport train station. There you can change to any train, which goes to New York Penn station, and it will cost you $13.

Taxi fares vary from $60 to $80, and do not include tips or tolls. You can take a taxi, use Uber, or choose a similar service.

Planning Tips

If you are planning to visit a musical, you won’t be needing an evening gown. Your clothes can be casual (dark jeans and a shirt will do), but neat and clean. A cocktail dress for a woman will be appropriate. But you won’t need your diamonds or a bow tie.

You should also consider your other plans for New York City, before making a packing list. Are you planning to walk a lot? Bring comfortable shoes or snickers. Going for a picnic in the Central Park? Planning to dine in a luxury establishment? All your plans will require different clothing.

And don’t forget to book all your tickets in advance. Tickets for such events as Broadway musicals sell out weeks before the date. Keep that in mind, when planning your trip itinerary.

Restaurants & Eating Out

The one thing you can be sure about, when traveling to New York City, is that you won’t get hungry. Restaurants, cafes, bistros, bars, and street vendors are multiple and can fit any taste or budget. Small family cafes and huge world-known restaurant chains, fast food bistros and luxury top-end restaurants, street food of all kinds – all of these can be found in New York.

The variety of different cuisines is exquisite: French, Greek, Italian, Mexican, Middle Easter, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese – this is just a short list of what you can taste in the Big Apple.

If you are on a low budget and want to cook for yourself, visit the markets: Chelsea and Fulton 55, where you can find all kinds of fresh ingredients for your meals, as well as many street food vendors and budget cafes. To get the best taste of NYC, we would recommend taking a guided NYC food tour.

There is also a list of must-try foods and drinks of New York. They don’t necessarily originate from the city, but they have definitely gained their particular features here and must be appreciated. So, if you want to feel like a real New Yorker, don’t avoid:

Nightlife & Entertainment

New York City is, probably, the world’s winner for the number of night establishments opening every week, as well as for ones that close. Every district of the city has a variety of night clubs and bars for every taste and wallet size.

If you stay in Manhattan, you should visit Greenwich Village, which is filled with night entertainment facilities, popular with both locals and tourists. Since the NYU students are the biggest part of the local public here, the prices are quite reasonable. If you are up for something more elegant, head to Chelsea or Lower East Side.

And, of course, even if you stay in Queens, Staten Island, or Brooklyn, you won’t feel the lack of night entertainment either. New York is the city, which never sleeps.

Jazz is another thing that you can always find in the Big Apple. It is called the world capital of jazz for a reason. In the past, the city has revealed hundreds of jazz musicians and presented them to the world. Nowadays, there are still numerous establishments, where you can enjoy a drink with your friends or date, while listening to some good jazz.

The Blue Note, situated in Greenwich Village, is, probably, the most well-known jazz club, as well as the Village Vanguard, located in the same district. However, these are the places for people with high travel budget. If you are looking for something simpler and cheaper, head to Fat Cat or Smalls, standing just a block away from each other, also in Greenwich Village.

If you are into passionate Afro-Caribbean music and love Latina dancing, New York City is a great place for you too! Salsa, although originates from Cuba, has rooted deeply in the cultural life of New York. The most popular places are Copacabana near the Times Square, which opened its doors for the first time in the 1940’s, Iguana in West Midtown, and El Morocco in Spanish Harlem.

If you consider yourself more of a classical music lover, choose one of the multiple opera, ballet, or musical performances, which the city offers. Head to Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, or one of the Broadway theaters, in order to enjoy a nice classical evening. Check out the list of the best musicals in New York, which we prepared for you, and don’t forget to book in advance!

And, of course, you can’t feel real New York without attending one of the sport matches. Most New Yorkers are passionate sport fans and have their favorite baseball, hockey, or basketball team. Join them for a night of sport fun, and don’t forget to pick up souvenirs with the name of the team you like!

Getting Around

Getting around the city of New York is not difficult, as it has an extremely extended system of public transportation. Subway, buses, commuter rail, as well as ferries, operate on a regular basis.

The simplest way to get from one point to another inside the city limits is by subway. You might be scared by the horror stories about New York subway criminal situation, but it’s almost completely in the past nowadays. Anyway, you should still beware and not attract criminals.

The rules of safety are quite clear: don’t show your valuables in public, don’t walk alone at night, try to take crowded trains and use crowded stations. If you keep that in mind, most likely, you’ll be safe.

However, if you don’t feel secure enough, it’s better to take a taxi. World-famous yellow cabs have become a real symbol of New York, along with the Empire State Building, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty. This is, probably, the second most popular way of transportation among New Yorkers, after subway.

Cabs are multiple, comfortable and reasonably-priced. To get one, all you need to do is raise your arm standing at the edge of the pavement. Keep in mind, though, it might be hard to catch a taxi during the rush hours. And, of course, remember about traffic jams. It might be better to take a subway if you are in a hurry!

Ferries connect the heart of New York with its islands. Staten Island Ferry starts at the Battery Park in the south of Manhattan and goes to Staten Island. It’s not only a great way of transportation, but also an opportunity to see New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty on the way. The big bonus is that it’s free.

New York Waterway Company operates ferries between the city and New Jersey Hudson River Waterfront, stopping also in Brooklyn and Queens. These ferries are not free, so keep that in mind.

New York Water Taxi are ferries painted yellow, like famous New York cabs. They connect points within Manhattan, as well as some points in Brooklyn and New Jersey.

Accommodations

The Big Apple is, probably, one of the most expensive cities to live in. If you decide to visit New York, be ready to pay, at least, $100 for a double room in a hotel, and a minimum of $50 for a bed in a hostel dormitory. However, that is if you want to stay in Manhattan. But there are other districts in New York City, of course. If you choose Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island, or New Jersey, you can find much cheaper accommodations of the same quality as in Manhattan.

When traveling during the low tourist season – in January, February, or August, you can also save your traveler’s budget, as hotels usually reduce prices during this time of year. As for the days of week, Sunday is usually the cheapest day to rent a room in New York City.

When booking, keep in mind that fares are often mentioned without taxes. If you add all the taxes for New York State and New York City, you will end up with a 15%-higher price. Be ready to pay it on arrival.

Weather

New York City has continental climate, with hot summers, cold winters, cool autumns, and wet springs. In winter, the temperature can fall as low as -18^oC, and during the summer, it can raise as high as to +38^oC.Keep in mind, during the summer months, as well as in September, New York can experience heavy tropical storms, so bring a raincoat. Snowstorms occur often in winter, but the snow usually does not last longer than a couple of days.

Attractions

New York is the city, which you can explore for weeks: admiring the skyscrappers, having lovely picnics in the parks, taking pictures, listening to stories, and buying souvenirs. However, if you have limited time, here is a list of main attractions you should not miss.

Landmarks: the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Federal Hall, World Trade Center Site, Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, New York Public Library, Rockefeller Center, Radio Music Hall, and Times Square.

Museums: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Frick Collection, the Museum of Modern Art, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the PS1 Contemporary Art Center, the American Museum of Natural History, the New York Hall of Science, and the Transit Museum.

Parks: Central Park, Fort Tryon Park, Pelham Bay Park, Prospect Park, Flushing Meadow Park, the Greenbelt, and parts of the Gateway National Recreational Area.

If you see these places, you can honestly say that you have seen the most interesting spots in New York. However, if you want to get the most out of your time in New York City, we highly recommend taking a daily bus tour. Anyway, a trip to New York will become something you’ll remember for the rest of your life!