The 'best value' tour you can do in New York City, according to travel expert

Arriving in New York can be a bit overwhelming. There's so much anticipation.

You've seen it in so many movies and TV shows and you want to make sure you get the most out of the experience.

But where do you even start? Uptown, Downtown, Midtown? Upper West Side? Lower East Side? Listen up. I'll tell you.

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Not a lot of Australians know about this tour (though it did feature on Travel Guides this week), but for my money it's the best value tour in New York. $US45. The Circle Line ferry is the only sightseeing cruise that circumnavigates the island of Manhattan.

In 2.5 hours you go all the way around passing over 130 landmarks and tourist attractions and passing under 20 bridges.

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If you take this trip on day one of your visit it will really help you get your bearings and you'll see a lot of sights you wouldn't see from the land - certainly not in under three hours.

Among the big ticket items you'll pass are: Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, One World Trade Center, Brooklyn Bridge, UN Headquarters, the Chrysler Building and Yankee Stadium.

The ferry leaves from Pier 83 at W 43rd and 12th Avenue, not far from Times Square and travels south so you want to get a seat on the left side of the ferry so you don't miss anything.

It can get a bit chilly out on the water especially during winter when it's freezing so it's worth paying more to get a guaranteed portside seat in the climate controlled inside cabin. Then you can see everything in comfort with an uninterrupted view.

With a general admission ticket you could end up on the outside deck with an uncushioned seat.

If you're getting sensory overload from all the sights you can switch to calorie overload at the snack bar. Pizzas, nachos, sandwiches, pastries, hot dogs, bagels, of course, plus beer, wine and cocktails - even frozen margaritas if you're taking a summery afternoon cruise.

I've been lucky enough to have been to New York many times over many years and this is still a cruise I recommend to friends - nobody I know has been disappointed by the experience.

Cruises leave once a day in the colder months and up to four times a day over summer.

There's a tour guide with a microphone you can hear from any of the three decks, indoor or outdoor, so you won't have to wonder what you're looking at.

The same company offers six other cruises if you don't want to commit to the 2.5-hour trip or want to target something more specifically.

For example, they have a 50-minute Statue of Liberty Super Express from $US26 and two great evening cruises to see the sparkling Manhattan skyline at night: the 90-minute Statue of Liberty Sunset Cruise from $US26 and the two-hour Harbour Lights cruise from $US47.

Remember, Manhattan is an island so it only makes sense to see it from the water. You won't get these kind of views from the subway!

It's also a nice way to chill for a while and take a break from the hectic pace of New York. 

John Walsh was Executive Producer of the TV travel series Getaway from 1999-2024.