More about: 17 Day Trips from New York
New York is fascinating, but if you want to round off your trip with a getaway to the surrounding area, there are several options to choose from. Whichever destination you choose, bear in mind that distances in the United States are not usually short, so an organised round trip will save you from having to deal with public transport, transfers and unnecessary waiting.
Depending on whether you like nature, art, history or even shopping, you'll have several options. To make deciding which one best suits your trip a breeze, take note of the most recommended ones.
- Niagara Falls Day Trip From New York City
- From £202
- 19 hours
- Round-trip transfer to New York
- With guide
- Book
- Philadelphia and Washington DC Day Trip from New York
- From £142
- 15 hours
- Round-trip transfer to New York
- With guide
- Book
- Boston and Harvard Day Trip from New York
- From £80
- 15 hours
- Round-trip transfer to New York
- With guide
- Book
- Philly and Amish Country Day Trip from NYC
- From £110
- 15 hours
- Round-trip transfer to New York
- With guide
- Book
- Woodbury Commons Outlet Mall Shopping Tour in NYC
- From £36
- Flexible
- Round-trip transfer to New York
- at your own pace
- Book
1. Visit Niagara Falls from New York

If you would like to visit Niagara Falls, I recommend booking a one- or two-day organised tour (with accommodation included). You can take advantage of the trip to visit Watkins Glen State Park and its magical waterfalls, and see Niagara Falls at sunset, dusk and dawn.
The great thing about going to Niagara Falls from New York on an organised tour is that you don't have to worry about how to get there, which can be quite an odyssey. And once you're at the Falls, you'll be sure not to miss a single spot with your professional English-speaking guide.
There you can do everything from boarding a cruise (the Maid of the Mist) to hiking the lush trails surrounding Niagara Falls National Park.
You can see them during the day, in all their splendour, or at night, with incredible lighting. This is undoubtedly one of the best excursions you can take from New York, and here are some tips for visiting Niagara Falls from New York and enjoying the experience to the fullest.
Details of interest
- Why I like it: It's quite comprehensive and allows you to see Niagara Falls at different times of the day. Most people who visit this impressive place tend to do so for a few hours and then leave, but in my opinion, it's worth taking your time to enjoy it a little more.
- Recommended if... You are going to be in New York for more than a week and you are a nature lover.
- Duration: Between 1 and 2 days, depending on the tour you choose.
- More info: I tell you all about the options in this article about Niagara Falls Day Trips from New York.
2. Discover the charm of Washington

The best way to visit Washington from New York in one day, without missing anything the city has to offer, and learning about the history of each monument with explanations in Spanish from a professional guide is with an organised tour.
You will see the White House, the United States Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, and Washington's numerous memorials to war veterans and presidents. This is a full-day excursion (between 12 and 15 hours) with round-trip transportation by air-conditioned bus with WiFi.
It takes about 4 hours to get to Washington from New York, and your group will consist of a maximum of 50 people. All entrance fees are included in this tour, and you will have free time at lunchtime (not included in the activity) to explore on your own and eat wherever you choose.
Important details
- Why I like it: In addition to its good value for money, I recommend this activity because it includes a very comprehensive tour of Washington, allowing you to make the most of your trip.
- Recommended if... You've always wanted to see the White House up close or you're going to New York in the spring, as it coincides with Washington's Cherry Blossom Festival.
- Duration: About 15 hours. If you choose the combined option with the visit to Philadelphia, you can choose between the one-day and two-day excursion.
- More info: If you are considering Washington as a destination for your trip, you can find more details in my practical guide on 3 Best Day Trips to Washington DC from New York.
3. Soak up the culture in Boston

Considering the vast distances between major cities in the United States, Boston is quite close to New York, and you're sure to love a day trip there. You'll visit a city that has played a leading role in modern American history and discover an atmosphere that is very different from the hustle and bustle of New York.
On this full-day excursion, you'll see Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Copley Square and Trinity Church, and take a complete tour of the Freedom Trail, seeing all the city's landmarks famous for their key role in the political history of the United States.
Details of interest
- Recommended if... You love US history and don't want to stray too far from New York.
- Duration: Between 11 and 13 hours.
- More info: You can read more here: Boston Day Trips from New York.
4. Visit Philadelphia

In addition to the city's historical interest, the great advantage of taking one of the day trips to Philadelphia from New York is that it is an easy trip with a fairly short journey. You can climb the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art like Rocky, try the famous Philly steak sandwich, or learn about the Amish way of life.
Many trips to Philadelphia are often combined with a visit to Washington, but in my opinion, it is worth visiting the capital of the United States separately to explore it fully. In addition, the advantage of taking a trip to Philadelphia is that you will have time to visit an Amish community and discover how this community lives without the advances of technology, something that is well worth doing on your trip to the United States.
Interesting details
- Recommended if... You want to get to know the city of Rocky and discover a typical American city with some unique features.
- Duration: Between 11 and 13 hours, depending on the excursion you choose. Excursions that pass through Philadelphia also visit Washington. You can take the 1-day excursion to make the most of your trip if you don't have much time, or take a 2-day excursion to see everything both cities have to offer in more detail.
- More info: Read more in the post Excursions to Philadelphia from New York.
5. Go shopping at the New York Outlets

Woodbury Common is one of the best outlets in New York that you can reach on a day trip. It is an open-air outlet, like a village, except that each house is a shop. There are hundreds of shops on its avenues, boulevards and squares. It's about an hour from New York and is usually reached by bus.
The best option is to book a shopping trip from New York, which will save you having to organise the return journey and also give you some discounts for a day of shopping.
In addition to the 50% and 70% discounts you'll find at the New York outlet, taking a tour gives you a card with additional discounts to use at many luxury brands such as Prada, Saint Laurent, Burberry, Armani, Balenciaga, Dior... and so on, up to a total of 220 shops, spread out among restaurants and cafés in a shopping centre-style layout.
On the trip to Woodbury Common, you'll travel by bus to the outlet and return to New York at the end of your visit.
Important details
- Recommended if... You love premium clothing brands and are going to be in New York for several days.
- Duration: Between 5 and 8 hours.
- More info: The best outlet stores in New York
Tips for taking a trip from New York

- Regardless of the trip you take from New York, I recommend that you bring your camera, a raincoat, your passport, some cash and a spare pair of socks. The weather in Washington, Boston and Philadelphia is very similar to New York, but at Niagara Falls it can be a bit more extreme between summer and winter.
- Remember to wear comfortable shoes because, even though you will be travelling by vehicle between the different points of interest in the cities, you will have to walk a bit and after a few hours you will be grateful that your feet are not sore.
- Keep in mind that some of the excursions do not include food, so if you are on a tight budget, bring some food with you from New York or plan ahead where to eat at your destination.
Alex's Tip
Something that will help you choose a trip from New York is the length of your trip: I recommend longer trips if you are going to be in the city for more than a week.
Other interesting activities in New York

If you can't bring yourself to leave the big city because you think you still have so much to discover, you're probably right: New York is eternal and there's always something new to explore. To help you do this, I recommend taking a guided tour of the city, which will allow you to cover the most important areas without missing a thing. Here are some links to articles I wrote about my favourite experiences: New York Contrasts Tour and How to Attend to a Gospel Mass in Harlem, New York City.