NYC over Memorial Day Weekend 2014
 

Is it necessary to buy, or can you buy, tickets in advance for any particular attractions in New York City? In Paris, you can wait in line for ages to get into the Louvre or Musee d'Orsay. We're only in NYC for 4 days and would hate to miss out on something because I didn't plan ahead. Thanks

You really must buy advance tickets for the Statue of Liberty and the ferry that goes to it - or you risk VERY long lines. I would buy tickets as soon you can. And you need to allow 4 to 5 hours to visit the SoL, the parts of Ellis Island that are open and the 3 ferries between the tip of Manhattan and these sights.

If you are going up the Empire St Building you need advance tickets since the lines are often horrendous. BUT, I suggest that you do Top of the Rock instead - better views and no lines. You can gt advance tickets for this for any time you want and I would do near sunset - to see the city in both day and night.

Other than that there really aren't a lot of sights with lines longer than a couple of minutes or so.

For Broadway shows do NOT stand on line at the TKTS booth on vacation - instead go to Broadwaybox.com, get discount codes for the shows you want to see and then go to the regular online ticket seller for that show and buy tickets in advance - to be picked up at the theater.

Sorry - to get into the major museums (unless you are going for a special show) the lines are usually no more than a couple of minutes.

There are no lines for the Met Museum.

You can but tickets on-line for MoMA, where there can be a line depending on the special exhibits. MoMA is has a mandatory fee for entry.

If you plan to go to the Tenement Museum it is always wise to purchase in advance.

The others will chime in on Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Memorial Day weekend is odd because many NY'ers are gone but many tourists are in.

Thanks for the replies.