Do see New York from a skyscraper.
Don't spend hours at the Empire State Building.
While the Empire State Building is an icon, the line to get to the top is often over an hour long. Don't waste a New York minute standing in line for that elevator to the top, because there's a view of the city that's just as good right around the corner.
Many people refer to going to the top of the ESB as one of the most overrated things you could do in the city, and while the views of the city from up here, the history and the architecture of the building are all amazing, the view you'll want to check out is from the Top of the Rock. Rockefeller Center has so much to offer.
From the ice skating in the winter to the nearby shopping and NBC studio tours, there's something for every NYC tourist to do here, but no matter what you're doing around here, definitely head to the observatory and check out the views of Central Park, the city skyline, and oh, a beautiful view of the Empire State Building!