New York City has more ways to empty tourist wallets than any other city in America. Some “must-see” Manhattan attractions cost five times what locals pay for the same experience elsewhere. That $150 pedicab ride? It’s a 10-minute subway trip for $2.90. Those $40 “official” Statue of Liberty tours? They’re harbor circles that never actually land at the statue.
NYC tourist traps target millions of visitors every year. Fake monks demand donations for temples that don’t exist. Street performers force you into their shows, then demand payment. Restaurant hosts grab your arm and pull you into overpriced tourist venues.
New York has incredible authentic experiences that locals actually use. Free ferry rides with better views than expensive observation decks. Neighborhood bakeries with amazing cupcakes and no hour-long lines. Real Italian food in the Bronx instead of tourist trap pasta in Little Italy.
12 Shocking Tourist Traps in New York And How To Avoid Them
#1. Times Square Costumed Characters ($10-$25 per photo)
This happens to thousands of tourists every day. These costumed characters aren’t part of some official Times Square attraction. They’re freelance street performers who make money by trapping unsuspecting families.
You take what seems like an innocent photo. Then multiple characters swarm around you. Spider-Man appears. The Statue of Liberty joins in. Suddenly you have five characters surrounding your family, all demanding tips. They’ll ask for $10 to $20 per person. That’s $100 for a family of five. For a 30-second photo.
Smart Alternative: Skip the Character Photos
Take pictures of Times Square’s real attractions instead. The bright lights and giant billboards make great backgrounds. The red steps at the TKTS booth are perfect for family photos. Both are free and you won’t deal with aggressive performers.
If your kids really want character photos, visit the official Disney Store. They have safe, predictable character meet-and-greets without surprise fees.
Red Flags to Watch
i. Characters approaching you instead of staying in one spot
ii. No clear pricing displayed
iii. Multiple characters gathering around your group
iv. Anyone demanding payment after a photo you didn’t request
Save your money for real New York experiences. These Times Square scams target tourists who don’t know better.
#2. Pedicab Rides ($150-$720 for short trips)
You’re tired after hours of walking. Your feet hurt. Then you see a colorful pedicab with music playing and think, “That looks fun and easy.”
Pedicab rides are some of the most expensive tourist traps in New York City. What seems like a cheap, fun ride can cost you hundreds of dollars.
The driver quotes a “low” per-minute rate. Maybe $3 to $5. Sounds reasonable, right? But they don’t tell you the full story.
Traffic in Manhattan moves slowly. Very slowly. That “quick” ride from your hotel to Central Park takes 25 minutes in traffic. At $5 per minute, you just paid $125. Plus tip.
Some drivers charge much more. New York City now requires pedicabs to display rates of up to $8.99 per minute. That’s over $500 per hour.
Real Examples of Pedicab Rip-Offs
i. A Texas family paid $442 for a 12-minute ride through Midtown
ii. A woman from Wicked to dinner paid $182 for a short trip
iii. A Japanese couple was charged $720 for a 20-minute ride to the Village
Many drivers don’t clearly explain the total cost upfront. They’ll show you a confusing rate card with tiny print. You only learn the real price when you arrive at your destination.
Some pedicab rides end in shouting matches. Drivers demand payment. Tourists refuse. It ruins your New York vacation.
Smart Alternatives That Actually Work
Citi Bike: Rent a bike for $15 per day. Ride anywhere in Manhattan. No traffic delays or surprise fees.
Subway: The fastest way to get around. A single ride costs $2.90. Way faster than pedicabs in traffic.
Walking: Most Manhattan attractions are closer than you think. From Times Square to Central Park is only a 10-minute walk.
Yellow Taxis: Regulated rates and meters. No surprise charges.
Don’t let a pedicab ruin your New York budget. These Central Park transportation scams prey on tired tourists who just want an easy ride.
#3. Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides in Central Park ($150+ for 20 minutes)
Central Park carriage rides cost $150 or more for just 20 minutes. That’s $450 per hour for what’s basically a slow taxi ride.
But money isn’t the only problem. These horses work in one of the busiest cities on Earth. They breathe exhaust fumes all day. They deal with honking cars, sirens, and crowds of people.
Many visitors witness harsh treatment of the animals. Horses look tired and stressed. Drivers sometimes seem more interested in rushing to the next customer than caring for their animals.
The “peaceful park tour” you expect doesn’t exist. Most of the ride happens on busy city streets getting to and from Central Park. You’ll spend more time in traffic than seeing trees.
Smart Alternatives That Actually Deliver
Central Park Bike Tours: See the whole park for $40. No traffic delays. No animal welfare concerns. You’ll cover 10 times more ground than a carriage.
Walking Tours with Audio Guide: Download a free Central Park app. Walk at your own pace. Stop where you want. Learn real history without the sales pitch.
Rent a Rowboat: The Loeb Boathouse rents boats for $15 per hour. Actually peaceful. Actually romantic. Way cheaper than carriage rides.
Don’t pay $150 to support NYC animal attractions that put profits over animal welfare. Central Park has better ways to make memories.
#4. Fake Monks Street Scam ($10-$40 donations)
A man in orange robes walks up to you near Times Square. He smiles peacefully and hands you a shiny gold medallion. Then he shows photos of a temple and says, “Ten dollars! Twenty dollars!” You just met a fake monk.
This Buddhist scam happens all over New York City. Men dress like monks and claim they’re collecting money for temples in Thailand. But they can’t tell you the temple’s name or location. They’re not monks at all.
They approach tourists in busy areas like Times Square, the High Line, and Central Park. They seem friendly and spiritual. They hand you bracelets or medallions without asking.
Once you take the item, they demand money. Usually $10 to $40. If you try to give it back, they get pushy. Some grab your arm or block your path.
Real Buddhist monks don’t approach strangers asking for money. They don’t grab people or chase them down the street. The Buddhist Council of New York City warns that these men “damage the reputation of real monks.”
How to Spot Fake Monks
i. They approach you instead of staying in one place
ii. They can’t name their temple or where it’s located
iii. They get aggressive when you refuse
iv. They work in groups to pressure tourists
v. They hang around tourist areas instead of temples
What to Do Instead
Don’t take anything from street solicitors. If you want to help Buddhist causes, donate directly to verified temples online. Real charities don’t send aggressive fundraisers to tourist spots.
Walk past them quickly. Don’t make eye contact. If they follow you, go into a store or ask a police officer for help. Save your donation money for legitimate charities, not Times Square scammers.
#5. Empire State Building Observatory ($44-$120 tickets)
You want that classic New York skyline photo from the top of the Empire State Building. But you don’t want to pay $120 and wait 2 hours for it.
Empire State Building tickets start at $44 for basic admission. During busy times, they cost much more. Want to skip the line? That’s $120 for express passes. Need the 102nd floor for the “best” view? Add another $20.
You’ll wait. A lot. During peak hours, lines stretch for 2 hours or more. You’ll stand in line to buy tickets, then stand in line for elevators, then stand in line on the observation deck itself.
The crowds make good photos almost impossible. You’ll spend most of your time looking at other people’s backs instead of the city. Getting that perfect selfie means pushing through packed viewing areas.
Smart Alternatives That Save You Money and Time
Top of the Rock ($40): Better views of the Empire State Building itself. Less crowded. Tickets start at just $40. You’ll see Central Park and the Manhattan skyline without fighting crowds.
Free Staten Island Ferry: The best deal in New York. Free rides past the Statue of Liberty with amazing skyline views. No tickets needed. Runs every 30 minutes.
Brooklyn Bridge Park: Free skyline views from Brooklyn. Perfect for sunset photos. Zero wait times or entry fees.
Don’t let expensive Empire State Building tickets eat up your vacation budget. These alternatives give you the same Instagram-worthy shots without the tourist trap pricing.
#6. Little Italy Restaurant Tourist Traps ($25+ for mediocre pasta)
A man in an apron grabs your arm as you walk down Mulberry Street. “Come try our authentic Italian food!” he shouts. “Best pasta in New York!” Run the other way.
Most Little Italy restaurants are tourist traps that serve overpriced, mediocre food. What used to be a real Italian neighborhood has become a few blocks of restaurants that target visitors who don’t know better.
These aggressive restaurant hosts will pull you off the sidewalk. They’ll promise “authentic” food and “family recipes.” But locals avoid this area completely. The pasta costs $25 or more for dishes you could get better anywhere else in the city.
The area has shrunk as other neighborhoods expanded. Real Italian families moved away decades ago. Now it’s mostly tourist-focused venues that care more about location than food quality.
Where to Find Real Italian Food
Arthur Avenue in the Bronx: This is where New York’s Italian families actually shop and eat. Real Italian bakeries, delis, and restaurants. Food costs half what you’ll pay in Little Italy and tastes twice as good.
Local neighborhood spots: Any pizza place in Brooklyn or Queens beats the tourist traps in Little Italy.
Save your money for restaurants where locals actually eat. Skip the sidewalk hustlers and find the real New York Italian experience.
#7. Street Vendor Knockoff Shopping ($20-$100 for fake goods)
NYC street vendors sell cheap knockoffs at high prices to tourists who think they’re getting bargains. That fake Rolex costs $100 but stops working in a week. The “authentic” Yankees jersey with crooked letters fades after one wash.
These counterfeit shopping scams happen all over Manhattan. Vendors spread blankets on sidewalks with “designer” goods. They claim everything is authentic or “fell off a truck.” It’s all fake.
The quality is terrible. Fake leather peels. Zippers break. Colors run. You’ll throw away your “bargain” purchases before you get home.
Buying counterfeit goods can get you in legal trouble. Customs agents can confiscate fake items at the airport. Some countries fine tourists for bringing in knockoffs.
Red Flags for Fake Goods
i. Prices way below retail (real designer items don’t cost $30)
ii. Vendors who pack up quickly when police approach
iii. No receipts or return policies
iv. Spelling mistakes on “brand” names
Where to Find Real New York Shopping
East Village boutiques: Unique clothes and accessories you won’t find anywhere else. Support local designers instead of counterfeit operations.
Chelsea Market: Local artisans and small businesses. Real quality at fair prices.
Don’t waste money on street vendor fakes that will embarrass you back home. Find the real New York shopping experience at local stores that care about quality.
#8. Fake Statue of Liberty Tour Tickets ($40+ for harbor circles)
You’re walking around Battery Park, excited to see the Statue of Liberty. A friendly guy approaches with official-looking tickets and promises to get you there faster than anyone else. He’s lying.
Fake tour guides swarm around Battery Park and South Ferry every day. They promise “skip-the-line” deals, “private access,” and “express ferries” to Liberty Island. Then they sell you tickets for boats that never actually land at the statue.
You’ll pay $40 or more for a boat ride that circles the harbor. No pedestal access. No museum visit. No stepping foot on Liberty Island. Just a distant view of the statue from the water while you realize you’ve been scammed.
These NYC ferry scams target excited tourists who don’t know the rules. There’s only one official way to visit the Statue of Liberty: Statue City Cruises. That’s it. Any other ticket seller is trying to rip you off.
How to Get Real Statue of Liberty Tickets
Official Statue City Cruises: Buy tickets online at their website or at Castle Clinton inside Battery Park. These are the only legitimate tickets that actually land on Liberty Island.
Free Staten Island Ferry: The best-kept secret in New York. This free ferry passes right by the Statue of Liberty with amazing photo opportunities. Runs every 30 minutes. Zero cost.
Don’t let smooth-talking scammers steal your money and ruin your Statue of Liberty experience. Stick to official sources or take the free ferry for great views.
#9. M&M’s World Times Square ($23/pound for candy)
You walk into the three-story M&M’s World and see colorful candy everywhere. The “create your own mix” bins look fun. Then you see the price: $23 per pound. For M&Ms. The same candy you buy at any grocery store.
This Times Square shopping trap charges five times the normal price for regular M&Ms. You’ll pay $23 for candy that costs $4 at a bodega two blocks away. They’re counting on tourists who get caught up in the colorful displays and don’t check prices.
The store is packed with overpriced merchandise nobody needs. T-shirts with M&M characters cost $30. Keychains are $15. Everything has inflated tourist prices.
Smart Alternative
Walk into any bodega, deli, or grocery store in New York. Buy the same M&Ms for normal prices. Skip the crowds and tourist trap markup.
If you want New York souvenirs, find local shops that sell items you can’t get anywhere else. Don’t waste money on overpriced candy at M&M’s World NYC.
#10. Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes ($5-$7 per cupcake with hour waits)
The tiny shop gets so packed you can barely breathe. You’ll stand in line for an hour, squeezed against other tourists, for cupcakes that taste average at best. You’re paying for TV fame, not quality baking.
New York has hundreds of better bakeries. Magnolia Bakery trades on its celebrity status instead of making exceptional food. Those $7 cupcakes aren’t special. They’re just expensive.
The shop is uncomfortably crowded during peak hours. You’ll fight for space while trying to decide which overpriced cupcake to buy. Most visitors leave feeling disappointed and overcharged.
Better NYC Cupcake Options
Any neighborhood bakery in New York makes better cupcakes for half the price. No hour-long waits. No tourist trap pricing. Just good baking at fair prices.
Try local spots in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or Brooklyn. You’ll find fresher cupcakes, shorter lines, and money left over for other New York experiences.
Don’t waste an hour of your vacation waiting for mediocre Magnolia Bakery cupcakes. Find the real New York bakery scene instead.
#11. Fake Airport Transportation ($50-$150 for unofficial rides)
You just landed at JFK after a long flight. You’re tired, carrying heavy bags, and want to get to your hotel fast. A friendly guy with a sign approaches you inside the terminal and says, “Uber? Taxi? I take you to Manhattan!” Don’t get in his car.
These NYC airport scams target exhausted travelers who don’t know the rules. Fake drivers wait inside terminals with official-looking signs. They promise quick rides to the city but charge cash-only rates that cost $50 to $150 more than legitimate transportation.
Real licensed drivers never approach passengers inside airport terminals. They wait in designated pickup areas outside. If someone approaches you inside offering rides, they’re running a scam.
These fake drivers often demand cash only. No credit cards. No receipts. No way to get your money back when you realize you’ve been overcharged. Some tourists end up in dangerous situations with unlicensed drivers in unmarked cars.
Safe JFK Transportation Options
Official App-Based Rides: Use Uber or Lyft apps to book rides. Follow airport signs to official pickup zones. Never get in a car that doesn’t match your app.
Yellow Taxis: Regulated rates with working meters. Taxi stands are clearly marked outside every terminal.
AirTrain + Subway: Cheapest option at $8 total. Take AirTrain to Jamaica or Howard Beach, then subway to Manhattan. Takes longer but costs way less.
#12. Break Dancing Street Performances ($20-$40 “participation fees”)
You’re walking across the Brooklyn Bridge when you see a crowd gathered around break dancers. They’re spinning on their heads and doing amazing tricks. Then they grab your hand and pull you into their “show.” Now you owe them money.
These NYC street performers use aggressive tactics to force tourists into paying. They’ll pull you into their performance circle and make you “part of the show.” Then they demand $20 to $40 for your “participation” whether you wanted to join or not.
Performers set up cones to block pedestrian areas. They blast loud music and do impressive moves to draw crowds. Then they start grabbing tourists and putting them in the middle of their circle.
They block busy areas like the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, and Central Park. You can’t walk by without being hassled to watch their show and pay their fees.
How to Avoid This Scam
Walk around any performance that blocks the sidewalk. Don’t stop to watch if you don’t want to pay. Keep your distance from any performer who tries to grab you.
Real street performers let you choose whether to watch and tip. They don’t force participation or demand specific amounts. Support performers who respect boundaries, not ones who use aggressive tactics.
FAQs
How much money can I save by avoiding these NYC tourist traps?
You can save $500-$1,000 per trip by skipping these scams. A family of four avoiding just the major traps saves: pedicab rides ($200+), Empire State Building express tickets ($480), fake carriage rides ($150), and overpriced Times Square food ($200).
What are the biggest red flags that I’m being scammed?
Watch for these warning signs: Anyone approaching you on the street offering services, unclear pricing that’s only explained after you’re committed, cash-only payments with no receipts, aggressive behavior when you try to leave or refuse, and prices that seem too good to be true.
Are any expensive NYC tourist attractions actually worth the money?
Yes, but choose carefully. The Empire State Building is worth visiting if you buy basic tickets ($44) and go during off-peak hours. Broadway shows are expensive but deliver real value for theater fans. The 9/11 Memorial Museum justifies its cost with important history.
What should I do if I’ve already been scammed by one of these tourist traps?
For credit card charges, contact your bank immediately to dispute the transaction. Take photos of any fake goods or receipts as evidence. Report pedicab scams to NYC Department of Consumer Affairs at 311.