Manhattan has this magnetic pull that draws millions of visitors every year. The skyline, the energy, the promise of something exciting around every corner—it’s all real. But here’s what the postcards don’t show you: some spots in this concrete jungle will drain your wallet, waste your time, or leave you feeling completely underwhelmed.
You deserve better than falling into the classic tourist traps that locals learned to sidestep years ago. Whether you’re planning your first visit or you’ve been here a dozen times, knowing where not to go is just as valuable as your must-see list.
Let me walk you through the places that consistently disappoint, so you can spend your precious time and money on experiences that actually deliver.
Places to Avoid in Manhattan
These spots have earned their reputation for all the wrong reasons. Some will empty your bank account for mediocre experiences, while others pose genuine safety concerns or simply aren’t worth the hassle.
1. Times Square (Especially on Weekend Evenings)
Times Square after dark on a Friday or Saturday night is sensory overload in the worst possible way. You’ll find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of people, all moving at a glacial pace while cartoon characters in stained costumes aggressively demand payment for photos you didn’t ask for.
The area has transformed into what locals call a “pedestrian nightmare.” The bright screens and flashing billboards that once symbolized New York’s electric energy now feel like a carefully designed trap to funnel tourists into overpriced restaurants and shops selling $30 “I ♥ NY” sweatshirts made overseas. Your meal at one of the chain restaurants ringing the square will cost twice what it should and taste half as good as spots just a few blocks away.
If you absolutely must see Times Square—and look, I get it, it’s iconic—go on a Tuesday morning around 10 AM. You’ll get your photo, experience the spectacle, and escape before the crowds turn the whole area into an expensive, slow-moving parade of regret.
3. Port Authority Bus Terminal After 9 PM
Port Authority serves its purpose as a transportation hub, but once evening hits, this place takes on a completely different character. The fluorescent-lit corridors become increasingly isolated, with fewer legitimate travelers and more individuals who make the space feel unsafe, particularly for solo visitors or families with children.
The terminal has struggled with persistent issues around homelessness and drug use after hours. While the NYPD maintains a presence, the sheer size of the building means many corners and levels go unmonitored for stretches of time. Women traveling alone have consistently reported feeling uncomfortable here during late hours. Even seasoned New Yorkers who use the terminal regularly during the day will often choose alternative routes or travel methods after sunset.
Your safety matters more than saving a few dollars on transportation. If your bus arrives or departs late, consider taking a taxi or rideshare to and from the terminal instead of walking through the surrounding blocks. The streets immediately outside aren’t much better after dark.
2. The M&M’s Store in Times Square
Four floors dedicated entirely to candy you can buy for a fraction of the price at any drugstore. The M&M’s Store perfectly captures everything wrong with tourist-focused retail in Manhattan. This place banks on the assumption that you’ll be so dazzled by the colorful displays and oversized decorations that you won’t notice you’re paying $20 for a small bag of personalized candies.
The ground floor gets so packed during peak hours that you’ll spend more time waiting to move than actually shopping. Parents with kids face a particular challenge here because the store is specifically designed to trigger “I want that!” meltdowns every three feet. The chocolate dispensers along the wall create beautiful photo opportunities, sure, but that photo costs you 30 minutes of standing time and inevitably, an overpriced purchase.
Skip it entirely. You’ve got better ways to spend your Manhattan afternoon than in a four-story commercial for a product you can grab at any corner bodega for $1.50.
4. Canal Street Knockoff Shops
Canal Street’s counterfeit market operates in a gray area that puts you at risk both legally and practically. Those “designer” handbags being sold from folding tables or in cramped storefronts are illegal knockoffs, and while enforcement has ramped up in recent years, buying them can technically get you in trouble too.
The quality is garbage. That Gucci bag falls apart within weeks, the zippers break, the handles detach, and you’re left with an expensive reminder of a bad decision. But beyond the quality issue, you’re often funding organized crime operations that extend far beyond some guy selling bags on the street. Federal investigations have repeatedly connected these operations to larger criminal networks.
The experience itself is also deeply unpleasant. Sellers aggressively approach you, pulling you toward their merchandise, while others watch for police. The pressure to buy is intense, and if you do purchase something, you’ll immediately be surrounded by other sellers assuming you’re an easy mark. The whole interaction leaves you feeling hustled, which you were.
5. Horse-Drawn Carriages in Central Park
These carriages cost anywhere from $50 to $200 for a brief ride that covers maybe a fraction of what you could walk in the same time. The horses themselves work long hours in extreme weather, breathing exhaust fumes in traffic before entering the park. Animal welfare groups have documented numerous issues with the treatment of these horses, and watching them stand in the summer heat or winter cold while waiting for customers is honestly pretty depressing.
The romantic notion of a carriage ride through Central Park doesn’t match reality. You’re sitting in traffic on Central Park South for a good portion of your paid time, listening to car horns and smelling vehicle exhaust. Once you get into the park, the route is predetermined and rushed. Your driver is working for tips, so the experience feels transactional rather than magical.
Central Park deserves your time, but explore it on foot or rent a bike. You’ll see more, save money, and actually enjoy the experience instead of sitting in an uncomfortable carriage, wondering why you just spent $150 for 20 minutes.
6. The Shops at Columbus Circle
The Shops at Columbus Circle present themselves as an upscale retail destination, but you’re essentially paying Manhattan prices for the exact same stores you’ll find in any suburban mall. The underground shopping center houses chains like Williams-Sonoma, Sephora, and Coach—nothing you can’t find elsewhere without the premium location markup.
During weekends and holidays, the space becomes claustrophobic. The relatively low ceilings and circular layout create bottlenecks at every turn. You’ll waste significant time just trying to move through the crowds, and the whole experience feels more like obstacle navigation than shopping. The restaurants in the complex are similarly overpriced for what amounts to mall food court quality with white tablecloths.
Your time in Manhattan is limited. Why spend it in a below-ground shopping center that could exist anywhere? The actual Columbus Circle above ground, where Central Park meets the city, offers far more interesting things to see and do.
7. Any Restaurant in Little Italy (South of Broome Street)
What’s marketed as “Little Italy” today is basically a four-block tourist trap serving mediocre Italian-American food at inflated prices. The neighborhood’s authentic Italian community has largely moved elsewhere, leaving behind restaurants that cater almost exclusively to visitors who don’t know better. Those guys standing outside trying to lure you in with menus and promises of “best pasta in New York” should be your first warning sign.
The food is consistently underwhelming. You’ll pay $25 for a plate of pasta that tastes like it came from a jar, served in dining rooms decorated with checkered tablecloths and vintage photos that might as well be from a movie set. The “family recipes” being advertised were probably perfected in a corporate kitchen. Meanwhile, genuinely excellent Italian restaurants exist throughout Manhattan, run by actual Italian families or chefs who care about the food they’re serving.
Head to the East Village or the Bronx’s Arthur Avenue if you want authentic Italian food. Those areas still have the real deal, places where the grandmother actually does cook in the back and the recipes have been passed down through generations.
8. Penn Station Area Late at Night
Penn Station itself is safer than Port Authority, but the surrounding blocks between 31st and 34th Streets become increasingly sketchy after midnight. The mix of late-night bars, closed businesses, and limited foot traffic creates an environment where you’re more likely to encounter problems. Street harassment is common, and the area has seen its share of more serious incidents over the years.
The blocks west of 8th Avenue are particularly concerning. The combination of cheap hotels, adult businesses, and sparse lighting makes this stretch feel isolated even in the middle of Manhattan. Solo travelers, especially women, consistently report uncomfortable encounters here after dark. Even in groups, the vibe is off-putting enough that most locals avoid the area when possible.
If you need to access Penn Station late at night, use rideshare or taxi services that drop you directly at the station entrance. Don’t wander the surrounding streets, and if you’re staying in a hotel nearby, choose one on the eastern side closer to Herald Square, where foot traffic remains heavier throughout the night.
9. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Forty-five dollars to look at waxy celebrity replicas in a crowded building where half the figures are outdated or weirdly proportioned. Madame Tussauds works in other cities where entertainment options are limited, but in Manhattan? You’re surrounded by actual world-class museums, live performances, and genuine cultural experiences. Spending money here feels like eating fast food when you’re standing next to a five-star restaurant.
The museum is always packed with tour groups, making it difficult to get decent photos with the figures. You’ll spend more time waiting in line for your turn with each display than actually enjoying them. The whole experience takes maybe an hour, and by the end, you’re left wondering why you didn’t spend that time and money at the Met, MoMA, or literally anywhere else.
Children might enjoy it, but even then, you’re better off taking them to the Natural History Museum or the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Those places offer interactive exhibits and real historical artifacts that create lasting memories instead of selfies with fake celebrities.
10. South Street Seaport’s Tourist Section
The revitalized South Street Seaport has improved somewhat in recent years, but the main tourist drag remains a concentration of chain restaurants and generic shops that could exist anywhere. You’re paying waterfront prices for food that’s available in cheaper locations throughout the city. The historic ships and maritime museum are genuinely interesting, but they’re overshadowed by the aggressive commercialization of the surrounding area.
The cobblestone streets photograph beautifully, which is probably why people keep coming. But after you’ve taken your pictures, there’s not much reason to stay. The crowds during pleasant weather make the narrow streets uncomfortable to walk, and every restaurant has someone outside trying to get you to sit down for overpriced seafood that’s often shipped frozen anyway despite being next to the water.
If you want waterfront experiences in Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge Park offers better views, more space, and less commercial pressure. You can still see the seaport’s historic elements without getting trapped in the tourist-focused retail corridor.
Wrapping Up
Manhattan rewards those who look beyond the obvious attractions. Every spot I’ve mentioned here has become popular for a reason, but that reason often has more to do with marketing than actual quality. Your trip deserves better than following a path worn smooth by millions of previous visitors who didn’t know there were alternatives.
The real Manhattan—the one that locals love, and visitors remember—exists in the neighborhoods and spots that don’t need massive advertising budgets. Skip these tourist traps, and you’ll have more time, money, and energy for the experiences that actually capture what makes this city special. Trust me, you won’t miss what you’re avoiding.
