Visiting the UN was an incredible experience, especially if you have an interest in government organizations/NGOs/politics. I am so glad that I added this to my itinerary.
I’d recommend booking your tickets in advance, which I’m so glad I did because I saw people who hadn’t and tried to get a walk-in tour, and the entire day was booked. It’s helpful to know that you need to check it at visitor’s centre across the street from the entrance. The suggestion of arriving an hour in advance was likely a bit much for winter, however I arrived 40 minutes ahead of time and it gave me adequate time to check in, explore the entrance, and get ready for the tour. There is a lovely space to take photos right when you pass through security, which I definitely recommend you do!
The quality of your tour will depend on your guide. I had a very knowledgeable guide however she limited the photos that we could take and kept us moving quite quickly. There was another tour both ahead of us and behind us and those participants were able to take many photos. It is a working institution so there might be some spaces you won’t be able to see, but you do still get to learn about the history.
There is a bookstore and a gift shop that are nice, but I didn’t feel the need to purchase anything. It can get a bit expensive.
After the tour is done you are able to visit open exhibitions, which during the time I was there was about antisemitism, fake news, and the sustainable development goals. I think you can actually visit those areas for free, and you can totally spend an hour or so just exploring that.
Overall I’m very happy I took the time to visit!