What other city can be better for tourist attractions, breathtaking views, and countless things to do than New York City?
New York is the most exciting city in the world.
The city has over 8 million locals, receives more than 50 million visitors annually, and has thousands of attractions. No wonder the city never sleeps.
You may never get to eat all the food, see all the shows, or visit all the landmarks in New York unless you have nine lives, but there are some you must see in this lifetime.
Here are 15 places you have to see in New York City.
National Monuments
The Statue of Liberty
Address: 1 Liberty Island 10004 NY
The Statue of Liberty is the most iconic national monument in the U.S. This sculpted gift from France receives over 10,000 visitors a day.
The only way to access the Statue of Liberty is by taking a ferry cruise from Battery Park. You can buy tickets at the ticket booth at Battery Park or online here.
- Ferry tickets give you access to the island and its other attractions.
- Pedestal access tickets let you access the pedestal under Lady liberty and require booking up to 3 weeks in advance.
- Crown access tickets allow you to go all the way up the 162 stairs to the crown and enjoy breathtaking views of New York. However, crown Access tickets are currently unavailable.
With broken chains and one foot forward, Lady Liberty represents the progress of freedom. But don’t take my word for it; check out the Statue of Liberty Museum, which is also on Liberty Island.
Federal Hall
Address: 26 Wall St New York, NY 10005
A short visit to the Federal Hall National Memorial is a must for anyone passionate about government and history. This site is where George Washington got inaugurated as the first president of the United States.
This national monument was instrumental to the beginning of the land of the free we know today.
The federal hall itself has gone through many changes. The site has come from being a seat of government to
- A customs house,
- A sub-treasury,
- The Federal Reserve Bank
- And now a public landmark.
There are not too many exhibits to keep you busy, but it’s still worth visiting.
Historical Landmarks
Grand Central Terminal
Address: 89 E 42nd St New York, NY 10017
Grand Central Terminal is indeed grand in beauty and status. The train station has the most platforms worldwide – 44, and the French-style interior architecture is remarkable.
The best thing about the Grand Central Terminal is that it’s not just a place to hop on and off a train and get on with your day. You can actually go shopping, grab lunch or dinner, and even attend events in the same station.
Don’t be surprised to find tons of people at the station with no intention of using the trains.
Brooklyn Bridge
Address: 334 Furman St Brooklyn, NY 11201
The Brooklyn Bridge was the world’s first steel-wire suspension bridge and is now a New York hot spot. If you plan to walk cross Brooklyn Bridge, go early to avoid a crowd.
If you do, you have more freedom to take as many pictures as you want, but the con is missing out on the views that get better and better as the sun starts to set. Maybe that’s why it’s so crowded.
Asides from the gorgeous bridge, the view of the Manhattan Skyline (while walking from Brooklyn to Manhattan) is one you will want to relish and share with loved ones.
If you want to walk the whole length of the pedestrian walk, pack food, water, or cash. You will need it.
Rockefeller Center
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10111
The Rockefeller Center is a group of commercial buildings founded by John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Did you know they film Saturday Night Live and the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon here? You can attend either if you have tickets.
The center is a good tourist option if you want to do more than walk around and look at things. You can go ice-skating, watch a show at Radio city music hall, shop till you drop, and eat.
The observation deck at the Top of the Rock also provides beautiful views of the New York skyline. If you go with kids, you’ll want to stop at the Lego store, American Girl Place, and Nintendo store.
And come Christmas time, you and your family can watch the lighting of a giant Christmas tree together.
Empire State Building
Address: 20 W 34th St New York, NY 10118
The Empire State Building may no longer be the tallest in the world, it is still one of the tallest buildings in NYC with one of the best views of new york. The skyscraper is 1250 feet tall with 102 stories and has been standing for 92 years.
On the way up, you will find a kind of museum that shows the history of the building, celebrities that have visited, and other attractions like getting to pose in the hands of King Kong.
Tickets prices are:
- $38 to $44 to visit the 86th-floor observatory
- $71 to $77 for the 86th and 102nd-floor observatories
The building gets featured in several movies like Sleepless in Seattle, King Kong, Independence Day, Superman II, etc. Maybe that’s why they call it the world’s most famous building.
New York Parks You Need to See
Central Park
Address: 14 E 60th St New York, NY 10022
Central Park is New York’s most famous park. It might even be the most famous park in the whole world. The park is massive and has enough activities to keep you busy for a week.
If you are looking for:
- A quiet place for bird/people-watching;
- A romantic location with beautiful views of water bodies, bridges, stunning gardens, and castles;
- A picnic spot for family bonding;
- A fun day out with friends featuring ice skating, soccer, and the zoo, Central Park has it all.
It’s a good tourist spot with plenty of history to admire and souvenirs to take home. You can ask its annual 40million visitors; Central Park is a must-see NYC location.
Explore; A Guide To Central Park New York – Map, Tours And Things To Do In Central Park
The High Line
Address: 820 Washington St New York, NY 10014
The High Line is an elevated park and rail-trail built on a former New York Central Railroad. It has beautiful views of the Hudson River and inspires others to repurpose other abandoned infrastructure.
You can participate in cultural events, performances, horticulture classes, stargazing events, and free tours at the High Line. Check their website for events to attend.
Some stand out attractions are:
- A fountain made of bronze sculptures of women and children;
- A bronze replica of the Statue of Liberty wearing quirky masks that change every two months (Ironically, you can see the Statue of Liberty south of the High line);
- And beautiful trees, flowers, and gardens.
The park is a great place to enjoy a calming walk regardless of the weather. There are also lots of places to sit and relax. The park is a non-profit, so they accept donations to help maintain the High Line.
Famous Streets and District
Broadway
Address: 1681 Broadway, NY 10019
As one of the famous streets In New York City, Broadway is a famous theatre district with over 40 professional theatres. If you’re a fan of live musicals and plays, there’s no better place to experience them than Broadway.
Watch your favorite celebrities perform your favorite productions on a night out with fellow theatre-goers.
Time Square
Times Square is one of the most iconic locations in New York City. It is known for its bright and flashy advertisements and is a popular tourist destination. Don’t forget to try one of the best pizza spots in Times Square.
Wall Street
Address: 110 Wall St New York, NY 10005
When you hear of Wall Street, you think of stock markets. It’s not just because of that Leonardo DiCaprio movie (Wolf of Wall Street). It’s because Wall Street is a famous street in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan.
Another one of the famous streets n NYC, the street is home to the New York Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, commercial banks, and insurance companies.
Looking at Banks and insurance companies may not seem like a touristy thing to do, but there are other attractions on wall street like:
- The Charging Bull
- The statue of George Washington
- The grave of Alexander Hamilton
- Federal Hall
The street is narrow, busy and full of buildings with grand architecture. Wall Street is worth a quick stopover.
Here’s a fun fact; there was a physical wall on the street between 1685 and 1699.
Famous Museums
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue, NY 10028.
We’ve established that you can spend a whole day in Central Park. Here’s a location inside the park that can take up the day all by itself. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) is one of the largest art museums in the world.
With over 2 million artworks displaying 5000 years of history, the museum is an overwhelming masterpiece.
The museum hosts the famous Met Gala annually, pulling in invited celebrities to raise funds for their Costume Institute in New York City. You may not be able to attend the Met Gala, but you can visit the museum any other day.
Try getting tickets beforehand to avoid a line at the ticket booth.
P.S. If you’re a New York resident, you can pay as you wish (I.D. required).
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum
Address: 180 Greenwich St New York, NY 10007
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum honors the people killed in the September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993, terrorist attacks.
The design of the Memorial includes two pools formed in the footprints of the original Twin Towers and a ledge with all of the victims’ names.
The Museum exhibits personal and monumental objects related to the events of 9/11 and intimate stories of the attacks and their consequences.
A touching tradition is that those who died on that day get remembered on their birthdays with white roses.
Best Sport Centres
Madison Square Garden
Address: 4 Pennsylvania Plaza New York, NY 10001
Madison Square Garden is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Midtown Manhattan. If you’re a sports fan, you can watch basketball, ice hockey, boxing, and professional wrestling in what is said to be the most famous arena in the world.
Madison Square Garden might be on this list as a sports center, but you can also attend music concerts, ice shows, and circuses at the Garden.
One of the best things about the arena, despite its capacity of over 20,000 people, is all the seats have a good view.
Madison Square Garden is also the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) New York Rangers and the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) New York Knicks. The arena is the oldest sports center in New York that is still in use.
The Yankee Stadium
Address: 1 E 161st St Bronx, NY 10451
True baseball and soccer fans will know that the Yankee Stadium is the home of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball and New York City FC of Major League Soccer.
The Yankees Stadium has been famous since 1923 but changed locations in 2009. The current Yankees Stadium, just a block away from the old one, was built to give fans more facilities to enjoy. The old stadium is now a park called Heritage Field.
The new Yankees stadium can accommodate over 50,000 guests, and large banners of past great players hang around the stadium.
You can only buy tickets online here. Try buying last-minute tickets if you don’t want to sit in the nosebleed sections. Keep in mind that they are more expensive.
The stadium is wheelchair accessible and can accommodate other disabilities. Make sure you contact the stadium’s Accessibility department beforehand if you’ll bring a disabled person along.
Visiting yankee stadium is one of the best things to do in the Bronx. Make sure you go early to get to your seats on time. You can also check out the Pepsi lounge for refreshments.
Best Food neighborhood
Chinatown
Address: 7 Elizabeth St New York, NY 10013
If you love Chinese cuisine or have never tried it, the Manhattan Chinatown is a must-stop location in New York. It has the highest Chinese population in the western hemisphere, and you can be sure it’s overflowing with Chinese culture.
Get traditional and inventive dim sum, pork buns, ramen, soup dumplings, etc. The neighborhood is even more wonderful to experience during Asian holidays.
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