I would give the greatest sunset in the world for one sight of New York’s skyline
– Ayn Rand
New York. What is the first thing you have in mind when hearing that name? Huge crowds of people, skyscrapers, yellow taxis, Broadway shows..? At least these were the pictures in my head when sitting on the plane to New York City. I had only known the city from movie scenes and magazines and I must confess that my expectations were high. Well, I was not disappointed – quite the contrary – New York had even exceeded my expectations! In this blog post about the must-see attractions in New York City, I will tell you about the best places I’ve visited and I hope they will inspire you to visit this fantastic city as well. If you’ve already been there, I hope they will help you anyway and, as far as I’m concerned, there is no reason not to visit New York City for a second (or third, or fourth,..) time!
If you are planning to travel to NYC around Christmas time, I highly recommend you read my post about the best New York City Christmas decorations, which reveal the best spots for experiencing the ultimate Christmas feeling in the Big Apple. However, whether you are visiting NYC at Christmas time or not – one thing is sure: New York is always a good idea.
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10 Must-see Attractions in New York CityÂ
1. Central Park
Before coming to New York, I imagined Central Park to be big, but not THAT big. Being over 4 km long and 860m wide, it’s more like a little village rather than a park. I’m pretty sure you can easily spend a whole afternoon strolling around the park, relaxing on a bench, and watching the people passing by. No matter at which time of the year you are coming to NYC, there are always so many things to do in Central Park. Picnicking in the grass, watching the leaves falling, or ice skating at the Wollman ice rink. The park also has some sight-seeing spots: Central Park Zoo, the Mall (a promenade lined by elm trees), Central Park’s Pond & Gapstow Bridge, the Bethesda Fountain, and the Belvedere castle. Take part in a guided walking tour or bike tour to explore all the hidden gems Central Park has to offer.
2. Times Square
As the shiny screens are way more impressive when it’s dark than in the daytime, I recommend going there in the late evening or whenever it starts getting dark. Rushing people, yellow taxis, and flashing lights – this place will make you understand what is meant by the saying “the city that never sleeps”. Just lean back and enjoy the NYC atmosphere before drifting away with the hectic crowds.
3. Grand Central Station
Man in Black, Gossip Girl, or Friends with Benefits,.. you might recognize this place from a scene in your favorite movie or series. Of all the television shows and movies set in New York City, more than 50 feature the Grand Central Station building! Indeed, the architecture, interior design, and the crowds rushing in different directions are very impressive. The Grand Central Station was originally called Grand Central Terminal, but it is, in fact, more than just a train station. People go there for shopping and dining as well. Even if it sounds weird to visit a train station without the purpose of actually going on a train, don’t miss stopping by and taking a look into the main hall.
4. Flatiron Building
The Flatiron building definitely counts as the city’s most iconic symbol and is one of the top must-see attractions in New York City. Being located in the so-called Flatiron District in Manhatten, you can find the stunning architecture at the corner of 5th Avenue and 23rd Street. The Flatiron is not an attraction where you spend a lot of time, but if you are in the area you should definitely put it on your New York City itinerary. The high and flat building is worth being portrayed in many famous pictures of New York City. My tip: The building will look better in the picture if you are further away from it.
5. Ground Zero & One World Trade Centre
The One World Trade Center rises 1776 meters above the ground and is not only the highest building in New York but also in the whole U.S. Located in lower Manhattan, the World Trade Center Site also referred to as Ground Zero, reminds us of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The site includes the National September 11 Memorial & Museum as well as the World Trade Centre Transportation Hub with its creatively designed main hall, the Oculus. If you plan to visit the museum, better come early or buy your tickets in advance – the lines are always long.
6. Brooklyn Bridge
You cannot leave NYC without walking the famous Brooklyn Bridge. It is definitely one of THE must-see attractions in New York City and one of USA’s most iconic man-made landmarks. Crossing the bridge takes about 30-40 minutes and I recommend walking over the bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan, rather than the other way around, as you can enjoy the skyline view the whole time. And the view is just amazing! If you want to have the bridge (almost) all to yourself, go there early in the morning! I arrived at the bridge around 11 am and it was already packed with people taking pictures and cyclists who tried to cycle around the crowds. So, learn from my mistakes and I promise you that waking up early will be worth it.
7. Top of the Rock
Whenever I’m visiting cities for the first time, I always want to see them from above. The Top of the Rock Observation Deck is one of the places that make you realize how tiny you are. I decided to go up on Top of the Rock rather than on the Empire State Building as I wanted to see the Empire State Building in front of me. Well, what should I add? The view is stunning!
8. Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (also called “The Met Fith Avenue”) is not a usual museum, it’s THE museum. Being located on 5th Avenue, the museum is just next to Central Park. I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of museums and art in general, however, I was impressed. You can easily spend several hours inside and yet you haven’t seen everything. Moreover, the exhibits are categorized into different countries and centuries, which makes it easy to choose which areas you want to visit. If you want to learn more, you can book a self-guided audio tour as well. You can buy tickets here.
9. Statue of Liberty
The world-famous Statue of Liberty should be on everyone’s UNESCO Checklist. There are many ways to see this landmark: you can either go to Ellis Island and Liberty Island directly by ferry, you can take the ferry to Staten Island and pass by the statue, or you can even book a tour to go inside the statue’s crown. I decided to take the ferry to Staten Island, which was for free. However, the statue was quite far away from the ferry and I regretted not taking a boat coming closer to the statue.
10. Financial District
In general, the financial district is a very busy area and you will feel like a real New York citizen when walking around the crowded streets which are surrounded by hundreds of skyscrapers. The tallest among all skyscrapers is the One World Trade Centre. If you are walking around the district, don’t miss taking a stop at the famous Wall Street. Besides banks and big office buildings, many restaurants and bars can be found in this area of New York.
No matter if you’re visiting New York City in winter or in summer – I’m sure you’ll have a great time! So, are you ready to explore the city that never sleeps? I am curious to know what you are most excited about. Is it a sightseeing tour? A New York City Food Tour? A big shopping tour with the girls? Or something else? To get prepared for the big trip, I highly recommend you take a look at this detailed NYC vegan food guide.
If you’re also planning a short trip to the U.S. capital during your NYC Trip, check out my 2-day itinerary for Washington DC! Did you know that Toronto and Eastern Canada are only a short 1.5-hour flight away? Make sure to visit Toronto for some of Canada’s best nightlife!
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