With iconic sites around every corner and never enough time to visit them all, New York, one of the finest cities in the world, is constantly a tornado of activity. The Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, historic districts, and countless renowned museums are just a few of the attractions that draw visitors to this city. More come particularly to shop and eat. And still others come just to take in the sights.
A lot of New York’s top attractions are close to one another and easy to go to on foot or by taxi, making it a wonderful area to explore.
1. Statue of Liberty
With a height of just under 152 feet from the base to the torch and a weight of roughly 450,000 pounds, it is one of the tallest statues in the entire world.
The statue is visible from the ground, with views from Battery Park at the southernmost tip of Manhattan being particularly good. The best thing to do, though, is to take a little boat ride to Liberty Island and visit the Statue of Liberty up close in order to appreciate it fully. Enjoy a leisurely tour around the base before entering the pedestal, if you choose. At the time of writing, the crown is still shut.
You can choose to visit Ellis Island and view the Immigration Museum as part of a tour to the Statue of Liberty. The ancient immigration station complex, where many immigrants were processed before entering the US, is home to this wonderful museum.
The method, the events, and the experiences of the individuals who passed through here on their way to the United States are highlighted in the exhibits. You may even look up a list of immigrants who passed through here by using the on-site computer database.
2. Metropolitan Museum of Art
One of the most well-known museums in New York is the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or the Met as it is more frequently known. It was established in 1870. There are more than two million works of art in The Met’s permanent collection, which spans a time period of 5,000 years.
The Met Fifth Avenue serves as the museum’s focal point despite having three locations. The collection’s highlights include American ornamental arts, weapons and armour, costumes, Egyptian art, musical instruments, and a wide range of other items.
3. Central Park
Anyone visiting New York City should take a stroll in Central Park’s winding paths, ride a bicycle through them, or ride in a carriage. You may even put on your skates in the winter and skate over Wollman Rink. One of the things that makes New York such a lovely and pleasant city is this enormous park in the middle of the city, which is a half-mile broad and 2.5 miles long.
The majority of the activities in Central Park are free, making it one of the few inexpensive things to do in NYC in addition to being a terrific spot to enjoy some nature. The Lake, Strawberry Fields, the Central Park Zoo, and Belvedere Castle are a few of the most well-liked tourist destinations.
4. Times Square
Times Square is one of the most popular tourist destinations in New York City and is situated at the junction of Broadway, 7th Avenue, and the 42nd and 47th Streets. Long Acre Square was its original name, dating to the 1880s. After The New York Times, a well-known daily, moved inside the structure, the mayor of New York changed the area’s name to Times Square in 1904.
If you’ve had your fill of sitting on the bleachers and are looking for something fun to do either as a group or a couple, stroll over to the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. The eerily life-like wax figurines feature NYC icons like Jimmy Fallon and the set of The Tonight Show, Broadway cast members, and shows where you actually get to dress up and participate. The building’s glass dome protrudes over Times Square for awesome views.
Address: Broadway and 7th Avenue, New York, New York
5. Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is one of New York’s most famous landmark buildings and key tourist attractions. The 381-metre-tall, 102-storey building was the tallest in the world until the 1 World Trade Center tower rose higher, 41 years later. Topped with a mooring mast for airships, the Empire State Building immediately became a landmark and a symbol for NYC when it opened in 1931.
There are actually two observatories atop the Empire State Building, but both offer astounding views. On clear days, you can see up to 80 miles, looking into the neighbouring states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
The 86th Floor Observatory (1,050 feet) is the city’s highest open-air observation deck, and what most people are expecting to find when they go up the Empire State Building. If it feels familiar, it’s because this area has been featured in countless movies and TV shows.
Reached by high-speed, automatic elevators, it has both a glass-enclosed area, which is heated in winter and cooled in summer, and spacious outdoor promenades on all four sides of the building. Views are incredible. The Top Deck on the 102nd Floor stands 1,250 feet above the bustling streets below. While you are 16 storeys higher, the viewing area here is enclosed.
6. 9/11 Memorial and Museum
The World Trade Center’s twin 110-story towers once dominated the Manhattan skyline but were destroyed by suicide-piloted jetliners on September 11, 2001, with a tragic loss of life. Where the two towers of the World Trade Center once stood, now stand two square reflecting pools, each one acre in size.
Known as the National September 11 Memorial, the area is a moving tribute to the almost 3,000 people killed as a result of attacks on September 11, 2001 and also the six people killed in the earlier World Trade Center bombing in February, 1993.
Surrounded by trees and grass, the pools are recessed, with water cascading over the sides and flowing into a seemingly bottomless square. These are the largest manmade waterfalls in North America. Around the pools are bronze panels with the names of all those who were killed in the attacks.
The 9/11 Memorial Museum is located in an architecturally stunning, curving glass building, between the two pools. It features displays that include artifacts, photos, and videos, presenting the story of 9/11, as well as the aftermath and impacts.
The building is constructed around the remnants of the World Trade Center and incorporates the old structures within the extraordinary new museum building. The memorial and the museum are located on the south side of One World Trade Centre, on Greenwich Street.
7. American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is one of New York City’s top museums for family outings since it offers something for everyone to enjoy. All the fascinating aspects of our planet’s natural environment are displayed in eight permanent exhibit rooms, including science, the environment, animals, and fossils.
The museum additionally organises temporary special exhibitions. A shark display showcasing replicas of these incredible creatures that you can really touch is among the current exhibitions that are highly recommended. The rare 22-carat Okavango Blue Diamond is another eye-catching showcase.
A walk to the Butterfly Conservatory is a must-do experience no matter where you go. 500 flying butterflies will share the space with you inside this warm, humid, climate-controlled building.
Location: 200 Central park west, New York.
8. Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the city’s most famous sights with its Gothic-shaped arches and suspension cables, has served as an inspiration to countless poets, musicians, and artists throughout the years. The first steel suspension bridge ever built, this historic bridge spans the East River from Manhattan to Brooklyn. It was finished in 1883.
One of the city’s most famous monuments, the Brooklyn Bridge has served as an inspiration to countless poets, musicians, and artists throughout the years with its Gothic-shaped arches and suspension cables. This iconic bridge, which connects Manhattan and Brooklyn across the East River, was built in 1883 and was the first steel suspension bridge ever constructed.
The best way to enjoy this landmark is to spend an hour walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, however you can view it from several boats and the east side of Manhattan. Above the traffic lanes is a wood plank walkway that is exclusively accessible to those on foot and bicycles. The first pillar has a viewing platform, so if you can’t walk the entire way, at least make it there.
9. Broadway and the Theater District
Attending a Broadway show is one of the top things to do in New York City. Considered the pinnacle of American theatre, this is the place to see the latest shows and the long-running classics.
Broadway usually refers simply to Broadway theatre, which encompasses a large number of theatre venues in the Theater District and along the street of Broadway. For the most popular shows, tickets should be purchased well in advance.
Shubert Alley is a famous pedestrian-only alley in the Theater District and home to two well-known playhouses: the Shubert on 221 West 44th Street and the Booth at 22 West 45th Street. Historically, aspiring actors would frequent Shubert Alley looking for opportunities to perform in a play sponsored by theatre baron, Sam S. Shubert.
A Chorus Line played at The Shubert for a record 6,137 shows. The musical Oklahoma debuted in 1941 at the St. James playhouse just down the street. Other legendary places include Sardi’s restaurant, where many famous actors met, and the Music Box Theater, where Irving Berlin staged The Music Box Revue in 1921.