Best Places to Visit in NEW YORK CITY
Planning a trip to NYC, and wondering what are the best places to visit in New York City?
New York City is the most populous city in the United States. It is probably one of the most popular, if not the most popular place to visit in all of the United States. Since so many wonderful films have been shot in New York City, this bustling city is a dream destination for so many people around the world. Because it’s always fun to visit the location of your favourite movie! Spend a few days there and explore its iconic sights such as the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Empire State Building, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge, Rockefeller Centre, One World Trade Centre, 5th Avenue and many more.
I’m sure you have seen these places on TV and know a thing or two about them already. Visiting New York City is one of the best things to do in the USA.
Are you visiting NYC anytime soon? Check out our article for some travel inspiration!
7 Best Places to Visit in New York City
Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue is a major street in Manhattan.
It is 10 km long and stretches from Washington Square Park to West 143rd Street.
Fifth Avenue is the most iconic street in NYC and one of the most prestigious and expensive shopping streets in the world. Many famous international brands have their flagship stores on Fifth Avenue.
Fifth Avenue is not only a popular place for shopping but also sightseeing. The avenue is home to many historical landmarks, including the famous Empire State Building and the unusual, triangular-shaped Flatiron Building. The avenue boasts many museums. One section of it is even called “Museum Mile”. It runs from 82nd to 110th streets and is home to 9 museums.
One of the most beautiful churches in New York, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, is located on Fifth Avenue, too. This Neo-Gothic style Catholic cathedral is one of the city’s most famous landmarks.
Fifth Avenue undoubtedly is one of the best places to visit in New York City.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a neoclassical sculpture located on Liberty Island.
It is the icon of New York and the United States of America. No wonder, it is one of the best places to visit in New York City.
To visit the Statue of Liberty, you need to take a ferry which also stops at Ellis Island. This island used to be the busiest immigrant inspection station in the US. Today, it is a part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. The Statue of Liberty was the first thing immigrants saw when they arrived in America.
Staten Island ferry (which is completely free!) offers a great view of the Statue of Liberty, too.
There are a few places in New York from where you can enjoy the views of this colossal statue, for example, the Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is an iconic skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan.
Being the most famous skyscraper in the United States, it is definitely one of the best places to visit in New York City. This grand, 102-story Art Deco building is 443.2 m-tall. It was the tallest building in the world until 1970.
This iconic skyscraper boasts viewing platforms which offer wonderful views across the city. The viewing platforms are located on 86th and 102nd floor, with the latter one being brand-new. Make sure you book your ticket in advance, especially if you plan to visit the viewing platform during the sunset which is the most popular time to go.
By the way, if you want to have sweeping views of the city AND the Empire State Building itself, head to the Top of The Rock. It’s a very famous observation deck, located on top of Rockefeller Centre.
Visit Central Park
Central Park is a large urban park right in the middle of Manhattan.
It is the most famous park in NYC and one of the most visited urban parks in the country. However, it’s not the largest park in NYC. Many people find it surprising, but it’s only the 5th largest park in the city!
Covering 843 acres (341 ha), Central Park is home to artificial lakes, waterfalls, gardens, meadows, rolling hillsides and wooded areas. The park also features a zoo (the Central Park Zoo) and a number of monuments and buildings.
Despite being only the fifth-largest park in NYC, Central Park still is so vast, that you’d need at least 2 hours to explore it.
The park is extremely beautiful in the fall, with the changing leaves. Visiting Central Park is one of the best things to do in New York City in autumn.
Times Square
Times Square is another iconic landmark in NYC.
It is a constantly buzzing major commercial intersection, known for its flashy billboards and bright lights. It is one of the most exciting places in Manhattan and is considered one of the world’s busiest pedestrian areas.
Times Square covers five blocks and is home to upscale restaurants, bars, stores and boutiques. But it is best known for its theatres, as it is a hub of the Broadway Theatre District.
Times Square is the place to go in New York in the evening.
The Vessel & the Shed
The Vessel is a quite recent addition to the already long list of NYC landmarks.
Opened in early 2019, the Vessel is one of the most unusual and futuristic sites in the city. It is an intricate structure that resembles a honeycomb. The building has 16 stories and consists of 154 flights of stairs. The Vessel is located in Hudson Yards Public Square, and it is the square’s main feature.
The Shed is another popular futuristic building in the area, albeit less impressive than the Vessel. It is an art and cultural centre that opened in 2019. The Shed features a unique retractable outer shell on wheels that makes the structure expandable (making extra space).
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Dumbo & Pebble Beach
Brooklyn Bridge Park boasts wonderful views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan.
The nearby Dumbo is a trendy neighbourhood with cobbled streets and historic buildings, including the iconic converted warehouses. The neighbourhood also boasts probably the most famous views in NY — a view of the iconic Manhattan Bridge between the historic brownstone buildings.
Pebble Beach offers some of the best views of two of the most famous bridges in NYC — the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Especially beautiful are the sunset views of the Brooklyn Bridge. The views of the Manhattan skyline are great, too.
More Amazing Places to Visit in NYC
- The Morgan Library & Museum — a library with a beautiful interior and ornate ceilings;
- Little Italy and Chinatown — where you can experience the diversity of New York;
- New York Botanical Garden — contains over one million plants, a conservatory and a greenhouse;
- Pelham Bay Park — the largest public park in NYC;
- Chelsea Market — a large food market and shopping mall, one of the best foodie spots in New York;
- Grand Central Terminal — a commuter rail terminal with a beautiful interior, and a National Historic Landmark;
- The National September 11 Memorial Museum — a memorial commemorating the September 11 (2001) attacks
- The American Museum of Natural History — is a very interesting and educational museum great for adults and kids.
New York City Travel Tips
- Citizens of many European countries don’t need a visa to travel to the U.S. but are required to obtain an electronic authorisation (ESTA).
- There is only one official ESTA website and that is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. The official fee is $14.00. All other sites offering this service are the third party, and they charge extra.
- New York City is large. It is very important you find a hotel in a very convenient area. The best areas to stay at are Manhattan and Brooklyn. You’ll have all the famous landmarks nearby, and you won’t need to waste time and money travelling back and forth.
- Take advantage of free and pay-what-you-wish museum days.
- You’ll be doing a lot of walking in New York City. So we would suggest you wear comfortable footwear like sneakers or lightweight walking shoes.
- Use public transport, and DO NOT rent a car.
- Tipping is customary in the United States. A tip of 20on top of the bill is standard.
- The power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. The standard voltage is 120 V. Buy a travel adapter and converter to safely use your electronics.
- You can use your credit or debit card to pay for services and food. Apple Pay is accepted, too. However, we suggest you take some cash with you, just in case.
- Walking tours are very popular among visitors travelling to New York. You can book them online. Just check out them on GetYourGuide or Viator.
- NYC is an incredibly busy city, and its streets are heavily trafficked by cars and pedestrians. Just like the roads, sidewalks have their “traffic rules”. The number one rule when walking in NYC — DO NOT STOP in the middle of the sidewalk to take photos and marvel at the buildings around you! Go to the side.