New York City is definitely ‘The City that never sleeps‘ and this trendy bustling metropolis has a never-ending list of places to go and sights to see, and here are all my recommendations on all the best New York City Tourist Attractions!
Sightseeing
Contents
- 1 Sightseeing
- 1.1 Grand Central Terminal Station
- 1.2 Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Plaza
- 1.3 Times Square
- 1.4 The Oculus
- 1.5 9/11 Memorial Site
- 1.6 Staten Island Ferry
- 1.7 The Vessel
- 1.8 Walk the Highline
- 1.9 Central Park
- 1.10 Flatiron Building
- 1.11 Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
- 1.12 Eat at Ellen’s Stardust Diner
- 1.13 Visit The Fleur Room for a Rooftop Bar experience
- 1.14 Ride the Subway
- 1.15 Try Taiyaki’s Fish-Shaped Ice Cream Cones!
- 1.16 Try the Bloody Mary at St Regis New York
- 1.17 Wall Street and The Charging Bull
- 1.18 Watch a Broadway Show
- 1.19 Watch a Baseball game
Grand Central Terminal Station
The world famous Grand Central Terminal Station with its iconic stairs, impressive high and stunning ceilings and giant clock in the main terminal are must-see and I would recommend grabbing a coffee and spending at least 20 minutes here, taking it all in, people watching and experiencing the buzz. It is a great starting point to sightsee from as some of the main sites are a walking distance away.
Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Plaza
For the best views of the New York skyline head to ‘Top of the Rock’ at the Rockefeller Plaza . Magical both during the day and evening. It offers better views than the Empire State Building and so if you were choosing between the two I would go with ‘Top of the Rock.’
Times Square
Times Square stretches from West 42nd to West 47th Streets and is known for its multitude of Broadway theatres, cinemas and electronic billboards. It is one of those places that make New York a city that never sleeps and great to experience both during the day and at night.
I love walking around here!
The Oculus
The Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center Mall replaces the PATH station that was destroyed during 9/11 in 2001. It cost 4 billion dollars, making it the most expensive train stop in the world!
It represents the most integrated network of underground pedestrian connections in the city with the added bonus of 78,000 square feet of multi level state-of-the-art retail and dining.
It is an architectural beauty and next to the 9/11 Memorial site so worth having a look at when planning a visit to the memorial site.
The structure itself is the portrayal of a bird about to take a flight from the hands of a young boy to show that no matter what obstacle the city faces it will always be hopeful. The form comes from a model the architect made 15 years before the project’s completion called Mother and child.
9/11 Memorial Site
Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island ferry is a 24 hour commuter ferry that shuttles back and forth from The Whitehall Terminal at the tip of Manhattan to the St. George Terminal on Staten Island, taking around 25 minutes each way, and best of all, it is free!
Avoid rush hour to have the best experience. You will be treated to views of Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Governors Island, and in the distance, Brooklyn.
Adjacent to The Vessel is The High Line, a disused railway track repurposed as a public park with green foliage and perfect for a stroll.
The High Line NYC is one of the most popular green spaces and unique parks for its curation of food, events and activities.
There are various exits and we managed to walk all the way to Central Park after a little walk on The High Line and exiting at one of the stops.
Central Park
Central Park is one of the most stunning public parks in the world, has been featured in many a TV show or movie, and is the heart and soul of New York City. Here you can walk and see musicians performing, horse and carriages going by, wedding photo shoots in progress and dog walkers, whilst locals picnic on the side, or pause with a cup of coffee. You can rent and ride a bike through the park if you wish.
I recommend lunch at The Loeb Boathouse, the only Manhattan restaurant and bar right on a lake, for a scenic lunch. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Flatiron Building
One of New York’s much loved and heavily photographed landmarks, The Flatiron Building with its distinctive triangular shape was designed by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham and built in 1902, allowed it to fill the wedge-shaped property located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway.
Its original purposes was to serve as offices for the George A. Fuller Company, a major Chicago contracting firm.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
Wander down the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge to take in the breathtaking skyline of NYC. Either get yourself to Brooklyn and walk back to Manhattan or go from Manhattan to Brooklyn.
Eat at Ellen’s Stardust Diner
For the American experience I recommend eating at a Diner at least once and the most fun one is Ellen’s Stardust Diner where you can eat classic Diner food whilst listening to singing waitstaff.
Visit The Fleur Room for a Rooftop Bar experience
As dusk falls, head to one of New York’s rooftop bars for night time views of the twinkling sky line. Word of caution, after 8 many get booked for private events so make sure to check ahead of going!
We had a firm favourite – the The Fleur Room at The Moxy NYC Chelsea. The venue is stunning, views incredible, cocktails delicious and music fantastic – so good we went twice till 4am!
Ride the Subway
Cheap and easy to navigate, riding the Subway is a must! Especially to save time when sightseeing.
Try Taiyaki’s Fish-Shaped Ice Cream Cones!
Not just beautiful to look at, these Fish-Shaped Ice Cream Cones by Taiyaki in China Town, taste incredible, and a welcome respite on a hot sunny day! The cones itself (which taste like waffles) are absolutely divine, filled with red bean paste, and so make sure you eat it all.
Try the Bloody Mary at St Regis New York
Did you know the Bloody Mary was invented in 1934, by barman Fernand Petiot, who perfected the recipe for a vodka-and-tomato juice cocktail, at The St. Regis New York’s King Cole Bar. It was renamed the “Red Snapper” so as not to offend the hotel’s refined clientele, and now you can find destination specific variants at St Regis hotels around the world, my favourite being Mauritius. The New York one wasn’t the best I have had but worth a try nevertheless!
Wall Street and The Charging Bull
The Charging Bull, a bronze sculpture by artist Arturo Di Modica, can be found near Wall Street in Downtown Manhattan in the financial district. It has become the symbol of Wall Street and the Financial District and rumour has it that you get good luck if you rub its private bits. Leave that one up to you to decide if you want to!
Watch a Broadway Show
You may know the saying, “when in Rome…” But when in New York, seeing a Broadway show is absolutely one of the unmissable things you need to add to your plans. We watched Chicago but there are plenty of choices available. For best seats book early!
Watch a Baseball game
On a previous trip to New York we went to see a Baseball game and the experience was just so amazing I would recommend it to anyone. More than the game itself I loved the atmosphere in the audience and it was great fun!
Have you been to New York?
What are your favourite things to see and do?
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