A lot of people ask me: which places should I go to when visiting the city for the first time? So, I decided to list the 10 places that are super classic, those tourist spots that are the landmarks of the city, and are part of the itinerary of almost everyone who visits the Big Apple!
1. Central Park – Central Park is the refuge of New Yorkers and certainly one of the most famous spots in the city. With a huge area, that goes from 59th St until 110th St, the park is beautiful year-round. Whether in winter, when everyone is playing in the snow or in the summer, when the lawns become “beaches”, ie in the middle season, when the trees become colorful with the shades of fall or spring. No matter the season, Central Park will always be a place to be visited in New York. And since the place is gigantic, it deserves to be exploited with time! I recommend reserve at least an entire day for the park – which can be split into two periods depending on how is the weather.
2. Times Square – Known as the corner of the world, Times Square is located at the junction of Broadway and 7th Avenue, between West 42nd Street and West 47nd Street in midtown Manhattan. The most striking feature? The luminous signs. The establishments set up in the region are obliged to install a sign – the lights are on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – and the cost of these panels is between $ 5,000 and $ 20,000 per month, per square inch. It’s a lot of money, right?
3. Estátua da Liberdade -“The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World” was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886. It was designated as a National Monument in 1924. Employees of the National Park Service have been caring for the colossal copper statue since 1933. There are a lot of ways to visit this place:
- Through official ferry, Statue Cruises, the only one that takes you to the island. You can buy your ticket here.
- Through Water Taxi, a ride that is gonna take you very close. Check out some details.
- Through Staten Island Ferry, free ride between Manhattan e Staten Island. Check out some details.
4. Observatories – in my opinion, is that thing that can not miss: see the city from above. As New York is a concrete jungle, full of skyscrapers, it is wonderful to see the city from one of the observatories and contemplate all its beauty from above. I suggest doing this show at sunset time – seeing the city lights turning on afterward is simply magical. For now, the city has five observatories: Top of the Rock, Empire State, Edge, Summit and One World Observatory. In my opinion, if you have to choose just one, I suggest Top of the Rock, because, beyond the view not to be obstructed, you can see the Empire State.
- Tickets for Empire State.
- Tickets for Top of The Rock.
- Tickets for One World Observatory.
- Tickets for Edge.
5. Brooklyn Bridge – Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges around the world – and the first built to connect Manhattan to Brooklyn, 1,2 miles long. It was inaugurated in 1883 – 13 years after the start of its construction. Today, on average, 120,000 vehicles cross Brooklyn Bridge every day, and also 4,000 pedestrians and 2,600 cyclists.
6. Museums – many people think that only Europe offers a full experience when it comes to museums. And that’s not true! New York has dozens of incredible museums – among them is the Natural History Museum, the Met – Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Moma – Museum of Modern Art. But I must make a serious point here: do not include museums in your travel itinerary if you are the kind of person who does not like museums. Value your time on a trip to do things that you really enjoy! It’s okay to not like museums – I do not like it!
7. 9/11 Memorial – after the terrorist attack of September 11, 2011, the area where the Twin Towers were located gave rise to a Memorial. Two pools honor the victims of the tragedy and the water that flows represents the tears of the friends and relatives of the victims of the tragedy. It is a very remarkable place, especially for those who remember the attacks. It is good to make it clear that: 9/11 Memorial is an open public space, free of charge. There is also the 9/11 museum – it is a closed attraction, you pay for it. The museum serves as the premier US institution dedicated to exploring the implications of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, documenting the impact of events. Their galleries include pieces of concrete belonging to the twin towers and even a fire truck that was used to rescue the victims. In addition, there is a collection of personal objects, videos, and other materials. In several galleries, the museum shows what the world was like before and after the attacks. The museum is free on Tuesdays, after 5 pm.
8. Grand Central – it will always be a fantastic place to be visited, even if it’s your tenth time in the city. This subway and train station was opened in 1903 and is considered the largest railway station in the world, with 44 platforms, on two levels, with 41 lines at the top and 26 at the bottom. On average, more than 700,000 users pass through it every day. Also, this place has already been a scene of movies and tv series … Also, there is a food court with Magnolia Bakery units, Shake Shack, and more.
9. Wall Street & Charging Bull – the financial heart of New York. I think the street is super charming with many old buildings with incredible architecture – including the Federal Hall. Built-in 1700 as the seat of the New York City government, later it served as the United States’ first capitol building under the constitution, is the location where George Washington took office as the first president of the United States. It is open to visitation – learn more details here. At Broadway and Morris St, is the Charging Bull. They say that if you touch the intimate parts of the bull will become rich. Don’t be surprised if you see a cluster of people doing this and taking photos, the place is super crowded and popular.
10. Fifth Avenue – who does not remember Becky Bloom bursting the limits of her credit card on the famous avenue? And how not to mention Audrey Hepburn and her Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Fifth Avenue inhabits the imagination of a lot of people, but its luxury stores like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Cartier are for the wealthy ones. It does not mean that you can not visit the place even on a tight budget. Before the tips, let’s remember that it is a long avenue, and its most famous part goes from 42nd to 59th street. In this section, there are two well-known places: the New York Public Library and St. Patrick Cathedral. Oh, besides, behind the New York Public Library is Bryant Park, which also deserves your visit.
Did you like these tips? I hope this post can help people that are coming to the city for the first time!
Content creator and journalist in New York City. Here, I share lifestyle, beauty, NYC tips, thoughts, and the struggles about living in the most amazing city in the world! I’m not gonna pretend to be another person: I’m a Brazilian immigrant and I think this is my soul, it is part of who I am. I hope you enjoy my content! Follow me on Instagram!
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