Looking for amazing things to do in New York City? Check out this list of the very best sights and things to do in New York City.
New York City is definitely one of the most amazing cities in the world. Most travelers are spellbound on their very first visit. It certainly isn’t without reason that tourists from all over the world flock to The Big Apple.
In this iconic city that never sleeps, great and memorable experiences await you. But the wide range of sights in New York City can quickly become overwhelming to find your way around. One thing is for sure, you can hardly see it all in one single trip. So, if you want to make the most of your trip to New York City, it may be a good idea to plan ahead.
So, if you’re planning a trip to New York City, you shouldn’t miss this list of the very best things to do in New York City.
Table of Contents
1. Statue of Liberty
Of course, you cannot visit New York City without seeing the Statue of Liberty, an absolute must-see in New York City. The world-famous statue watches over her city and welcomes visitors from the seaside. You can get a glimpse of the statue from several places on the mainland, but one of the best views is from Battery Park.
Hop on a boat to Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty stands. Walk around the statue, visit the museum dedicated to her or head up to the crown with stunning views of New York City. Note that tickets for the crown are easily sold out, so remember to book well in advance. Otherwise, you can also just head up in the high plinth standing below her.
Most boat trips from the Statue of Liberty stop at Ellis Island on their way back to Manhattan. On this island, millions of immigrants arrived before they could enter the United States. You can learn much more about the important history of the island’s immigration museum.
If you don’t feel like paying to visit the Statue of Liberty, I’ll recommend boarding the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry sails right past her and it’s completely free! But note that it’s actually not that expensive to visit the Statue of Liberty, even though you might think so. After all, it’s one of the largest landmarks in the world.
Official site: https://www.statueofliberty.org/statue-of-liberty/
2. Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met is one of the most popular and largest museums in the world with an exhibition of more than 2 million objects. The museum also covers a huge area of 17 hectares, and there’s plenty of things to see. The galleries display works of art from all over the world, such as ancient Egypt and Greece as well as modern America.
Don’t forget to visit the roof of the museum, from where you’ll find stunning views of Central Park and the New York skyline. The Met is definitely one of the very best things to do in New York City, especially if you’re interested in art.
Official site: https://www.metmuseum.org/
3. Central Park
Central Park is seriously huge, and you can easily spend a whole day in here. The park is called New York’s lungs and it isn’t that hard to understand why.
Central Park is a wonderful getaway from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Here you’ll find large lawns, forests, lakes, streams, and a myriad of fun things to do in Central Park as well. Visit a zoo, meet fairy-tale writer H.C. Andersen, explore a castle or something completely different. I’m sure you’ll have a great time in Central Park.
Official site: https://www.centralparknyc.org/
4. Empire State Building
The Empire State Building was built in 1931 and has an impressive height of 381 meters (443 meters with the antenna). This made it the tallest building in the world for 23 years and the tallest in New York for 41 years.
Today, it’s the third tallest building in New York City and is surpassed only by One World Trade Center and 432 Park Avenue. The Empire State Building is, in my opinion, the very best place to enjoy the views of New York City. The views from here are absolutely stunning!
When visiting the Empire State Building, there are two different viewing platforms, each offering a unique view. One is located on the 86th floor at an altitude of 320 meters and is the highest outdoor observation deck in New York. This is the viewing platform most people expect to find as it has appeared in countless movies and TV series.
The second viewing platform is indoors and is located on the 102nd floor at a height of 381 meters. From here there’s also a great view. On a cloudless day, you can enjoy the view up to 130 kilometers away. The queue to the top of the Empire State Building is notorious for being very long and tiring. So, it may be a good idea to book your tickets in advance to skip the queue. Otherwise, you can avoid the worst waiting time by arriving either very early or very late in the day.
Official site: https://www.esbnyc.com/
5. Top of the Rock
Top of the Rock is another great vantage point in New York City and is located on top of the Rockefeller Center. From here you get one of the best views of the city from the three floors of the observation deck, located on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors.
Many people think the view from here is better than from the Empire State Building. This is partly due to that there is a better view of Central Park and that you can see the Empire State Building in the magnificent skyline.
In addition, there are also glass walls instead of railings and there are not nearly as many tourists as at the Empire State Building. It’s probably a matter of taste and you can only find out by visiting them both.
Official site: https://www.rockefellercenter.com/
6. Times Square
Times Square is the beating heart of New York City and buzzes with life. It’s probably a bit of a tourist trap, but you simply could not have been in New York City without visiting Times Square. In Times Square, large neon signs and the headlights on the yellow taxis are shining brightly, while thousands of tourists, street jokers, and vendors fill the wide sidewalks.
The greatness of New York can really be felt when standing among all the lights, the noise, and the crowds. The area is also full of great restaurants and shops such as M & M’s World and Ellen’s Stardust Diner.
Official site: https://www.timessquarenyc.org/
7. Broadway
Broadway is known for its many theaters. Therefore, there is ample opportunity to attend a real Broadway show in New York City. Whether you are into musicals, stand-up, or classics, you can be sure to find a show just for you.
Ticket prices for the most popular performances can be very expensive, but it should be worth it all. It is indeed a true New Yorker experience and the performances are truly accomplished. If you do not want to see a particular show, you can always wait to buy tickets for the same day afternoon.
Tkt’s ticket stands sell residual tickets to many Broadway shows with up to 50% discount. One of the ticket stands can be found under the red staircase in Times Square.
Official site: https://www.broadway.com/
8. MoMa
MoMa is one of the most popular museums in New York and a must-visit if you are just a little interested in art. The museum houses one of the best and largest collections of modern and contemporary art in the world, consisting of architecture, design, drawings, paintings, sculptures, books, films, and much more.
Many of the masterpieces have been created by great world-famous artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Claude Monet.
Official site: https://www.moma.org/
9. Brooklyn Bridge
A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the best things to do in New York City. The iconic bridge is one of the oldest in the United States, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn by crossing the East River.
The view from the bridge is truly stunning and provides a great view of the Manhattan skyline. I especially recommend crossing the bridge from the Brooklyn side to the Manhattan side, as you can thus see Manhattan during the walk. It takes about half an hour to cover the 1.8 kilometers over the bridge, but it doesn’t feel that far when the views are so beautiful.
Don’t forget to visit Brooklyn Bridge Park from where there is also a beautiful view of Manhattan. If you’re visiting the park at sunset, you can watch when the lights in the many skyscrapers are turned on.
10. Wall Street
Wall Street is the financial capital of the world and is home to some of the most important banks in the world. For example, this is where you’ll find the New York Stock Exchange, the largest stock exchange, and the stock market in the world.
Note that there are strict safety rules and therefore you can only enjoy the grandeur of the building from the outside. One of the most popular attractions in the Financial District is the bronze statue of the Wall Street bull that is featured on countless selfies around the world.
But Wall Street is much more than just finances and you shouldn’t miss Federal Hall, Trinity Church, and Battery Park either.
11. High Line
Located on an old railway line about 7 meters above street level, the High Line is a very special park. The park winds its way through the city streets for 2.3 kilometers and offers a unique experience with beautiful views of New York from a bird’s eye view along the way.
Flowers and trees have been planted along the elongated park, as well as benches and works of art. The High Line is a relatively new attraction in New York, but it’s fast becoming hugely popular. You should definitely not miss a visit to this special and unique park in New York City.
Official site: https://www.thehighline.org/
12. Ground Zero
The Ground Zero Memorial is a memorial in honor of the nearly 3,000 people who died in the tragic event of September 11, 2001. After one of the World Trade Center towers collapsed, there was a major cleanup operation. Today, the area has thankfully been rebuilt.
The memorials stand like two huge holes in the ground, right where the two twin towers used to stand. All the way along the edge of the memorials are the names of all those who lost their lives during the terrible terrorist attack that shook the whole world. It’s a very touching thing to do in New York to stand right where thousands of people lost their lives for no reason.
Official site: https://www.911memorial.org/visit/memorial
13. National September 11 Museum
The National September 11 Museum is located underground between the two memorials. Here you get an emotional and harsh insight into the terrorist attack that shook the whole world.
The exhibitions consist of events before 9/11, the terrorist attack on 9/11, and the reconstruction after 9/11. It is an emotional journey, showing names, pictures, and personal stories of the many victims who sadly lost their lives. There are also exhibits of steel debris and rubble from the World Trade Center, wrecked rescue vehicles, and videos of the tragic incident.
A visit to the 9/11 Museum is an intense thing to do in New York City that really makes an impression. A visit can no doubt be recommended if you would like a better insight into the attack and the terrible time after the incident.
Official site: https://www.911memorial.org/visit/museum
14. Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue is one of the most famous shopping streets in all of America and is New York City’s leading shopping area. The street’s popularity has attracted many top designers who have chosen to place their flagship stores here. This has resulted in a huge selection of shops and you can easily spend a whole day shopping here.
Even though there are many expensive designer shops along Fifth Avenue, there are also quite normal shops that don’t make the bank account look depressing. There are many temptations, and it’s easy to make the credit card glow.
15. Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum in New York is huge, and you can easily spend a whole day in here. The museum has more than 30 million objects, of which one of the most impressive collections is the large exhibition of dinosaur skeletons.
But you can also visit a wild planetarium or Butterfly Conservatory with more than 500 free-flying butterflies. You can also learn about the structure of the earth, human senses, the ocean floor, the universe, and more. It is not so difficult to understand why both children and adults are fascinated by the Natural History Museum.
Official site: https://www.amnh.org/
16. Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal is one of the most famous train stations in the world and has been featured in countless movies and TV series. Thousands of people pass the station daily with 44 platforms, which is more than anywhere else in the world.
The more than 100-year-old building is really beautiful inside and out. The highlight of the Grand Central Terminal is the large vestibule with the painting on the arched ceiling, the old clock, and the impressive marble staircase. The Grand Central Terminal is one of the most magnificent public buildings in New York City.
Official site: https://www.grandcentralterminal.com/
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