Top 10 Tourist Places in New York
1. Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, America’s most iconic landmark, is at the top of every first-time visitor’s list of things to do in New York. It was a gift from France to the United States. Built in 1886, it is a world symbol of liberty and one of America’s top attractions.
It is one of the world’s largest statues, standing just under 152 feet tall from base to torch and weighing roughly 450,000 pounds.
The statue can be seen from land, with particularly good views from Battery Park on Manhattan’s southern tip. However, the best way to truly appreciate the Statue of Liberty is to take a short boat ride to Liberty Island and see it up close. On a tour to the Statue of Liberty, you can stop at Ellis Island and explore the Immigration Museum. This wonderful museum is housed in the historic immigration station complex, where thousands of immigrants were processed before being allowed to enter the United States.
The exhibits focus on the process, experiences, and stories of people who passed through here on their way to the United States. You can even search the on-site computer database for a list of immigrants who have passed through here.
2. Central Park
A walk, peddle, or carriage ride through Central Park’s crisscrossing pathways is a must-do on any New York City itinerary. In the winter, you can even put on your skates and skate around Wollman Rink. One of the things that makes New York such a beautiful and livable city is this massive park in the city center, which is a half-mile wide and 2.5 miles long. Aside from being a great place to enjoy some nature, Central Park contains many attractions, the majority of which are free, making it one of the few inexpensive things to do in NYC. Among the most popular places to visit are the Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields, the Central Park Zoo, and the lake. If you’re exploring the park on your own, get a map from one of the visitor centres and plan your route.
3. Rockefeller Center & Top of the Rock Observation Deck
When it comes to New York attractions, Rockefeller Center is on almost everyone’s list. This sprawling entertainment and shopping complex in the heart of Manhattan houses NBC-TV and other media outlets, but the centrepiece is the 70-story 30 Rockefeller Plaza, an Art Decoskyscraper with breathtaking views of Manhattan from the famous Top of the Rock Observation Deck. The “deck,” as it’s known, consists of three floors: the 67th, 69th, and 70th. Day or night, the indoor and outdoor viewing areas provide breathtaking views. Tickets for the Top of the Rock Observation Deck can be purchased in advance. The voucher redemption policy on these tickets is flexible, allowing you to change the date if your plans change or the weather is bad.
Skating on the outdoor skating rink at the base of the tower is a popular winter activity in New York City, especially for families and couples. From October to April, the rink is usually open.
4. Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or the Met, was founded in 1870 and is one of the most well-known museums in the United States. The Met’s permanent collection contains over two million works of art dating back 5,000 years.
Although the museum has three locations, the Met Fifth Avenue is the focal point. American decorative arts, arms and armour, costumes, Egyptian art, musical instruments, photographs, and much more are among the highlights of the collection. Exhibitions expose the public to some of the world’s most famous works. If you are serious about visiting the Met, consider a VIP: Empty Met Tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which allows you to see this incredible museum with only 25 other people before it opens to the general public in the morning.
5. Broadway and the Theater District
One of the best things to do in New York City is to see a Broadway show. This is the place to see the latest shows as well as long-running classics. It is considered the pinnacle of American theatre.
Broadway is commonly used to refer to Broadway theater, which includes a large number of theater venues in the Theater District and along Broadway. Tickets for the most popular shows should be purchased well in advance. Shubert Alley is a well-known pedestrian-only alley in the Theater District that houses two well-known playhouses: the Shubert on 221 West 44th Street and the Booth on 22 West 45th Street. Historically, aspiring actors would frequent Shubert Alley in search of opportunities to perform in a play sponsored by Sam S. Shubert, the theater baron.
6. Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a well-known New York landmark and a popular tourist attraction. The 381-meter-tall, 102-story building was the world’s tallest until the 1 World Trade Center tower surpassed it 41 years later. When it first opened in 1931, the Empire State Building, which was topped with a mooring mast for airships, quickly became a landmark and a symbol for New York City.
There are two observatories atop the Empire State Building, and both provide breathtaking views. On clear days, you can see for up to 80 miles into neighboring states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
7. 9/11 Memorial and Museum
The World Trade Center’s twin 110-story towers once dominated the Manhattan skyline before being destroyed on September 11, 2001, by suicide-piloted jetliners, resulting in a tragic loss of life. Where the World Trade Center’s two towers once stood, two square reflecting pools, each one acre in size, now stand.
The National September 11 Memorial is a moving tribute to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, as well as the six people killed in the earlier World Trade Center bombing in February 1993. The pools are recessed and surrounded by trees and grass, with water cascading over the sides and flowing into a seemingly bottomless square. These are North America’s largest man-made waterfalls. Bronze panels around the pools bear the names of all those killed in the attacks.
The 9/11 Memorial Museum is housed in a stunning curved glass building between the two pools. It has exhibits that include artefacts, photos, and videos that tell the story of 9/11, as well as its aftermath and consequences.
8. High Line
The High Line, an exciting and recently expanded New York City attraction, is a former rail line that has been transformed into an urban walking trail above the city streets. This one-of-a-kind linear public park has been planted with a wide range of plants and trees, many of which are native to the area. Many of these bloom in the spring. The park is mostly lined with glass railings, giving it a natural feel while still providing spectacular views of the city. This West Side oasis stretches from Gansevoort Street in the south (just south of West 13th Street) to West 34th Street in the north, mostly parallel to 10th Avenue. It is accessible at various points along the route, some of which only provide stair access and others provide elevator access.
9. American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History, one of New York City’s best museums for a family outing, has something for everyone. Eight permanent exhibit halls showcase everything fascinating about our planet’s natural environment, from science and the environment to animals and fossils.
The museum also hosts special exhibits that are only on display for a limited time. One of the current exhibits worth seeing is one on sharks, which features models of these amazing creatures that you can actually touch. There is also a rare 22-carat Okavango Blue Diamond on display.
A stroll through the Butterfly Conservatory is a must-do on any visit. You’ll be sharing the space with 500 fluttering butterflies inside this warm and humid climate-controlled building.
10. Times Square
Times Square, which is lined with massive, brilliantly lit billboards and screens, is the place to be in New York in the evening, but it is also exciting at any time of day. This is where New York’s New Year’s Eve celebrations take place, as well as the famous “ball drop” at midnight, when the square and surrounding streets are packed with people.
Times Square is busy and always crowded, but it has its own distinct appeal. The bleachers at one end are a great place to take a break and enjoy the scenery. Times Square, formerly Longacre Square, was named after the New York Times tower in 1904. In 1928, the newspaper posted current headlines along with its moving sign, the first of its kind in the world.
