Statue of Liberty, America's most iconic landmark, the Statue of Liberty, is at the top of the list of things to do in New York for first-time visitors. Our Ultimate Guide to New York's Best Attractions is a great place to start, whether you're entertaining out-of-town guests or just want to channel the tourist inside. The list is a compilation of our favorite spots and spots in the city, including everything from large parks and art museums to food markets and historic sites. The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty are obviously must-see attractions, but we've also highlighted some of our favorite hidden gems, such as one of New York's best flea markets, Hudson Yard's Vessel and the foodie paradise of Smorgasburg.
Are you thirsty for more? Discover the 50 best things to do in New York. Summit One Vanderbilt sits atop the new 67-story supertall One Vanderbilt, a 1,401 foot tall skyscraper. As the fourth tallest building in the city, after One World Trade Center, Central Park Tower and 111 West 57th Street, it is located just west of Grand Central Terminal, where you first enter the underground experience. After a journey through a mirrored corridor with its own enveloping elements, visitors take an elevator to the 91st floor, where they are 300 meters above the streets and sidewalks of New York.
Kenzo Digital has created a fully mirrored infinity room called Air that reflects the views of the sky and the city over and over again, making you feel as if you are walking in the sky or on another plane of existence. Looking above and below you in this two-story space, you see that your reflection repeats itself forever. After ascending to the third level of this experience, guests will experience Levitation, a series of clear glass celestial boxes that protrude from the building 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue. Here, you can stand on the street with just a glass between you and the ground.
Certainly not for the faint of heart. The Frick Madison is now located at 945 Madison Avenue, the former home of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Met Breuer, while Henry Clay Frick's mansion undergoes massive renovation. This new season will last two years, and although Marcel Breuer's brutalist building is a big difference from the Golden Age mansion, the space offers a very different and rare view of the collection, according to museum officials. Unlike the Frick Mansion, the Breuer Building is a clean slate, with a sharp contrast, which really helps draw the viewer's attention to the individual works.
The eyes are not busy looking at ornate furniture here. It's about seeing the smallest details of the work of art that you might have missed in the mansion. According to Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen, director Ian Wardropper, he's a different Frick than the one you've ever met. In fact, you can expect to go to JFK International Airport because of this beautiful and completely renovated TWA Terminal, which serves as a hotel, food and drink, and convention destination.
The interior of Eero Saarinen's iconic 1962 building exudes 1960s elegance with 512 rooms offering views of the JFK slopes, a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant, a rooftop pool and an observation deck. To really feel out of town, head to the 38-acre wilderness area on the west side of the park known as the Ramble. The area has a historic history (as a gay cruising spot dating back to the beginning of the last century, among other things), and was even proposed as a recreational area in the mid-1950s. Fortunately, the winding trails, rocks and streams remain, seemingly waiting to be discovered.
If you want lots of sun and a more social atmosphere, spread a blanket at Sheep's Meadow, where bands playing guitar and Frisbee and tanning topless extend as far as the eye can see. Lady Liberty or Liberty Enlightening the World, as it is officially known, was a gift from France on the centenary of the United States. A universal symbol of freedom that welcomed more than 10 million immigrants sailing to Ellis Island during the turn of the 20th century, the copper-plated sentry measures 305 feet tall from the bottom of its base to the tip of its torch. Book well in advance three weeks or more to see the New York skyline from Liberty Island with access to the statue's crown, and go earlier in the day if you also want to take the ferry to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.
While One World Observatory occupies floors 100 to 102 of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, this observation deck can be reached in just 60 seconds via a set of visually enveloping “Sky Pod” elevators. During the interactive tour experience, guests walk through some of the foundations on which the building is built before entering the elevators, which are equipped with floor-to-ceiling LED displays that show a video of the city and the building's history. Once at the top, the video concludes when the screen rises to reveal stunning 360-degree views of the Manhattan skyline. After taking in the views, head to One Café for a casual meal, One Mix for small plates and cocktails, or, the jewel, One Dine for a full dining experience with large windows overlooking the horizon (reservation required).
Dao We won't argue if you want to call this sparkling pinnacle of Art Deco architecture the most striking skyscraper in New York. The triangle-shaped windows in its crown are covered with lights, creating a beautiful effect at night. Brimming with wealthy sophistication often identified with old New York, the structure pays homage to its namesake with giant eagles (replicas of those added to Chrysler cars in the 1920s) instead of traditional gargoyles and a relief sculpture of racing car bricks, complete with with chrome hubcaps. During the famous three-way race to build Manhattan's tallest building, the Chrysler added a sharp stainless steel needle to the best 40 on Wall Street, but it was surpassed shortly after its completion in 1930 by the Empire State Building.
Tim Lowery Every park in town offers its own brand of green escapism, but this lush expanse goes beyond landscaped flora. In addition to housing swaths of greenery, including the 50-acre forest, with some of the city's oldest trees, the garden cultivates a rotating list of shows that give a nod to the world's most prized green spaces, such as the majestic grounds of Spain's Alhambra Palace and Monet's outdoor sanctuary at Giverny. Sarah Bruning If you're looking for a great spot to enjoy a panoramic view of everything the city has to offer, head straight to Brooklyn Promenade. Opened in 1950, this one-third mile stretch of pavement along the East River has long been a favorite destination for residents, tourists and couples looking to kiss next to an unforgettable stretch of New York City's skyline.
From here you can see stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. Follow the sights by taking a stroll through 19th century townhouses along the tree-lined side streets of Brooklyn Heights, or head to Brooklyn Bridge Park. This museum from the Middle Ages was built in the 30s, but it looks much older than that. Located in a bucolic park overlooking the Hudson River, the structure recreates architectural details of five 15th-century monasteries and houses objects from the Met's medieval art and architecture collections.
Rockefeller, who donated the land for the museum, even purchased a stretch across the river to preserve the pristine view. Be sure to inspect the tapestries, including the famous 16th century Unicorn Hunt. Andrew Frisicano Learn about the glorious history of American aviation and the brave heroes who pioneered the world's last frontier at this non-profit educational institution that features the legendary aircraft carrier Intrepid. Founded in 1982, the museum also has an unparalleled collection of combat aircraft, a Blackbird spy plane, a Concorde, the nuclear submarine USS Growler, a prototype space shuttle and a capsule that returned one of the first astrotourists to Earth.
Permanent exhibits include a harrowing 30-minute audio-visual video of the Intrepid kamikaze attacks, while new rotating programs range from a summer movie series (starting with Star Trek, as it should) to an annual Space science festival &. Dao One of the world's largest campuses for the performing and visual arts, Lincoln Center began construction in 1959 thanks in part to funding from John D. Today, the center is home to 30 world-class venues, such as the Metropolitan Opera House, the David H. Koch Theater and Julliard School, as well as 11 resident organizations that together host thousands of events each year.
At the heart of the complex is the renowned Josie Robertson Square, whose fountain can be seen jets of white light with the golden glow of the Met lobby that serves as an elegant backdrop. Dao In 1986, artists and activists created this 4.5-acre urban park on a landfill. Now, it hosts large-scale sculpture exhibitions throughout the year and is one of the few venues in the city specifically designated for artists to create outdoor works. The splendid Queens space overlooks the Manhattan skyline and is open 365 days a year, with a Greenmarket, free yoga and tai chi classes and more.
Located just a ferry ride from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, this gem of Staten Island, a former home for retired boaters, remains a secret. Spread over 83 acres, the area has a huge botanical garden and a cultural center surrounded by cobbled streets and small paths of Victorian and Tudor houses. One of the most popular attractions here is the Chinese Scholars Garden, equipped with magnificent rocks that look like mountains inspired by the poetry and paintings of Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist monks, as well as a bamboo forest path and a pond full of koi. The Jewish Museum, located in the Warburg Mansion of 1908, organizes temporary exhibitions of contemporary and modern art and also has an important collection of works of art and Judaica.
There is a permanent exhibition specifically for children, as well as a restaurant that includes an outpost of Russ & Daughters, the Lower East Side's iconic purveyors of kosher delicacies such as smoked salmon, sabre and whitefish. Founded in 1897 by the Hewitt sisters, granddaughters of industrialist Peter Cooper, the only museum in the U.S. UU. Dedicated exclusively to design (both historic and modern) it has been part of the Smithsonian since the 1960s.
The museum hosts periodic interactive family programs that allow children to experiment with design. This 12-gallery space occupies an old photo-etched plant, and the entire building was designed by artist and sculptor Isamu Noguchi to be an oasis of meditation amidst its industrial and sandy environment. In addition to some of his most iconic sculptures, studies drawn, painted and collages, architectural models and designs of scenarios and furniture, there is a garden populated with Noguchi's work. You can guarantee that most New Yorkers have risen to the Cyclone.
After all, it's been on the banks of the Coney Island canal since 1927, which is a fair feat considering it's built of wood. Thanks to an injection of money from Astroland, an organization that took over in the 70s, this fun ride is still going strong, which will bring some comfort to remember when you get thrown down the thrilling old attraction. Danielle Goldstein The century-old branch of the NYPL is such a majestic setting for reading, whether it's on your laptop or in those old, dusty things called books, like the ones you'll find in town. Two huge Tennessee marble lions, called Patience and Strength, flank the main portal and have become the institution's mascots.
Once inside, check out the cavernous Rose main reading room, which spans almost 90 meters and is equipped with chandeliers and impressive ceiling murals. Although it's an elegant setting in most cases, it's also where Bill Murray uttered: “Are you menstruating, Alice, right now? and “Stand aside, man, I'm a scientist in Ghostbusters. Tim Lowery's MOCA main exhibition traces the development of Chinese communities on these coasts from the 17th century to the present through objects, images and videos. Mixed-media screens cover the development of industries such as laundries and restaurants in New York, Chinese stereotypes in pop culture, and the suspicion and humiliation that Chinese Americans endured during World War II and the McCarthy era.
There is also a gallery dedicated to temporary exhibitions, such as the work of contemporary Chinese-American artists. This elegant addition to the city's museum scene is entirely dedicated to German and Austrian fine and decorative arts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The brainchild of late art dealer Serge Sabarsky and cosmetics magnate Ronald S. Lauder, houses the largest concentration of works by Gustav Klimt (including his iconic Adele Bloch-Bauer I) and Egon Schiele on the outskirts of Vienna.
You'll also find a bookstore, an elegantly designed (and expensive) shop, and the Old World-inspired Café Sabarsky, which serves up to date Austrian cuisine and delicious Viennese pastries. El Barrio), El Museo del Barrio is dedicated to the work of Latino artists residing in the U.S. The permanent collection of 6,500 pieces ranges from pre-Columbian artifacts to contemporary installations. The space also features renovated galleries, an exposed patio for programming and events, and a pan-Latin café serving tacos, chili and rice and beans.
There's simply no way to vacation in New York City without going to Central Park. This is a gigantic man-made paradise spanning 843 acres, with hillsides, gardens, forests and 58 miles of paths. It is not possible to enter each of the individual features of Central Park. There are some notable points, of course.
The stunning art deco creation is nothing short of spectacular, with a modern yet dynamic lighting system with 16 million potential colors. Light shows are common during special events and holidays. Rates are high and lines are long, but it's worth the effort, so you can see the entire city from a height of 1,050 feet. Built in 1886 as a gift from France to the United States, it is almost synonymous with the United States.
It is also one of the largest statues in the world, weighing 450,000 pounds and measuring almost 152 feet in height. There is so much to see at The Met that, like Central Park, it's impossible to cover all the interesting facets. If you're visiting New York City, it's almost obvious to pay a visit and your respects at the sobering National September 11 Memorial & Museum. With 110,000 square feet of land to its name, the museum covers numerous narratives of the attacks through recordings, videos, interactive screens and genuine artifacts.
Located on the west side of Manhattan, this is a 1.5-mile stretch that spans three neighborhoods. The 1883 creation is known for its Gothic arches and its thick, strong suspension cables that support its six lanes of traffic. Covering an area of 4 acres of land, the park is a lush, green space that has existed for more than 150 years. A revitalization effort from the 1990s allowed the park to be transformed into an ideal sanctuary for a mix of locals and tourists.
Elevators that take you 1,776 feet above the ground to the One World Observatory provide educational information on New York City's transformation and its history across generations. The island began to gain popularity in the 1900s with resorts, pavilions and an amusement park. The garden also hosts a Christmas train show during the holiday season, where several miniature trains travel through a miniature version of New York City populated by 150 iconic landmarks. The Frick Collection is named after Henry Clay Frick, a steel magnate who once owned the 18th century mansion, where the collection is now located.
This is one of the best places in New York City for art enthusiasts; with works from the Renaissance through the 19th century. For recreational attractions in New York City, Prospect Park is an excellent choice. It's less crowded, but has a lot of ideas similar to those in Central Park. Governors Island might have just 172 acres to its name, but it's a historic spot with a lot to tell.
An exciting part of Governors Island is Castle Williams. This circular building and its eight-foot thick walls, once home to 100 cannons and many, many prisoners, are a historic landmark that will transport you to the past. Union Square is a central part of the city, so it has been a crucial part of New York City's function since it was created in the 1830s. Quietly located at the foot of Fifth Avenue, Washington Square Park is an intimate 10-acre recreational spot for entertaining, relaxing and people watching.
The tree is 110 feet tall and over 330 years old, and is both spooky and beautiful to behold. The architecture of this 1,046-foot skyscraper is nothing short of impressive. An audio tour offers more than 120 hours of interesting information, and there are tons of interactive screens, videos, photos, information panels, oral histories, and artifacts to view. Located on the 91st floor of a modern skyscraper, this vast mirrored space offers panoramic views of the surrounding area.
This creates an infinite room experience. Elevated wooden cars from 1903, subway cars from 1916, turnstiles from 1904 and all kinds of equipment are on display. You can also board and disembark from each car as you wish. The One-Step exhibition is essential for the museum.
It takes you back in time to 14:00 and guides you through a timeline to this day. It was the city's first metro, opened in 1904 and packed with an impressive number of architectural attractions. The town hall station was closed in 1945 and now it just zooms in as trains pass through it. Built in the 1960s, it has a huge chandelier in the lobby, about 3,800 seats and extremely advanced opera technology with motorized stages and hydraulic lifts.
There are 21 more chandeliers in the main auditorium, hanging from a ceiling covered with 4,000 squares of gold leaf arranged in the shape of a petal. The Mysterious Bookshop greets you enthusiastically from the start. Founded in 1979, it's packed with practically every book you can think of within the genre. Not a single spot on the wall is wasted; every inch is completely covered by books.
The Housing Museum comprises two combined historic neighborhood houses. Once upon a time, this site housed some 15,000 immigrants from more than 20 different countries. The 1943 aircraft carrier has an impressive resume, serving during World War II and surviving a total of five different kamikaze attacks. The building itself, an impressive creation of the Greek Renaissance, was built in 1832 and was home to the Tredwells, a family of wealthy merchants.
They lived here for a century before the house opened as a museum. The Merchant House Museum is a step back in time and shows you what life was like for the merchant class in the 19th century. There is the Fritz Koenig Sphere; an impressive 1971 sculpture moved here from the World Trade Center. There is also the 1926 Netherlands Monument and the Garden of Hope, a moving tribute to the victims of the AIDS epidemic.
Masterpieces took a decade to manufacture and many millions of dollars. It has 30 impressive fish made of fiberglass, representing a total of 12 species. Before the discovery of a vaccine against the virus in 1796, smallpox was a disease that extremely affected human civilization. By 1979, smallpox had become the first and only disease that had been successfully eradicated through human intervention.
This meant that Roosevelt Island Smallpox Hospital was no longer in use long before this year, and it soon fell into disrepair. Top 10 Things to Do in the Adirondack Mountains Top 10 Weekend Getaways in New York State Top 15 Shopping Malls in and Around New York City Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Rochester, New York. With discounts of up to 70% on many sights, tours and attractions, New York City sightseeing passes are the best way to save money. While the mention of New York is no doubt reminiscent of many of its famous buildings and attractions, it can be very difficult to choose which ones you want to visit during your trip.
With famous New York sights, such as the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, or Brooklyn Bridge on every corner, it can be difficult to choose the attractions you want to see on your trip to New York. . .