As any New Yorker will tell you, it’s impossible to see everything about this large and complex city in one visit. And yes, that’s part of the excitement of visiting New York: there’s always something
As any New Yorker will tell you, it’s impossible to see everything about this large and complex city in one visit. And yes, that’s part of the excitement of visiting New York: there’s always something new to explore. But all these ideas for enticing activities and experiences can also make it difficult to plan your visit to New York. So instead of trying to see, eat, drink and sight-see everything in NYC, we’ve curated the best things to do in New York: from iconic sights to local favourites. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the places you need to visit in New York.
1. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Whether you discover it from Battery Park or aboard the Staten Island ferry, you really have to contemplate the Statue of Liberty if you come to visit New York. Get close to its feet for a great view of the river and Manhattan. The most iconic copper statue in the World was designed by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi as a gift from France in 1886 on the occasion of the centenary of the United States.
“Lady Liberty” is 46 m high, with an index measuring 2.40 m long and eyes nearly 90 centimetres wide. One of the best things to do while visiting New York is to pass the statue by ferry and visit the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island. Ellis Island is an American immigration historic site that became a museum in 1990.
2. 9/11 Memorial
The Manhattan skyline and the lives of families who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001, will never be the same. But many years later, as One World Trade Center was built, the Twin Towers were replaced by the 9/11 Memorial. Two overflowing water mirrors engraved with the names of the fallen rest where the 110-story towers once stood. A museum opened in the spring of 2014 and is now open to the public.
3. One World Observatory platform
Once you have seen the 9/11 Memorial, you can go to One World Observatory. It is this skyscraper that was built at Ground Zero following the attacks of September 11, 2001. From the top of its observation platform, you will have an unobstructed view of New York, including lower Manhattan, the Hudson and Brooklyn.
4. The Empire State Building
And if you stay among the highest peaks of New York? Undoubtedly the most famous of skyscrapers, the Empire State Building located on 5th Avenue promises you a high-flying experience, and for good reason: it is now the third tallest building in the city after the One World (541 m) and the Central Park Tower (472 m).
A symbol which, from its height of 448.7 meters (antenna included), invites you to travel to its 86th floor (or 102nd for the more adventurous). Up there, all you have to do is enjoy the breathtaking spectacle that will almost whisper to you that the World is yours.
5. Top of The Rock
If the Empire State Building has had its effect, expect as much spectacle from the Top of the Rock! Built at Rockefeller Center, the skyscraper propels you more than 250 meters before meeting you on its famous terrace. Facing south, the latter offers you a panoramic view of New York and its must-sees, such as the Empire State Building. On the other side, Central Park opens its arms to you. Tip: plan your visit an hour before sunset until the sky turns magenta/orange and the light transforms the skyline into a shimmering mosaic.
6. Walk along the High Line
New Yorkers love to walk, and the High Line, a 2.3 km long suspended linear urban park that stretches from the Meatpacking District through Chelsea on an abandoned train line, is a fantastic walk. Resurrected with an astonishing labyrinth of gardens (presenting 300 species of plants), paths and bodies of water, it offers a different eye on contemporary architecture, the Hudson River: or how to visit New York in the shoes of a local.
7. Take a walk in Central Park
Whether you’re heading to Central Park to ride the vintage 1908 Carousel, sip a glass of wine while admiring lake views from the Boathouse Café, giggle at the zoo’s sea lions and penguins, bird watch at the Ramble, or run around the Reservoir with the locals, this 341-hectare oasis is the largest urban garden in the World and an essential experience to explore if you come to visit New York to discover its green lungs in particular. Going around Central Park on foot takes about 2 hours for nearly 10 km.
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