“ I wanna wake up in the city that doesn´t sleep” sang Frank Sinatra once about New York.
And it’s true – New York doesn´t sleep. There are so much to do that the day is not long enough.
The range of interesting museums, funky shops, original restaurants, cool bars, cozy coffe shops, parks and much more are gigantic. And it´s constantly filled with new places. Here is a selection of the top sightseeing things you should not miss.
9/11 Memorial Site
Be sure to visit the 9/11 Memorial Site and the National September 11 Memorial Museum. Two giant pools with waterfalls has been build in the site where the Twin Towers stood. On the edges of the basin are the names of all the people killed in the tragic terror attacks.
The Museum’s 110,000 square feet of exhibition space is located within the archaeological heart of the World Trade Center, beneath the memorial pools, in the footprints of the former towers. It tells the story of 9/11 through multimedia displays, archives, narratives and a collection of monumental and authentic artifacts.
Buy tickets online for the date you wish to visit.
Price: $24 adult and Youth $17. On Tuesday evenings from 5pm to 8pm the admission is free but you still need to make an reservation online. www.911memorial.org
The High Line
Take a walk on the raised train tracks – the High Line – that has become a wonderful promenade path. This is one of my favourite New York attractions.
Milk, meat, and other goods were shipped in wartime to and from the Meatpacking District on the rail track. 1980 did the last train go, and now it is a promenade paradise. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues.
www.thehighline.org – Map of the park (pdf)
Empire State Building
A must for the fantastic view and all the lovely old art deco details in the lobby and the rapid OTIS elevators! 86th and 102nd floor observatories provide unforgettable 360° views of New York City and beyond.
338-350 5th Avenue – www.esbnyc.com
Buy tickets: If you plan to visit several attractions you´re better off with a New York CityPass.
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Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center
The breathtaking views are even better here I think because you see Empire State Building and Central Park. The three 360-degree-view observation decks on the second observation deck are not covered by a high fence like at the Empire State so it is easier to take photos. There is an interesting multi-media exhibit full of the rich history, art and architecture of Rockefeller Center before you go up to the 67th floor. 30 Rockefeller Plaza – www.topoftherocknyc.com
Buy a New York Pass and save up to 41% ! It includes a visit to Top of the Rock
Brooklyn bridge to the left and Manhattan bridge to the right
Brooklyn Bridge
Walk over the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge towards Manhattan. There is a a dedicated pedestrian walkway above the roaring traffic so it’s a wonderful stroll. Awesome experience and great photo opportunities will wait for you.
Get there
If the weather is ok, rent a bike in Battery Park. From their you can go by the bicycle line all the way up to Manhattan Bridge and after the bridge you can explore DUMBO (Down under Manhattan Bridge) and cycle along the river to Brooklyn Bridge Park. You will get spectacular view of Manhattan´s skyline, NY Harbour and the Statue of Liberty. Near the Brooklyn Bridge you will find the wonderful Jane Carousel.
Drop the bike at their shop next to Brooklyn Bridge and walk back.
Bike and Roll: www.bikenewyorkcity.com
Make a stop at Grimaldis for the best pizza in Brooklyn. www.grimaldisnyc.com Try also the excellent Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, set in a picturesque old light house.
By subway
Take the subway to Clark street after the Brooklyn Bridge. Head downhill towards the un-miss-able Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. Cross Henry Street at Cranberry Street and take the pathway through the Co-op houses.
High street is the first Brooklyn stop but it´s not such a pretty route from there as this is.
Museums
Many of the best museums in the world can be found in New York. From the amazing American Museum of Natural History to the eclectic New Museum on Bowery St, there is a museum for everyone.
With so many museums to choose from, it´s hard to know where to begin. Here is a selection of, in my opinion, the best ones – www.newyorkinspiration.com/new-york-museums/
Times Square
Times Square is a constantly buzzing tourist magnet and full of billboards spectacle and special ambiance. Apart from the billboards there are also many restaurants and shops, well over 100, including some popular places like the Disney Store and and the worlds largest Toys “R” Us store with a Ferris wheel and a two-storey, life size Barbie´s Dollhouse.
Around Times Square you will find most of the Broadway shows, which is a unforgettable experience. Get the best prices here.
There is also a great amount of good hotels in around Times Square.
Flatiron Building, Shake Shack, Eataly & 230 Fifth Roof Top Bar
Flatiron Building, the building that looks like an old-fashioned flat iron. It´s a classic New York building that is fun to take photos of from different angles. You will need to cross the intersection right in front of the Flatiron to get far enough away to capture it in its full beauty. The Flatiron also looks stunning from Madison Square Park when peeking through the trees.
Shake Shack
In the park next door – Madison Square Park – is one of New York’s most popular sausage and hamburger places, the iconic Shake Shack. www.shakeshack.com
Eataly
Opposite is our favourite food heaven Eataly. Don´t miss it. www.eatalyny.com
230 Fifth
Nearby is one of the coolest roof top bars 230 Fifth. It is open all year around. www.230-fifth.com
Staten Island Ferry
The best views of the Manhattan skyline will you get if you take the Staten Island ferry from Battery Park. From the ferry you will also see the Statue of Liberty.The trip is free and one way takes approximately 25 minutes. At Staten Island you have to debark from the ferry and can re-board the ferry through the waiting room.
Whitehall Ferry Terminal, 4 Whitehall Street. Battery Park – www.siferry.com
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, one of New York’s most popular tourist attractions, has captivated travelers from every corner of the world for over one hundred years.
Lady Liberty is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy and has appeared in such movies as Planet of the Apes, The Day After Tomorrow, and Independence Day, to name a few.
The Statue of Liberty is almost as American as apple pie, but the iconic NY monument was actually given to the United States as a gift from France in honor of the Centennial of American Independence.
Tours starts from Battery Park. www.statueofliberty.org
Buy tickets here:
Visit New York’s ”Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island” and 5 other attractions a savings of up to 40% with CityPASS
Central Park
Central Park is a place you should not miss when you visit New York. It´s a wonderful oasis! Once inside the park you easily forget that you are in the middle of a chaotic metropolis.
The park was built in 1876 and was then located in the city’s northern outskirts, and it took several decades before it was surrounded by buildings.
Central Park is 4 km long and covers 340 hectares – that’s 6% of Manhattan’s total area.
There are over 9000 park benches and a lot of things to do if you just don´t want to stroll around.
You can visit the Central Park Zoo, rent skates and go around the Wollman Rink, climb on Worthless Boulder or fish in the Harlem Meer, jog around Jackie Kennedy Reservoir, have lunch at the classic Boat House and rent a rowing boat.
There are several great spots for a picnic. – www.centralparknyc.org
Sightseeing bus
It´s perfect to hop on a sight seeing bus when you are a little tired of walking around on Manhattan.
A nice way to enjoy New York’s amazing buildings and a great chance for fantastic photo opportunities.
Buy the bus ticket here. Gray Line is the best.
Grand Central Terminal & The Oyster Bar
Grand Central Terminal is the largest train station in the world, with 44 platforms and it is housed in a beautiful Beaux-arts building. Don’t forget to look up in the main concourse. The illustrated blue-green cathedral ceiling offers a view of the nighttime sky, with constellations and other heavenly bodies-sometimes highlighted with a periodic zodiac laser show you may be lucky enough to catch.
But there is more to Grand Central than the train tracks and the stunning building. There are also 68 shops, including the Apple store.
The Oyster Bar in Grand Central Terminal is a classic institution and a nice stop if you like oysters and champagne, and who doesn´t?
They offer a wide selection of different varieties of oysters as well as seafood and fish dishes, so there are alternatives if you don´t like oysters. www.oysterbarny.com
Visit the Whispering Gallery. This unmarked archway, located in front of the Oyster Bar & Restaurant, possesses a mystifying acoustic property: when two people stand at diagonal arches and whisper, they can hear each other’s voices ”telegraphed” from across the way.
Atop the station is Campbell Apartment, ’30s tycoon John W. Campbell’s hideaway office and a luxurious escape from the bustle below. www.grandcentralterminal.com
Helicopter Tour of New York
Don´t miss a thrilling helicopter ride over New York. Get ready for a spectacular aerial views of Manhattan. It will be a memory for life!
There are several different tours to choose from.
Book here:
New York City Sightseeing Helicopter Rides
Chelsea Market
Be sure to visit Chelsea Market when you come to New York next time!
In the 1900s they baked biscuits here and at that time it was called the National Biscuit Company. Today is other sweets that are baked together with a lot of cosy small shops.
You will find chocolates, cheeses, Italian ice cream in homemade waffles, bookstore, soup servings, creperie, a fish market and several cozy cafés.
My favorite furniture store Anthropologie is also here.
You can still sense the feel of industry and manufacturing between the small gourmet shops. Rusty pipes and parts mixed with cool lights and brick walls.
Absolutely wonderful place!
75 9th Avenue (between 15th & 16th streets), Chelsea/Meatpacking – www.chelseamarket.com
Broadway Show
To see a Broadway show is a fantastic experience. New York has a wide selection of lovely musicals and shows, many of them have been playing for years. Tickets for the popular shows can be hard to come by, so buy tickets before you leave, then you are all set and won´t be disappointed if it´s sold out.
Broadway.com is an excellent site where you can buy tickets and find all information about all the shows on Broadway and Off-Broadway.
Madison Square Garden
New York’s famous arena for sporting events like hockey and basketball, and concerts are a must on your New York trip. It’s an amazing feeling to hear the cheering roars from the 20 000 other visitors and see tough ice hockey matches live or experience your favourite artist on this fantastic arena.
Madison Square Garden is home arena of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.
We have listed the games and concerts that are going on right now. Take the opportunity to book now so you have a ticket to the shows you want to see. The popular concerts and games quickly sells out so book well in advance. You can book trough this page.
Ticketnetwork has tickets to all event and the lowest rates.
Strand Bookstore
New York’s most well-stocked bookstore! Shelf after shelf that extends in to infinity, both horizontally and up the walls with books.
If the book is published you will definitely find it at The Strand. Among all lengths with shelves there are both new and used books. A total of 2.5 million books!
828 Broadway – www.strandbooks.com
Union Square Farmers Market
Indulge your self in glorious fresh organic vegetables at the Union Square Farmers Market.
With hundreds of varieties to choose from during any given season. From just-picked fresh fruits and vegetables, to heritage meats and award-winning farmstead cheeses, artisan breads, jams, pickles, a profusion of cut flowers and plants, wine, ciders, maple syrup and much more. Everything is locally and organically grown.
Open Mondays – all year around. 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. www.grownyc.org/unionsquaregreenmarket
Harlem
Gospel
Enjoy the wonderful gospel music that really flows through the heart by going on a church service in Harlem. There is no better way to experience the music and the soul that exists in this exciting neighbourhood.
More info & tickets: Harlem Gospel Tour
Apollo Theater
The legendary Apollo Theatre originally opened as burlesque house in 1914 and perhaps it has become best known for the °Amateur Night”, which has seen the debuts of the Jackson 5, Lauren Hill, James Brown and countless others.
253 West 125th street – www.apollotheater.org/
Red Rooster
Once you are in Harlem don´t miss the Red Rooster, named after the legendary speakeasy where authors, politicians, and jazz greats like Nat King Cole used to hang out. The restaurant serves new American fare, the dishes on the menu reflect the roots of Harlem’s diverse population. The Swedish owner, Marcus Samuelsson love his ’hood and strive to make a difference: Most of the produce comes from local farmers, and the employees are all Harlem locals. I love the ”yard bird”, a platter of crispy fried chicken smothered in mace gravy, hot sauce and a top-secret blend of spices.
310 Malcolm X Blvd [Lenox Ave] at 125th St – www.redroosterharlem.com
Walk
Take on your most comfortable shoes, get a map and start to walk around New York.
A stroll around Manhattan will let you experience the city in the best way…..and don´t forget to look up.