New York City or The Big Apple is definitely one of the must visit cities before you die. When people ask me to explain NYC in a few words I always say: NYC is many things across the spectrum. It is a city that really has a lot to offer wether that is career or work wise, culture and music, fashion, gastronomy, history…which is why this city can easily be overwhelming. I am fortunate to be calling it home for the past 2 years, its been a pinch me moment since I am head over heels in love with this city. But, even for me sometimes this city feels overwhelming and 2 years living here + a few touristy visits throughout the years, I still have not been to all places and seen all attractions. So. its definitely impossible to cover everything in just one trip.
The beauty of NYC is that there is something for everyone and you can absolutely never be bored in this city, after all it is called the city that never sleeps.
It took me a while but I finally managed to put together my ultimate guide for NYC. Covering from touristy places and attractions to lesser known ones. In this guide you can find out which museums to visit, what tourist attractions to visit and which ones to skip, which Broadways shows to see, where to eat and what to try, best time to visit and dozens of tips that you will find usefull when planning or during your trip to NYC
WHERE TO STAY:
Best option is to stay on Manhattan or Brooklyn DUMBO area. For Manhattan neighborhoods to consider are: Midtown, SoHo, Tribeca, around Central Park (5th Avenue and Upper East Side), Financial District all these areas are very safe, have good public transport connections, are close to the attractions and sights and have a lot of restaurants/bars/cafes.
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
Spring (April to early June) and autumn (September to late October) are my favorite seasons in NYC. The weather is perfect not too hot and not too cold, in spring time everything is in bloom whereas in autumn NYC is covered in various shades of yellow, orange, red and brown.
An extremely popular time to visit NYC is during December for the Christmas holidays and NYE (thanks to all the Christmas movies set in NYC lol). But, during this period NYC is overcrowded there are so many people its madness, because of this hotel and airbnb prices are more expensive for 30-50% and something to keep in mind NYC gets extremely cold during the winter months, snowstorms and blizzards are very common.
GETTING AROUND:
NYC is separated into different neighborhoods, all different and unique in their own way. The subway is probably the cheapest and fastest way to get around, and trains run 24 hours (less frequently after midnight). Uber/taxi is another way to get around NYC. Tip: currently yellow cabs are cheaper than Uber, you can download the app curb and use it to call yellow cabs. Lastly, walking. You can easily walk from one neighborhood to another. Unlike the rest of the cities in the US, NYC is very walkable. If the weather is nice biking is also an option there are City Bank bikes that are available for rent, you just got to download the app on your phone.
For airport transfers, depending on which airport you land at these are your options:
MUST SEE:
The Vessle– a very cool structure and visitor attraction located in Hudson Yards, you can go all the way to the top of it and enjoy a view over the Hudson river and NYC buildings. Update: The Vessle is closed for visitors since 2020, currently you can only admire it from the outside.
Hudson Yards– a lovely place for a walk by the river. There is a promenade for pedestrians as well as bike lanes. There are multiple parks and coffee shops in the area. And a few years ago they built the artificial Little Island, that is free to visit. During spring and summer there are a lot of events and festival happening on the island and the majority of them are free.
The Edge– one of the newest observation deck in NYC that offers a magnificent view over Manhattan. Tickets start from 40$ and up, its a few $ cheaper if you book it online. Tip: Instead of buying a ticket you can book a table at Peak Restaurant & Bar (price range: $$) and you get free admission to the observation deck.
Wall Street and Financial District– the world famous street, home of the world’s largest stock exchange “The New York Stock Exchange” and a financial center of the world. This area is filled with commodity exchanges, hedge fund HQ and banks. Besides the famous Wall Street, two other touristy sights are: The charging Bull (The Bull of Wall Street) and the Fearless Girl statues.
Grand Central Station– the most beautiful train station I’ve ever been to. This iconic train station is the most visited attraction in NYC believe it or not. The main hall has been featured in countless of movies and TV shows. For all my Gossip Girl fans this is the spot where the iconic scene of Serena Can der Woodsen in the pilot episode. The ceiling of the main hall is painted with the zodiac signs and its absolutely stunning. Besides the tracks and the halls the train station has various passages, shops and restaurants. Must visit (and iconic) are: The Oyster Bar and The Campbell Bar hidden within Grand Central. Tip: try to find the whispering arches.
Flatiron building– one of the most iconic architectural masterpieces across NYC. It was called the “flatiron” since it resembles a clothing iron. The building is mainly office spaces and a few stores on the ground floor. Currently its under construction so the exterior is covered in scaffoldings.
9/11 memorial– Where once the twin towers of the World Trade Centers stood. Now a memorial of the lives lost during the 9/11 attacks. The memorial is consistent of two waterfall pools surrounded with the names of the victims.
One World Trade Center– the tallest building in the US, has 104 floors. The building was finished in 2012, the lower part is meant to resemble the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The building is all office spaces, but on the 104 floor there is a viewing deck you can visit that offers a 360 degrees view.
The Oculus– a stunning architectural work, the building is meant to resemble the skeleton of a whale. The oculus is a shopping center with various stores, but even if you are not in the mood for shopping still a pretty cool building to see.
Times Square– a very mainstream touristy attraction, all New Yorkers avoid this area at all costs because well, its crammed with tourists, homeless people and all kinds of weirdos. If you are visiting NYC for the first time go and see it, but otherwise avoid it. Tip: visit it late at night or earl morning to avoid crowds.
Empire State Building– the icon of NYC. It was the world’s tallest building until the 70’s when The World Trade Center was built, after the 9/11 attacks from 2001 till 2012 it was again the tallest building in the world. Today, its a tourist must visit when in NYC. Depending on the type of ticket and time of the day admission to go to the top start at 44$ and can go all the way up to 200$.
Rockeffeler Center and Top of the Rock– Another skyscraper that offers a viewing deck with stunning views, personally I think Top of the Rock is better than Empire State Building, since from here you can see the Empire State Building. Besides the observation deck the Rockeffeler Center has fountains, shops, cafes, the NBC studios and many more. During the Christmas holidays the famous Rockeffeler Christmas Tree is placed here as well as an ice-skating rink.
New York Public Library– another iconic building in NYC, the main branch of NYPL is one of the most popular architecture buildings in the country. With steps leading up to the library and lion statues on both sides. The library is open to the public and free to visit. There are multiple reading rooms and a few exhibitions to see.
Must do’s:
Cross the Brooklyn Bridge– one of the most iconic sights of NYC, crossing the bridge takes approximately 30-45 minutes, and it is definitely worth it. The sight is amazing and it’s a great photo spot as well
Explore Dumbo + Brooklyn Flea Market– a neighborhood in Brooklyn that I really liked, from there you have a great view over both Brooklyn and Manhattan bridge, the streets are filled with cool local shops, restaurants and bars.
Watch the sunset from Brooklyn Promenade– a perfect spot for watching the sun set over the concrete jungle is from the Brooklyn Promenade, a beautiful walking route alongside the river. Head there in time for sunset and enjoy the stunning views.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden– right next to Brooklyn Museum is the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. An enormous and beautiful botanic garden. Perfect to spend your day at. They have hundreds of species of plants, and a dozen of gardens make sure to see the Rose and Fragrance gardens they are beautiful as well as the Palm House and Conservatory.
Stroll in central park– it is definitely an unmissable spot in NYC, the park is huge and surrounded with skyscrapers. If the weather is nice you can definitely spend the whole day there, or even an hour stroll is just about enough. Perfect spot for picnic, relaxing and sun bathing. You can take a carriage ride around Central Park or rent a boat at the lake. There are various coffee shops and stands across the park as well. Some sights to see are: Strawberry fields (John Lennon’s memorial), Alice in Wonderland sculpture, Bethesda Terrace, the Lake and Conservatory Water aka Boat Pond. From November to February the Wollman Ice Rink is open and you can go ice skating in central park.
Visit at least one museum– NYC is a home to more than a dozen museums, including the largest museum in the USA the MET. During your visit make sure to plan out time to visit at least one museum. My must visit museums in NYC are: the MET, MoMA, Solomon R. Guggenheim, American Natural History Museum and The Whitney Museum of the American Art. You can read about all of them more in detail in my TOP MUSEUMS TO VISIT IN NYC blog. Tip: buy tickets online so you don’t have to wait in line and avoid visiting museums during the weekends as they get really crowded.
Retail therapy on 5th Avenue- the best shopping in NYC is on 5th avenue, besides the flagship stores of various brands from more affordable to designer brands, you also have the iconic department stores Saks, Bloomingdales and Bergdorf & Goodmans.
Enjoy the Manhattan Skyline- the skyline is love at first sight, whether you choose to view it from an observation deck such as The Edge or The Empire State Building or from a helicopter ride, or from a rooftop bar you will immediately fall in love. Some of my favorite rooftop bars with a beautiful view of the skyline are: TimeOut DUMBO Market Place, Westlight and the Panorama Room.
See Manhattan from the water- another great way to see manhattan is to take a boat or ferry ride. There are multiple islands around NYC you can visit like Elis Island, Statue of Liberty Island or Governors Island as well as just river cruises. Tip: the ferry boat to Staten Island is free and it offers a nice view of Manhattan as well as The Statue of Liberty.
Little Italy– located in SoHo is Little Italy, for a moment you will feel like you are on the streets in an Italian city. Italian restaurants, gelato and canolli can be found everywhere. They annually hold their San Gennaro Feast in September which lasts for a week.
Sunday Brunch– something that you absolutely mustn’t miss is a Sunday Brunch (or just doing brunch even if it’s in the middle of the week), NYC has some of the best brunch places in the world. Some of my favorite brunch spots are: Buvette, Ruby’s and Flipper’s. Tip: book a restaurant in advance so you don’t have to queue for hours and to avoid disappointment.
Afternoon tea at The Plaza– if you feel like being extra and fancy then take yourself for afternoon tea at The Palm Court of the iconic Plaza Hotel. The Afternoon Tea menu is served from 10:30am to 4pm and the price ranges from 82$-250$ depending on the menu you pick. Reservations are required beforehand.
Walk the highline– is a walkway that is built on former railroad parks and passes between the buildings. It spans from 10th to 12th avenue and it takes approximately 30 minutes to walk the whole thing. Best time would be around sunset or in the evening, the views are amazing!
Visit the Strand Book Store– a book heaven for every book worm. The Strand is one of the biggest bookstores in the world all the books they have pilled up would be longer than 12 miles (almost 20km). Here you can find from current popular reads, to academic books to rare and first editions..You will find yourself wandering there for hours.
See a broadway show– I would say to definitely make time to watch a broadway show while in NYC, there are numerous broadway shows you can watch. My recommendations are: The Book of Mormon, Chicago, Wicked and The Lion King. Tip: tickets are cheaper for showing during the weekday and during the day.
Upgrade your insta feed in SoHo– SoHo is the place to get your insta photos, apart from picturesque buildings and scenery, you have various shops, boutiques, pop-up store, bars and restaurants. SoHo is one of my favorite NYC neighborhood.
Have coffee in Bryant Park– Bryant Park is probably my favorite park in NYC, there are various of coffee carts around it, chairs and tables to sit at as well as nearby food places where you can grab a quick bite. During the summer months there is a free open air cinema.
Catch some Jazz– another NYC experience you shouldn’t miss. There are many jazz clubs in NYC, even if you are not a jazz fan you should go and see one. My personal favorites are: The Django at The Roxy Hotel, Smalls, Blue Note Jazz Club. Some nights there is an entrance or cover fee at all of these places, if possible book yourself a table in advance.
Go to a speakeasy– NYC has many speakeasy bars, some date back to the age of prohibition some are more recent, but either way they are an experience of their own. Some of my favorite speakeasy bars are: Raines Lawroom, The Back Room, Employees Only, UES. and THYME Bar.
Bar hopping in lower Manhattan and Lowe East Side- the club scene in NYC is not as popular as the bar scene. For weekend I love going bar hopping in Lower East Side and Lower Manhattan. Both these part are filled with bars and are very lively during the weekends some of my favorite bars here are: Bar Belly, Sunday to Sunday, Lullaby and Bar Goto.
ICONIC PLACES TO DINE AT AND MUST TRY FOOD:
Tip: post-covid bars and restaurants are super crowded and even on a weekday is hard to find a table on the spot. So make sure to book a few days even weeks in advance for the more popular spots. Two apps for bookings are OpenTable and Resy.
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