Top 10 Attractions in New York

POSTED BY Leon | September 24, 2014
Label: City Breaks, New York City, Top 10s, Travel Tips

New York City Skyline

New York is full of fantastic attractions and has enough to keep visitors occupied for a month let alone a weekend. It’s well worth spending a week in The Big Apple and taking in all the sights the big city has to offer. From Manhattan and beyond, here are our top ten attractions in New York.

1) Empire State Building

It’s the second tallest building in the city and is still a must see for most tourists in New York. The iconic 103 story building sits on Fifth Avenue and affords panoramic views over the city. It even changes colour in line with current events (e.g. red and pink on Valentine’s Day) so it’s worth a visit at night too.

2) Brooklyn Heights

It’s a pleasant enough neighbourhood but the main attraction of Brooklyn Heights is actually the view back across the Hudson River to Manhattan. Head to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade – an elevated walkway that leads down to the East River – for a perfect view of the Manhattan skyline.

3) Times Square

Times Square is synonymous with New Year’s Eve when thousands of people crowd the square for the ball drop, an event watched by millions around the world on TV. Nearby Broadway is the epicentre of theatre in the US and is another major draw for any New York sightseer.

4) Rockefeller Centre

Top of the Rock View

The Rockefeller Centre is home to one of The Big Apples most iconic sights over Christmas – the towering Rockefeller Christmas tree which looks out over the centre’s seasonal ice rink. Even outside of the festive period, it’s home to a dizzying array of shops as well as Top of the Rock – the centre’s observation deck (pictured).

5) Yankee Stadium

Home of the world famous New York Yankees baseball, the Yankee Stadium is found in The Bronx. Tours of one of the USA's most famous sporting arenas are available throughout the year, with live games between March and September.

6) Staten Island Ferry

Staten Island is just a short drive across the river from Brooklyn, and many tourists choose to take the 25 minute ferry across in order to photograph the Lower Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. The ferry also takes in many of New York’s other famous landmarks from the water.

7) Fifth Avenue

Famous names like Sachs Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and Macy's dotted along Fifth Avenue are perfect for indulging in some city break retail therapy. It's worth paying them a visit over the festive period just to see the amazing window displays in the run up to Christmas.

8) Williamsburg

Uber-cool Williamsburg is very much an advert for new, gentrified Brooklyn and is hipster central. Unsurprisingly for an area full of creative types, there is a thriving arts and music scene here with a great selection of cafes, live music venues, vintage clothes boutiques and restaurants.

9) Central Park

Central Park in Autumn

Famous Central Park is a must-visit regardless of when you visit New York. The park is arguably at its most beautiful in winter under a layer of snow. In autumn, the turning leaves create a beautiful backdrop and in the summer months the park is perfect for finding a spot of shade and taking some time out from the busy streets of Manhattan.

10) Statue of Liberty

Of course no trip to New York would be complete without seeing Lady Liberty looking out over New York from Liberty Island, a small island in the Hudson River accessible by ferry tour. Ferry trips to the island leave throughout the day and can be combined with a trip to the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero.

 

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