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10 Top Things To Do In New York City

Authors
  • avatar
    Name
    Jonathan Chum
    Twitter
    @jchum

Introduction

If you're looking for a place to visit that has it all, New York City is an excellent choice. New York boasts some of the world's most iconic landmarks and attractions, including The Empire State Building, Times Square, and Broadway. It also has many museums where you can learn about history and culture. If you're not sure what to do when in NYC, this list will help guide you through some of the best activities available:

Visit the Empire State Building

You can get a great view of the city from the top of the Empire State Building. If you are looking for things to do in New York, then visiting this iconic attraction should be on your list. The building is located on Fifth Avenue between West 34th and West 33rd Streets and is considered to be one of New York City's most famous skyscrapers. It has been featured in many movies and TV shows like King Kong, Spiderman, and Friends as well as other popular works such as Mary Poppins and How I Met Your Mother.

It was built between 1930-31 by John W. Todd Jr., William F. Lamb & Helmerich & Payne who worked together on designing some hotels in Las Vegas before starting their own business called Keystone Construction Company (now known as Kiewit Corporation). They had been commissioned by New York Life Insurance Company which wanted them to construct an office building with enough space inside so that it could house all operations related to their insurance agents without having any problems during migration or relocation processes due to there being no empty spaces available at other locations nearby where they could relocate afterward without needing much time spent moving everything over again which would've caused some unnecessary delays too long before returning home where they could continue working again efficiently once more - thus leading up until today when we see people visiting NYC every year because of how beautiful it looks like today!

Times Square

Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, and entertainment center in the Midtown Manhattan section of New York City at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. One of the world's busiest pedestrian intersections, it is also referred to as The Crossroads of the World, The Center of the Universe, or The Great White Way.

Broadway

The Theater District is in Midtown Manhattan and is home to over 40 theaters. Theaters on Broadway are known for their high production values and excellent performances, making it a great place to see a show. You can also find other venues such as off-Broadway theaters, cabaret shows, and comedy clubs that perform nightly in New York City.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are both accessible by ferry from Battery Park. The ferry ride takes about 25 minutes, but the views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty are worth the wait.

If you want to climb the statue's base, be sure to line up early---it's a five-hour wait to get in! Once there, don't miss Lady Liberty's crown or torch; they're 60 feet above sea level and not included in your ticket price. If it's still too crowded when you arrive at 9 am sharp (or even if it isn't), try returning later in the day---the lines ease up after 1 pm or so. A visit to Ellis Island offers another perspective on American history: You'll get a glimpse into what life was like for immigrants who came through this port of entry between 1892 and 1954 (when Ellis Island closed).

Don't forget about the food on your trip! Grabbing a hot dog from one of many street vendors is an obvious choice (and cheap!), but there are also some great restaurants nearby where you can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine or tasty seafood dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.

Central Park

Central Park is a public park at the center of Manhattan in New York City. The park was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and built between 1857 and 1873.

The park has a long history, both as a place for recreation and as an urban program to improve the quality of life in New York City. Since its construction, it has served as a stage on which to publicly express oneself, be it through theatrical performances and concerts or protests, as well as being enjoyed simply for its aesthetic beauty and tranquility.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is a must-visit for any visitor to New York City. Located at the former World Trade Center site, the memorial stands as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The memorial consists of two reflecting pools that align with each other, each one representing one of the Twin Towers. It's an awe-inspiring sight and a very moving experience to walk around it and take in all its beauty (and yes, there might be some tears).

The museum is located next door and tells the story of 9/11 through multimedia exhibits along with artifacts from Ground Zero itself like pieces from the buildings themselves or police cars used during rescue operations after 9/11 happened (there's even one you can sit inside!). It also has audio stories from people who were there so if you don't want to go into any interactive exhibits but just prefer listening instead then this may be more your speed! If you're looking for something more fun then check out their special events where they have different types of concerts going on throughout the year which start at only 40 dollars per ticket!

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres (8.9 ha) between 48th and 51st Streets, and Fifth and Sixth Avenues in New York City. The center occupies most of the block between Fifth Avenue on the east side of Rockefeller Plaza and Sixth Avenue to its west, with West 48th Street separating it from Radio City Music Hall on the west side of Sixth Avenue.

According to Cityrealty: "The Center is anchored by 30 Rockefeller Plaza (headquarters for NBC), 1270 Avenue of the Americas (headquarters for The Americas Group), 1150 Avenue of the Americas (headquarters for Warner Music Group), 30 Rock (the headquarters for Comcast's NBCUniversal Television Group), 350 Madison Avenue (headquarters for Fox News Channel) and 1540 Broadway."

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most visited museums in the world. Located on Manhattan's Upper East Side, this museum has over 2 million works from all eras and cultures that span over 5,000 years. It's open 365 days a year---from 10 AM-5 PM Monday through Friday and Saturday until 8 PM.

There are three ways to see art at The Met:

  • Galleries (free): You can view these galleries on your own or with an audio guide ($6). Audio guides include information about each piece of art as well as the historical context for each gallery you visit.

  • Special events (fee required): These events include concerts, lectures, film screenings, and more! For example: "Guided Tours" take place daily at 1 pm except for Mondays; "Great Performances" are held every Friday at 6 pm; "The Metropolitan Opera Radio Broadcasts" broadcast live performances each month starting September 6th through April 14th; "Live From The Vaults" takes place on select dates throughout September where they'll be broadcasting historic recordings made by The Met's Studio Artists (free).

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is an iconic suspension bridge that connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The bridge is 1,595 feet (486 m) long, has a main span of 578 feet (176 m), and allows vehicles to cross at a rate of 5 miles per hour. The Brooklyn Bridge was deemed a National Historic Landmark in 1964, and it's one of the few bridges from its period still standing today.

The bridge opened on May 24th, 1883 after 14 years of construction. It cost USD 15 million to build back then! That would be almost $300 million today!

High Line

The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated park built on an abandoned railway in Manhattan. The project was designed by James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro and stretches from Gansevoort Street to West 30th Street.

In the last few years, the High Line has become one of New York's most popular tourist attractions---and it's not hard to see why! The lush greenery and beautiful views are unlike anything else you'll find in this city.

Conclusion

In this post, we've explored the best things to see and do in New York City. New York is a vibrant city that has so much to offer, from history and culture to art, entertainment, shopping, and more. If you're planning a trip here soon then make sure to take some time out of your busy schedule for some sightseeing! Do we hope this list will help inspire you with ideas on where to go next time around when visiting NYC - after all what could be better than spending time with friends or family whilst exploring one of the most exciting cities in the world?