New York City, the country’s biggest and most populous city, is frequently referred to as the “city that never sleeps” because of its nonstop activity. New York is a magnificent destination, filled with arts, culture, America’s Best Wings Menu, and a night sky with skyscrapers in place of stars. Particularly in Manhattan, the atmosphere is loud, rowdy, and impatient. Events don’t merely occur here; they do so dramatically.
The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, historic neighbourhoods, and countless renowned museums are just a few of the tourist attractions that draw tourists to this city. More people come, particularly to shop and eat. And still more come just to watch the Broadway performances.
This city is a treat to visit because so many of the top attractions are close to one another or only a short ride away.
There are countless things to see and do in New York at any time of the year, day or night.
Make use of our list of the top New York attractions as a guide while making travel arrangements.
New York City tourist attractions
New York City is a global hub for culture, entertainment, business, and tourism. These are the top 16 sights you simply must see when in New York City.
1. Statue of Liberty
There’s no doubt that both of these landmarks are mandatory to visit when in New York, despite the #1 ranking on this list possibly not being a surprise.
On Liberty Island in New York Harbour, the United States stands the enormous neoclassical statue known as the Statue of Liberty. It was built by Gustave Eiffel and designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
The statue was a gift from France to the United States, commemorating the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence in 1776. October 28, 1886, saw its dedication.
The statue stands 305 feet (93 meters) tall, including its pedestal. The image shows a woman dressed in robes that symbolises Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty, carrying a torch and a tablet with the date of the Declaration of Independence.
The statue is made of copper sheets, and its pedestal is made of granite.
The Statue of Liberty has become an iconic symbol of freedom and democracy, welcoming millions of immigrants to the United States over the years. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the United States, with millions of visitors coming to see it each year.
2. Times Square
Times Square, one of New York City’s major commercial and entertainment districts, is located in Midtown Manhattan. It is one of the busiest pedestrian intersections in the world, known for its brightly illuminated billboards, advertisements, and digital screens.
Times Square, which stretches from West 42nd Street to West 47th Street, is situated where Broadway and Seventh Avenue converge. Long Acre Square was the area’s previous name, but it was changed to its current name in 1904 when The New York Times newspaper relocated its headquarters to the recently constructed Times Building. (Now called One Times Square).
Times Square is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, featuring numerous restaurants, theaters, shopping centers, and attractions such as Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and the Hard Rock Cafe. It is also the site of the annual New Year’s Eve celebration, which includes the dropping of the famous New Year’s Eve Ball from the roof of One Times Square.
Overall, Times Square is an iconic and vibrant part of New York City, attracting millions of visitors each year.
3. Central Park
A public park called Central Park may be found in Manhattan, New York City. It was created by Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted, and it debuted in 1858. With almost 42 million visits a year, the 843-acre park is the most popular urban park in the country.
Central Park features a variety of attractions, including lakes, ponds, bridges, gardens, playgrounds, and recreational facilities. Some of the most popular landmarks in the park include the Central Park Zoo, the Central Park Conservatory Garden, the Great Lawn, the Bethesda Fountain and Terrace, and the Central Park Mall.
In addition to its recreational and cultural offerings, Central Park has also played an important role in the history of New York City. It was established during a time of rapid urbanization and served as a much-needed green space for residents. It has also been the site of many historic events, including protests, concerts, and political rallies.
4. The Empire State Building
In Midtown Manhattan, New York City, there is a prominent skyscraper called the Empire State Building. It was finished in 1931, and until 1970, it was the highest structure in the world. It is currently the 26th-tallest building in the world and the fifth-tallest freestanding structure in the Americas.
The Empire State Building stands 1,454 feet (443.2 meters) tall and has 102 floors. It was designed by the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates and features Art Deco styling, with a distinctive setback design at the 86th and 102nd floors. The structure has a steel frame and is covered with Indiana limestone.
The Empire State Building has become an iconic symbol of New York City and is a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can go up to the observation deck on the 86th floor and enjoy panoramic views of the city. There is also an observation deck on the 102nd floor, which is smaller and less frequently open to the public. The building is also illuminated at night with various colors and patterns, making it a popular subject for photographers and filmmakers.
5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Located in New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, usually referred to as “the Met,” is a renowned art gallery. With a collection of more than two million works of art from all over the world, it was established in 1870 and is now one of the biggest and most comprehensive art museums in the world.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a collection that covers 5,000 years of art history, including pieces from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, as well as European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, as well as a sizable collection of Asian, African, and American works of art. Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” Emanuel Leutze’s “Washington Crossing the Delaware,” and ancient Egyptian artefacts like the Temple of Dendur are some of the most well-known pieces in the collection.
The Met presents a variety of temporary exhibitions all year long in addition to its permanent collection, featuring artwork from various cultures, eras, and aesthetic movements. For visitors of all ages, the museum also provides a variety of educational programmes and materials, including lectures, tours, and workshops.
The Metropolitan is housed in a famous Fifth Avenue structure with a remarkable Richard Morris Hunt Beaux-Arts façade. The structure has nearly 2 million square feet of space, comprising 26 special exhibition galleries and 17 curatorial departments.
6. The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, linking the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan. It was the first steel-wire suspension bridge ever built and was finished in 1883.
German immigrant John A. Roebling, who had previously developed a number of smaller suspension bridges, created the bridge. Unfortunately, Washington Roebling handled the project until it was finished after his father passed away before the bridge’s construction was finished.
When it was finished, the Brooklyn Bridge, which is 1.1 miles long, was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Millions of tourists visit it every year, and it remains one of New York City’s most recognizable sights today.
7. The High Line
On the west side of Manhattan in New York City, there is a public park called The High Line that was once an elevated railway track. From Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, a 1.45-mile-long urban green area was created out of the railway, which had been abandoned since the 1980s.
Visitors can enjoy the park’s beautiful gardens, art pieces, and various seating places at The High Line. The park also provides stunning views of the city, which include the Hudson River and nearby buildings.
The High Line has grown in popularity since it opened in 2009, drawing both locals and tourists. For its unique design and contribution to the redevelopment of the neighborhood, it has won various prizes and accolades.
Overall, the High Line is an excellent example of urban renewal and adaptive reuse, converting a dilapidated public area into a fresh and well-liked one.
8. The New York Public Library
The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a network of free public libraries in New York City. After the Library of Congress and the Boston Public Library, it is the third-largest public library in the country. The Tilden Trust, Astor, and Lenox libraries were combined to form the NYPL, which was founded in 1895. Since then, it has expanded to include 92 locations across the city, including four research libraries and 88 neighborhoods branches.
More than 55 million items, including books, manuscripts, maps, pictures, and digital resources, can be found in the NYPL’s holdings. Its treasures include original Winnie-the-Pooh plush animals, Gutenberg Bibles, and a Declaration of Independence written in Thomas Jefferson’s handwriting.
The New York Public Library provides a wide range of services to its users, including free internet and computer access, kid and adult educational programmes, and help with research and job searches. Additionally, the library conducts talks, exhibitions, and other events.
The NYPL is a well-known cultural institution in New York City, and the “Main Branch,” the NYPL’s magnificent Stephen A. Schwartzman Building on Fifth Avenue, is a well-liked vacation spot. A stately marble staircase, the Rose Main Reading Room, which has one of the greatest map collections in the world, and the Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division are all elements of the 1911-built structure.
9. Rockefeller Center & Top of the Rock Observation Deck
Rockefeller Centre is a popular tourist destination in New York and is usually on everyone’s itinerary. NBC-TV and other media outlets are housed in this sizable entertainment and retail complex in the centre of Manhattan, but the 70-story 30 Rockefeller Plaza, an Art Deco skyscraper that offers breathtaking views of Manhattan from its renowned Top of the Rock Observation Deck, is the complex’s focal point.
The three floors, together referred to as the “deck,” are situated on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors. Both indoor and outdoor viewing areas provide breathtaking vistas, day or night. A ticket for the Top of the Rock Observation Deck is available in advance. If your plans change or the weather isn’t cooperative, you may alter the date thanks to the flexible voucher redemption policy that comes with these tickets.
One of the most popular winter activities in New York City is ice skating on the outdoor rink at the base of the tower. This is a wonderful activity for families and couples. The skating rink typically operates from October until April.
Don’t worry if you’re not a strong skater; the rink is small and many people are using skates for the first time, so the difficulty level is really low.
A huge Christmas tree is set up in front of the ice rink after Thanksgiving, illuminating the facility throughout the holiday season. In December, a lot of people come to New York solely to see this place.
The well-known Atlas bronze sculpture in front of the International Building is another attraction in this region. The subject is well-liked among photographers.
10. Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, arguably the most recognizable stadium in the world, has a colorful past that persists into the present. The NBA’s New York Knicks and the NHL’s New York Rangers also play at MSG, which is still tremendously busy. In between all of that, they still have time to be the second-busiest concert venue on the planet.
A concert or athletic event at Madison Square Garden is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, the stadium also offers a fantastic behind-the-scenes tour that lets you visit the locker rooms and the court.
11. Broadway and the Theater District
Seeing a Broadway show is one of the most popular activities in New York City. This theatre, which is regarded as the best in the country, features both the most recent productions and time-honoured classics.
The term “Broadway” is typically used to refer to only “Broadway theatre,” which includes a sizable number of theatres in the Theatre District and on Broadway itself. Tickets for the most popular performances should be ordered from the website far in advance.
The Shubert at 221 West 44th Street and the Booth at 22 West 45th Street are two well-known theatres that can only be accessed by foot through Shubert Alley in the Theatre District. In the past, aspiring performers would frequently visit Shubert Alley in search of chances to appear in a production supported by theatre magnate Sam S. Shubert.
At the Shubert, A Chorus Line performed 6,137 times, breaking the previous record. The musical Oklahoma had its world premiere in 1941 at the adjacent James Playhouse. Several great actors are said to have met at Sardi’s restaurant, and Irving Berlin performed The Music Box Revue at the Music Box Theatre in 1921.
12. Summit One Vanderbilt
Summit One Vanderbilt is perched atop the brand-new, 1,401-foot-tall, 67-floor One Vanderbilt super-tall skyscraper. It is located just west of Grand Central Terminal, where you first enter the underground experience, and is the fourth-tallest skyscraper in the city after One World Trade Centre, Central Park Tower, and 111 West 57th Street. Visitors ride a lift up to the 91st floor, where they are 1,000 feet above the streets and sidewalks of NYC, after passing through a mirror-lined hallway with its own immersive features.
The “Air” room by Kenzo Digital is a chamber with endless mirrors that constantly reflect skylines. And cities, giving the impression that you are strolling in the sky or on another plane of reality.
You can see your reflection forever when you look up and down in this two-story room. Visitors are first shown “Levitation,” a collection of translucent glass skyboxes that protrude out of the skyscraper 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue, after making their way up to the third level of this experience. You can stand over the street here with nothing but glass separating you from the earth. In no way appropriate for a week of the heart.
13. Little Italy and Chinatown
You may experience New York’s diversity when you visit Little Italy and Chinatown, two neighborhoods that are among the city’s many beautiful features. Which is best? Right next door to each other are these two quite distinct neighborhoods. The beauty of New York is that you can walk just a few blocks and experience two completely distinct yet equally intriguing neighborhoods.
Both of these neighborhoods are frequently visited by the same crowd. As part of our neighborhood tour, we also include SoHo. Given their proximity, you can sample both in less than an hour.
Of course, if you wish to eat lunch or supper here, you can remain much longer. Little Italy features a seemingly limitless selection of pasta, pizza, and pastries, in addition to a few annual events that truly liven up the area.
You will cross across Canal Street, the centre of Chinatown, as you go from the Italian flavours of Mulberry Street. Like a city within a city, Chinatown Everything from Chinese food to shopping to health to decor can be found here.
14. Letch worth State Park
Western New York, in the United States, is home to Letch worth State Park, a state park. It is referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East” and is surrounded by breathtaking natural features like cliffs, gorges, and waterfalls. The park is located by the Genesee River and spans more than 14,000 acres.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of sights and activities in the park, such as hiking, biking, fishing, camping, and picnics. More than 66 miles of hiking trails are available in the park, including the well-known Gorge Trail, which provides stunning views of the park’s three main waterfalls, Upper Falls, Middle Falls, and Lower Falls. The park also offers a selection of campsites and cottages for overnight stays, in addition to picnic spaces and pavilions.
The William Pryor Letch worth Museum, which highlights the park’s history and natural wonders, and the Humphrey Nature Centre, which provides interactive exhibits and educational programmes about the park’s flora and fauna, are just a few of the historical sites and museums that can be found in Letch worth State Park in addition to its natural beauty.
All things considered, Letch worth State Park is a must-go location for everyone who enjoys the great outdoors and wishes to witness the magnificence and grandeur of one of the country’s most magnificent parks.
15. Ithaca
A small American city called Ithaca is situated in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. The county seat of Tompkins is located there on Cayuga Lake’s southern side. It is home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, two renowned educational institutions, and has a population of about 30,000.
Ithaca is renowned for its natural beauty, and the area around it is home to several parks, gorges, and waterfalls. With a flourishing artistic scene and a diversified community, it is also a centre for culture. The downtown area is renowned for its distinctive stores, eateries, and cafes, and on weekends it holds a well-liked farmers’ market.
The Ithaca Commons, a pedestrian area in the centre of downtown with a variety of stores, restaurants, and street performers, is one of Ithaca’s best-known attractions. Taughannock Falls State Park, which has miles of hiking trails and a 215-foot cascade, is another well-liked destination.
16. Rochester, NY
Rochester, one of New York’s largest cities, is a fantastic destination for families. There are several family-friendly museums in Rochester, including the Strong National Museum of Play, one of the biggest children’s museums in the country, and the George Eastman Museum, the oldest photography museum in the world.
In the summer months, Rochester also has a wide variety of outdoor attractions to enjoy. Visit the 96-foot-tall High Falls for breathtaking views, or wander through the Highland Park Conservancy in May to witness the biggest collection of lilacs in the entire world.
