New York amazes me every time I visit. From its iconic skyline to its endless neighborhoods brimming with life, NYC is a city that never sleeps and never stops inspiring. Here, cultures mix, creativity thrives, and something exciting is always happening – maybe a hidden café in the Village, a world-class museum on Fifth Avenue, or a sparkling view from a rooftop in Brooklyn.
Visiting the Big Apple? Discover top things to do in New York City with our travel guide, featuring must-see attractions, iconic restaurants, museums, photo spots, and more for an unforgettable trip.
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Times Square
Times Square is a must-visit in New York, crowded and touristy but full of energy. Expect giant billboards, neon lights, Broadway ticket booths, food carts, performers, and the famous red steps.
Highlights include Madame Tussauds, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, M&M World, Midtown Comics for comic fans, and Junior’s, home to NYC’s best cheesecake. Big brands like the Disney Store, Forever 21, and Hard Rock Cafe are here too. Times Square is also iconic for its massive New Year’s Eve ball drop celebration.
The MET and Museum Mile
The stretch of Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th Street is called the Museum Mile and features seven major museums, including the MET, the Guggenheim, and the Museum of the City of New York. This is a delight for culture lovers.
The MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art) is the highlight, often called America’s Louvre, with masterpieces by Vermeer, Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, and more. Its vast collection includes renowned artwork and impressive Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities like the sphinx, winged lion of Nimrud, and a full Egyptian temple. Plan to spend at least half a day exploring the MET’s highlights.
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art, near Museum Mile, features an extensive modern and contemporary art collection. If short on time, don’t miss five masterpieces on the fifth floor: Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Dali’s The Persistence of Memory, Monet’s Water Lilies, Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, and Rousseau’s The Sleeping Gypsy.
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is the world’s largest history museum. Plan ahead by checking exhibits online and focus on your interests. Highlights include mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, and marine life halls; Human Culture exhibits from around the globe; meteorites, gems, and minerals; and the popular Hall of Planet Earth and Fossil Halls featuring dinosaurs like T-Rex and Stegosaurus. The museum also showcases visual arts, space, and literature exhibits. Allow at least one to two hours per hall and consider skip-the-line tickets to save time.
Guggenheim Museum
If you have time, visit the Guggenheim Museum at 88th Street, renowned for both its art collection and iconic building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The circular structure, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers stunning interior views. The museum features Impressionist to Contemporary art and rotating exhibits, making it a must-see for art and architecture enthusiasts.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty National Monument is a must-see in New York and a powerful symbol of freedom and diversity. While you can view it for free from Battery Park or the Staten Island Ferry, the best way is via Statue Cruises to Liberty Island.
Ferries depart from Liberty State Park in New Jersey or Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. On the island, you can admire the statue up close, climb the pedestal for a fee, visit the museum, enjoy views of the NYC skyline, and sip fresh lemonade in summer.
The monument, gifted by France, welcomed immigrants arriving by sea and remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cruises offer indoor seating, and you can visit Liberty and Ellis Islands year-round, with museums providing indoor shelter even on chilly days.
Ellis Island Immigration Center
Ellis Island, included with Statue Cruises, is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. This historic immigration inspection center and museum shares stories of immigrants who arrived where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic.
Visitors can explore exhibits, trace ancestors, and learn how arrivals were medically inspected, quarantined, or cleared to enter the U.S. The museum highlights how immigration has evolved over time. Plan 2–3 hours, including the ferry ride, to see both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Central Park
At the end of Museum Mile near 105th Street, step into Central Park through its quieter, less crowded entrance. This peaceful side shows exactly why Central Park is often called the best urban park in the world. Don’t miss highlights like the Alice in Wonderland statue, Bethesda Fountain, the Lake, Bow Bridge, and Strawberry Fields. Families with kids can check out the Billy Johnson Playground or visit the animals at the Central Park Zoo. Since the park is huge, choose one or two spots to explore so you don’t tire yourself out wandering the whole thing.
Want to see central Park in autumn splendor? Visit the Big Apple in fall – perfect for families with kids!
NYC’s View from above
New York offers stunning views from three popular observation decks: Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and One World Observatory, the highest platform. Top of the Rock offers iconic skyline views, Empire State is romantic, and One World boasts the tallest vantage. For more, visit rooftop bars including the popular 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar or take a helicopter ride. The MET rooftop bar also offers great city views.
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building, an NYC icon built in 1931 with stunning Art Deco architecture, was the world’s tallest building for nearly 40 years. Featured in films like Sleepless in Seattle and King Kong, it’s a must-visit. Guests can explore the 86th-floor open-air deck, the enclosed 102nd-floor observatory, and a museum on the 2nd floor showcasing its history and construction.
One World Trade Center
One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower, is the tallest building in the U.S., built where the Twin Towers once stood. Completed in 2014, it features a 102nd-floor observatory with stunning views of New York and New Jersey. The World Trade Center complex also includes the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and the Oculus transit hub. I highly recommended stopping here during your visit.
9/11 Memorial and Museum
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum honors those lost in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The museum, with ticketed entry, displays surviving artifacts, personal stories, timelines, and witness accounts, offering an emotional but vital experience. The free memorial features twin reflection pools with America’s largest man-made waterfalls, built where the Twin Towers once stood. Names of the victims are inscribed on bronze panels. Visitors are encouraged to be respectful at this solemn site.
Oculus
While visiting the 9/11 Memorial, don’t miss the Oculus. This is a striking, futuristic structure that serves as the World Trade Center’s subway station and shopping mall. Designed to resemble a dove with clipped wings, many see it as spaceship-like. Inside, admire its graceful ceiling, shop, or grab a bite while enjoying views of One World Trade Center.
Across from the Oculus, the colorful WTC murals brighten a plain building housing the World Trade Center’s cooling equipment. These vibrant murals are a popular NYC Instagram spot. I spent almost a whole hour here seeing and photographing them.
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a must-visit with plenty of free and budget-friendly things to do. This Art Deco complex has over a dozen buildings, including the famous Rockefeller Plaza which is home to the iconic Christmas Tree and skating rink in winter, and a summer garden and bar in warmer months. Kids love the nearby Lego store, and fans of 30 Rock can tour NBC Studios. You can also tour Radio City Music Hall and meet a Rockette.
Top of the Rock
The Top of the Rock Observation Deck sits on the 70th floor of Rockefeller Center. Visit about an hour before dusk to enjoy daytime and nighttime views. While there, explore all that Rockefeller Plaza has to offer.
Brooklyn Bridge
Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is a classic NYC experience and a must-do for any visitor. This iconic landmark, seen in countless films and shows, offers incredible views of the Manhattan skyline. Sunset is the perfect time to go. Start your walk on the Manhattan side near New York City Hall, just a few blocks from the New York Public Library. Walking the whole bridge to Brooklyn takes about an hour, but you can always turn back halfway if you’d like. Bring your camera for sure as this is one of the best spots for skyline photos. Once across, grab a cab or explore Brooklyn before heading back.
Wall Street and Financial District
New York’s Wall Street and the Financial District in Lower Manhattan are must-sees. Key sights include the New York Stock Exchange – the world’s largest – and the iconic Charging Bull, symbolizing resilience after the 1986 market crash. Don’t miss the Fearless Girl statue, now facing the NYSE, and the historic Federal Hall nearby.
Christmas time in the city
At Christmas, New York City offers iconic holiday experiences. See the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and skate at its rink. Walk Fifth Avenue to view world-famous holiday window displays at Saks, Macy’s, and Bergdorf Goodman. Visit Bryant Park’s Winter Village for shopping and ice skating. Attend the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes. For festive lights, visit Dyker Heights in Brooklyn for elaborate neighborhood displays. Plan your NYC Christmas trip today.
The Vessel
The Vessel, in Hudson Yards, is a striking NYC landmark known for its honeycomb design of 154 staircases and stunning city views. Opened in 2019, it’s now closed for climbing but still popular for photos and sightseeing.
Intrepid Museum
The Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum offers a unique chance to explore the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier, featuring exhibits like the Enterprise space shuttle and a submarine. Visitors can tour the flight deck, hangar, and quarters, with optional guided tours available. Ideal for older kids and military enthusiasts, plan 2–3 hours to fully enjoy the experience.
Grand Central Terminal
If you’re a train enthusiast, visiting Grand Central Terminal in Midtown NYC is a must. Built in stunning Beaux-Arts style, its Main Concourse impresses with a celestial ceiling mural, ornate chandeliers, an iconic clock, and grand arched windows. Inside, you’ll also find a lower-level food court and various shops to explore.
Broadway show
Broadway is the heart of NYC’s world-renowned theater scene, with over 40 theaters in Midtown’s Theatre District near Times Square. Seeing a Broadway show is a top tourist experience, but tickets can be pricey and popular shows sell out fast! Families often choose The Lion King or Frozen, while classics like Hamilton, Wicked, or The Phantom of the Opera are audience favorites. Budget tips and ticket options are available at the TKTS booth in Times Square.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Located across from Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a must-see with its striking spires and beautiful stained glass. Visitors can explore for free, join a paid tour to learn its history, or attend a mass, though services often draw large crowds.
Chelsea Market
Chelsea Market is a food lover’s paradise in NYC, spanning a full block with diverse eateries, shops, and artwork. Favorites include Los Tacos No. 1’s famous al pastor tacos, seafood at The Lobster Place, and chocolate milkshakes at Creamline, all conveniently close to each other. The market also offers delicious pastries and doughnuts.
New York is for sure a bucket list trip! First time visitors or tenth time visitors, all fall in love with the city. You will be walking over 15 steps every day and will get tired to your bones – but still remember this experience forever!