TOP 35 Attractions and Places to See in New York

It's hard being a tourist in New York City, especially the first time. There's so much to do in this city that you don't even know where to start. What can you do to make sure you don't miss anything? No worries.

We have listed 35 attractions that no one should ever miss and can be enjoyed all year long. Our picks include everything from great parks and art museums to food markets and historic sites.

➤ Statue of Liberty

The majestic monument that poets have dubbed the new Colossus is one of the most famous landmarks in the United States. It stands over 90 meters tall, including the pedestal. From the French government came the symbol of freedom, which became the national symbol. You can climb inside the statue on a sightseeing tour. There's a little museum.

• Working time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: you can take a ferry from Battery Park to the island where the statue is.

➤ Empire State Building

Before the filming of «King Kong», the skyscraper was equated with the new wonder of the world. There are 102 floors in the building, but not all of them are accessible. The observation deck is on the 86th floor, and you can visit it for a fee.

Those who are brave can take the elevator, but some choose to walk. There's an observatory on the 102nd floor. You can also find mooring masts for dirigibles there. As far as we know, none of them have ever been used for their intended purpose.

• Working time: 12 p.m. to 22 p.m.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: you can take the subway down Broadway and Sixth Avenue.

➤ Central Park

One of the longest parks in the world is Central Park in New York City. This park is surrounded by hotel complexes, so it's always full of tourists from all over the world: Brazil, Hungary, Japan, etc. You'll find a lot of attractions marked with signs.

The place breathes peace and tranquility at the same time. Construction started in the 19th century. Over 4 million different plants were planted during landscaping, and ice rinks, lakes, and alleys were paved. Nowadays, there are several cafes and restaurants.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: walk or take a cab from Time Square.

➤ Grand Central Terminal

On the site of Grand Central Station, the station was built in the early 20th century. Nearby, there's a subway station called Grand Central Station. Grand Central is the largest subway station in the world. It's surrounded by a lot of office buildings. There are a lot of cafes, restaurants, and shops inside the building.

A professional guide can tell you all about the history of the place. There's a picture of the starry sky on the ceiling of the central station, which wasn't so long ago restored. You can see the sky backwards if you look closely.

• Working time: 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: you can get there from Metro lines S, 4, 5, 6, 7.

➤ Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge was the world's longest active suspension bridge until the early 20th century. There are almost 500 meters between supports and it's about 2 km long. The bridge has six lanes for cars and a pedestrian lane that's pretty big. A beautiful view of the city is waiting for you from the bridge, which attracts tons of tourists every year.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: the orange line on the F train takes you there.

➤ The High Line

High Line Park stretches along the railroad overpass in Manhattan. In the 20th century, the overpass was closed. Now it's a place for strolls in silence amid lush greenery and flowers. There are three main parts to the park. Construction started in 2006 and finished in 2009.

It took until 2019 to finish arranging the park. Professional guides will tell you why else this park is special, what plants grow here, and who the Westside Cowboys are. The tour ends at the pier where the Titanic survivors arrived.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: Gansevoort Street is between West 34th Street and Gansevoort Street.

➤ Rockefeller Center

It is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, and was started by John Rockefeller the Elder. An entire complex of 19 buildings was designated a National Historic Landmark in the late 20th century.

There's a city within a city here. The building has offices, shops, studios, an ice rink and a music hall. Also worth visiting is the observation deck, which offers a great view of midtown Manhattan.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: use the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R subway lines to get there.

➤ The National September 11 Memorial Museum

9/11 memorial is dedicated to the victims. The idea for the memorial started in 2003, but it wasn't finished until 2011. Several projects were submitted. The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation held a competition. One of its finalist won. On the exact spot where the skyscrapers stood, the memorial has two swimming pools.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: starting at $10.
• How to get there: metro lines A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4, 5 will take you there.

➤ The Metropolitan Museum of Art

New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest museum in the city. And it's one of the biggest in the world. It all started with several private collections from the late 19th century. There are now 17 sections at the museum, each corresponding to a continent and time period.

Additionally, there is a category for temporary exhibitions. These are usually about 10 expositions that change often. The museum building has cafes and recreation areas, so visitors can relax and have fun.

• Working time: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 p.m.
• Cost: $12 for tickets.
• How to get there: take the 4, 5, or 6 subway lines.

➤ Broadway

Probably the most famous street in the world. It goes through many parts of the city. Given how much is on Broadway, traveling this way in one day isn't possible. It's easy to get lost in the abundance of what Broadway has to offer - luxury, bohemianism, business spirit, fashion flair.

The architecture of the surrounding buildings reflects a mix of historical periods, which is particularly interesting. Skyscrapers on this street have one thing in common - they're all a little tapered. According to the locals, it's so the buildings won't steal the sky.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: you can walk there from different parts of the city.

➤ Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Solomon Guggenheim made his fortune as an industrialist, but he was also a philanthropist. Additionally, he was a famous collector. Interesting fact: the museum named after him was first housed in rented space before moving into the current building.

Guggenheim collected works of art, now on display in the museum. Many of the paintings are by avant-garde artists, but there are also works by Renaissance masters.

• Working time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday to Monday.
• Cost: starts at $10.
• How to get there: metro lines 4, 5, 6, A, B, C.

➤ The Met Cloisters

The Cloisters are part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The building was built by John Rockefeller Jr. All the art here focuses on one period, the Middle Ages. It doesn't just have paintings; there are ancient manuscripts, crosses, tapestries, and other items that are preserved. The name of the museum has an interesting history. It's the names of five French monasteries, parts of which went into the building of the museum.

• Working time: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 17 p.m.
• Cost: $12 for tickets.
• How to get there: take the A line to get there.

➤ Ellis Island

This is where many people started their journey to the American dream. An immigration station opened on the island at the end of the 19th century. This place issued entry and piercing permits to the United States of America. Ellis Island was also known as Tear Island.

Only a small percentage of immigrants were denied entry due to serious illnesses. It also goes by the name Oyster Island. The answer is simple: oysters live all over the island. They were destroyed by artificial drainage at some point.

• Working time: 9 to 17 every day.
• Cost: $19 for tickets.
• How to get there: take the ferry from Battery Park.

➤ Fifth Avenue

Manhattan has one of the largest shopping areas in the United States. Shoppers will appreciate the stores of big-name brands like Tiffany and Hugo Boss. More than a dozen famous museums can be found on just one street, including the Metropolitan and the Guggenheim Museum.

Manhattan's streets have their names inspired by The Avenue, which divides the island into western and eastern parts. Interesting enough, there are no streetcars on Fifth Avenue, but there are tourist buses.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: Fifth Avenue is right next to Washington Square.

➤ American Museum of Natural History

The museum was founded in the late 19th century by enthusiasts. Naturalist Albert S. Bickmore probably came up with the original idea. In Central Park, the old Arsenal became the first natural history museum. It later moved to its current location.

The building used to be a lot smaller. Calvert Vox designed this tiny structure. The collection grew over time, so new buildings and rooms had to be built. There are many collections at the museum that will interest adults and kids alike.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: Tickets start at $13 each.
• How to get there: it's on lines A, B, and C of the subway.

➤ Chinatown

A slice of China in the middle of New York. Whatever time of day or night, you'll find something to do here. There are lots of cafes and shops, some of which are only open after dark. This street has an interesting museum about Chinese life in America.

Block was inhabited in the early 19th century, and at the end of the 20th century, a new wave of immigrants moved in. One of the best parts about Chinatown is that the prices here aren't too high even though it's a popular tourist destination.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: the subway is the fastest way, but you can also walk from downtown Manhattan.

➤ Flatiron Building

The building's name means «iron» in Russian. It looks like a potbellied iron. The Fuller Building was once the site of the Fuller Company, so it's still sometimes called that. At the beginning of the century, it was one of the tallest buildings in the city with more than 90 meters.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: walk down Broadway or Fifth Avenue.

➤ Wall Street

There are thousands of tourists each year attracted by the world-famous bronze bull created by Arturo di Modica. There are a lot of banks, offices, and stock exchanges on Wall Street, which is narrow and not very long. The first financial transactions took place here in the 18th century.

It took time for the spontaneous securities market to develop an orderly structure that became the Platan Association of Brokers. There used to be mass tours here, but they stopped for security reasons for organizations on Wall Street.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: take subway lines 2, 3, 4, and 5 to get there.

➤ Union Square

Built at the intersection of Broadway and Bowery, the square was built between two post roads. «Union» in the square's name means «unity», which is high symbolism. Working class rallies used to happen here. Several farmers' fairs are held directly in the park several times a week, and there are lots of cultural and entertainment options near the park.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: take the yellow, green, or gray metro lines.

➤ The Frick Collection

Children under 10 aren't allowed in this museum. Beautifully preserved Renaissance art is inside. The earliest pieces date from the 15th century. In addition to paintings, furniture, carpets, and silverware are also cool. The museum has an atmosphere of luxury and pomp, which is reflected in the sculptures, paintings and engravings. It's right next to the Frick library, which is famous for its vast collection.

• Working time: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm;
• Cost: check on the website before the visit for the price of a ticket;
• How to get there: You can walk along Fifth Avenue.

➤ St. Patrick's Cathedral

The cathedral houses the image of Mary of Guadalupe, patroness of New York. The temple altarpiece was made by Tiffany, the world's most famous jewelry house. The cathedral closed for renovations a long time ago. It's now open to tourists again. Saint Patrick's Cathedral is rightly considered the best example of neo-Gothic architecture in the 19th century.

• Working time: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Cost: tickets start at 20 USD.
• How to get there: there's a subway stop near the cathedral on Fifth Avenue.

➤ Washington Square Park

Washington Square is a favorite of tourists and native New Yorkers alike. It's the main campus of Columbia University. There are students and street performers here at all hours of the day. It wasn't always this way. During the 19th century, there was a lower-class cemetery there. Nobody moved the graves, they're still there.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: you can get there by bus, subway, cab, or by walking across Fifth Avenue.

➤ Madison Square Garden

M-S-G, as locals call the building, has an entire sports complex. This isn't the only structure with that name. Besides, Madison Square is far enough away. The tour route inside Madison Square Garden will tell you how that happened.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: follow Eighth Avenue.

➤ SoHo

These low buildings contrast so much with skyscrapers in other New York City neighborhoods. SoHo is derived from the English phrase «south of Hauston». Now it's one of the city's hot spots for young people. There's a lot of coffee shops and plenty of choices. There's a lot of street art because different eras collide. Cast-iron facades are juxtaposed with relatively modern finishes.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: bus or walk from Houston Street.

➤ United Nations Headquarters

It is like fulfilling a childhood dream for some people to visit the UN headquarters. You have to sign up for a tour in advance, but if you're close to the building, it's partially free. On the 39 floors of this historic building are flags of almost 200 countries that make up the UN. This building hosts a general assembly every year, where representatives of the highest authorities attend.

• Working time: you have to pre-register on the UN website to get on the tour.
• Cost: check the official site;
• How to get there: metro line 6 gets you here.

➤ Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is the second biggest garden in New York City. There are 12 sections in the garden, each with a different kind of plant. And each one has its own unique atmosphere. Spring is the best time to visit the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. You'll catch it in all its glory.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: take the 2, 3, 4, or 5 to get to the Botanical Garden.

➤ New York Public Library

Located in different boroughs of New York City, the Public Library consists of several separate buildings. It has about 87 departments and more than 25 million books.

The idea of a single library that connects all the buildings started at the beginning of the 20th century. Construction would not have been possible without the involvement of famed philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who invested more than $5 million in the promising project.

• Working time: Tuesday through Sunday, check with the site before you go.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: take the B, D, F, M, S subway lines.

➤ Woolworth Building

It was considered the tallest building in the world in its early years. Even today, it's one of the 50 tallest buildings in the country. The building is over 240 meters high. You can go up to the observation deck on floor 58.

When the twin towers were destroyed in a terrorist attack at the start of the 21st century, the Woolworth Building was often photographed with them. The building stood right between them.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: metro lines 2, 3, E are the fastest.

➤ Chrysler Building

New York's Grand Central Station is right next to the Chrysler Building. The Chrysler was the tallest building in the city up until the Empire State came along. Building was designed in the Art Deco style, popular in New York in the 1930s.

Walter Chrysler, a famous businessman, financed the construction. He took the money from his personal budget instead of his company's. It has seven radial arches-terraces that replicate the image on the drives of company «Chrysler».

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: you can take the 4, 5, and 7 subway lines to get there.

➤ Vessel

The heart of a popular tourist area has been transformed with a futuristic building. Hudson Yards draws a lot of tourists every year, mostly young people from all over the world. Hudson Yards means 'ship' in English.

The building has more than 80 observation decks. They are connected by dozens of flights of stairs. If you check out the different platforms, you can see New York City from unexpected angles.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Sunday.
• Cost: tickets can be booked on the official website for free.
• How to get there: take metro line 7 to get to the building.

➤ Waldorf Astoria

Nearly two thousand rooms in a luxurious hotel. Here, you'll find deputies, artists, famous athletes, and statesmen with high status. The Waldorf-Astoria has been a prestigious hotel in New York since the beginning of the 20th century. This museum has a lot of paintings and mosaics of historical and artistic value.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: find out more on the website;
• How to get there: walk from Central Park in New York City.

➤ Brooklyn Heights

A protest against the construction of an expressway in Queens sparked the walkway project. Brooklyn Heights is a platform that encloses part of the highway. Many people go there for walks and sports. Furthermore, the entire platform is a great vantage point for seeing Manhattan's skyscrapers.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: just walk up Columbia Heights.

➤ Coney Island

Brooklyn's entertainment complex. From Ferris wheels to high-speed roller coasters, there's something for everyone. Come to Coney Island to have fun. Along with the amusement park, there's a beach and lots of souvenir shops and cafes.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: take metro lines D, N, Q, F.

➤ Times Square

The most famous square in the world is Times Square. New York Times Square gets its name from a newspaper that had an office in the square in the late 19th century. You can wander around the square for days on end, and you'll always find something new with the colorful buildings, the monumental architecture, and the unassuming sights.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: just walk up Broadway or down Seventh Avenue.

➤ Harlem

There are a lot of criminal gangs in this northern neighborhood. In the 17th century, Indians lived here, but immigrants from Africa quickly replaced them. Harlem gets its name from the Dutch city of the same name. It's one of the poorest areas of New York City.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: you can take the bus or the meter.