Places to visit in New York City

New York City comprises 5 boroughs sitting where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean. At its core is Manhattan, a densely populated borough that’s among the world’s major commercial, financial and cultural centers. Its iconic sites include skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and sprawling Central Park. Broadway theater is staged in neon-lit Times Square. 

There are so many elements that make New York City one of the best cities in the world. The city and the Statue of Liberty that travelers see as they arrive is symbolic of the culture and freedom that America stands for. The Big Apple is the financial hub of the United States, with Wall Street and international businesses.

Here are some places you must visit in New York City.

Central Park

This park, museum, concert hall swallows central Manhattan, and many of the city\’s most notable attractions are situated next to it or within its limits (the Guggenheim, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History, to name a few). But travelers insist that you shouldn\’t just pass through Central Park on your way to another place. This 843-acre green space is a favorite of New Yorkers and tourists; you can come here to exercise, dine, go to the zoo and more.

If you ambled down every one of Central Park’s pathways, you would walk 58 miles. Along the way, you pass fountains, monuments, sculptures, bridges, and arches, plus 21 playgrounds, a winter ice-skating rink, a zoo, and even a castle. But you’d hardly notice the four major crosstown thoroughfares, which cleverly disappear into foliage-covered tunnels.

9/11 Memorial and Museum

Every American should visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at least once.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum serves as the primary tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks, as well as the six lost in the 1993 bombing. The memorial\’s twin reflecting pools and human-made waterfalls rest as eerie footprints where the World Trade Center\’s twin towers once stood. It pays homage to the enormity of the loss, both physical and spiritual. 

Empire State Building

New York City Tourist 101 dictates that you must swing by this landmark structure in midtown Manhattan. And despite the hefty admission fees, the crowds and the long lines, recent visitors insist that you won\’t be sorry. In fact, taking a trip to the top of the Empire State Building is either the perfect way to begin or end your Big Apple excursion – on a clear day you\’ll be able to the see the city\’s major highlights some 1,250 feet beneath you. 

Statue of Liberty

This monument is considered the symbol of America. The statue is actually that of Libertas, the Roman Goddess of Liberty and Freedom. The crowned lady liberty raises a torch above her head with one hand and in the other holds a table marked with the date July 4th, 1776, the date of American Independence. At the feet of the lady are broken chains, signifying the liberation of America. The Statue of Liberty tops the list of best places to visit in NYC.

The statue was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and was gifted to the USA by France in 1886. You will need to take a ferry to reach the island where this monument stands. The statue has a museum and a stairway to reach the viewing platform located in the lady’s crown. You will need at least 2 hours to explore the Statue of Liberty and activities to do in NYC on the island.

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City, spanning the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Opened on May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first fixed crossing of the East River.

Times Square

Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment hub, and neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is formed by the junction of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street. Together with adjacent Duffy Square, Times Square is a bowtie-shaped space five blocks long between 42nd and 47th Streets.

Brightly lit at all hours by numerous billboards and advertisements as well as businesses offering 24/7 service, Times Square is sometimes referred to as \”the Crossroads of the World\”, \”the Center of the Universe\”, \”the heart of the Great White Way\”, and \”the heart of the world\”.