Top Sightseeing Spots in New York City: Must-See Attractions for Every Traveler
Best of NYC: Iconic Landmarks, Must-See-Attractions, and Insider Tips for an Unforgettable Trip
New York City has always held a special place in my heart. I was lucky enough to live there for a year, which gave me the opportunity to truly immerse myself. Since then, I’ve returned for work, to catch up with friends, or simply to rediscover the city as a tourist. While many of its iconic landmarks have been fixtures for decades, there’s always something new and exciting emerging on the scene.
NYC is comprised of five boroughs, with Manhattan being the focal point. Navigating Manhattan is simple due to its organized grid system. Streets run horizontally (yellow), while avenues run vertically (red). If you are looking up an address, it will often be listed 123 NYC street, corner of 34th Street and Broadway. It’s a convenient way to coordinate a meeting point with friends or to specify a drop-off location to a cab driver.
New York City’s Iconic Landmarks and More: A Guide to Unmissable Sights
If you’re visiting NYC for the first time, embrace the tourist experience. Don’t get swayed by suggestions to skip the popular landmarks in favor of lesser-known spots. The iconic sights you’ve seen in photos, TV shows, and movies are a quintessential part of New York City—soak them all in! If you’ve visited NYC before, keep reading for more recommendations at the end.
Discover NYC’s Sights on Google Map
Iconic Attractions: Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, Empire State Building
Cultural Highlights: Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), American Museum of Natural History, The Guggenheim
Unique Experiences: Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, Chinatown, The High Line Park, 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks and once greeted immigrants arriving in New York Harbor.
– Insider tip: To capture a great photo of Lady Liberty without the long wait and crowds at Liberty Island, take the free Staten Island Ferry from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan. The ferry offers excellent views of both the Statue of Liberty and the NYC skyline.
Central Park
Central Park is a giant urban park, where you will find walking, running and biking paths, a zoo, a castle, tennis court and baseball fields. There is plenty of space for picnicking, wildlife watching and sunbathing. In the summer, you can enjoy boating on the lakes, while winter invites to ice skating.
– Insider tip: If you’re short on time and want a quick glimpse of Central Park, enter at the southeast corner, where Fifth Avenue meets 59th Street. This spot offers a beautiful view of The Pond and Gapstow Bridge, both popular photo spots. For a memorable experience, consider splurging on a horse and buggy ride, which provides a charming way to see the park.
Times Square
Times Square has a vibrant energy, with a concentration of ads and neon lights rivaling even Tokyo’s Hachiko Square. You’ll find giant billboards, talented street performers, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, and a selection of Broadway theaters, comedy clubs, and dining options.
– Insider tip: At the TKTS booth, under the red steps on Times Square (47th Street and Broadway), you can get same-day discounted Broadway tickets at up to 50% off. The booth opens at 11 am for matinee performances, and 3 pm for evening performances. Lines can get long so I recommend you arrive early.
Empire State Building
Empire State Building is famous for its’ observation deck offering panoramic views of the city. This iconic skyscraper has been featured in more than 250 movies and attracts 4 million visitors per year.
– Insider tip: While the Empire State Building is a popular attraction, consider visiting One World Observatory at the top of One World Trade Center as an excellent alternative. It offers similar entry fees, but has shorter lines, and breathtaking views of the city without the crowds.
Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge offers stunning views of the NYC skyline and features a pedestrian walkway spanning 1.3 miles (2 km) one way.
– Insider tip: If you prefer not to walk the entire length of the bridge, you can enjoy excellent, unobstructed views from the South Street Seaport waterfront at the southern tip of Manhattan.
Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) is one of the largest and most prestigious art museums in the world and boasts an extensive and diverse collection.
– Insider tip: For a more peaceful visit, head to the museum in the afternoon during the week. Mornings are often crowded with school groups, who typically leave by 1 pm, making the museum quieter and more enjoyable later in the day.
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a commercial center, connected by 19 buildings, known for its ice rink, Radio City Music Hall, NBC Studios, Top of the Rock Observation Deck, Rockefeller Plaza, galleries, shopping and art installations.
– Insider tip: The ice rink operates from October to April, with skate rentals available for $15. Standby tickets for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon can be picked up at the NBC Studios Shop between 8 am and 3 pm on the day of the show. For Saturday Night Live, enter the online standby lottery at 10 am on the Thursday before the show.
Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue is renowned for its luxury shopping with high-end stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Tiffany & Co., as well as iconic landmarks such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The Met, and The New York Public Library.
– Insider tip: During New York’s sweltering summer months, the heat is intensified by the asphalt and tall buildings can block airflow. A great way to stay cool is to hop between the air-conditioned stores along Fifth Avenue, offering a break from the heat.
Next-Level NYC: Recommendations for Your Second Visit
If you’ve already visited the most iconic attractions in NYC I’m excited to share some of my personal favorite places. These recommendations will help you uncover a new layer of New York and make your next visit even more memorable.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is a Catholic church known for its Neo-Gothic architecture and serves as the seat of the Archbishop of New York. Make sure to step inside to see the gorgeous interior.
The High Line Park is an elevated 1.45 mile-long (2.3 km) park built on a historic freight rail line, on the west side of Manhattan, featuring open-air art installations.
Greenwich Village referred to as “the Village”, is a bohemian neighborhood, known for its historic brownstones, innovative off-Broadway shows, cafes, restaurants and nightlife.
SoHo is short for “South of Houston Street. It is an artistic neighborhood with cafes, art galleries, trendy boutiques and designer stores.
The Guggenheim is a spiral-shaped contemporary art museum which focuses on avant-garde and innovative works. The spiraling gallery allows you to view artworks as you go up a ramp.
American Museum of National History is well known from the movie A Night at the Museum (2008). If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it—funny, heartwarming, and suitable for all ages, and it will make you want to visit the museum immediately.
Grand Central Terminal is the beautiful and famous train station known for the “Whispering Gallery” acoustics. An architectural feature where you can hear whispers from across the archway “Let’s meet at the clock”, refers to the iconic four-faced clock in the main hall, a popular meeting stop for locals and visitors.
Chinatown offers authentic Chinese food, fun festivals and unique shops.
New York Public Library features stunning interior, but a must-visit is the iconic Reading Room. This is where the first ghost encounter from the movie Ghostbusters (1984) took place.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art, unique for its variety of interactive and multimedia installations.
9/11 Memorial Museum is a powerful tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. I was in the city when it happened, and this museum not only captures what that was like, but pays great tribute to the people who lost their lives that day and after. Entrance is timed, so it’s important to book tickets online in advance.
Roosevelt Island Tramway is a cable car that travels between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island, with a unique vantage point of the city’s skyline and waterways. It takes about 5 minutes and costs no more than a subway ticket.
New York City offers an endless array of sights and experiences, from iconic landmarks to hidden gems. It’s impossible to cover everything in a single visit, or even in a single blog post. However, I hope this guide has provided you with some inspiration and new ideas for your next trip to the Big Apple.
EA Heidenreich 