New York: places and experiences not to be missed in the Big Apple

Martina Cottafava
May 17, 2021
4 min read

Updated: May 19, 2021

Definitely to visit at least once in a lifetime, New York is the emblem of globalization and modernity. Here are the ones that are, in my opinion, the must sees in the big apple.

1) Empire State Building The Empire State Building is a skyscraper located in the Midtown neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan. This building offers one of the most famous viewing platforms in all of Manhattan. It is 443 meters high and it is possible to reach, with special lifts, the 102nd floor where the observation platform is located. The cost of entry is $ 38. Advice: Book the visit at sunset, the show is indescribable.

2) Observatory at the Top Of The Rock

This observatory is located in the Rockefeller center. It has a height of 270 meters and is spread over 3 floors. The top floor is equipped with transparent barriers that allow a 360 ° view. The entry fee is $ 41.

3) Central Park Central Park is the very famous park located in the center of Manhattan. It is open every day from 6:00 to 1:00. Advice: Be sure to use at least a full day to visit it because it is huge.

Balto Statue

Alice in Wonderland Statue

4) Times Square Times Square is the iconic square as well as one of the major intersections in New York. In Times Square there are many shops and many places to eat. It is easily accessible because every subway line stops there. Advice: - I recommend visiting it both day and night. The lights at night completely change the atmosphere. - It is forbidden not to visit M&M's World for a gourmet stop.

M&M's World

5) Brooklyn Bridge The Brooklyn Bridge is the iconic bridge that separates Manhattan and the Brooklyn neighborhood. Advice: Once in Brooklyn, it is forbidden to miss Dumbo, the bohemian heart of Brooklyn.

Manhattan seen from Brooklyn

Dumbo

6) Coney Island Coney Island is a neighborhood in Brooklyn and is about 45 minutes by subway from Manhattan. Coney Island is an explosion of color, fun fair, beach and fun. Advice: A snack at Nathan's (the inventor of the hot dog) to try the classic New York hot dog! Absolutely awesome!

7) American Museum of Natural History Absolutely not to be missed is a visit to the huge museum that gives the location to the film "A night at the museum". The museum is truly a labyrinth and it hosts many collections spread over four floors. The opening hours are from 10:00 to 17:45 and the entrance fee is $ 23 for adults, but there are discounts for children and those over 60. I recommend dedicating a whole day to it!!

Impossible not to recognize it!!

8) Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island The Statue of Liberty is one of the most famous and well-known monuments in the world and is considered the symbol of New York. The Statue of Liberty is easily accessible by ferry from Battery Park. Advice: On the statuecruises.com website I recommend booking your ticket for the Statue of Liberty and the visit to the crown well in advance (only 365 tickets are made available per day to climb the crown). The cost is $ 21.50.

View of Manhattan from above the crown

9) National September 11 Memorial The memorial is located at the New World Trade Center, where the twin towers once stood, destroyed during the September 11, 2001 attack. A touching experience, absolutely unmissable

10) Grand Central Terminal Station It is the very famous train station that has Midtown Manhattan as its terminal. Advice: I recommend going there during rush hours to realize how huge it is and how many people pass by there every day!

11) 5th Avenue 5th Avenue is one of the most famous streets in New York. The points of interest, as well as the shops in which to shop, are several, including: - Flatiron Building: the so-called "iron" of Manhattan. It is nothing more than a triangular building whose floor plan is only two meters wide.

- Madison Square Park: the oldest park in the city.

- St. Patrick Cathedral: This nineteenth-century church can be seen very easily among the huge skyscrapers.

- The studios of NBC (National Broadcasting Company): famous American radio and television broadcaster.

12) Westfield World Trade Center It is the largest shopping mall in New York. It has a very particular architectural structure! a must visit, even if you are not interested in shopping.

13) Shake Shack The famous American fast food chain. At least to try once!

When I went to New York, I added a stop at Niagara Falls to my trip. From Manhattan it is possible to take a bus (quite cheap - around $ 60) that takes you directly to Niagara Falls. I opted for a three day tour, which allowed me to see both the US and Canadian sides of the falls. Advice: Do not miss the close visit to the waterfalls on the boat, you will feel small in comparison to the majesty of the falls!