I love New York City and the reason why I created this travel guide is to share whatever I learned from this city with you. Why do I share something that you could also do for yourself? well, I lived in New York city for almost 1 year so I got to know places better then the normal tourist.

On this page I’ll show you my favorite things to do while visiting New York City. Basically all of these New York attractions are located in Manhattan.

If you will travel to New York and have no idea where to go and what to visit, just stick to this list and you’ll see one of NYC’s best sites. I’m pretty sure I made a good selection, trust me.

Visit the Empire State Building

Photo view of the empire state building and fashion avenue in new york city usa

Empire State Building: you must not miss to go up the observatory on top of the incredible Empire State Building. From here on the 84th floor you can have an astonishing panoramic view of New York city.

Incredible to learn a bit more about the city’s geography as you can have a clear view of where is Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx outside the island, but also have a different notion of where is Downtown and Uptown, Central Park and Harlem.

Being on top of the Empire State Building gives you a great possibility of seeing the city from above. A must!

Photo view of midtown manhattan from the top of the empire state building in new york city usa

Visit the Statue of Liberty

Photo view of statue of liberty in liberty island new york city usa

Statue of Liberty: Go to Battery Park and take the hourly ferry-boat to Liberty Island where you can visit the place where the most famous landmark of New York City is located. On this amazing boat ride you can have an amazing view of Downtown Manhattan. You can also visit Ellis Island as the boat takes you to both places on the same ride.

Visit Times Square

Photo view of times square by night in new york city usa

Times Square by night: Just don’t miss a long walk along the incredible Times Square area and amaze yourself for its charisma, neon lights, theaters, people, street animation, concert venues. Times Square is also the perfect place to chose a Broadway show to spend a different evening in New York.

Visit New York Museums

Photo view of les demoiselles d’avignon oil painting by the spanish artist pablo picasso in moma museum new york city usa

Art Museums: even if you are not that interested in art, I advise you to emerge in the world of New York City art museums.

There are more then 200 museums spread around the city.

For me, the best ones and the ones you should not miss are:

the Metropolitan Museum of Art also called and known as MET;
the Museum of Modern Art also known as MOMA;
the Guggenheim Museum;
and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

If you visit all these 4 museums I advise you to, you’ll be a specialist about the NYC art museum scene. (if you want to know more about this subject I have another page on this guide about it – click here: Museums New York).

Make Helicopter Flight in New York

Photo view of Helicopter ride in New York City.

Helicopter Tour: OK just forget about everything you heard. Just go to Manhattan and take an helicopter tour above Manhattan and be amazed by the beauty of the city.

The fact you’re flying on a helicopter you’ll be able to see the city on a very exciting and thrilling way. Be adventurers and take a tour on a helicopter!

Come on go by be, this is a good advise! if you want to know more about this subject I have another page on this guide about it – click here: Helicopter Tour New York).

Visit South Street Seaport

Photo view of south street seaport and peer 17 in lower manhattan new york city usa

South Street Seaport: go to this place and be amazed by the beauty of old ships and sky scrapers. The South Street Seaport is a historic area in Manhattan and are many restored 19th century buildings are still intact. You can appreciate a very nice view of Brooklyn Bridge and go inside the Fulton Fish Market, but, the most impressive thing is that you can visit the amazing Peer 17 where a open air Maritime museum were old vessels and historical ships are parked. Most ships are from the 1800′s and early 1900′s.

Visit St Patrick’s Cathedral

Photo view of st patrick’s cathedral in midtown new york city usa

St Patrick’s Cathedral: you just have to visit this amazing piece of unique architecture built between 1858 and 1878 right in the hearth of Manhattan. It is incredible how you have such a beautiful church in the middle of so many modern billing and sky scrapers. Incredibly each year, more than 5.5 million people visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral located on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets in midtown Manhattan.

Visit Brooklyn Bridge

Photo view of brooklyn bridge pedestrian way in new york city usa

Brooklyn Bridge: crossing the Brooklyn Bridge by foot is one of the city’s top experiences. Walking through this NYC landmark will make you enjoy a different view of Lower Manhattan. The bridge itself is built with a very interesting and unique architecture. I personally crossed it during Sun rise and loved the experience. One of the times I crossed this bridge I saw actress Jane Seymour (from TV series Doctor Quinn) jogging. This is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States of America and was completed in 1883.

Visit Harlem district

Photo view of martin lutter king avenue in harlem uptown new york city usa

Harlem district: Manhattan “infamous” district is definitely Harlem located in Uptown. This is the Afro-American district and visiting it is very interesting as you see the city through different perspective. You can take the subway up to 125th street and cross the famous Martin Luther King Avenue. Don’t miss the Apollo Theatre where many known American artists such as Michael Jackson started their careers. Watch out for this New York neighborhood during night time.

Go to a Live TV Show

Live TV Show: New York City is all about show business, and you probably already follow some American talk show on TV. One of my visits to New York I made an effort to find out how could I possible participate in the Late Night Show with Conan O’Brien. I when to the studios in Rockefeller Center and gave my name so that in the next morning I could pick-up a free ticket / entrance to the show the day after. I loved it, and it was so exciting being part of the crowd of such a well known and famous TV show from CNBC.

Photos of New York City – Manhattan Photos

New York was founded by Dutch traders in 1626, giving it the name of New Amsterdam, until the colony passed into British hands;

New York was the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790;

About 5 million people use the New York subway every day so the 5th largest metro systems in the world and has 462 stations;

New York has a very easy grid of urban organization, it works by a system of parallel and perpendicular streets and avenues;

There are 2027 bridges in New York City. The Queensboro Bridge has an average of 180.000 cars passing daily between 59th Street in Manhattan and Long Island City in Queens. The Williamsburg Bridge has an average of 110.545 cars passing daily and Manhattan Bridge 73.205 cars daily.

Lower Manhattan: You Are Here

Lower Manhattan is the place to be! The “Downtown Alliance” released this video highlighting Lower Manhattan as a prime destination in which to work, live, play and visit. The video is introduced by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Map of Manhattan districts in New York City

© Map Manhattan | Copyright Holidaycity.com

Photo view of Helicopter ride in New York City usa

If you think you’ve done it all, well, thank again until you have seen fabulous New York city from above taking an helicopter ride. Enjoy this amazing city in one of the best experiences you can have in your life.

I deeply advise you to spend some money in this kind of activities since you will remember them forever. Helicopter rides in New York City are provided by some companies, here on this page I advise one specific, the Helicopter Flight Services. The sightseeing experience on this tour are among the best helicopter tours in New York City.

New York has so much magic and an iconic imagery. Seeing it from the air is magnificent and unforgettable. A tour of New York simply isn’t complete without seeing Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the rest of this world famous city from high above. A New York City helicopter tour grants a unique perspective on all of NYC’s most famous landmarks. Prices start from $ 199 dollars for a normal helicopter ride until $ 299 for a deluxe tour.

Get your Helicopter ride here: Helicopter tours of New York City.

Photo view of manhattan from above best way to explore new york city usa

Video of Helicopter Ride over Manhattan

Empire State Building history: The Empire State Building is the most famous skyscraper in the world. It is located on 5th Avenue and West 34th Street. This building was constructed during 1929 and 1931 and is a national monument since 1986.

The Empire State is the 15th tallest building in the world and 3rd highest in the United States and has an observation point on top that can be visited by buying a ticket at the entrance. This observatory offers a 360-degree view of New York City from the 86th floor.

If you’re looking to have a great experience during your holidays in New York city, you should definitely go to the NY Skyride at the Empire State Building.

First enjoy NY Skyride which is a virtual tour of the city, and then after the show take the elevator in the world’s most famous building to the popular open air observation deck for the best views of New York City.

Experience the perfect introductory sightseeing tour of NYC from the NY Skyride’s theatre in the Empire State Building. The fantasy comes to life via a specially designed platform which moves in sync to an 2 story high HD screen. Really nice to experience. Also you get a cheaper price since you can combine both tickets in one: the Skyride and the Empire State Building Observation Deck.

Interestingly is that Actor Kevin Bacon narrates an adventure, carrying awe-inspired guests across the skyline on a unique journey over famous New York City landmarks. Sights on this real experience include the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Yankee Stadium, Brooklyn Bridge, South Street Seaport, United Nations, and an emotionally moving tribute to the World Trade Center.

Get your Skyride and Empire State ticket here: NY SKYRIDE

Knowing how to go from the airport to Manhattan in New York is a puzzle for everyone when coming to the city. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to get to the city (as all airports are a bit far) is to buy a ticket on a shuttle van that will take you to Manhattan where you can easily get to your hotel.

Buy your ticket in advance to have everything ready when you arrive at the airport and not waste time looking for transportation will be tired after seven hours of travel by air. Also usually prices at the airport tend to be more expensive.

Airport Transportation to New York City

This little list redirects to another website that sells airport transportation in NYC.

• JFK Airport to Manhattan $20 dollars: JFK Airport to Manhattan
• La Guardia Airport to Manhattan $18 dollars: LGA Airport to Manhattan
• Newark Airport to Manhattan $20 dollars: Newark Airport to Manhattan

New York City Transportation to Airports

This little list redirects to another website that sells airport transportation in NYC.

• Manhattan to JFK Airport $20 dollars: Manhattan to JFK Airport
• Manhattan to La Guardia Airport $18 dollars: Manhattan to LGA Airport
• Manhattan to Newark Airport $20 dollars: Manhattan to Newark Airport

Map Airport in New York City

© Map Airport in New York City | Copyright www.visitingdc.com

Having in mind that New York City is very big, you should study its subway map and prepare or trip in advance. Getting to know where most attraction and monuments are within its map, will save you lots of time. For me the best way to move around the city is by subway ride specially if I want to go from Downtown to Uptown.

Subway Map of New York City

Click on the New York subway map to open bigger.

© New York subway map | www.mta.info