"See everything from the glitz and glam of Manhattan to the quiet cafes of Brooklyn."
New York City is one of those places where you could live your entire life and still not see everything.
The City that Never Sleeps has 24-hour excitement and there is much more to it than just Manhattan.
To get a more authentic experience, you really need to visit all of NYC’s boroughs.
See everything from the glitz and glam of Manhattan to the quiet neighbourhood cafes of Brooklyn. DESIblitz has all the tourist tips for your trip to the Big Apple.
Be a Tourist in Manhattan
The most iconic images of New York come from Manhattan. If you’ve never visited this amazing city before, you will definitely want to get out and see all that Manhattan has to offer.
The easiest way to get to all of the tourist attractions in Manhattan is to find a good tourist bus. Get a two day pass that will allow you to get on and off the bus as you please. It will help you learn the layout of the city and give you a quick history course.
You have two ideal places for getting a panoramic view of one of the world’s most breath-taking skylines: the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center. Love taking photos? Go to one during the day and one at night and capture two completely different perspectives of the city.
Most tourist buses will take you through Times Square. You could spend all day there taking in the quintessential American stores, cafes, and restaurants or just take a few photos and move on.
Grand Central Station is another favourite among tourists and has gorgeous traditional style architecture. It is worth a stop but you don’t need to spend too much time there. The main thing to do there is hop onto a train.
When the crowds become too much, get to Central Park. It’s the perfect place to walk around, have a picnic, or take a boat ride. There are outdoor performances going on all of the time so look online before you go.
Take In Some Culture
NYC has some of the best museums in the world. You could spend weeks walking through them all. If your time is limited, just make a stop at one of the most impressive galleries:
- Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met)
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMa)
- The Guggenheim
- The American Museum of Natural History
Before you arrive in NYC, look for performances on Broadway or at Carnegie Hall. You will need to plan in advance to get tickets but it is well worth it to get to see one of world’s most iconic venues.
Don’t leave Manhattan without getting a look at the Statue of Liberty. You can hop off the tourist bus and get onto a boat to the Statue of Liberty. If you are feeling adventurous, get a helicopter tour!
Cross the Brooklyn Bridge
Want to find the best place to see Manhattan? Go to Brooklyn! Cross the historical Brooklyn Bridge then stroll along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade for amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.
If you are looking for something fun for the entire family, visit Coney Island. Try the classic American foods, walk along the boardwalk, visit the aquarium, and get your heart racing with the amusement park rides.
After that, spend the late afternoon and evening walking around Willamsburg or Greenpoint. Stroll through the quaint shops and relax at a sidewalk cafe to instantly feel like a local.
Take the Subway to The Bronx
The Bronx may not be as famous as Manhattan but it has some of New York City’s top attractions. The Bronx Zoo is the biggest metropolitan zoo in the U.S. and one of NYC’s major tourist draws. See more than 4,000 animals in one stop!
Whether or not you are a sports fan, the Yankee Stadium is a great place to spend the afternoon. Take a tour and learn some baseball history or stick around for a game.
Get on the Staten Island Ferry
Get another view of the Manhattan skyline as you cross over the water on the Staten Island Ferry then enjoy this less explored neighbourhood.
Before you leave the ferry area for your afternoon in Staten Island, visit the Staten Island September 11 Memorial. The gorgeous area around the memorial is well worth the visit and a perfect place to take more shots of the skyline.
Get a glimpse of colonial times at Historic Richmond Town. See how Americans lived during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to better understand NYC’s past and present.
Be sure to also visit the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. Plan a couple of hours to relax in the Chinese garden and stroll through the fascinating cultural centre.
Take the 7 Train to Queens
The 7 train from Manhattan to Queens is like an international tour in itself. You can get a glimpse of every culture from Argentina to Zimbabwe. Be sure to stop to visit at least one stop for a delicious cultural lunch.
There are actually tour itineraries just for this subway route so plan on taking your sweet time getting over to Queens. From the 7 train, you can get a glimpse of the 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center. After the Hunters Point Ave stop, your overhead view of this urban graffiti museum will be phenomenal so keep an eye out.
While the MoMa in Manhattan is a great place to see all of the world’s best art, the MoMa PS1 in Queens is the place to see all of the up-and-coming artists.
Bonus Tip: Want to save some money during your holiday? Plan to spend the night outside of Manhattan for a major hotel discount.
With great food, great culture and great sights, New York City will definitely find a place in your heart. Make sure you make the most of your visit!
Loading ...