It’s no doubt that New York City is one of the world’s most popular destinations; a vibrant city with a buoyant personality. With millions of people from different nationalities coming together to form a unique character, this is certainly a place you should visit when you have the slightest opportunity. Numerous attractions pepper the city, from the iconic statue of Liberty to the lofty One World Trade Center, to even the historic Grand Central Station. There is plenty to keep you busy; lots to see and do. Below, we’ve put together a list of the top attractions in New York City. Scroll down to learn about them.
1. Metropolitan Museum of Art
Known locally as ‘the Met’ this is a haven for art lovers, a museum that prides itself in being the largest art museum in the US and among the largest in the world. There are more than two million pieces, traced back more than five millennia. Among the works of art are five paintings by Johannes Vermeer. The Metropolitan Museum of Art opens every day at 10 am, receiving hundreds of visitors each day. It’s no wonder it was the third most visited art museum in the world, in 2016.
2. Empire State Building
Rising to a total height of 1,454 feet (443 meters) the Empire State building is one of New York’s most noticeable buildings, a monumental structure at the heart of Manhattan. Since 1931, this skyscraper has owned the cityscape of New York although it isn’t the tallest building in the city; it’s currently the fifth tallest. This building has made cameos in hundreds of TV shows but its most iconic appearance was in the 1930s movie, King Kong. Today, the Empire State Building is part of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, and it’s among the designated New York City Landmarks. Its summit offers a panoramic view of New York City, one that attracts hundreds of locals and visitors; one you ought to experience for yourself.
Book Tours : NYC: Empire State Building Observation Deck Tickets
3. Memorial and Museum
The United States and the world as a whole changed on September 11th, 2001, when two aircrafts, controlled by terrorists, rammed against the Twin Towers causing the two buildings to collapse, leaving behind the death of close to 3,000 people in their wake. The site of this catastrophic event is today a memorial and museum in honor of those who lost their lives on that tragic day. Tickets to the 9/11 Memorial can be bought up to six months in advance, so plan to visit this site and tap into the emotions of the victims.
Book Tours : Private Tour: 9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero
4. Brooklyn Bridge
Completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge has, since then, been the link between Brooklyn and Manhattan, stretching 1825 meters (5987 feet) and rising to a height of 84 meters (276.5 feet). It should take you about an hour to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, at a relaxed pace, enjoying the view of New York from the East River. There are several walking tours organized on the bridge, in which you’ll also get to learn a lot about its history. If you prefer a different means of crossing it, consider cycling across.
New York Tour Guide
Annie Leguennec
My name is Annie. I am a local Tour guide based in Philadelphia enjoying fully what the city has to offer with its deep history, street arts, murals, architecture, traditional food, black history, Farmer Markets, green space, a melting pot of neighborhoods and its great locals. I am looking for to welcome you and show you this incredible city where you will gain a better understanding of the ci... Read more
Tours by Annie
5. One World Observatory
Found in the One World Trade Center, the One World Observatory spans three floors in the building; the 100th to 102nd floors. If you’re in New York and you don’t have time to experience all of the city’s attractions, the observatory will serve them all up to you in one gulp. Get a panoramic view of the city from this lofty vantage point in the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, with a breathtaking view of the city’s skyline. You can also get a tour of the city’s skyline, with detailed information on the history of New York. And when you get hungry, drop by the on-site cafe to satiate your palate.
6. Wall Street
Wall Street is a financial hub, not only in the United States but also in the world. This reputation has earned New York the title of being the world’s most economically powerful city. Hosting stock exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ among others, there is no doubt that Wall Street is where the money is. Whether you’re a financial expert or not, a visit to Wall Street is worth your time.
Book Tours : Wall Street Insider Tour with a Finance Professional
7. Statue of Liberty
This iconic statue of part of the identity of New York City; a towering fixture on Liberty Island. Made of copper, it was born in France, designed by French sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, built by Gustave Eiffel, and gifted to the United States in the late 1800s. Today, she stands as a symbol of the liberties enjoyed in the US, a sign of the country’s freedom, symbolized by the broken chains at the statue’s feet. You can visit the Statue of Liberty which welcomes scores of people each day. Several tours are organized to this monument.
Book Tours : NYC: Statue of Liberty Priority or Standard Ticket
8. Broadway and the Theater District
Anyone who claims to be a lover of the arts must have heard of Broadway. This destination in Manhattan has served as ground zero for hundreds of world-renowned stars in the world of music and acting. Teeming with theaters, movie cinemas and recording studios, the Theater District is New York’s entertainment nerve center. Take a tour of this district, learn its history and watch a show. The Broadway experience is one you most certainly must gain first hand.
Book Tours : Broadway Theater District Walking Tour
9. Central Park
No one who has been to New York has passed up an opportunity to visit this monumental park, earning its fame for being the most visited park in the US. Though it isn’t the largest US park, it falls among the top five, spanning an area of 341 hectares (843 acres). Its real estate is made up of artificial lakes that look more natural than man-made. There are also several hectares of wooded area and expansive meadows as well as playgrounds for kids. Paved tracks run through the park, offering an idyllic location for cyclists, joggers or even skaters. Central Park certainly deserves its position on the list of the United States National Historic Landmarks.
Book Tours : 45 Minutes Central Park Tour
10. Times Square
Characterized by pulsating lights and enchanting billboards, you’ll be forgiven for standing in awe when you arrive at Times Square. This intersection looks unassuming at day time, but when the sun goes down and the lights turn on, the street takes on a different persona. This is a commercial hub in which millions of people scamper through each day. It’s also a center for entertainment, boasting proximity to Broadway. A trip to New York is never complete without visiting Times Square.
Book Tours : Times Square Walking Tour
11. Brill Building
Contributed by Tour Guide, Hiram Jacobs
Brill Building is a New York City Landmark that served as a central meeting point for songwriters, performers and music promoters of hit songs during the 1960s. Located at 1619 Broadway, it was the headquarters of the music publishing companies that promoted the careers of some of the finest young songwriters and composers of the 1960s. For those travelers who are unfamiliar with ’60s American pop music, I recommend checking out Spotify and Youtube to sample some of the songs that were so popular during the mid-20th century.
In this 11-story art deco building, unknown young songwriters could compose songs, audition them in front of music company publishers for promotion and connect with the singers to record their songs all in one building. Musicians who were headquartered in Brill Building include Liza Minnelli, the Ronettes, the Shangri-Las, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and Dionne Warwick. The building was also home to a number of record companies. It was designated a New York City landmark in 2010.
The career and personal story of the famous pop songwriter and performer Carole King at Brill Building were dramatized in her hit Broadway musical “Beautiful -The Carole King Musical" (2014-2019). Today, the building is a retail and office property with 24 units and 158,000 square feet. The ground floor retail tenant is CVS.
Here is a playlist of some of the top Brill Building songwriters’ hits, based on research by Rolling Stone:
Gerry Goffin and Carole King:
Some Kind of Wonderful, The Drifters, 1961
Take Good Care of My Baby, Bobby Vee, 1961 (#1)
The Locomotion, Little Eva, 1962 (#1)
One Fine Day, The Chiffons, 1963
A Natural Woman, Aretha Franklin, 1967
Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil:
I Love How You Love Me, Bobby Vinton, 1961
Blame It on The Bossa Nova, Eydie Gorme, 1963
Walking in the Rain, The Ronettes, 1964
You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling, The Righteous Brothers, 1964 (#1)
Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry (w/Phil Spector)
Da Doo Ron Ron, The Crystals, 1963
Be My Baby, The Ronettes, 1963
Then He Kissed Me, The Crystals, 1963
Chapel of Love, The Dixie Cups, 1964 (#1)
River Deep, Mountain High, Ike & Tina Turner, 1966
Howard Greenfield and Neil Sedaka:
Calendar Girl, Neil Sedaka, 1960
Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen, Neil Sedaka, 1961
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, Neil Sedaka, 1962 (#1)
Charms, Bobby Vee, 1963
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller:
Hound Dog, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thorton, 1953
Yakety Yak, The Coasters, 1958 (#1)
Charley Brown, The Coasters, 1959
Kansas City, Wilbert Harrison, 1959 (#1)
Stand By Me, Ben E. King, 1961
12. Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center
Contributed by Tour Guide, Hiram Jacobs
The Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center is located at 51 Christopher Street between Waverly Place and Seventh Avenue South. It opened on June 28, 2024, in Greenwich Village at the site of the Stonewall Inn. The Visitor Center is attached to the Stonewall Inn Bar and encompasses 2,100 feet of exhibition space. The Stonewall Inn, on June 28, 1969, was the focal point of violent confrontations over six days between police and gay rights activists protesting discrimination against LGBTQ people in New York City. The riots occurred in response to New York City government agencies’ and police-sponsored persecution of sexual minorities who were Stonewall Inn customers.
The Stonewall Inn served as a haven for the city’s, gay, lesbian, and transgender community. At the time, homosexual acts remained illegal in every state except Illinois. Bars and restaurants could get shut down for having gay employees or serving gay patrons.
Federal Title VII and state and local government anti-discrimination laws against the Gay community resulted from the demonstrations in New York City and throughout the country. The Stonewall Inn was dedicated as a New York City Individual Landmark on June 23, 2015. In 2016, President Barack Obama designated the site of the riots, Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and the surrounding streets, a national monument in recognition of this area’s contribution to gay rights.
The Stonewall Inn Museum is dedicated to commemorating the Stonewall Inn uprising and its impact on the LBTQ civil rights movement. The museum offers in-person and virtual tours, art exhibitions created by LGBTQ artists, and a lecture series focused on the Stonewall Inn history, the police raid, LGBTQ + history, and culture. Funding for the Visitor Center will come from “donations from the community and allies,” as stated by a Pride Live advocacy organization press release.
13. The Public Theater
Contributed by Tour Guide, Hiram Jacobs
Located at 425 Lafayette Street (off Astor Place), the Public Theater was formerly known as the Astor Library. It was established in 1849 by John Jacob Astor. Alexander Saeltzer designed this beautiful Victorian-style building, which served as New York’s first free public library. The theater is also famous for its role in sheltering Jewish immigrants under HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) after WWII. HIAS rescued 4,500,000 persecuted and endangered refugees. Later, Joseph Papp purchased the building to help young playwrights.
Soon, the theater became one of the first non-profit theaters in the U.S. It produced several hit shows like ‘Sticks and Bones’, ‘That Championship Season’, ‘A Chorus Line’, ‘A Doll’s House’, ‘Jelly‘s Last Jam’, ‘Caroline or Change’, ‘Angels in America’ and the ‘Colored Museum’. The musical ‘Hair’ premiered October 17, 1967, at the Public Theater and included several hit songs, including ‘Aquarius’, ‘Let the Sunshine In’, ‘Good Morning Starshine’, and ‘Easy to be Hard’. 'Hair’ won the 1969 Grammy Award for Best Score From An Original Cast Show Album. Currently, it’s well-known for ‘Hamilton’, starring Lynn-Manuel Miranda. Stop by this location and enjoy a show if you are a theater buff.
Never a dull moment in New York
New Yorkers work hard but they play hard as well. There is never a dull moment in this city so, if you’re visiting, spare ample time to explore the wealth of attractions. The list above is a great place to start but it’s hardly conclusive. Book a trip and fully experience New York.
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