What Can I do in New York: Hotels, Places, Food

Things to do for a tourist in New York

New York, the city of skyscrapers and asphalt. That fascinating and moving city at any time of the day that we know will catch you as soon as you arrive. 

With countless experiences to try and places to visit in New York essential, whether it is your first time in the city or you have been a few, you should keep in mind that The Big Apple is addictive.

Of the many things to see and do in New York. So below are the must-visit places for any tourist in New York.

Times Square

Times Square is the epicenter and the most touristic place in New York. Everyone who comes to this city passes several times here, either day or night, and to admire their neon signs and lights. To take good pictures you can climb the red stairs of the TKTS, from where you will have a fantastic panoramic view of this cross street.
If you want to enjoy the atmosphere, a good option is to have a long coffee and sit in some of their chairs and red tables, just to watch life go by. If we also tell you that it is one of the things to do for free in New York, the plan is even more delicious, right?

Grand central terminal

Grand Central Terminal is one of the jewels of the city and one of the essential places to visit in New York. With one of the most beautiful halls in the world, which has been the scene of some scenes of famous Hollywood films such as “With death on the heels” or “Superman “.

With more than a century of history, this mythical railway station has become an icon of the city, with its emblematic clock located in the central part and surrounded by train arrival and departure screens.

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is formed by several shopping centers with restaurants, bars, and shops. Here at Christmas you can see the lighting of the lights with its famous Christmas tree and skate on its ice rink.

But for us, the most remarkable thing is the best viewpoint in New York: Top of the Rock. With magnificent views of Manhattan and Central Park, this viewpoint is open every day of the year and is another essential place to visit in New York.

Even if you have the entrance you have to go before booking the time since otherwise, you can run out of places, especially in busy hours such as sunset, the moment that according to our experience, is one of the best of the day. We recommend you go one hour before sunset to see the change of colors, the sunset, and New York at night.

Brooklyn Bridge

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge at dusk while the Manhattan lights come on is another of the best free things you can do in New York. It is the most photogenic bridge in the city that connects Manhattan with Brooklyn along almost 2 miles above East River.

Also from here, you can take some of the best photos of New York, both while crossing the bridge, and later, in Brooklyn Heights Promenade and the Empire Fulton Ferry Park, two very incredible viewpoints from where there are very good perspectives of the bridge from the part of Brooklyn.

Central Park

Relaxing, walking, picnicking or playing sports are just some of the many things you can do in Central Park, the best place to disconnect from the sometimes stressful New York.

Central Park is the green lung of Manhattan and is immense, full of lakes, viewpoints, statues, and gardens, so it is advisable to take your time to visit it or do it several times.

We recommend you visit it on a Sunday, which is when New Yorkers take the opportunity to play sports or have a family picnic. Another good option is to rent a bike to explore its main points and feel like a true New Yorker.

Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum is considered one of the best science museums in the world and it is that in addition to thousands of animals from around the world, you can also see an incredible collection of large meteorites and minerals of all kinds. Its most famous rooms are the dinosaur reproductions and the blue whale. We assure you that they will leave you speechless.

Fifth Avenue

This is the most famous street in New York. It crosses the city from north to south and is also one of the most commercial places to visit in New York. The part of the most tourist avenue is the one between Central Park and the Cathedral of San Patricio, where there are the most exclusive and famous shops, among which Tiffany & Co, known for the “ Breakfast with Diamonds ” scene or the Apple store. Most stores open between 9 am and 8 pm every day, whether or not they are open, 5th Avenue is still a must in New York.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is located just in front of Rockefeller Center, next to Fifth Avenue. It owes its name in honor of the patron of Ireland and we assure you that it is worth entering, although its exterior is the most striking at first sight. From the Atlas sculpture of the Rockefeller Center, we can make another of the best photos of New York, showing the architectural contrast of the Cathedral with the skyscrapers that surround it. The schedule to visit it is from 7 in the morning until 8:30 in the afternoon.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is the most famous skyscraper in the world besides being for many years the tallest building on the planet and one of the best viewpoints in New York. You still don’t fall? And if we tell you that it was the location of one of the mythical scenes in the history of cinema with King Kong uploaded to the Empire State Building.

The schedule to go up to the viewpoint is from 8 in the morning to 2 in the morning, we recommend climbing a little before sunset to see the city illuminated after sunset.

Harlem Neighborhood

Crossing Central Park you will reach the Harlem neighborhood, a multicultural and music neighborhood and one of the best places to visit in New York. 

Full of places where you can listen to a good jazz or Latin music, you can also attend a Gospel Mass in one of its churches in the morning, This neighborhood with a large African-American community and a somewhat tumultuous history, today is very quiet and safe and you can walk quietly through it without any problem.
In addition to the walks, always full of surprises, you cannot miss visiting mythical clubs such as the Cotton Club or the Apollo Theater as well as taste a good brunch of the typical southern food.

Broadway

Broadway, with almost 33 kilometers, is the longest and most famous street along Fifth Avenue in New York. The best-known part is the one that crosses Times Square, where the great majority of theaters are concentrated in which many Hollywood actors began their careers.

The musicals are his star show and one of the things to be booked in New York, especially if you want to ensure a good seat and on many occasions, take advantage of good deals.

Flatiron Building

The Flatiron Building is one of the most emblematic buildings in New York City. Located next to Madison Square Park, its architecture will not leave you indifferent with its triangular shape and with an end of only 2 meters wide.

Also a scene of scenes from movies like Spiderman or Armageddon, this area is a good place to eat since you have right next to Eataly, an Italian shopping center, full of quality products and restaurants.

Madison Square Garden

Watching a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden is another essential thing to see in New York. New York Rangers also play ice hockey in this mythical stadium, another option to come if you like sports. To have good seats it is best to book tickets in time, especially in games with a good rival.

Just to see the show that is formed at the beginning and in the dead times is worth the money spent and that in the end, although you are not a big fan of this sport, the experience in general, we assure you that you will not forget it. Also, with a little luck, you can always see a famous actor or singer watching the game in the main stands.

Statue of liberty

The Statue of Liberty is one of the best-known monuments in the world and the most famous in New York and you will find it on Liberty Island south of Manhattan.

The best views of the statue are from the Hudson River and one of the best perspectives you will have from the free ferry to Staten Island or taking one of the many cruises that travel the area.
If you buy the City PASS you will have included the ticket for a cruise or the visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, another of the many reasons to acquire this pass. Ferry hours are between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM.
Other good and romantic options to see the statue are: book New York night cruise that includes dinner or book sunset cruise.
Of course, it should be borne in mind that to go up to the viewpoint, the crown of the Statue of Liberty, you will have to reserve the ticket in time, as they usually sell out quickly.

High line and Chelsea Market

Walking along the two kilometers of the High Line, a park built on an old elevated railway line is another of the things you should do in New York.

There are several points with good views of the city and it is very nice to sit down to have a picnic in one of its areas enabled for it.

You can also take advantage of the visit to the High Line to get close to Chelsea Market, a beautiful covered market with very good restaurants and shops with quality products, where in addition to eating you can stock up on food if you stay in an apartment in New York and need to cook.

The market opens from 7 in the morning until 9 at night.

Memorial

The Memorial pays tribute to the victims of the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center. In the place that occupied the towers, you will find two great monuments in which you can see inscribed the names of the deceased, in addition to the tree that survived the fall of the towers and you can see in the square.

In the Museum of 11S, you can see objects of the victims, material that was recovered from the towers, parts of the airplanes, testimonies of survivors, among many other details and objects, as well as explanations.
Although we understand that it is an overwhelming place, we believe it is one of the essential places to visit in New York.

The Museum entrance is included in the City PASS and the schedules go from 9 in the morning until 8 in the afternoon, Friday and Saturday close at 9. In the place occupied by the twin towers, in addition to the monuments and the museum in memory of the victims, the tallest building in the city, the One World Trade Center, has been built.
On the 100, 101 and 102 floors of this skyscraper is the One World Observatory, a 360-degree panoramic viewpoint that offers the best views of the island of Manhattan.

Public library and Bryant Park

Bryant Park is one of the most beautiful parks in New York and also one of the most central. On one of the sides is the New York Public Library and, how could it be otherwise, it is worth a silent visit. 

It’s beautiful Astor Hall welcomes us with white marble walls, ceilings, and stairs, and the Rose Main Reading Room, the main reading room that has been featured in numerous films, surrounded by oak shelves, tables, and chairs, is one of those places you can’t miss and where you would stay hours and hours.
The visiting hours are from 10 in the morning to 6 in the afternoon.

Metropolitan museum of art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is, without a doubt, one of the museums to visit in New York. It is considered as one of the most important museums in the world and the Egyptian and Roman area we can say that they are essential.

It is located within Central Park and, in the summer months, you can climb to the rooftop where there is a good viewpoint where you can relax and enjoy incredible views of the park and the surroundings.

I hope this article of things to do for a tourist in New York will be very useful to organize your trip to New York.

Source :
Wikipedia

Trip advisor

New York Gov