For anyone looking to get to know the City that Never Sleeps, time is of the essence. There is enough to see and do in the Big Apple to keep you entertained for a lifetime.
But if you’re only visiting for a week or two, you need to prioritize your checklist. To that effect, we prepared this article which rounds up the eight major attractions that should not be missed, assuming you’re looking for a complete experience of the Big Apple.
Make sure to visit all these landmark icons and touristic attractions in New York, and you’ll easily gather an impressive collection of pictures and souvenirs, that will not fail to impress everyone back at home.
Grand Central Terminal
For many visitors coming into the city that Sinatra sung, this is often the departure point. Not surprisingly, considering how this commuter rail terminal station is second to no other train station, in terms of sheer number of platforms. Connecting passengers moving by subway as well as train, this is one of those landmark icons in New York that you’ll surely visit without even trying. When you do it, make sure to take your time to marvel at your surroundings, which are nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Empire State Building
Throughout four entire decades, the Empire State Building stood proudly at the largest building in the world. It is one hundred and two stories tall, spanning an altitude of nearly half a mile above the ground. The building was named after a popular nickname of New York: the Empire State, and even though it’s no longer the tallest building in the world (as of writing, it’s the 17th), the Empire State Building does stand rightfully as major icon of the city it represents.
Central Park
New York may be a genuine skyscraper mesh, and it’s surely one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world. But in between all the accomplishments of modern civilization, the city still maintains significant green areas. One of the most significant of all is of course the Central Park, which comprises and area of nearly 850 acres; it was designed around five articulated areas, and it remains one of the best places to go in NYC when you need to take a breather from the surrounding chaos.
Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
After you’re done refreshing your batteries across the natural landscapes available across Central Park, you might as well take some time to explore a major cultural icon that’s located nearby: the MOMA, New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Gallery to the most accomplished artists in the world, which are extensively cataloged in the MOMA archives in numbers going up to the tens of thousands. This is one of the most influential modern art museums in the world, and if you’re the least bit interested in art you must absolutely spend some time here.
Staten Island Ferry
With active service every single hour of every single day in the year, the Staten Island Ferry is an awesome scenic ride that serves tourists and locals alike in their journeys from southern Manhattan (near Battery Park) all the way to Staten Island. Comprised of eight vessels serving 75 thousand passengers every single day, it is traditionally known as one of the best performing mass public transportations in NYC, with a timeliness near to 97%. 21 million passengers are carried each year by the Staten Island Ferry, and even the usual customers find it hard not to be amazed with the glorious sights- each and every time.
American Museum of Natural History
When you feel like taking the ferry back to Manhattan, you might as well check out the other mandatory museum tour in the city: the American Museum of Natural History. Referring to this huge complex as a mere “Museum” is quite the understatement, as effectively it’s one of the largest and most acclaimed projects of its kind across the entire world. There are no less than twenty five interconnected buildings featuring forty-six permanent exhibition halls (including the really famous one with the dinosaur skeletons), encompassing well over thirty two million specimens. So… yeah, a day probably won’t be enough to see all the offerings available here.
One World Trade Center
Until the tragedy that took place in 2011, this was the site of America’s tallest buildings. Later in this decade, it will reclaim this title – once the construction of the 1 WTC is complete. Previously known as Freedom Tower, the One World Trade Center will be the spiritual successor to the ill-fated twin towers. In the meanwhile, the site houses the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and is well worth visiting, considering the unique glimpse it provides in the past, present and future of the American spirit.
Statue of Liberty
It would be ludicrous to deem a NYC excursion as complete without paying a visit to the fair lady that often embodies the very spirit of New York, and even the USA. The Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognizable touristic icons in the entire world, and even if you absolutely despise tourist magnets… you will feel compelled to visit this colossal statue that frames the shores of Upper New York Bay. Truly a sight to behold, if there was ever one!
How about it? Do you already feel the itches to head out to the airport and look for available flights to New York? By all means, go ahead and get ready to have the time of your life!