New York is the one city that looks exactly like the version in your head and still manages to surprise you. The skyline, the yellow cabs and the steam rising from the street are all there, but so are the quiet leafy blocks, the corner delis, the ferries and the parks that make the city so much easier to love than you expect.
Don't try to see it all. Pick a handful of icons, walk a lot, ride the subway like a local and leave room for random wandering. Some of the best moments in New York are a slice of pizza on a stoop, a view of a bridge you didn't plan to cross or a sunset over the Hudson.
Don't miss
The big sights
The icons are icons for a reason. Do them early, then relax.
Statue of Liberty
Landmark
Photo: William Warby, CC BY 2.0 Ferries run from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan to Liberty Island, where Lady Liberty stands on her pedestal looking out to sea. The same ferry stops at Ellis Island, whose immigration museum tells the story of the millions who first arrived in America here.
Even if you skip the island, the Staten Island Ferry sails past the statue for a quicker look.
Tip: Book ahead, especially for the pedestal or crown, and go early to beat the queues for the ferry.
Empire State Building
Landmark
Photo: Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0 The Art Deco tower has dominated Midtown since 1931, and its observation decks give a wide view across the grid of the city. Its lit-up spire is a nightly fixture of the skyline.
Top of the Rock, the observation deck at Rockefeller Center, gives you the same view with the Empire State Building in it, which many people prefer.
Tip: Go near sunset and stay for the lights to come on, and book timed tickets ahead.
Brooklyn Bridge
Landmark
Photo: Arild Vågen, CC BY-SA 4.0 Opened in 1883, this stone-and-steel suspension bridge is still the best walk in New York. A pedestrian walkway runs above the traffic, with the skyline of Lower Manhattan ahead of you if you start in Brooklyn.
Walk from Brooklyn towards Manhattan for the better view, and end with a wander around Dumbo.
Tip: Go early in the morning or at dusk: the walkway is crowded in the middle of the day.
Grand Central Terminal
Landmark
Photo: Axel Tschentscher, CC BY-SA 4.0 Commuter station, Beaux-Arts palace and meeting place all in one. The main concourse has a vast painted ceiling of the constellations, a famous four-faced clock and marble floors. Look for the Whispering Gallery, where a whisper in one corner carries to the opposite one.
Times Square
Landmark
Photo: Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 4.0 Neon, giant screens and constant noise: it's garish, overwhelming and quite unlike anywhere else. Few New Yorkers go there on purpose, but everyone should see it once, ideally after dark, on the way to a Broadway show.
National September 11 Memorial
Landmark
Photo: Tiraspolsky, CC BY-SA 4.0 Two vast reflecting pools sit in the footprints of the Twin Towers, with the names of the victims carved around their edges. It's a quiet and moving place, with a museum below ground that tells the story of the attacks.
Parks and the waterfront
Central Park
Nature
Photo: Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0 The great green rectangle in the middle of Manhattan has woods, meadows, rocky outcrops, lakes and statues, and it's where the city goes to breathe. Walk the Mall to the grand Bethesda Terrace and its fountain, cross Bow Bridge and hire a rowing boat on the lake.
You won't see all of it in one visit. Pick a corner, ideally the southern end, and wander.
The High Line
Activity
Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0 A disused elevated railway turned into a ribbon of gardens, benches and art, running through Chelsea and the Meatpacking District. You look across at the Hudson and into the windows of the buildings alongside. It ends near Hudson Yards, so combine it with a stop at Chelsea Market.
Little Island
Nature
A small park on stilts over the Hudson River, with gardens, lawns, paths and a small amphitheatre, and good views back to Lower Manhattan. It's a lovely place to end a walk along the riverside park, particularly at sunset.
Museums
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Museum
Photo: Hugo Schneider, CC BY-SA 2.0 The Met is enormous: ancient Egypt, European masters, arms and armour, American art and a great deal more, all in one huge building on the edge of Central Park. The Temple of Dendur, an Egyptian temple reassembled in a glass hall, is a highlight.
Tip: Do not try to see everything. Pick two or three galleries and enjoy them properly.
Museum of Modern Art
Museum
MoMA is home to Van Gogh's The Starry Night, Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon and a huge collection of 20th-century and contemporary art. It's in Midtown, so it fits neatly around a morning on Fifth Avenue.
American Museum of Natural History
Museum
Dinosaur skeletons, a blue whale hanging from the ceiling and halls of mammals and minerals make this a classic for families. It faces Central Park on the Upper West Side.
Neighbourhoods and Brooklyn
Dumbo
Neighbourhood
Photo: diego_cue, CC BY-SA 3.0 Short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, Dumbo is a Brooklyn neighbourhood of cobbled streets and converted warehouses with a famous view of the Manhattan Bridge framed by brick buildings. Brooklyn Bridge Park next door has lawns, piers and a great skyline backdrop.
Chelsea Market
Market
A food hall in a former biscuit factory, with bakeries, tacos, lobster rolls and coffee under an industrial roof. It sits at the foot of the High Line, so it's perfect for a pause on a walking day.
Coney Island
Beach
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 The classic Brooklyn day out: a wide beach, a wooden boardwalk, old-fashioned amusement rides including the Cyclone roller coaster and hot dogs at Nathan's. It's a long subway ride from Manhattan, but that's part of the trip.
Eat and see a show
Pizza by the slice
Food
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 A thin, foldable slice with a crisp edge, eaten standing up, is New York's signature cheap meal. Every neighbourhood has a favourite, and the best advice is to walk into the busiest place with a queue of locals.
Bagels and delis
Food
A bagel with cream cheese, or with lox, is the city's breakfast, and the great Jewish delis serve towering pastrami sandwiches. Go to a proper deli at least once, and share.
Broadway
Nightlife
The theatres around Times Square stage some of the world's most lavish musicals and plays. Same-day tickets for many shows are sold at the TKTS booth in Times Square, or book ahead for the big hits.
Where to stay in New York
Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in New York →
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Getting around
The subway is the quickest way around, runs all day and night, and is the best way to reach Brooklyn. Walking is how you'll see most of the city, so pack comfortable shoes. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are plentiful, and you never need a car.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with mild weather for walking. Summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold, though the festive season brings lights, ice rinks and Christmas windows.
Questions about visiting New York
- What is New York best known for?
- Its skyline and landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge, along with Central Park, Broadway, world-class museums and food from every corner of the globe.
- How many days do you need in New York?
- Four or five days lets you see the main sights, a museum or two and a walk across Brooklyn Bridge without rushing. A long weekend covers the icons, and a week lets you explore the boroughs.
- Do you need a car in New York?
- No. The subway, buses, taxis and walking cover almost everywhere you'll want to go, and parking is expensive and difficult.
- What is there to do in New York with kids?
- Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History, the Statue of Liberty ferry, Coney Island and a Broadway show are all popular with children.
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