New Your, or the Big Apple as it’s commonly referred to, is one of the top destinations in the world. Its sheer size though makes it quite dense for new travelers to get around and to know how to spend their time wisely. And if you happen to be one of them, then you’ll need to know the places to visit in New York, aside from the obvious picks. This guide will enable you to experience the very best of the city and indulge in all its sparkly attractions.
So, after you’ve arrived in your holiday accommodation or New York furnished apartment, prepare yourself for the New Yorker crowds and catch the rammed subway to these fantastic NYC landmarks.
Table of Contents
Have a Close Look at the 20 Best Places to Visit in New York
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Statue of Liberty
Out of all the places to visit in New York, this is one of the pivotal attractions. You can’t come to New York and not indulge in this beacon of freedom and liberty. A gift from France, the statue appears (and gets destroyed) in numerous blockbuster movies and always has crowds pouring onto boats to catch a snap before they land on Liberty Island for a close-up. Some will say that the view from the boat is better, but it’s completely up to you. Take the perfect pick and maybe grab your own (far smaller) statue to take back home as a memento.
Address: New York, NY 10004, United States
Cost of tickets: $24 for adults; $18 for seniors (62+); $12.30 for children aged 13+; free for children aged under 4
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Central Park
A total of 843 acres, this classic park can take a whole day to fully enjoy. Walk around at all hours, taking in the lush greenery juxtaposed with the screeching NYC traffic. Hire a horse and carriage to see it from a new perspective, or simply do your morning/evening run here. Hollywood uses it as a place for loved-up on-screen couples to walk around, and there’s no reason why you or your partner shouldn’t do this too.
Address: New York, NY, United States
Cost of tickets: Free
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Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
One of the most underappreciated places to visit in New York, this museum shows how the USA has dominated the waves, the air and space itself. Take a walk around the tightly packed US submarine, the USS Growler, wander around the eponymous USS Intrepid air carrier and then go on the roof to view the Lockheed A-12 supersonic reconnaissance plane, and round out the day with the Space Shuttle Enterprise. All members of your group will learn so much about the inhabitants of these machines and weapons lived, as well as other secrets that have been a part of their history. Not to be missed under any circumstances.
Address: Pier 86, W 46th St, New York, NY 10036, United States
Cost of tickets: $30 for adults aged 13–64; $28 for seniors aged 65+; $23 for children aged 5–12
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American Museum of Natural History
You’ll have seen this NYC landmark in the Night at the Museum franchise, and while the caretakers aren’t trying to take over the world, or hide the fact that the exhibits move, the museum itself still boasts a varied collection of the natural and cultural worlds that the US and other nations have come into contact with, or the fossils archaeologists have dug up, Dinosaurs, lost tribes, elephants, insects and the wonders of space are all here for you to indulge in. If you’re running low on time, it’s best to find the exhibits that you really want to see as this museum is too big for those that have limited time on their hands.
Address: 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, United States
Cost of tickets: $23 for adults; $18 for students; $18 for seniors aged 60 and up; $13 for children aged 3 to 12
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
Featuring some of the greatest works in American art history, this gallery is the fourth most visited art museum in the world. Its collection exceeds 2 million works, and it boasts millions of visitors every year. The must-see gallery for art enthusiasts and amateurs, everyone, including you, can find something to appreciate in the vast vaults. Be aware that its size means that more than one trip may be needed to take everything in. But you won’t mind that at all will you?
Address: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, United States
Cost of tickets: $25 for adults; $17 for seniors; $12 for students
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Times Square
Another one of the top places to visit in New York, the vibrant square is forever rammed with tourists and New Yorkers alike. Take in the sounds and find your own little spot to treat your senses to the blast of daily NYC sounds. Everyone is trying to get the perfect shot for Instagram, and why not join them? Get a 360-degree view of the most crowded part of NYC before you head off to one of the many restaurants nearby for some much-needed New York grub.
Address: Manhattan, NY 10036, United States
Cost of tickets: None/Free
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The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
If the Met is for every kind of art lover, then this art museum is for the die-hards that live and breathe the art world. If that sounds like you, then you’ll be more than happy to find out that the works here range from the abstract to the sublime. Be prepared for artworks that will attack all senses as the brush is put down for video artworks and other forms. Take a friend or two along and show them how unlimited the scope of perception can really be.
Address: 1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128, United States
Cost of tickets: $22 for adults; $18 for students and seniors (65+); children under 12 go free
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Empire State Building
Again, this always hits the top 5 when it comes to the places to visit in New York. And why shouldn’t it? Offering unrivaled views across the city, you really get a sense of how big everything is here. If you thought you were small down below, wait until you hit the top. Always a no.1 spot for proposals, keep an eye out for love-swept couples. If romance isn’t quite your thing, then the 360-degree views almost certainly will be. Take out your camera and get the snap to send your Instagram feed spiraling in likes and shares.
Address: 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001, United States
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Brooklyn Bridge
You’ll have seen this in many gangster movies or hidden indie classics. The bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn together, creating a seamless (if hectic and crammed way) experience for commuters to get to and from the two boroughs with ease. For you though, this is where you need to get your walking shoes on and your camera primed and ready. It will take a while to get from one part to the other thanks to the incessant crowds and the cyclists flashing past. Get a few snaps of the views as you make your way across, and get talking to a few other tourists too while you’re at it.
Address: Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY 10038, United States
Cost of tickets: Free
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Chrysler Building
Topped by the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building was its key rival back in the day. While you can’t go to the top like you can with other large buildings in the city, you can still appreciate the architectural marvel from down below. Snap the perfect shot and be sure to get the elegant point in there before you move on to the next NYC adventure.
Address: 405 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10174, United States
Cost of tickets: No entry apart from to the lobby
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National September 11 Memorial & Museum
One of the more somber places to visit in New York is dedicated to all those who died in the September 11th attacks in 2001. Hear the stories of the brave firemen and police officers who battled impossible conditions to try to save as many as possible, and learn more about the ordinary men and women who were going to work on another normal day. The memorial outside is quiet and humbling to appreciate.
Address: 180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007, United States
Cost of tickets: Memorial is free; Museum is $26 for adults; $15 for children aged 7 to 12; $20 for young adults aged 13 to 17; $20 for seniors aged over 65
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Broadway Theatres
To list all the theatres would be a draining exercise, but it’s fair to say that each of them boasts plays and musicals that you can appreciate no matter what mood you’re in. If you want something glitzy, then a musical will do you good, and if you want to hear the ruminations of the soul, then there are many dramas that can do just that. If you want a lighthearted way to end the day, then find a comedy or stand-up show to make you die with laughter.
Address: Multiple
Cost of tickets: Varies for each production
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5th Avenue
One of the major shopping streets in the city, and home to the Museum Mile, this is where you may find your NYC trip being spent the most. See the most remarkable buildings, shop at Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Armani, Tommy Hilfiger, Omega, Chanel, Rolex, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister Co., and De Beers, and see the collections of history and art that grace the street’s museums. Either way, you’ll find it difficult not to come here.
Address: 5th Avenue
Cost of tickets: N/A
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Grand Central Terminal
The main station for all trains and services going in and out of the city to other parts of the US, it is known for its crowds of commuters and grumbling passengers facing cancellations. But ignore the crowds and look at the stunning interior. It’s been in many films and documentaries over the years so it will feel like you’re seeing an old friend — except this time you’re right in the center of it.
Address: 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, United States
Cost of tickets: N/A
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Top of the Rock Observation Deck
Yes, the Empire State Building has the greatest views of NYC, but don’t write off the ones seen from the Rockefeller Building. In fact, if you want good views of Central Park that will set your Instagram and Twitter on fire, then this is the spot. Go to the top and observe the city from a new perspective. You’ll be more than happy that you gave it the chance to compete with the Empire State Building.
Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, United States
Cost of tickets: $40 + tax for adults; $38 + tax for seniors aged 62+; $34 + tax for children aged 6–12; free for children under 6
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Wall Street
The home of finance and business, greed and decadence, Wall Street is where all the sharp-suited corporate hotshots go to make their millions on the NYC Stock Exchange and to pass financial packages from one corporate juggernaut to the other. While its reputation recently has taken a bit of a battering, the area still brings in tourists and graduates that want to see where the money happens, or simply apply for a position. With expensive restaurants and bars lining the area, you can dine and drink like you’re one of the top beasts in the area — if you can afford it.
Address: Wall Street
Cost of tickets: N/A
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Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration
Astonishingly underrated due to being overshadowed by the Statue of Liberty that shares the same boat cruise, this is one of the key places to visit in New York if you want to see how the city epitomizes the values of the USA and how it has given a home to many people looking for new opportunities. You’ll learn so much and maybe cry too at some of the inspiring and tragic stories. While it isn’t for the faint-hearted, it is an essential part of the modern NYC experience, and you’d be doing your trip a disservice by not going to it.
Address: Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York, 10004, United States
Cost of tickets: Free to enter, but you must buy a ferry ticket to get there
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The High Line
A 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park, it’s a greenway and rail trail created on a former New York Central Railroad. While it may not be as cool or as swanky as some of the New York attractions listed here, it is still a major hangout spot that shouldn’t be missed. Take a few snaps with the camera, upload your social media channels, sit back with your friends and enjoy the views that it offers. A late afternoon or evening slot here is great to watch the sunset and to cozy up with friends and loved ones. Give it a try.
Address: New York, NY 10011, United States
Cost of tickets: it is open with a free timed-entry reservation system
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Flatiron Building
Another one of the architectural marvels of New York City, you will have seen this building on the silver screen too, Its divine shape and curves make it what it is, and yes, it belongs on your Instagram feed if you can make room for it. The Flatiron Building is imposing and adds to the “heavy” and “dominating” feel that the city can give its travelers. Don’t be daunted by it, take your pic, indulge in its unique design, and move on to the next attraction or part of your New York escapade.
Address: 175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010, United States
Cost of tickets: N/A
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St Patrick’s Cathedral
A decorated neo-gothic Catholic cathedral in Manhattan, its design is what makes it so special. Again, this belongs on your social media feed whether you’re a believer or not. The interior and exterior are simply divine (which, being a cathedral, is essential) and many famous people have been married here, including one of America’s greatest writers, Francis Scott Fitzgerald. Plus, the gorgeous attraction is free, so enter the church and admire the devotion that has gone into this magnificent marvel.
Address: 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States
Cost of the tickets: Free