Though it may feel familiar from so many TV shows, films and songs, New York can be daunting to visit, especially if it’s your first time. The city that never sleeps has a seemingly endless array of attractions, food spots and must-see museums. There’s something for everyone, but knowing where to start can feel like a challenging task. One thing’s for sure, though: no matter who you are, the sight of Manhattan’s soaring skyline is enough to make your pulse race. So we’ve rounded up some of the city’s classic stops to give you the best possible bite out of the Big Apple — from rollercoaster rides at Coney Island to craft breweries in Brooklyn and where to find the best pizza. These are the best things to do in New York.
Main photo: eating pizza in New York City (Getty Images) The Guggenheim Museum (Getty Images) If it’s your first time in New York, or you’re planning to hit the tourist trail, we’d recommend a CityPass multi-ticket. It costs around £110 for the cheapest option, which gets you entry to five sights out of a selection of eight key attractions including the Statue of Liberty, the Top of the Rock observation deck, the 9/11 Memorial and the Guggenheim Museum — you can book tickets online using the pass and get digital QR code tickets delivered to your phone. Once you’ve booked your first visit, you have nine days in which to visit the rest. The Cyclone at Coney Island (Getty Images) While undoubtedly one of New York’s biggest tourist traps, kitsch Coney Island is also a locals’ favourite. This beachfront Brooklyn town — that seems inexplicably trapped in time — is about an hour on the subway from midtown Manhattan. Its old-timey vibe is offset by fun, seasonal rollercoasters and thoroughly decent grub; we rate the craft beer at Coney Island Brewery and Totonno’s Pizza. If travelling in June, don’t miss the annual Mermaid Parade; its costume contest is spectacular. A musician in Washington Square Park (Alamy) The original Greenwich Village, now colloquially known as the “West Village”, is a bohemian-turned-bourgeois neighbourhood on the west side of Manhattan and the epicentre of the modern LGBT movement; the Stonewall Inn, the site of the Stonewall riots in 1969, remains an important cultural hub. Now popular with celebrities, as well as Sex and the City devotees, the area — with its distinctive brownstones, boutiques and cafés — is fantastic for people-watching. Meet friends for lunch at buzzy Via Carota, or grab a slice at the perennially popular Joe’s Pizza, before taking a wander around Washington Square Park. Bethesda Fountain in Central Park (Getty Images) More than 800 acres of gardens, forests and meadows isn’t exactly what you’d expect to find in one of the world’s busiest cities. Central Park, though, is integral to New York; it’s woven into the fabric of the metropolis so tightly that you don’t even notice where its four crosstown thoroughfares intersect. When you step into the public park at Columbus Circle, you realise why it’s beloved; with Strawberry Fields (John Lennon’s memorial), an ice-skating rink, a lake, an art gallery, a whole castle and more, there’s a lot to bond over. Just be sure to take a map. The Empire State Building observation deck (Alamy) Completed in 1931, the Empire State Building was then the tallest building in the world. It is to New York City (nicknamed the “Empire State”) what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris; largely ignored by locals, but seemingly a source of quiet pride — particularly when lit up at night. Go right before sunset for the best experience on the observation deck, but beware, the trade-off will be crowds. The quietest time to visit is first thing in the morning or after 10.45pm; (it’s open until midnight most days); you’ll want to avoid weekends entirely. Perseus with the Head of Medusa, by Antonio Canova, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Alamy) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, known informally as “the Met”, is a New York City institution. As famous for its annual fashion ball, the Met Gala, as it is for its forward-thinking exhibitions, The Met has become the barometer of new and next for many a New Yorker. Its striking beaux-arts façade hides exquisite fine art that spans over 5,000 years — including Rembrandts, Vermeers, cool medieval armour and an ancient Egyptian temple. This almighty suspension bridge that has connected lower Manhattan to Brooklyn since 1883 is one of the most spectacular parts of the New York City skyline — from either side of the East River. Its arched granite towers and steel cables attract tourists and locals alike; the overhead bridge is popular with people doing the 30-minute stroll between Manhattan’s South Street Seaport and upscale Brooklyn Heights, and the underneath is typically rammed with honking cabs and commuter traffic. Increasingly popular, though, is the view of neighbouring Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn’s Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) area. Plenty of companies offer bike tours. • Best hotels in New York Lucali’s Pizzeria New Yorkers are evangelical about food — especially good pizza, burgers and steak. Everybody thinks they know the best spots, but there are places whose culinary pedigree is universally agreed upon. For pizza, it’s a quick slice at Joe’s (the original in the West Village) or pies at either Brooklyn’s Paulie Gee’s or Lucali (cash only). Juicy burgers are to be had at either Minetta Tavern or JG Melon (the outpost on the Upper East Side, cash only), while the steak at Brooklyn’s Peter Luger still ticks all the boxes. A decent food tour will take in some of these big hitters and more — and leave you sated for a week. New York Botanical Garden (Alamy) Perched beside the neighbouring Bronx Zoo, New York Botanical Garden feels like another world entirely. With over a million plants on 250 acres, this enchanting “living museum” is home to lush tropical rainforests, cactus-dotted deserts and revolving partnerships with some of the most famous artists in the world. Whether it’s a picnic under the 200 cherry blossom trees that flower in springtime, the annual Holiday Train Show — where NYC landmarks are recreated from natural materials — or a turn around the Haupt Conservatory, a day spent here is always a good idea. You can’t come to Manhattan and not see a show — it’s pretty much the law. If opera, jazz or ballet is your thing, head for Lincoln Center, which has a comprehensive programme and is a great excuse to dress up. For Broadway shows, book tickets well in advance, via Ticketmaster, or closer to the time through the TodayTix app. For the quintessential Upper East Side experience, Café Carlyle at the art-deco Carlyle Hotel is great for cabaret or, for a younger crowd, head to PUBLIC — Ian Schrager’s hotel and social venue on the Lower East Side. • How to do New York on a budget Restoration Hardware (Alamy) Don’t let the name fool you; the Meatpacking District, which takes its name from the hundreds of packing plants and slaughterhouses that used to populate the area, is one of the most glamorous neighbourhoods in the city. Spend time window-shopping its upmarket boutiques or wander around the Whitney Museum of American Art, before heading for a lunch date atop interior design house Restoration Hardware, alongside New York’s rich and beautiful — just don’t look at the cost of the furniture. Skip dessert and head next door to low-key Chelsea Market instead; its food hall is sublime. chelseamarket.com Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle New York’s Midtown and Upper East Side hotels are the stuff of legend — there are dozens, and many of them have atmospheric co*cktail lounges that have remained unchanged for decades. Though you can no longer hang out in the Plaza’s Oak Room, closed in 2011, you can sip a fabulous Martini as a live pianist tinkles the ivories at the Carlyle’s low-lit Bemelmans Bar. Or get a taste of the 119-year-old St Regis’s gilded glory at the King Cole bar, where Goldie Hawn got sloshed in The First Wives Club; or linger late at Hotel Elysée’s Monkey Bar — mainly a restaurant, it also has a sultry bar and a trio of killer Old Fashioneds. rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-carlyle-new-york/dining/bemelmans-bar The Strand Book Store in Union Square (Alamy) Over its 94-year history, the Strand Book Store has become a cultural institution. Generations of New York families have browsed its extensive shelves — it carries over 2.5 million books — for anything from children’s books to travel guides, whether brand new, used or elusive early editions. Its flagship Union Square shop is the place to visit for any book lover, regardless of age or interest; the allure is “18 miles of books”. strandbooks.com The Staten Island ferry sails by the Statue of Liberty (Getty Images) While many New Yorkers are sniffy about the “dump” borough, Staten Island — so called for once being the world’s largest landfill site — few would deny that the famous papaya-coloured ferry, which connects the island to Lower Manhattan for free, has one of the best entry views of the Big Apple. Many also say it’s the best vantage point for the Statue of Liberty; you bypass both the £19 round-trip ferry fee to Liberty Island and its crowds, without even having to book. Just grab a spot on the right-hand side (when departing Battery Park) for Lady Liberty’s best side. siferry.com The High Line pedestrian walkway (Getty Images) A clever rehabilitation of an old freight railway line, the High Line has become one of the best public parks in the city since its launch in 2009. Nine metres (30ft) above Midtown Manhattan, it is a unique amalgamation of walkways, family-friendly art installations, green spaces and food trucks, and has great views of the Hudson River from the city’s west side. Entry is free from ten different access points including Gansevoort Street, 23rd Street and 30th Street — with elevators at some entrances. thehighline.org The Top of the Rock observation deck (Alamy) The Rockefeller Center, in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, is a cultural landmark and one of New York’s most iconic places to visit. It’s been the distinctive backdrop of many a film and is perhaps most synonymous with Christmas in the city — its ice rink, Christmas tree and famous plaza come alive for families during the holidays, but are most popular with stressed-out office workers throughout the rest of the year. If you’re there on a clear day, make sure you book a ticket to its viewing platform, Top of the Rock — the calm, gallery-like observatory has truly incredible skyline views. rockefellercenter.com An extension of its parent museum, the Metropolitan, the Met Cloisters is the only museum dedicated to European medieval art, architecture and gardens in the United States. Overlooking the Hudson River from Upper Manhattan’s Fort Tyron Park, this four-acre museum — with its focus on the Romanesque and gothic periods — includes four beautifully tranquil cloisters, plus reconstructed French chapels and medieval-inspired medicinal herb gardens. Keep an eye on its rolling events programme too; they’ve done everything from techno music (yes, really) to flower studies. metmuseum.org The Naked Cowboy plays guitar (Alamy) A bit like Londoners and Leicester Square, New Yorkers do their best to avoid Times Square. Considered the “dead zone” for quality restaurants, you’d think it had an invisible electric fence around it (and we can see why: beyond Totto Ramen, there’s little we’d stop for). However, a visit to Times Square is a rite of passage. Go and marvel at the billboards, the co*ke sign and, er, the man wearing only a guitar, underwear, a cowboy hat and cowboy boots. Yep, there’s a “Naked Cowboy”, and he’s become a bit of an icon. nycgo.com Smack bang in the centre of Midtown Manhattan, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has been a hub for design nerds since its inception in 1929. With performance spaces and diverse new exhibits, it’s been known in recent times — particularly since the refurbishment in 2019 — for pushing the boundaries, but art lovers still make a beeline for the classics, such as Monet’s Water Lilies, on show on the fifth floor. Don’t leave without visiting the huge (and astonishingly well curated) gift shop. moma.org The Northern Pool at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum (Alamy) Most people remember where they were and what they were doing on September 11, 2001, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a powerful reminder of the lives that were lost that day. The memorial — free to enter — encompasses two grand pools marking the original sites of the Twin Towers, and the near-3,000 names of those killed in the attacks. The museum (adult tickets £23) poignantly recounts the victims’ individual stories, as well as those of the people who demonstrated remarkable compassion in the attack’s aftermath. 911memorial.org Grand Central station is a reflection of the millions who have passed through it over the eras. A window into old New York, it’s as much a symbol of the early days of the railroad as it is of modern long-distance train travel. The phrase “meet me under the clock” — referring to the opal-faced information booth clock that’s worth an estimated £16 million — is understood by every born-and-raised New Yorker. The building’s decor and architecture are well worth some scrutiny; from the zodiac-painted ceiling to the arches that can turn a whisper into a shout. freetoursbyfoot.com Russ & Daughters on the Lower East Side (Alamy) Thanks to New York’s substantial Jewish communities, the quality of the city’s kosher food is on another level — and exalted by those in and outside the Jewish faith, particularly for brunch. Pastrami lovers discuss the near-religious experience at family-run Katz’s Deli (as seen in When Harry Met Sally), on the Lower East Side, as well as the warm knishes (pronounced “kuh-nish”) at the Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery, while queues go down the street for the whisper-thin Gaspé salmon at Russ & Daughters café just a few blocks away. For those on the Upper West Side, don’t leave without an “everything bagel” and scallion (spring onion) cream cheese from Absolute Bagels. russanddaughters.com Street art in Williamsburg (Alamy) It’s hipster heaven over in Brooklyn’s busy Williamsburg district, just ten minutes by subway from Midtown Manhattan. There’s everything from stylish rooftop bars — we love the one at the Hoxton hotel for its views of the Manhattan skyline — to vintage fashion boutiques, craft breweries and vegan restaurants. Don’t miss New York’s oldest operating whiskey distillery, though; Kings County does tours and tastings of bourbon and rye from its site in East Williamsburg’s Brooklyn Navy Yard, as well as some excellent co*cktails. kingscountydistillery.com • Best New York City neighbourhoods The Morgan Library and Museum (Alamy) The Morgan Library and Museum, in Murray Hill, is one of the most remarkable buildings in New York. A former private library, the building was expanded in 2006 under the supervision of renowned architect, Renzo Piano, and holds art in every single medium — its permanent collection includes one of the 23 copies of the original Declaration of Independence, the only surviving manuscript of Milton’s Paradise Lost and a handwritten Mozart score. Make like a New Yorker, and head to “the Morgan” for a performance or a new exhibition. themorgan.org Economy Candy on the Lower East Side (Alamy) Whether it’s flea markets in Chelsea or swanky department stores on the Upper East Side, shopping in New York City is unrivalled. We love Bleecker Street in the West Village, for indie shops and fashion boutiques; Economy Candy on the Lower East Side, for what the owners say is every kind of confectionery currently being made; and Fabulous Fanny’s, named after one of the owners’ pet birds, for funky eyewear in the East Village. Over in Williamsburg, check out Bird Brooklyn for a clever edit of up-and-coming independent fashion designers. nycgo.com If you’re in town for NBA season (October-April) be sure to catch a basketball game. You’ve got two arenas to choose from; either a trip to Manhattan’s storied Madison Square Garden — that’s home to the New York Knicks — or Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, to see the Brooklyn Nets (who, thanks to former part-owner and local boy, Jay-Z, still attract star-studded crowds). Just be aware that you’ll need to take photo ID with you to order booze — even a beer — no matter how old you think you look. ticketmaster.com Multi-coloured fire escapes and flats in Manhattan (Getty Images) One of the most glorious things about New York City is its mishmash of building styles: incomprehensibly high skyscrapers, beaux-arts monuments, iconic zig-zag fire escapes, curiosities like the optical illusion of the Flatiron Building. Dig into the history of its skyline with an expert architecture tour, offered by AIA New York among other operators. On a compelling walking tour, your guide can talk you through the layers of style and history represented by every tower, wall, facade and doorway that make up the patchwork of Manhattan. aiany.org The Tenement Museum (Getty Images) It’s a small landmark, but an important one. The Lower East Side’s Tenement Museum occupies a building containing 16 beautifully preserved apartments: movingly presented by brilliant tour guides, each room represents the story of a family who lived in this crowded quarter — traditionally home to immigrants who had just arrived on boats from Eastern Europe, China and many other far-off lands. It’s not only the story of this city (and neighbourhood’s) multicultural population, it’s the story of the American Dream, told in duvets, hairbrushes, record players and ceramic trinkets. tenement.org Additional reporting by Lucy Thackray Inspired to visit the Big Apple but yet to book your trip? Here are the best British Airways holidays and Virgin Holidays breaks to New York. Sign up for the Times Travel Newsletter here.
1. Get economical with sightseeing
2. Ride rollercoasters at Coney Island
3. Catch up with friends in Greenwich Village
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4. Stroll around Central Park
5. See the city from the Empire State Building
6. Find the next big thing at the Met
7. Walk over Brooklyn Bridge
• Best hotels in Brooklyn
8. Eat some comfort food
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9. Have a picnic at New York Botanical Garden
10. Catch a show in Manhattan
• Best affordable hotels in New York
11. Go on a date in the Meatpacking District
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12. Have a nightcap in a historic hotel bar
13. Browse New York’s best bookshop
14. See the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry
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15. Walk on the High Line
16. Go to the Top of the Rock
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17. Take in an event at the Met Cloisters
18. Visit the Naked Cowboy in Times Square
19. Shop for gifts at the Museum of Modern Art
20. Pay your respects at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
21. Stand under the clock at Grand Central Terminal
22. Go for brunch
23. Spend a day in Williamsburg
24. Marvel at the Morgan
25. Go shopping
26. Watch a basketball game
27. Take an architecture tour
28. Learn the stories of the city’s immigrants
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