Best Things to Do in NYC

One of the most iconic walks in the world. The Brooklyn Bridge connects Lower Manhattan to DUMBO in Brooklyn, and the view of the Manhattan skyline from the bridge's midpoint is one of the most spectacular in the city. Start from the Manhattan side and walk to DUMBO, the whole walk takes about 45 minutes at a relaxed pace.

Tip: Go early morning on a weekday to beat the crowds and get the best light for photos.

Central Park is one of the world's great urban green spaces and completely free to enter. 843 acres in the middle of Manhattan offer everything from rowboats on the lake to Shakespeare in the Park in summer. Strawberry Fields, Bethesda Fountain, the Bow Bridge, and Belvedere Castle are all essential stops.

The park is best explored on foot. Allow at least two hours to see the main highlights properly.

The Met is one of the world's greatest art museums, covering 5,000 years of history across 17 acres of gallery space. The ancient Egypt collection, Greek and Roman galleries, European paintings, and arms and armor are extraordinary. You could spend an entire day here and still not see everything.

Tip: Book tickets online. The rooftop garden has stunning Central Park views and is open May through October.

The twin reflecting pools sit in the footprints of the original World Trade Center towers and are one of the most powerful memorials in the world. The museum below tells the full story of September 11 with extraordinary care and detail. A deeply moving experience that every visitor to New York should see.

Tip: Book tickets in advance, entry times sell out. Allow at least 90 minutes to two hours.

A free elevated park built on a disused freight railway line running through the Meatpacking District and Chelsea. Beautifully landscaped with gardens, public art installations, and Hudson River views throughout. Walk the full 1.5-mile length at a relaxed pace. One of the best free things in NYC.

The views toward the Hudson River are particularly good in the late afternoon.

The Staten Island Ferry departs from Battery Park every 30 minutes and passes directly in front of the Statue of Liberty. It is completely free in both directions and gives some of the best views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline without paying for a tour boat or the official Statue of Liberty ferry.

Tip: Sit on the right side of the ferry on the way out (toward Staten Island) for the best Statue of Liberty views.

Broadway is an experience that exists nowhere else in the world. The concentration of production quality, talent, and theatres in the Midtown theatre district is unmatched. From long-running classics to new productions, a Broadway show is the one genuinely unmissable NYC experience.

Tip: Buy TKTS rush tickets on the day from the TKTS booth in Times Square for up to 50% off face value.

Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center offers unobstructed 360-degree views of Manhattan from the 70th floor. The advantage over the Empire State Building is that you can actually see the Empire State Building from here, it's the most iconic view of the NYC skyline. Book online in advance and time your visit for sunset.

Top of the Rock is generally considered the better view. One World Observatory offers a different perspective from Lower Manhattan.

New York's real character lives in its neighborhoods. Greenwich Village has Washington Square Park and historic streets. The East Village has independent bars and bookshops. Chinatown has incredible cheap food. Williamsburg in Brooklyn has street art, galleries, and rooftop bars. The Lower East Side has the Tenement Museum and Katz's Delicatessen.

The best way to discover NYC's neighborhoods is on foot. Get off the main avenues and walk the side streets.