As any New Yorker will tell you, there is no way to see all the best places of this incredible and complex city in one visit. It’s part of the excitement to visit this beautiful city alone or with company, and there is always something new to discover. But all these tempting options can also make your planning a difficult trip to New York. So if you’re wondering what to do in New York, here’s my list of favourites things.
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The High Line
New Yorkers love walking around, and the High Line, an urban linear park suspended along 2.3 km, stretching from the Meatpacking District Chelsea through an abandoned railway, is a fantastic walk. Augmented with a vast labyrinth of gardens (with 300 species of plants), paths and ponds, it offers a different perspective on contemporary architecture.
Grand Central Station
Why should you visit a train station? Question useless if that station is Grand Central. The setting of countless farewells, chases, and shootouts, celebrated by more than a century of Hollywood cinema, its atrium covered with stars continues to fascinate travellers from around the world. Nothing better than to follow it far and wide, fantasise about the departures names and endless tracks and… Why not hop on a train for a day out!
Empire State Building
Her Royal Highness, the soaring heart of Manhattan, a balcony on the most famous sky of history. With its 443 meters in height (including the antenna), it was completed in 1931. Today, it is undoubtedly an international icon, and it still offers a breathtaking view of the city. From the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, you will have a beautiful view of Manhattan.
Gospel Tour
Do you want to discover authentic gospel music? Then, take a tour of the gospel! During the tour, you will visit gospel Harlem, you will attend a Gospel Mass, and you can even taste the real soul food! An unforgettable experience.
Dinner Cruise
Take a dinner cruise or a boat tour in New York. The view of the skyline of Manhattan is so beautiful.
One World Observatory
The One World Observatory offers a viewing platform on the 102nd floor. Take the high-speed elevator, the Sky Pod and discover the beautiful views.
The museums of New York
Those who love wandering through museums in New York will find bread for their teeth. Here there are, in fact, some of the most important museum complexes in the world.
-Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET): to visit all it will take weeks! There are, in fact, more than 2 million works of art ranging from America, Europe, China, Africa, and the Far East, classical and Islamic world. However, since you have to choose a few, do not miss the European painting (medieval galleries, Flemish, Italian Renaissance, Spanish galleries, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism) among which masterpieces by Raphael, Botticelli, Filippo Lippi, Goya, Duccio da Boninsegna, Manet, Monet, Gaugin, Picasso, Klee, and Matisse.
-Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): Here is another institution of the New York culture, the MoMA, the best collection in the world – between the mid and late nineteenth century, a must-see for modern and contemporary art lovers. Here are some masterpieces that you cannot really miss, like Starry Night by Van Gogh, Foliage Cézanne and Madonna Munch, which have shaped the history of art.
What else to do in New York? Shopping!
Again there is plenty of choices, it all depends on one thing: the scope of your selection! There are areas and neighbourhoods where shopping can be convenient, such as in the Lower East Side and East Village (great for vintage clothing). If you are instead in search of the big names, head to SoHo, or take a nice walk through the bright windows of Fifth Avenue, the main artery of the luxury shopping!
Now widespread in almost all the neighbourhoods of New York are the flea markets, places where you can find a bit of everything (and relatively cheaper!); from clothing to furniture, works of art, all seasoned numerous street artists and eccentrics shopkeepers. Among the best markets is Hell’s Kitchen (Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market), particularly suitable for those who love antiques and vintage.
Did I miss anything??? Well…here is a quick overview…
— Breathe the authenticity of New York by going for a ride on the famous wooden roller coaster “Cylon”, the oldest in the USA, built in the 20s and still functioning.
— Go through Grand Central. This is a special place that the lovers use as ideal for their declarations of love and marriage proposal.
— Admire the view from the Brooklyn Bridge. After enjoying the amazing views from the New York skyscraper, it is ideal is to see the spectacular skyline of Manhattan.
— Place a jazzy evening at the Village Vanguard, one of the most legendary jazz clubs in New York opened since 1925.
— Go see the Japanese garden in Brooklyn. Alfred T. White, in 1914, hired a Japanese landscape to create a small lake, a hill and the rest of the necessary decoration.
— Take advantage of “Manhattanhenge”, a spectacular sunset that intrudes through the streets of the city four days a year to coincide with the summer solstice, between 28 and 31
