Main Content

New York must do recommendations

If you’re visiting New York, especially for the first time, be sure to set aside some time to see the city’s world-famous sites. Though landmarks like the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and Central Park may crop up in innumerable films and TV shows, nothing beats experiencing the highlights in real life.

Tab Panel

Central Park

In the heart of Manhattan is an 843-acre oasis of green: Central Park. Crowds flock to Sheep Meadow for picnics in the sun or jog around the Reservoir to keep fit, and visitors can also commemorate John Lennon at Strawberry Fields, spot penguins at the Central Park Zoo, rent a rowboat at the Loeb Boathouse, or otherwise relax amidst the greenery.

New York on a budget

The Empire State Building

Few silhouettes in New York are as distinctive as the Empire State Building’s (it helps that it’s the third tallest skyscraper in town). Though its Art Deco spire is visible from countless spots around the city, taking a ride to the observation deck is still the best way to enjoy this landmark – and those incredible city views.

Tab Panel

The Brooklyn Bridge

When it first opened in the 1880s, the Brooklyn Bridge was the world’s longest suspension bridge. It may not bear that title anymore, but this iconic walkway is still one of the city’s most special landmarks. On a sunny day, a walk from Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn is a must – lace up your comfiest trainers, and reward yourself with a margherita at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria once you’ve made it to the other side.

A New York bike tour

Times Square

From its seedy past to its glittering, neon-spangled present, Times Square has long epitomised the City That Never Sleeps in the minds of locals and visitors alike. From Tony Award-winning Broadway shows to street performances, flagship stores to Big Apple t-shirts, this Midtown hub is simply electric, every single hour of the day.

Fall in love with photogenic Times Square

Tab Panel

The Guggenheim

Frank Gehry’s snail-shell design makes The Guggenheim a standout, even within its museum-packed Upper East Side setting. Though it lacks the scope of neighbours like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, its curated selection – the museum features one banner temporary exhibition at a time – renders it the perfect cultural stop-off.

The High Line

The High Line perfectly bridges New York old and new: what was once an elevated rail line has since been remade into a public park. Stretching for one and a half miles from Chelsea to the Meatpacking District, it was made for lazy ambling, sunbathing, and downtown sightseeing all in one.

Friends of the High Line: Robert Hammond's urban regeneration