There's so much to do in New York City - from Broadway and museums/galleries to shopping and attractions, you won't be able to fit it all into a short visit. Get the most out of your stay by prioritizing the activities that you're most interested in (and then plan to visit again).
Not sure what you want to do during your visit? Here's a list of ten fun activities to try in the Big Apple to get you started.
1 - Explore Central Park
With more than 800 acres breaking up the hustle and bustle of busy NYC streets, Central Park is definitely worth a visit. It's much more than just green space. Consider visiting Strawberry Fields (a tribute to John Lennon), Belvedere Castle, Central Park Zoo, Bethesda Fountain and Terrace (amazing acoustics means there's often fabulous performers there), the Loeb Boathouse, the carousel, and the Mall (not a shopping mall, but a lovely path lined with trees that you'd likely recognize from film and TV).
2 - Take in a show Broadway, Off Broadway, comedy clubs, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, stadiums, clubs, parks, Lincoln Center, and more. With so many options, fans of live performance of any kind won't be disappointed. Consider pre-purchasing tickets for popular shows - they can and do sell out.
3 - Visit Lady Liberty There's more than one way to get to see the iconic Statue of Liberty. To get up close and personal requires a visit to Liberty Island by ferry and also reservations to visit the pedestal or crown. Want to see it and not climb it, it's visible from various parts of Manhattan and a boat cruise around the island offers some great views.
4 - Get a view from up high Want to get a look at the city from a higher vantage point? Visit the observation decks at the Empire State Building, One World Observatory, or Top of the Rock for great views. Don't want to be quite so high up, consider the Roosevelt Tram, rooftop bars, the Brooklyn Bridge (pedestrian path), or the Time Warner building. Love heights? Helicopter tours are an option here too!
5 - Spend some time at the Met (or any museum or gallery of your liking) There are so many options in NYC that you'll definitely need to choose. Popular options include the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met is one of the world's best museums), the Guggenheim (the building is as interesting as the art), the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (in a ship), the Museum of Natural History (with cool dinosaurs), and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
6 - Eat everything in sight There's more than 25,000 restaurants in NYC, so there's no need to go hungry. Cuisines of every style and for every budget, from street eats to 3-star Michelin restaurants. An app like Yelp is your friend here, and be sure to look at the grades in their windows.
7 - Hit up a market or festival
NYC is home to many different types of markets and festivals throughout the year. Permanent markets like Chelsea Market, street markets like in Union Square, or even Grand Bazaar NYC. Festivals and pop-up events happen in parks throughout the city all year. I've never made a trip to NYC without stumbling across one.
8 - Take a stroll A visit to NYC can often involve a lot of walking, but there's some amazing strolls you can take as well - maybe through Central Park, over Brooklyn Bridge, on the High Line, or even the boardwalk at Coney Island.
9 - Visit filming locations
There's some pretty iconic locations in NYC that you've likely seen on TV and in movies - places like Rockefeller Center, the Plaza Hotel, Times Square, and Grand Central Terminal. There's so many movies and shows filmed in NYC that you can take tours to visit locations, or you can also try to get tickets to tapings of shows like Saturday Night Live and the Tonight Show.
10 - Sip some craft brews If you're a fan of craft beer, NYC won't disappoint. There's craft beer tours, bars with huge assortments of craft beer, and more craft breweries popping up every year. Brooklyn Brewery, Harlem Brewing Company, Kills Boro, and Transmitter Brewing are only a few options.
When you're ready to start planning your NYC visit, get in touch. It's one of my favourite cities in the world and one that I visit often. You can reach me at ange.f@gotravelcompany.com or by visiting the form on my website.
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