Planning a script in New York is like putting together a puzzle. It is necessary to fit the numerous attractions of the city in the time of the trip, without suffering much with the little pieces that will inevitably be left out. It is virtually impossible to do everything you want in three, four or five days in New York. For this, many trips will be needed. And yet it is possible she never runs out.
Are you going to travel? Be sure to take out international health insurance for your trip to the United States, since the hospital costs there are very high. Read here how to find good value/benefit insurance (and discount!)
So the main recommendation here is to take it easy. Taking advantage of a city like New York has a lot to do with living it, and you’ll hardly be able to do that if you’re running from one side to the other trying to fulfill a checklist of attractions. Have time to sit for a minute on the MET staircase or to rest in one of the banks of Central Park. It’s in those moments that you’ll be able to capture all the magic of being in New York.
As we are talking about a gigantic city, it is also advisable to organize the attractions by region, to save travel time and shoe sole. Therefore, we share the attractions in this guide by proximity. You can use it to put together your itinerary of each day of travel. And be sure to check out Team Out New York to stay on top of the city’s cultural agenda during your visit.
Read also:
How to get around in New York
Is it worth staying in New Jersey?
How much it costs to travel to New York
Cheap New York: Tips to Save on Your Trip
Things to Do in New York: Upper East Side and Upper West Side
Part of what locals love to call Uptown—that is, the northernmost portion of the island that goes up to 59th st.—the Upper East and Upper West Side neighborhoods are what we imagine of Manhattan: powerful skyscrapers, designer shops and lots of luxury, glamour and wealth wherever you look.
Noble regions and with the square meter that should be worth more than my kidney, there are some of the main attractions of the city, such as the Metropolitan Museum, affectionately nicknamed the TEM, the Central Park and the Natural History Museum. The Upper East Side is the most granite of the neighborhoods, with many hotels, shops and luxury restaurants. On the other side of Central Park is the Upper West Side, the rebellious brother, more liberal and modern.
Tip: Depending on how you organize yourself, you can combine part of the attractions of Uptown and Mid Town in a single day and spending a lot of cinnamons (not including museums).
Who has never dreamed of taking a walk in Central Park, sitting in one of the benches, who knows to eat a bagel while thinking about life? Central Park is in the imagination of thousands of people from all over the world and, perhaps for that, it is one of the most visited urban parks on the planet. Giant, this green oasis in Manhattan is 3.41 square miles and stretches from the 110th st. 59th st., already on the border with Midtown. Walking around and getting lost among the trees is already a program and so much, but there are attractions that are worth having in view when you walk there.
One such site is the Strawberry Fields (West Side between 71st and 74th Streets), a memorial built in an area that John Lennon frequented. Street artists usually perform there and include many Beatles songs in the repertoire, so the soundtrack is guaranteed.
Another very beautiful region is The Mall, a wooded path that starts at the height of the 66th and runs until the 72nd st. The passage was designed for the traditional carriage tours, but as this type of activity is cruel and tattered (poor horses), today it is widely used for romantic walks and meeting point among New Yorkers. The beautiful trees that adorn the way are Olmo Americano, quite rare these days.
Tip: get to know the bike park! There are several rental shops in the region and the prices are well in account.
The park also hosts several shows and cultural events. Check the official website for the agenda during your trip.
- The Metropolitan Museum (MET)
Located inside Central Park, this gigantic museum has a collection that recounts about 5,000 years of art history. Needless to say, it is impossible to see everything in one day, right? But, look, the visit is well worth it. In the impossibility of seeing everything, book at least a whole afternoon here, marrying, who knows, with a relaxing walk in the park. And those who are aficionados with art do not need to worry: the entrance of the MET gives the right to visit the museum for three consecutive days.
In addition to the impressive collection, the facade of the MET itself is one of the New York city cards and its staircases, a meeting place for local residents
At the ticket office, ask the receptionists for a map to prepare your visit. The rooms of the MET are organized by themes, so it is easy to go directly to what interests you more. If you are looking for the museum’s golden stars, look for the Asian art galleries (206); the Greek and Roman sculpture wing (162); gallery 826, which brings together works by European Impressionist artists, including several paintings of Van Gogh; and the reconstruction of the Egyptian temple of Dendur (131).
Tip: The third floor of the MET is a bar that works between May and October. The place is perfect to close the visit with good drinks and views of Central Park.
Admissions: Until 2018, there was no fixed entry to the TEM, only a voluntary contribution, but a drastic reduction in donations led the museum to fix the entry at $25 (students: $17). In addition, you now need to buy tickets in advance on the official website.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers guided tours at no additional cost and in Portuguese. They usually happen on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at noon, but it is advisable to ask at the box office, since these times are subject to change. To participate, simply present a valid ticket and give the faces at the entrance of the Egyptian galleries on time at the scheduled time.
There is also the option of visiting the museum completely empty with a guided tour. It is the EmptyMET Tour, which receives a small group at times when the establishment is closed. The price, however, is salty: between $165 and $195.
Operation: Opens daily, from 10am to 5:30pm. On Fridays and Saturdays works until late, at 9:00 p.m. If you travel at the end of the year, attention! The TEM only closes its doors on three holidays: thanksgiving; December 25 and January 1.
Metro: 86 St Lexington Av Station on green lines 4 , 5 and 66. Or 86th Street, on the yellow lines Q and R.
The Guggenheim is one of those museums where the building itself is already one of the main works of art. First museum built by the Salomon R Foundation. Guggenheim, is considered one of the most important architectural works of the 20th century by its large spiral hall. The collection also does not leave to be desired, with pieces donated by Guggenheim himself, as well as Picasso, Chagal, Van Gogh, Kandinsky, Mondrian, Edouard Manet and Robert Mapplethorpe.
The Guggenheim Museum offers guided tours in English every day from 11am to 1pm. The museum also provides audio guides at no additional cost and in several languages.
Address: 89th st. with 5th Avenue, 500 meters from MET
Metro: 86th Street, Lines 4, 5 and 6
Visit: from 10am to 5:45pm. On Saturdays it goes until later, at 7:30 p.m.
Close on Thursdays, thanksgiving and December 24 and 25.
Entrance costs $25. Students: US$ 18.
American Museum of Natural History
Considered one of the best science museums in the world since its founding in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History tells the story of the Earth and humanity through the 35 million objects that make up its collection – and this is just the largest collection of natural history ever assembled. Among the highlights is the famous room of dinosaurs (you must remember it from the movie A Night at the Museum), in which are exposed fossils and replicas of life-size skeletons. Be sure to also go through the biodiversity gallery and the meteorite room.
Tip: The Natural History Museum is for people of all ages, but it’s a program and so much if you visit New York with kids.
Address: Central Park West & 79th St, 900 meters from the MET, across the park.
Metro: Station 81st St. Museum of Natural History, lines B and C.
Visit: Every day from 10am to 5pm. Entrance costs $23.
Considered the leading performing arts complex in the United States, Lincoln Center hosts, among other institutions, the Metropolitan Opera House, the New York City Opera, the Ballet, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the New York Philarmonic, and the renowned Julliard School for Performing Arts.
Lincoln Center offers guided tours that run through the buildings to tell the story of the complex, including the behind-the-scenes that received Luciano Pavarotti and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to see a palinha of the rehearsals and auditions that take place there every day.
Tours leave the David Rubenstein Atrium and cost $25. To participate you need to schedule the tour online. If you want the full experience, be sure to secure your tickets for one of the show on display during your visit. For what is going on, check the agenda on the official website.
Address between 66th Street, Columbus Avenue, 62nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue, Upper West Side.
Have you ever imagined waking up every morning overlooking Central Park, tennis court, over four meters, marble staircases and, breaking, being a neighbor of Yoko Ono? This luxury is for the very few who can afford an apartment in the Dakota Building, one of the most expensive and famous addresses in New York.
The place became a pilgrimage point for tourists and beatlemaniacs after John Lennon was murdered right there. The couple had been living on the top floor of the Dakota since 1973, and on the night of December 8, 1980, an obsessed fan struck Lennon with four shots when the musician entered the house. Yoko still keeps the apartment.
The building is residential and only authorized persons can enter. As the location is convenient, however, right at the 72th st. with Central Park West, it is worth passing by to take a picture of the facade if you are close by.
Attractions in New York: Midtown, Broadway and Times Square
Midtown begins when it finishes Central Park at 59th st. and goes up to 34th st. It is considered the most important part of the city, the economic center where much of the skyscrapers that house the headquarters of the most important companies in the world are concentrated. It is estimated that about three million people work there every day. Midtown Manhattan also brings together some of the most famous sights such as the Empire State, Rockefeller Center, Broadway and Times Square.
Located on the southern tip of Central Park, at the intersection of 8th Avenue, Broadway, Central Park South and Central Park West, Columbus Circle is New York’s zero point, from which all distances of the city are measured. The circular square has a statue in honor of Christopher Columbus, but the great attraction there is for those who enjoy shopping: The Shops At Columbus Circle, which is inside the Times Warner Center (one of the buildings around the square), is full of renowned shops and restaurants for all pockets.
Metro: 59th Street – Columbus Circle (Line A, B, C, D, 1 and N, Q, R)
The name is Museum of Modern Art, but it is affectionately nicknamed MoMA. Spread over its six floors are works by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Cézanne, Matisse, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Klimt, Rodin and Modigliani. There are more than 150,000 works, including paintings, sculptures and photographs, some of them true masterpieces, such as Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”; “The Persistence of Memory” by Dalí; and Picasso’s “The Ladies of Avignon”. Be sure to check out the galleries of architecture and design, one of the highlights of the exhibition.
Opens every day, Monday to Thursday, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Fridays it runs until 8 p.m.
Entrances: Adults pay $25. Admission is free for children under 16, costs $18 for over 65 and $14 for students. Free between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock
Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings and shops that form an open-air mall, as well as restaurants and diverse entertainment options. Built by the Rockefeller family in the early 1930s, shortly after the fall of the New York Stock Exchange, it eventually became a symbol of the process of economic reconstruction and progress for the city.
There, it is worth checking out the gardens with the beautiful bronze statue of the titan Atlas; the Channel Gardens and the golden statue of Prometheus. From November you can also see the gigantic Christmas tree that is already a trademark of the complex. Another very crowded attraction is the tour of the NBC studios, which takes tourists behind the scenes of shows such as Saturday Night Life.
Top of the Rock, the complex’s most famous attraction, sits between floors 67 and 70 of G.E. Building. From up there you will have a 360-degree view of the city. Schedule the visit for the clear sky or sunset mornings. Entrance costs $44.37. There is also a ticket called Sun and Stars, which allows you to visit Top of the Rock twice daily, in the morning and evening, for $56. These and other entries are for sale on the official website.
Between October and April the Rockefeller Center yard turns into a huge ice skating rink that can receive up to 150 people at once. Entrance fees for the 1:30 a.m. session cost between $25 and $33, plus the roller skate rent, which comes out for $12.50. The track runs between 8:30 and midnight.
45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York
Metro: 47th-50th Sts – Rockefeller Center Station, lines B, D, F and V.
Those who watched the movie “I Want to Be Big” will remember the scene in which the character played by Tom Hanks dances on a giant piano in a toy store. What not everyone knows is that the movie store is real and exists in New York to this day. FAO Schweetz seems really out of a fiction – it’s filled with original toys and colorful treats that make anyone come back to childhood for a few moments.
The visit has a nostalgic taste, especially for those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, since there are references from this time on all sides. The classic unit, in which the film was filmed, closed in 2015. But for the joy of young children and not so small, a new branch was inaugurated within the Rockefeller complex for Christmas 2018. The giant piano is still there!
Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza
Operation: Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 10pm – Sunday from 11am to 10pm
- Cathedral of St. Patrick
The construction in neo-gothic style contrasts quite with the modern and mirrored of the skyscrapers that rise around, but in a good sense: the St. Patricks Cathedral is a New York City Historic Landmark and one of the city’s premier cards. With a capacity of up to 2000 people, the church has the interior as rich as the exterior: Highlight for the two gigantic organs, composed of 3,920 and 5,918 tubes, and for the replica of the sculpture of La Pietà, three times larger than the original of Michelangelo, which is in the Vatican. Inside it is not allowed to take pictures.
Address: Fifth Avenue, between 50th and 51th Streets, in front of Rockefeller Center
Metro: 5th Avenue – 53RD St, lines E and M or station 47-50th St-Rockefeller Ctr, lines B, D, F and M. 4, 5, 6, 7 and S.
Operation: daily from 6:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Admission is free of charge. Every day at 10am there is a guided and also free tour (but remember to tip the guide).
The New York Public Library is housed in an imposing building that holds one of the most important libraries in the world, with more than 20 million books. You can enter and explore the areas of free access without paying anything for it. Lose yourself in the corridors and in the multitude of rooms, each one more beautiful than the other.
Then tell me if you didn’t have the impression you were at Hogwarts! Just remember to respect the absolute silence that reigns there: the library is very frequented by students in search of a quiet place. On the first floor, take a look at the shops that sell books, notebooks, maps, toys and various cool things for those who love the letters.
Location: 476, 5th Avenue. 800 meters from St. Patrick’s Cathedral and behind Byrant Park.
Operation: On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, it opens from 10am to 8pm. On Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 10am to 6pm. On Sundays the opening hours are from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Another corner of New York that the cinephiles on duty will recognize immediately is Grand Central Terminal. The stage of numerous films, the place is also one of the main works of architecture in the city. Inaugurated in 1871, the terminal marked the modernization of the country by replacing the old Grand Central Station and retiring steam trains. The most iconic part is the Vanderbilt Hall, a lobby of more than 1,100m2 and beautifully decorated. It is estimated that more than 100,000 passengers circulate through the Grand Central Terminal every day, not counting the thousands of tourists who appear there just to make photos.
Address: 15 Vanderbilt Avenue, 500 metres from the New York Public Library
Metro: Grand Central Terminal, lines 4, 5, 6, 7 and S.
Also known as Broadway Theater, this New York region is famous for concentrating more than 40 theaters with 500 seats or more and that receive daily performances, most of them musical ones. The place is the stage for some classic pieces, such as The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and Wicked.
If you make a point of a specific piece – especially the most disputed ones – it is worth guaranteeing the ticket in advance. The Broadway website shows everything that’s on display and takes you to the sales page of each show. If your English is not there these things, the tip is to opt for stories (and songs) already known, such as The Lion King, Alladin, Frozen and Mamma Mia.
Those who have with an open spirit and want to save some change, can try their luck at the TKTS kiosks, which sell discounted tickets for parts of the day (see more in the link below). It’s in luck: you can’t tell what you’re going to have available there on the date you want. The ticket office opens at 3 p.m. and it’s good to arrive early to have more chances to get good places.
Here’s more about getting cheap tickets to Broadway shows
Location: Between 50th st. and 41st st., 600 meters from MoMA
Next Broadway and Times Square is a region lined with restaurants, bars and different shops known as Hell’s Kitchen (between 34th st. and 59th st., and between 8th Avenue and the Hudson River). There you can taste authentic cuisine from different parts of the world, as well as quite American options. My tip is to program a typically New York brunch at 44&X (622, 10th Ave).
Brunch at 44&X came out for $27 per person
Famous for the luminous signs and the strangely beautiful visual pollution, Times Square receives almost 40 million tourists a year. It is estimated that every minute, more than 100 different languages are spoken simultaneously only in this little piece of street. Yes, the street. Because, despite the name, the place has nothing: Times Square is a 12-way intersection that has been modified to meet the large flow of pedestrians.
The place became known this way in the 20th century, after the New York Times moved its headquarters there. It was only after this that the intersection began to become a special little corner of New York, widely used as a setting for films, photographs and works by local artists. In the 1980s, it went through a period of strong degradation, but a major revitalization in the following decade attracted several companies and international stores there, giving the Times the face it has today. If you are traveling at the end of the year, be sure to check out the traditional New Year countdown in New York.
Tip: Fatasted actors of pop culture characters take pictures with tourists by an tip between $2 and $5. If any of them are inconvenient or aggressive, do not hesitate to call a police officer.
At the Broadway junction with Seventh Avenue, between 42nd Street and 47th Street, near some of the main Broadway theaters, such as Minskoff.
Although not as big and famous as Central Park, Madson Square Park is an excellent stopover for lunchtime. In addition to the possibility of extending a canga on the grass and having a picnic, a very common option among New Yorkers, there is a branch of Eataly right in front and another of Shake Shack right in the middle of the park. Their sandwiches, including the vegetarian, are a delight, but the peanut butter milk shake occupies a special place in my heart.
An optimal option to starve in the early evening, however, is Mad. Sq. Eats., which sells food from different parts of the world and from the main restaurants in Manhattan during spring and fall. It is not exactly in the park, but next to it, on 24th and 25th Streets. In the summer, the place becomes the stage for Madson Square Music. Madson Sq. Park hosts other gastronomic and cultural events throughout the year, check out the schedule on the official website.
Location: Madison Avenue, between 23rd and 26th streets.
The Empire State Building is both one of the postcards and one of the most famous views of the city. It was the tallest building in the world forty years, between the 1930s and 1970s, when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were inaugurated. With the attacks of 2001, it was once again the tallest building in New York, losing the post again with the inauguration of the One World Trade Center in 2012. But if there is one thing that the Empire State State has not lost was a space in the world’s imagination: it is a national landmark of the United States; one of the main postcards in the city and one of the most visited attractions by tourists. During the visit, be sure to notice the preserved marble lobby exactly as at the time of the inauguration in 1931.
Those who want to avoid the queues, which can last for hours, should schedule to visit the building in the morning, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., or after 10 p.m. It is possible to buy the ticket online, on the official website. However, you will receive a voucher that needs to be exchanged for the ticket at the ticket office. Although at the time of purchase it is necessary to inform the time of the visit, there is no appointment and with the ticket it is possible to visit building at any time.
At the time of purchase, you will need to choose whether you will climb to the main deck, on the 86th floor (US$40) or to the top deck, at 102o (for an additional US$ 20). Go through the 86th: in addition to being cheaper and included in the tourist passes, the lookout is already high enough to ensure an incredible view of the city. In addition, the observation deck is opened, protected by grids, while the 102nd is surrounded by glass. This alone ensures that the photos will be better.
On Thursdays and Saturdays, the Empire State Building hosts live music performances between 9:30 p.m. and midnight.
It is not allowed to enter the Empire State with cutting materials, large backpacks, flammable liquids or perfumes, drinks, bottles and glasses, lighters and other materials that may be considered hazardous by security control. There is no spares on site, so it is best to leave these items in the hotel.
Address: 5th Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets.
Metro: 34th Street/Penn Station (lines 1, 2, 3, A, C and E) or 34th St – Avenue of the Americas (lines B, D, F, N, Q and R).
Operation: daily, from 08h to 02h.
The High Line is more or less what would be the weinhocão of São Paulo if it were transformed into a park. Built where before a disabled train line passed, this suspended park passes through more than 10 blocks and 2.33 kilometers: from 34th st. to Gansevoort Street, already in Lower Manhattan, between the 12th and 10th avenues.
The route is marked by urban art panels and unusual views of New York. Not to mention that, in some points, the walkway is well glued to the buildings, which gives the feeling of walking through the top of the city. In others, vegetation is so abundant that it hides the metropolis around. There are food kiosks on the way.
Location: There are several access points for the High Line. Entering one of the ends you can make the entire path. The entrance to 34th st. is close to 34th Street-Hudson Yards station (Line 7) or Penn Station. The Gansevoort St. is close to 14th St x 8th Ave. station (served by lines A, C, E or L).
Another possibility, for those who do not want to walk everything, is to visit the park right after the Chelsea Market. There’s an entrance in the 16th st., close there. From there it is not a very long stretch until the exit of Gansevoort St., and you can go to the attractions of Lower Manhattan.
Operation: The park opens daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Until the 1950s the place that today houses one of the most charming and cool markets in New York was a biscuit factory that produced, among others, the world famous Oreos. Today, the industrial-faced shed houses the Chelsea Market, gourmet market with restaurants, shops and vintage decor.
It is full of options for lunch, ranging from Indian, Thai, vegetarian, natureba, sandwiches, sweets and seafood. Among the hottest restaurants in the place are Friedman’s Lunch and the sweetheart Eleni’s. But you can still opt for the crepes of Bar Suzette, the Chelsea Thai noodles or the mass of Giovanni Rana Pastificio & Cucina, just to give an example. Anyone who wants something more practical, fast and economical can bet on the delicious pizzas of Amy’s Breads. There is also a wine bar and decoration shops and gifts.
Address: 75, 9th Ave
Subway: 14th Street/8th Avenue Station (Line A, C, E or L)
Operation: Chelsea Market operates from Monday to Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Things to Do in New York: Lower Manhattan
Known by locals as “Downtown”, Lower Manhattan is the southernmost region of the island, made up of small, quite picturesque neighborhoods, which will give you a completely different image of the glamorous upper region of the Big Apple. It is there that there are some of the city’s famous ethnic neighborhoods, such as Chinatown and Little Italy, as well as the charming Greewich Village and Tribeca, which stretches along the banks of the Hudson River, and the Wall Street business district.
How to get to Lower Manhattan: By subway, by lines 1.2 and 3 to Christopher St. By train, by lines A, C and E to Chamber station.
- Greenwich Village and the Friends apartment
Those who have not followed the Friends series will never understand why so many people strive to get to the corner of Bedford Street and Grove just to take a picture of the facade of an apartment. But for those who feel personal friend of Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Joey, Phoebe and Ross it is hard not to get emotional when you come face to face with Manhattan’s dearest apartment. One curiosity is that the place was used only for the external scenes, as the series was almost entirely filmed in the Los Angeles studios.
Enjoy that you are already there to explore the rest of the charming Greenwich Village neighborhood, cradle of the New York Gay Pride Movement and famous for the clothing, decoration and design shops, as well as an excellent dining scene, in the past frequented by artists and writers such as Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and Edgar Allan Poe.
Restaurant tip: And since we are on a television tour, there is the branch of Magnolia Bakery of Greenwich Village (401, Bleecker Street), a store of sweets and cupcakes famous for having appeared in the series Sex and the City. But the big star of the house is not Carrie Bradshaw, but the divine banana pudding of them. Also noteworthy is the peanut butter cake. If you’re shopping, you can take the time to take a look at the Bleecker Street stores before heading to the next destination.
Metro: Christopher St Station, (Line 1). From there, just walk two blocks through Grove St. towards the Hudson River.
Coming walking through Lower Manhattan and coming face to face with Chinatown should be a very similar experience to finding a loophole in space-time and being teleported. Filled with neon signs with unreadable characters (for us, of course), the Chinese neighborhood of New York is the largest immigrant stronghold of immigrants from this part of the world in the West.
The place has that of lovely chaos as only the Asian metropolises know how to do, and there you can find everything from products of dubious origin to art and craft shops, galleries and many, many Chinese restaurants and other parts of Asia. This is also a good place to fill the suitcase with travel souvenirs, since the prices practiced there are lower than those of the rest of the city.
Anyone interested in knowing a little more about the history of Chinese immigration in the United States can take a walk from the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) (215 Centre St, $12), which shows a little of the culture of this people in the Americas and how they settled there. Entry is free on the first Thursdays of each month and the museum always closes on Mondays. Another place worth seeing is Mahayana Buddhist Temple (133 Canal St), the largest Buddhist temple in the city and one of the largest in the country, of great religious importance for the population that lives there.
Restaurant tip : The famous 456 Shanghai Cuisine (69 Mott St., A) surprises by the low price and quality. Ice Cream Factory Ice Cream Shop (65 Bayard St.) it is the best stop for a dessert – the place serves unusual flavors to the brazilian palate, with typical Asian ingredients.
Next to Chinatown is Little Italy, a neighborhood that housed immigrants and descendants of Italians in New York for decades. Thanks to the expansion of Chinatown and the displacement of the original inhabitants to other areas of the city, Little Italy has lost some of its authenticity and become less and less. It is estimated that only 10% of the population that lives there today is in fact of Italian origin, but in the heart of the neighborhood, however, it is still possible to see the clear influence of the owners and ninths, especially between the streets Grand and Mulberry Street.
The main local attraction is to choose one of several traditional canteens that resist there and prepare for a delicious Italian meal. Those who want to hit a little leg can also stroll through the local markets and take home typical Italian products such as sausages and fresh pasta.
Subway: Go down anywhere: Canal St, Grand St, Spring St or Bowery
- The Wall Street bull and the fearless girl
The biggest symbol of the economic power of the New York Stock Exchange, the Wall Street bull is one of the city’s most visited free attractions. Work of the artist Arturo di Modica, is right near the financial district, in Bowling Green Park. Urban legend says that if you rub the horn, muzzle or testicles of the sculpture, you will attract luck and prosperity to your life.
In front of the bull, the statue of a fearless little girl – in my opinion, much more interesting – is still there and, according to the New York authorities, will stay for a long time. The little girl’s sculpture with her hands around her waist, in a challenging pose, is a critique of the mostly male environment of the finance world and a tribute to female leadership and resistance in the labor market, despite all mishaps. The image was placed there in celebration of the International Women’s Day of 2017, but has already won the hearts of local residents and tourists from around the world.
Subway: Bowling Green Station (Green Lines 4 and 5)
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum
Right where the twin towers stood is Ground Zero, a memorial to all who died in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. There are about 3,000 names engraved on bronze plates in the two water mirrors that form the memorial. The visit is free, but there is a September 11 Museum, on the premises of the memorial, whose entrance costs 24 dollars. There is an official guided tour that runs both the memorial and the museum, on a 1h30 tour.
Metro: Lines A, C, J, 2, 2, 3, 4 or 5 to Fulton Street or the R line to Cortlandt Street
At the top of the skyscraper built at ground zero of the Twin Towers, now the tallest in the West, is an observatory from where you have one of the best views of Manhattan. One World Trade Center is 540 metres high and is right next to the memorial. In addition to the viewpoint, which is on the 102nd floor, there is also an interactive center that has panels with testimonials from the people who worked on the work. Entrance costs 32 dollars. There is an on-site restaurant for those who want to have lunch with a view of New York.
Address: 285 Fulton Street. Open daily from 9am to 8pm (the box office closes at 7:15 p.m.). On the official website it is possible to buy the tickets in advance.
Located at the southern end of the Island, Battery Park is right off the bay of New York and with a beautiful view of it, the famous, unique, absolute star… Statue of Liberty. The ferry leaves for Liberty Island, the island where the statue is located. Therefore, if you plan to do this tour, Battery Park is a must stop on your trip. Tickets are sold inside the park at Castle Clinton.
Those who prefer to save the obamas (sorry, I still do not overcame) can simply relax on one of the benches of the park and enjoy the view, which is beautiful at sunset. There are also several monuments scattered throughout the park, among them The Sphere, a famous metal globe that once stood in the WTC square.
Those who do not want to see the Statue of Liberty close by can take the free ferry that crosses to Staten Island and that, on the way and back, passes in front of the statue. The ferry leaves the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan, near the World Trade Center memorial and Wall Street. Read more about how to see the Statue of Liberty for free.
Manhattan ends where Brooklyn begins. And it is this bridge, absolute postcard, that connects the two parts of the city. Built between 1869 and 1883, it was the world’s first suspended steel bridge. The grace here is to cross it on foot and stop to take pictures in the middle of it, with the beautiful structure and the river below. On the other side, already in Brooklyn, there are great places to photograph it in panorama (see soon more). The crossing has a total length of two kilometers.
A good idea is to leave to do this tour on the day you visit Brooklyn, because, coming from the other side, there are a lot of cool attractions nearby and you can still schedule to make the crossing early in the morning, when the place is, in general, more quiet. To cross it from Manhattan, head to Brooklyn Bridge City Hall station (lines 4, 5.5 or 6), which is in a park almost across the coast. From there just follow the plates. It’s all very well signaled over there.
If you have a pike, consider renting a bike for the crossing. In the end, you can still take a roll through Brooklyn Bridge Park, which has one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the island. There’s a bike rental shop nearby.
Hotels in New York: Brooklyn
Cross the bridge and you are no longer in Manhattan. Welcome to Brooklyn! In the past a stronghold of urban violence that granted him a bad reputation since the 1990s the region has gone through a process of revitalization and gentrification that has made it the favorite neighborhood of young people, artists and hipsters in New York. Expect to find a more cooler, creative and more expensive environment of ordinary life than in Manhattan, without leaving aside the cultural and gastronomic effervescence that is the face of the city.
Located just below the Brooklyn Bridge and on the shores of the East River, this park of 85 hectares hides trails, hills and gardens so quiet that they make us forget that they are in one of the largest cities in the world. That’s when, of course, the Manhattan skyline doesn’t steal the scene with one of the best panoramic views of the island, including the bridge, One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty.
It is in Brooklyn Bridge Park that is the Jane’s Carroussel, a vintage carousel still in operation that adorns that is a wonder in the photos overlooking Manhattan. Sit on the grass, get some sun while reading a book, have a picnic. Or, if you followed my advice and rented a bike to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, follow the Greenway bike path, which connects Pier 1 to Pier 6, one of the best ways to get to know the park.
Restaurant tip: When you are at Pier 6, stop by Fornino, a pizzeria famous in the region for having a beautiful view of the island. Another trendy place to eat around is Luke’s Lobster (11 Water St), which serves the traditional lobster sandwiches.
Metro: York Station (Line F)
Harvested on the Brooklyn Bridge and encompassing Brooklyn Bridge Park is a small region known as D.U.M.B.O., an acronym for the phrase “Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass.” In the past an industrial neighborhood used for the landing of the ferries, the place preserves that half square way of the factories, many of them transformed into spacious lofts after the deindustrialization of the city in the 1970s.
These spaces attracted young artists in search of a cheap place to live and a studio to work, which propelled the transformation of the area, today full of art galleries and, in a more recent movement, technology startups.
One of the most famous places in the area is Washington St. John’s. There is the classic view of the Brooklyn bridge between buildings, so explored in the cinema and TV series. To get to know the local artists, take a walk at the Dumbo Arts Center (111 Front Street).
- Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Brooklyn also has its boardwalk. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a raised catwalk with amazing views to… guess what? She herself, the wonderful Manhattan. But not only that: the tour also goes through blocks full of houses typical Brooklyn stories, that little diz that we are used to seeing in the movies, you know?
The place began to become famous in the 1980s, when it was used as a location for films such as Annie Hall and the Moon Spell. Even today is a great choice for a quiet walk (and, if you are lucky, romantic), through New York.
Restaurant tip: Leaving there, pass at Junior’s (386 Flatbush Ave Ext), confectionery that is 1500 meters from the Promenade. It may not seem so close, but I guarantee that the walk is worth it: the restaurant has the reputation of having the best cheesecake in the city.
If we research it right, maybe you find out that the hipsters all came from Williamsburg. Filled with street art, galleries, bars and modern cafes, the region is the one that best preserves the alternative spirit in New York, despite having lost much of this atmosphere in the last years.
In the past, no network store could open a unit in Williamsburg, but today we already see Starbucks showing up here and there. The neighborhood, however, is still filled with unique bars, cafes and restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. To see what is left of the authentic Williamsburg, walk in the region between 6th and 11th streets. It is there that you will see some of the huge urban art panels that, among other things, make the neighborhood’s fame.
One of the most famous stops there is the Brooklyn Brewery (79 N 11th St.), a craft brewery that has already become a landmark in the neighborhood. The place offers free guided tours on weekends. The tours leave every hour, between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sundays, and last 30 minutes. On Friday nights, the brewery turns into a bar. If you want to take the tour during the week, you must book it first.
How to get there: Line L of the subway or by boat, taking the East River Ferry at Pier 11, near Wall Street, or between 34th and 35th st.
Attractions, little cuisines, vintage clothes and decoration, handicrafts… Brooklyn Flea is the largest and coolest flea market in the city and still one of the best places to achieve unique, stylish pieces and unforstable bargains.
Coladinha in it is also a gastronomic fair for foodie no defect. Smorgasburg focuses on culinary experiences, especially those that value exotic flavors and organic production. Among the many stalls in front of the East River, with a scandalous view of Manhattan, you take culinary trips to many corners of the world.
Read also: Smorgasburg, the gastronomic fair of Booklyn.
Location: The fair changes a lot of address, but the most common is that it occurs at Williamsburg Flea (in East River State Park), Fort Greene Flea (in Fort Greene, on Lafayette Avenue) or D.U.M.B.O., near the Brooklyn Bridge. To find out the exact location at the time of your trip, please visit the official website.
Operation: The fair takes place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 11am to 6pm, from April to November. In the winter months, it is transferred to covered pavilions.
Where to stay in New York: hosting tips
If you want tips on which neighborhoods are to stay in the city, including off-center and most economical options, give a read in our NYC lodging guide.
The 360meridians team has already stayed at HI NYC Hostel on the Upper West Side and Dharma Home Suites in New Jersey. You can search these and other options that fit your budget in the map below:
