New York: cosa vedere nella Big Apple

New York is the city that never sleeps, which overwhelms you and intoxicates you with its thousand colors, scents, and emotions. Even if you spend only a few days there, you cannot escape the countless offers that the Big Apple has for you.

Here is a brief guide that illustrates what to see in New York, the places not to miss in the Big Apple.

New York places of interest

1 Central Park

Central Park is definitely the most famous park in the world, featured in many TV series and Hollywood movies. It stretches from 59th street to 110th street in Manhattan, in New York, with its romantic tree-lined avenues. It is visited by 40 million people a year, New Yorkers and many tourists. This park offers numerous sports attractions, ideal for those who want to go running and cycling. For those who decide to spend Christmas in New York, during this period the park offers the opportunity to ice skate, thanks to the Wollman Rink, the ice rink immortalized in many films where you can spend hours skating.

2 Statue of Liberty

Inaugurated in 1886, it is a monument symbolizing freedom and democracy, the Statue of Liberty has also become a symbol of New York and the United States of America. This famous monument was gifted by France to the United States for the centenary of the War of Independence. Originally designed as a lighthouse, since 1984 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage and is visited by about 11 million people each year. More information about the Statue of Liberty.

3 Times Square

It is one of the major intersections in the New York district of Manhattan, one of the iconic places of the American city of New York. During the Recession period, the Times Square area was considered dangerous and unsuitable for tourism, while today it has achieved the status of a landscape icon, being especially known for its large and numerous animated and digital billboards. It is crossed by one of the most famous shopping streets in the world, Fifth Avenue, where the shops with the most prestigious fashion brands in the world are located. The New Year’s Eve in Times Square is an experience that must be tried at least once in a lifetime, where a luminous sphere over three and a half meters in diameter, covered by 2,688 triangles of Waterford crystal, descends 23 meters along a pole placed at the top of the One Times Square building. All this is accompanied by a grand fireworks display.

4 Empire State Building

No visit to New York can be considered complete without a trip to the top of the Empire State Building. This Art Deco skyscraper is one of the city’s greatest symbols, having been the tallest skyscraper in the world from 1931 to 1967, and today the second tallest in the city after the One World Trade Center. This is a must-see spot in New York.

5 Brooklyn Bridge

Built between 1869 and 1883, it is the first steel bridge ever constructed and for a long time was the largest suspension bridge in the world. This bridge, with its 1.8 km span, connects Manhattan to Brooklyn and is one of the attractions for those visiting New York. The Brooklyn Bridge can be visited on foot along its entire length: try taking a walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan with the view of the skyscrapers ahead and you will see how it will be an unforgettable experience, especially if done at sunset.

6 Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center was the first complex in the world to integrate restaurants, offices, shops, and parks. By day and night, the Rockefeller Center is full of people looking to shop or simply eager to browse. At Christmas, the Rockefeller Center fills up with its majestic Christmas tree and the ice rink that attracts many people. The place where the Rockefeller Center stands was once a botanical garden of Columbia University. It is also possible to visit the panoramic terrace located at the top of the Rockefeller Center called Top of the Rock, a truly breathtaking observatory.

7 Museum of Modern Art MoMA

The Museum of Modern Art in New York, mostly known by the acronym MoMA, is one of the main cultural attractions of the Big Apple. It is located in Midtown Manhattan, on 53rd Street, between the famous Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. Founded in 1929, it has been an example for many other museums in the city. With the expansion of three new floors in 2019, the MoMA has increased its surface area by about 30%. The MoMA is an important stop for your visit to New York. In New York, there are also many family museums.

On a trip to New York, you always find something new ready to surprise you. Here are other points of interest in New York.

8 SoHo

The SoHo district (South of Houston) is one of the most popular with the city’s tourists. In the 1960s, the district was at risk of demolition. Fortunately, some architects and careful conservators pointed out how the cast-iron structure of some buildings could be an authentic attraction. Many artists began moving into the neighborhood, which saw the opening of venues, bars, and meeting places. The heart of the district is Greene Street where the buildings constructed in the second half of the 19th century are located. Later, the artists moved to TriBeCa, another neighborhood not to be missed.

9 Wall Street

Wall Street, in New York, is undoubtedly one of the most famous places in the American metropolis. Between Wall Street and Broad Street is the Federal Hall National Monument, the place where, in 1789, George Washington became the first President of the United States of America. Here is also the Trinity Church, one of the oldest Anglican churches and, above all, the New York Stock Exchange, founded in 1817 and still today a vital reference point for global finance. The New York Stock Exchange is located on the 17th floor of 1903 Wall Street. It has a very interesting visitor center worth seeing. In this financial center is also the Federal Reserve Bank, the U.S. central bank, the equivalent of our Bank of Italy.

Other places not to miss and things to do in New York

• Broadway theater district located on Broadway and nearby streets with over 40 theaters;
• Bronx a very populous borough with over one and a half million inhabitants;
• Solomon Museum cultural space that collects modern and contemporary art, founded in 1937, located at number 1071 on Fifth Avenue (Quinta Strada);
• Coney Island, a neighborhood situated in the southern part of the Brooklyn borough of New York. Known for its beaches and amusement park;
• Fulton Fish Market the largest fish market in the United States;
• Ellis Island the island that welcomed immigrants who had to undergo medical examinations before arriving in the city. Today it is a symbol and a place for guided tours, documented with photos and films;
• Saint Patrick Cathedral Catholic church built in 1850 in Gothic style. It is the largest Catholic place of worship in the United States.
• The sports stadiums
• Christmas Markets
• September 11 Memorial
• Horseback Tour of New York
• On the locations of The Great Gatsby

10 What to buy in New York

In the American metropolis, you can find everything in the various shops scattered along the streets. There are several stores selling quirky, sometimes hard-to-find items that complement those from major designers and luxury brands. Shopping in New York is very easy because the selection is truly so varied. An experience not to be missed. If, besides shopping, you are interested in the main attractions of New York, we recommend purchasing the New York CityPASS card, which offers a series of discounts.

11 How to get around New York

New York is so big that walking around it, except for a few neighborhoods, is practically impossible. Taxis, whose tip is mandatory (don’t forget to always have cash change available), are widely used even though, during rush hours, they remain stuck in traffic. Buses are a good alternative but not the best, as they are often very slow. The subway, on the other hand, as easy as it is, is highly recommended. Fast, inexpensive, and easy to use. Before leaving, it is necessary to prepare the essential documents for entering the United States. In addition to an electronic passport, you must have an ESTA for travel to New York and the rest of the States.

12 Where to eat in New York

Choosing a restaurant in New York is not difficult because the city offers a type of cuisine from almost every country in the world. There are many Italian restaurants but the advice is to invest in an experience different from what you find in our country also because, the Italian cuisine offered here, with due differences, is not the same as that found in Italy, having to adapt to American tastes. It goes from Fast Food with industrial and quick food, to more refined restaurants. Many New Yorkers follow the dining trends dictated by industry magazines. Remember the tip. In the States, it is almost always mandatory. And then there are some New York gastronomic specialties not to be missed.

13 Where to Sleep in New York

The hotel offerings in New York are extensive and include all types of accommodations. From guesthouses or one-star hotels to super luxurious 5-Star Luxury hotels, often offered by hotel chains, with presidential suites and views of the metropolis from the upper floors. Staying in New York, therefore, is only a matter of budget, as well as taste.