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 miss 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 certainly 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, New York, with its romantic tree-lined avenues. It is visited by 40 million visitors 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 featured 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 a gift from France to the United States for the centenary of the War of Independence. Initially conceived as a lighthouse, since 1984 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage and is visited by about 11 million people each year. Further information on the Statue of Liberty.

3 Times Square

It is one of the main intersections in the New York district of Manhattan, one of the symbolic places of the American city of New York. During the Recession period, the area of Times Square was considered dangerous and unsuitable for tourism, while today it has achieved the status of a landscape icon, being known above all for the large and numerous animated and digital billboards. It is crossed by one of the most famous shopping streets in the world, the Fifth Avenue, where 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 Waterford crystal triangles, descends for 23 meters along a pole placed at the top of the One Times Square building. All this accompanied by a magnificent 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 major symbols, having been the tallest building in the world from 1931 to 1967, today the second tallest in the city after the One World Trade Center. This is a must-see place in New York.

5 Brooklyn Bridge

Built between 1869 and 1883, it is the first bridge made of steel and was for a long time 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 along its entire length on foot: try taking a walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan with the view of the skyscrapers ahead and you will see how unforgettable an experience it will be, especially if done at sunset.

6 Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center was the first complex in the world to integrate restaurants, offices, shops, parks. By day and by night, the Rockefeller Center is full of people looking to shop or simply eager to browse. At Christmas, the Rockefeller Center fills 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, mainly 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 well-known Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. Founded in 1929, it has served as an example for many other city museums. With the expansion of three new floors in 2019, the MoMA has increased its surface area by approximately 30%. The MoMA is an important stop for your visit to New York. In New York, there are also many family-friendly museums.

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

8 SoHo

The SoHo neighborhood (South of Houston) is one of the most appreciated by tourists in the city. In the 1960s, the neighborhood was at risk of demolition. Fortunately, some architects and attentive preservationists pointed out how the cast-iron structure of some buildings could be an authentic element of attraction. Many artists began to move into the neighborhood, which saw the opening of restaurants, bars, and meeting places. The heart of the neighborhood is Greene Street, where buildings from the second half of the 19th century are located. Subsequently, the artists moved towards 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 stands 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 a vital reference point for global finance today. 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 United States 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 the street of the same name 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 Fifth Avenue;
• Coney Island neighborhood located in the southern area of the Brooklyn borough in 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 here before entering the city. Today it is a symbol and a place for guided tours, documented with photos and films;
• Saint Patrick’s 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 Tours of New York
• In the places of The Great Gatsby

10 What to Buy in New York

In the American metropolis, you can find everything in the various shops that dot the different streets. There are several stores that sell 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, absolutely. If, in addition to shopping, you are interested in the main attractions of New York, we recommend purchasing the New York CityPASS, which offers a series of discounts.

11 How to Get Around New York

New York is so big that exploring it on foot, except for a few neighborhoods, is almost impossible. Taxis, whose tip is mandatory (don’t forget to always have cash available), are widely used although, during peak hours, they get stuck in traffic. Buses are a good alternative but not the best, as they are often very slow. The subway, on the other hand, is easy and highly recommended. Fast, inexpensive, and easy to use. Before departure, it is necessary to prepare the essential documents for entry into the United States. Besides the electronic passport, you must have the 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 ranges from Fast Food with industrial and fast 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 offer in New York is wide and includes 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.