New York City attractions

This uptown New York City neighborhood is rich in history: In the 1920s, the Harlem Renaissance saw an explosion of African American art, literature, and music. Today the area remains a cultural powerhouse, with jazz clubs, theaters, and soul food spots tucked away among old brownstones and contemporary restaurants and bars. Head here to catch a show, see some art, or grab a bite.

One of the largest museums in the world, the American Museum of Natural History has everything from a life-sized replica of a blue whale hanging from the ceiling to towering displays of dinosaur skeletons. It’s also a first-class research institution, devoted to fields like paleontology and zoology. The museum has been a New York City institution since its founding in 1869 and shows no signs of slowing down. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t rush to visit.

St. Paul’s Chapel opened in 1766, one year into the American Revolution—George Washington once attended services here. Located in what is now Lower Manhattan’s Financial District, it is an active place of worship and part of the parish of Trinity Church. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the chapel became a place of refuge for firefighters and emergency workers. Today, it’s known as Manhattan’s oldest public building still in use.

Any fan of the TV show Friends will recognize the exterior of the apartment building in Greenwich Village. Although the show was filmed on a studio set, this apartment building appeared in the opening credits of every episode. While it is not possible to go inside this private apartment building, many Friends fans plan a visit here to snap a photo in front of the charming building.

Its name may suggest cartoon elephants, but Dumbo—short for "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass"—is actually one of northern Brooklyn’s most stylish and photogenic neighborhoods. Formerly an industrial area, the now-regenerated Dumbo boasts cobblestone streets and converted warehouses that contain trendy galleries, boutiques, and coffee shops. Its views of the Manhattan skyline (and both the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge) are hard to beat.

Like the Empire State Building, the Flatiron Building, or the Chrysler Building, the United Nations Headquarters is among New York City’s most iconic structures, as well as its most significant political sites. A number of buildings comprise the complex, including the domed General Assembly Hall and the Secretariat Building, a high-rise completed in the early 1950s. Visitors can get a peek behind the scenes during guided tours.

Founded by American industrialist Henry Clay Frick, the Frick Collection is the premier NYC destination for art from the Renaissance to the late 19th century. It’s home to one of the world’s foremost collections of European fine and decorative arts; you can see celebrated works by Rembrandt, Fragonard, El Greco, Ingres, Bellini, Vermeer, and more. The Frick Art Reference Library is a leading global resource in the field of art history, open to researchers and the public alike.

Located in Lower Manhattan, the historic Seaport District was New York’s original commercial hub. Old ships docked at the South Street Seaport Museum are evidence of the area’s international trade dating back to the 1600s, though today’s Seaport is a 21st-century shopping, dining, and entertainment district. Find endless activities along the district’s cobblestone streets, and don’t miss the stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Big Apple skyline from Pier 17.

A suspended viewing deck with glass walls, Edge NYC is one of Manhattan’s most dramatic lookout points. Jutting out over Hudson Yards in Manhattan’s west side, the Edge’s SkyDeck offers 360-degree views and even an area with a see-through glass floor—peer down 100 stories if you dare. Visitors are drawn to the attraction not only for the unforgettable views but also for the Champagne bar, which offers a range of signature cocktails.

Perched atop Vista Rock in Central Park, this miniature castle looks more medieval than Manhattan—yet Belvedere Castle has become one of the park’s most iconic landmarks. Its visitor center doles out helpful info to travelers, and the gift shop is stocked with Central Park-themed souvenirs. Most people come for the view from the castle’s terraces, which gaze out across Turtle Pond, the Ramble, and the Great Lawn.

Chelsea Market is a food hall and marketplace that played a key role in the revival of the Meatpacking District’s reputation as a culinary destination. Today, it’s popular among both city dwellers and visitors for its top-notch food vendors and restaurants. Bring your appetite—and a sense of curiosity—to get the most out of your visit.

Since John D. Rockefeller founded Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in 1955, it’s grown into one of New York City’s cultural powerhouses. Eleven different venues make up the vast complex, where lovers of the arts can enjoy performances by the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, and New York Philharmonic. Whether a celebrity-studded film premiere, an open-air music concert, or a night at the opera, there’s always something happening at Lincoln Center.

Union Square is the city’s main dining, entertainment, and shopping district. Visitors can shop at department stores and designer boutiques; stop into various art galleries; grab a bite to eat at any of a number of restaurants; and see a live performance at a nearby theater.

Performers from Ella Fitzgerald to Sammy Davis Jr. have graced the neoclassical stage of this Harlem landmark—and its sometimes raucous, weekly Amateur Night has been running for nearly a century. During the rest of the week, the venue draws crowds for music, theater, film, and other performances. And on guided tours of the venue, travelers get the chance to peek backstage.

The George Washington Bridge, which spans the Hudson River, connects New Jersey with Manhattan. This double-decker suspension bridge may be less famous than the Brooklyn Bridge, but it’s still an engineering feat. Dating back to 1931, the bridge offers stunning views of the city, as well as options to drive, cycle, or walk across it, making it a functional and scenic way to see New York from a new vantage point.

Radio City Music Hall is a glitzy landmark that has entertained the masses since the Rockettes dance troop first kicked up their heels here in the early 1930s. The 6,000-seat theater was a gift from the Rockefellers to New York and continues to host nightly shows to this day. Performers range from stand-up comedians to chart-topping musical artists.

Constructed in 1913, NYC’s Woolworth Building was the tallest in the world when it first opened, and is known for its neo-Gothic design. With its intricate lobby, complete with mosaic vaulted ceilings, the landmark has long attracted art and architecture buffs, but it’s privately owned and currently closed to visitors. Tours of the lobby may return in the future.

Located on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, this 58-story high-rise is filled with a mix of residential, shopping, and dining spaces. It once served as the filming location for the TV show The Apprentice. You’ll find four Trump-branded eateries here: Trump Grill, the more casual Trump Café, the 45 Wine & Whiskey bar, and Trump Sweets. The skyscraper also boasts Gucci’s flagship NYC location.

Once home to Beat poets, jazz musicians, and the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, the West Village now boasts some of New York City’s most desirable real estate. It’s easy to see why the neighborhood appeals to both locals and visitors while strolling its walkable cobblestone streets, lined with picturesque 19th-century townhouses, trendy boutiques, and many of Manhattan’s best restaurants.

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is one of the must-see attractions in New York City’s Central Park. Loved by athletes for its running track, the reservoir—which spans the park and offers skyline views—is also a great place for photographers. Whether you enjoy a relaxing stroll along the water or prefer to bring sneakers for a jog, the reservoir is worth exploring as part of a Central Park tour.

While New York City may be home to some of the world’s biggest celebrities, a visit to Madame Tussauds gives you a better chance of being starstruck than walking down the streets of Manhattan. Get up close and personal with the likes of Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Selena Gomez at this family-friendly wax museum, set in the heart of Times Square.

Formerly known as the World Financial Center, this mixed-use waterfront complex pairs office space with upscale retail and restaurant options. Renovations after the September 11 attacks upgraded Brookfield Place to a new level of splendor, making it one of Lower Manhattan’s most popular dining and entertainment destinations.

Though many visitors stick around the bright lights of Midtown, don’t miss the chance to explore Lower Manhattan. Definitions of the parameters of Lower Manhattan can differ but generally include the buzzing neighborhoods south of 14th Street, such as Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown, the Financial District, and more. Lower Manhattan is popular for its excellent shopping, wide range of restaurants, historic sights, architecture tours, and, of course, top-notch people-watching.

Although the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian is headquartered in Washington DC, its New York City location (also known as the George Gustav Heye Center) offers visitors an additional opportunity to learn and explore. Located in the historic Alexander Hamilton US Custom House in Lower Manhattan, the museum hosts exhibitions and performing arts programs that celebrate the culture, history, and diversity of the Native peoples of the Americas.

An anomaly amidst the skyscrapers of Lower Manhattan, this sprawling defensive fort was built in the early 1800s following Britain’s declaration of war on the United States. It was positioned strategically to overlook the Hudson River. Castle Clinton went on to predate Ellis Island as the nation’s first immigrant processing center, as well as an opera house and aquarium. Today, the fort is a protected monument and an important piece of New York City history.

Visitors flock to New York City’s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum as much for the building as its vast collection of modern and contemporary art: The bold circular white structure designed by world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright is a UNESCO-listed landmark. Inside, its spiraling ramp leads upward between exhibition floors and toward a skylight, which bathes the interior in natural light.

Giant honeycomb? Elaborate staircase? M.C. Escher–inspired art installation? This sleek attraction in the heart of the Hudson Yards development is all three and more—climb all around its staircases and landings for fun, exercise, or to look out over sweeping views of Chelsea, Midtown Manhattan, and the Hudson River. Offering a unique visual experience from every one of its many angles, the Vessel is also a great place to snap pictures.

Bordered by Central Park to the east and Riverside Park to the west, the tree-lined avenues and chic brownstones of the Upper West Side are the antithesis of bustling Midtown Manhattan. Upmarket residential streets make up the bulk of the neighborhood, where you’ll find family-friendly eateries, museums, and cultural sights. Highlights include Lincoln Center, home to the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet; the American Museum of Natural History; and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

Located in Lower Manhattan, Bowling Green has been a gathering place for Manhattanites for centuries. Its name comes from a game that was played here, known as lawn bowling (similar to the French pétanque or Italian bocce). Today, this tiny wedge of green space in the bustling Financial District is best known as the home of the Charging Bull sculpture.

If Brooklyn is New York City’s coolest borough, then Williamsburg is its ultimate hipster mecca. Packed with galleries, music venues, and art spaces, the neighborhood has long been a prime destination to soak up the borough’s eclectic culture. Today, locals and visitors come to admire the street art, head to destination restaurants, hit trendy dive bars, and shop indie boutiques and thrift stores.