New York City attractions

The Manhattan skyline is New York City’s shining beacon, designed to impress and inspire. It’s one of the most instantly recognizable backdrops, immortalized in countless films, and features historical fixtures such as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, as well as modern masterpieces like One World Trade Center and 432 Park Avenue. See it sparkle from vantage points in New York and New Jersey.

Few New York City landmarks turn heads like the Brooklyn Bridge, an 1883 beauty spanning the East River between Lower Manhattan and DUMBO. While architecture buffs can marvel at the neo-Gothic stone arches and 19th-century engineering, most travelers will simply see an essential piece of the New York City skyline—and head straight for the walking promenade to take a whole lot of photos.

Set between Central Park and the East River, Manhattan’s Upper East Side has long been one of New York City’s wealthiest neighborhoods. Home to the famous Fifth and Madison avenues, the area is filled with stately mansions overlooking Central Park, most dating from the early 20th-century Gilded Age—a slice of classic, historic New York. High-end stores and a plethora of museums along the Museum Mile make this area a shopping and cultural hot spot.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Get undisrupted views of the Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn Bridge Park, which stretches across six piers on the borough’s northern waterfront. In addition to being a popular reprieve from the city with its nature trails and gardens, the park also features family-friendly attractions such as a roller rink, recreational courts, and Jane’s Carousel.

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 abandoned elevated railway track converted into a park, the High Line is a Manhattan green space beloved by locals and visitors alike. Stretching over the formerly industrial west side of the city, this lengthy public park serves as an escape hatch for anyone who wants to rise above the street-level hubbub and admire views of the Hudson River. You’ll find ample greenery, artisanal food stands, public art, and some of the best people-watching perches and picnic spots in town.

This public park at the southern tip of Manhattan offers unbeatable views across New York Harbor, including the Statue of Liberty, as well as plenty of space to spread out across its 25 acres (10 hectares). It’s an ideal place for a stroll or picnic on the grass, and also serves as the gateway, via ferry terminal, to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Staten Island.

A New York City icon for more than 100 years, Macy’s Herald Square is one of the world’s most famous department stores and a National Historic Landmark. For many, a trip to the city would not be complete without spending a couple of hours browsing the store’s 10 levels of fashion, beauty, homewares, and more, as well as enjoying a variety of restaurants. Over the holidays, the store’s elaborate window displays attract thousands of visitors.

On the west side of Manhattan, New York City’s Hudson River Park stretches 4.5 miles (7 kilometers) along the waterfront and comprises 550 acres (220 hectares) of protected urban parkland. The park is the setting for a range of activities, from taking a yoga or fitness class on the riverfront to enjoying a nostalgic spin at the Pier 62 Carousel.

No New York City quarter has undergone a glow-up quite as dramatic as the Meatpacking District. Home to slaughterhouses and meatpacking plants since the 19th century, it transformed in the 1990s and 2000s, when artists, designers, and creatives began moving into the long-abandoned warehouses. Today, it’s one of Manhattan’s hippest neighborhoods, home to luxurious hotels, high-end designer boutiques, and upscale dining, as well as the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Liberty State Park is a revitalized park in Jersey City that serves as a departure point for ferries to reach the popular landmarks of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Once an industrial area, the park now offers a 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) promenade with views overlooking the Hudson River, the New York City skyline, and one of the world’s most famous statues.

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.

Occupying an entire block on New York City's Fifth Avenue, Saks Fifth Avenue is one of Manhattan's most storied department stores. Since 1924, it has attracted shoppers with its opulent decor and range of luxury brands, while its Christmas window displays are an annual festive highlight. It also offers several dining options and various spa services, so visitors can make a day of it.

Visitors get a taste of what it’s like to be a spy at this fascinating NYC museum dedicated to the world of espionage and intelligence. From learning about real-life undercover stories to taking part in codebreaking, surveillance tests, and other challenges, there’s plenty to keep curious minds engaged—and you’ll even come out with a personal spy profile.

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.

The Fraunces Tavern Museum is the oldest surviving building in the Big Apple. George Washington was a regular here back in the mid-1700s, during the American Revolution. Today, the upper floors of the mansion are a museum dedicated to Revolutionary artifacts, while the downstairs operates as a restaurant and tavern. Visitors can also see the room where Washington bade farewell to his officers at the end of the Revolution.

Carnegie Hall is one of New York’s most iconic performance centers, dating back to 1891. Having hosted musical greats from Gustav Mahler to Duke Ellington to Judy Garland, it’s a venue steeped in history and prestige. Today, it’s known for its world-class performances—from solo acts to full orchestras—making it a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the magic of live music in a legendary setting.

One of the highest indoor slides in New York City and a swimming pool packed with rainbow sprinkles draw visitors to the Museum of Ice Cream in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. This is a destination for sampling sweet treats (including vegan options) and exploring colorful installations such as a sprinkle cave and a banana jungle; these technicolor rooms are popular as photo backdrops.

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.

In the heart of New York City’s Financial District, this stately building is one of 12 regional banks in the US Federal Reserve System. While the bank’s museum and learning center offers educational tours to school groups, free public tours—including exhibits on monetary policy, rare coins, and a peek at the Gold Vault—are currently suspended.

All too often overlooked in favor of New York City’s more famous bridges, Williamsburg Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was built in 1903. Crossing the East River between Manhattan’s Lower East Side and Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood, it’s a major thoroughfare for cars, trains, bikes, and pedestrians, known for its distinctive pink-painted raised walkway and cycleway and panoramic city views.

Tiffany & Co.’s flagship store—known as The Landmark—offers a glittering slice of Manhattan glamour. Set on Fifth Avenue and reimagined in 2023, the 10-story building blends luxury shopping with cultural experiences, from rotating exhibits to the elegant Blue Box Café. Open to the public, it’s a chance to browse the brand’s famous jewelry and snap a photo outside the storefront made legendary by Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

This isn’t your typical observation deck. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt lifts you high above Manhattan and then flips your perspective with mirrored floors, soaring glass walls, and immersive art installations. From sky-high views to surreal, walk-through experiences, every moment here feels like part thrill ride, part modern art exhibit. Spread across three levels, it’s one of New York City’s boldest and most unforgettable attractions.

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.

One of the world’s leading art institutions, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is a showcase for some of the best works by the most respected artists of the modern era. A visit to this New York City landscape gives you a front-row seat to such masterpieces as Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans, and Frida Kahlo’s Self Portrait with Cropped Hair.