New York City attractions

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.

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.

Built as a living memorial to the lives lost in the Holocaust, and in testament to those who survived, New York City’s Museum of Jewish Heritage is both emotional and educational. Set amid the peaceful surroundings of Lower Manhattan’s Battery Park City, the permanent exhibitions are filled with artifacts, old photographs, personal items, and first-hand accounts that tell the stories of the survivors and their families.

Spanning three city blocks, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world and home to the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Construction began in 1892, and the still-incomplete cathedral is renowned for its blend of Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic architectural styles. Head inside to see its massive stained-glass rose window, tiled dome by Guastavino, Chapels of the Tongues, and rose garden.

This arty, gritty enclave is one of New York City’s most iconic neighborhoods. In the 1960s, hippies, artists, and musicians flocked to the area, and many countercultural icons have called the area home, from photographer Nan Goldin and beat poet Allen Ginsberg to music legends like Patti Smith and Lou Reed. The neighborhood is chicer now, but the indie vibe remains strong. Dive bars, tattoo parlors, vintage clothing retailers, and record shops mingle with top-notch restaurants and boutiques.

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.

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.

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.

The pocket-sized NYC neighborhood of Nolita (North of Little Italy) is famous for its trendy shopping and dining scene. Less glamorous than SoHo but more refined than Little Italy—which Nolita detached from in the mid-90s—this petite neighborhood has a cozy, charming vibe all of its own. Its narrow streets are home to numerous galleries, independently owned shops, and bijou cafés.

A hub for immigrants since the mid-19th century, the Lower East Side is now one of Manhattan’s trendiest neighborhoods. You’ll find art galleries, mission-driven bookstores, and unique boutiques and restaurants in this district bordered by East Houston, Bowery, and Canal Street. Though new housing developments have replaced many of the area’s historic factories and tenement buildings, the neighborhood’s Jewish, Italian, Chinese, and Latino influences live on.

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.

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.

This trendy district was once a gritty industrial area, known for its warehouses and factories. Starting in the 1960s, artists began to populate the neighborhood’s large, light-filled lofts as live-work spaces, triggering a transformation. Today, TriBeCa is considered one of downtown Manhattan’s coolest and most exclusive addresses. The neighborhood is filled with trendy cafés, restaurants, and bars, cutting-edge art galleries, celebrity-owned penthouses, and hip boutiques.

The New York Historical has a claim to fame as NYC’s first museum. Visitors come here to discover over 400 years of American history, including artifacts, documents, and artwork. From Indigenous heritage to subjects such as the Hollywood blacklist, and exhibitions and activities for kids on the lower level, the museum offers an immersive experience, making it a fascinating stop for anyone curious about the history of New York and the country as a whole.

Billed as “the world’s most famous arena,” Madison Square Garden—also known as “the Garden”—has been a mecca of sports and entertainment for over half a century. Home to the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, the Midtown Manhattan venue also regularly hosts boxing matches and other sporting events, as well as concerts by world-renowned artists.

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.

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.

Walking around Dyker Heights, you may feel like you’ve wandered out of New York City and into a Connecticut suburb. But no, don’t let the stately Victorian mansions and tree-lined residential blocks fool you. This tight-knit neighborhood is still very much the Big Apple. And it may not be on the tourist track (yet) outside of the Christmas holidays, but if you value atmosphere over attractions, Dyker Heights offers plenty of hidden charm.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NYC visitors looking for an art museum downtown will find much to love at this substantial museum. Set in a Renzo Piano-designed building overlooking the High Line, the Whitney Museum is a champion of contemporary American art. It’s home to works from big names such as Edward Hopper and Georgia O’Keeffe, and its celebrated biennial serves as a launchpad for lesser-known 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.

Union Square is a lively public space in the heart of Manhattan, between Greenwich Village and the Flatiron District. Come here to stroll through Union Square Park, watch street performers, or visit the popular Greenmarket—a lively farmers market that can feature over 140 stalls. From fresh produce to artisan goods to cooking demonstrations and tasty street food, it’s a buzzing destination that’s fun for browsing and people-watching alike.

Located along New York City’s Museum Mile, the Neue Galerie New York is dedicated entirely to Austrian and German art and design from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Housed in an elegant Gilded Age beaux arts mansion that once belonged to the Vanderbilts, the museum’s collection includes paintings, sculptures, photos, drawings, and decorative arts.

With its distinctive orange color, the Staten Island Ferry has been a familiar sight crossing New York Harbor since 1905. The free ferry is as popular with tourists as it is with commuters making their daily trip between Staten Island and Manhattan, thanks to its front-row views of the dazzling NYC skyline, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty.

Secreted away at the southern tip of Lower Manhattan, the Stone Street Historic District is one of New York City's oldest areas, with roots dating to the city's days as a Dutch settlement in the 17th century. Today, the cobblestone street—accessible to pedestrians only—is home to a range of fashionable restaurants and taverns, in addition to several notable historic landmarks.