New York City attractions

One of three main airports in the New York City area (the others being Newark and JFK), LaGuardia Airport, or LGA, is frequented by a number of travelers to New York. It’s the smallest of the three airports and is mainly domestic, with hubs for Delta and American airlines. With the exception of flights to Canada, this is not an international airport. LGA has four terminals: A, B, C, and D.

Part of New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Jazz at Lincoln Center has delighted listeners for more than 30 years. With a house big band led by the legendary Wynton Marsalis, and a rotating roster of shows featuring guest artists, Jazz at Lincoln Center holds performances in three dedicated venues, all hosted at Midtown Manhattan’s Columbus Circle.

Best known as the home of the US Open Tennis Championships, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is among the largest tennis centers in the world. Located in Queens, New York City, the US Open is the stadium complex’s main draw, but it attracts tennis fans throughout the year with bookable courts, tennis camps for kids, and stadium tours.

One of Lower Manhattan’s major thoroughfares—and the main artery through Chinatown—the 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) Canal Street stretches from the Hudson River to the Manhattan Bridge. Known for its ever-bustling feel, the street is filled with vendors selling knock-off designer items as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, and is also celebrated for its eclectic dining scene.

The Lower East Side’s Essex Market has been a neighborhood meeting and eating hub since the 1940s. First built on the site of a previous outdoor market as a way of bringing street vendors together, the multilevel indoor space continues to be a one-stop shop for quality food and produce, and has grown into a modern food hall full of choice eats.

One of three main airports in the New York City area (the others being JFK and LaGuardia), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is located in Newark, New Jersey. Frequented by travelers to New York and the rest of the east coast, it's a hub for United Airlines and operates many international flights. The airport has three terminals: A, B, and C.

Fans of Hamilton—and other history buffs—will be interested in the 1802 home built by founding father Alexander Hamilton in uptown Manhattan, now a museum called the Hamilton Grange National Memorial. To visit the estate, join a free guided tour that includes the historically furnished rooms of the Grange. Here you’ll learn about the life and times of Hamilton, including the famous duel that resulted in his death.

This colorful carousel is a family favorite in Manhattan’s Central Park. There’s been a carousel here since 1871, but the current one was installed in the 1950s. With 57 hand-carved horses and two chariots that ride around in circles to old-time music, both kids and fun-loving adults will enjoy going for a spin.

In bustling, historic Harlem, this world-renowned research library has been dedicated to upholding the legacy of Black culture, history, and thought since 1925. Part of the New York Public Library, the Schomburg Center is open to the public. Events and exhibits are held throughout the year, and researchers have access to reading rooms and the research center’s vast archival collection.

Skating at The Rink at Rockefeller Center is one of New York’s favourite wintertime activities. For the ultimate festive experience, glide past the golden Prometheus statue and the extravagant Rockefeller Christmas tree at this holiday season staple, which warms up the winter months with a fun program of events.

For more than 150 years, the Brooklyn Academy of Music—better known as BAM—has been showcasing the best of avant-garde film, dance, opera, theater, and dramatic arts, as well as hosting author visits and panel talks. Drawing more than half a million annual visitors, BAM’s three Brooklyn venues together host more than 200 performances a year, cementing its status as one of Brooklyn’s leading cultural organizations.

Built for the 1939 World’s Fair, Queens’ largest park is home to the iconic Unisphere, a stainless-steel representation of Earth that debuted when the World’s Fair returned in 1964. The sphere is flanked by the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and Queens Theater; behind it lies the Queens Museum—in other words, the park is a public green space with cultural and sporting cachet to boot.

Science is well and truly brought to life at the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI), where a series of interactive, hands-on exhibits teach visitors about everything from ecological systems to energy generation, microorganisms to engineering. Here, learning and play coexist to inspire budding scientists—whether young or old.

Get a front row seat to New York City on The Ride, a one-of-a-kind bus tour and entertainment experience in Midtown Manhattan. Throughout the tour, keep your eyes peeled for surprise performances from local talent, ranging from ballet dancers to rappers. The bus features floor-to-ceiling windows, glass-top roofs, and stadium-style seating, giving you a bigger city view than typical bus tours.

Dive into Manhattan’s maritime past with a visit to the South Street Seaport Museum, a cultural landmark in the heart of the South Street Seaport Historic District. The museum is known for its vintage ships docked outside, but inside the exhibition halls are full of treasures, from art depicting maritime life to historic photographs and artifacts. This museum provides an extensive look into the founding history of New York City and the role the seaport played in that evolution.

Though it comprises just a small section of Midtown Manhattan, New York’s Koreatown is one of the city’s most dynamic and lively neighborhoods. A particularly popular destination in the evening, when crowds flock to its Korean barbecue restaurants or hit its late-night karaoke parlors, Koreatown is an ideal place to spend a memorable night out in the Big Apple.

Taking up three city blocks, Empire Outlets is New York City’s only outlet “mall”—though, clearly, this one is more than enough. Right on Staten Island's waterfront, this shopping complex with an outdoor plaza has dozens of retail storefronts, plenty of restaurants, and even live, green rooftops for fabulous views of Lower Manhattan. This stop could take you a while.

One of Manhattan’s most storied bars—and one of the oldest continually operating taverns in the city—the White Horse Tavern is suffused with literary and cultural lore. Best known as the place where poet Dylan Thomas drank his final whiskey before his death, the bar was also frequented by luminaries like Bob Dylan, James Baldwin, and Jack Kerouac.

Home of The Met Cloisters, and spanning 67 acres (27 hectares), Fort Tryon Park offers an escape from the city bustle. The park is located along Manhattan’s northern edge and features extensive walking paths and gardens, outdoor recreation, and views of the Hudson River from one of the highest points in the borough. The Met Cloisters is a must-visit for art and design enthusiasts who come to explore the museum’s European medieval art and architecture.

A red neon sign greets visitors to the Empire Hotel, an Upper West Side destination famous for both its scenic rooftop and its association with the TV series Gossip Girl. With a prime location near Lincoln Center and Central Park, this sleek hotel offers a number of other draws for guests, including an outdoor plunge pool, sweeping skyline views, and pet-friendly policies.

One of NYC’s historical stars, New York City Hall presides over a leafy park in Lower Manhattan and has been the city’s seat of government since 1812. Designated as a US National Historic Landmark and crowned by a splendid rotunda, this palatial 19th-century building boasts grand American-Georgian and French architecture, plus a storied history.

In the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, spread out over 12 acres (5 hectares) along the East River, Gantry Plaza State Park is a grassy waterfront area with fantastic views of midtown Manhattan’s skyline. It’s also a great place to jog, play sports, or bring your kids, particularly in the summer when the park’s splash pads are turned on.

A piece of New York theater history, the Lyceum Theatre holds the honored position of the oldest continually operating theater on Broadway, built in 1903 and taken over by the famous Shubert Brothers in 1950. Known for its pretty beaux arts-style facade, the intimate venue has hosted Tony Award-winning shows such as A View from the Bridge and Venus in Fur, as well as audience favorite The Play That Goes Wrong.

In 1991, as part of the construction of the Ted Weiss Federal Building, more than 400 skeletons were discovered in what is now understood to be a 6.6-acre burial ground for enslaved and free Africans that held more than 15,000. The African Burial Ground National Monument marks one of America’s most significant archeological discoveries of the 20th century.

From its HQ in the heart of Brooklyn, the Raaka Chocolate Factory creates vegan, organic chocolate from single-origin and transparently traded cacao. Since it was founded in 2011, it’s quickly become a staple of Brooklyn’s food scene, thanks to its award-winning sweet treats and hands-on workshops that follow the chocolate-making process from bean to bar.

New York City’s Lyric Theatre is one of the largest theaters in Times Square. Located just off Broadway, it’s known for hosting major productions, including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. With its grand architecture and top-notch shows, it’s a popular destination for both local and visiting theatergoers. And in the spirit of wizardry, there are augmented-reality features in the lobby that guests can scan to reveal hidden secrets.

One of the original theaters of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex, the David H. Koch Theater is among New York City’s most prestigious venues and home to the New York City Ballet. Built under the name New York State Theater for the 1964-1965 World’s Fair, it’s known for its magnificent 2,544-seat auditorium adorned with glittering gold panels and a spherical chandelier.

The Federal Hall National Memorial in New York City’s Financial District is a historic landmark where George Washington took the presidential oath in 1789, marking the birth of the US government. Explore its impressive Greek Revival architecture, exhibits on the country’s beginnings, and artifacts like Washington’s inaugural Bible. This memorial is particularly popular with history enthusiasts.

Astoria is a colorful residential neighborhood in Queens with Greek immigrant roots and a growing Little Egypt area. A hidden gem destination for travelers interested in exploring away from Manhattan, it's home to more than a few worthy museums and public spaces, such as the Museum of the Moving Image and Socrates Sculpture Park.

Picturesque Bow Bridge is one of the most photographed spots in Central Park—and for good reason. Connecting Cherry Hill with the Ramble, the cast-iron bridge was built in 1862 and resembles an archer’s bow. It incorporates Gothic, neoclassical, and Renaissance elements. You might recognize the bridge from classic films such as Manhattan and The Way We Were.