New York attractions

At the Cave of the Winds observation decks, thrill-seeking visitors can get within 20 feet (6 meters) of the thundering Niagara Falls for an experience that feels like the inside of a tropical storm with torrents of water cascading down and winds up to 68 mph (109 kph). Safe to say, you’ll probably get wet.

One of the largest natural harbors in the world, New York Harbor is the gateway to Manhattan. It’s also a scenic spot to explore and a must for first-time visitors to New York City, with photo ops aplenty along its walking trails, bridges, and piers.

Greenwich Village, known for its cobblestone streets and historical brownstones, is home to Bleecker Street, Washington Square Park, the Whitney Museum, and New York University. Once a hub for 1960s counterculture, the area has since transformed into a residential neighborhood dotted with cozy eateries, upscale shops, and Hudson River walkways.

One of the most instantly recognizable backdrops for movie montages over recent years, the Manhattan skyline is New York City's shining beacon, designed to impress and inspire. From historical fixtures like the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building to the One World Trade Center, this man-made masterpiece dazzles at any time of day and from any vantage point in the NYC area.

The smallest of the three waterfalls that comprise world-famous Niagara Falls, Bridal Veil Falls is anything but small. Located on the US side of the falls, the 56-foot-wide (17-meter-wide) waterfall thunders over a 78-foot (24-meter) drop. Its frothy white cascade is reminiscent of a bride’s veil, hence the falls’ name.

Synonymous with US financial markets, capitalism, and the history of early New York, Wall Street runs for eight blocks, from Broadway to South streets, through Lower Manhattan. It may be the financial heart of the city and bustling with traders most days of the week, but the area also offers plenty of historic interest to visitors.

A big name in the baseball world, New York’s Yankee Stadium is a must for sports fans, whether you catch a game or learn about Yankees history on a tour of the team’s home field. Built in the Bronx in 1923, the original ballpark closed 85 years later when the city prepared to open the new site across East 161st Street.

One of New York City's most recognizable and distinct skyscrapers, the Chrysler Building is considered a masterpiece of art deco architecture. The tallest building in the world when it debuted in 1930, it was soon surpassed by the Empire State Building. Today, however, the Chrysler Building remains the world's loftiest brick building.

Located at the heart of Manhattan, Grand Central Station (also known as Grand Central Terminal) welcomes 750,000 people daily who come to marvel at its spectacular architecture and murals, grab a bite to eat, or simply catch a commuter train home.

One of North America’s most majestic natural wonders, Niagara Falls is made up of three waterfalls—American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls—which plunge dramatically over the Niagara River. The falls straddle the border between Canada and the US with viewpoints and falls-themed attractions on both sides.

Home to 95,000 people, New York City’s Chinatown is one of the largest and oldest ethnic Chinese enclaves in the United States. The Manhattan neighborhood offers a heady blend of restaurants, cafés, sidewalk food stalls, street vendors, and traditional herbal medicine shops. Round out the Chinatown experience at its museums and temples.

Strawberry Fields is a 2.5-acre memorial garden within Central Park that is dedicated to the memory of musician John Lennon, the co-lead vocalist of the Beatles who later became a solo singer and a peace activist. Visit this beautiful spot to honor his memory and his work and to gather with fans from around the world.

One of the most esteemed institutes of higher learning in the United States, Columbia was established in 1754 as King’s College. Today, the Ivy League university continues to be celebrated for its academic reputation and striking architecture. And if the campus looks familiar, you may have seen it in a Hollywood blockbuster or two.

Two stone lions guard the front of the main branch of the New York Public Library, an imposing Beaux Arts structure. Opulent interiors that feature carved oak, ceiling murals, and crystal chandeliers create a sumptuous setting for the millions of books and manuscripts that reside here.

While it’s surrounded by gleaming high-rises, Trinity Church Wall Street is one of the oldest churches in the country and a Manhattan historical highlight. The building that stands today dates to 1846, though its origins stretch back to 1698. The church is renowned for its architecture and for being the final resting place of Alexander Hamilton.

Little Italy, located in the heart of Lower Manhattan, was once the commercial and residential epicenter of New York’s Italian immigrant population. The area is now visited for its selection of nostalgic Italian eateries, historical mafia landmarks, and the annual Feast of San Gennaro street fair.

Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex is a marina and sports facility that flanks the Hudson River on Manhattan’s West Side. Originally built in the 1900s as a passenger ship terminal, the piers now house facilities for TV production, events, and over 30 sports activities, including gymnastics, soccer, rock climbing, and ice skating.

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world’s most prestigious art collections and cultural hubs. Five million annual visitors stroll the Met’s 17 acres (6.9 hectares) of gallery space, gazing upon pieces representing 5,000 years of art and human history. From Egyptian tombs to American abstract expressionist paintings, the museum’s permanent collection has more than 2 million objects, so expect to stay awhile.

With more than 30 million specimens and artifacts and almost 50 exhibits, the American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest scientific and cultural museums in the world. Displays highlight the wonders of our planet and the wider universe, spotlighting everything from dinosaurs to human origins to the solar system.

New York City's Fifth Avenue runs from Washington Square Park, in Greenwich Village, all the way to 142nd Street in Harlem. This expansive stretch includes a little of everything that's great about New York. From high-end shops and museums to Central Park and Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue is absolutely worth a visit—the sights are too numerous to list.

One of New York City’s most famous buildings, 30 Rockefeller Plaza boasts panoramic views from its sky-high observation deck, Top of the Rock. Visitors can access three levels for both indoor and outdoor glass-walled platforms offering unobstructed, 360-degree vistas of the sprawling metropolis. The skyscraper, which houses NBC headquarters, was formerly known as the GE Building and is now the Comcast Building.

Its name may suggest cartoon elephants, but Dumbo—a waterfront neighborhood in the north of Brooklyn—is actually one of the borough’s most stylish and photogenic enclaves. Dumbo’s cobblestone streets and converted warehouses are home to trendy galleries, boutiques, coffee shops, and one of the city’s truly iconic pizzerias.

This uptown New York City neighborhood caught the public’s attention in the 1920s with the Harlem Renaissance—an explosion of African-American art, literature, and music. Though it has been subject to gentrification, the district remains a cultural powerhouse with jazz clubs, theaters, and soul food restaurants tucked away among old brownstones.

A gift to New York from the Rockefellers, Radio City Music Hall is a glitzy landmark that has been entertaining the masses since the Rockettes dancing troop first kicked up their heels here in the early 1930s. The 6,000-seat theater still hosts nightly shows, with performers ranging from stand-up comedians to chart-topping musical artists.

Located in Lower Manhattan, the historic Seaport District was New York’s original commercial hub. A vibrant mix of old and new, today Seaport District NYC is a dynamic cultural, culinary, fashion, and entertainment district, featuring some of the oldest architecture in the city, as well as stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the iconic city skyline.

With its easily recognizable spire, One World Trade Center is an icon of the New York City skyline. Opened in 2014, the silver mirrored skyscraper towers some 1,776 feet (541 meters) high, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Observation decks at One World Observatory afford incredible views.

The focal point of Bethesda Terrace, this large, towering fountain is known for its statue of a winged angel, which has been a Central Park landmark for almost 150 years and has appeared in countless movies and television shows ranging fromOne Fine Day toHome Alone 2.

When sweltering summer temperatures hit the city, New Yorkers flock to this kitschy seaside resort. As well as a boardwalk and almost 3 miles (5 kilometers) of sandy beach, Coney Island is home to roller coasters and amusements, New York Aquarium, and Nathan’s Famous, a landmark hot dog joint that started out as a stand in 1916.

Dyker Heights is a tree-lined family neighborhood located in southwest Brooklyn. The picturesque community began as a luxury housing development at the end of the 19th century. For visitors, Christmastime here is something special, as locals put up colorful lights and decorations that draw visitors from all five boroughs and beyond.

Hailed as an urban renewal triumph following its opening in 2009, New York City’s High Line—an abandoned elevated railway track converted into a park—has since spawned a series of copycats, including Chicago’s 606 and Sydney’s Goods Line. Stretching over the formerly industrial west side of Lower Manhattan, the lengthy public park serves as an escape hatch for New Yorkers who want to rise above the hubbub at street level, and is a must-see for out-of-towners for its Hudson River views, ample greenery, artisanal food stands, public art, and some of the best people-watching perches in town.