New York attractions

Brooklyn is New York's coolest borough, and Williamsburg is hipster mecca. Packed with galleries, music venues, and arts spaces, Williamsburg is a prime destination to soak up Brooklyn's eclectic culture. From its cupcake shops and dive bars to its independent movie theaters, Williamsburg is an ideal place to shop and indulge.

A cultural beacon centrally located in New York's hippest borough, the Brooklyn Museum boasts a permanent collection of more than 1.5 million pieces and hosts several rotating exhibits yearly. The museum has a little of everything, from one of the largest Egyptian art holdings in the country to a robust American decorative arts collection.

Bryant Park, off bustling 42nd Street in Manhattan, encompasses nearly 10 acres (four hectares) of green space in the middle of the city. Visitors will find historic monuments, benches, blooming flowers, and kiosks with vendors offering coffee and snacks. Whether you play a game of chess or nap on the grass, Bryant Park is a relaxing stop in Midtown.

Just 800 yards (732 meters) from Lower Manhattan, Governors Island has long been an important historical landmark in New York Harbor. Home to two major military landmarks—Fort Jay and Castle Williams—it was used in defensive campaigns beginning in the 18th century. Today, it’s a popular summer retreat and easily accessible by ferry.

In Niagara Falls State Park, three footbridges link Goat Island to the Three Sisters Islands. From there, you can see impressive views of the rapids of the Niagara River racing toward the falls. It’s a peaceful place to take a walk amid the highly popular park and town of Niagara Falls, New York.

Madison Square Park is a bustling, leafy square that's packed with benches and tucked into New York's Flatiron District. Offices, trendy restaurants, and an architectural landmark—the Flatiron Building—surround Madison Square, situated at Broadway at 23rd Street. Stop for a rest in the park on a busy day exploring Manhattan.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is a driving force of the US economy and a landmark American institution. The exchange isn't open to the public, but stopping by and walking the city's Financial District ranks as a top NYC experience. Find several iconic sights nearby, including the Charging Bull statue and Trinity Church.

Step back in time, to September 14, 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated the 26th President of the United States following the assassination of President William McKinley. The Ansley-Wilcox house has been preserved as the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, and appears much as it did on that fateful day.

Known as the Great White Way because the theater lights burned so brightly in the early days of electricity, New York City's Broadway has been the home of the New York theater district for almost 150 years. The history-drenched street is one of Manhattan's most famous thoroughfares, and many consider seeing a blockbuster Broadway show an essential New York City experience.

Central Park Zoo, also known as Central Park Wildlife Center, is a small but popular zoo set within Central Park, Manhattan’s largest green space. The zoo houses a varied collection of creatures, from snow leopards to sea lions, as well as the Tisch Children’s Zoo, a petting zoo with farm animals.

One of NYC's newest neighborhoods, Hudson Yards is a glistening complex of buildings hugging the Hudson River, near the High Line. Visitors can shop, dine, and enjoy the arts, head to the Shed for cultural events, walk around the Vessel—a large piece of public art—and enjoy the view from the Edge, a glass-sided observation deck.

Washington Square Park is a bona fide New York City gem filled with leafy, bench-lined walkways, a stone-rimmed fountain, and a miniature Arc de Triomphe. The Greenwich Village park is surrounded by New York University’s historical buildings, and draws students, local denizens, tourists, and street performers to its vibrant urban space.

St. Paul’s Chapel is the oldest surviving church in Manhattan. The chapel earned the nickname The Little Chapel that Stood after it survived the collapse of the World Trade Center, less than 100 yards away, in the 9/11 attacks without sustaining damage.

New York City’s Columbus Circle is more than just a roundabout. Home to attractions such as the towering Time Warner Center and Jazz at Lincoln Center, the centrally located site is the gateway to Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and a major commercial hub and shopping destination for locals and tourists alike.

The Brooklyn Bridge may be the best-known suspension bridge in New York City, but its not the only one. Built in 1931, George Washington Bridge is a double-decker bridge that connects northern New Jersey with Manhattan; it’s also a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

In the heart of Harlem, the Apollo Theater is one of the world’s most famous live music venues. Some of the biggest musical names have played the Apollo, including Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and Godfather of Soul James Brown. Hear popular jazz, blues, and R&B artists or catch performances by up-and-comers at its long-running amateur night.

Founded by John D. Rockefeller in 1955, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is one of New York’s preeminent cultural complexes. Comprising organizations ranging from the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet to the New York Philharmonic, it collectively hosts thousands of screenings, performances, and events every year.

Dreamt up by Central Park landscape designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Belvedere Castle is a turreted, Victorian-era landmark that sits atop Vista Rock, the second-highest point in Central Park. From its perch, the castle offers some of the best views of the Great Lawn and the wooded Ramble.

A distinctive feature of New York City's skyline, Manhattan Bridge spans the water that separates Manhattan and Brooklyn, and carries more than 450,000 commuters every day. When the Manhattan Bridge opened in 1909, it was celebrated as an engineering marvel. Today, visitors enjoy the bridge's architectural flourishes, cables, and towers.

While New York City may be home to some of the world’s biggest celebrities, a visit to Madame Tussauds offers a far better chance of getting starstruck than walking the streets of Manhattan. Get up close and personal with the likes of Barack Obama, Serena Williams, and Brad Pitt at this wax museum in the heart of Times Square.

New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is one of the world's premier art galleries. The collection’s 150,000 pieces of modern and contemporary art include works by Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Pollock, and others. After a renovation, completed in 2019, the museum now boasts more space for performance art and interactive programs.

Whirlpool State Park proves that the Niagara region’s natural beauty doesn’t end with Niagara Falls. With hiking trails, picnic tables, Niagara River views, and an impressive whirlpool, this park is a great place to spend a few hours. Thanks to the highly oxygenated water, there’s good salmon and trout fishing here, too.

One of New York City's most iconic buildings, the United Nations headquarters occupies several blocks of Midtown Manhattan near the East River. The complex is comprised of a number buildings, including the domed General Assembly Hall, the Visitor Centre, and the Secretariat Building, a high-rise completed in the early 1950s.

Billed as “the world’s most famous arena,” Madison Square Garden—colloquially 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 wrestling and other sports events, concerts with world-renowned artists, and more.

Once home to Beat poets and jazz musicians, today the West Village boasts some of New York City’s top real estate. Charm abounds in the highly walkable neighborhood, where you’ll find cafés, literary pubs, and historic pizzerias on tree-lined, cobblestoned streets.

Though many visitors stick around the bright lights of Midtown, don’t miss the chance to explore Lower Manhattan. Long synonymous with the banking industry, the area has plenty to offer even after the closing bell has rung out across Wall Street. Beyond the Stock Exchange and Charging Bull, you’ll find historic sites and great shopping.

Castle Clinton National Monument is a 19th-century fort on the southern edges of Manhattan’s Battery Park. Built to keep the British at bay, the sandstone fort is now a ticket point for ferries to Liberty and Ellis islands. Stay awhile and explore the original gunports and the small museum that charts the fort’s history.

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.

Set inside the former cookie factory where Oreos were first baked, the Chelsea Market has a long culinary heritage. Since being redeveloped in the 1990s, it has become a leading food and shopping complex, housing everything from wine bars and fishmongers to kitchen supply stores, as well as offices and television studios.

On the shores of the East River and in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge Park offers an expanse of green and unmatched views of the Lower Manhattan skyline. Spanning some 85 acres (34 hectares), the park hosts destination eateries, the restored antique Jane’s Carousel, seasonal events, and other attractions.