Visit the most famous sights and top attractions in New York City, including the Empire State Building and Times Square.
The Empire State Building, the United Nations, Rockefeller Center: These are just some of the top attractions that are inextricably linked to Manhattan. Check out more of the borough’s best sights with our guide to Manhattan’s top attractions.
RECOMMENDED: The 50 best New York attractions you have to see
American Museum of Natural History
No
matter which wing you wander through or where your curiosities lie
(dinosaurs, gems or something else entirely), it’s hard to explore this
Upper West Side fixture without being awestruck. You’ll immediately spot
the rotunda’s hulking Barosaurus skeleton replica, but delving further
into the museum’s collection, you’ll find actual specimens, such as
Deinonychus, in the fourth-floor fossil halls. When you tire of dinos,
head to the human origins and culture halls to learn more about our
evolutionary history, or gawk at the famed 94-foot-long blue whale model
in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life.
Apollo Theater
The
78-year-old Harlem institution has been the site of more than a few
historic moments: Ella Fitzgerald’s first performance happened here in
1934; Live at the Apollo, recorded in 1962, practically launched James
Brown into the mainstream; and a young Jimi Hendrix won an Amateur Night
contest in 1964. Despite its storied history and grand decor, this
living link to the Harlem Renaissance feels rather cozy inside. As of
late, the theater has attracted big-name comedians (Aziz Ansari, Tracy
Morgan, Jim Gaffigan) and huge rock stars (Paul McCartney, Bruce
Springsteen), while still welcoming under-the-radar talent to its famed
Wednesday Amateur Night.
Battery Park
This
25-acre green space is like Manhattan’s delicate fingernail, neatly
plotted with monuments, memorials, gardens, sculptures and a
farm-to-table café, plus killer waterfront views from the promenade.
Though the area was named for the battery cannons it once housed, the
fortified walls of Castle Clinton now protect little more than summer
music concerts. If you prefer a quieter nook, seek out the stone
labyrinth traced in the park’s lawns; it’s not actually a maze meant to
confuse, but a prescribed stroll for meditation. The new SeaGlass
Carousel will open in spring 2013 in a building shaped like a nautilus
shell.
Central Park
Gotham’s
love affair with its most famous green space is well documented in
song, literature and film, but there’s still plenty to adore about the
country’s first landscaped public park. Urban visionaries Frederick Law
Olmsted and Calvert Vaux sought a harmonious balance of scenic elements:
pastoral (the open lawn of the Sheep Meadow), formal (the linear,
tree-lined Mall) and picturesque (the densely wooded paths of the
Ramble). Today, the 843-acre plot draws millions of visitors to its
skyscraper-bordered vistas in all seasons: sunbathers and picnickers in
summer, ice-skaters in winter, and bird-watchers in spring and fall.
It’s also an idyllic venue for beloved cultural events like Shakespeare
in the Park and the New York Philharmonic’s annual open-air performance.
Chrysler Building
We
won’t argue if you want to call this glimmering pinnacle of Art Deco
architecture NYC’s most eye-popping skyscraper. Triangle-shaped windows
in its crown are lined with lights, creating a beautiful effect come
nighttime. Oozing a moneyed sophistication oft identified with old New
York, the structure pays homage to its namesake with giant eagles
(replicas of ones added to Chrysler automobiles in the 1920s) in lieu of
traditional gargoyles and a brickwork relief sculpture of racing cars,
complete with chrome hubcaps. During the famed three-way race to
construct Manhattan’s tallest building, the Chrysler added a
needle-sharp stainless-steel spire to best 40 Wall Street—but was
outdone shortly after its completion in 1930 by the Empire State
Building.
The Cloisters
This
Middle Agesmuseum may have been constructed in the ’30s, but it feels
much older than that. Set in a bucolic park overlooking the Hudson
River, the structure re-creates architectural details from five
15th-century monasteries and houses items from the Met’s medieval art
and architecture collections. John D. Rockefeller, who donated the land
for the museum, even purchased a tract across the river to preserve the
pristine view. Make sure to inspect the tapestries, including the famous
16th-century Hunt of the Unicorn.
Empire State Building
Try
imagining New York City’s skyline without the towering spire of the
Empire State Building. Impossible, right? Taking a mere 11 months to
construct, the 1,454-foot-tall emblem became the city’s highest building
upon completion in 1931. (When One World Trade Center is finished, it
will tower over the ESB by a good 300 feet.) During your visit, pay
special attention to the lobby, restored in 2009 to its original Art
Deco design. You can also impress your pals with these tidbits while
queuing for the observation decks: In 1945, 14 tenants were killed when a
plane crashed into the 79th floor during heavy fog; a terrace on the
103rd level was once intended for use as a docking station for airships;
and the topper’s three tiers of lights can illuminate up to nine colors
at a time. High-speed elevators shoot visitors up 1,050 feet to the
86th-floor observatory, where you can either peer out at the city from
the comfort of a glass-enclosed pavilion or brave the elements on the
open-air decks. Tickets to the 102nd Floor Observatory are an additional
$17. Daily 8am–10pm: The New York Skyride Visitors take a
motion-picture tour over, through and below the city streets ($29;
seniors, students and children 6–12 $19).
Flatiron Building
This
21-story Beaux Arts edifice once dominated midtown. Although it’s now
dwarfed by other structures, when it debuted in 1902, the
triangle-shaped monolith represented the threat and the thrill of
modernity: Naysayers claimed it would never withstand the high winds
plaguing 23rd Street, while revered photographer Alfred Stieglitz—who
captured it in an iconic shot in 1903—wrote that it was “a picture of a
new America still in the making.” Today, it’s possibly the least
tourist-friendly New York landmark. The space above the ground-floor
shops, occupied by publishing house Macmillan, is inaccessible to the
public, but during office hours you can admire black-and-white photos
and read a few panels on the history of the tower in its lobby. If you
want to see the “point” offices (just over six feet wide at their
narrowest), we suggest getting to work on the Great American Novel.
Grand Central Terminal
- Critics choice
- Free
The
100-year-old transit hub funnels thousands of commuters each day, but
it’s a destination in its own right: The majestic Beaux Arts framework
is a spectacle of both form and function. Familiar features include the
vaulted, constellation-adorned ceiling and the four-faced opal clock
topping the main information booth, both located in the Grand Concourse.
Meanwhile, ornamentation above the 42nd Street entrance includes a
likeness of Mercury, the god of travel (naturally), and an ornate
Tiffany-glass timepiece.
The High Line
- Critics choice
- Free
There’s
something uniquely New York about this aerie. Built on an abandoned
railway track, the space is ingenious in its use of reclaimed industrial
detritus, a necessity in footage-starved Manhattan. But what we like
best is how the pathway takes you above the city while keeping you
rooted in urban life: Where else can you walk through a field of
wildflowers or sprawl on a lush lawn as cabs zoom along the street
beneath you? The third and final section, the High Line at the Rail
Yards, is scheduled to debut in 2014, completing one of the city’s most
popular sites (with more than 3.7 million visitors in 2011).
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- 2/4
There’s
more to this decommissioned aircraft carrier than an unparalleled
collection of fighter jets, a Blackbird spy plane, a Concorde, the
nuclear submarine USS Growler, a prototype space shuttle and a capsule
that returned one of the first astrotourists to earth (though all are
worth the price of admission alone). Permanent exhibits address the
human element, from a harrowing 30-minute video with audiovisual effects
about the kamikaze attacks the Intrepid suffered to a chance to see how
the crew lived and admire their graffiti.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
- 1/4
- Free
The
largest campus of its kind in the world, Lincoln Center is home to a
staggering array of theater, music, dance and film. Construction began
in 1959 with the help of John D. Rockefeller III, largely in an effort
to provide new stomping grounds for the Metropolitan Opera, the New York
Philharmonic and the Juilliard School. Today the complex encompasses 30
venues and 11 world-class resident organizations that mount thousands
of events each year. Standing in Josie Robertson Plaza at twilight, with
the fountain spouting white-lit jets of water and the lobby of the Met
glowing golden behind it, is one of Manhattan’s more transporting
experiences.
Little Italy
- Free
The
2010 census didn’t find a single Italian-born resident on or around
Mulberry Street, but pasta-and-Parmesan purveyors still line the narrow
lanes of Little Italy, and the recently restored Most Precious Blood Church (113 Baxter St between Canal and Hester Sts, 212-226-6427) holds fast. Old-world flavors abound at joints like the 120-year-old Ferrara Bakery and Cafe (195 Grand St between Mott and Mulberry Sts; 212-226-6150, ferraracafe.com),
and every September, the deep-fried-zeppole carts mark the start of the
Feast of San Gennaro. But modern joints are moving in too: Hidden under
a souvenir shop, the speakeasy Mulberry Project (149 Mulberry St between Grand and Hester Sts; 646-448-4536, mulberryproject.com) mixes bespoke cocktails in a den dark enough for a mafia don.
Macy's Herald Square
- 2/4
It
may not be as glamorous as New York’s other famous stores, but for
sheer breadth of stock, the 34th Street behemoth is hard to beat. You
won’t find exalted labels here, though—midpriced fashion and designers’
diffusion lines for all ages are its bread and butter, along with all
the big beauty names. A new $400 million renovation will upgrade the
entire edifice by 2015, but the store has already debuted a “world’s
largest” shoe floor, home to 280,000 pairs. Thankfully, not everything
will be brand-new: The project will restore the original 34th Street
entrance, and some of the rickety wooden escalators—installed when this
branch opened in 1902—will remain intact.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- 3/4
- Critics choice
Sprawling
doesn’t even begin to describe this Manhattan institution: It’s one of
the few spots in the city where you could spend literally an entire day
and see only a fraction of the holdings. Behind the doors of its iconic
neoclassical facade lie 17 curatorial collections spanning countless
eras and cultural perspectives, from prehistoric Egyptian artifacts to
contemporary photography. Those seeking to satisfy their anthropological
curiosity can explore the extensive assemblage of musical instruments,
weapons and armor or the Costume Institute’s centuries of wearable art.
And for committed museumgoers who have made their way through the
permanent collections—an admirable feat—special exhibitions merit return
visits year after year. Recent blockbusters have examined the career of
the late designer Alexander McQueen and featured the works of Pablo
Picasso.
- 1000 Fifth Ave, (at 82nd St)
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- 1/4
Sure,
you could spend a day getting lost in the permanent exhibits, which
showcase all manner of priceless pieces from renowned artists. But just
as essential are this museum’s other elements, including an attached
cinema that combines art-house fare and more accessible offerings, a
sculpture garden with works by Picasso and Rodin, and the Modern, a
high-end restaurant and bar run by Danny Meyer. Free Fridays, an
alluring prospect considering the sizable entry fee ($25 for adults),
are best left to the tourists and penny-scraping students; visit the
museum when you can hunker down for a while.
New-York Historical Society
- 2/4
- Critics choice
New
York’s oldest museum, founded in 1804, was one of America’s first
cultural and educational institutions. Instead of the niche perspective
on NYC’s past that some of our favorite attractions offer, this
institution gives a comprehensive look at the New York of yesteryear.
Exhibits here are wide-ranging, covering all aspects of city life, and
the museum’s permanent holdings—many of which are on view in the
open-storage galleries on its fourth floor—offer a glimpse into
quotidian urban living, with items such as vintage toys, furniture and
clothing on display. A massive renovation, completed in 2011, made
exhibits more compelling and interactive, helping visitors gain a
clearer, deeper understanding of the city.
New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
- Free
The
century-old main branch of the NYPL is about as regal a setting for
reading—either on your laptop or those old dusty things called books—as
you’ll find in the city. Two massive Tennessee-marble lions, dubbed
Patience and Fortitude, flank the main portal and have become the
institution’s mascots. Once inside, check out the cavernous Rose Main
Reading Room, spanning almost 300 feet and outfitted with chandeliers
and stunning ceiling murals. Though it’s a classy setting in most
instances, it’s also where Bill Murray uttered, “Are you, Alice,
menstruating right now?” and “Back off, man, I’m a scientist” in
Ghostbusters.
Radio City Music Hall
- 3/4
New
York City is full of legendary performance venues, but few match Radio
City Music Hall in terms of sheer elegance. The Art Deco concert hall
remains one of the prettiest in the city: Designed by Donald Deskey, its
interior features opulent chandeliers and lush carpets, while the stage
and proscenium are meant to resemble a setting sun. Although Radio City
is probably best known as the home of the Rockettes, a plethora of
noteworthy performers have graced its boards, including huge pop stars
(Lady Gaga, the Jonas Brothers) and indie faves (Pulp, Grizzly Bear).
- 1260 Sixth Ave, (at 50th St)
Rockefeller Center
- Critics choice
You’ll
find plenty of iconic New York sites in this multiblock complex: The
ground level alone is home to the tourist-packed ice-skating rink, the
bronze Atlas statue and the Today show plaza. Higher up, Top of the Rock
rivals the Empire State Building in panoramic city views. You may not
be able to access the five private rooftop gardens if you’re not a
Saturday Night Live cast member, but you can still peek at the spaces
from Saks Fifth Avenue’s eighth-floor shoe department if you’re curious.
Special credentials are not required, however, to inspect the Art Deco
murals that appear in several buildings. Don’t miss the triptych above
the outdoor entrance to 5 Rockefeller Center or the rinkside Prometheus
statue; both purportedly contain secret Freemason symbols.
- 48th to 51st Sts, (between Fifth and Sixth Aves)
Roosevelt Island
This
mostly residential isle (technically part of Manhattan) is full of
quirks; for example, the preferred method of getting there involves a
four-minute trip on the city’s only commuter tram. There’s plenty to
draw in visitors, notably the fancy new Four Freedoms Park (named for
the principles outlined in Franklin Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union
address), which opened in 2012. A Gothic lighthouse stands at the
island’s northern tip, and the creepy ruins of the Smallpox Hospital
(which operated from the mid–19th century until the 1950s) at the
southern end are a part of Southpoint Park.
- Roosevelt Island
St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Free
Even
though it faces off against the imposing Art Deco Rockefeller Center,
architect James Renwick's Gothic Revival building holds it own with
intricate marble towers, a cavernous ribbed vault, pointed arches and
buttresses. But the real treasures are inside this active house of
worship, which is bursting with awe-inspiring works. While the stained
glass, along with much of the exterior, is currently covered in
scaffolding for an ongoing $175-million restoration project, due for
completion in 2015, the cathedral is still worth a visit. More than 200
saints are represented throughout the church, with many alters helpfully
explaining their stories for those who cut Bible studies class. Seek
out the alter of Saint Louis, just north of the Lady's Chapel, designed
by the Tiffany workshop and donated by Jackie O's father Michael
Bouvier. To the south of Saint Louis is an oversized copy of
Michelangelo's Pieta, made by the same sculptor who fashioned the lions
outside the New York Public Library on 42nd Street.
- 14 E 51st St, (between Fifth and Madison Aves)
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- 2/4
- Critics choice
Frank
Lloyd Wright’s concrete edifice became the home of the eponymous
philanthropist’s collection in 1959; today, the iconic spiral is
considered as much a work of art as the paintings it houses. In addition
to pieces by masters such as Manet, Picasso and Chagall, the
institution holds the most Kandinskys in the U.S., as well as one of the
largest collections of Mapplethorpes in the world. And yes, there is a
right way to see the exhibits: as Wright intended, beginning at the
bottom and moseying around to the top.
- 1071 Fifth Ave, (at 89th St)
South Street Seaport
- Critics choice
One
problem with being an active sightseeing draw right on the water: When a
big storm rolls into town, you’ll almost certainly sustain some damage.
Hurricane Sandy temporarily closed many of the attractions at the
waterfront hub, including the Seaport Museum (currently under the
management of the Museum of the City of New York), which charts the
former wharf’s history. But many of these institutions are back up and
running, and the Seaport will even welcome an outpost of the Brooklyn
Flea this summer.
Times Square
- Free
Manhattan’s
heart was once a hub for vice, teeming with sex shops and drug dealers.
Over time that notorious reputation has eroded, and now the area can
feel like a tourist-clogged shopping mall. Still, changes such as the
stairs above the TKTS booth and a pedestrian plaza along Broadway have
improved the sightseeing experience…sort of. If the thought of attending
the annual glitzy New Year’s Eve celebration gives you hives, you can
see the midnight countdown re-created on a smaller scale at the Times
Square Visitor Center, thanks to one of the Waterford crystal balls used
in years past.
Union Square
- Critics choice
- Free
This
gathering place was named for the union of two of Manhattan’s busiest
thoroughfares: Broadway and Fourth Avenue (formerly Bowery Road).
Political activism has played a large role in the site’s history; the
square has hosted rallies, protests and assemblies from the Civil War
through Occupy Wall Street. Nowadays, its biggest draw might be the
year-round Greenmarket—the city’s first, started by a handful of farmers
in 1976—which brings locally grown goods to thousands of New Yorkers
every week.
United Nations Headquarters
- 2/4
Technically,
the U.N. complex is international territory, but that doesn’t mean you
get immunity when you enter (so don’t steal from the Delegates Dining
Room buffet). The striking, 39-story Secretariat Building (designed by
Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer) is the complex’s most eye-catching
structure, but it’s not open to the public. Visitors can instead tour
the midcentury assembly room whenever dignitaries aren’t using it, or
enjoy free art in the lobby. The U.N. even has its own post office, but
the personalized stamps sold there are only good if mailed from that
spot.
Whitney Museum of American Art
- 2/4
- Critics choice
Like
the Guggenheim, the Whitney is distinguished by its unique
architecture: a Marcel Breuer–designed gray granite cube. When Gertrude
Vanderbilt Whitney, a sculptor and art patron, opened the museum in
1931, she dedicated it to living American artists. Today, the Whitney
holds about 19,000 pieces by nearly 2,900 artists, including Alexander
Calder, Edward Hopper, Jasper Johns, Georgia O’Keeffe and Claes
Oldenburg. Still, the museum’s reputation rests mainly on its temporary
shows, particularly the Whitney Biennial. Held in even-numbered years,
the Biennial is among the most prestigious (and controversial)
assessments of contemporary art in America. In 2015, the museum will
move to a new Renzo Piano–designed edifice near the High Line and lease
its Madison Avenue home to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Washington Square Park
- Critics choice
- Free
The
beatniks, folkies and hippies who famously flocked to this public space
are still there, though sporting slightly different facial hair than
their boundary-breaking predecessors. During warmer months, the park is
one of the best people-watching spots in the city, as musicians and
street artists perform in the shadow of the towering 1895 Washington
Arch, a modest replica of Paris’s Arc de Triomphe designed by Stanford
White (whose fingerprints are found on more than a few landmark NYC
structures). Since 2007, the park has undergone a controversial,
multimillion-dollar renovation—currently in its third phase—which has
yielded more benches, paths, lawn space and vegetation.
