With a limited amount of time and so many things to do in New York City, how do you decide what to do? We tried to visit most of the top main attractions in “The Big Apple” during our one week visit. Here are 15 things to do in New York City!
This post contains affiliate links. When you click on some of these links, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, but it helps to run this blog. Thank you for stopping by!
TOP OF THE ROCK OBSERVATION DECK
Top of the Rock is an observatory at the top of Rockefeller Center with beautiful city views. Be sure to go early or make a reservation as they only allow so many visitors per day.
BROOKLYN BRIDGE
When the Brooklyn Bridge was first built, in 1883, it was the first steel-wire suspension bridge and the longest suspension bridge in the world. It spans 1.3 miles across the East River and takes about 20 minutes to walk, depending on how fast you walk and how many times you stop to take pictures. Because of the heatwave while we were there, it was very hot so we decided to turn around at the halfway point. The next time I visit, I would love to walk across the bridge to Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and get the iconic shot of the Manhattan Bridge.
CIRCLE LINE SIGHTSEEING CRUISES
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises offers several different cruises. We did the Landmarks Cruise, which is a 1.5 hour cruise of the Hudson River with up close views of the Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty, and Brooklyn Bridge. It was very informative and we really enjoyed the views.
MINSKOFF THEATRE
The Minskoff Theatre is a Broadway theater located in Midtown Manhattan featuring The Lion King.
TIMES SQUARE
The popular tourist destination in the city that never sleeps.
CENTRAL PARK
The timing couldn’t have been better to see the beautiful cheery blossoms in Central Park. We walked along the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir and enjoyed the picturesque landscapes. There are so many things to see and do at Central Park. Because of its large size, it is best to do some research and decide what you would like to do and what areas of the park you would like to visit. I could’ve spent a whole day there if we had more time.
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING OBSERVATORY
We visited the Empire State Building at about 6:00 p.m. and it was perfect. There were no lines and it wasn’t crowded so we were able to take our time and enjoy the spectacular view.
9/11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
A visit at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum was an emotional one, something to see when visiting New York City.
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue, theater, and headquarter for the Rockettes. We didn’t get to experience any of the entertainment while we were there but would love to try and fit it in the next time we visit.
HISTORIC FLATIRON DISTRICT
While visiting the Flatiron District, I had to get a picture with the infamous Flatiron Building.
EATALY NYC FLATIRON
Eataly is an Italian Marketplace with a number of locations across the United States and around the world. Eataly stands for “Eating Italian” and includes restaurants, a market, private dining, and more. I wish we had more time to try the different foods there.
GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL
Grand Central Terminal is a beautiful commuter rail terminal located in Midtown Manhattan. It is one of the most visited destinations in New York City, not only because of the transportation, but the history, architecture, dining, and shopping. You would not believe the number of shops and restaurants available. It was here that we had our first taste of Shake Shack and loved it!
FINANCIAL DISTRICT (WALL STREET)
We had to make a stop to take a picture with the Charging Bull in the Financial District of Manhattan. I am not sure what time is a good time to go but it gets really crowded as you can see here. I am thinking the early morning would be a better time to go, especially if you want a picture with the bull.
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest museums in the world.
BRONX ZOO
Admission to the Bronx Zoo is free all day on Wednesdays. Advance timed tickets are required and free admission is limited.
Happy Travels!
BK Travel Collage 