All of the things I did (and recommend) as a first timer in NYC!
Sections
5
WHAT TO DO
MUSEUMS | GALLERIES
FOOD | DESSERT | COFFEE
DRINKS
VINTAGE SHOPS
WHAT TO DO
Areas to explore and places to visit or see
Walk through it from Manhattan to Brooklyn or vice versa
Brooklyn Bridge
Also known as FiDi - here you can see the World Trade Center, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the Oculus, Wall Street, New York Stock Exchange, the famous Charging Bull etc.
Financial District
Go to Washington Street for the classic Manhattan Bridge x Empire State Building view
Dumbo
Walk along the beautiful houses and watch the views towards Mahattan and FiDi
Brooklyn Heights
Outdoor area to relax in by the river in Brooklyn enjoying the views
Domino Park
Download the NYC ferry app to get from Manhattan to Brooklyn. I jumped on it from East 34th Street all the way to Williamsbough and walked to Dumbo (or get off at Dumbo) and then got back to FiDi by walking on the Brooklyn Bridge.
An artificial island to walk and see the views of NYC from
Little Island
Old railway tracks that transformed into a beautiful communal green space/walk. Walk all the way to the Vessel / The Edge
The High Line
A weird building at the end of the HighLine
Vessel
Shops and restaurants
Hudson Yards
One of the best areas to stay in, as it's in the middle of upper and lower Manhattan. The name is taken form the famous Flat Iron building
Flatiron District
Obviously if you go to NYC you have to see the iconic Empire State building, but I wouldn't recommend going up for the view as there's better options to see the skyline which includes looking at the Empire State building
Empire State Building
I would recommend booking this in advance to watch the view of NYC from above. There's three levels, you can spend as much time as you like on each, but once you go to the next floor you can't go back down. There's also some playful elements like mir...
This is HECTIC and super busy at all times, but if you've never been it's worth seeing once. But only once.
Times Square
The iconic train station from Gossip Girl
Grand Central Terminal
Midtown Manhattan is the busiest area, the one that feels the most touristic one. Worth exploring but not spending too much time in. This is where you'll find iconic places like the NBC studios, the Rockefeller building etc.
Midtown Manhattan
Same as Midtown - worth a visit and there's a few good restaurants to try
Hell's Kitchen
If you're into musicals this is the place to be! Make sure to book in advance
Broadway
Central Park is unlike any park I've been to in any city. Take your time walking through it as it's massive (I went back 3 times cause I couldn't get enough of it). There's QR codes to scan and listen to the story of desining the park if you're inter...
Central Park
Definitely try to watch an Opera show in the iconic Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera House
Beautiful area to explore. Make sure to go all the way towards the river as the walk by the river is beautiful
Upper West Side
This is the most expensive neighborhood in NYC, take your time wondering all of its streets, looking at the houses, the galleries, the shops etc.
Upper East Side
Shopping in 5th Avenue
5th Avenue
MUSEUMS | GALLERIES
This is 1000% worth visiting. It's heavy and intense but it's incredible in keeping the memory of those who we lost that day alive. Allow a few hours to properly explore it without rushing, and feeling all the emotions.
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Museum dedicsted to the history of immigration to the USA
Tenement Museum
Modern art and views of the Hudson River
Whitney Museum of American Art
The BEST museum of modern art to visit
The Museum of Modern Art
One of the most amazing museums in the world - I spent 4 hours in here and it still wasn't enough!
