14 Sights you MUST visit in New York | Traveling

Planning a trip to New York City? See below some of the sights you cannot miss while in the city!

1. Central Park

Central Park was created in the middle of the city of NY, and is one of the main attractions for tourists. The park is a great place for entertainment, with several attractions, such as ice skating, zoo, famous statues, memorial, carousel, restaurant, and much more.

The park runs from 59th street to 110th street, and it is extremely easy to get lost!

*Tip: There you can rent bikes on the streets near the park, so if you have the opportunity, take the bike ride! It's really worth it and it's a really fun way to get to know more parts of the park. (and practice a physical exercise :) ).

2. Times Square/Broadway

Times Square is the heart of NY, with all its banners and lights 24 hours a day. It also draws attention to shops and restaurants of all kinds, including Hershey's, M & M's, Disney, (...). Among the streets that cut Times Square, it is also possible to find Broadway theaters, which have incredible shows that are well worth watching.

*Tip: If you want to watch Broadway shows for a very affordable price, you can sign up for the lottery and have the chance to be selected to buy seat tickets for less than half the price. Some places are usually worth buying, and have a good view of the stage.

In the Frozen show I went to, I paid only $40.00 (very low, compared to the original ticket prices) and stayed in the right front corner of the theater, but I had a perfect view of the entire show. Access the “Lucky Seat” lottery Clicking Here .

3. Liberty Statue

The Statue of Liberty is one of the main points of tourists. It is located on Liberty Island, in Manhattan and can be seen from various points in the city, and is accessible by boats from Battery Park.

*Tip: As a personal opinion, it is not worth paying to go to the Statue of Liberty. For those looking to save money, it's worth taking a FREE ferry that passes in front of the statue, the Staten Island Ferry, which departs from Line 1, the red South Ferry station. It is not so close to the monument, but for some tourists it is worth the photo.

4. Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is known for connecting the Brooklyn neighborhood to Manhattan, and is the site of several NY city festivals. The panoramic view of the bridge is one of the best, and pedestrians have access to the bridge via a pedestrian walkway.

*Tip: You can get panoramic views of the bridge by going to Brooklyn Bridge Park, and in addition to the bridge, you can also see the lower Manhattan skyline. When dark, the city and bridge lights come on, making the view even more beautiful. During the summer, it is also possible to rent kayaks!

5. Coney Island

If you want to visit Coney Island, have in mind that it is a place to spend the entire day. The place has an old amusement park, from the 50s, but very cool, and also has a beach and a pier. It is easily accessible by public transport and is a very interesting ride.

*Tip: The best time to visit Coney Island is between May and September, as it is the period when the heat predominates and all attractions are open. If you visit at another time of the year, you will find the beaches very empty and a very cold wind.

6. St. Patrick's Cathedral

Founded in 1860, the cathedral, famous for its neo-Gothic architecture, and is one of the most visited tourist spots in New York City. The place really impresses with its beauty and spaciousness. It is located on 5th avenue and is open to the public.

* Tip: For more information about the Cathedral, they offer two options:

A) An audio tour, which you will download an app on your mobile device and self-guide through the cathedral. This app is free and available in English, French, Portuguese and Italian.

B) A group tour with a church guide. This tour can take place from Monday to Friday between 9:00 am to 11:00 am and 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm. The cost is $ 20.00 dollars and must be booked in advance. Click here to access the official website.

7. High Line

The place is a kind of hanging garden; it is an old railroad that was transformed into a park and it was very surprising. The park covers more than 10 blocks and passes through many different buildings, also it has several access points between the beginning, (Gansevoort) and the end (30th street with 10th Avenue). The access is free and there are stands with food and drink in a covered area, located in the middle of the route.

*Tip: You can access the High Line at several points, but try to go from beginning to end! The distance between the start and the end point is quite large, so go prepared! (Take a friend with you to chat and not miss the pace, I did it and recommend haha).

8. Grand Central Terminal

The Grand Central Terminal is located at 89 East 42nd Street (with Park Avenue), and comprises 65 stores, 35 places to eat and a complete program of events. The lines include trains, subways and buses, besides being the favorite unofficial meeting place for people. The architecture is also impressive, and the ceiling represents the constellations of the zodiac.

*Tip: If you are going to use train services, always be careful to avoid peak times, which the price is more expensive. I recommend downloading the "Metro-North Train Time" app, where you can check the train times / gates and even buy your ticket. (it always saved my life when I was late and didn't have time to buy from the machines). Visit the official website here.

9. Domino Park

This park is located in Brooklyn and there you will find people chilling, having picnics, as well as beach volleyball courts and a playground.

The look of the place is very modern and the way in which they put everything together was very well thought. The park is not as old as most of the sights in NY, and I really enjoyed visiting it.

10. Roosevelt Island Tramway

This tramway connects Manhattan to Roosevelt Island. This system was used before the creation of the subway stations to replace, but it was so successful that remains alive today. It offers incredible views of the East River.

*Tip: The ticket costs $2.25 and roundtrip costs $4.00 and must be paid via the metrocard. The tramway station is at 59th Street on 2nd Avenue, and you can get there via the subway:

☛ lines N and R to “Lexington Av / 59 St”

☛ lines 4, 5 and to “59 St”.

11. Empire State Building

This is one of the most famous touristic spots in NY. Currently used as a commercial building, but if you want to have a privileged view of the city, it is very worth visiting, as it is also open to tourists. The building was the target of several well-known movies, and the ticket costs $42 dollars and you have access to all the exhibitions and the 86th floor, which works the main observatory of the building.

12. Madame Tussauds - Wax Museum

The wax museum is one of the most fun attractions to take pictures, due to the fact that you can meet several media figures (famous) made of wax. The museum also has a 4D cinema.

*Tip: Regular museum admission, which allows preferential access and only wax statues costs $33.00 dollars, and the one that includes the 4D cinema costs $42.00 dollars, but if you buy online in advance you will get a discount.

13. Washington Square Arch

The Washington Square Arch is a Roman marble triumphal arch in Washington Square Park.

It was made in 1889 to commemorate George Washington. There you will find playgrounds, gardens, dog parks, monuments, chess tables, picnic tables and the fountain, which, in the heat, is used as a kind of swimming pool by children.

14. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The MET is one of the most visited museums on the planet. On the first floor are the United States departments; Africa, Oceania and the Americas; Weapons and Armor; Egyptian art; European sculptures and decorative arts; Greek and Roman art; Medieval art; Contemporary art; and the Robert Lehman Collection.

On the second floor are other exhibitions from the departments of the United States, Greek, Roman Art and Contemporary Art, in addition to new aisles: Near East; Middle East; Asia; Drawings and Paintings; European paintings; Music; Photography; and Sculptures and Paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries.

* Tip: Visit the souvenir shop, there are a lot of cool things, from t-shirts, key chains, and notebooks to fridge magnets with mini works of art and several other items.

Finalizing...

There's a lot of cool things to see around New York! If you want to visit several sights without spending a lot, I recommend buying a city pass, which provides you with access to various attractions and helps you save money. And don't forget to take advantage of the subway to get around !!