Which highlights and attractions are not to be missed on your holiday in New York? Here you will find a list of the top 10 attractions in New York!
New York, New York! The much sung about, much praised and much quoted city that never sleeps is one of the most famous and most visited cities in the world. In the "Big Apple", from Manhattan to Little Italy and SoHo, seemingly the entire world is represented; a metropolis could hardly be more cosmopolitan.
This magical melting pot of cultures with its unmistakable skyline is home to impressive skyscrapers and other famous buildings, museums with highly interesting treasures from all over the world, posh restaurants, notorious bars and countless film and television locations.
You've "never been to New York"? Then to be on the safe side, here are the top 10 sights of New York so that you are guaranteed not to miss anything important!
Tip: There are several sightseeing passes in New York, so it's worth comparing them! For many sights in a short time, the New York Pass is recommended. If you have a little more time, the Sightseeing FLEX Pass or the Go New York Explorer Pass are well advised.
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Statue of Liberty
Thefamous Miss Liberty on Liberty Island off the coast of New York is THE symbol of the city and the American dream. The almost 100-metre-high statue was a gift from the French people to the United States and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
With the torch raised high, the date of the Declaration of Independence and a broken chain at her feet, she is known worldwide as a symbol of freedom and independence.
A boat trip to the Statue of Liberty is an absolute must for New York travellers, as is the free ascent to the viewing platform in the crown of the statue. A visit to Ellis Island with the Immigration Museum is also worthwhile on the ferry round trip.
If you don't want to enter the Statue of Liberty, you can also just sail past it on the Staten Island Ferry and take a souvenir photo.
Central Park
There is hardly a metropolis in the world that does not have a beautiful city park. The recreation area of New Yorkers is the 4km long and 800m wide Central Park. It is located in Manhattan between 5th and 8th Avenue. Countless tourists and of course locals enjoy the fresh air in the "green lungs of New York".
All social classes of the city meet here for lunch, sports, rowing on the lake, with the dog or for a walk. The jogging route once around the park is pretty much 10 kilometres.
Central Park grew out of "Jones Wood", a forest and swamp area purchased by the City of New York in 1851. From 1873 onwards, the beautifully maintained park as we know and love it today was created here.
Located among many attractions, Central Park is the ideal place to unwind between all the sights in New York. Free events and concerts attract visitors in summer, and in winter, skating is the order of the day at Wollman Rink.
Times Square and Broadway
Times Square - named after the New York Times newspaper - is probably the most famous square in New York. On New Year's Eve, thousands of visitors celebrate the start of the new year here live and millions on TV with the "ball drop". Countless bars on the rooftops around Times Square offer a sensational view over New York City.
World-famous Times Square is also home to a world-famous street. Broadway, with its never-quiet LED boards, screens and illuminated signs, starts here. Nowhere else is New York so colourful - 24 hours a day, but of course especially after dark. At 20 kilometres, Broadway is also New York's longest street and the only one in Manhattan that does not adhere to the chequered pattern, but runs diagonally.
One theatre follows the next along the street. There is hardly an actor who does not dream of being on stage here one day. Whether it's a musical or a play, ballet or cabaret, attending a performance on Broadway is definitely worthwhile. However, you need pre-booked tickets or a good portion of luck, because the seats on Broadway are usually sold out weeks in advance.
Empire State Building
Its strikingly aesthetic Art Deco form and its prominent presence on the New York skyline make the Empire State Building one of the most famous buildings in New York City. The majestic landmark owes its international popularity to numerous appearances in various Hollywood films. For many, the Empire State Building is the epitome of a skyscraper. No other has been at the top of the world's tallest buildings for so long, namely 40 years.
Needless to say, a visit to the observation deck of the 443-metre-high tower is an absolute must during a holiday in New York. Around 3 million visitors a year enjoy the spectacular view from a height of over 300 metres. The best time, as the shortest waiting time at the Empire State Building is Sunday to Wednesday or before 10 am and after 10 pm. At peak times, a VIP Express ticket is recommended!
The best view of the Empire State Building is from the rooftop bar 230 Fifth. It's also worth visiting at night, because from sunset onwards, the illuminated top of the Empire State Building is still staged by LED animations.
Rockefeller Center
Along with the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center is probably one of the top viewpoints in New York City. The enormous building complex is located just around the corner from 5th Avenue in the heart of Manhattan and extends over three streets.
Rockefeller Center consists of 21 skyscrapers, of which the GE Builiding is the tallest at 259 metres. The observation deck "Top of the Rock" is also located on the 70th floor. It also offers a spectacular view over the city, but is nowhere near as crowded as the Empire State Building.
Tip: The sunset at Top of the Rock is simply breathtaking! Best viewed from the cosy rooftop bar Peninsula, with a cocktail in hand.
Originally, the Rockefeller was to be the new home of New York's Metropolitan Opera. However, due to the stock market crash, the opera abandoned the building project and John D. Rockefeller Jr. took over its continuation.
By the way, the famous Christmas tree is opened every year on Rockefeller Center Plaza. Every day (!), 500,000 visitors marvel at the 13-ton tree with the $1.5 million Swarovski star at its top. Only then can Christmas in New York really begin!
Brooklyn Bridge
One of New York's most famous bridges leads from Manhattan to the artists' district of Brooklyn : the Brooklyn Bridge. The 530-metre-long bridge crosses the East River and is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the USA. When it was built, it was particularly spectacular, because when it was completed in 1883, it was by far the longest suspension bridge in the world.
The Brooklyn Bridge offers a dreamlike view of the New York skyline, whose magic is hard to resist, especially after sunset. However, you can only really enjoy the panorama if you cross the New York landmark on foot or by Citi Bike.
Brooklyn itself is also worth a walk! Hip, young and creative is the scene of this multifaceted neighbourhood. Brooklyn Bridge Park and Brooklyn Heights are among the most popular sights on the other side of the East River.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest art museum in the USA, is home to one of the most important art historical collections in the world. Founded in 1870, the museum is located at a prominent address on Manhattan's Upper East Side: On 5th Avenue and Central Park.
There are a gigantic two million exhibits to marvel at in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. From prehistoric times to the present day, visitors wander through the last 5,000 years of culture on our planet. The subject areas include paintings from all periods and cultures, weapons and armour, fashion and musical instruments from around the globe.
Without a museum map and/or audio guide, you're as good as lost here (this is conveniently also available in German). The free guided tours of the museum, which last about an hour and are also offered in German, are particularly interesting.
Grand Central Terminal (Grand Central Station)
Only one underground station? No way! The massive Grand Central Terminal, colloquially known as Grand Central Station, is probably New York's most famous train station. It is located on Park Avenue and is the terminus of many Metro North commuter trains. Famous from film and television, its architecture, size (almost 200 square kilometres!) and facilities are impressive.
Grand Central Terminal is an official historic landmark of New York and still the station with the most tracks in the world. There are 67 tracks and 44 platforms spread over two floors. No wonder that here - in the city that never sleeps - there really is something going on around the clock. A massive 750,000 people travel here every day, and in the holiday season even around 1 million! The intersection in front of the station at 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue is one of the most crowded in New York.
Grand Central Station was inaugurated in February 1913. It was built by the Vanderbilt family, who immortalised themselves in the form of their sign, the acorn. Acorns and oak leaves can be found everywhere. Incidentally, it was the largest building in New York City at the time. Also large are the impressive gilded chandeliers in the main lobby, the world's largest Tiffany glass clock above 42nd Street and the $10 million clock next to the main lobby information desk.
One World Trade Center (WTC 1)
One World Trade Center grew up on the exact spot where the World Trade Center once stood, which collapsed after the attacks on 11 September 2001.
The new One World Trade Center opened on 3 November 2014 and is the tallest building in New York, standing 541 metres high. 50,000 tonnes of steel were used for the asymmetrical colossus. Incidentally, 541 metres is 1776 feet - a symbol for the year of the Declaration of Independence.
On the 102nd floor is a super expensive restaurant with a naturally breathtaking view over the city. The panorama on the observation floors above and below the restaurant is also breathtaking. Incidentally, the One World Observatory is the highest observation deck in New York and ONE Dine is the highest restaurant in New York.
Ground Zero and 9/11 Museum and Memorial
Ground Zero" is the general term for the point on earth over which a bomb detonates. In New York City, however, everyone associates "ground zero" with the site of the former World Trade Center.
Ground Zero and the 9/11 Museum and Memorial commemorate the horrors of September 11, 2001, when both towers of the World Trade Center collapsed after the impact of two passenger planes.
The National September 11 Memorial is a memorial made of trees and water to the victims of the terrorist attacks in 2011 and the bombing in 1993, because the Twin Towers also destroyed the existing memorial. The 9/11 Memorial was officially opened on 12 September 2011, the museum on 15 May 2014.
Where the World Trade Center once stood, there are now two huge water basins in which (apart from the bombers) all the names of the almost 3000 victims are engraved. The 9-metre-high waterfall into the basement of the pool is the largest man-made waterfall in the USA. Below the basins is a pavilion with two memorial rooms and a museum, which displays information about the terrible attack, its victims and original debris from the Twin Towers in a moving atmosphere.
PICTURES: The Top 10 Sights of New York
