Your First Time in New York City

Our Local Expert Says:

For just a few of the many diversions available in the park, check out some advanced roller blading skills at "The Hill" west of Sheep's Meadow, or have a drink/meal at the Boathouse, near 74th Street on the east side of Rowboat Lake and open all summer.

Description:

The idea for Central Park was born in 1858, which a competition was held to choose a design for what would be the first public park built in America. The winners were Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, whose Greensward plan proposed an entirely man-made park that would be intended only for public use, as a refuge from the relentless rhythms of New York City's already overcrowded streets. It took more than 15 years and $14 million (the equivalent of about $200 million today) to build the Park, with its 843 acres and six-mile perimeter extending from Central Park West to Fifth Avenue and from 59th Street to 110th Street. Those 843 acres include 136 acres of woodlands, 250 acres of lawns, and 7 different bodies of water totaling some 150 acres.

Starting in 1980, a public-private partnership between New York City and the Central Park Conservancy restored and preserved Central Park, and attendance has only been rising in recent years. Now, more than 25 million visitors per year stroll its 58 miles of pedestrian paths, go horseback riding on 4.5 miles of bridle paths, bike or jog on its 6.5 miles of winding roads, or simply relax on the grass or on the nearly 9,000 benches provided.... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

The Costume Institute, a curatorial department of the Met, does not have a permanent installation but hosts two special exhibitions each year featuring items from its vast collection. Past events dedicated to star designers like Chanel and Versace have drawn huge crowds.

Description:

Don't expect to fully take in all that this enormous museum has to offer in one visit. With the finest collection of American art in the world, a collection of more than 3,000 European paintings, an expansive array of art from ancient Egypt, and recently renovated halls of Greek, Roman, Cypriot, and Asian art, there is a reason the Metropolitan Museum is considered the foremost symbol of arts and culture in a city chock-full of arts and culture. Often referred to simply as "The Met", the museum is located on Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, on the eastern edge of Central Park and at the center of the so-called "Museum Mile".

First opened in 1872, the Met has been significantly expanded over the years, and its permanent collection now contains more than two million works of art, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. In addition to its giant holdings of American, European, Egyptian, African, Asian, Oceanic, Byzantine, and Islamic art, the museum is also home to encyclopedic collections of musical instruments, costumes and accessories, and antique weapons and armor from around the world. A number of notable interiors, ranging from 1st century Rome through modern American design,... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

Natives may avoid Times Square whenever possible, but its neon lights and cast of weird characters (including the Naked Cowboy) make it a must-see for the first-time visitor.

Description:

Located at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Street, its glittering lights and neon signs make Times Square one of the most iconic sights of New York City. Formerly the property of fur trading and real estate tycoon John Jacob Astor, the square got its name in the early 1900s when the New York Times moved into a new skyscraper on 42nd Street. After new subways brought thousands of commuters to 42nd Street, the city's theaters moved up from the Bowery and lower Broadway, and the area is now the center of New York's bustling theater district.

In the decades after the Great Depression, Times Square became known as a dangerous neighborhood and a symbol of the city's decline and corruption from the 1960s to the 1990s. After a long-term development plan and a comprehensive crackdown on crime by the city government, the infamous center of pickpockets and porno theaters has been thoroughly reinvented and filled with more upscale and tourist-friendly attractions, hotels, vendors, and street performers.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Statue of Liberty's original 1886 torch is included among the exhibits contained in the statue's base.

Description:

This iconic copper statue was presented to the U.S. by France in 1886 as a commemoration of the U.S. centennial and a gesture of friendship between France and the U.S. Since then, it has stood at Liberty Island in New York Harbor as a welcome to all visitors, immigrants, and Americans returning from abroad. Construction of the statue, supervised by sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and engineer Gustave Eiffel (mastermind of Paris's famous tower), began in France in 1875 and was completed in 1884, after which the statue was dismantled and transported across the Atlantic to be reassembled.

Lady Liberty stands approximately 151 feet tall and weighs 225 tons (450,000 pounds). Visitors used to be able to climb the 354 steps to peer at the view through the windows in her crown, but this option is no longer available. Currently, the museum and ten-story pedestal are open for visitation but are only accessible if visitors have a "Monument Access Pass" which is a reservation that visitors must make at least two days in advance of their visit and pick up before boarding the ferry. There are a maximum of 3000 passes available each day (with a total of 15,000 visitors to the island daily). read more

Our Local Expert Says:

It's been estimated that close to 40 percent of all current U.S. citizens can trace at least some part of their ancestry to Ellis Island. Today, visitors to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum can trace their ancestors through millions of immigrant arrival records made available to the public in 2001.

Description:

Not far from Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty stands Ellis Island, former gateway to the United States. Between 1892 and 1954, over 12 million Immigrants were processed in the "Main Building" at Ellis Island. In 1990, the long disused buildings were restored and the Immigration Museum was born.

The Museum offers a variety of exhibits and programs about the history of Ellis Island and the immigration process. Today, the Main Building is a three floor museum, containing a variety of self-guided permanent exhibits.

The museum includes a research library that contains materials related to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and immigration history. Visitors can use the museum's resources to track their own ancestors. The Oral History Collection includes over 1,000 taped and transcribed interviews of Ellis Island immigrants and staff. Both the Library and Oral History Collection are open to the public during regular operating hours of the museum.

Our Local Expert Says:

The best views are from the outdoor observatory on the 86th floor (1,050 feet high), which spans the building's circumference. High-powered binoculars (bring quarters!) offer views of up to 80 miles on clear days.

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This 102-story Art Deco skyscraper, located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street, has been one of New York's most notable landmarks since its completion in 1931. Built as part of an intense competition to build the world's tallest building, the Empire State Building overtook its rivals - 40 Wall Street and the Chrysler Building - to gain the distinction, which it held for four decades, before the World Trade Center towers were completed in 1971. With the destruction of the World Trade Center in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Empire State Building again became the tallest building in New York City. It was designed by Gregory Johnson and his architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon.

The building's façade is classic, with modernistic stainless steel canopies marking the entrances on 33rd and 34th Streets and leading to corridors surrounding a core of 67 elevators. Though the Chrysler Building is undoubtedly the more attractive of New York's two Art Deco towers, the Empire State Building has earned its reputation as a top destination largely due to the popularity of its indoor and outdoor observation decks. The outdoor observatory on the 86th floor,... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

Grabbing a bite to eat at Grand Central is easy these days, with a food concourse below ground offering a great selection of options from pizza to gourmet sandwiches to Indian food. For a classier meal or drink, there's always the Oyster Bar, a New York City institution.

Description:

Often called Grand Central Station, this major transportation hub located on the corner of Park Avenue and 42nd Street serves commuters on the New York City subway as well as the Metro-North Railroad, which travels to Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties in New York and Fairfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut. Aside from its importance as a transportation center, Grand Central Terminal is also one of New York's most durable landmarks, and a dramatic symbol of the hustle and bustle of the city. The decision to electrify New York's trains around 1900 meant that rail yard operations were moved underground and centered in a new, breathtaking Beaux-Arts terminal building, completed in 1913. Later, Grand Central was almost destroyed (the fate of the original Pennsylvania Station across town), but preservationists including Jacqueline Kennedy had it declared landmark in the mid-1960s.

Those approaching Grand Central Terminal from the south are rewarded with views of the building's impressive façade, topped by a 13-foot clock. The clock features the world's largest example of Tiffany glass and is surrounded by huge sculptures of the Roman gods Hercules, Minerva, and Mercury.... read more

Description:

The new $1.5 billion home for the New York Yankees baseball team opened in April 2009 on the former site of Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx, across the street from the previous Yankee Stadium (built in 1923). In an effort to preserve a sense of the Yankees' storied history and its star players--who included Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio--many aspects of the new stadium reflect those of the previous one, including the design of its exterior and the actual playing field.

Inside, visitors will find hundreds of photographs from throughout the team's history, taken from the archives of the New York Daily News and other sources. Seats are wider and have more legroom than in the previous stadium, and there are hundreds of thousands more square feet of space for food concessions and other amenities. Soon after it opened, the new Yankee Stadium became known for the high number of home runs hit there, earning the derision of some sports commentators, but the number of homers significantly slowed over the course of the 2009 season.

Our Local Expert Says:

For views that rival the Empire State Building's famous 86th-floor observatory, head to Top of the Rock, which boasts a more spacious observation deck and equally stunning views (from a slightly lower height).

Description:

A major commercial center covering 22 acres between 48th and 51st Streets and 5th and 7th Avenues in Midtown Manhattan, Rockefeller Center is one of the city's foremost shopping and entertainment destinations. Oil billionaire and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. leased the site from Columbia University in 1929 with plans to build a new home for the Metropolitan Opera. After the stock market crash of that year, plans were changed. Now, 19 buildings constructed in the Art Deco style house shops, restaurants, and offices, along with Radio City Music Hall.

The centerpiece of Rockefeller Center is the 70-floor, 872-foot GE Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (aka "30 Rock") - formerly known as the RCA Building - centered behind the complex's sunken plaza. The building is the headquarters of NBC and houses most of the network's New York studios, including the legendary Studio 8H, home of Saturday Night Live. The windows of the studio where NBC's Today Show is filmed are usually mobbed by crowd jostling for a look of the show's hosts and guests. Tours of the NBC studios are also available, and many visitors choose to wait in line for tickets to one of the many shows taped in the building. read more

Description:

Located within the Standard Oil Building, just south of the World Trade Center, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center was created in the wake of September 11, 2001. Tribute offers visitors to the World Trade Center site a place where they can connect with people from the September 11th community. Through walking tours, exhibits and programs, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center offers "Person to Person History," linking visitors who want to understand and appreciate these historic events with those who experienced them.

The space features interactive exhibits and five galleries that deal with different aspects of the 9/11 tragedy. All walking tours make five stops while traveling around the site. Most of the tour takes place indoors, traveling along the windows of the World Financial Center and looking out onto Ground Zero. Guides share key facts and reveal specific events of the day while weaving their personal experiences of survival, loss, and healing throughout the tour, giving visitors an unparalleled opportunity to connect with history first-hand.

Our Local Expert Says:

This museum offers a diverse selection of visiting exhibitions (fun past ones include the history of chocolate and a hall of butterflies) and a great IMAX theater, as well as its famous dinosaur halls.

Description:

Founded in 1869 by a group that included J.P. Morgan and Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., father of the 26th U.S. president, the American Museum of Natural History is a remarkable architectural landmark, with its combination of Neo-Gothic and Neo-Romanesque styles and its grand white-columned entrance on Central Park West, marked by a statue of President Theodore Roosevelt. The museum complex contains 27 interconnected buildings housing 45 permanent exhibit halls, a planetarium, temporary exhibition halls, research and collections facilities, and a library in the natural sciences; add parking and service amenities and the area totals 1.6 million square feet.

The museum's vast selection of permanent exhibitions and its various special temporary exhibitions focus on illuminating various aspects of the earth's evolution, from the birth of the planet through the present day. Those that have the energy and perseverance to tour all of the museum's four floors of gallery space will be rewarded with a "field guide to life on Earth, the cultures of humanity, and the latest discoveries in the cosmos," according to the museum's Web site. In addition to the expansive galleries of dinosaurs, whales, birds,... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

Seriously delicious pizza in a newly expanded space, though the bigger Lombardi's has definitely lost a little of its gritty charm from the old days. The pizza is still great, though—a contender for the best in the city.

Description:

Established in 1905, Lombardi's stakes its claim as America's oldest fully-functioning pizzeria. Its influence stretches into every corner of the New York pizza establishment, as Gennaro Lombardi taught pizza-making to the founders of several other New York pizza institutions: John Sasso of John's, Patsy Lancieri of Patsy's, and Anthony Pero of Totonno's. Today, the restaurant is often overcrowded with tourists and faithful waiting to sample the classic brick-oven pizza served with a huge selection of fresh toppings. Prepare for a wait on weekends, and dining in the backyard garden (weather permitting) is more pleasant than the crowded indoor area. In the heated battles over New York's best slice, Lombardi's has its passionate defenders, many of whom cite the pizza with fresh chopped clams as one of the more memorable options.

Our Local Expert Says:

In addition to its mammoth sandwiches, Katz's boasts the best available Jewish deli staples, including frankfurters, knockwurst, knishes and more.

Description:

Established in 1888, Katz's has the honor of being the city's oldest delicatessen, and its classic New York Jewish style has made it into a top tourist destination (watch those buses stop at the curb). Inside, you can wait in the cafeteria-style line or sit in the area marked "waiter service," where a sign marks the table where Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan sat while filming their famous scene in "When Harry Met Sally." Come for the dill pickles, old-fashioned cream soda, or--most famously--the thick sandwiches of pastrami and roast beef carved by hand, old-school-style.

Description:

This chic and popular dining spot is well known among the Manhattan elite for excellent service, superb food, plush surroundings and an extensive wine list. Gramercy Tavern has two rooms: The elegant main dining room is for those with more polished palates, serving such specials as venison and rabbit; reservations are a must. The dressed-down Tavern Room is perfect for the casual diner, and you are likely to get a table without a reservation, albeit with a wait!

Our Local Expert Says:

Be prepared to stand in line for your seat in this favorite spot; its hamburgers are perennially contenders for the best in the city.

Description:

Nestled in the heart of the West Village, this casual American bar and restaurant keeps late hours (until 4a) and serves cheap, casual fare. Greasy but tasty burgers, and fries. A friendly spot, Corner Bistro caters to a diverse crowd of downtown denizens, as well as the college types who party on Bleecker Street. It is cash only, but at these prices you should have no problem paying the bill.

Our Local Expert Says:

Though the price of a hot dog keeps going up, this is still the best deal in NYC dining--by a longshot.

Description:

A New York favorite for almost 30 years, this hot dog joint offers a long-running special--one juicy hot dog with a slightly mysterious "papaya" fruit drink--that stakes a claim as the best dining deal in town. The store's famous facade has featured in several movies, and star chef Mario Batali is among the prominent New Yorkers who have proclaimed themselves fans of these dogs. There are three locations in the city, including this Upper West Side branch, the West Village (402 Sixth Avenue at 8th Street) and Hell's Kitchen (539 Eighth Avenue at 37th Street).

Description:

The Metropolitan Opera House, with its wonderful Chagall paintings and grand arches, is arguably the most impressive building in the Lincoln Center complex. The space is divided between the Metropolitan Opera during the autumn and winter, and the American Ballet Theatre in the spring. Prices for the opera are not cheap, unless you are willing to stand on line Saturday morning for a ticket. Ballet performances are predominately in the classical style.

Description:

This is the top concert venue in New York City. It has showcased bands from The Hives to Prince. Even though the hall can hold a large audience, it also provides an intimate atmosphere to view your favorite bands.

Our Local Expert Says:

The food is secondary to the bar scene here — and everything else is secondary to the gorgeous 360-degree views of NYC at night, especially the Empire State Building.

Description:

This famous Manhattan restaurant offers delicious American food in a spacious setting. The Penthouse Lounge, the Rooftop Garden and the indoor restaurant can together seat around 1000 guests at a time! Chef Zak Pelaccio presents lip-smacking specialties, such as crispy shrimp, veal and pork meatballs, Malaysian fish cakes and the signature Romli Burger; Kuala Lumpur's beef burger served with pickles and home-made aioli. Many diners come for the view - the rooftop view of the Empire State Building is almost unbeatable. The restaurant also offers space for birthday parties, family gatherings and other private functions. Check the website for more details.

Description:

Mixologist and owner Audrey Saunders, formerly of Bemelman's Bar in the Carlyle Hotel, makes magic with cocktails. In 2005 she opened her own little downtown gathering spot where she can even better showcase her immense talents. The cocktails here change seasonally and will astound you with their creativity. It helps that the staff uses fresh squeezed juices, homemade ginger beer, and the largest assortment of bitters you will find anywhere. You know you are in serious cocktail heaven when your drinks are served with liquid condiments; if your Pisco Punch needs a bit more sugar, you can squeeze a dropperful in. Or if your Gin-Gin Mule just doesn't pack the citrus tang you would like, add a dash of lime. Be sure to explore the far-from-typical-bar-food menu.

Our Local Expert Says:

One of New York's most eco-conscious neighborhoods, Union Square is home to the city's biggest greenmarket, organic powerhouses Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, and a variety of gyms, yoga and Pilates studios, spas, and alternative medicine practitioners.

Description:

In the early 1800s, upscale townhouses and local theatres thrived in the area surrounding Union Square. In the 1850s and 1860s, factories and offices replaced the residences, and unionists and abolitionists held massive rallies here. In the 1920s, labor activists gathered, protested and rioted. As recent as the late 1980s and early 1990s, urban decay tainted the square and its surrounding areas. But today, a lovely park is the centerpiece of a chic neighborhood brimming with restaurants, upscale shops and retail giants. The Union Square Greenmarket takes place here.

Description:

A wide variety of objects -- costumes, photographs, prints, maps, dioramas, and memorabilia -- trace the history of New York City from its beginnings as a humble Dutch colony in the 16th century to its present-day prominence. Two outstanding permanent exhibits are the re-creation of John D. Rockefeller's master bedroom and dressing room, and the space devoted to "Broadway!," a history of New York theater. Kids will love "New York Toy Stories," a permanent exhibit showcasing toys and dolls owned and adored by centuries of New York children. The permanent "Painting the Town: Cityscapes of New York" explores the changing cityscape from 1809 to 1997, and carries new profundity in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In 2009, the exhibits, "Amsterdam/New Amsterdam: The Worlds of Henry Hudson" and "Valentina: American Couture and the Cult of Celebrity" were featured.

Description:

This museum, founded in 1988, is dedicated to all the immigrants who came to New York City during the 1800s, but in particular to the occupants of this one-time tenement on Orchard Street. See life as new Americans experienced it in Chinatown, Little Italy and elsewhere on the Lower East Side through photos, displays and memorabilia. The gallery is free.

Description:

This New York treasure, boasting one of the world's most important collections of original manuscripts, rare books and bindings, master drawings, and personal writings has become newly popular since extensive renovations and an addition designed by architect Renzo Piano were completed in 2006. Those renovations include a welcoming entrance on Madison Avenue; new and renovated galleries, so that more of the library's holdings can be exhibited; a modern auditorium; and a new Reading Room with greater capacity and electronic resources and expanded space for collections storage. The permanent collection is nothing but astounding, including not one but three Gutenberg Bibles, letters and manuscripts of Jane Austen, Balzac, Byron, Dickens, James Joyce, and Alexander Pope, and a sumptuous, eye-boggling collection of medieval illuminated manuscripts. Note: The collection is too vast for it to be all exhibited at one time, and the displays change periodically. Some of the Library's exhibitions have included one on the life of Bob Dylan through music, letters, memorabilia, "On the Money: Cartoons for The New Yorker," and "The Modern Stage: Set Designs, 1900-1970." Note: The museum's website has...

Our Local Expert Says:

If you're in the mood for a little exercise, walk or ride your bike across this famous bridge for some of the best views of the city.

Description:

Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. It stretches 5,989 feet (1825 meters) across the East River and connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. At the time of its construction, it was the largest suspension bridge in the world and the first steel-wire suspension bridge. The bridge was designed by the New Jersey architect John Augustus Roebling, who died before construction began after he contracted tetanus from a wound sustained in a ferry accident during surveys for the bridge project. Built from limestone, granite, and cement, the Brooklyn Bridge is an example of Gothic-style architecture, with its characteristic pointed arches topping twin passageways through huge stone towers. Because Roebling designed a bridge and truss system six times stronger than he thought it needed to be, the Brooklyn Bridge is still standing, while many other bridges built around the same time have had to be replaced.

In the past, the inside lanes of traffic on the bridge carried the elevated trains of the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transport (BMT) Corporation from stations in Brooklyn to a terminal at Manhattan's Park Row. Streetcars shared the... read more