First time in New York? Five top things you have to do – words Alexa Wang
Got a trip booked to New York City? Good choice. Almost 50 million Americans visit the Big Apple every single year – and with good reason. The City That Never Sleeps has got so much going for it, and can be enjoyed in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter alike.
But, that can be a bit daunting. There’s so much to see that you need to prioritize. If it’s your first time in New York here are five things that have to make the cut when drawing up your holiday hitlist…
Central Park
Amid the skyscrapers and the hustle and bustle of the big city lies Central Park, a beautiful and vast green space (it’s 843 acres) which is a must-visit. It’s a great place to kick back and relax after some serious sightseeing and is loved by joggers and cyclists too. In the summer you can enjoy outdoor entertainment here, while two separate rinks open in the winter for ice skating.
Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge is one of New York’s best landmarks and an awesome sight in its own right, and is begging to get into your vacation photos. But here’s the best thing – walking across here will give you a great view of the city’s iconic skyline. Oh, and it’s free. You’ll need to save some dollars for shopping after all…
Fifth Avenue
Speaking of shopping, no visit to New York City is complete without a trip down Fifth Avenue. With everything from Saks Fifth Avenue to Gucci, Versace and Prada this is a shopper’s heaven. However, Fifth Avenue is about more than just shopping. Between the 82nd and 105th streets on the Upper East Side is known as the Museum Mile, with the likes of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim and Museum of the City of New York vying for your attention.
Broadway
When you’ve spent the day shopping and sightseeing, there’s no better way to cap it all off than a show on Broadway. NYC’s theater district is brimming with talent and offers something for everyone – from the family-friendly Disney classics such as the Lion King to modern sing-a-long favorites such as Kinky Boots right through to 2017 Tony Award winning Hello, Dolly! – you’re guaranteed to be entertained. Business is booming too. The 2016/17 season was the highest grossing year on record – with almost $1.5 billion spent in the box office.
The Rock
They always say you can tell a tourist in New York because they’re the ones spending their entire time looking up. One way to avoid that is to get up high and look down on that world famous skyline. There are three major observatories and, while the Empire State Building and the One World Observatory are both good picks, we’d recommend the ‘Top of the Rock’ at the Rockefeller Center. Its three indoor and outdoor viewing decking offer a high class view of this high class city – including views of the famous Empire State Building (which you’ll miss out on if you’re up there!).
Accommodation
So where do you stay?
With over 270 hotels in New York you have a lot of choices. From budget hostels to five star palaces of luxury New York has it all on offer.
If your planning an extended stay nothing is better than your own serviced apartment. Finding furnished apartments in New York is now pretty straightforward, there are a number of options to suit most peoples budget.
Grab yourself a base and visit the attractions on our hitlist.
You won’t be disappointed.
From there, it’s up to you. These are our tips for first time visitors to New York. Go wild, explore this famous city and build a vacation around our five top picks to have a great time in New York City.
First time in New York? – Visiting NYC tips – words Alexa Wang
