Manhattan Downtown

The Brooklyn Bridge was built between 1869 and 1883 and opened in May 1883. It was the first steel suspension bridge in the world. For a time it was the only connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Walking across the bridge and going from one side of the city to the other gives you a beautiful view of New York.

The Story of the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge was designed by John August Roebling, who died in an accident during construction before the work was completed. After his death, his son Washington Roebling took his place. He also had an accident, due to which he could no longer coordinate the construction. However, he continued to follow the work through binoculars from his apartment, assisted by his wife, Emily Warren Roebling. Another 27 people died during the work. On May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge officially opened. Emily Warren Roebling was the first to cross, followed by 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 pedestrians that day alone. At the time, the Brooklyn Bridge was the only connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn Bridge cost $19 million (equivalent to $350 million in 2024). Interesting fact: Six days after the opening, there were already rumors about the possible collapse of the bridge. They all proved wrong when PT Barnum, a circus man, paraded 21 elephants across the bridge the following year.

On average, 120,000 cars, 4,000 pedestrians and 2,600 cyclists cross the Brooklyn Bridge every day.

The Brooklyn Bridge has been transformed over the years and has become a landmark and symbol of New York. The best way to see the Brooklyn Bridge is on foot, so you can admire the amazing skyline of New York, as the bridge slopes slightly towards Manhattan. It takes about 45 minutes to walk across the bridge, plus the time needed to take photos.

You won’t want to miss the Brooklyn Bridge walkway photo opportunity for the perfect souvenir photo.

THE PARK OVERLOOKING THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
Battery Park is one of the parks in New York with a rich history behind it, as in the past it represented the first point of arrival in New York for immigrants.
Today it is a very well-kept park , in the financial district area, and is the point from where you embark for a visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
What to see in Battery Park in New York?
Castle Clinton
The Sphere sculpture
John Ericsson statue
East Coast Memorial
Panoramic view to the Statue of Liberty

Little Italy is located roughly between SoHo and Chinatown. In recent years, Little Italy, the first neighborhood where Italian immigrants settled, has become smaller and smaller with the expansion of Chinatown. Nowadays, Italian shops and restaurants are found mostly on Grand and Mulberry Streets. They are not very cheap, but the quality is good to average.

The story of Little Italy

In Little Italy, Italian influences are disappearing as residents move to other neighborhoods. Fortunately, the heart of Little Italy continues to be alive and well. This area, in fact, has a lot of history to tell: at the end of the 1800s, many immigrants, especially from Southern Italy, settled here, bringing a piece of Italy to New York with them, along with everybody’s favorite, pizza. Even today, in mid-September, San Gennaro is celebrated in Little Italy .

Play: Little Italy in New York Cosa Nostra

In addition to traditions and culinary delights, the Italians also brought with them the mafia. Strengthened by the strong marginalization of Italian immigrants and the possibility of profiting from alcohol smuggling during the years of Prohibition, the Italian-American mafia was the largest criminal organization in the United States. Cosa Nostra, as it is called by mafiosi, has a long history behind it which has given rise to legendary gangster movies such as The Godfather trilogy .

So why not take a tour to find out more?

During the New York Mafia Tour I will tell you the story of the most powerful criminal organization in the United States and its five families. You’ll visit the haunting grounds of John Gotti and the Sopranos stars and pass by Umberto’s, the famous mobster hangout where

Joey Gallo was shot while eating. You’ll also see the contraband warehouse that was active during the Prohibition years.

Where to eat in Little Italy

If, however, you were thinking of trying one of the historic Italian restaurants in Little Italy then I recommend the former mobster hangout, Umberto’s Clam House on 132 Mulberry Street. At the old address, two blocks down, gangster Joey Gallo was shot while eating a plate of fish. These events are now part of the past as Little Italy has now become a safe and heavily visited neighborhood.

A beautiful neighborhood that makes for a fantastic trip is Chinatown, located in downtown New York. Today it extends more or less west of Broadway, and north and south of Delancey and Chambers Street. Walking around this neighborhood makes you feel like you’re actually in China for a moment.

The History of Manhattan’s Chinatown

The Chinese have lived in the area since 1850, but large waves of immigration did not begin until after 1965, when immigration laws became less strict. Today, there are approximately 700,000 Chinese living in New York. In addition to Chinatown, the Chinese people have also migrated to Flushing, Queens, but Manhattan’s Chinatown is still the most touristic Chinatown in New York.

Exploring Chinatown

I have never been to China, but I can imagine that it is similar to Chinatown: Food markets are everywhere on the street. Day and night you can buy huge baskets of fresh fish. You’ll find shops where you can buy all kinds of medicines and miracle cures. You can get a massage at a fairly low price in the quarter. Most of the vendors only speak Chinese and even McDonald’s is written in Chinese characters.

Organized tour in Chinatown

If you want to tour Chinatown with me, you can choose from several available packages. Of course, you can walk on your own, but a local can help you better understand the history and current situation of the area.

Where to eat in Chinatown

When in Chinatown, you can’t help but try real Chinese cuisine, which you can find over the area. For delicious Chinese Dim Sum, I recommend the Golden Unicorn restaurant at 18 East
Broadway. Very authentic place: the waiters speak Chinese and the menus are in Chinese. Guarantee: even the local Chinese come here to eat.

South Street Seaport in New York is a historic neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. The South Street Seaport and the adjacent Pier 17 are both located on the East River. On the landward side, the neighborhood is surrounded by the Financial District. The area features original 18th- and 19th-century buildings, refurbished sailboats, and the former Fulton Fish Market. But you can also have fun in the welcoming bars, at big events or ice skating. Many of the South Street Seaport activities take place at Pier 17.

Historic neighborhood

South Street Seaport is a historic district, meaning it has remained in its original state enough to be considered of historic significance. Some of the oldest buildings in Downtown Manhattan are located here, and strolling around makes you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. When passing through this area, also pop into nearby Stone Street in the Financial District to immerse yourself in the New York of yesteryear. South Street Seaport is also home to the Titanic Memorial, a 60-foot-tall white lighthouse on the corner of Fulton Street and Pearl Street. This memorial was created to commemorate the passengers and crew members who died in the ship disaster.

Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport has been closed for years due to the disaster caused by Hurricane Sandy. The pier was recently completely renovated and reopened. Currently, the roof of the pier has become a meeting point. In the winter, an ice rink called Winterland Rink is located here. In the summer, concerts and other events are held here . Various catering facilities are located on the ground floor, which is a nice place to relax with a snack and a drink.

75-minute boat tour starting from Pier 36. During the excursion, you will see the Statue of Liberty up close as the boat stops at the base of Lady Liberty for picture taking. You will cruise underneath the Manhattan & Brooklyn Bridge, see the skyscrapers that make up the famous Manhattan Skyline, see The Freedom Tower and many other historical attractions.

I will accompany you to the port and drop you off at the loading dock at Pier 36, purchase the boat tickets for you and hand you an information booklet in Hungarian which the captain will speak about during the trip. I will be there to greet you at the end of the cruise and escort you back to the shuttle. We arrange everything for you.

She is an icon, a national treasure, and one of the most recognizable figures in the world. Each year millions who cherish her ideals make the journey to experience her history and grandeur in person. She is the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom, inspiration, and hope.

One of New York’s best-known sights is the copper statue on Liberty Island at the mouth of the Hudson. The woman holding the torch (93 m), symbolizing freedom, was donated by France to the United States for the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was completed in 1886, and since then it has been one of New York’s most defining members. I would like to mention that the Hungarian-born József Pulitzer played a major role in the erection of the statue, who made the campaign for the construction of the statue’s pedestal a success with his donation.

Visiting Liberty Island is one of the most rewarding experiences of any trip to New York City. However, visitors who wish to enter the pedestal and visit the crown must secure reservations through Statue City Cruises, the ONLY AUTHORIZED ticket seller for Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island. Please keep in mind this process can be quite complicated and lengthy.

All boat tours stop at the base of The Statue of Liberty, which will give you the opportunity to photograph and admire Lady Liberty from the boat, and promises to be a phenomenal experience for you.

She is an icon, a national treasure, and one of the most recognizable figures in the world. Each year millions who cherish her ideals make the journey to experience her history and grandeur in person. She is the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom, inspiration, and hope.

One of New York’s best-known sights is the copper statue on Liberty Island at the mouth of the Hudson. The woman holding the torch (93 m), symbolizing freedom, was donated by France to the United States for the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was completed in 1886, and since then it has been one of New York’s most defining members. I would like to mention that the Hungarian-born József Pulitzer played a major role in the erection of the statue, who made the campaign for the construction of the statue’s pedestal a success with his donation.

Visiting Liberty Island is one of the most rewarding experiences of any trip to New York City. However, visitors who wish to enter the pedestal and visit the crown must secure reservations through Statue City Cruises, the ONLY AUTHORIZED ticket seller for Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island. Please keep in mind this process can be quite complicated and lengthy.

All boat tours stop at the base of The Statue of Liberty, which will give you the opportunity to photograph and admire Lady Liberty from the boat, and promises to be a phenomenal experience for you.

• Wall Street – home of the American stock exchange
• Federal Reserve
• New York Stock Exchange
• Museum of American Finance

The Wall Street Bull (Charging Bull) is the very famous bronze sculpture in New York and symbol of Wall Street , admired every day by many tourists who flock for a photo and for a good-luck gesture.

The tour does not include entry into these buildings, which is strictly reserved for operators in the sector, but the added value is given by the guide who during the tour will enrich you with lots of information, curiosities and anecdotes on how things work inside, how this financial area has become one of the most important and decisive in the world.

Wall Street

The financial district of New York ( Financial District ) with the famous Wall Street area is the southern end of the island of Manhattan.

Many of the attractions you will want to visit during your trip to New York are located here.

This is the financial, banking and institutional heart of the world. You will find luxurious skyscrapers, offices, a crowd of office workers and bankers in suits walking briskly dodging tourists along the sidewalks.

Charging bull

It was supposed to be a temporary installation, placed secretly during the night, but New Yorkers became so fond of its message of hope that after more than 30 years the Wall Street Bull is still in the same place and has become a real New York attraction.

With its majesty, the Charging Bull represents the courage , strength , resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of the Americans who were able to recover from the financial crisis. It is a work that expresses the spirit of the American dream, inspires hope and confidence in the economy.

The SoHo neighborhood in New York is a must see. Far from the bright lights of midtown, it expresses perhaps the most authentic and unique soul of New Yorkers. As with other
neighborhoods in Manhattan, the name SoHo comes directly from its location on the map. It stands for ” South of Houston “, precisely because it is located south of Houston Street, in the south-west area of Manhattan.

SoHo is a simply delightful neighborhood. It is here you will find the typical cast iron buildings and red brick houses with fire escapes outside , which will surely remind you of many films and TV series. I find these houses romantic and intriguing. And I’m not the only one, many music and film stars have taken up residence in SoHo.

SHOPPING IN SOHO

Many people prefer the streets of SoHo for shopping to the overcrowded 5th Avenue . The shops are mainly concentrated along Prince Street, Broadway, West Broadway and Spring Street. You will find high fashion brands, but also more affordable shops, an Apple Store and much more. The atmosphere is trendy, casual and affordable.

If you have decided to buy the latest iPhone in New York, an iPad, a smartwatch or some other product, I recommend you go to the Apple Store in SoHo: you1ll find much fewer crowds than the one on Fifth Avenue and more peace of mind to get advice on your purchase from the clerks.

The SoHo neighborhood in New York is so renowned for its shopping that actual guided tours are organised for an entire day. A truly special experience, dedicated to true shopping addicts.

One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) is the tallest building in New York. With its mirrored windows and long antenna, One World Trade Center is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. One World is approximately 541 meters tall, if you include the antenna. From the ground to the glass and metal balustrade, to the top of the skyscraper, the building measures approximately 417 metres, the same height as the Twin Towers.

Freedom Tower / One World Observatory Tickets

Inside One World Trade Center there are 69 floors of offices, restaurants and an observation deck, called One World Observatory, with incredible panoramic views of New York. In total, One World Trade Center has 104 floors and the Freedom Tower observatory is located on the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors. It is the highest viewpoint in the city. The skyscraper, with its antenna, is also a transmission tower. Inside there is also a large underground shopping center and an access point to public transport.

The Twin Towers and One World Trade Center

The Twin Towers stood in Lower Manhattan until the 2001 attacks. Today, One World Trade Center stands near the area where the Twin Towers once stood. After the September 11 attacks, it took more than a year and a half to clean the area of the steel and concrete that had accumulated following the collapse of the buildings.

After this period, a tender was launched for the construction of a new complex, The Freedom Tower. Daniel Libeskind, an American-born Pole, won the bid.

The World Trade Center complex includes six buildings and not just One World Trade Center. Libeskind gave the complex a spiral shape; this ends in the area once occupied by the Twin Towers, where today the 9/11 Memorial is located. Also part of The Freedom Tower Master Plan is the Performing Arts Center, which is located in the same area.

The 9/11 Memorial was opened in September 2011 to commemorate the victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001. The memorial includes two square pools located right where the Twin Towers stood, with the names of the victims engraved on them. The pools are surrounded by trees and water. Worth visiting. The 9/11 Museum is located next to the memorial fountain

Freedom Tower or One World Trade Center?

The tower was initially called Freedom Tower, but the Port Authority of New York changed the name to One World Trade Center. The reason for this is that the name ‘Freedom Tower’ was too emotionally charged. This would have hindered the leasing of the offices as it was associated with the tragic event of 9/11.

Greenwich Village, also called West Village or much more simply The Village, is one of the most famous and particular neighborhoods in New York. Located in the heart of Manhattan, south of 14th street, it stands out for its narrow and twisted streets, so different from the classic Manhattan grid. Here you can breathe a different air, I would define it as a bit Parisian.

What to see in Greenwich Village in New York? Undoubtedly the neighborhood itself. The skyscrapers give way to tree-lined avenues and typical red brick houses (the so-called brownstones…beautiful), the environment is more on a human scale, the pace becomes more relaxed.

But don’t be fooled, the Village is also one of the centers of Manhattan’s nightlife, with several historic clubs and meeting points for great artists, writers and musicians of the last century. A lively and pulsating neighbourhood, which has maintained its alternative and pioneering spirit of the times over the years. Even during the day the neighborhood is lively, especially in the Washington Square Park area. The park with its fountain and imposing arch practically acts as the gateway to the Village and the buildings on the campus of New York University (one of the most prestigious universities in the United States). As you can imagine, the area is lively, full of university students and street artists.

The Oculus is the other name for the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, it is basically nothing more than a large hub for public transport arriving and departing from the World Trade Center, with a mega shopping center inside (Westfield WTC).

The station handles the chaotic traffic of commuters working in the Financial District and Wall Street, connecting 11 subway lines, PATH train, and the Hudson Ferry Terminal. The World Trade Center Transportation Hub is the third largest internodal transportation center in New York.

The structure on the outside is imposing and truly spectacular, the work of the architect Calatrava, even as it develops underground. With its particular and characteristic shape, Calatrava’s Oculus is undoubtedly worth a visit when you go on holiday to New York!

The Oculus stands on the site of a shopping center that was destroyed in the September 11 attack.

Inside Oculus there is the huge shopping center of the Westfiled chain, the largest in all of New York!

It is nearly impossibe to list the very long list of shops, Westfield World Trade Center extends for almost 34,000 square meters. The shopping center is also a good opportunity for a quick meal in one of the fast food restaurants or other establishments in the vast restaurant area.

The 9/11 Memorial, which in Italian sounds like ” memorial of September 11th “, is the place where the Twin Towers stood, which has now become a place of remembrance for all the victims of that nefarious attack, and a broader symbol of American pride against terrorism.

Concretely they are two large basins that occupy the entire surface on which the Twin Towers stood, which can be visited for free both for commemoration and as a “tourist attraction”, part of a larger project called National September 11 Memorial & Museum which also includes the September 11th museum.

LITTLE ISLAND, THE FLOATING PARK IN NEW YORK

Little Island is the new and revolutionary “floating park” in New York, opened on May 21, 2021.
Built on a very particular structure, suspended on the Hudson River, it contains paths with rare species of flowers and plants, restaurants, and an amphitheater for outdoor shows. It is not enclosed, complete with an unparalleled view of the city.

It is the first great creation of New York following the Covid-19 pandemic, it can be visited for free (by reservation) and promises to be one of the most curious and evocative attractions among the “atypical” sites of the city.

It is part of the larger “Hudson River Park”, a public park that extends for over 4 miles along the west side of Manhattan, born from the redevelopment of the entire western coastal area of Manhattan, and all the Piers within it.