Manhattan Uptown

Central Park was designed by Frederick Olmsted (also famous for his work on the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair) and Calvert Vaux. With 843 acres designed to give the “urban dweller” a taste of the countryside, there are plenty of sights and activities for both the NYC resident and tourist to enjoy.

Central Park is an urban park between the Upper West Side and Upper East Side neighborhoods of Manhattan in New York City that was the first landscaped park in the United States.

Area: 1.317 mi2
Established: 1858
Architect: Frederick Law Olmsted (1822–1903), Calvert Vaux (1824–1895)

59th street & 5th Avenue

The Plaza has welcomed guests from around the world to enjoy its magic at the castle on Central Park South for more than 100 years.

59th street & 5th Avenue
Enjoy Central Park during a comfortable and exciting private horse carriage tour. See the most famous sights of iconic Central Park like Wollman Rink, the Boat Pond, and Strawberry Fields.
From $165 per group up to 4

East 63rd street, mid-park
The Wollman Rink is a public ice rink in the southern part of Central Park, Manhattan, New York City. It is named after the Wollman family who donated the funds for its original construction. The rink is open for ice skating from late October to early April.
Adult $26
Child (ages 4-12) $10.00 Senior (ages 65+) $10.00

72nd street, mid-park

A large plaza consisting of two levels as well as an Arcade and a fountain, an absolute beautiful NY based architectural attraction and one of the top most visited destinations in Central Park.

East 62nd street, mid-park

This bridge is where Kevin first meets the pigeon lady in Home Alone 1. It’s in the South East part of Central Park and runs across the north most part of “The Pond”. you can even see The Plaza hotel from here just like Kevin does in the movie.

This gorgeous rustic stone bridge is one of the best spots in Central Park for photos, often finding its way into wedding photoshoots, portraits, and even scenes in films and TV shows.

East 72nd street

The Central Park Boathouse stands as a testament to New York City’s rich history and the vibrant evolution of Central Park. From its Victorian origins to its modern-day allure, the Boathouse has always been more than just a structure—it’s a cultural landmark, continuing a legacy that spans the park’s past, present and beyond

You can dine at the outdoor cafe on the building’s north side, which offers pretty green scenery.

Weather permitting – a fleet of 100 rowboats are available for rent from 10am til sundown. Boats are $15 per hour (cash only), $4.00 for each additional 15 minutes with a $20 cash deposit. Each boat holds up to 4 people. The Loeb Boathouse will provide life jackets.

Bryant Park in New York is the green heart of midtown Manhattan. The park is home to the New York Public Library and many other interesting activities and events, including an ice rink in the winter. Bryant Park is located on 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, a few minutes’ walk from Times Square.

The park is an ideal place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, where residents sit down to have lunch or take a nap after work. People picnic on The Lawn, a large grassy area in the center of the park. There are all kinds of activities, so there’s always something to do in Bryant Park!

Bryant Park is also famous for being home to the New York Public Library. This classic building opened its doors in 1911 with impressive corridors, staircases and vestibules.
It’s always helpful to know where to find a bathroom in New York! Bryant Park is home to one of the city’s most famous free restrooms. You are greeted by fresh flowers, classical music and staff to keep the bathroom clean.

Come see how the locals unwind and relax in this tranquil NYC gateway right in the heart of the Times Square hustle and bustle.

Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment hub, and neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States.

It is formed by the junction of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street. Together with adjacent Duffy Square, Times Square is a bowtie-shaped plaza five blocks long between 42nd and 47th Streets. It is one of the most well-known American neighborhoods in the world. The number of daily visitors reaches 330 thousand therefore it is crowded with both tourists and locals from early morning to late evening.

The lights, the colors, and the huge buildings will captivate you. Life will be sparkling all around you! You will see sights that only New York can show you.

The visit to the square, the usual photos, the impression of being at the center of the world, a continuous vortex of people passing by, a mix of modernity, technology, chaos, traffic, magic… in short… it is a unique emotion and if go to New York it’s impossible not to go!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art , commonly called ” The MET “, is one of the most majestic and impressive museums in New York City, among the most important in the world .

The museum’s collection is impressive : the permanent, multi-sectoral and multi-thematic exhibition has more than two million works, divided by geographical origin and historical era into 19 sections.

The MET museum headquarters covers an area of approximately 190 thousand square meters on the eastern side of Central Park, along the so-called Museum Mile .

So vast that before visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, in my opinion it is important to prepare and choose the areas of greatest interest where to concentrate the visit , which otherwise would take many (too many) hours. Or, take a tour to admire the main works with the precious commentary of an expert guide.

In this article I present and summarize the things to see at the MET in New York , the most important works and all the information and useful advice for the visit.

The MET museum in New York is a huge museum , a real institution, among the largest and most visited in the world .

Inside it contains an invaluable collection of artefacts and works of art , coming from all continents and spanning various historical eras.

Even if it doesn’t seem like it from the outside, the museum is divided into 4 floors, plus a 5th floor where you find the panoramic terrace , although in reality the collection is practically all between the first and second floors , plus a little bit on the ground floor ( under the steps), on the third floor and on the mezzanine above some rooms on the 1st floor.

For organizational convenience the works are divided into thematic areas . Many of these are by geographical origin: Egyptian, Oriental, African, Greek and Roman, Asian, Islamic art, European sculpture and decorative arts, the American wing, a large section dedicated to European paintings from various eras.

Then there are a series of areas without geographical connotation, divided by historical era , or by theme : modern and contemporary art, medieval, rooms dedicated to weapons and armour, costumes, musical instruments, photography, drawings and prints, the Robert Lehman Collection, the libraries.

Madison Square Garden (or also known as MSG or The Garden) is the most famous and largest stadium in New York. It hosts more than twenty thousand people. Concerts and sporting events are held every year. It is the home of the New York Knicks basketball team and the New York Rangers ice hockey team. Madison Square Garden also has a cinema, a theatre, a restaurant and a conference centre. MSG is so famous that it even has its own TV channel.
Madison Square Garden Highlights

Madison Square Garden hosts concerts by the world’s most famous stars. Those who perform here follow in the footsteps of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Queen. This place isn’t historic just for pop music concerts though. It is also where the Republicans, led by George W. Bush, held their convention in 2004.

A Brief History of Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden as we know it today is not the original stadium. The first stadium was built in 1879, in Madison Square. It was mainly used as a circus. In 1890 it was demolished, to make room for a new plant in the same place. In 1925, MSG moved to the intersection of 50th Street and 8th Avenue. The plant we know today dates back to 1969 and is located above Pennsylvania Station.

Along Fifth Avenue , nestled between modern skyscrapers , is the largest neo-Gothic Catholic church in the United States : Saint Patrick ‘s Cathedral, New York.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a point of reference for the Catholic faithful of New York, as well as being the episcopal seat of the archdiocese . Consecrated at the end of the 19th century , it welcomes millions of visitors and devotees every year.

Certainly in Italy and in Europe in general there are more impressive Cathedrals of far greater historical value. Nonetheless, it is a splendid place of worship , which is worthy both for the building itself and for what it represents.

The Cathedral is a point of reference for Catholics in New York, frequented especially on the occasion of the main religious holidays, and, obviously, St. Patrick’s Day .

Furthermore, the strong contrast with the skyscrapers that surround it has always been a source of great charm, attracting visitors for even just a brief visit to the interiors.

The Friends series is set in Manhattan, so obviously The FRIENDS Experience, (initially started as a pop-up in New York) has also settled in the Big Apple. Here, in the flagship location, you can immerse yourself in the true world of Friends. Sit on the orange bench in front of the fountain, see what’s hidden in Monica’s kitchen cabinets, and visit Chandler and Joey’s apartment. In the Experience, you can walk around the recreated movie sets and see various original outfits and other props from the series. To top it off, you can head to Central Perk for a cup of coffee and a snack. Finish with a visit to the Experience Store for a souvenir of this unique world of Friends!

For all FRIENDS fans in New York there is fantastic news , absolutely not to be missed.

It’s called The FRIENDS Experience and it is a faithful reconstruction of the Friends apartment and the most iconic sets . Everything is taken care of down to the smallest detail: the lilac door with the yellow frame on the peephole, the legendary orange sofa of Central Perk, Monica and Rachel’s kitchen, Joey and Chandler’s relaxing armchairs. Two floors of interactive exhibitions, with reconstructed sets, original props and costumes, episode scripts, videos and interviews. You will be able to take lots of photos and immortalize you and your friends as if you were inside the sitcom. They also take free shots which then arrive via email, and other photos for a fee.

Open from September 2022, initially for a short period, so many visitors arrived that it was decided to extend the opening!

There is also a shop where you can buy gadgets and objects, it’s not very big, but it’s all strictly F•R•I•E•N•D•S themed.

In the late 1900s, primarily in the United States, the battle to build the world’s tallest skyscrapers began. John Jakob Raskob, former vice president of General Motors, joined this competition. He asked architect William Lamb and his team to design a permanent tower surpassing the grandiose Chrysler Building that was being built at the time. The result of their joint plan was a 381 m high art deco building, which received a TV antenna in 1950 and thus exceeded the height of 440 m.

The foundations were laid on January 22, 1930, and construction began nearly two months later. 1 year 45 days, 7 million working hours later, the Empire State Building (the Empire State, from which the building is named, is the nickname of the state of New York) was officially handed over by President Hoover on May 1, 1931. The total cost of the project (including construction and land) was $41 million, which was within the projected cost of $50 million. The workers built the skyscraper at record speed: there were 3,400 people working on the construction at the same time – and “only” 5 died in accidents; in the otherwise extremely organized work.

The building was not designed as a permanent residential building, but for offices – however, one of New York’s icons is also visited by tourists in large numbers, so the 86th and 102nd floors were designed as lookouts. During the skyscraper’s more than 80 years of existence, people could also make sure that the steel structure of the Empire State Building can survive a serious accident. On Saturday morning, July 28, 1945, an American bomber, lost in the fog, crashed into the north side of the building, between the 79th and 80th levels. In the accident, 11 office employees and the 3- person crew of the plane died, and another 26 people were injured; however, the structure of the building was able to withstand the load, and the material damage was estimated at one million dollars.

Since its birth, the Empire State Building has not only been a famous icon of New York, but also a symbol of the 20th century man’s attempt to achieve the impossible. Every year there is a competition to see who can run to the 86th floor the fastest; the special, colorful lighting of the upper levels changes programmatically. It was listed as the tallest building in the world until 1971, when the World Trade Center was handed over.

Since 2012, the building has been equipped with a state-of-the-art LED lighting system capable of displaying more than 16 million colors. The roof of the building shines in a different color every day.

Rockefeller Center is in fact one of the main attractions of New York. A complex of 19 buildings in the center of midtown Manhattan, which includes the Top Of The Rock, one of the most popular panoramic observatories among tourists.

In reality, it is precisely some of the attractions housed in Rockefeller Center that are touristically relevant , rather than the complex itself which is often visited from outside.

So let’s get to know it and find out how to visit it, what there is to see or do inside.

There can be a bit of confusion with the Rockefeller Center in New York, not really understanding what it is, whether it is the same thing as the Top Of The Rock or where exactly it is located.

This is because we are led to think that it is a single skyscraper.

Rockefeller Center is actually a complex of 19 buildings , which extends for about 3 blocks in the center of Midtown Manhattan , between 48th and 51st Street. It covers an area of almost 90,000 square meters.

Here is the reason for this “confusion”: it is not just a skyscraper, but many buildings used for different purposes, connected or not to each other via underground passages.

Edge and a panoramic observatory of New York , among the most recent (opened in 2020), which adds to the other breathtaking panoramic views of the city.

In this case the view is truly wide and immersive : Edge has a transparent external glass platform that protrudes from the skyscraper suspended at a height of 100 floors (345 metres).

It offers a truly all-encompassing embrace of the city, a panoramic view that – without a doubt – deserves to be experienced and enjoyed!

Edge Hudson Yards Observation Deck , this is its full name, is the tallest outdoor sky deck in New York and in the entire Western Hemisphere. It is the fifth tallest in the world, surpassing the city records of One World Trade Center and the ever-beloved Empire State Building.

The perimeter walls of Edge’s outdoor terrace are made of glass, sloping outwards. In this way the most daring can “lean out” to look down , in total safety.

In the center of the platform there is a triangle of transparent glass , where you can actually walk 345 meters high looking below, with the particular sensation of seeing the Manhattan traffic flow beneath your feet. This particularity – you will see – is also very popular for effective photos, as it is decidedly instagrammable.

You will struggle a little to make your way, but calmly manage to organize some nice shots if you want.

Located in midtown Manhattan at 45 E 42nd St. is a skyscraper that is 427 meters tall. The observation deck of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is located on three floors (91st, 92nd, 93rd) of the imposing skyscraper. From here you have a unique view of the nearby Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Bryant Park and Times Square. In addition to the beautiful panorama, the observation deck also has “Air”, an artistic experience that you can walk through. There is also an indoor cafe with a fireplace and an outdoor terrace with a bar.

It opened its doors at the end of 2020. You should buy tickets in advance to ensure you get in. It is open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. 10.30 p.m. is the time of the last ticket exchange.

There are many photographic opportunities, which you can purchase or not at the end of the route. Among the most spectacular are “Levitations”, protruding glass boxes, totally transparent , including the floor. You will be practically suspended above the void, 335 meters above Manhattan .

The Summit observatory also has a semi-outdoor terrace , meaning it is partly enclosed and protected by glass. It’s a very pleasant space, where you can sit and relax a bit, enjoying the view. If desired there is also a lounge bar.

This alone is worth the price of the ticket, but with a transparent elevator and a surcharge you can climb along the outer wall of the skyscraper up to 368 meters high!
I then recommend a stop at the toilet: they are probably among the most beautiful bathrooms with a view in the world!

The High Line is one of the most beautiful walks in New York. It is a 2.3 kilometer long park.

New York’s High Line is an excellent example of urban redevelopment, which has breathed new life into the neighborhood. The area is now one of the trendiest, with some of the most sought-after real estate residences in Manhattan.

The High Line Park has quickly become one of the most visited attractions in New York, with an estimated over 5 million visitors a year (more than the Statue of Liberty!). And it is also much loved by New Yorkers: for a walk, for a jog, to stop and read a book, to attend a summer show or admire some artist at work.

A walk on the High Line is rightfully among the 10 things to see in New York. It expresses the spirit of the city, in constant movement, capable of turning a sad elevated railway into one of the most beautiful urban parks.

Opening time
Dec – Mar: 7.00 – 19.00

Apr – May: 7.00 – 22.00

Jun – Sep: 7.00 – 23.00

Oct – Nov: 7.00 – 22.00

Hudson Yards in New York is a residential and commercial hub in the West End of Manhattan, a sort of “citadel” officially inaugurated on March 15, 2019 and which has quickly become one of the vital points of tourist interest in the city, thanks mainly to its new city observatory, The Edge, with its dizzying view of the city, a truly unparalleled panoramic experience.

But it is by no means the only attraction: shopping, restaurants and entertainment characterize Hudson Yards in the eyes of tourists.

From a tourist point of view I believe that – given the size of this set of buildings which aims to become a real neighborhood of New York – it is an obligatory stop for every itinerary, something to absolutely see in New York.

You can combine your visit there with a walk on the High Line to optimize your itinerary, or you can spend the entire day exploring the entire pathway full of attractions and shops.

In addition to visiting the complex itself, Hudson Yards offers several interesting tourist attractions, some of which are candidates to become a must-do list of things to do in New Y ork.

The Vessel – “the ship” – is an iconic attraction of Hudson Yards, a work of art that presents itself as a complex spiral staircase, almost in the shape of a honeycomb, which allows you to enjoy many viewing angles over Hudson Yards and the surrounding landscape.

154 interconnected flights of stairs, with approximately 2500 steps and 80 platforms, with a height of 40 meters and over a kilometer of vertical difference.

It is an interesting construction both from an architectural point of view and for the many views and original angles it offers. An excellent field of fun for those who love photography, with many particular perspectives for your shots (the official FAQ states that photographic tripods are not allowed).

For the visit “to the ship” consider that it could be a little physically demanding, and being that it is outdoors, you are exposed to weather conditions. There is no time limit, and the average visit is estimated to be at least 30 minutes.

The Shed is a very particular building, intended for events based on fun and entertainment, such as concerts, exhibitions, exhibitions, theatre, musicals and all similar activities.

The structure is so particular and innovative that I describe it to you using their official video, which is worth more than a thousand words of mine. Practically the structure is covered by a sort of retractable “shell” that envelops it which can be moved if necessary.

Shopping is always a welcome tourist attraction wherever you go, and Hudson Yards is no exception.

There are over 100 shops and boutiques of the best brands in men’s, women’s and children’s fashion, shoes and bags, health and beauty, technology and innovation, jewellery, glasses, bookshops and souvenirs.

All these stores can be found mainly in a sort of shopping center called “The Shops & Restaurants”, inside 20 Hudson Yards, with 7 floors of shops and restaurants.

An open space or a park can be so welcome and inviting, and none more than Hudson Yards, which exemplifies with excellence a metropolis like New York.

In fact, this park is built with the most advanced technologies to respect the environment and reuse of rainwater and energy. Consider that there is a large active rail yard underneath!

Visually you’ll findu a very large green area with gardens, parks and large shaded outdoor spaces, ideal for a refreshing break from the summer sun.

Among the many things to do and see, you can dedicate a few hours to visit the Intrepid Museum, a museum of maritime and military history, where you can admire up close some of the fleets and military aircraft that in the past participated in the most important American military events.

With the full name “ Intrepid Air & Space Museum ”, for simplicity amicably truncated to Intrepid, the museum is set in a complex made up of the Intrepid ship, the Growler submarine, the Shuttle Pavillion and the British Airways Concorde (these are the 4 main entities).

The Intrepid ship is certainly the symbol of this museum, from which it takes its name, and appears majestic as you approach it.
Originally (but also today in my opinion) it is the central and most important part of the museum, even if the attractions that have been added over time – in particular the Growle submarine and the Space Shuttle which I will present shortly – have a tourist appeal and a charm perhaps greater than the ship itself.

The ship has been set up as a real exhibition museum. Inside the Intrepid ship, in the lower deck part (very large and spacious), you will find many exhibition and interactive situations, created precisely to better understand the history behind it, and this makes it a very educational museum, which is well suited suitable for satiating the genuine curiosity of the youngest.

There are also real flight simulators, for enthusiasts who want to try this type of instrumentation available to the public (unfortunately for a fee, but if you like it it’s worth it!).

On the bridge you will find many military aircraft, both air and naval (planes, helicopters, submarines, etc.), expertly restored, exposed to the curiosity of the public. The visit of this ship is well organized in a route capable of leaving the general idea of what life and spaces could be like inside this important American military ship.

The Growler submarine is another important piece of this museum , it is an American military submarine, decommissioned and renovated to become a historical-educational tourist attraction in New York.
Despite the restoration, all the typical characteristics of the accommodation and command spaces inside have been maintained, therefore the visit is very suggestive and indicative of what it is like to “stay” inside a submarine .
No problem for claustrophobics, the spaces are narrow but you can still move without a sense of oppression.
What will make you think is how the military could adapt to living even for weeks or months within such narrow spaces.

A beautiful experience, which is also worth the wait given that the internal capacity is – obviously – reduced, and there is often a bit of a queue to enter. If you have children and teenagers with you, don’t miss this very suggestive experience.

The most popular presence is the Shuttle Enterprise , exhibited for about ten years (2012) in the Shuttle Pavillion , an area exclusively dedicated to the display of NASA’s first spacecraft . The latter is positioned very close to the ground and therefore it is possible to admire it from a decidedly optimal point of view.

The Shuttle Enterprise was the first NASA project to build a shuttle, it had testing and testing purposes , and from this prototype the spacecraft were subsequently born which took part, in the years to come, in the most important expeditions in world history. It was built without a heat shield and the engines necessary to carry out journeys outside the Earth’s atmosphere, and for this reason it was used only for tests on the flight and construction dynamics of this type of spacecraft. It was the prelude to the shuttles we are used to remembering.

With the closure of the related space program, this vehicle ceased its service, and was transferred from Washington to New York, to then be exhibited at the Intrepid Museum.

This makes the Intrepid one of the few (very few) places where a citizen can observe a shuttle up close.

Are you wondering if you can enter the Shuttle? Unfortunately no, you can only observe it from very close up, but inside the Shuttle Pavilion (the pavilion that hosts it), many evocative and interesting multimedia experiences have been recreated, which recreate real conversations between pilots and mission control during flight tests and show components and construction parts of the spacecraft.