First timer's guide to the best places to visit in New York

Visiting New York City for the first time? Trying to decide what the best things to do and see in NYC can be a challenging task if it’s your first time there. New York is a massive city with five boroughs to discover, so it’s best to have a plan — you might not see it all during a first visit.

Take a few days (or even a week) to absorb life in Manhattan, and save some time to explore a bit of Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, and the Bronx. Check out this list of the must-see things to do in NYC on your first trip to New York.

1. Central Park

What

The largest park in Manhattan, and the most famous park in the world

Where

Between Fifth and Eighth Avenues, 59th and 110th Streets

What not to miss

Bethesda Fountain, Strawberry Fields, and Umpire Rock

Price

Free 

Right in the center of Manhattan, Central Park is unmissable. The huge 843-acre park is a great place to step away from the crowds and recharge your batteries, but there’s a lot going to see there too. 

Check out the famous Umpire Rock for a photo framed with skyscrapers on the park’s edge. Head to the stunning Bethesda Terrace and its two-story plaza and arcade for the ultimate NYC photo op. Another favorite spot in Central Park is Bow Bridge, from where you have one of the most beautiful views of the lake. There’s also a boating lake, a zoo, and Strawberry Fields, which honors the late Beatles frontman, John Lennon. Exploring the park and watching New Yorkers run, walk, and skate through it is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Renting a bike here is also one of the best things to do alone in New York City. However you explore the park, keep a look out for the park’s cutest residents: the squirrels.

2. American Museum of Natural History

What

The world’s largest natural history museum where “A Night at the Museum” was set

Where

200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024

What not to miss

African mammal exhibit, Blue Whale, T-Rex, and the Harriet and Robert Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway

Price

From $28

The largest natural history museum in the world, and one of the best museums in New York City, the American Museum of Natural History, is renowned for its exhibitions, which cover 45 permanent halls across 26 interconnected buildings. To have the best visit to the American Museum of Natural History, pay attention to everything from the tiniest plant specimens to the huge dinosaur skeletons that dominate the entrance hall. Every one of the 34 million objects in its collection is fascinating. 

3. Fifth Avenue

What

NYC’s most famous shopping street, lined with landmarks and luxury department stores

Where

Between the Flatiron Building and Central Park

What not to miss

Rockefeller Center, St Patrick’s Cathedral, the New York Public Library, and legendary stores like Tiffany & Co, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bergdorf Goodman

Price

Free — but shopping will quickly change that

The most famous street in the city and one of the most important in terms of commerce, Fifth Avenue is about six miles long and lined with the flagship stores of some of the world’s biggest brands. In addition, as you walk along Fifth Avenue, you’ll find some of New York’s top tourist attractions, including the Guggenheim Museum, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, the New York Public Library, the Empire State Building, and the Flatiron Building. It’s worth starting near the latter or at Washington Square Park, then getting lost in the shop windows and monuments that appear as you make your way north.

4. Viewing platforms

What

The observation decks at the top of skyscrapers like the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center

Where

Various locations across Manhattan

What not to miss

Timing your visit for sunset can be pretty spectacular

Price

From $43

Getting the best views of NYC is high on every visitor’s agenda, and rightly so. With the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, Edge, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt on offer, New York has an observatory-topped skyscraper for all tastes, so it’s a must to include at least one in your itinerary. 

The question is, which NYC skyscraper should you visit? The Empire State Building is the most recognized building in the city, though the One World Observatory comes close. But many say Top of the Rock offers the best views, while Edge is perfect for thrill seekers, and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt combines mesmerizing art installations with epic views.

5. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

What

A modern art museum with famous artwork

Where

11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

What not to miss

Monet’s “Waterlilies” and Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans”

Price

From $25

MoMA is one of NYC’s most famous art museums. Home to works by artists such as Van Gogh, Warhol, Picasso, Magritte, Dalí, Mondrian, and Kandinsky, it houses some of the most famous artworks ever created. If you love art, this museum is a must on your first trip to New York. The ever-changing collection is a major attraction, with more than 200,000 pieces in the archive and on display.

6. Grand Central Terminal

What

New York’s most iconic train station

Where

89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

What not to miss

The Whispering Gallery and the magnificent celestial ceiling on the main concourse

Price

Free

The Grand Central Terminal comes with an instant feeling of both awe and déjà vu, due to its prominence in film, TV, and photography. In addition to the iconic architecture and unique constellation ceiling, it has numerous shops and restaurants. Downstairs, next to the Oyster Bar, you will find one of Grand Central’s most amazing secrets: the Whispering Gallery: stand in opposite corners of the arched entrance and speak facing the wall — you will be able to hear each other as if you were speaking face-to-face, not meters across a crowded NYC station. You really have to try it to believe it. 

7. Times Square

What

The part of the city so bright it can be seen from space

Where

7th Avenue, between 42nd and 47th Streets

What not to miss

The Midnight Moment

Price

Free

Times Square is the heart of New York City and the hallmark of this destination. Home to the Theater District and the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, Times Square is better known for the advertising billboards that shine bright day and night. During the day, you can already have a good perception of the space, but at night, it takes on a whole new life: hundreds of people gather to see street artists and admire the vibrant light show of the square. The typical sounds of music, people, horns, and sirens add to the chaotic soundtrack. Go late to catch the Midnight Moment, a three-minute art show that takes over more than 200 billboards every night at 11:57 PM.

8. 9/11 Memorial and Museum

What

The largest man-made waterfalls in the US, in the footprint of the Twin Towers, and a museum dedicated to the 9/11 attacks

Where

180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007

What not to miss

The Museum’s Foundation Hall

Price

From $17 but the memorial is free

On the site where the Twin Towers once stood, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum pays tribute to the victims and survivors of the 9/11 attacks. Through poignant memorials and exhibitions, with various artifacts and unpublished images, the event that changed the United States in 2001 is carefully and respectfully retold. There are many reasons to visit the 9/11 Memorial when in New York. The area with the two giant reflecting pools in the footprint of each tower surrounded by the names of each victim is free of charge and is open to the public daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. It’s a hard-hitting but very enriching experience. Review the things to know before visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum before your visit.

9. Brooklyn Bridge

What

The iconic bridge connecting Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn

Where

Brooklyn Bridge Blvd, New York, NY 10038

What not to miss

A sunset or sunrise stroll

Price

Free

A first-time visit to NY isn’t complete without the experience of crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. You can walk or cycle across or join a Brooklyn Bridge tour if you want to learn all about its history and important role in the city. When you arrive in Brooklyn, start by looking for the famously Instagrammable spot in Dumbo (an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), on Washington Street, where the Manhattan Bridge is framed between the buildings. This spot is usually crowded with tourists, so visiting early is worth the effort for the perfect snap. A little further on, you can also find the Empire Fulton Ferry, a riverside park with the most incredible views of the Manhattan skyline — sit back and take it all in.

10. Statue of Liberty and Staten Island Ferry

What

Maybe the most famous statue in the world

Where

New York Harbor

What not to miss:

The city’s free ferry connecting Manhattan and Staten Island

Price

Free (or from $30 to visit Liberty Island)

The Statue of Liberty is incredible to see in person. If seeing it up close is a must for you, book the ferry ride to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, where you’ll find Lady Liberty and the National Museum of Immigration. If you just want a quick view, take the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan — you’ll get a river cruise and a great view of the Statue of Liberty, all for free. Just bear in mind that the Staten Island Ferry can be crowded as it’s used by local residents for their commute, and it’s also a popular thing to do in Lower Manhattan for tourists, so avoid commuting hours.