New York Travel Guide

The Statue of Liberty, a 1886 gift from France, was designed by sculptor Bartholdi with an internal steel frame by Eiffel. Sheathed in copper now turned iconic green, the figure stands about 46 m, 93 m with pedestal, raising a torch in her right hand and holding the Declaration of Independence in her left—a world symbol of freedom and immigration, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Access is by the exclusive Statue City Cruises ferry; boarding requires airport-style security. The pedestal holds a museum and observation platform; the crown requires climbing 162 narrow spiral steps from the pedestal top, no elevator, overlooking New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline.

The Empire State Building is an Art Deco Midtown landmark, completed in 1931 with 102 floors and about 443 m including the antenna—long the world's tallest. The 86th-floor open-air observatory offers a 360-degree view over Manhattan's grid and the Hudson; the enclosed 102nd-floor deck rises even higher. The tower lights change color for holidays and anniversaries, a classic symbol of the New York night and a favorite film location.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, founded in 1870 at 1000 Fifth Avenue on the east side of Central Park in Manhattan, is one of the world's four great museums alongside the Louvre, the British Museum and the Hermitage, and ranks among the largest globally by both collection size and attendance. Its more than two million objects span 5,000 years of art history across 19 curatorial departments, from ancient Egypt and Greece-Rome to European painting, Asian art, arms and armor, costume and contemporary art. Icons include the Temple of Dendur, completed around 10 CE and given to the United States by Egypt in thanks for help saving Nubian monuments during the Aswan Dam project, plus Van Gogh's Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat, Hokusai's Under the Wave off Kanagawa, Vermeer's Young Woman with a Water Pitcher, Caillebotte's Woman with a Parasol, Sargent's Madame X and Degas's Little Dancer. The complex grew over a century from Edward H. Bennett's Beaux-Arts facade, and a new modern and contemporary wing by Frida Escobedo is targeted to open by 2030. With 248 galleries the museum cannot be covered in a day, so pick two or three departments; the Roof Garden cafe and bar open seasonally from May to October and are included with admission. The same ticket also admits you to The Met Cloisters in upper Manhattan on the day of issue.

New York Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the Western Hemisphere and one of New York's most vibrant, atmospheric neighborhoods. In lower Manhattan, its dense concentration of Chinese restaurants, traditional shops, bustling streets and strong Chinese cultural presence make it a unique cultural-experience destination and a window into Chinese-American immigrant history. Dating to the mid-19th century when the first Chinese immigrants (mainly Cantonese) settled here, Chinatown has expanded from a few streets to a large lower-Manhattan area, densely populated and lined with shops. Walking Canal Street, Mott Street, Doyers Street and others, you'll pass countless Chinese restaurants, bakeries, herbal-medicine shops, grocery stores, jewelry shops and vendors, with Chinese signs everywhere and aromas of roast meat and dim sum — a vivid Chinese community atmosphere. Notable spots include Doyers Street's famous bend ("The Bend"), rich in history, and the opportunity to try authentic Cantonese dim sum, roast meats and other Chinese cuisine. Visiting Chinatown to soak up the community's energy and cuisine is a unique New York cultural and culinary experience.

Wall Street is located in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, New York, and is the symbol of world finance and the core of American capital markets. Though only 8 blocks long, running from Broadway to the East River, it houses numerous financial landmarks including the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall, Trump Building, Charging Bull, and Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Charging Bull, created by Italian artist Arturo Di Modica, symbolizes bull market optimism and is a must-photograph icon for tourists. The New York Stock Exchange is the world's largest stock exchange, while Federal Hall is where President Washington was inaugurated in 1789 and the first U.S. Congress convened. Wall Street represents American financial dominance and is a barometer of the world economy.

Rockefeller Center is one of Midtown Manhattan's most spectacular building complexes and public spaces. Built in the 1930s, this Art Deco complex of 19 commercial buildings is famous for the Top of the Rock observation deck, the golden Prometheus statue and sunken plaza, the winter ice rink and giant Christmas tree, and its status as one of New York's most classic urban spaces — a top sightseeing and leisure destination. Commissioned by oil magnate John D. Rockefeller and completed in 1939, it is a US National Historic Landmark. The most famous feature is Top of the Rock — on the 70th floor of the GE Building at ~259 m, offering 360-degree Manhattan panoramas including the Empire State Building and Central Park, one of New York's best viewpoints. The sunken plaza below features the golden Prometheus statue; in winter it becomes an ice rink, and in December a giant Christmas tree — the symbol of New York's holiday season. The complex also houses NBC Studios, shops, restaurants and celebrated Art Deco details. Visiting Rockefeller Center and ascending Top of the Rock for stunning skyline views is a classic, splendid New York experience.