Here are the Top 10 must-do activities and visits in New York and its 5 boroughs made following our first 10-day trip to the Big Apple in September 2019. Between must-sees and new things, we give you a maximum ofideas to visit New York, especially with guided tours but not only. We obviously didn't have the time to visit all the neighbourhoods and test everything but we will come back. That's for sure! New York is also a city in perpetual change and therefore invites us to return to visit it regularly.
Here is the summary of our Top 10 must-see activities and visits in New York.
Top of the Rock or the must-see rooftop with the best view of New York's rooftops
Visit Central Park on foot or by bike ? What to see in Central Park?
Visit Bushwick and Williamsburg between street art and hipster culture
Visit the New York High Line and The Vessel, Manhattan's newest attraction
BONUS: Fly over New York in a helicopter
TOP 10 must-do activities and visits in New York
Read also: Where to sleep in New York? Our advice
Visiting New York for the first time: Tips and tricks
New York in 2 minutes on video!
1. Top of the Rock or the rooftop with the best view on the roofs of New York
There are many viewpoints in Manhattan, especially when you climb the floors of the Big Apple's skyscrapers. In addition, it is always easier to find your way around New York later on. The Empire State building and its rooftop is of course the most famous of them all (we'll talk about it later), but it's the observatory at the top of Rockefeller Center (built in 1933), called the Top of the Rock, which offers the best view of the Manhattan towers and the green lung of New York, Central Park. Indeed, from theobservatory on the 70th floor of the Top of the Rock, one can enjoy the mythical view of New York that is featured in many films and series.
The 360 degree view from the Top of the Rock platform is truly spectacular and unforgettable even though the observatory is very busy, especially at sunset. This is the best time of the day to enjoy the legendary panoramic view of the whole of New York City. When the sky turns purple and the buildings start to glitter, the view is breathtaking. It's so romantic.
So much for the idyllic postcard image, but it's crowded. To make the most of the view, we advise you tobuy the New York city pass, which we will detail in our future blog post on how to visit New York for the first time, and then, once there, to go to the basement of the tower a few hours before your visit to reserve your evening slot at the automatic terminals.
This is the system that the management has been forced to put in place to best manage the never-ending stream of tourists. To make the most of the show, plan your visit about 1 hour before sunset. Go directly to the ticket office if you want to buy your ticket on the spot, but you will also have to come back later if you have blocked a time slot in advance.
This tour is sold individually for $38/adult, $32/child and $36/senior and is included in the city pass New York.
Buy individual tickets online or purchase other packages.
260 m high and 70 floors
30 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan, New York
Opening hours: Daily from 08:00 to 00:30
2. Visit the Empire State Building by day and night 
There are many things to see in New York, but the Empire State Building is a must-see when visiting New York for the first time.
We loved the st aging as soon as we arrived in the tower, which reminds us all along the way of the construction of the tower which after only 2 years of work opened its doors in May 1931 but also the filmography of the tower. From King Kong to Independence Day, from Gossip Girl to North by Northwest, from Taxi Driver to Superman II or from Kramer vs. Kramer to When Harry met Sally, the list of films shot in part at the Empire State Building is almost endless.
And then comes the long-awaited moment to get into the lift. To the 86th floor. We'll leave you with the surprise of what can happen during the ascent, which is in fact in two stages with a first stop on the 80th floor. The doors finally open. We head towards the large windows to enjoy the view. The opportunity to take some nice pictures. The view is breathtaking!
But the visit does not stop there. We then take the second lift to the 86th floor. A lot of emotions when we arrive at the platform dominated by its famous antenna. The photo session can then begin!
Visiting the Empire State Building twice rather than once!
With the City Pass New York, you can enjoy the view from the 86th floor observatory of the Empire State Building twice in one day, with a second visit after 8pm. The 360 degree view of the city is crazy at night too. You can still see how huge New York is.
We didn't queue at all either in the early afternoon for our first visit of the Empire State building or in the evening.
This visit sold individually for $38/adult, $32/child and $36/senior is included in the city pass New York.
Buy the queue-cutting tickets online.
381 m high tower with 102 floors
20 W 34th St, Manhattan, New York
Opening hours: Daily from 8am to 2am
3. Visit Central Park on foot or by bike? What to see in Central Park?
Central Park and its 20,000 trees obviously have their place in this TOP 10 of must-see activities and visits in New York. The green lung of New York as it is called is located in the heart of Manhattan between the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side. Opened in 1873 after 13 years of construction, the park is bounded by 110th St North, 8th Ave West, 59th St South and 5th Ave East. With a surface area of 341 hectares, 4 km long and 800 m wide, Central Park is a paradise for sports enthusiasts, families, young people and lovers.
Video of a guided bike tour of Central Park!
Central Park is really huge. It is covered by a 9.7 km long loop for pedestrians and bicycles that goes around it in an anti-clockwise direction. No vehicles are allowed in the park. However, there are a few expensive horse-drawn carriages and rickshaws that leave from the south entrance.
Visit Central Park on foot or by bike?
We visited Central Park by foot and by bike. Two very different and complementary ways of looking at it. The park is so big that the best option is to ride your bike for long distances and park it to enjoy the different spots on foot. Indeed, most of the accesses are reserved for pedestrians. That's how Central Park used to be walked historically, but in a horse-drawn carriage.
You will discover large lawns like Sheep Meadow where New Yorkers come to enjoy the sun and relax or practice their favorite sports, but Central Park is much more than that!
You can visit Central Park on your own by renting a bike from one of the shops near the park on the south and north sides or take a guided tour to learn more about the history of the park and Manhattan. We explored New York's green lung by bike on a guided tour by the New York City guided tour by the agency New York en français.
It was an opportunity to learn more about this unique park, which is so dear to the hearts of New Yorkers. A park which shelters many treasures that our French-speaking guide of the day, Pierre-Emmanuel, helped us discover.
The 3h30 visit starts in the south of Central Park. After a few pedal strokes, we quickly arrived on a first spot which allowed us to discover the Manhattan towers dominating the luxuriant vegetation of this area of the park from a rock which overhangs a pond and a fairground. A space that turns into an ice rink in winter. It reminds us so much of Montreal, which we have already had the chance to visit in all four seasons. A city with many faces.
The view on the 2 giant towers still under construction in October 2019 is impressive. The 432 Park Tower and its 425.5 m height and the 111 W 57th St Tower and its 435 m height will become the 2nd and 3rd highest towers in New York after the One World Observatory tower and its 541 meters height opened since 2014. The Empire State building and its 381 m height is still impressive but demoted in the ranking of the highest towers in New York.
To come back to Central Park, this is the opportunity to tell you that between 1858 and 1873, more dynamite powder was used to shape the park than during the Civil War. The waterholes, for example, which look so natural, are artificial. Moreover, it is thanks to the large reservoir that we discover in the last part of the visit that all the water bodies are fed. The years have passed and you get the impression that everything is natural.
Central Park also has a zoo. Just next door, don't miss a historic clock, the Delacorte Clock, whose hands turn backwards and which is always late. In a city where everything is set up like clockwork, we allow ourselves a few deviations like this clock in Central Park. If you arrive at the clock at a fixed time, you'll be treated to a rhyme. A rhyme that changes every day.
Our morning cycling tour continues by taking the loop that goes around Central Park towards the Bethesda terrace. What an emotional arrival in front of the central fountain dominated by the Angel of the Waters, the main masterpiece of the basin.
The arcades of the Bethesda Terrace are amazing. You must look up to the ceiling to admire its subtleties: the Minton Tile Ceiling. You will certainly have the opportunity, as we did, to attend the performance of local musicians in the arcades. The acoustics are just crazy!
As you walk through the arcades, you come across the Mall, a 500 m long promenade which is the only straight line in the park. Some of the most famous movie scenes were filmed here. We'll let you find out which ones.
After a few hundred metres of cycling, we stop again at Strawberry Fields(72nd St W) which is a famous monument in the park dedicated to the memory of John Lennon (W 72nd St) who was murdered in the neighbourhood, right next to his house. His wife Yoko Ono still lives just next to this memorial where anonymous singers follow one another all day long, guitar in hand, interpreting the mythical refrains of the unforgettable artist.
We get back on our bikes and a few moments later we're at the Sheep Meadow where everyone is doing their favourite activity, from sunbathing to playing baseball. 42 hectares of lawns occupied by sheep until the 1930s. Central Park definitely takes us back in time!
We then arrive not far from the 75th street at the Conservatory waters or the favorite corner of many children. Its lake is very popular because you can rent remote-controlled boats but also take a picture since 1959 in front of a statue of Alice in Wonderland sculpted by the artist José de Creeft. Many adults like it too.
We then pass by the Belvedere Castle or belvedere of the Central Park castle. We like the atmosphere and the view on the water and its turtles. And moreover, a charming English garden in homage to Shakespeare is located just next door. We were able to discover it by walking back there that afternoon.
Then we went to the Great Lawn, to The Obelisk or to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (link to buy a ticket) which is one of the biggest art museums in the world. We arrived at the 82nd street level. Just next door, don't miss the visit the Guggenheim Museum (1071 5th Ave).
After 86th St, you arrive at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir and its 43 hectares of water. A paradise for fauna and flora and a huge water reserve that is now used only to irrigate Central Park and its ponds. A short photo break is necessary.
We continue our bike ride northwards. Time passes so quickly. We pass by the Conservatory Garden, the only French-style garden in Central Park. Very flowery, it is a shady and human-sized haven of peace that invites to recharge our batteries and to be inspired. We walked back there after a well-deserved lunch break just across the street at the Museo del Barrio restaurant.
We finished our guided tour of Central Park by bike by walking along the Harlem Meer which is the last water point of the park before reaching the 110th St also called Central Park North and returning our bikes.
Book your guided bike tour of Central Park
For lunch in Central Park, Pierre-Emmanuel recommends The Loeb Boathousewhich is a nice restaurant on the shore of The Lake (possibility to rent a boat). Location: E 72nd Street & Park Drive North.
In the vicinity:
Levain Bakery: the best cookies in town are made here. Location: Corner of 167th W and 74th St
Shake Shack: Unquestionably one of the best fast food restaurants in New York. Go to 366th Columbus Ave.
4. Guided tour of Harlem
New York, a city with a thousand facets.
Another beautiful day spent in the Big Apple. A day that starts early in the almost deserted Times Square, and that continues a few minutes later in the Harlem district. There begins our guided tour with Frederic, one of the other guides of theagency New York en français.
Let's start the guided tour of Harlem on video.
Haarlem was built as New Amsterdam (the original name of New York) by the Dutch. In the 19th century, it was the place where rich people came to get some fresh air in the country. The neighbourhood has changed a lot since then.
If a few years ago, Harlem was too dangerous to walk around (drug trafficking, gang wars), today you can walk around without any feeling of insecurity. We will avoid East Harlem especially at night.
During our guided tour, we'll concentrate on Central Harlem and then head west to finish at the prestigious Columbia University. You can also come to the neighbourhood on Sunday mornings to attend a gospel service , for example at the First Corinthian Baptist Church. This church is known for its gospel services. Tip: Attend the first service at 7:30 am on Sunday to avoid the hordes of tourists. The address: 1912 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd.
As the hours go by, we discover a neighbourhood with arich history. Indeed Harlem knew several periods, some difficult and others more cheerful like the Harlem Renaissance between the 2 world wars.
Harlem became the cradle of black Afro-American music with the jazz clubs in the 1920s (Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, etc.) but also through hip-hop, Harlem has so much to reveal to us. We realise that we are following in the footsteps of illustrious musicians during this guided tour of Harlem. Several internationally renowned artists have performed in the famous Apollo Theater, now a must-see when visiting Harlem. Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin have all sung here. We'll let you find their plaques and those of many other world-famous artists fixed to the floor, right in front of the theatre.
Today, you can still concerts such as those of Bruno Mars Bruno Mars or the Red Hot Chili Peppers. We recommend the Amateur Night, which takes place every Wednesday and where the audience votes for the best singer of the evening. All those who have their name engraved in the ground have won this contest.
Harlem, a borough of New York full of history, a history also told through the murals scattered in the neighbourhood. The Planet Harlem mural reveals a committed street art that evolves with the times. Obama was obviously not present in the first version of the work.
A little later in the visit, at the intersection of 5th Av and 126th St, we come across another mural full of meaning. The Zulu Nation mural is a triptych that presents the four elements of hip-hop, namely Emceeing, DeeJaying, Grafitti and Break Dancing.
During the guided tour of Harlem, we pass the famous Sylvia's restaurant. An institution opened in 1962 that offers typical dishes with Caribbean influences. Everything is fried. It's not necessarily very fine but the address has become a must. Obama, Beyonce, the Clintons and all those who have defended the Afro-American cause have eaten there.
Because yes, it all started in Harlem. It was in 1955 that Rosa Parks decided to defy all the other passengers by getting on the front of a bus (it was forbidden at the time) but soon found herself in jail. The pastor Martin Luther King Jr. was indignant about this affair and decided to change mentalities and laws for desegregation, first at the town hall and then in Washington on 28 August 1963, where 200,000 people accompanied him. His message: "I have a dream..." was heard.
That of the preacher Malcolm X was totally at odds with Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech, stating that 'blacks and whites will never get along'. At least at first, because after a pilgrimage to Mecca, he went back on his words and declared that 'skin colour doesn't matter after all'. A total reversal of thinking that did not please some. He was eventually assassinated on 21 February 1965.
We arrive in the typical residential alley of Astor row, which is in fact 130th St. The atmosphere is quiet. We have the impression of being in Montreal again with its typical houses of the North American continent and its wooden porches or in the south of the United States. This street has of course a history. Indeed, the houses were all built in 1883 by a certain Charles Buek. 3 years of work on the land of John Jacob Astor who bought the property in 1844 for the modest sum of $10,000 were necessary. You can imagine how much it has increased in value since then!
In Harlem, you can also make unexpected and touching encounters like with this old man we met in the street during our guided tour. Originally from Belize, he has lived in Harlem for 50 years. We learn that he is a Vietnam veteran and that he has been shot no less than 9 times, including once in the throat. He can no longer communicate properly. A moving story and meeting, as you can imagine.
The statue and memorial of Harriet Tubman are also worth a little explanation. Harriet Tubman was a black woman born in Maryland in 1821 who decided to escape from the cotton fields. 300 km on foot later, she found herself in New York. It was here that her activism for the abolition of African-American slavery began. Thanks to her, many slaves managed to escape from the plantations for years. She was nicknamed the Black Moses. A woman with an exceptional destiny.
Finally, Harlem, as you will have understood, is a complex borough of New York City that has evolved a lot and will continue to evolve a lot in the years to come. A borough that does not open up easily, hence the interest in taking part in a guided tour to understand it.
A guided tour that ends at the prestigious Columbia University after a nice view on the district we explored. The university is one of the most famous in the world with Stanford, Harvard and Princeton. 4 fields are very famous like medicine, law, business and journalism. New York City grew up with Columbia University as did the United States and the world. 34 heads of state including Barrack Obama have graduated from the highly selective university. Let's not forget the 101 Nobel Prize winners affiliated with the institution.
Book your guided tour of Harlem
Frédéric recommends these good addresses in the Harlem district:
Sylvia's Restaurant: a true soul food institution in Harlem (328 Malcolm X Blvd)
Red Rooster Harlem / Ginny's Supper Club: an excellent restaurant and a no less excellent club in the basement that recalls the Harlem of the 1920s (310 Lenox Ave)
Levain Bakery: the best cookies in New York are made here! (2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd). We went there during the guided tour of Harlem
Columbia University Bookstore (Lerner Hall): Columbia University Bookstore and Gift Shop (2922 Broadway).
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture: Branch of the New York Public Library dedicated to African-American culture. Free temporary exhibitions (515 Malcolm X Blvd)
Milano Market: Open for over 30 years, this small deli is a favourite with Italian food lovers (2892 Broadway)
Harlem Tavern: Friendly neighbourhood bar and restaurant with occasional Sunday brunch concerts (2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd)
5. Guided bike tour of Brooklyn
It's with the nice Yann from the agency New York en français that we have an appointment today at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge and the City Hall to visit the borough of Brooklyn borough by bike.
We are in a small group (10 people) which is quite nice to meet the other participants. And Yann knows how to take care of his cyclists of the day. After a few reminders on how the bikes work and a first presentation, we set off on the Brooklyn Bridge cycle track.
It' s like being in a movie, with our hair blowing in the wind, enjoying the architectural beauty of this 1825-metre long bridge that opened to traffic in 1883. The longest in the world at the time. Perched 84 metres high in its central part, we must admit that we enjoy a sublime panorama from this monumental structure. Today, more than 150,000 New Yorkers and tourists cross this bridge every day, linking Manhattan to Brooklyn by spanning the East River.
The Brooklyn Bridge is, in short, a real technical achievement. A herd of elephants (no less!) went over the bridge before it opened to convince the population of its robustness. It was a huge success.
Brooklyn is the most populous borough in New York City and the largest, stretching 23 km from north to south. The borough was incorporated into the city in 1898 and now has 75 different neighbourhoods. Brooklyn cannot be visited in one go! After a photo session on the mythical Brooklyn Bridge, we arrive in Dumbo, one of these industrial districts of New York with its paved lanes which was completely reconverted these last years in particular in park.
We quickly reach Wahington St and its old warehouses and industries with red brick facades converted into luxurious flats. At the same time we enjoy a view of the 2nd Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge. Between these monumental pillars, you can see the top of the Empire State building. I might as well warn you, the street is a very Instagrammable spot.
We cycle along the East River, taking a few breaks from time to time during which Yann tells us about the history of New York and the borough. We stop in front of the Carousel, built in 1922 and which is the oldest wooden carousel in the country. Installed at the edge of the promenade in 2011 after 20 years of renovation, the carousel continues to delight children today. The architect Jean Nouvel created a plexiglass cap that both enhances the carousel and protects it on bad weather days.
A district where it is good to stroll at sunset and at night for a romantic stroll. The magic happens every time when the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge start to sparkle.
Nearby, we recommend dining at Time Out Market on the terrace. Affordable prices and what better way to enjoy dinner than with the Brooklyn Bridge as your witness.
Then you reach the Empire Fulton Ferry Park where you can play many sports for free, such as beach volleyball, kayaking and sailing.
In short, Dumbo is a vast district that has been renamed in the 2010s and which in the past was only warehouses and wasteland, is a great success of reconversion. We never tire of cycling around it!
After a few minutes, we arrive in the shipyard and warehouse district, which was built before the Civil War. Designers have taken over the old industrial buildings. There is very little traffic in the area. The atmosphere is much calmer than in Manhattan, and yet we are right across the street from the Statue of Liberty. You can't get any closer to it from the ground.
We then join the main street of Red Hook, Van Brunt St, where you can find bars and restaurants but also craft shops and art galleries. You can even taste wine at a distillery or chocolate at Cacao Prieto or a delicious lemon pie at Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies. Definitely a district apart.
We'll choose to have lunch at Hometown Bar-B-Que which is located at 454 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn 454 Van Brunt St. Excellent meat for moderate prices (Meat is between $11 and $14 for 225g) and its trendy western atmosphere.
On the way back to the Brooklyn Bridge, we cross Brooklyn more into its heart with the Carroll Gardens neighbourhood known for its Italian-American roots. Court Street and Smith Street bear witness to this. The neighbourhood has been around since the 19th century, with country houses and fields all around. Today, the area is home to a number of shops, bars and restaurants with both casual and trendy atmospheres, as well as residential homes with small front gardens. The tree-lined streets also give the area a more upscale character.
And the neighbourhood has had several lives. Al Capone lived here. Then the port closed and the population became poorer. It was only in 1990 that the Carroll Gardens area began to be safer and that the bourgeoisie returned. Today, many French people live here and Carroll Gardens has become the most expensive neighbourhood in Brooklyn.
Last neighborhood we cross during this guided tour of Brooklyn by bike, Brooklyn heights. We return to the East River to enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of all the highlights of New York from a boardwalk before heading to the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan where we return the bikes.
Book your guided bike tour of Brooklyn
Some good addresses seen or mentioned during the tour by Yann:
Red Hook Lobster Pound: The best lobsters, straight from Maine (284 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn)
Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain: An ice cream and pastry shop opened in 2010 that resurrects a house founded in the 1920s (Longo's Pharmacy) (513 Henry St, Brooklyn)
Bar Tabac: An "authentically French but deliciously local" bar and restaurant as it calls itself (128 Smith St, Brooklyn)
In the neighbourhood, Yann also recommends
Brooklyn Museum: Quite simply the second largest museum in New York (200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn)
Junior's: For tasty cheesecakes (386 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn)
Sunny's bar: Authentic saloon with local clientele (253 Conover St, Brooklyn)
6. Visit the 9/11 Memorial, Museum and Oculus
September 11, 2001, 8:56 am. The moment when the world was turned upside down.
The visit of the area is to be found first in video!
We remember perfectly where we were at that precise moment. You probably do too.
Since the event, the south of Manhattan has been totally transformed with a memorial dedicated to the victims of the attack. Two pools symbolize the two towers that collapsed, with the names of the victims engraved all around.
Those who knew victims come here to lay roses or American flags. The site is very moving and dominated since 2006 by the new and very impressive tower that has been built since then, the One World Observatory with its 104 floors and 541 m height, at 285 Fulton St. The highest tower in the West at that time.
Tickets to visit the One World Observatory
In the basement, the National 9/11 Museum, built in memory of the victims, emotionally recalls this tragic day and its heavy consequences. A part of the museum is forbidden to minors and sensitive souls.
Two completely different feelings run through us when we leave the 9/11 museum. Richard was really touched by the emotion that emanates from the very well thought out and detailed site. I (Franck) didn 't get into the museum's scenography at all, which tries to play on emotions too much for my taste. Perhaps I have also overdosed on the images and photos of the two towers that have been shown over the years, hence my detachment. Or is the memory of such a shock still too present in me? It's quite confusing when I think about it afterwards. I was actually more affected by the outdoor pools.
Entry included in the City Pass New York
Buy your ticket to the 9/11 memorial
Right next door, don't miss the visit of the train station which has also been completely rebuilt. The Oculus, as it is called, is one of the most beautiful contemporary buildings in the area in our opinion. Round, sparkling white and shaped like a bird's wing, the architect Santiago Calatrava Valls reveals a true message of peace through his work. This futuristic station is not to be missed if you come to visit this area of lower Manhattan.
Just across from the Oculus is the indestructible St. Paul's Chapel. It has indeed resisted the collapse of the two World Trade Center towers right in front of it. A miracle. But we all remember its steeple covered in ash and soot at the time of the attack. St. Paul's Chapel is the oldest church in Manhattan still standing, and it's apparently not about to end!
7. SoHo, Greenwich Village and Meatpacking district, 3 Manhattan neighbourhoods to explore on a guided tour
Today we're going on a guided tour with the friendly Yann from the agency New York en français to explore SoHo, Greenwich Village and Meatpacking district. 3 districts with a tumultuous past, which had to reinvent themselves several times, just like New York.
In video, the visit of SoHo, Greenwich Village and Meatpacking district looks like this!
7.1. Visiting the SoHo district
We start with the trendy SoHo district. Formerly an industrial wasteland in the 1960s, then an underground meeting place for artists in the 1970s, the district is now synonymous with high-end shopping for New Yorkers, with a mix of big name brands and small designer boutiques. In terms of architecture, the cobbled streets and cast-iron facades dating from 1850 are a must.
Welcome to the SoHo Cast-iron Historic District. The loft concept was born here in the 1960s, when artists took over the former sewing factories that had become unhealthy.
The restaurants are as refined as the neighbourhood.
7.2. Visit Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village is an area of Manhattan that is more residential than SoHo. A former country village turned resort town, the neighbourhood has gone through all phases. Unhealthy at the beginning of the 20th century, the neighbourhood welcomed artists in the 1920s
Washington Square Park
Go to 90 Bedford St in front of the famous front of the flat seen in the cult series Friends.
Continue along Green St and Broome St to the next neighbourhood: Greenwich village.
The area is also synonymous with the beginnings of gay life during the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition.
The literature of the 1950s, particularly that of Kerouac, highlighted the neighbourhood. It was the starting point of a new mutation, that of drug laboratories, the opening up of sexuality... and gay bars. The hippie generation before its time lives here. People test everything without limits.
Gays meet in hidden bars in New York called Speakeasy but police raids are commonplace until the tragic night of June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn where what was supposed to happen happened. 2 versions clash but intolerance is present in both cases.
First version: A transvestite is beaten by the police and asks the crowd to react.
Second version: Sylvia Rivera and another transgender figure of the time say that it was the transvestite who threw a bottle at a policeman in the first place.
The result is the same, a fight in the establishment. The police became frightened for the first time and found themselves sequestered in the bar. A whole series of violent demonstrations took place for 3 days all around Christopher St where we were. The only demand: that the police stop their raids. The town hall agreed and this is how the first LGBT associations were born.
One year later, the event was commemorated and the first Gay Pride, supervised by the police, started.
The memorial of the Stonewall riots where we go is there to remind us.
The visit of Greenwich Village ends in the small park of the memorial to the victims of AIDS dating from 2016 and situated on the site of a former hospital destroyed 3 years earlier for reasons of dilapidation and which had accepted AIDS patients as well as survivors of the Titanic or victims of the attacks of September 11th 2001.
Now it's time to move on to the last district of this private guided tour with Yann, the Meatpacking district.
7.3. Meatpacking district
Meatpacking district is theformer slaughterhouse district of New York. The presence of cobblestone streets in the district is understandable. It has recently become a trendy shopping district, with Chelsea Market at its heart, and is home to a number of boutiques, including some designer ones, in its former huge rehabilitated warehouses. The Meatpacking District is also home to the Whitney Museum of American Art (link to the ticket) and of course the start of the High Line. At night, the district takes on a whole new look with its many restaurants and nightclubs.
Book your guided tour of SoHo, Greenwich Village and Meatpacking district
Some addresses seen during the visit with Yann:
Café Wha. Nice atmosphere. Great stars started here like Dylan, Cosby, Hendrix or Bruce Springsteen.
Café Reggio for its incomparable cappuccino. It is said that this is where the first cappuccino was imported to New York. Seen in the film The Godfather. Kennedy also came here to enjoy a good coffee.
8. Visit the Ellis Island Museum and the Statue of Liberty 
We didn' t quite test this activity (and it's the only one in this TOP) but the tourists and New Yorkers we met there told us so much about the Ellis Island Museum that we couldn't ignore it in this post of our travel blog on New York City. The Ellis Island Museum tells the story of 12 million immigrants who came to live the American dream. A fascinating visit.
And then to step on Liberty island is of course a dream for many. Depending on your ticket, you will be able to access the pedestal of the statue or its crown. The experience is unforgettable and the view of the Manhattan skyline incredible. In any case, you will be able to access the Statue of Liberty Museum for free.
Depending on your budget and wishes, you can book your tickets in advance here :
All packages for to visit the Statue of Liberty
To take the ferry from Manhattan, simply go to Battery Park on the southern tip of the borough.
Finally, if you only want to see the Statue of Liberty from a boat, you can take the free ferry to Staten Island from the terminal next to Battery Park. There is one departure every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. Once on Staten Island, there are new outlets waiting for you.
If that's not your thing, take the boardwalk that runs a few hundred yards to the right of the landing. You'll have a great view of the entire New York skyline as you walk along. At the end of the walk, you will come across the moving and sublime 9/11 memorial dedicated to those lost on Staten Island following the 2001 attacks.
The return trip at sunset is just magical!
9. Visit Bushwick and Williamsburg between street art and hipster culture
New guided tour of Bushwick and Williamsburg with Ingrid from the agency New York en français. After the bike tour with Yann of the neighborhoods around the Brooklyn Bridge and along the East River, we are now more in the northern neighborhoods and especially in Bushwick which is located near Queens.
You can find this video tour in paragraph 5.
Ingrid is a very dynamic guide and passionate about street art. She is very interested in urban art and in the artists who hide or not behind their works of art, which are often ephemeral. During the visit, she gives us the essential keys to better understand and apprehend the Bushwick district, also known as Little Berlin, and its numerous murals. The murals are sometimes light-hearted, often with a strong message. We also learn about all the forms that these works can take. Our first glance is of course on the gigantic murals, but on closer inspection, we realise that street art is also expressed through collages and fabrics.
It all starts at the Jefferson St metro station (line L). As soon as you get out of the metro station, you are immediately plunged into a neighbourhood where every wall has a message. What a slap in the face!
The artists compete with each other by combining all styles. Moreover, artists are now divided into two groups: those who work with brands to create advertising murals and the purists who deliver political messages through their work.
All this is controlled by Joe Ficalora, founder of The Bushwick CollectiveThe Bushwick Collective, a key figure in the neighbourhood and creator of the annual urban art event held in the neighbourhood in June. This is the best time to visit Bushwick and meet international artists.
Let's hope that Bushwick keeps this balance because you can walk freely here now but this was not the case since the 1970s because of gang rivalries, especially between Brooklyn and Harlem. Property prices have been going up in recent years. The hipsters have moved in. Bushwick's conversion is underway.
For the second part of the visit, we take the underground towards Bedford Av. We are in the heart of the trendy Williamsburg district with its boutiques, cafés and trendy restaurants. The atmosphere is radically different with fashion in the spotlight. We visit a few vintage and unusual places that you will find below.
The tour ends along the East River with an original view of the Manhattan skyline from the redeveloped Williamsburg waterfront. This is also the area where you will find nice terraces where you can have a drink or dinner like at the Wythe hotel (80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn) or on the rooftop Westlight of the hotel The William Vale (111 N 12th, Brooklyn). The neighbourhood is also great for shopping, especially at Artists & Fleas Williamsburg (70 N 7th St, Brooklyn). You can also stock up on vinyls at the mythical nearby Rough Trade (64 N 9th St).
Ingrid tells us that in addition to the rooftops and the very nice shops around us, Williamsburg is also the district of the bars and discotheques of Brooklyn. A neighbourhood to come back to next time for the nightlife.
Book your guided tour of Bushwick and Williamsburg on the themes of street art and hipster culture in Brooklyn
Some good addresses seen or mentioned during our half-day visit with Ingrid:
Faro Italian Restaurant Michelin starred - Dishes around 20$ (436 Jefferson Street, Brooklyn)
Lot 45Unusual bar in a former truck factory (411 Troutman St, Brooklyn)
The Mini Mall: Mini mall with second-hand clothes, a bookstore like you don't see anymore, etc. (218 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn)
Radegast Hall & Biergarten: Great selection of beers from all over Eastern Europe in this German bar-restaurant (113 N 3rd St, Brooklyn)
In the neighbourhood, Ingrid also recommends
Brooklyn Brewery: Local and craft brewery (79 N 11th St, Brooklyn)
Café de la Esquina: Popular Mexican restaurant with great tacos (225 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn)
St Mazie Bar & Supper Club: Great club. Check the schedule before you go and it's best to make reservations (345 Grand St, Brooklyn)
Peter Lueger Steak House: The star of New York's steakhouses (178 Broadway, Brooklyn)
10. Visit New York's High Line and The Vessel, Manhattan's newest attraction
Here is an urban work by English designer and artist Thomas Heatherwick that we love, a building made up entirely of stairs and platforms, a sort of beehive with a bronze sheen, which came out of the ground last March and which in a few months has become the emblem of Hudson Yards, a district of Manhattan in the throes of change. 154 staircases, 2500 steps and 80 platforms on 15 floors that serve no purpose except to enjoy incredible views of the surrounding skyscrapers but also of the Hudson River and the dozens of rails of the marshalling yard located below.
How about a video tour of The Vessel and the High Line?
The building really gives the impression of being a bee in a hive in the heart of New York. A very nice experience. The visit is also free. You just have to get a ticket at one of the kiosks located at the foot of the building to reserve your visit time or go to the Hudson Yards website. It is also possible here to book The Vessel online. If you come at the opening at 10am, no one is there. Later, there is a queue. The visit ends at 9pm.
The Vessel is also at the beginning (or end) of Manhattan's High Line, a suspended pedestrian pathway with lots of trees (it's a park, by the way) located on an old railway line and which allows you to reach the Meatpacking district and its very popular Chelsea market. An aerial green corridor that passes between buildings with bold architecture. A walk and a visit that we recommend 100% if you come to visit New York.
To take the High Line from the Meatpacking district, go to 812 Washington St. The nearest underground station is the 14th St station served by the A, C, E and L lines.
The Vessel is located at the other end of the High Line, at The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards (near 11th St and W 30th St). The 34th St-Hudson Yards underground station on line 7 is the closest stop to The Vessel.
11. How about a helicopter ride over New York?
New York and especially Manhattan is a vertical city. A helicopter flight at a higher altitude allows you to see all the skyscrapers of the Big Apple, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges like never before. An exceptional and unforgettable flight, which we always find too short.
We were not able to fly and found out at the last moment when we got there. We had to fly over New York by helicopter as a UN summit was being prepared. The President of the United States decided to fly at the same time. The alert to block all flights for obvious security reasons was issued at the last moment according to Flynyon.
It is important to know that in this case you will not be reimbursed. In such exceptional circumstances, you are offered to postpone the flight or to give your tickets to friends, for example. We opted for the second solution because we had our return flight to Paris 4 hours later. We wish you more luck than us. We would like to thank Yann and her husband for the pictures they took during their flight which they were able to see a few days later. They had never flown over New York in a helicopter and obviously loved it. They have been living in New York for a few years. What a joy it was to fly over New York in a helicopter for the first time, and moreover, partly with your feet in the air!
Helicopter company tested by our friends (from New Jersey) : Flynyon. You will find the different packages that the helicopter company offers open or closed doors.
You should know that the Uber ride costs about 75$ from Manhattan for a 30 minutes drive. Otherwise you will see on the Flynyon website that shuttles are available for 30$/pers.
Finally, it is also possible to take off from the south of Manhattan.
Here are all the options for a helicopter flight over New York from Manhattan.
To conclude this TOP 10 of must-see activities and visits in New York,
New York is a huge city. You can't even imagine the number of different days, lunches and evenings you can spend in the Big Apple. And the 5 boroughs that make up the city are so contrasting and their history so rich that you could spend your life there. It is not for nothing that New York City attracts more and more tourists every year.
For anyone visiting