What to see in New York: 20 best attractions and things to do

New York is one of those cities you have to visit at least once in a lifetime! If you are planning a trip to the Big Apple, make sure you plan a detailed itinerary: there are so many attractions to see that a month would not be enough! It is therefore important to follow smart itineraries, putting attractions close to each other on the same day.

But, in this great city, what are the must-sees you absolutely must see? Discover with us what to see in New York: the best attractions and things to do in the city that never sleeps!

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1 - Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Not to be missed is the Statue of Liberty National Monument, a national monument since 1886, located on a small island not too far from Manhattan, which you can reach by taking a river cruise. Then it is up to you to decide whether to admire it only from the ferry, perhaps on a sunset cruise, or to visit the islet and get to the pedestal; it is also possible to climb up to the crown, but the visit must be booked well in advance, even months in advance, as places sell out very quickly (book directly on the official website).

A visit to the Statue of Liberty is always associated with a visit to Ellis Island, the small island that became the sorting station for migrants arriving in America to pursue their American dream. This is where theEllis Island National Museum of Immigration is located, where the history of the island is retraced (daily 9.30 a.m. - 5.30 p.m., admission included in the ferry to Ellis Island).

Practical info: directions, times and prices

• How to get there: by Battery Park boat. Battery Place ticket office at Castle Clinton. Nearest metro stop Bowling Green (Green Lines 4 & 5), Greenwich St/Battery Pl bus stop (BxM18 line). Cruise duration one hour - Get directions

• Hours: Daily 9am-5pm, departures every 30 mins. In case of adverse conditions access to the crown may be suspended. See official website

• Ticket Cost: One hour cruise from €30.00 / Statue of Liberty Pedestal full $24.30 (€23.50), over 62 $18.30 (€17.70), under 12 $12.30 (€11.90) / Statue of Liberty Crown full $22.25 (€18.90), seniors $17.00 (€14.50), concessions $12.00 (€10.20)

2 - Wall Street and Charging Bull

Lower Manhattan is New York's financial district and is an area we recommend you visit because this is where you will find Wall Street and the World Trade Center.

Wall Street is the street that best represents the financial, banking and institutional heart of the city. Here you will find the headquarters of the most important American banks, Federal Hall and the New York Stock Exchange; and don't forget to take a photo in front of the Charging Bull, the statue of the bull that symbolises the street and American power. To discover it at its best, we recommend the Financial District and Wall Street walking tour!

The nearest metro station is Wall Street Station (red line 2 and 3, green line 4 and 5). Easy walking distance to World Trade Center (600 m ,10 min) - Get directions

Touch the Wall Street bull: one night in December 1989, the Sicilian-born artist Arturo di Modica placed the statue in front of the stock exchange offices without obtaining permission. Despite this, the statue was not removed, and became the symbol of the markets' recovery after the financial disaster of 1987. It is said that touching it brings good luck!

3 - Brooklyn Bridge

Any self-respecting trip to the Big Apple must include a stop at the Brooklyn Bridge, the iconic bridge connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn; it was the first bridge built of steel and for a long time was the world's largest suspension bridge, completed in 1883.

As you can imagine, this bridge is always very crowded, especially by tourists who want to take a souvenir photo: from the pedestrian lane, which is elevated above the car lane, you can admire a beautiful view of the New York skyline.

From Manhattan, the reference underground station is Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Subway Station (green line 4, 5, 6), from Brooklyn the reference station is York Street Subway Station (orange line F) - Get directions

When to visit: early in the morning, as it is less crowded, or at sunset, to admire the sky turning red and the city lights slowly coming on

4 - Lower Manhattan neighbourhoods: Soho, Little Italy and Chinatown

In the southern part of Manhattan we find Soho, short for South of Houston. It is certainly one of the city's most famous neighbourhoods, characterised by colourful houses: it is the shopping, fashion and entertainment district, with no shortage of clubs, restaurants, shops, high-fashion boutiques and art galleries. Don't miss a walk through Little Italy and Chinatown, once neighbourhoods inhabited by immigrants (hence their names), now characteristic areas that have merged with the rest of the city.

New York is a cosmopolitan city, where cultures from all over the world coexist! And indeed, walking along the city streets, it will be the norm to come across several unique and characteristic neighbourhoods. The characteristics that distinguish them from the rest of the city are different.

Soho, Little Italy and Chinatown are located in Lower Manhattan, a 10-minute walk from each other. The main underground stations are Canal St (Green Line 4, 6), Spring Street (Blue Line A, C, E) and Grand St (Orange Line B, D) - Get directions

Visiting time: as they are all located close together, we recommend visiting them in a single afternoon, strolling through the streets and immersing yourself in their characteristic atmospheres

5 - The Edge

Photo by Brecht Bug. In the same complex as the Hudson Yards, where The Vessel is located, is also The Edge, New York's highest observation deck, taller even than the Empire State Building, the Top of The Rock and the World Trade Center. But that's not all, it is also thetallest outdoor observatory in the Western Hemisphere, which opened in March 2020 and is poised to become one of the city's most visited attractions!

From the platform of this modern building you can enjoy a wonderful 360° view of the entire city! It is a memorable experience and you can even admire the Empire State Building from above. One of the best times to visit The Edge is definitely at sunset!

Practical info: directions, times and prices

• Directions: 30 Hudson Yards. Easy walking distance to the High Line (190 m, 3 min) and Times Square (1.9 km, 23 min). Nearest underground stop 34th St-Hudson Yards Subway Station (Purple Line 7) - Get directions

• Hours: daily 10am-10pm

• Ticket cost: full $38.00 (€36.80), under 12 $33.00 (€32.00), over 62 $36.00 (€35.00). Free under 6

6 - Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the undisputed symbols of New York, present in every photo taken in the city, towering over the neighbouring skyscrapers with its 443 m (including the antenna). Together with the Top of The Rock and the World Trade Center, it is one of three panoramic observatories from which to admire the beauty of New York from above!

It's one of those must-see attractions, so much so that many of the city's City Passes include both day and night admission to admire the city lit up (if you don't have a NYC Explorer Pass or another city card, we recommend buying a standard, priority access ticket to avoid the long lines). You can't say you've been to New York without climbing the Empire! There are two different observatories, the86th Floor Obs ervatory and the 102nd Floor Observatory, the former being the main one! You go up to the observatories in a fast lift and between floors you can also visit various exhibitions, both permanent and temporary.

When to visit: We recommend admiring the view from the top of the Empire both during the day and at night. You might opt for sunset time.

Practical info: directions, hours and prices

• Getting there: 20 W 34th St. Easily accessible on foot from Times Square (1 km, 13 min) and Rockefeller Center (1.4 km, 17 min). Nearest underground stop 34 St - Herald Sq Subway Station (orange line B, D, F, M, yellow line N, Q, R, W), bus stop 5 Av/W 33 St (line BxM4) - Get directions

• Hours: daily 8am-10pm

• Ticket price: Main Floor 86th Deck full $44.00 (€42.60), under 12 $38.00 (€37.00), over 62 $42.00 (€40.60) / The Premium Experience (floors 86 and 102) $113.00 (€109.40) / Sunrise Experience (with exclusive access to sunrise) $125.00 (€121.00)

7 - Rockefeller Center and Top of The Rock

Also in the heart of Manhattan is another must-see destination, especially at Christmas time: we are talking about Rockefeller Center, a complex of 19 commercial buildings, including NBC Studios, Radio City Music Hall and Top of The Rock.

Of all the buildings, the Top of The Rock, a panoramic observatory from which one of the most beautiful views of New York can be admired, is not to be missed, as right in front of this building as the crow flies is the Empire State Building. The observatory consists of no less than 3 viewing terraces, one inside and two outside, with spectacular views of all the surroundings!
At the end of November, a large ice rink is set up in the Rockefeller Center area and you can watch the lighting of the big Christmas tree, which kicks off the Christmas celebrations throughout the city!

Book a visit: the Top of The Rock is one of the most popular viewing platforms and therefore always super crowded. We recommend visiting it early in the morning and getting a ticket with a flexible date.

Practical info: directions, times and prices

• Directions: 45 Rockefeller Plaza. Easy walking distance to Times Square (700 m, 9 min) and the Empire State Building (1.4 km, 17 min). Nearest underground stop 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr (orange lines B, D, F, M), bus stops along 5th Avenue - Get directions

• Hours: Rockefeller Center always accessible, skating rink from November to April 8:30-00:00 / Top of The Rock daily 9:00-23:00

• Ticket price: Rockefeller Center free, skating rink one and a half hours $25.00 (€21.20), skate rental $13.00 (€11.00) / Top of The Rock full price $40.00 (€38.70), over 62 $38.00 (€37.00), under 12 $34.00 (€33.00)

8 - Central Park Zoo

The Central Park Zoo, smaller than the Bronx Zoo, is located in the beautiful setting of Central Park and is very easy to get to. The zoo is one of the park's main attractions. It is located in its southernmost part and covers 6 and a half hectares; the park is home to about 500 animals, mainly small and medium-sized, which come from three climate zones: tropical, temperate and polar. In addition, it is the first zoo established in New York, opened back in 1935.

Visit with children: this is the zoo where the famous Madagascar cartoon was set, with the four friends Alex the lion, Martin the zebra, Gloria the hippo and Melman the giraffe! Not to mention the four'cute and cuddly' penguins. Children will have fun searching for these animals in the zoo!

Practical info: directions, opening times and prices

• Directions: East 64th Street, Central Park. Easy walking distance to the Frick Collection (600 m, 7 min) and Rockefeller Center (1.2 km, 15 min). Nearest underground stop 5 Avenue Station (yellow line N, R, W) - Get directions

• Hours: daily 10am-5pm, in winter (Nov-Mar) half-hour early closing time. Check official website for exact times.

• Admission: Full $19.95 (€19.30), under 12 $14.95 (€14.50), over 62 $16.95 (€16.40), free under 2

9 - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

TheCentral Park area is home to some of New York's most important museums, including the MET and the American Museum of Natural History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, known as the MET, is one of the most important museums in the world, with one of the largest collections of ancient and contemporary art.

This is also the place where the famous Met Gala is held every year, a gala organised to raise funds for the museum's Costume Institute. Attendance is by invitation only and many celebrities parade here, ready to dazzle photographers and other guests with their custom-made clothes for the event.

Practical info: directions, times and prices

• Directions: 1000 5th Ave, Central Park. Nearest underground stop 86th Street (Green lines 4, 5, 6), bus stop 5 Av/W 85 St Traverse (lines 0028 and BxM7) - Get directions

• Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Sun 10am-5pm; Fri, Sat 10am-9pm. Closed Wednesdays.

• Admission: Full $30.00 (€29.00), Over 65 $22.00 (€21.30), Students $17.00 (€16.50), Under 12 Free

10 - Guggenheim Museum

Across from Central Park, the Guggenheim houses works of modern and contemporary art inside, but we can say that the structure alone is a true work of art!

There are a few Guggenheim Museums scattered around the world and founded by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, the best known of which are the one in Bilbao, the one in Venice and this one in New York, on 5th Avenue and opposite Central Park. It is therefore an unmissable visit.

Skip the line: also in this case, it is advisable to buypriority admission to avoid queues at the entrance

Practical info: directions, hours and prices

• Directions: 1071 5th Ave, across from Central Park. Nearest underground station 86th Street (Green Line 4, 5, 6) - Get directions

• Hours: daily 11am-6pm, Saturday until 8pm. Closed Tuesday.

• Admission: Full price $25.00 (€24.00), over 65 & students $18.00 (€17.40), under 12 free

11 - Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is the largest zoo in the United States and offers its visitors an overview of all the animals in the world. Covering an impressive 655 hectares, it is home to over 6,000 animals and more than 700 species, some of which are endangered; the animal habitats are very large, the habitats have been reconstructed down to the last detail and there is even an animal hospital here!

If youare travelling with children, you absolutely cannot miss it, but it is also a must-visit attraction if you are travelling alone, as a couple or with friends. It is located outside Manhattan, in the Bronx district, but is easily accessible by underground or dedicated bus service.

There are two types of tickets: the General Admission, which guarantees entry to the zoo, and the Total Experience, which can be purchased online at the official website and includes all the extra attractions for a fee!

Dedicate a whole day: as it is the largest zoo in the United States of America, we advise you to dedicate the whole day to it and to wear comfortable shoes, there will be a lot of walking

Practical info: directions, times and prices

• Directions: in 2300 Southern Blvd, The Bronx. Nearest underground stop West Farm Sq/East Tremont Av,(2 blocks from Zoo Entrance A, 6 min walk), from Times Square red line 2 (50 min). By bus, dedicated BxM11 Express Bus line, stops at Madison Avenue and between 26th and 99th Streets, arrives at Zoo's Bronx River Entrance (operates 6am-11pm, one way $6.75/€5.70) - Get directions

• Hours: daily 10am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday until 5:30pm. In winter (Nov-Mar) half-hour early closing time.

• Ticket price: General Admission full $33.95 (€32.90), over 65 $28.95 (€28.00), under 12 $23.95 (€23.30) / Total Experience (includes all extra paid zoo attractions including animal encounters) $39.95 (€38.70)

12 - Harlem and Bronx

Moving on to the northernmost part of Manhattan we find Harlem, a neighbourhood with ties to the African-American community, known for its jazz clubs and gospel music (if you're a fan of the genre, we recommend the 4-hour Harlem Gospel Tour); this is a great neighbourhood to stay in even if you're on a tight budget, with the precaution of not going into East Harlem, which at night may be less safe than other busier parts of New York.

Finally, we recommend visiting the Bronx district, famous for being the birthplace of Hip Hop culture. Here you will also find the Bronx Zoo, one of the most famous in the world, mentioned above! If you are interested in getting to know the other boroughs of New York in addition to Manhattan, we recommend taking a bus tour of the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn, thus moving quickly and getting a general overview of the whole city!

To visit Harlem, in Upper Manhattan, the main underground station 125 Street Station (blue line A and C, orange line B and D, Get Directions), the Bronx is located in northern Manhattan, but we recommend that you take a private tour.

Visit safely: we recommend visiting the neighbourhoods during the day, especially the Bronx, as it may become unsafe at night. For Harlem, it is best to avoid Harlem East late at night. The important thing is always to be vigilant and attentive, as in any big city

13 - Central Park

Central Park is New York's green lung and one of the largest parks in the world, stretching all the way around Manhattan!
Admission is of course free, but in the park you can find several attractions, such as the Central Park Zoo, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Balto Statue, the Strawberry Fields Memorial dedicated to John Lennon and a boat ride at The Loeb Boathouse (Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm, per hour $15.00/€14.00).

There arevarious activities you can do, from simple walks along its paths to bike rides. There are several bike rental services (from €7.00). In winter there is even a skating rink!
Open 365 days a year, the best way to enjoy it in peace and quiet is early in the morning. During the day it is quite crowded, but given its vastness, we recommend that you dedicate at least half a day to it, even if a whole day would not be enough to visit it all!

Getting around: we recommend hiring a bike at a cost of around €7.00 per hour.

Practical info: directions, times and prices

• How to get there: at the centre of the Manhattan peninsula, between 5th Avenue, Central Park West, 59th Street and 110th Street. Within easy walking distance of Times Square (1 km, 13 min), on either side are the MET, the Guggenheim, the American Museum of Natural History and the Frick Collection. Easily accessible from all Manhattan by bus (5, 6, 7, A, B, C and D lines, $2.75/€2.50) or underground (M1, M2, M3, M4 and M10 lines, $2.50/€2.25) - Get directions

• Hours: daily 6am-00pm

• Ticket price: free

14 - American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum with the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in the world (purchase your ticket online to avoid queuing at the ticket office). There are also areas dedicated to marine animals, fossils and much more. This is also a popular museum for children, so it is ideal to visit if you are travelling as a family.

If the MET is located along Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History is on the opposite street, not far from the Strawberry Fields Memorial and Central Park's Belvedere Castle.

Fun fact: the 2006 film A Night at the Museum starring Ben Stiller was set here, while the second one is set at the museum in Washington DC.

Practical info: directions, times and prices

• Directions: 200 Central Park West. Nearest metro stop 81 Street - Museum of Natural History (lines A, B, C), bus stop Central PK W & West 79 St (line M10) - Get directions

• Hours: daily 10am-5.30pm

• Tickets: full price $28.00 (€27.00), over 60 & students $22.00 (€21.00), under 12 $16.00 (€15.00), free under 2

15 - Frick Collection

Photo by Frank Fujimoto. Perhaps when you hear about New York you have never heard of the Frick Collection: this museum, not very well known among the many tourists who visit the city, is actually one of the most important small museums in the Big Apple and inside it preserves works of inestimable value and beauty!
Among the works on display are some of the most important masterpieces of European painting, sculptures and period furniture: among them, you can admire Fragonard's The Progress of Love, Bellini's Saint Francis in the Desert, theCoronation of the Virgin by the Venetian and Veronese'sAllegory of Vice and Virtue.

The collection is housed in theformer residence of Henry Clay Frick, an American businessman and art collector, also called'the most hated man in America'.

Practical info: directions, hours and prices

• Directions: 1 E 70th St, across from Central Park. Nearest underground stop 68 St - Lexington Av (Green lines 4, 6), bus stop 5 Av/E 72 St (M1, M2, M3, M4, M72 lines) - Get directions

• Hours: daily 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon.

• Ticket price: full price $22.00 (€21.00), over 65 & under 18 $17.00 (€16.00). No admission for children under 10 years old, even if accompanied

16 - MoMa

MoMa, or the Museum of Modern Art, is one of the world's best known museums of contemporary art. Its collections house some of the most famous works, such as Van Gogh's Starry Night, Picasso's Les demoiselles d'Avignon and Dali's The Persistence of Memory, priceless paintings that we all studied at school!

As these are must-see attractions, free or discounted admission is included in several of the city's City Cards, such as the NYC Explorer Pass. By purchasing the Pass, you can save money on several entrances!

Skip the Line: New York's must-see museum and one of the most famous in the world. For this reason, we recommend that you purchase your ticket at a scheduled time to avoid the long queues.

Practical info: directions, hours and prices

• Directions: 11 W 53rd St. Easily accessible on foot from Times Square (950 m, 12 min) and Rockefeller Center (650 m, 8 min). Nearest underground station 5 Avenue-53 St Station (blue £ line, orange M line) - Get directions

• Hours: daily 10:30am-5:30pm; Saturday until 7pm

• Admission: full price $25.00 (€24.00), over 65 & disabled $18.00 (€17.40), students $14.00 (€13.50), under 16 free / discounted admission with NYC Explorer Pass

17 - Times Square

On a trip to New York you can only start your itinerary from Times Square, one of the symbols of the city: it's not really a square, it's actually the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue and stretches from West 42nd Street to West 47th Street. It is said that New York is the city that never sleeps and here in Times Square you will understand why: the lights of the billboards and illuminated signs shine even at night and the square is crowded at all hours!
In addition, this area is home to numerous shops such as theHard Rock Café andM &M'S World, which are especially worth seeing if you are travelling with children.

Easy walking distance to the Empire State Building (1 km, 13 min) and Rockefeller Center (700 m, 9 min). Served by numerous buses (M6, M7, M10, M20, M27, M42 and M104 lines, $2.50/€2.25) and underground (42nd St. Times Square station, Red Line 1, 2, 3, Purple Line 7, Yellow Line N, Q, R, $2.75/€2.50) - Get directions

When to visit: as well as seeing it during the day, we recommend admiring it in the middle of the night, with the light of the billboards and screens. You'll feel like you're really inside a movie. If, on the other hand, you visit New York on New Year's Eve, you can't miss the traditional Ball Drop, the big ball that is lowered from the One Times Square skyscraper to usher in the New Year!

18 - The Vessel

One of New York's newest attractions, opened in March 2019, whose unusual architecture immediately entered the hearts of New Yorkers and tourists alike! It is located at Hudson Yards and admission is free, but reservations are required on the official website as the number of admissions per day is limited.

Due to its unique honeycomb architecture, which includes 154 connected flights of stairs and no less than 80 intermediate terraces, and the marvellous view from the top, this structure is aiming to become one of New York's most popular attractions! Absolutely unmissable.

Practical info: directions, times and prices

• Directions: 20 Hudson Yards. Easy walking distance to the High Line (190 m, 3 min) and Times Square (1.9 km, 23 min). Nearest underground stop 34th St-Hudson Yards Subway Station (Purple Line 7) - Get directions

• Hours: daily 10am-9pm

• Ticket cost: free, book on official website

19 - High Line

The High Line is an old elevated railway line; its history begins in 1860 and today it is a wonderful park open to the public, with beautiful views of the city!
There areseveral entrances along the route, one of the most frequently used is the one on Gansevoort Street, and it is 2.33 km long; to walk the whole park takes about an hour, excluding photo breaks!
The area is located in Midtown Manhattan and runs parallel to 10th Avenue. It is also a popular place for New Yorkers to relax and admire their beloved city.

Practical info: directions, times and prices

• How to get there: on the western side of Midtown Manhattan. It runs parallel to 10th Avenue, entrance on Gansevoort Street. Nearest underground station 14th Street (Red Line 1, 2, 3) - Get directions

• Hours: daily 7am-10pm

• Ticket price: free

20 - World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial

Not far from Wall Street is the World Trade Center, also known as Ground Zero: once a complex of 7 buildings, including the Twin Towers, that dominated the New York skyline.

The Twin Towers were destroyed in the terrorist attack of 11 September 2001, and where the towers once stood is now home to the 9/11 Museum and Memorial, a true tribute to those who lost their lives that day (recommended tour of the Memorial with Museum admission); also not to be missed is a visit to One World Trade Center, with New York's tallest observatory (recommended purchase of a skip-the-line ticket). From here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the entire Manhattan peninsula and surrounding areas, including the Statue of Liberty and New Jersey.

Practical info: directions, times and prices

• How to get there: in Lower Manhattan. To World Trade Center, World Trade Center station and WTC Cortlandt underground station (red line 1). Easily accessible on foot from Wall Street (600 m ,10 min) - Get directions

• Hours: World Trade Center always accessible / 9/11 Memorial daily 10am-5pm, closed Tuesdays / One World Trade Center daily 9am-9pm

• Ticket Cost: World Trade Center Free / Memorial 9/11 Admission $26.00 (€25.00), Under 18 & Over 65 $20.00 (€19.00), Under 12 $15.00 (€14.50), Free Under 6 / One World Trade Center Admission $38.00 (€36.80), Over 65 $36.00 (€34.80), Under 12 $32.00 (€31.00), Free Under 5

Other attractions to visit

Of course, there are plenty of other attractions worth a visit.
Among the many museums, we recommend theIntrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum ($33.00/€32.00) and the Museum of the City of New York ($20.00/€19.00). If you're travelling with children, we also recommend the Children's Museum Of Manhattan ($14.00/€11.90) and the Children's Museum of the Arts ($13.00/€11.00). If you like the genre, we also recommend Madame Tussauds New York, the wax museum ($43.99/€42.00).

New York is littered with architecturally and historically unmissable buildings that you can admire from the outside while taking a souvenir photo! These include the Flatiron Building, the Chrysler Building, the Trump Tower and 432 Park Avenue. Don't forget to also admire the New York Public Library, Grand Central Terminal and World Trade Center from the inside.

Finally, you can't miss the great shops on 5th Avenue! These include the Tiffany shop with a framed letter from the star, the bigNBA store, the Apple shop and the Victoria Secret shop!

5 things to do in New York

NYC Sailing Tour

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1. Helicopter tour: if you're not afraid of heights, you can't miss the world's most famous skyline! Also available is the night helicopter tour above the lights of NYC, even more impressive

2. Sailing tour: step back in time with a cruise on the great Clipper City. See the city from the river aboard New York's largest sailboat

3. Broadway: Broadway is a real institution in New York! If you are travelling with children, we absolutely recommend the Disney experience on Broadway, the magic behind the scenes, to discover the fantastic world of Disney

4. Gospel Tour: Don't miss the 4-hour gospel tour of Harlem, a neighbourhood in the northern part of Manhattan and which includes the Apollo Theater, Sugar Hill, Morningside Heights and Columbia University

5. Christmas in New York: amidst decorations, markets, skating rinks and events, we recommend visiting the city over the festive period to enjoy a unique magical atmosphere; perhaps take advantage of the many themed tours!

Plan your stay in New York: flights and hotels

New York is an expensive destination, so it is essential to book in advance, especially flights and hotels. The city is served by three airports, but the main one is JFK International Airport (31 km, flights from €326.00 - see offers).

For accommodation, we recommend booking in advance. The best district to stay in is Manhattan(accommodation from €70.00 per room), the best areas are Times Square (nightlife hub) or the cheaper Harlem, Soho, Little Italy and Chinatown.

Getting around on foot alone is impossible! The best way is the metro! Buses are not recommended, as they are affected by the city's traffic. If you are travelling with children, the quietest districts to stay in, but still central, are Upper Manhattan, around Central Park, where most of the attractions recommended for families are concentrated.

Free attractions include the High Line or The Vessel. In addition, several museums provide free admission hours on certain days of the week. If you want to admire a beautiful sunset at no cost, then head to the Brookyln Bridge!

• City Pass: To save money on admission, we recommend the purchase of a city card. There are various types, such as the NYC Explorer Pass or the New York Pass, the choice depends on the length of your stay and what you want to visit

• Sightseeing bus: on your first day, to acclimatise you to the city, we recommend taking a sightseeing tour on the Big Bus, so you can enjoy a panoramic tour and see all the main attractions from the outside.