New York is one of those destinations to see at least once in a lifetime! It is a city to experience in all its aspects, a city where you can walk along 5th Avenue and feel like you are in a movie, a city full of traffic but also with wonderful green areas such as Central Park. A city whose heart is Manhattan, the main borough where most of the must-see attractions are located and where you should look for accommodation if you are visiting the Big Apple for the first time.
Planning a trip? Here's everything you need to know about Manhattan, New York: where it is, how to get there and what to see!
Where it is and how to get there
By foot: You can walk within individual neighbourhoods or between nearby attractions, but visiting Manhattan entirely on foot is impossible - Get directions
By bus: the stops are really numerous, but it's not complicated to get around, as the city has a very simple and linear structure, made up of perpendicular streets, Avenues and Streets. Single ride with Metrocard $2.75 (€2.30) - find out more
By metro: it is full of stops and has many lines, the first approach could be confusing, but as soon as you understand the mechanism, getting around becomes really easy. Single journey with Metrocard $2.75 (€2.30) - learn more
10 things to see and do in Manhattan
1 - Times Square
New York's most famous square, where it looks like daytime even when it's nighttime, thanks to all the panels and screens that are always on. A meeting place for all occasions, it's the ideal spot to start discovering the city - find out more.
2 - Empire State Building
One of the symbols of New York. Featuring several observation decks, from which you can admire the view both by night and day - find out more.
3 - Rockefeller Center and Top of The Rock
Close to Times Square, this is where the big tree lights up to kick off the holiday season. Don't miss the viewing platform at the Top of The Rock, with the best view of the Empire - find out more.
4 - Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Tours to discover the symbol of New York and nearby Ellis Island start from The Battery, the latter located right in the lower Manhattan borough - find out more.
5 - World Trade Center
The site where the Twin Towers once stood. Today it is one of New York's most vibrant areas, where you can visit the 9/11 Memorial and climb the One World Trade Center observatory.
6 - Wall Street and Financial District
In Lower Manhattan, this is the financial heart of the Big Apple. Don't miss a photo in front of the Statue of the Bull, symbol of Wall Street - find out more.
7 - Central Park
New York's great green lung. There are so many things to do in it and it would take a whole day to visit! If you're travelling with children, don't miss the zoo - find out more.
8 - 5th Avenue
Manhattan's iconic street, home to the biggest luxury shops and numerous clubs and restaurants. Walking down the street will make you think you're in a movie.
9 - Manhattan Museums
Some of the most important museums in the world are located here. These include the Moma, the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Frick Collection.
10 - Manhattan neighbourhoods
Each neighbourhood is truly distinctive and will make you discover more and more of New York's multiculturalism. Don't miss Soho, Chinatown, Little Italy, Harlem and the aforementioned Financial District.
History, trivia and practical information: what to know in brief
New York is made up of five boroughs, but the most famous and most visited is definitely Manhattan, so much so that many people often mistake the borough for the whole city. This is because the main attractions of the Big Apple are located here. It is a district that is constantly changing, with new skyscrapers and new attractions every year.
Visiting it in its entirety can be a bit scattershot, so it is important to know that the borough is divided into three parts: Upper Manhattan, Midtown and Lower Manhattan. If you are visiting New York for the first time, we recommend using thetour bus, which is ideal for getting acclimatised and enjoying a scenic tour of the city! Stops are located near the attractions. The more daring can also enjoy a helicopter ride to admire the city from above!
Finally, we recommend purchasing one of the city's City Cards, which you can choose according to your needs. Attractions have very high entrance fees, so the passes will save you money! One of the most comprehensive is the NYC Explorer Pass (from €53.80 - see details).
Tours, guided tours and tickets online
