Soho, New York: where it is, how to get there and what to see

Photo by lunamarina. New York is a cosmopolitan city, where so many cultures meet and live together. Just think of neighbourhoods such as Little Italy, Chinatown and Harlem, to name but a few. One of the most popular is definitely the Soho district in Lower Manhattan. This is Manhattan's artistic and shopping district and is one of New York's must-sees! Here's a little guide to exploring Soho, New York: where it is, how to get there and what to see!

Where it is and how to get there

• Onfoot: it is located in the Lower Manhattan district. This is bounded by Houston Street, Canal Street, Lafayette Street and 6th Avenue. Easily accessible on foot from Little Italy (10 min), Hudson Square (10 min) and Greenwich Village (17 min) - Get directions

• By bus: easily accessible from all over Manhattan. There are three stops along Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue) and numerous stops along Houston St and Canal St. Soho is also criss-crossed by Broadway, which also has numerous stops.

• By underground: easily accessible from all over Manhattan. The main station is Broadway-Lafayette Street Station (B, D, F, M, 6 lines). You can also get to Canal St, Houston St, Spring St and Prince St stations.

10 things to see and do in Soho

1 - Cast Iron District

Soho's most characteristic area. This is where you'll find most of the famous cast iron buildings with external fire escapes.

2 - Greene Street

The main street of Soho, full of shops and clubs, also the heart of the district's lively nightlife. Walk along it with your eyes upwards to admire the architecture of the buildings.

3 - Soho Building

on Greene St, was created by the union of two old buildings at the behest of a famous merchant in the city. One dates from 1908 and one from 1920. It is also home to the Floating Subway Map, by Belgian artist Francoise Schei.

4 - Trompe L'Oeil mural

On Prince St, a wonderful mural by Richard Hass. It reproduces the appearance of a typical Soho building, creating the illusion that it is real.

5 - Anthony Arnoux House

On Greene St, a traditional historic house with typical red bricks, which dates back to 1825 and has stood the test of time. It can only be seen from the outside.

6 - MoMA Design Store

Soho is full of design museums and art galleries. On Spring St, this is one of the most beautiful shops, with special, unique and designer objects, also great for a different kind of souvenir.

7 - The Drawing Centre

On Wooster St, this is the only non-profit institution/museum in the entire United States. It focuses exclusively on historical and contemporary drawings.

8 - Children Museum of Art

On Charlton St, a museum dedicated mainly to children, where they can approach the world of art and be little artists for a day.

9 - Shrine Church of St Anthony of Padua

On Sullivan St, this is the oldest Italian parish founded in New York.

10 - Jimmy at the James

One of Soho's most famous nightlife venues. Inside the James Hotel on Thompson St, the venue has a terrace from which to admire the Manhattan skyscrapers.

History, trivia and practical info: what to know in brief

Many neighbourhoods in New York have names that are actually acronyms and abbreviations. In this case, SoHo stands for South of Houston Street. Since the 1960s, it has been a neighbourhood frequented by artists, and even today it has retained its artistic soul, thanks to the many galleries, fashion and antique shops, and the many clubs. It is also a very expensive neighbourhood, both in terms of flat rents and the cost of living and shopping.

One of the characteristic aspects of Soho is definitely its architecture: here you can find the famous cast iron and coloured brick buildings with fire escapes outside, like the ones we have seen in numerous films and TV series. A photo in this neighbourhood is not to be missed!

Tours, guided tours and online tickets