Places to Visit in Manhattan

 

New York City is so big and diverse that you could live here for a lifetime and yet not experience all the amazing places the city has to offer. The city is made up of five different boroughs and no other borough offers so many iconic landmarks and places than Manhattan.

In fact, the most important places in New York City are in Manhattan and figuring out where you should start your tour can be a daunting task. 

Since the locals know best – our team based in New York City will help you cut down the long list so you can spend your day in the best possible way. 

So, what are the best places to visit in Manhattan? In this post, we listed our best 22 – Manhattan places to go:

• Landmarks
• Museums
• Parks
• Observation Decks
• Historic Districts
• Markets and Shopping
• Entertainment and Nightlife

 

Landmarks

 

1. Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal is a famous commuter rail terminal in NYC, located in midtown Manhattan. However, it’s not just a railway hub but a popular shopping, dining, and history centre.

One of the main attractions in the terminal is the four-faced opal clock at the centre of the main concourse. Visitors can admire the elaborate astronomical ceiling decorations originally conceived in 1912. Also check out the Whispering Gallery, as you whisper into one of the ceramic arches in the corners, you can hear it in the parallel corner. The lower level of the terminal is home to diverse dining options.

Go for a Grand Central Terminal Tour.

 

2. Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is probably the most well-known monument in the world. For over a century, it has been an iconic symbol welcoming immigrants who come to America seeking opportunities. 

One of the best things to do in Manhattan is take a tour of the Statue, which includes the grounds of Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty Crown and Pedestal interior areas.  This tour is often combined with Ellis Island which served as America’s major immigration station from 1892 to 1924.

Top rated: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour.

 

3. Rockefeller Centre

Rockefeller Centre is a huge entertainment and shopping plaza in the centre of Manhattan. At 70 stories high, the Top of the Rock observation deck gives visitors an unobstructed 360-degree view of New York City and is home to Radio City Music Hall. The plaza also houses a farmer’s market, dozens of shops and cafes.

However, one of the things the Rockefeller Centre is best known for is the Christmas tree. Every year during the holidays, they bring a massive tree into the city and place it in Rockefeller Centre overlooking the skating rink.

Visit Rockefeller Centre along with other attractions.

 

4. St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Situated directly across the Rockefeller Centre, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a marvellous gothic-style Roman Catholic Cathedral church in the heart of Manhattan.

The famous Cathedral welcomes millions of visitors each year from many different nationalities and religious beliefs. And no matter who you are, you’re welcome inside.

One of the recommended Manhattan places to go – take a private guided tour of the interior of the cathedral to learn more about the history and structure of the building. Please note tours take place on specific days and time, so check their website before visiting.

Join us on a tour to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

 

5. Times Square

With over 40 million annual visitors, Times Square is the most visited tourist attraction in the world. Once here, just stand still for a minute, look around, and take in the feel of Times Square, it’s a magical experience. The bright lights, and big city feel of this commercial intersection, you’ll understand why this spot is known as ‘The Crossroad of the World’.

Its major attraction is the annual New Year’s Eve, the ball drop, which began in the early 1900s. And otherwise, the area overflows with restaurants, cafes, theatres, entertainment facilities, offering many activities and options for every type of visitor.

Wander around Times Square with us.

 

Museums

Manhattan is home to some great museums in the world and it depends on your interest which museum you wish to visit.

These are the four museums worth visiting: 

 

6. National September 11 Memorial & Museum

Ever since its inception this museum has been growing in popularity with visiting tourists. The memorial and museum honours all those who were killed in the tragic terrorist attack as well as those who worked endlessly to save lives. 

Take a private guided tour to understand and feel what happened on 11th September 2011 when two planes crashed into the towers and what it was like to be in Manhattan. The museum educates the visitors on the implications of the attacks through collection of artifacts, archives, narratives and multimedia displays.

The memorial is free to visit and open every day from 7:30am to 9:00pm. While you have to purchase tickets for the museum which is available online. 

Learn about the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on this tour.

 

7. The American Museum of Natural History

If you have keen interest in the understanding of dinosaurs, human evolution, greenhouse gases, or outer space, this museum is an excellent place to start. The museum is located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and is home to some of the nation’s most impressive historical exhibits, this includes a massive 94-foot-long blue whale model.

To make the most of your visit, we recommend taking a private guided tour led by an expert local historian. The museum is open – Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00am to 5:30pm and tickets must be purchased online in advance, so plan ahead.

 

8. Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art or simply the Met is one world’s great art museums. Founded in 1870, it’s an abode of more than two million works of art, spanning America and Europe as well as China, Africa, the Far East and the classical and Islamic worlds. 

For art lovers and aspiring artists, it’s among the particularly recommended places to visit in Manhattan for quite some reasons. You could spend weeks here and yet not see everything, hence it’s best to book a private guided tour and focus on the exhibits of your interest.

 

9. The Cloisters

The Cloisters is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe. 

Opened in 1938, the museum and its gardens have been built in modified medieval style and incorporate elements of buildings dating from the 12th through the 15th centuries, including chapels, monastic abbeys and a chapter house. 

The place is particularly known for its Romanesque and Gothic architectural sculpture, and also features stained glass, metalwork, paintings, illuminated manuscripts and tapestries. Visiting the Cloisters is one of the best places to visit in Manhattan and spend a quiet afternoon.

 

Join us on the best museum tours in Manhattan.

Parks

10. Central Park

Located in the centre of Manhattan, Central Park is a sprawling 840 acres of man-made gardens, meadows, forests, and rolling hillsides. It’s extremely popular with locals and tourists and offers a place to lounge and relax. 

Here you’ll see people of all ages playing, cycling and skating (in winter). You can enjoy the beautiful sight of the lake or even go boating with your family and friends. There is also a fascinating Central Park Zoo that is home to exotic species of birds and animals of North America.

Other attractions to see in the park are the Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Fountain, Shakespeare Garden, the Carousel, bridges and arches throughout the park, and the Mall.

We recommend the Central Park Tour with Rosotravel.

 

11. Bryant Park

This is a privately managed park in midtown Manhattan. It’s small as compared to Central Park but provides a lot of facilities like indoor and outdoor games, reading rooms, fresco dining areas and much more. You can visit the website of Bryant Park to see which activities you can join. 

During summer, you’ll find movie nights held each week, alongside yoga on the grass. While in winter, the Christmas market in Bryant Park is filled with vendors selling Christmas gifts, there is a wide variety of food stands and an ice-skating rink.  The park is open all round the year and is one of the most beloved places to visit in Manhattan for New Yorkers.

 

12. The High Line

Don’t worry, it’s not a dangerous highwire act. The High Line is an elevated linear park above the west side of Manhattan streets, running for 1.45 miles (2.33 kilometres).

However, the place was formerly a raised railway used for transportation. When the railway became idle, a group called the ‘Friends of the High Line’ reinvented the tracks into a park.

Today, the park is dotted with trees, shrubs, flowers, benches, tables, playgrounds for children, viewing areas, and lots more.  You’ll also find a variety of eateries where you can get bagels, smoothies, pancakes, and sandwiches. It’s one of the best places to visit in Manhattan – for enjoying a stroll and exploring New York City.

Explore the Highline with other attractions on this tour.

Observation Decks

 

13. Empire State Building

Built in a record time of 410 days this iconic building was built way back in 1931 without any kind of modern facilities of the 21st century.

Today, the Empire State Building stands as a symbol of America’s grand vision and aptitude for innovation, and attracts tourists all-round the year.

The 102-story skyscraper has two observation decks – one on the 86th story and the other on the 102nd story, both offer breath-taking views of the city. For the best experience, try visiting the observation decks at sunset.

Skip-the-line to the Empire State Building in this tour.

 

14. Top of the Rock

Top of the Rock is another famous observation deck in NYC. It’s not as high as the Empire State Building but provides incredible views of the city from the 67th, 69th, and 70th floor.

Perched on top of the Rockefeller Centre, visiting Top of The Rock is one of the best things to do in Manhattan. From here, you can actually see the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, One World Trade Centre, etc. in their full glory.

 

15. One World Trade Centre Observatory

One World Trade Centre is currently the tallest building in the United States of America. And the One World Observatory lets visitors experience panoramic views of NYC on 100, 101 and 102 floors. From the observation area you will have 360-degree views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.

As you visit the One World Observatory, your tour begins with an elevator ride that climbs 102 stories in 47 seconds. At the top, you’ll enjoy a magnificent view, multimedia and audio-visual presentations, the sky portal, where a 14-foot-wide circular disc gives you a view of real-time, high-definition footage of the streets below.

Skip-the-line to the One World Observatory on this tour.

 

Historic Districts

 

16. Chinatown

Located in Lower Manhattan, Chinatown is a neighbourhood filled with souvenirs shops, restaurants, and markets selling everything you may need. 

Once here you’ll get a feeling of being in Asia and many like to come here and try the Chinese and Southeast Asian food. Don’t forget to visit ‘Minus 10 Ice Cream’, a place where you can try some of the world’s best ice-creams.

The historic neighbourhood is also popular with visitors and New Yorkers as you can buy counterfeit clothes, watches, handbags and other items.

 

17. Little Italy

Located in close vicinity to Chinatown, Little Italy is one of the most popular places to visit in Manhattan.

When Italian immigrants moved to this neighbourhood in the late 1800s, they brought along their customs, food and language. That heritage remains evident even today – as the streets of Little Italy are still alive with Italian style eateries, restaurants, souvenir shops, and bakeries. Visitors can walk along Mulberry Street, the main street in Little Italy, which turns into a pedestrian walkway during weekends in summer.

Discover Little Italy in this private walking tour.

Markets and Shopping

 

18. Union Square

Union Square in Manhattan is a great meeting place. Here, tourists can expect to see a variety of street vendors selling their goods.

From upstate New York, New Jersey, the Berkshires, and Pennsylvania, vendors sell fresh-cut flowers, artisan bread, honey, heritage meats, pastries, seasonal fruits and vegetables and much more.

Don’t miss the free events like – book signings or cooking demos or seasonal beer and spirits tasting tours. You can find great little treasures here and the place is worth checking out.

 

19. 5th Avenue                          

Every shopper’s paradise, 5th Avenue is considered to be one of the most expensive and elegant streets in the world. It’s home to flagship stores of top fashion designers and luxury brands.

If you have the money, you’re in the right place and do some shopping. But if you prefer to do window shopping then also, you’re in the right place. Whatever brings you to 5th Avenue in Manhattan, just make sure it’s on your must-visit list.

In addition to shopping, you can also visit the nearby churches, cathedrals, museums, or buildings for sightseeing.

Shop till you drop on this 5th Avenue Tour.

 

Entertainment and Nightlife

20. Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden is one of those iconic hotspots in Manhattan where world-class events and entertainment never stops. The venue is popular for hosting sporting events like professional basketball, ice hockey, boxing and concerts of Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and Justin Bieber.

Check out special events calendar at The Garden – where you can find everything from wrestling matches to monster truck rallies. And if you’re not able to experience a live event, you can also take a behind the scenes tour, or maybe just admire it from the outside.

 

21. Radio City Music Hall

Located inside the premises of Rockefeller Centre, the Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue which is popular with locals and tourists alike. The hall has a seating capacity of 6,000 people, and majorly hosts music performances, concerts, stage shows, special attractions and media events. 

Many visitors come to watch a show in this magnificent theatre while others like to get clicked outside of the building and its surroundings. And if you are interested in the history of the Radio City Music Hall, you can take a behind the scenes tour. Whatever your choice, make sure you stop by this Manhattan place to go.

 

22. Broadway and the Theatre District

Another popular entertainment hub in NYC is the Broadway and the Theatre District. It’s an area in midtown Manhattan and houses most Broadway theatres. Imagine spending a day here with your family, watching the latest shows, enjoying yourself with your loved ones, and trying out the best food Manhattan has to offer.

Every year, about 13 million locals and tourists take in Broadway shows at one of 40 theatres and each season brings a new wave of mega musicals, plays and star-driven revivals. Even if you’re not seeing a show, take a walk around the district to check out the theatres and look at all their displays. This should be on your must-visit places in Manhattan because it is unique to NYC.

Discover the best of Broadway in this tour. 

 

Done!!

If you’re a first timer to New York City, then follow the above to get a perfect idea of what the city has to offer – this post gives you insider information on – Manhattan places to go, what to expect and how to plan ahead.

Visited New York City!! Tell us your best places to visit in Manhattan – Share it with us in the comments.