What You Must See in NYC

I’m going to start this off with that yes, there are the typical tourist things to see in NYC included in this post. Because you definitely should see them! There’s nothing wrong with seeing the iconic attractions of the Big Apple and the rest of the must see in NYC.

I’m also going to include a few cool things you must see in NYC and neighbourhoods you must wander about in. Honestly the best things, are spots you discover while walking around with no plan. You can stumble onto some great gems and events.

And please do share anything I’ve missed that I need to visit next time in NYC. Don’t forget to check out my first timer’s guide to NYC + where to eat in NYC.

Iconic Places You Must See in NYC

• Times Square (obviously, but try to only walk through fast lol)
  
  

  
• Rockefeller Centre (which is Top of the Rock)
• Radio City Music Hall – Iconic
  
• MoMa Museum
• Flat Iron Building – When the sun hits the building during magic hour…
  
  

  
• Grand Central Station
  
  
• New York Public Library
• Carnegie Hall
• Lincoln Centre
• Madison Square Garden
• Columbia University
• Brooklyn Bridge – Walk across and take in some views
• Central Park – Literally could spend a whole day in the park
  
  

  

  

  
• Central Park Zoo
• The Met – I would go everyday for a week, there’s so much to see!
  
  

  

  

  

  

  
• The Whitney Museum of American Art
  
• Museum of Natural History – Another of Curtis’s choices, but it actually was pretty interesting
  
  

  

  

  

  American Museum of Natural History

  

Neighbourhoods to Visit in NYC

• Dumbo, Brooklyn
• Williamsburg, Brooklyn
  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
• Little Italy
• West Village
• Greenwich Village
• East Village
• Chelsea
• NoHo – Up and coming neighbourhood, lots of new places mixed with the old grunge
• Chinatown – Loved walking around this neighbourhood
  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
• Wall Street
• Upper West Side – Spot all the brownstones and check out cute little shops and cafes
  
  

  

  

(Soho is all cool but busy and full of mostly big retailers. So honestly not that special to wander around in)

Cool Things to See in NYC

• The Oculus – Beautiful but weird that it’s a shopping mall
  
• 9/11 Memorial + Museum (We didn’t go in, but the memorial was pretty cool to see in person. Just the grand size of it was amazing)
  
  

  
• Charging Bull
• One World Observatory
• The High Line – Absolutely loved walking along this old train track system. Public art, food vendors and great views into people’s apartments hah
  
  

  

  

  

  

  View from the Highline

  

  

  
• Washington Square Park – Cool park, again lots of public art and places to sit and take it all in
• Museum of Sex – Interesting and the gift shop alone is worth a visit
  
• Subway Stations – Each station has unique tile art
  
  

  

  

  

  
• Coney Island
• The Cloisters The Met Cloisters, located on four acres overlooking the Hudson River in northern Manhattan’s Fort Tryon Park, is the branch of the Museum dedicated to the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe.
• Pioneer Works
• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (Yes we did visit this, Curtis loves these places and I let him pick one spot. It was actually fun and had great views from the navy ship and I had a happy husband.)
  
  

  

  

  

  That’s my little guide to NYC on what you must see while visiting. I’m sure this list could go on and on and on, but this is a pretty good start!