One of the largest cities in the world, New York is a whirlwind of activity with famous sites at every turn and there is never enough time for a visitor to see them all. Some people come here to enjoy Broadway shows, others come to shop or eat well. But New York offers much more: the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, historic districts, and many world-famous museums. Many of the best places to visit in New York are within walking distance of each other, making this city ideal for sightseeing. However, we will show you that New York is more than famous places.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or MET as it is commonly known, was founded in 1870 and is one of the most famous museums in the world. The Met’s permanent collection contains more than two million works of art spanning 5,000 years.
Although the museum has three locations, the centerpiece is The Met Fifth Avenue. Collection highlights include American decorative arts, weapons and armor, costumes, Egyptian art, musical instruments, photographs, and much more. Exhibitions bring the world’s most famous works to the public. If you’re serious about your Met visit, consider the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s VIP: Empty Met Tour to see this incredible museum in the morning before its doors open to the general public.
The Met Cloisters, located in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan, is another extremely popular New York museum. Built around medieval monasteries, chapels and halls, this branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art focuses on medieval art and architecture in Europe.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the best examples of the Gothic period in New York. It has massive bronze doors, a white marble facade, 100-meter-long towers, a large organ, a rose window, a bronze canopy, 2,400 seats, and a statue of the Lady Chapel. With millions of visitors a year, the cathedral is a major destination for worshippers.
Built in 1879, the building has been meticulously restored and maintained throughout its existence, including a $200 million renovation that was completed in 2016.
Smorgasburg
New Yorkers love eating out, whether it’s at one of the city’s best waterfront restaurants, elevated rooftop bars, or outdoor flea markets like Brooklyn’s famous Smorgasburg. A favorite among locals and tourists alike, Smorg features nearly 100 vendors selling tasty and surprisingly cheap snacks. It’s open April through November (11 a.m.-6 p.m.) in Williamsburg’s East River Park on Saturdays and Sundays on Breeze Hill in Prospect Park.
Union Square
This square was named so due to the connection of two of the busiest traffic arteries in Manhattan: Broadway and Fourth Avenue (formerly Bowery Road). Political activism has played a big role in its history and the square has hosted rallies and protests from the Civil War to Occupy Wall Street. Today, its biggest draw may be the year-round Farmers Market— the city’s first, founded by a handful of farmers in 1976 — that brings locally grown goods to thousands of New Yorkers each week.
Park Socrates
In 1986, artists and activists created this 4.5-acre urban park on a landfill. It now presents extensive sculpture exhibits throughout the year and is one of the few places in the city specifically designed for artists to create works. The gorgeous Queens space overlooks the Manhattan skyline and is open 365 days a year, including a Farmers Market, free yoga classes, tai chi and more.
