Are you traveling to New York for the first time? So check out this post with what you can't miss when you visit the city that never sleeps!
I think that of all the places I've visited, New York has the most things to do.
I have already visited the city on three different occasions, and each time I found interesting new programs. There are countless museums, restaurants, parks, neighborhoods, events and attractions, which makes this a very popular destination for different types of audiences.
If you are making a first visit, however, this number of tours may be more of a problem than a positive point. It's certainly not possible to do everything in a week or two, and it's difficult to know what to prioritize in a region with so many options.
With that in mind, I decided to write this post with what I consider unmissable if you are visiting New York for the first time. It includes everything from the most famous attractions – those that you can't say you've visited the city if you haven't seen – to some typical experiences and popular dishes.
Even if you don't like following very touristy routes, I think it's cool to know at least some points on this list. They are so well known for a reason, right?
What to do in New York for the first time
Walk Times Square
Between all the trips, I can think of only one day that I didn't take a walk around Times Square. This is the place where you can feel that New York feeling, with all the lights and gigantic American brand stores. All that's left is to play Empire State of Mind in the background, rs.
It's a cool trip to take during the day as it has several shops and is close to numerous other tourist attractions, such as Rockefeller Center and Madame Tussaud's wax museum. Even cooler, however, is walking through the region at night, when the big screens and signs make the experience much more exciting.
Regardless of the season, the street is always full, and there are countless people trying to sell tickets to shows or stop you to take photos (and charge you for it). Keep an eye on your belongings and don't interfere with pedestrian traffic!
Watch a Broadway show
Another classic show, but for good reason. Broadway stages are the most famous in the world, and it is easy to find musicals there that have been running for over ten years.
My choice when I was in New York for the first time was The Phantom of the Opera, and I already wrote about the show in this post. If the plot doesn't appeal to you, you can watch Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, one of the best-known productions in the city.
If you prefer more relaxed themes, you can choose one of the presentations with the Disney seal, such as The Lion King, Aladdin, and even Frozen.
To get good seats, it is best to purchase tickets in advance, especially if your trip is in high season.. You can purchase through the official Broadway website.
Stroll through Central Park
Probably the best-known park in the world, Central Park is home to several interesting points.
You can get emotional Strawberry Fields, a tribute made to John Lennon, or discover sculptures such as Alice in Wonderland, based on the work of Lewis Carroll. The place also has a zoo, lakes, fountains, a carousel and even a castle.
From north to south the ends of the park are approximately 4 km, and there are several points of interest and alternative paths. The ideal is to research in advance what you would like to see and draw up a route to guide yourself. It seems like an exaggeration, but I've gone several times without a plan and never managed to see everything.
See the Statue of Liberty
Without a doubt, one of the first images that comes to mind when someone talks about New York is the Statue of Liberty. It is located on Liberty Island, and is normally accessed from the south of Manhattan, at Battery Park.
To get, just take the official ferry and explore the statue's surroundings. E It is possible to buy a ticket just for Liberty Island and Ellis Island, or make a upgrade to visit the top of the pedestal or the crown of the statue. As they are popular attractions, the ideal is to buy as soon as possible.
If you don't want to spend money to see the statue, you can take the ferry free to Staten Island, which passes near Liberty Island. You won't disembark where the monument is, but at least you can see it up close.
Walk the High Line
Built on top of old train lines, the Highline It's a suspended park in the middle of the city. It's a super nice place to stroll when the temperatures are pleasant (it's not very cool in winter), and in spring and summer you can still see lots of flowers.
It's ideal for getting to know Manhattan from another angle, and if you're going to eat street food nearby, you can sit on one of the benches and enjoy the view while eating. There are several entrances, and in total it is 2,3 km long (more or less from 11th to 34th streets) so it is also a great program for those who want to walk.
If you are in the southernmost part, I also recommend stopping by the Chelsea Market, a market that brings together several shops and restaurants. My suggestion for a snack are the delicious and cheap tacos at Los Tacos #1.
See the city view
The most famous options for this type of tour are the Empire State Building and the Top of the Rock. In both, you take the elevator to one of the top floors and get a 360º view of the city through the panoramic windows.
Personally, I liked Top of the Rock the most, as it allows you to take photos with the Empire State Building in the background. Because it's not as popular, the queues tend to be shorter too.
Another well-known building that now allows this type of tour is the One World Trade Center, the tallest skyscraper in Latin America. The observatory is on the 101st floor, and is considered by many to have the best view of the city, as it allows you to see everything from the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Building and other tourist attractions.
If you are visiting any of these observatories during the season, buy your tickets in advance, as the queues are often huge! I recommend purchasing with Get Your Guide, which sells tickets to the world's main attractions and tours. In addition to having a huge ticket option, they have their own app, so you just need to show the QR Code of your purchase within the app to be able to skip the lines and enter the attractions! Much success!
Stroll through the city's neighborhoods
At first, it's normal to focus on Midtown, where most of the tourist attractions are located, such as Times Square, 5th Avenue, the south entrance to Central Park and Rockefeller Center.
The cool thing about Manhattan, however, is exploring other regions. I really liked Chinatown – where I even found the McDonald's sign written in Chinese and countless cheap restaurants and Asian cosmetics stores – and the SoHo, with its thousands of stores and super scenery instagrammable. Other well-known options are East Village, Chelsea (where Chelsea Market and much of the High Line are located) and Hell's kitchen, with its countless restaurants. Anyone who likes Gossip Girl should also visit the Upper East Side.
Outside the island of Manhattan there are also legal options such as Brooklyn e Queens (which are actually counties in New York, but I thought they fit this part of the list).
Cross the Brooklyn Bridge
There's something I didn't do when I visited New York for the first time, but at that time the thermometers were showing -13ºC and crossing a bridge didn't seem like the best idea, rs.
Connecting Manhattan to the region from which it gets its name, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Contrary to what many think, it does not cross the Hudson River, but the East River.
It's almost 2 km long, and you can cross it in either direction. When in the Brooklyn region, the tip is to walk around the bridge and visit the carousel and the part known as Dumbo, which is a great setting for photos. At Washington Street there is a great point to catch the Manhattan Bridge in the background.
Be careful when crossing, as the pedestrian crossing is right next to the bicycle lane. Pay attention to avoid any accidents (Because, as I showed in this post, getting three stitches in the United States can cost up to US$3355.96!)
Visit the Natural History Museum
This is not my favorite type of museum (I prefer modern and contemporary art), but it is an unmissable tour for anyone visiting New York for the first time. Both for history, with its different eras portrayed on its five floors, and to feel like you're in the film Night at the Museum.
The collection of Natural History Museum It features dinosaurs, fossils, countless species of animals found in the American territory, African and Central and South American history and even a planetarium.
The suggested ticket price is US$23, which can be purchased online or at the on-site kiosks. If you don't mind waiting in line, you can pay whatever amount you want if you buy admission at the counter.
Riding the subway
Second oldest system in the world, The New York subway has 27 lines and more than 400 stations. It is the main way of getting around the city, and generally the fastest considering that traffic is chaotic.
Although it's easy to walk around the island, you'll probably take the subway at some point as there are attractions in different neighborhoods.. Trying to understand how the lines work is a challenge in itself on the journey, and the first few times you are likely to get lost and take the wrong train. It's part of it!
Even so, this is an experience that I consider super fun and also necessary, especially if you want to save money. I already explained in another post here on the blog about how to buy the MetroCard and how not to get lost using the subway!
Try typical foods
When talking about New York food, two options stand out: pizzas and bagels. Without a doubt, you can find all kinds of culinary inventions in the city, but these two categories are what residents have pride and beat their chest to say that they do it better than anywhere else in the world.
Speaking of the first, highly recommended was the Artichoke Pizza, which sells both slices and whole pizzas. Flavors range from the most traditional, such as pepperoni and margherita, to vodka. I tried Artichoke (original, I know) and I thought it was sensational. I'm even sad writing this post thinking that I won't eat again anytime soon.
Bagels are a type of stuffed bread, widely consumed for American breakfast. The appearance is a bit massive, but you can trust that the new yorkers They know what they are doing and the balance between the dough and the filling is perfect. There are thousands of places selling this delicacy, but one of the most recommended on the internet is Ess-a-Bagel on 3rd Street.
These are my suggestions for experiences when you visit New York for the first time! I'm sure the city will enchant you with its most varied attractions!
Do you think there was an item missing from the list? Do you have any questions? Tell me in the comments! 🙂
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