The Top 10 New York Attractions

Deciding on your travel itinerary in the Big Apple is no easy job since there are just too many things to do, places to see and sight seeing attractions to visit. Given below is the list of the top 10 New York attractions that no traveler to NYC should miss out on.

Statue of Liberty

Among the most important New York attractions is the Statue of Liberty. No trip to the city can be complete without first checking out this iconic structure. Constructed with bronze, the Statue of Liberty had been gifted to the US in 1885 by France as a symbol of its freedom. It is located on the Liberty Island at the mouth of Hudson River in NY Harbor. The sight of this soaring structure welcomes visitors just like it welcomed the hordes of immigrants once when they arrived in the city through boat. Over the years, this impressive structure has become the identity of the city and stands for American values, independence and freedom and is one of the most important New York attractions that should definitely not be missed.

Empire State Building

Another important attraction in the city is Empire State Building which is also one of the most famous and important skyscraper in the world. The building offers fantastic view of the city and has been featured in a number of movies. Opened first to public in May, 1931, it is among the most visited New York attractions. On an average, around 20,000 people visit this building each day. The observatory is located 1050 feet above ground on its 86th floor and offers the best view of NYC. The glass enclosed pavilion offers panoramic views and a number of attractions. The building is also home to a sushi bar, two restaurant, a card shop, banks, post office and coffee shops along with a famous movie theater and art exhibits.

Times Square

The Times Square is more like a district than a square and is one of the most famous New York attractions. Earlier known as Longacre Square, the name of the location was changed in 1904 when New York Times moved to this location. The New Year Eve Tradition of Times Square began in 1907 and since then it has been an important part of the history of the city.

Madison Square Gardens

Madison Square Garden in NYC is an arena with a seating capacity of 20,000 and is located on top of the Pennsylvania Station. The arena had been built in the year 1968 and the facility is also home to NY Liberty Basketball and NY Knicks teams as well as the Rangers hockey team. Each year, more than 600 events take place at the area including NBA draft, award shows, conventions and concerts.

The UN Headquarters

The UN Headquarters are located on a site that is sprawled over 18 acres on the East River in NYC. The building is striking with its glass fronted façade and it dominates the skyline of NY midtown. The building had been opened in the year 1951 and it instantly became popular as one of the New York attractions. Even today, it is one of the most visited sites in the city.

The American Museum of Natural History

The museum is located in upper west side is one of the most important museums in the world for natural history because of its research facility and its collection. The facility ahs attracted research scientists from all over the world and today it attracts a large number of tourists. The sheer number of exhibits at the museum is impressive and there is always something new going on at this museum.

Central Park

Among the most impressive New York attractions is Central Park. This oasis of 843 acres is a place right in the middle of bustling Manhattan where people can read, walk, attend concerts, jog, cycle around and skate. More than 25 million visitors visit Central Park every year, which makes it the most visited parks in the US. The park is home to four million plants, shrubs and trees of 1500 species. It is home to the large Great Lawn and several green spaces with artificial lakes, biking and hiking trails, ice skating rinks, zoo, play parks and a wildlife sanctuary.

Wall Street

A narrow street located in lower Manhattan, the Wall Street had been the first ever home for the NY Stock Exchange. It had also once been the headquarters for major brokerage houses and banks in the country. Wall Street even today is synonymous with US financial market.

The Brooklyn Bridge

One of the most noteworthy and recognized landmarks in the city, Brooklyn Bridge is also the oldest suspension bride in the country. It is also one of the longest with its length spanning over 6016 feet. When the bridge first opened in the year 1883 it was the longest bridge in the world. The construction of the bridge had gone on for a span of 14 years and spans over East River. The traffic over the bridge over the years has included automobiles, pedestrians, streetcars, elevated trains, trolleys as well as horses. All this had been in the past but today the bridge is only open to modern vehicles and automobiles.

Carnegie Hall

The Carnegie Hall is a very beautiful concert hall which is also known to be acoustically perfect. Over the long history of the Carnegie Hall, it has hosted more than 50,000 events. Even though it has been around for quite a long time, it is restored completely and quite beautifully. The Carnegie Hall has three concert stages, beautiful archives as well as a museum. Other than watching performances, visitors to the hall can also take a tour of this facility since there are several guided tours including rehearsal halls, dressing rooms and back stage.

These were some of the most important New York attractions that have been attracting and fascinating visitors in the city for several years now.