New York, New York… The Big Apple City Guide

This metropolis is also known as the Capital of the World, some even call it the Centre of the Universe, but a name that certainly suits it is the City that Never Sleeps. You’ve already guessed – it’s New York City! With almost 8.5 million inhabitants, NYC is the most populous city in the United States and the New York Metropolitan Area that lies on 17,400 square km – one of the most densely populated in the whole world.

Lady Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge

The Big Apple is located on one of the planet’s largest natural harbours and is divided in five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. This is the city everyone dreams of seeing, where most people would enjoy living and that is how New York has become the most diverse city on Earth. Up to 800 languages are spoken in the home city of the United Nations Headquarters, and America’s business, finance, media, culture, fashion, technology and entertainment centre. To visit New York City is an unforgettable experience and the major attractions are so numerous that it’s virtually impossible to spot them all, but for the purposes of this article, start with these:

 1. The Statue of Liberty

The national monument was the gift of France for the American people, with the occasion of the Declaration of Independence in 1886. The colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, wrapped in her robe, bearing a torch and with a broken chain lying at her feet. The Statue of Liberty has long become a symbol of the USA and a major tourist attraction in the Big Apple, featured with ferry rides, complete tours of the Island and of course, a magnificent Manhattan panorama from Lady Liberty’s crown.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

2. Empire State Building

The structure rises more than a quarter mile into the Manhattan sky and offers a splendid city view. It is the building King Kong chose as an escape root and today counts among the most visited landmarks of Fifth Avenue, New York.

3. Metropolitan Museum of Art

This museum is world widely renowned for its impressive collections. The permanent exhibitions contain more than two million works, housed at the main building on the eastern edge of Central Park. Founded in 1870, the Met displays works of art from classical antiquity and ancient Egypt, European paintings and sculptures, African, Asian, Byzantine and Islamic art, and of course an extensive collection of American and modern art.

4. Rockefeller Center

Built in the 1930s during the Grand Depression, the complex formed of 19 commercial buildings is situated between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, covering an area of 22 acres. It was declared a National Historic Landmark and today hosts the most important American TV, radio and media headquarters, in the 70 stories high structures that seem to fade in the NY sky.

Times Square

5. Times Square

Nicknamed the Crossroads of the World, Times Square is a major commercial intersection situated at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue of Manhattan.The large convergence is probably the best lit part of New York, featuring numerous billboards, advertisements and commercials. This is the place where New Yorkers gather for the New Year’s Eve ball drop, creating a vast sea of laughter and great disposition.

6. Central Park

If anything, New York is definitely a noisy, polluted and crowded city. To get away from the entire bustle, head to famous Central Park and walk through this National Historic Landmark that stretches on over three square kilometres. Situated in the centre of NYC, the park was clearly designed as an oasis, hosting a few lakes including the large Reservoir, and the Central Park Zoo. The garden is flanked by the Met and Guggenheim Museum on the east and the American Museum of Natural History and Broadway on another. The natural sanctuary receives approximately 35 million visitors every year.

Central Park

7. Broadway

The famous Broadway Avenue runs through the full length of Manhattan Island and continues through Bronx borough.  The name is the literal translation of the Dutch Breede weg and over the years has become the heart of the American theatre industry.Everyone has heard of this prominent New York avenue and if you’re passionate about theatre and would love to see a live show, head to midtown Manhattan, where it crosses Seventh Avenue, where Broadway theatres are located. To get acquainted with the borough of Manhattan, travel on Broadway and see: the Flatiron Building, the Canyon of Heroes, Grace Church, Union, Madison and Herald Squares, Time Warner Center, Columbus Circle, Manhattan New York Temple, the Church of Intercession and many more renowned landmarks.

8. Brooklyn Bridge

The immense structure connects Manhattan to Brooklyn and is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the US. Stretching half a kilometre over the East River, the bridge was completed in 1883 and has become an icon of New York City, as well as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

Flatiron Building on Broadway

9. Shopping in NYC

Needless to say that New York is a large fashion capital of the world. It is swarming with gigantic malls, department stores, endless brand shops, fancy boutiques and countless other shopping venues. Popular spots include Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Barney’s, Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, shops on Madison Avenue, SoHo, Tiffany’s, Toys ‘R Us and many, many more.

10. New Yorker for a day

The point of a holiday to the popular metropolis is living the New York experience. Have a great cup of coffee at Kaffe 1668, dine in style at Empire Restaurant and Lounge, and take a stroll through Grand Central Station to gaze at its gorgeous ceiling. Next, stop at the Guggenheim, then cross Central Park to get to the American Natural History Museum. If you take Broadway, you have plenty of choices for fun, food and shopping and even visit the Bronx Zoo, it’s quite famous and extremely fun for children. Go to the theatre, to a fashion gala or an art gallery during the day and at night try one of the countless pubs, clubs and discos – New York is The Ultimate City that Never Sleeps.

New York City skyline with the Empire State Building

People from everywhere go to New York City to make their dreams come true. The international capital of the world is a magnificent city and literally has it all: impressive museums, the best restaurants, a wide pallet of nightclubs and pubs, green parks and numerous shops for all wallets. The points of interest are countless and the purchase of a comprehensive city guide is recommended, but for the purposes of living New York, walking around town would be enough: inviting attractions arise everywhere and all you have to do is walk in and let yourself be amazed.

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