From the bright flashing lights of Times Square to the peaceful corners of Central Park, New York City has it all. NYC is a top destination for many, and I had the privilege of visiting the Big Apple in December.
The city is full of never-ending fun and festivities, especially during the holiday season.
Whether you find yourself in upper or lower Manhattan, there’s a plethora of things that you don’t want to miss.
For your first day, I recommend starting in Lower Manhattan. Chinatown, Little Italy and SOHO are all within walking distance from one another.
When in Chinatown, you can’t pass up the most delicious and savory dumplings from Supertaste.
The first day might be an adjustment from your day of traveling so make sure you stop by Joe and the Juice for an incredible pick-me-up in SOHO.
You will be exhausted from all of the walking, but there is no better way to recuperate than a dinner in Little Italy at Paesanos. I highly recommend the linguini with red clam sauce.
If you are up for a challenge, walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Atop the bridge, you will see beautiful sites of the city and perfect photo opportunities. Once you make it across you can walk to DUMBO and enjoy tons of great food and small sellers.
When you find yourself in the city, there are endless things to do. Visiting Summit One Vanderbilt, a surreal experience from 93 stories up, the view of the city can’t get much better than that.
If you aren’t a fan of such extreme heights, pay a visit to the Museum of Modern Art. There are so many displays of new and different forms of art but also pieces from artists like Piccaso.
Try to set aside time for the Staten Island ferry. It is free of charge and passes right by the Statue of Liberty. Catch the ferry right as the sun is setting and prepare to see one of the most beautiful sunsets of your life.
Last but not least, if you are lucky enough to visit the city during the holidays, pay a visit to Rockefeller Center to see the tree and indulge in a s’mores hot chocolate.
There is little not to love about New York, but getting around, especially on the subways, might be a challenge. Avoiding public transportation is difficult and can be very costly, so familiarize yourself with the famous New York City Subway before visiting. You’ll also find yourself walking to many attractions.
In all of my travels, New York lands in my top three places to visit. With its lively energy and unlimited shopping experience, it’s a shopaholic’s dream. I could spend hours in the stores, walking the streets and window shopping.
So the next time you find yourself in New York, take my recommendation and check out all of these amazing places and more. Happy travels!
Genevieve Beach • Feb 6, 2024 at 11:00 AM
It was so fun to read this article about NYC! I visited in the fall of 2022 for the first time and it was so beautiful. I am so jealous that you went in December, I am sure Christmas in NYC is magical. When I visited, I left on Thanksgiving day, so I was able to see a few of the floats being set up for the parade. Luckily, right before we left, they started setting up the massive Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center! We were able to ice skate and it was awesome. Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is also a must-do! It has the perfect view of the city. Reading this article brought the memories back and makes me miss NYC all over again. Thanks so much for sharing your trip!
Bailey • Feb 4, 2024 at 7:37 PM
It’s useful how this article advises that one should become familiar with the subway and/or directions to walk places in New York City, due to fact that avoiding public transportation is difficult. This seems like something that not everyone would be intuitively aware of as public transportation is less popular in other places.
Kate • Feb 4, 2024 at 3:38 PM
Thank you for all the great suggestions about visiting NYC. I especially appreciated how you mentioned seeing the Museum of Modern Art. Although some might argue it is not as immersive as the Met, it is still a great museum.
Great article!
Jonathan Kalchik • Feb 3, 2024 at 3:12 PM
New York is one of my absolute favorite places and somewhere I can always find myself going back to. I have to say though, getting around is just part of the excitement of the city. One of my absolute favorite things had to be the subway.
Isabel Avila • Feb 1, 2024 at 10:00 AM
I’ve only been to New York once and I’ve always wanted to go back. When I went I was young and lacked a lot of information so I didn’t get to check out a lot of the interesting parts of New York. This guide gives so many options and a lot of the places listed are on my bucket list. The next time I get the opportunity to go I will have to try one of these locations.