Famous Cultural Land Marks in York You Must Visit

Let's explore the spectacular journey of cultural site scenes and iconic New York landmarks.

1. The Chrysler Building in New York City

The Chrysler Building was constructed in 1930. It’s a seventy-seven-story skyscraper, an art deco architecture that has giant statues of eagles made of chromium nickel, and metal. The building has stunning structures of gargoyles and a massive, flashing, steel spire. It’s one of the most remarkable structures and a part of the NYC skyline.

2. Metropolitan Life Tower in New York City

Metropolitan Life Tower is in Flatiron district, NYC. This skyscraper was constructed from 1907 to 1909. It belonged to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York. It’s a seven hundred feet high, forty-one-story skyscraper that has four giant clocks of twenty-six feet diameter around the tower.

3. New York Public Library in New York City

The New York Public Library in New York City is another famous landmark. It has several branches throughout New York state. But the Stephen A Schwarzman library has iconic architecture and design that makes it a remarkable landmark in NYC. It has almost fifty-three million books, maps, journals, and documents. It’s the fourth largest library in the world.

Its largest hall and reading space have remarkable ceiling designs and the structure are the best features. The visitors can also have a glimpse of the largest books collection and get some clicks of art galleries and massive books collections in the library.

4. World Trade Center Transportation Hub, The Oculus in New York City

The Oculus in World Trade Center Transportation Hub is an outstanding cultural landmark that has twelve subway lines for public transit. It’s a path station that serves millions of commuters and travelers every day in New York City. This place is not only a subway station, but it has various shops and stores, temporary art exhibitions, weekly events, live music performances, dining spots and cafes for visitors and travelers.

5. Madison Square Garden in New York City

Madison Square Garden is located in Midtown. It’s a famous landmark, the most popular indoor arena, and sports venue that hosts various entertainment activities and events. The arena hosts hockey, basketball, and boxing sports leagues and music concerts. You can book the tickets for sports leagues or music concerts at the venue through its official website.

6. Queens Botanical Garden in New York City

The Queens Botanical Garden is a famous landmark and urban green oasis full of floral blooms and cherry blossoms. It has roses, herbs, cherry, and other rare plant species and flower gardens. The popular spots are the Butterfly Garden, Children’s Garden, and a fascinating pathway surrounded with green trees and floral blooms spreading sweet fragrance everywhere. It’s open to the public from spring to fall season with a small entrance charge.

7. Washington Square Park in New York City

Washington Square Park is the most famous public park and landmark in New York City. It’s located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood, Manhattan. People can enjoy picnics in lavish green space, walking, running, jogging on the smooth tracks. This place was previously a cemetery and famous for its ghost tours.

8. Gantry Plaza State Park in New York City

Gantry Plaza State Park is the waterfront lavish green space and a great landmark beside the East River in Long Island, Queens, NYC. It’s one of the best NYC public parks that offers stunning waterfront views along the Manhattan skyline and cozy vibes. It’s the best picnic spot and people can stay and rest, read a book, or enjoy the refreshing cool breeze at the peaceful green oasis.

9. Queensboro Bridge in New York City

Queensboro Bridge is another greatest landmark. It was completed in 1909 and declared as a national landmark in 1973. The bridge connects Manhattan to Blackwell’s Island, and from Blackwell’s Island to Queens borough. It has two trolley tracks, two elevated railway tracks, six carriage lanes, and two pedestrian pathways.

10. Ellis Island in New York City

Ellis Island is one of the most historical sites and landmarks in New York City. This island has a remarkable history about America’s immigration and liberty. It has an immigration museum that describes the history of American immigrants. There’s a hundred-year-old abandoned hospital complex ruins, and visitors can take a hard hat tour to explore the history and feature exhibitions at the historical monuments. Locals and visitors can reach the island through a water ferry service operated by Statue Cruises NYC.

11. Jane’s Carousel Landmark in New York City

Jane’s Carousel is a magickal ride and famous landmark located in Empire Fulton Ferry Park in Dumbo, Brooklyn, NYC. The gorgeous carousel ride is installed in a glass pavilion portraying the stunning waterfront bridge views from the ride. It has a classic antique design decorated with forty-eight wooden horses and two chariots to ride on. It’s the most fabulous landmark in the city and kids favorite spot for fun rides.

12. Chelsea Market, a Popular Landmark in New York City

Chelsea Market, a popular NYC landmark is located in the neighborhood of Meatpacking District, Manhattan. This place has open-air meat stalls, eateries, cafes, food markets, clubs, and bars. Millions of locals and buyers visit the Chelsea Market to purchase meat, food items, and taste the dynamic cuisines at the food market halls in this place. Various vendors and retailers sell fresh veggies, herbs, and spices. People like to taste the delicious tacos, pasta, pizza slices, lobster, shrimps, burgers, noodles, sushi, shakes, juices, and coffee in the food market in Chelsea. It’s also a fun spot to dine for lunch and dinner while shopping at the markets.

13. The Statue of Liberty

The statue of Liberty is situated at Liberty Island, in New York harbor, USA. It's a historical monument and aesthetic sculpture presented as a gift from France to the USA. Its portrayed as a universal symbol of independence and democracy in the world and a New York state landmark. Lady Liberty holding a torch in her raising hand symbolizes the hope for freedom for the immigrants who move to the USA for a new life. This statue recognizes as a national monument of the United States in 1924.

14. 69th Regiment Armory Building

The 69th Regiment Armory is a historic building situated at 68 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan, New York City. It was the first armory building in the city. In 1913, The controversial armory show presented the first modern art in the United States in this historic building.

The site is one of the major landmarks in New York, and used for sports leagues, special celebrations, and entertainment events. The famous Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was held at this armory building. Army regiments still use this armory building as the New York Army National Guards Armories of the United States headquarters.

15. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum

The National September 11 Memorial Museum is one of the famous New York landmarks. It was constructed to honor the memories of the terrible terrorist attack on the World Trade Center twin towers in 2001, September 11, in New York City, United States.

16. Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, built in 1870, is the colossal art museum in the United States. The museum holds over 2 million art collectibles for medieval European artifacts, architecture, arts, and sculptures. Ancient Egyptian paintings and classical arts symbolize the ancient Egyptian civilizations. The weapons and armor from the world and art collectibles from Rome. The great musical instruments and modern art collection of the United States. The museum is one of the NYC famous landmarks that has 17 custodian departments and a large area covered with classical and historical artifacts. It's at 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, United States.

17. United Nations Headquarters

The United Nations Headquarters is in United Nations Plaza, Manhattan, New York, United States. Its construction started in 1948 and ended in 1952. The United Nations headquarters have principal organs like the general assembly of the UN and The Security Council.

18. Apollo Theater

Apollo Theater is a music theater and one of the famous NYC landmarks, located in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. Apollo Theater displays African American Music, Jazz, Swing, Bebop, Gospel, and Blues for its people. It is the heart of music and entertainment. This Apollo Theater is considered one of the best spots in NYC.

19. New York Botanical Garden

New York Botanical Garden is a large site with over 250 acres containing more than one million plants. This site is the center of research and plant conservation around the world and a popular New York landmark. It was constructed in 1891 in Bronx Park, New York, United States.

20. Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall is a venue for musical events and live shows. It started in 1891 and is situated in Central Park, Manhattan, New York. The hall presents an extraordinary and legendary future to Music and its audience.

21. Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge was built in 1883. It crosses the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan in New York. It's the first bridge in the world to use steel cable wires for its construction, and it's the largest suspension bridge in the world. Its entire length is 6016 ft, width is 85 ft, and height is 272 ft. It’s the most magnificent tourist attraction in NYC.

22. American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History contains 45 halls, a planetarium, and a library. It has 34 million plants, animals, minerals, rocks, fossils, specimens, and cultural artifacts. The museum, constructed in 1874, is located in West Central Park, New York City, USA.

23. Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum of arts is in Brooklyn, New York City. It contained the second-largest ancient heritage of world arts and cultures and around 1.5 million art collectibles. It was constructed in 1898 as the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences-Brooklyn Museum of Arts.

24. The Times Square

Times Square is located in Manhattan, New York City, at the intersection of Seventh avenue, forty-two street, and Broadway. It's famous for its best attractions for tourists, electric billboard ads, large stores, restaurants, and entertainment clubs and theaters. Times Square is recognized as "The Crossroads of the World" and "The Center of the Entertainment Universe." Travelers and Tourists love to explore this location and may find various exciting things to do in Times Square.

25. The Central Park

Central Park is in Manhattan, New York. It was constructed in 1876, and the area covered 843 acres. Locals and visitors can enjoy various attractions and fun things to do in Central Park. It has the main attractions Hallet Nature Sanctuary, Sheep Meadow, Jacqueline Kennedy Reservoir, Ramble and Lake, Central Park Carousel, Central Park Zoo, Central Park Mall, Delacorte Theater, and Bethesda Terrace.

26. The Chinatown

New York City has nine Chinatown neighborhoods, and one of them is located in Manhattan, New York. It's a densely Chinese-populated area, with so many attractions and Chinese food streets.

27. The Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes is a group of long and narrow lakes near the Lake of Ontario, New York. The fabulous site scenes with eleven glacier lakes and one great lake. It's the entertainment hub, an all-season playground, marvelous waterfalls, and high hills. It's a great site for sports, outdoors, festivals, events, food, and traveling.

28. The Hispanic Society Museum & Library

Hispanic Society Museum & Library refers to the Hispanic Society of the United States, the arts and culture of Latin America. The museum has 18000 collectibles for Hispanic. Arts and culture and a vast library to study the culture of Spain and Portugal.

29. The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Lincoln Center is located in Lincoln Center Plaza, New York. It's a major center for learning and performing the cultural arts and the central hub for eleven arts organizations in New York. It presents Music, dance, drama, theater, film, and opera.

30. The Frick Collection

The Frick Collection is a cultural art museum in New York City. A millionaire American industrialist Henry Clay Frick rehabilitated his residence as an art museum based on western European art.

31. The Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

The Snug Sailor Harbour is a collection of architectural sites of the 19th century in Staten Island, New York. It includes Greek revivals, Italian, and Victorian-style buildings, a chapel, a cemetery, a botanical garden, and a museum.

32. The Morgan Library & Museum

The Morgan Library & Museum has 350,000 collectibles. It's situated in Murray Hill, Manhattan, New York. The library was founded in 1906 as a private library and declared public in 1924.

33. The Shed

The Shed is a cultural center, and it has the Mac-Court for fabulous events, celebrations, and performances, a large theater, and a vast exhibition space. It was founded in 2019 as a Cultural Shed and is situated in the BloomingBerg building, Hudson Yards, Manhattan, New York.

34. The Wall Street

Wall Street is a major tourist attraction in New York City. It's a narrow, long street from the East River to Broadway connected with skyscrapers. Famous financial centers like the Stock Exchange building in New York, National Memorial Federal Hall, and One Wall Street at the end. The New York subway stations, Ferry terminals, and the World Trade Center site are the nearest landmarks to Wall Street.

35. The Broadway and Theaters

The Broadway Theater District is on Broadway, Manhattan, New York. It's most famous for its entertainment arena. The theater district has 41 professional theaters; mostly, musical performances are popular in Broadway theaters.

36. The Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is a hundred and two-story building constructed in 1931 in Manhattan, New York. It's one of the famous skyscrapers and tourist attractions in New York City. Visitors must see the iconic place of grand City and get panoramic views of the great City’s skyline from the deck of the building.

37. The Fifth Avenue

Fifth Avenue is a supreme and classy shopping arena in the heart of New York City. The most famous designers have their flagship outlets on the fifth avenue. The best shopping place shop for luxuries and high-life style products.

38. The Grand Central Terminal

The Grand Central Terminal is the most renowned landmark in Manhattan, New York. The grand terminal is the transportation hub, shopping arena, and food station. It’s a unique site and one of the most iconic NYC landmarks.

39. The New York Public Libraries

The New York Public Libraries have 92 branches at different locations in New York City. These libraries have almost fifty-three million collectibles and have been serving since 1895.

40. The Radio City Music Hall

The Radio City Music Hall is the ground for entertainment and theater. It's the official site for the dance company Rockettes. It's at the Avenue of the Americas near the Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, New York. The Grammy Awards and Tony Awards held at the Radio City Music Hall were the most famous events.

41. The St Patrick Cathedral

The Saint Patrick Cathedral is a spectacular famous landmark in New York City. The chapel was constructed in 1878 but restored in 2016. The great white marble walls, colossal bronze doors, and gothic revival is the main tourist attraction in New York.

42. The Metropolitan Opera House

The Metropolitan Opera house is in Lincoln Square, Broadway, Manhattan, New York. It's the world's largest opera house and the American Ballet theater in summer. It was built in 1963 and made available to the public in 1966.

43. The National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum

The Hall of Fame is a baseball history museum and library, and It's in Cooperstown, New York. It has moving image collections, photographs collections, sound recording collections, and various artifacts collections.

44. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

The Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space museum has space shuttles, submarines, cruises, missiles, and aircraft collections. It's the Military, Airforce, and Maritime history museum in New York.

45. The Pennsylvania Station

The Pennsylvania station is the intercity railway station in New York City. It has 11 island platforms and 21 railroad tracks and serves over 6,00,000 passengers throughout the weekdays.

46. The Queens Museum

The Queens Museum is in the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in the Queens, New York. It has art collectibles and a learning center for state of the art for New York citizens. Panorama City is New York City's model and the Queens Museum's masterpiece.

47. The Museum of Moving Images

The Museum of Moving images is based on arts, history, film, and digital media. It is situated in priorly Astoria Studios, Queens, New York.

48. The Grand Army Plaza

The Grand Army Plaza is a public plaza famous as Prospect Park Plaza. It's situated in Brooklyn, New York. This army plaza contains statues and monuments of soldiers and sailors, a great attraction for travelers.

49. The El Museo del Barrio

The El Museo is a museum of Latin American and Caribbean cultural art. It's dedicated to the Puerto Rico Community, and it is the oldest museum of more than 800 hundred years for Latin art. It has over 6,500 art collectibles on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York.

50. The Top of The Rock Observation Deck

If you want a breathtaking view 360 degrees of New York City, go through the Top of the Rock Observation Deck. It's on the seventieth floor, one of the skyscrapers, Rockefeller Center. It's the most stunning attraction for tourists and one of the most inspiring things to do in New York for first-timers and new visitors.

51. The Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim Museum is the art museum on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York. It holds 8000 early, modern, and contemporary sculptures, paintings, and art collections. It was constructed in 1937.

52. The Yankee Stadium

The Yankee Stadium is a Baseball stadium in the Bronx, New York, and it was constructed in 2009. It's the central baseball playground and the base field of the New York Yankees major baseball league. This stadium also hosts college football leagues, musical concerts, and other popular events.

53. The Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center

The Wave Hill is a public garden and cultural center in the Bronx, New York City. It is situated on 28 acres in Hudson Hill, Riverdale. It's a botanical garden, beautiful site scenes, and an art gallery.

54. The New York Harbour

New York is situated on Manhattan Island on the mouth of the East and the Hudson Rivers. New York Harbor has marine and yacht clubs, like Liberty Landing Marina, Hudson Point Marina, and Yacht Club at Port Liberty. It's the best tourist attraction and a tremendous commercial harbor worldwide.

55. The Whitney Museum

The Whitney Museum of American Art has over 25000 art collectibles, paintings, photographs, sculptures, and films. It's the perfect place for new and young artists to present their art to the world.

56. The Flatiron Building

The Flatiron Building is a twenty-two-story triangular skyscraper. Its located in Flatiron District, Manhattan, New York. It's located at the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue.

57. The Edger Ellen Poe Cottage

The Edger Ellen Poe Cottage was the home of the famous writer Edgar Ellen Poe and his family, built-in 1812. This cottage has been declared a landmark in New York and a historical place since 1975. The house is transformed into a museum and a historical heritage.

58. New York Sea Shores and Beaches

New York City has plenty of sea shores and beaches for tourist attractions, like Coney island sea shore, Brighton sea shore, John sea shore State Park, Long Island, Cooper's sea shore South Hampton, Main sea shore East Hampton, Robert Moses beach State Park, Orchard sea shore Pelham Bay park, Rockaway sea shore, and Broadwalk, Jacob Riis Park sea shore, Franklin Delano sea shore and Broadwalk at Staten Island, Asbury beach Park New Jersey, Barret beach Fire island, Ditch Plain sea shores Moutak. There are various marine and yacht clubs for boating and sea sports at New York harbor. New York City has fantastic entertainment clubs, disco bars, and nightlife.

Conclusion

Do you want to explore the fabulous journey of New York City? If you plan a vacation trip to New York, visiting the world's highly civilized, historical, cultural, commercial, and entertaining hub is a great idea. The city has a great history and a story of revolution and war from different nations. The dynamic society, diverse cultural values, and various languages and flavorsome foods result from multiple immigrants coming across the world, creating a magnificent global civilization.

There are plenty of beautiful natural sites, waterfalls, national parks, historical heritage, arts and cultural centers and museums, sports stadiums, libraries, public parks, and skyscrapers to take a fantastic view of the great city.


New York City Landmarks Map

A map of New York City landmarks. Use the map to explore all of the points of interest.


Famous Landmarks in New York

The Empire State Building

Seen from multiple viewpoints throughout the city, the Empire State Building is one of the most notable NY landmarks. You’ll find it standing proudly – since 1931 – in Midtown Manhattan.

It’s hard not to miss this imposing 102-story Art Deco skyscraper, so why not get close up to see the building in its full towering glory?

Travel to the 86th floor for a bird’s eye view of the city. The journey to the top of this historic building is memorable enough itself, with an elevator ride that whisks visitors up 1,250 feet in just 60 seconds

Now, I’ll be totally honest – if you have to choose between going to the top of the Rockefeller and the Empire State, I’d opt for the Top of the Rock (more on that in a mo), but the views from the Empire State Building are pretty epic.

Top Tip: The Empire State Building is open all year round between 9 am – 11 pm, and you can purchase tickets onsite or online via the official esbnyc site.

Rockefeller Center

I’m going to talk about plenty of icons on the New York skyline throughout this article – the Rockefeller Center is no exception. This 22-acre complex comprises 19 commercial buildings and sits between 48th Street and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan.

In addition to the artwork peppered throughout the building, the Rockefeller Center is also home to a number of television studios, including those used for popular shows like the Today Show and Saturday Night Live. It’s a real hub of culture.

But my favourite thing to do here is sip some coffee whilst people-watching. And, if you happen to be in NYC during the Christmas holidays, you don’t want to miss the annual lighting of the giant Christmas tree or skating on the iconic ice rink.

Now, let me tell you why I recommend heading to the Top of the Rock instead of zipping up the Empire State. This observation deck might only be on the 70th floor of the Rockefeller Center, but it offers stunning panoramic views of the city, including one of the Empire State Building. Savvy.

Top Tip: Book your Top of the Rock ticket in advance and thank me later. The queues can get ridiculously long.

The Guggenheim

What’s The Guggenheim? Only one of the most spectacular art museums in the world. Not to mention one of the most iconic landmarks in NYC.

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim Museum showcases pieces by renowned artists like Vincent van Gogh and René Magritte, but that’s only half the story.

The other half is the rather bonkers but brilliant architecture. The Guggenheim broke the conventional architectural rules of its time, prompting contemporary artists to sign petitions against it.

These days, it’s (quite rightly) heralded as a flagship of mid-century design and is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Summit One Vanderbilt

One of New York’s newer landmarks has fast become an absolute must visit spot. Summit One Vanderbilt showcases unmissable city views, paired with an unforgettable immersive art experience.

So what should you expect? Three levels of mind-bending multi-sensory affairs for starters. Kenzo Digital’s trippy installation consists of a double-story room of mirrors, creating an illusion that makes you question reality: do you go up or down?

Another big draw is the huge observation with a unique 360-degree perspective of New York (beware if you’re afraid of heights).

Central Park

If you’ve seen movies like Elf, Home Alone 2, John Wick or Ghostbusters, you know about Central Park. Even if you haven’t, you know about Central Park.

To say the park is massive is an understatement – it spans about 840 acres (340 hectares), making it larger than some countries (Monaco, I’m looking at you). And to see it all, you would probably need an entire week to cover it alone.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. While you can visit the park simply for its cultural significance, there are endless fun things to do. From sports pitches, Central Park Zoo, yoga and fitness classes, concerts and many other attractions.

Central Park also features several lakes and ponds, where you can rent rowboats or take a peaceful gondola ride. Take my advice and rent a bike to zip around the park with ease.

Fun Fact: Over 200 films have shot scenes in this iconic park since 1908, making it the most filmed public park ever.

The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is hands down the most famous landmark in New York, symbolising the freedom and enlightenment that’s at the heart of the American dream.

The distinguished mint-green figure is often the first thing travellers glimpse when arriving at JFK airport, but it’s hard not to be wowed when you finally see Lady Liberty in the flesh.

Visit this colossal copper sculpture on Liberty Island via this sightseeing cruise around the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Top Tip: Reserve your tickets to the statue’s crown before visiting, as these have daily limits.

Times Square

Is there anywhere quite as chaotically wonderful as Times Square?

This famous New York landmark is home to bustling theatres along Broadway, in the Theatre District and Lincoln Centre. Come here to catch award-winning plays, films and musicals that take place throughout the year.

However, Time Square has the most electrifying atmosphere during New Year’s Eve and other annual festivities like stand-up comedies, dance parties, concerts and cultural events.

Even if you’re not there for the celebration, the buzzing energy, massive billboards, signs, and overall appearance is makes for a unique experience.

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge broke a ton of records back in its day. It was the first bridge to use steel for its cable wire and used to be the longest suspension bridge in the world. Today, it’s one of the most photographed bridges in the world.

The bridge straddles the East River, connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan. Cross the bridge to admire its unique steel and stone design. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from one end to the other.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum

September 11th, 2001, is a date that marks one of the most tragic events in world history: a terrorist attack that ended the lives of nearly 3,000 people.

Where better to commemorate those who suffered from this tragedy than the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. It’s an event that turned ordinary people into heroes, making it one of the most important landmarks in NYC.

Visiting the memorial is free, but if you’re interested in the museum, entrance costs $17-$29 for general admission.

Trinity Church

The Trinity Church has stood the test of time since 1846. It’s one of the first Gothic Revival Buildings in NYC, emerging majestically at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway.

This renowned historic parish church is among the finest specimens of Neo-Gothic architecture in the United States.

Recognise it? This Trinity Church featured heavily in National Treasure, thanks to its dramatic, fairytale-like look. It’s also home to the historic gravesite of Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father.

The best part? You don’t have to pay to visit the church and grave sites.

Flatiron Building

It’s not hard to guess where the Flatiron gets its name from – a simple glance at the building gives the name away, but there’s more to this NYC landmark than its unusual design.

The Flatiron Building was one of the city’s first skyscrapers and the first to have a steel-skeleton structure visible to the public during its construction.

Having such a peculiar triangular shape makes it a landmark of note. This is particularly true during its early heydays when the 22-story skyscraper helped transform its neighbourhood into a bustling destination for high-end dining, shopping and sightseeing.

So it’s not only about the building itself but also what it stands for — in this case, ambition and progress.

Top Tip: For Insta-worthy snaps of the building, find a spot at Flatiron Plaza’s southern end.

Grand Central Station

If you’ve ever wanted to visit the world’s largest railway station, here’s your chance. Grand Central Station spans 48 acres with 44 platforms and 67 tracks.

That’s not all though – this historic landmark is a sought-after dining and shopping destination as well. Its rich history, grand facade and impeccable engineering make it a must-visit tourist attraction.

There’s no better place to be in the hub of it all. So just sit back, watch people and enjoy a hot beverage. And whatever you do, remember to look up – that ceiling is ridiculously beautiful.

Top Tip: The terminal has a secret entrance to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, once used by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to hide his polio from the public.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

It won’t matter where you visit; wandering around a city’s most celebrated museum is a must.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or “the Met”, is the largest art museum in the Americas and the second-most visited art museum in the U.S.

This fine art museum houses over two million artworks from 5,000 years of world culture. Go to see treasures of the art world including The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David and Emmanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing Delaware — to name a few.

Chrysler Building

Renowned for its Art Deco style, this East Side skyscraper has attracted admirers since the 1930s – and it has a very special place in my heart.

This picture-perfect tower has a steel frame with stonework and decorative metal cladding. What makes it even more eye-catching are the 3,862 exterior windows that glow beautifully from within as the night settles in.

At some point, it was the tallest building in the world before the Empire State Building took that trophy. Today, the Chrysler Building continues to operate as an office building. Since it’s a tourist attraction, you can enter the building for free, but visitors are only allowed into the lobby.

Lombardi’s Pizzeria

The city that never sleeps is also one that never runs out of lip-smacking pizza.

Seriously — the pizza culture (rather obsession) in New York is real. So you have to tuck into a slice of authentic Neapolitan pizza from the oldest pizzeria in New York.

Say hi to Lombardi’s Pizzeria, a pizzeria that first opened its doors to hungry customers in 1905. That makes it 118 years old!

Apart from delicious pizza, the quaint restaurant transports you to Italy with its traditional visuals, woodfired oven aromas and friendly atmosphere. So come here if you want to visit a landmark and treat your tastebuds at the same time.

Chelsea Market

What’s the point of visiting an epic city like New York without collecting memorabilia to remember it by (and perhaps show off)? Besides collecting trinkets and clothing, your taste buds are in for a feast.

Did I mention that Chelsea Market is one of the most iconic culinary destinations?

So if you’re looking for good food and shopping, this is the hottest spot. Featuring endless pop-ups and sample sales, it can be overwhelming to choose where to go (mainly if you have limited time).

You can’t go wrong with cult-classic Corkbuzz Wine Studio, Doughnuttery and the highly-rated Very Fresh Noodles.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

While it’s easy to get swept up in the relentless New York minute, it’s also good to take a step back and breathe.

The charming Brooklyn Botanic Garden is the perfect place to unwind and appreciate nature amid a whirlwind concrete jungle. Its zen-like gardens will make you whip out your camera in every direction.

It may take a whole day to see the entire urban botanic garden, but you can plan shorter visits depending on what you fancy seeing. And I recommend making a beeline for the Japanese Garden.

Top Tip: While you can visit anytime, I recommend going in spring when the cherry trees bloom, offering the most picturesque sights.

VIA 57 West

VIA 57 West is not a museum, historical site or culturally significant — instead, it’s a residential building. But it still makes almost every list of famous landmarks in New York City due to its striking appearance. It’s an architectural wonder looming over the Hudson River, so worth a few camera shots.

The pyramid-shaped building or “tetrahedron” consists of 35 stories in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen area. It’s made from over 1,200 prefabricated metal façade panels giving it that captivating futuristic look. Its designer, Architect Bjarke Ingels of the BIG Group, intended for the building to look like a soaring sail.

Queensboro Bridge

The Queensboro Bridge, a cantilever bridge that stretches over the East River, is often overshadowed by its more renowned counterpart, the Brooklyn Bridge.

However, this stunning bridge, which connects Long Island City with the Upper East Side, offers some incredible vantage points for photography.

You can come here for a refreshing morning walk. While it’s better to see every detail during the day, the bridge truly shines at night. You’ll cross the bridge via its pedestrian walkway or bicycle lane to see the architectural and engineering marvel up close.

Read Next: How to spend two days in New York.

Brooklyn Museum

History buffs huddle around; I’ve got the perfect landmark for you. The Brooklyn Museum is the second largest museum in NYC, boasting about 500,000 artworks. It honours the artistic heritage of various cultures, including vast collections of Egyptian and African art.

The paintings range from the 17th to the 20th centuries. You’ll find pieces by famous artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Norman Rockwell and Edgar Degas. General admission is $16 for adults, and the museum operates from Wednesdays to Sundays.

Top Tip: It takes about four hours to see the entire museum, so prepare to spend a lot of your time here.

New York Public Library

Listen up if you’re a bibliophile whose heart flutters at the sight and smell of books (I am guilty AF). The New York Public Library will be your new fave spot.

Interestingly, this library is the second-largest public library in the U.S. and the fourth-largest in the world. Not to mention that you can take some cute artsy pics for the gram here.

The library’s historical collection makes this library one of the standout landmarks in New York City. Here, you’ll find treasures like the draft of the Declaration of Independence handwritten by Thomas Jefferson and one of the few remaining copies of the Gutenberg Bible.

One World Trade Centre

Previously known as the Freedom Tower, the One World Trade Centre is up there among the well-known landmarks of New York City. But what makes it so unique from all the other skyscrapers in NYC? Well, it’s the Western Hemisphere’s tallest building, peaking at insane heights of 1,776 ft (541 metres).

You can’t visit one of the most mind-blowing metropolises without visiting its tallest building, am I right? What’s more, you can visit its One World Observatory, which consists of three stories of observation decks with 360-degree panoramic views.

You’ll see the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.

Top Tip: Book your One World Observatory ticket online in advance and avoid the queues. You’re welcome.

Lincoln Center for Performing Arts

The Lincoln Center for Performing Arts is a distinguished venue for the most esteemed acts in music, theatre, dance, opera and film.

As the world’s leading performing arts centre, you can expect a tapestry of diverse artists from all corners. Better yet, it’s a fantastic budget-friendly activity in NYC because many annual events are free to attend.

The centre is in Manhattan’s vibrant and lively Lincoln Square, boasting the elite Juilliard School and Broadway dotted with upscale restaurants and quaint cafes.

The Waldorf-Astoria

Ah, the Waldorf-Astoria, a famed art deco hotel with some interesting stories to tell. It’s an iconic hotel with many firsts. The first to offer 24-hour room service, the first to have electricity on every floor and the first to have en suite bathrooms.

What made this hotel even more famous is its celebrity and high-profile guests throughout the centuries since 1893. Figures like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor have stayed here.

What’s more, did you know that every U.S. president since Herbert Hoover has stayed at this hotel when visiting New York?

Apollo Theatre

Looking for a historical landmark in Harlem? Look no further than Apollo Theatre. This is a longtime music hall pioneering the emergence of various music genres, including jazz, bebop, swing, blues, soul and R&B.

Established in 1913; the theatre is now a cultural symbol of the Harlem Renaissance between 1920–1930.

Big names like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross and Lauren Hill started their careers on the Apollo stage. Even strong stand up-comedians debuted here, including Steve Harvey.

The neo-classical theatre is now a not-for-profit venue hosting dance performances, concerts, film screenings and community outreach programs.

Bronx Stairs

The Bronx Stairs are nothing special to look at; they’re just regular stairs, right? Actually, no, these stairs make it on this top NYC landmarks list for significance in pop culture. Let me elaborate; the Bronx Stairs became a tourist hotspot after its role in the 2019 film, Joker, starring the famed Joaquin Phoenix.

Joker fans and film fanatics scramble to these stairs to recreate the film’s iconic moment or feel closer to their fictional idol. It’s even picked up the nickname, the ‘Joker Stairs’ since the movie dropped, making it a staple amongst other NYC landmarks.

Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Heights may just be a posh residential neighbourhood to New Yorkers. But, for us visitors, it’s an opportunity to fill our socials with charming imagery and soak up the essence of the NYC lifestyle.

Elegant brownstones and picturesque trees line up the streets along the East River in a fascinating fashion.

This neighbourhood attracts curious wanderers from across the globe. And it even boasts unrivalled views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan. Whatever you do, make sure you swing by the nearby Time Out Market for a bite to eat.

Known as America’s first suburb, this neighbourhood’s history goes back to the colonial era.

Top Tip: You can have this epic experience with this entry ticket.

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