Visiting New York City for the First Time? Here’s What to See and Do

Start with the city’s two classic observation decks: the Empire State Building, which has two indoor and outdoor observation decks on its 86th and 102nd floors, and the Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock, located on the 67th–70th floors.

The newer One World Observatory is located on the 100th floor of One World Trade Center, the Western Hemisphere's tallest building. Then there’s The Edge at Hudson Yards, which is the Western Hemisphere’s highest outdoor sky deck at 100 stories above ground. Here, enjoy 360-degree views from its vertigo-inducing glass floor. Finally, visit SUMMIT, a 3-floor, multi-sensory observation deck located in the One Vanderbilt building.

Back down on earth, New York City’s pleasant parks provide a break from the buzz and bustle of the concrete jungle. A stroll around Central Park is an absolute must. This leafy heart of Manhattan is a National Historic Landmark that encompasses 843 acres (341 hectares) of green space, running paths, a boating lake, ponds, gardens, a zoo, and a wintertime skating rink.

Book a walking or bike tour to learn about the park’s history, plants, and statues. Farther uptown, Fort Tryon Park is another verdant oasis, while Prospect Park is Brooklyn’s most beloved green space.

Whether your interests are natural history, contemporary art, hip-hop, or virtually anything else, you’ll find an NYC museum to satisfy your curiosity. Many of the best-known museums are located on Museum Mile, including the Guggenheim, which is worth a visit for its unique architecture and ever-changing modern and contemporary art exhibitions. A short stroll away, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a collection of more than 2 million works, from classical antiquity to modern art. Wherever you choose, get the most out of your visit by booking skip-the-line tickets and/or a guided tour.

From the Lower East Side to the Financial District, some of New York's most historic and exciting neighborhoods are located in Lower Manhattan. Don't miss getting a glimpse of the city’s financial heart on Wall Street, and make sure to stop by the nearby 9/11 Memorial Pools and Museum and Trinity Church for a moving reminder of the events of 2001.

A neighborhood walking tour can bring the history and contemporary culture of a place such as SoHo or Greenwich Village to life. Or, consider a food tour for both sightseeing and a taste of the local cuisine in Chinatown and Little Italy.

Related: Top 5 Tips for Visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Broadway’s marquees glow brightly in Manhattan's Theater District, where you’re bound to find yourself pulled into one of the district’s dozens of storied theaters.

You’ll need to book far in advance to secure tickets for the hottest star-studded shows, but you’ll still be spoiled for choice even if you want to purchase tickets last-minute. In fact, same-day theater tickets are often heavily discounted—check online to see what’s available or visit the TKTS Discount Booth in Times Square.

For unparalleled views of the skyline of both Manhattan and Brooklyn, make your way across the mighty Brooklyn Bridge. Walking and biking tours can fill you in on the bridge's history as you admire the view.

Some tours continue into the always-happening neighborhood of DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), where you can hit some galleries and explore Brooklyn Bridge Park. A quintessential NYC experience, walking across Brooklyn Bridge is very popular, so if you want to avoid crowds, walk across the bridge early in the morning or at sunset.

The Statue of Liberty is a sight to behold from afar but even more impressive up close. Take the ferry over to Liberty Island from downtown Manhattan’s Battery Park and, after getting up close and personal with the American icon and one-time symbol of hope for immigrants, head for nearby Ellis Island.

The island’s museum of immigration is housed in the former immigration station and processing center for the around eight million new arrivals who landed in the United States between 1855 and 1890. Artifacts and multimedia exhibits bring the American immigrant experience to life and provide a fascinating insight into the first large wave of immigration in the US.

From Chelsea Market to Chinatown, there’s no shortage of foodie hot spots to visit on your first trip to New York City. You can’t leave the Big Apple without trying some of its most iconic dishes, from pizza in Little Italy to bagels on the Lower East Side, so make a day of it by booking a food tour that takes you to the best spots and provides a deep dive into the city’s culinary heritage.

New York City is a true cocktail town, and is home to some of the world’s most-respected drinking establishments, including The Dead Rabbit in the Financial District, Death & Co. in the East Village, and Employees Only in the West Village. So, spend an evening hopping between bars or let the experts lead the way by booking a cocktail-tasting tour.

An abandoned elevated railway track turned urban park, the High Line provides a leafy escape from the city in the heart of Lower Manhattan. Take a stroll and admire the views of the city and the Hudson River, grab a bite to eat from one of the vendors lining the walkway, and take a seat on the steps or the lawn and enjoy some of the city’s best people-watching.