A Realistic Guide to NYC: 10 Highlights Actually Worth Your Time
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Updated July 2026
New York City is known by many names, from the Big Apple to the City that Never Sleeps, but the one I feel is most fitting is The City of Dreams. It was a dream of mine to visit as a child, and now every time I travel there it does feel like my dreams are within reach!
I love so many things about New York City, from the food to the culture to the exciting attractions and events. It seems like an iconic landmark that has shaped the world culture is around every corner.
With so many things to see and do in New York, it can get a bit overwhelming to plan your first trip there. If you don’t want to miss any major highlights of the city—especially if this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for you—this NYC travel guide is for you! I managed to curate a list of my top ten attractions and a few of my favorite restaurants—all places that I would highly recommend to first-time visitors to the city.
Quick Tips for Visiting New York City
Getting around the city: New York is one of the busiest cities in the world, so driving in the city can be quite intimidating. Luckily, there is an extensive network of public transportation—the Subway! There are many horror stories about the Subway (being dirty, sketchy people, crowds), but it really is an excellent way to get from one part of Manhattan to another. If you prefer a more premium experience, both Uber and yellow taxis are prevalent throughout the city.
When to visit: New York is great to visit any time of year and most of the activities below can be visited year-round. Just be prepared for snow and wind in the winter, greater crowds and humidity in the summer, and rain in the spring.
Attractions to book in advance: Broadway shows; 9/11 Memorial and Museum; Top of the Rock; Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty; Empire State Building; Madison Square Gardens concerts; Yankees games
New York City Pass: If you want to see a lot of attractions within a few days, consider purchasing a city pass by Go City. The pass is very customizable and lets you choose the attractions you want to see and the duration of your trip. It saves you time by not having to book everything individually. Some of the top attractions included are the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, cruises, and city tours.
Where to stay: Many people choose to stay in Midtown Manhattan, near Times Square, but that area is generally pricier and louder. I recommend Upper West Side, which feels safe and more like a neighborhood, Chelsea, which is a very charming part of the city, or Flatiron District which is in a central location, but less chaotic than Midtown. Use the search below to find hotels on booking.com.
Top 10 Things to Hit on Your First NYC Visit
1. Walk through Central Park
Although New York City is an urban jungle, one of my favorite things to do is enjoying the atmosphere at Central Park. From the street performers, to the “Strawberry Fields” Beatles tribute, to walking along the famous Bow Bridge, there is a lot to see and do. It’s the perfect way to spend a morning walking through trees, forgetting you’re amidst some of the tallest buildings in the world.
Navigate the massive park with this map. Or, hop on an electric scooter and take a guided tour!
2. See a Performance on Broadway
Going to the theater district to see a play on Broadway is an essential stop for any NYC itinerary! Seeing Wicked and Phantom of the Opera on Broadway have been some of the most exciting parts of visiting New York for me.
Splurge on your tickets for a special occasion, such as your birthday and get really good seats to feel immersed in the story. Alternatively, save money and purchase tickets at a TKTS booth the day of the performance—just expect to sit high up on a balcony, far from the stage.
There are dozens of shows going on at any time on Broadway, including Hamilton, The Lion King, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and many other hits, so you’re sure to find one to suit your taste.
3. Visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
No first visit to New York would be complete without visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center. This somber museum is enlightening and touching, with displays of victims’ names, as well as video footage of the events of 9/11 transpiring. It is humbling to be able to take the time to honor the victims and first responders of the 9/11 attacks and I would recommend a visit to anyone going to New York.
4. Get Lost in Times Square
If you’re hoping to witness the hustle and bustle of New York City as seen in all the famous movies, then New York Times Square is the best place to visit. With street performers and people dressed as characters all over the place, there’s always something fun to see! There are also dozens of stores lining the street, from Hershey’s Chocolate World to the Disney Store. Everything will be fighting for your attention, from the enormous neon signs to video advertisements that fill every wall!
Instead of feeling overwhelmed (or actually getting lost), take a tour of Broadway and Times Square, led by a professional thespian.
5. Climb to the Top of the Rock
If you want to see New York City from above, book tickets to go to the Top of the Rock, inside Rockefeller Center. Visiting this observation deck instead of the iconic and popular Empire State Building will allow you to get views of the Empire State Building. It is an exhilarating elevator ride to the top and the views are incredible! The Top of the Rock remains my favorite tall building to climb, even compared to Paris’ Montparnasse Tower and New Zealand’s Sky Tower.
6. Wander around The Met
There are many New York museums, each featuring something unique, but the largest and most popular is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There is more packed in there than can be seen in a single day, from mummies to ancient Greek statues to paintings by famous American artists. My visit to the Louvre in Paris reminded me of The Met, both of which are expansive and worth several trips.
A $25 donation is suggested for entry, but you can enter for free if you want. Or, take a guided tour to make sure you see all the top artifacts, instead of wandering in circles like I did when I visited!
7. Catch the Sunset on the High Line
Above Manhattan’s far western shore, across the river from New Jersey, is a raised walkway that was once a railroad and has since been converted into a park. This neat area is really unique and provides one of the best free views of New York. Visiting just before sunset and watching the sun light up the skyline across the water just before it dips behind the buildings is a beautiful sight. The High Line is a great place to find some peace during your busy time in the City that Never Sleeps.
If you are interested in taking a food tour, this tour combines the High Line with Chelsea Market.
8. Explore the Diverse NYC Neighborhoods
If you’re looking for free things to do in NYC, exploring the diverse neighborhoods of Manhattan is a great way to take in the sights. For a look into authentic New York life with cute apartment buildings everywhere, visit Chelsea or Upper Manhattan. To experience delicious cuisine and another culture, visit Chinatown and Little Italy. For some great window shopping, stroll along 5th Avenue (home of high end stores, such as Saks fifth Avenue and Versace) or Columbus Circle.
Wall Street is another exciting neighborhood, where you can see the NYSE building, the Charging Bull, and Battery Park, which offers views of the Statue of Liberty. Check out a New York neighborhood map to orient yourself to the layout of the city.
For a more focused look at New York, take a bus tour that will allow you to see many NYC neighborhoods in half a day.
9. Venture over to Ellis Island & Liberty Island
Technically you can see the Statue of Liberty from a distance at a couple locations in Manhattan (including from the High Line and from Battery Park), but to see it up close, take a ferry to Ellis Island and Liberty Island. Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly recommended as there is only one ferry that gets you access to the island. You can also get tickets to visit the top of Lady Liberty’s crown as you explore what used to be the first piece of land many immigrants to America stepped on.
10. See Iconic New York Buildings
As one of the biggest cultural hubs in the world, and the location of hundreds of movies and shows, New York City has become the home of many iconic buildings. Explore the city spotting as many as you can. My favorites included Macy’s flagship store, the apartment building from Friends, Flatiron Building, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, New York Public Library, Grand Central Station, The Plaza Hotel, Chrysler Building, and Trinity Church.
For a more focused look at New York, take a bus tour that will allow you to see many iconic NYC buildings in half a day.
Delicious NYC Restaurants
After all your sight-seeing, you’re sure to work up an appetite. New York has some of the best restaurants in the world, with cuisine from every single country. It is known for its pizza, bagels, “dirty water dogs” (street cart hot dogs), and delis, but the deliciousness doesn’t end there. Here are five places to eat that shouldn’t be missed.
Ess-a-Bagel
I would start every day off with a bagel from here if I could. (Honestly, New Yorkers are so spoiled.) I don’t even love bagels regularly, but these ones were fluffy and perfect and the cream cheese was flavorful and, well, creamy!
Black Tap Burgers
This place has become so popular, they now have locations throughout the country, including in Las Vegas and Downtown Disney. They are famous for their outlandish milkshakes (the kind with entire slices of cake on top or churros sticking out of them), but I especially love the big, juicy burgers—the pizza burger is my go-to!
Ajisen Ramen
Tucked away in energetic Chinatown is a Japanese restaurant I just happened upon and loved. It was my first experience trying ramen from a restaurant (not the 25 cent kind from the grocery store) and it blew me away—truly life changing! They also gave me free ice cream for my birthday, so that was a bonus.
As mentioned, this restaurant is in Chinatown, which is near Little Italy. Both are excellent places to find really delicious food. This food tour gives you a taste of both, including dumplings, pizza, and more!
Levain Bakery
I count my lucky stars my New York hotel in the Upper West Side was near this bakery or I may have never tried it. In an unassuming tiny shop, I found cookies that are fat and gooey and simply delicious. I loved the chocolate chip and the peanut butter chocolate cookies! This bakery is so beloved that it has blown up and now has locations all across Manhattan and even throughout the country.
Chelsea Market
After or before visiting the High Line, make sure to stop at Chelsea Market where Food Network stars allegedly buy their ingredients. Beyond shops with ingredients, the market also has a variety of restaurants with excellent local food. You can find pizza, burgers, deep fried Oreos, handmade chocolates, pasta, and more.
If you are interested in taking a food tour, this tour combines the High Line with Chelsea Market.
Honorable Mentions
It’s impossible to do everything there is to do in New York in one visit (or even in a lifetime), so here are some top NYC attractions you can hit if you have extra time on your first visit!
Madison Square Garden- Some of the most famous artists in the world perform here, so check their website to see if you’ll be in town during a performance.
Museum of Modern Art - Van Gogh, Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol, and even Woody Allen—there’s a large variety of modern art to see here!
Guggenheim Museum- This is another art museum in New York, featuring diverse collections, set inside a modernly absurd building.
Radio City Music Hall - From music, to theater, to comedy, some of the biggest names have performed at this venue.
American Museum of Natural History - Learn about nature in a setting similiar to D.C.’s Museum of Natural History.
Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum- Discover the sea, air, and Space at this incredible museum.
Staten Island Ferry - If you’re a fan of ferry crossings, take this ferry for great views of the NYC skyline.
Yankee Stadium - Seeing a Yankees game is an iconic New York experience and should be at the top of your list if you visit during baseball season!
Cat Cafes - There are cat cafes throughout New York, many with adoptable cats who were rescued.
On my first visit to New York, a snow storm canceled my flight and it was as though New York didn’t want me to leave any more than I wanted to leave it. If you’re planning a trip to the most populated city in America, be prepared for surprises like that at any turn! After all, anything can happen in the City of Dreams.
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