If someone asked me to describe New York in just a few words, the words I would choose would be a "whole world in one city"! From an island of immigrants it became the largest metropolis in the world and every person's dream to be there! A charming city, all seasons of the year, with towering skyscrapers, huge parks, famous sights, interesting museums, fast pace and an energy that you won't find anywhere else on the planet!
A few words about the city
New York is located on the east coast of the USA, in the northeast of the country and is the capital of the state of the same name. The city center is built on Manhattan Island at the mouth of the Hudson River in the Atlantic Ocean, with an elevation of about six meters above sea level. The original name of the city was New Amsterdam during the Dutch presence in the region, but it was renamed New York in honor of the then Duke James of England's historic city of York! It is the largest city in the USA by population, with 8,104,190 inhabitants within the city and 20,140,470 inhabitants in the metropolitan area, while it is considered one of the most densely populated urban settlements in the entire world! Also, due to its powerful position in world-making, it exerts a very significant influence on commerce, economy, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education and entertainment! As such, New York is an important center for international diplomacy, and has been described as the cultural, technological and financial capital of the world! Many districts and monuments in New York City become a magnet for approximately 62 million visitors annually, while several sources have ranked it as the most photographed city in the world! So I have selected for you what I think is worth paying attention to for someone visiting the city for the first time.
Skyscrapers
When someone talks about New York, the first images that come to mind are the towering skyscrapers! Most impressive is the fact that the city is home to more than 7,000 completed high-rise buildings at least 35 meters high, of which 102 are taller than 198 meters! As you can easily see, I could write an article only about the skyscrapers of New York, instead I will list some of the most important and impressive of them!
I start with perhaps the most iconic building in the city, the Empire State Building. This particular skyscraper was built from 1930 to 1931, being 380 meters high and 102 floors, while for about forty years it was the tallest building in the world! After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the Empire State Building once again became the tallest building in New York, until it was surpassed in 2012 by One World Trade Center! It is the tallest building in the United States, the tallest structure in the Western Hemisphere, and the seventh tallest in the world! It has a height of 541 meters, 94 floors, with the last being numbered as 104.
One of the most special buildings you will see not only in New York, but in the entire world is the Flatiron Building. It may not be the tallest in the city, being 86.9 meters tall and 22 stories tall, but its unique architecture makes it stand out. This particular building has been standing tall since 1902, with its shape reminiscent of a clothes iron! The skyscraper of the Chrysler automobile industry, the Chrysler Building, is equally impressive! For a short time, just 11 months, this particular building was the tallest in the world, with a height of 318.82 meters! It is an important example of Art Deco architecture, while it is considered by many great architects as the most beautiful building in the city!
Worthy of attention is the tower of the former president of the United States, Trump Tower with a height of 202 meters! Apart from its size, you will be impressed by the trees that seem to emerge from the skyscraper. And since I talked about trees, the place that hosts the impressive Christmas tree of New York could not be absent! Rockefeller Center is located in midtown Manhattan and was built between 1930 and 1939 by the Rockefeller family. At its top is the Top of the Rock observatory, which is designed in the style of an ocean liner and offers a panoramic view of the city.
In conclusion, if I had to choose only one building worth climbing to admire the view of New York from above, it would be without a second thought SUMMIT One Vanderbilt! This is a relatively new building, having only opened its doors in 2020! It has a height of 427 meters and 93 floors, with its location offering unique images to those who climb to its top. Beyond the panoramic views of the city, entering SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is an experience in itself. By purchasing a ticket, you will be able to visit three of the building's floors and live an immersive, multi-sensory art experience!
Times Square
If we were looking for the heart of New York, this would undoubtedly be Times Square! "The center of the world", as it is commonly called, is one of the most important commercial hubs of Manhattan and the entire United States. But this has not always been the case! Until 1970, it was the most decadent part of the city, full of sex shops, strip clubs and high crime rates! If you are expecting a classic square or rectangular piece of land with a statue in the middle, then you will definitely be surprised by what you will see. The shape of the square looks like a bow tie and it is known for its huge screens, which show advertisements throughout the day. A large part of the square is pedestrianized and has seating, while the rest is normally traversed by cars and public transport! According to surveys, Times Square is one of the most tourist attractions in the world, attracting approximately 50 million visitors annually! To give you an idea of the crowd, it is estimated that on a normal day 330,000 people pass through there! Finally, if you happen to be there during the Christmas season, don't miss the opportunity to change time under the New Year's ball, which started falling on December 31, 1907!
Central Park
And if Times Square is the heart of the city, then Central Park is definitely its lungs! This is a huge area of land, covering about 110 blocks! The "garden of New York" contains man-made lakes, streets, bridges, squares, courts, playgrounds, a zoo, museums, castles, statues and of course abundant greenery! A trademark of the park is the countless squirrels, who are very familiar with people and waiting for you to feed them! The size of the park makes exploring it a difficult task. Certainly one day is not enough to explore the whole park, but it is worth devoting several hours to it. In addition to relaxing under the tall trees, you can rent a bike or go boating in the largest of its lakes. Also, in the summer months it is worth attending one of the many festivals and activities that take place there!
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States and certainly one of the most famous in the world. Completed way back in 1883, it connects Manhattan to suburban Brooklyn over the East River. This particular bridge is an attraction in itself, since its formidable architecture makes it stand out. So it is worth crossing it from both directions, to admire the impressive horizon with hundreds of skyscrapers. The best time to visit the bridge is at sunset, when the sky turns different colors and the lights from the buildings start to appear! Finally, once you cross the bridge and find yourself in Brooklyn it would be a shame not to explore it. Start with the Dumbo area, which is a famous photo spot as the adjacent Manhattan Bridge emerges. Continue to the neighboring park (Main Street Park) and Pebble Beach, shop some souvenirs as they are cheaper and end up walking the beautiful streets of Brooklyn, which have nothing to do with those of New York.
National 9/11 Memorial & Museum
September 11, 2001 was a day that changed America and the entire world forever. That morning, four airliners traveling from the northeastern United States to California were hijacked mid-flight by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists. Their express goal was to shoot down every plane on a prominent American building, causing massive casualties and partial or total destruction of the target buildings. Three of them unfortunately succeeded, with the first two falling on the then symbol of New York, the twin towers! The account of this heinous terrorist attack, was thousands of innocent dead and millions shocked around the world! The place where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center once stood is today called Ground Zero. Immediately after the attacks and destruction of the World Trade Center a memorial was planned for the victims and those involved in rescue and recovery operations. The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum consists of two huge pools, where on each of them are written the names of the 2977 dead of the macabre attack! Surely this particular monument is one of the most emotionally charged places in the world and its visit is considered absolutely imperative!
Wall Street
The famous Wall Street is very close by! This particular street has been intertwined with financial markets and the stock market for more than 220 years. Thanks to Wall Street, New York is today the most economically powerful city and the world's leading financial center, housing the world's two largest stock exchanges in terms of total market capitalization: the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. While there, don't miss the famous Charging Bull of Wall Street, for the sake of which huge queues are formed. According to legend, if you touch the bull's "balls" you will be lucky for the rest of your life!
Chinatown- Little Italy
As you may have already realized, New York is a multicultural city, with an estimated population of over 200 nationalities! This also implies diversity within the city itself, which consists of dozens of neighborhoods that differ from the rest of New York! The two most famous neighborhoods of the city with "foreign air" are Chinatown and Little Italy. The vibrant Chinese micro-city is a densely populated neighborhood where you will find everything about China. From Southeast Asian restaurants, souvenir shops, bubble tea shops and markets selling fresh and dried fish to Buddhist temples! And where this neighborhood ends, the Italian hangout begins. In Little Italy you will find the best Italian restaurants to try pizza and spaghetti, eat gelato and feel like you are in our neighboring country!
High Line
When improvement projects began on Manhattan's west side, the city's Transit Commission ordered the removal of street-level crossings and the removal of the elevated rail line! So the decision was made to demolish these train lines, but at the initiative of the local residents, they were turned into a beautiful park. The High Line is 2.33 km long and is divided into several zones. There you will find gardens with rare ornamental plants, benches for resting and picnicking, various works of modern art, playgrounds and sunbathing areas overlooking the Hudson River.
Vessel
Crossing the High Line, the former railroad tracks will lead you to New York's newest and most expensive district, Hudson Yards. It is a project that aimed to change the way New York is seen in the rest of the world and set a model for the future of cities. In the area you will find dozens of impressive buildings, such as towering skyscrapers, observatories, shopping malls, modern residences and dynamic cultural institutions, but one stands out! Vessel began construction in April 2017 and opened to the public on March 15, 2019. It is the work of British designer Thomas Heatherwick, with its elaborate structure resembling a honeycomb! It has 16 floors and consists of 154 stairs, 2,500 steps and 80 level platforms for visitors to climb. The truth is that the reviews it collected were mixed, since some found it a masterpiece and others somewhat outrageous. However, the Vessel has become a landmark of the area and attracts thousands of tourists who want to see it up close. Unfortunately for the last three years this particular building has been closed, after three people committed suicide by jumping from the construction in less than a year! But in 2024 its dynamic reopening is expected.
Grand Central Terminal
An equally important building in the city is the Grand Central Terminal. Of course, it belongs to a completely different category, since it was built between 1903-1913 and is one of the most classic buildings in New York. It is the largest and one of the most visited train stations in America and one of the largest in the entire world. Characteristically, 67 lines pass through it, while inside it there are meeting rooms, luxury restaurants and bars, a library, a tennis club and much more! On its roof are depicted the constellations of the signs, which, however, are astronomically incorrect. Also, the huge US flag stands out in the central hall. and the characteristic golden clock, where for years it has been one of the most well-known meeting points of New Yorkers. Finally, Grand Central Terminal is among the ten most important attractions of the city, since it is estimated that over 21 million tourists visit it a year, excluding train and subway passengers!
St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral is a Catholic church in the center of the city. It occupies an entire city block bounded by Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, 50th Street and 51st Street. Designed by James Renwick Jr. it is the largest gothic revival catholic cathedral in North America and it certainly stands out from the rest of the buildings in New York! The original building was completed in 1879, but many elements such as the parish priest's house, the two towers over 100 meters high and the Virgin Mary Chapel, were added much later! Worthy of attention is also the fact that it can accommodate up to 2400 believers at the same time, while it is visited by over three million annually. Finally, the interior of the church is equally impressive, as it is full of elaborate altars and statues, the most impressive being that of La Piedad, which is three times larger than that of Michelangelo in Rome. Admission is free.
Liberty Island-Ellis Island
A visit to New York is not complete without seeing the famous Statue of Liberty! To get there, all you need to do is hop on one of the many boats that depart from Battery Park and disembark at neighboring Liberty Island. On this small island dominates the colossal neoclassical sculpture, a gift from the French in honor of Franco-American friendship in 1886. It is 92 meters high and depicts Liberty as a female figure, holding a torch in her raised right hand and a plaque in her left inscribed with the date "July 4, 1776," which is the day of independence of the United States. Its base has hosted the Migration Museum since 1972, in 1924 it was declared a national monument, while since 1986 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finally, don't miss visiting the neighboring Ellis Island, which was the first stop for immigrants who arrived in New York by boat. Today it houses the National Immigration Museum, which is a living monument to the history of the American people. Admission is free.
Broadway
Broadway theatre, together with London's West End Theatre, are considered to represent the highest level of commercial theater in the English-speaking world! This particular district (Theater District), located near Times Square, includes over 40 theaters with 500 or more seats each! No matter when you visit the city, you're sure to find a show that suits you. Some of the most popular plays that are consistently performed there are Moulin Rouge, Chicago, Lion King, Aladdin, Harry Potter and King Kong. Whatever you choose, you're sure to have a great show and a unique experience. The performances of the actors are top notch, the sets are fantastic and the sound is terrific no matter where you sit in the theater! As for the prices, they vary depending on the show, the season and the seats you choose! Typically the prices can start from $60.00 and reach in some cases over $1000.00! Tickets can be purchased either online on their website or from a kiosk, such as the one located in Times Square.
Madison Square Garden
Another must-have experience for anyone in the USA, be or not a basketball fan, is to watch an NBA game or even just visit one of the arenas. The oldest and most famous of them is located in New York and is none other than Madison Square Garden, which was built in 1968. It is located in the center of the city and is the home of the New York Knicks of the NBA and the New York Rangers in the NHL, being an attraction in itself. In fact, its name comes from the 4th President of the United States of America. In addition to sporting events, various other cultural events such as concerts take place at Madison Square Garden. Ticket prices for an NBA game are somewhat steep, with the cheapest ticket starting at $150.00, while in special games or play offs, prices can soar into several thousand dollars! So for those who cannot support such a thing, a tour of the stadium and facilities is offered for about $50.00!
The museums
If you are a lover of Museums and history, then New York will certainly not leave you complaining, since the city has dozens of museums, art galleries and theme parks for all tastes.
I would suggest starting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (commonly known as the Met), which is located in midtown Manhattan on 5th Avenue! Founded in 1870, it includes over 2 million works of art from all cultures and all time periods on earth! Its collections include distinct areas of Greco-Roman, Medieval, Islamic, Asian and modern art, as well as photographs, clothing, weapons and armor and musical instruments. Entrance to the museum costs 30 dollars, which is about 28e.
Continue to the most famous Museum of Modern Art in the world, simply known as MoMA! It is one of the largest museums of its kind in the world, exhibiting over 150,000 individual pieces, including paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, photographs, films, architectural works and more. Entrance to the museum costs 28 dollars (ie about 26 euros), while if you book online you will get another two dollars off! Every Friday from 17:30 to 21:00 entry is free, but the queues are endless and the wait can exceed two hours!
Just across the street from Central Park, you will find another very important New York museum, made even more famous by the movie "Night at the Museum" with Ben Stiller. I am, of course, referring to the American Museum of Natural History, which has 45 different rooms and 4 separate floors, filled with exhibits! The most important of these is the great Titanosaurus, the largest creature to ever walk the earth! To understand its size, it is enough to consider that it does not fit in one room of the museum, but continues in a second one! Also, you will have the opportunity to see skeletons of other dinosaurs, mammoths, the model of the great blue whale, hundreds of embalmed animal species, meteorites and much more! About the entry ticket now things are confusing! If someone goes to the museum's website he will see that there is a normal ticket, which actually costs 28 dollars! With this ticket you will have access to all areas, halls and additional shows that take place inside the museum! Of course, if you go from there the entrance is free; you just won't be able to enter some rooms! At the exit, there is a box where you can leave an amount to support the museum!
Next stop is the New York Public Library! It is the third largest public library in North America and one of the most important research libraries in the USA! It is simultaneously one of the largest public library systems in the United States and one of the largest research library systems in the world. The building is beautiful both inside and outside, filled with impressive chandeliers, classic furniture, famous paintings and beautiful murals! And the best part is that the entrance is free, except for the main hall where you need to pay a fee to be guided inside!
Finally, I left two thematic museums that I recommend you visit, if you find yourself in New York! The first is the Madame Tussauds Museum, which is located next to Times Square! There you'll find wax figures of everyone from Barack Obama and George Washington to Lady Gaga and Marvel superheroes. There are several floors divided into thematic groups, such as politicians, singers, actors, movie characters and more, which will set your mobile and camera on fire. The other themed museum is about the popular TV series "Friends", the FRIENDS Experience: The One in New York City! If you're a fan of the series, you should definitely put this on your bucket list, as there are quite a few of the original props, sets and costumes used in the series! Entrance to the first museum starts from 39 dollars (about 36e) and can go up to 60 dollars (about 56e), depending on the type you choose, while to the second 45.5 dollars (ie about 42e).
How to go
New York has three airports, JFK International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. Most flights from Europe usually have as their final destination the first one, which is about 30 kilometers from Manhattan. The options to get to the city are obviously hundreds, since many airlines operate this route! A fairly good solution is to go to New York directly via Athens with American Airlines, where with proper planning one can find tickets starting from €536 round trip. From there, another option is to choose a Turkish Airlines flight with a connection to Istanbul, which with proper planning can find tickets starting from €462 round trip. Finally, if you are not concerned about when and how you will go, very often offers arise, which may not exceed 200e!
Where to stay
New York is a very large city spread over many kilometers and of course highly touristic, which also implies an abundance of accommodation. I won't lie to you, the prices in most hotels or apartments are extremely high to outrageous, especially if you want something in Manhattan! Of course, there are always opportunities and one of them is the Chelsea Inn. This is a 19th century mansion, located in Chelsea, a breath away from Union Square. It has comfortable rooms, each uniquely decorated and equipped with all modern comforts!
How to move
The most populous city in the United States, has a transportation system that includes one of the largest and busiest subway systems in the world! The subway has 36 lines (underground and overground) and 472 stops, which means there is no place in New York that you cannot reach with it! On the downside, the fact that it is very old, extremely dirty and in some occasions dangerous! Another transportation solution is the buses, since there is an extensive network in each of the five municipalities of the city! Since using public transportation is a must while in the city, I recommend getting a MetroCard. This is a rechargeable card that will save you a lot of time and money! Also, in New York you will find boats for transportation throughout the city and to New Jersey and Staten Island! Finally, since you are in New York it is worth taking, even once, one of the thousands of iconic yellow taxis that circulate in the city and feel like you are in a movie!
What to eat
The large size of the country and the long history of immigration have created a particularly diverse taste palette, which varies by region. American cuisine is a "heavy" cuisine, with foods rich in fat and calories. As you know, America is considered the home of fast food, with its main dishes being burgers, hot dogs, barbequed meats, pancakes and much, much more! But a special place in the culture of the locals is played by the cuisines of immigrants such as Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Jewish and of course Greek! For the ultimate breakfast treat, i.e. a stuffed bagel, I recommend Liberty Bagel, Russ and Daughters and Grabstein’s Bagels. For coffee, definitely Starbucks, which is found on almost every corner, and Ralph’s Cofee, while to accompany your coffee with the famous cronuts, Dominique Ansel Bakery. For burgers, Shake Shack, Five Guys, Chick-fil-A and Bark Barbeque, while for pastrami sandwiches, Katz’s Deli! For pizza Joe’s Pizza and for Mexican Los Tacos No. 1. Finally, Junior’s Restaurant and Cheesecake for delicious American cheesecake, Carlo’s Bakery for chocolate cake, Levain Bakery for delicious cookies and finally Max Brenner for hot chocolate!
Useful information
In New York we travel with a Passport valid for at least 6 months. You do not need a Visa to enter the country, but you should apply in advance on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) here. The cost of this certificate is 21 dollars and it is usually issued within 24 hours! However, the specific document only concerns those who want to travel for tourist purposes to the USA, while they should not have visited some of the "dangerous countries" in the last decade. Otherwise, you will have to make an appointment at the American embassy so that they can issue it to you!
In New York the language used is, of course, English! The fact that the city is inhabited by many nationalities makes it essentially a multicultural and multilingual area and therefore you will not have any difficulty in communication!
The country's currency is the US Dollar (USD) and its current exchange rate is €1 = $1.09.
In New York, the use of the card is the absolute protagonist in transactions! To such an extent that some shops do not accept cash! You will need cash on rare occasions so I would suggest changing a small amount at a bank in town!
New York is seven hours behind Greece (UTC -5).
There are many solutions for your transfer to and from the three New York airports, namely John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport! The most ideal and economical option is to first take the AirTrain which costs 8.5 dollars and get off at the place where the subway starts! From there you will get on the metro and stop at the station of your choice! You can also choose to travel by taxi, which is a bit expensive since you have to calculate over 100 per ride!
The Greek Unpaid Consulate General in New York is located at 69, East 79th Street and its telephone number is +1212 9885500.
Many argue that there is no ideal time to visit the city, since it is worth being there at any time of the year! In winter and more specifically during Christmas period, New York is beautiful! Everything is decorated and it usually snows, but the cold is bitter! For warmth and outdoor enjoyment, consider spring (April to June) or fall (September to November). Spring boasts pleasant temperatures, blooming flowers and fewer crowds. Autumn reveals a spectacular display of foliage with a comfortable breeze and a festive atmosphere. Finally, in the summer, although it is quite hot, you can go swimming in some neighboring beaches!
Suggested excursions → Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston
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Mouzakidis Pantelis
