Top 5 Landmarks In New York City

No one needs to prop up New York City as a tourist destination. It’s the most famous city in America, if not the entire world, and its various attractions are well-known. Sometimes though, when it comes to travel, that’s just the problem! A place with too many known attractions can be dizzying to try to explore. In these cases it becomes necessary to prioritize – and we can help!

This is our look at the top five landmarks you really shouldn’t miss if you go to New York City.

1. One World Trade Center

The Empire State Building remains New York’s most famous skyscraper, and it’s still well worth seeing. But there’s really no question that One World Trade Center has overtaken it as the most impressive building in town. The replacement for the Twin Towers that were tragically destroyed on September 11, 2001, One World Trade Center is a combination skyscraper and memorial. It’s a gleaming masterpiece of modern architecture, a genuinely moving accomplishment, and home to an absolutely wonderful observation deck from which you can see the whole city.

2. Central Park

Central Park isn’t so much a landmark as a city-sized green space within Manhattan. But it’s still commonly noted as one of the best Manhattan attractions, and it’s one we’d fully endorse as a must-see. More than a respite from the surrounding pavement and skyscrapers, Central Park is a gorgeous place packed with sights of its own and capable of serving as a whole weekend’s worth of entertainment. You really can explore this park to no end, and enjoy attractions ranging from the ponds and playing fields to the Central Park Zoo and Belvedere Castle. The natural setting juxtaposed with the skyline of stately apartment buildings makes for one of the most beautiful spots in the whole city. No wonder the surrounding areas rank as some of the best neighborhoods in NYC. If you can afford a view of the park from your apartment, you will no doubt be the envy of the entire city, if not the world.

3. The Statue Of Liberty

A recent article examining some historic landmarks around the world might have put it best when it called the Statue Of Liberty one of the most monumental monuments in the world. That might be a clumsy phrase, but it also sums things up rather well: the Statue Of Liberty is simply the epitome of what we think of when we imagine must-see monuments. And while it’s quite striking from a distance (or even from the air as you fly into New York), it makes an even greater impression if you see it up close.

4. Times Square

Times Square is the ultimate “tourist attraction,” and it’s not a place you’ll want to spend too much time. Nevertheless, it also needs to be seen in person to be fully understood. It’s difficult to write about Times Square without resorting to clichés, but to put it simply, you can’t quite fathom the energy of the place unless you stand there. It’s basically a sprawling city square crisscrossed by famous roads and surrounded by gigantic advertisements, bright lights, and throngs of people. Again, you won’t want to spend too long there, but you should see it – and keep in mind that a lot of great restaurants, bars, and theaters are in very close proximity on the surrounding streets.

5. The Metropolitan Museum Of Art

The Met is just one of several prominent museums in New York City, but don’t let anyone sway you toward the others if you only have time for one. It’s a truly incredible museum, and was even ranked top in the world by Veranda in a look at the 25 best museums on the planet. It’s almost too big, meaning you won’t be able to see everything it has to offer in one go, but there simply isn’t another place on Earth where you can see such an impressive collection of art. It doesn’t hurt that the building itself is awfully impressive, and situated on the east side of Central Park (and on the famous 5th Avenue).

Written by Krissy Georgiadis

Law graduate and wanderlust sufferer. I like rum and beaches.