The iconic New York skyscraper features breathtaking views of the entire city. Be sure to dress appropriately as it can get cold that high up!
The iconic “Lady Liberty” stands over 300 feet tall from the ground. Make sure to get to Battery Park early as the lines for the ferry get very long very fast.
Go to the Top of the Rock observation deck for magnificent views over Central Park. Also, get there early for the famous “lighting of the tree” in early December!
One of the most well known parks in the U.S., Central Park is a great place to get away from the fast paced NYC streets. See a concert or movie here in the summer for an unforgettable experience!
The bright lights and crowds of people can be overwhelming at first to newcomers. Go at night to get the full experience of this extravagant area.
In the footsteps of the original Twin Towers lie two reflecting pools where visitors can pay their respects and see the bronze inscribed names of those who lost their lives.
In the heart of the financial district, visit the NYSE to see the world's premiere financial center along with its spectacular architecture.
Brooklyn Bridge is just a short 20-30 minute walk from end to end, but don’t forget to take a couple minutes and stop in the middle for breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline.
The port now features many shops and restaurants but we recommend the South Street Seaport Museum for an in depth look at what was once one of the busiest seaports in America.
Step into Chinatown, a world of its own, where more than 2 million NYC residents live. There is great authentic Chinese food here and street vendors are all over.
Check out this historic building then grab a bite to eat at Shake Shack in the nearby Madison Square Park.
Wide open spaces, sweeping high ceilings with beautiful artwork, and incredible architecture. Find and test out the whispering gallery in front of the Oyster Bar, a fascinating architectural oddity.
This historic landmark hotel has been seen in dozens of movies. Catch a glimpse through while making your way to Central Park.
One of the City's best spots to people watch. Go on a Saturday afternoon, check out the busy Farmer's Market, and chuckle at some of the interesting characters you're bound to see.
You can catch a breather while walking around and sit on the steps out front but we recommend venturing inside to see the simply spectacular Reading Room.
This is a beautiful park no doubt, but there's a reason it's crowded - Shake Shack. Endure the wait for one of the city's best burgers and chow down in the park for a fun lunch.
Who doesn't love the satisfaction you get from moving huge objects? Come to Cooper Square and push this cube around to show off your superhuman strength!
One of the most prestigious venues in the world, the 120+ year old Carnegie Hall combines spectacular architecture with the world's most distinguished artists and composers.
A beautiful park and a must see for any visitor. It's perfect when you just want to sit on a bench and read a book or do some people watching. On nice days you can find all sorts of live music too.
Walking across the old train tracks you will get an amazing panoramic view of Manhattan. Don’t forget to look towards the Hudson River as well: at one point you can even see the Statue of Liberty!
Unfortunately this beautiful Art Deco building’s observation deck has been closed since 1945. The marble lobby is open to visitors though, and it’s free!
This art museum gets overshadowed by the nearby Met, but it has an impressive art collection! Check out the paintings by Bellini, Rembrandt, Turner and Vermeer!
A lovely place to take a break from bustling Midtown. If you can’t be away from your computer too long note that there’s free WiFi internet too!
This is a really good place for a day of relaxing. If you're lucky the "Positive Brothers" are performing somewhere. They do awesome stunts!
In New York for the summer? Be sure to attend one of the (free!) concerts in Prospect Park! Sweet summer air, great food and drinks, and marvelous music to dance away the night!
This is definitively one of our favorite spots in NYC. The tram is accessible with your metro-card and gives you amazing panoramic views.
Best to take this during the day - amazing views on a clear day.
Visit the graves of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Leonard Bernstein and Mae West; and check out the 1911 chapel designed by the same firm behind Grand Central Terminal.
At this museum devoted to medieval art, a path winds through the peaceful grounds to a monastery that appears to have survived from the Middle Ages. Don’t miss the famed unicorn tapestries. Read more.
Stay on the 6 local downtown past the last stop and you will see the station out the right side as you loop around to go back uptown. For best results sit in the back. Great way to impress someone!
The natural waterfall at the Ravine is a beauty (especially with fall foliage)! Sit on a rock and forget that you're in the middle of Manhattan
The 7,000-pound Wall Street Bull was created in optimistic response to the 1987 stock market crash and dropped in front of the New York Stock Exchange overnight in 1989. http://tmout.us/knzkC
MoMA helped to popularize Robert Indiana's design by commissioning it for use on its Christmas cards in 1965. Read more.
Safe, cheap & easy to navigate! However, avoid eye contact in an attempt to be polite. As seen on Travel Channel’s The Layover with Anthony Bourdain.
Nestled in a small Midtown plaza is an unexpected piece of history: five sections of the Berlin Wall have been on display here since 1990. Read more.
The cemetery gate, located at the end of a narrow alley leading from Second Avenue, is unlocked to visitors only for a few hours on the 4th Sunday of each month from April to October. Read more.
27 buildings resembling Tudor homes with colorful doors, shutters and timber frames grace this gated street that's tucked away on the Upper West Side, nearly completely out of view to passersby. Read more.
Originally bought as a backyard playground for his kids, Ray Pannone's 1936 subway car was instead placed in his diner. The only restaurant with a real NYC subway car as part of its decor. Read more.
So called because it's lined with statues of writers William Shakespeare, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Fitz-Greene Halleck—and Christopher Columbus, often referred to here as "the odd man out." Read more.
Designed by Calvert Vaux in the 1860s as a lookout point for the Great Lawn to the north and the Ramble to the south. Now home to the Henry Luce Nature Observatory. Read more.
Originally built as a backup to the NYC's main water supply, the reservoir now serves as an ecological sanctuary that houses more than 20 species, including herons, egrets, loons, coots, wood ducks. Read more.
Built from enormous uncut boulders—one of which is said to weigh 100 tons—Central Park's Huddlestone Arch is supported not by mortar, concrete or metal but by gravity and friction alone. Read more.
Once an abandoned landfill, in the 1980s this area was turned into an open studio and exhibition space for artists, as well as a neighborhood park. Read more.
The site of George Washington's farewell to his officers in 1783 is Manhattan's oldest surviving structure. Fraunces Tavern is New York's only museum dedicated to American Revolutionary War history. Read more.
No longer a hotel, in its heyday in the early 20th century, it was the largest one in NYC. It boasted the largest indoor saltwater swimming pool in the country, replete with a spring-fed waterfall. Read more.
The High Line, in addition to being a magnificent park, is also a outdoor gallery featuring several works of temporary public art throughout the year. As you walk, look for art all around you! Read more.
Lightness of Being is a new group exhibition whose work displays a playful and irreverent attitude toward the formal ideals of classical sculpture. On view through December 13, 2013. Read more.
Site of one of the worst industrial disasters in the US, which led to many workplace reforms.
This shop maintains an amazing vibe while promoting good causes. It's staffed entirely by volunteers, and all profits go to a Housing Works, a nonprofit that fights homelessness and AIDS. Read more.
This store boasts 18-miles of books. As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.
The city’s only remaining commercial marine salvage yard. Wear good shoes and explore are your own risk. Some pictures of the amazing place: Read more.
Castles? In New York? Why, yes! These ruins are a must, built by the Bannerman family as warehouse facility for their military surplus business in 1901. Get there by boat or kayak, tours available. Read more.
Hiding in plain sight, the abandoned South Side Hospitals were one of the largest public health undertakings in US history. See photographs of the amazing buildings at Read more.
Look for the abandoned trolleys on the pier. The cars are actually from Boston and Norway, part of an effort by one man to bring back trolleys to Brooklyn. Find out more: Read more.
Keller’s was once a hotel for sailors and later an SRO. Today all that's left is its sad state of vacancy and a retro HOTEL sign still attached. See more: Read more.
Quite possibly the smallest diner in NYC, its wedged between two buildings. Empty since 2006, the chrome and green diner is now canvased with graffiti. See more: Read more.
Did you know there's still a section of the High Line that's still abandoned? We can't officially tell you how to break in but you can read about it and see photos here: Read more.
A beautiful decommissioned subway stop sits below the park. See it on a tour with the Transit Museum or stay on the 6 train after Brooklyn Bridge station. Find out more: Read more.
At 4515 New Utrecht Ave, there's an abandoned Loew's 46th St Theatre, which opened in Oct 1927. Many famous people played there when it was a concert venue, such as The Bee Gees and Gladys Knight. Read more.
Recently closed off for renovation, this was once home to teenage runaways living the dream in an abandoned MTA powerhouse on the shore of the notoriously toxic Gowanus Canal. Read more.
The fabled Admirals Row saw demolition in Jan '12 but you can still see the two last townhouses and crumbling manufacturing buildings. Read about what'll happen to the yards: Read more.
The abandoned hospital was designed by James Renwick and is a landmarked ruin. Help support its preservation: Read more.
Moss and Brill’s abandoned Hamilton Theatre opened in 1913. Since it stopped screening movies in 1958, it has been used as a sports arena, disco, retail space and warehouse. Read more.
In addition to surf, sand and swim, the beach is also home to a military fort dating back to 1902 that protected for New York City until World War II. See photos here: Read more.
This abandoned theatre, once one of the five “Loew’s Wonder Theaters", opened on September 7, 1929 and was designed by Rapp and Rapp and decorated by Harold W. Rambush. Read more.
This is the largest legal aerosol exhibit in the US, possibly the world. It was founded in '93 as a haven for aerosol artists to hone and showcase their craft. See more: Read more.
When you're visiting here, don't miss the abandoned Long Island Railroad Penny Bridge Station along the creek next to Cavalry Cemetery. Read more.
Don't miss the vaults and a very special shower in the basement! Find out more of the secret history on Untapped Cities Read more.
The abandoned Ridgewood Theatre opened on December 23, 1916 and was the oldest continuous first run movie theater in the country when it closed in 2008. Read more.
One of the easiest abandoned places to break into, this enormous plant was built by the NY Central Railroad, later operated by ConEd. See photos from our expedition inside: Read more.
An island of rich history: a smallpox hospital in the 1850s, where Typhoid Mary died, a home to WWII veterans, and a drug center in the 1950s. It's now abandoned and off limits to the public. Read more.
Having served as both land dump and horse rendering plant, this area is dotted with bottles, horse bones, abandoned boats, and vintage nicknacks including creepy toys and old hand guns. Read more.
This formerly nuclear-armed beach protected NYC with canons, Nike, Ajax & Hercules missiles. It's now an explorer's heaven of crumbling buildings and battlements. Read more: Read more.
The Spanish Baroque Revival styled theater opened on Christmas Day, 1928. It's been in a state of disrepair since 1987, but plans are underway to demolish it and build a 17-story tower in its place. Read more.
Part of the abandoned QueensWay, or the "Queens High Line" is just nearby. For the intrepid, it's worth an exploration along the old train tracks. Read more.
The intrepid explore inside the crumbling officer's quarters but also look out for what the soldiers carved into the walls of the forts. See more at: Read more.
In 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge unsuccessfully negotiated with Lord Howe to end the Revolutionary War at Conference House. Read more.
The McComb Mansion, George Washington's second presidential mansion was located on this site. Read more.
You can check out George Washington's teeth and hair at the site where he said farewell to his troops.
Stop by the site of George Washington's first inauguration and the masonic bible he used. Read more.
Check out George Washington's pew at the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan. Read more.
Before the White House, the first home for the president was located at 1 Cherry Street (check out the plaque on the Bridge's pier).
Did you know the Young Men’s Republican Union moved Lincoln's speech to the Great Hall of Cooper Union out of fear that not enough people would come out to Brooklyn to hear him speak. Read more.
Before being re-interred in Virginia, James Monroe was buried here.
Did you know two years after FDR got married he moved into this house with his mother and wife. Read more.
When you visit Grant's Tomb make sure to visit the site of Grant's original internment behind the current mausoleum. Read more.
Did you know that George Washington had his headquarters in the same house later owned by Aaron Burr's wife. Read more.
PHOTO: Before these were apartments, this entire block was Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers! Click "More Info" for an amazing aerial shot of the field from 1951! Read more.
PHOTO: The Vanderbilt family owned an enormous mansion here on 5th Ave and 57th which was torn down in 1927. Click "More Info" to see a historic pic of this gigantic home! Read more.
This Victorian Gothic cottage was home to photographer and noted badass Alice Austen, who was known for her gritty street photography—and for being the first woman on Staten Island to own a car. Read more.
The preserved village plays host to costumed blacksmiths, shoemakers and tinsmiths as well as the Voorlezer’s House, the oldest wooden elementary schoolhouse still standing in America. Read more.
John Turturro narrates the audio tour at this Park Slope site, where parts of the Battle of Long Island took place. The park itself was the location for the original clubhouse of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Read more.
The fifth floor contains at least 2,000 paintings, sculptures, furniture, and Native American and Spanish colonial artifacts Read more.
This museum was the HQ for New York’s customs offices until 1971. It was also ground zero for the Stamp Act Riots in 1765, as Fort Amsterdam, when U.S. and British soldiers used it as a stronghold. Read more.
The fourth floor served as the home and work space for four Irish maids and still contains its original furnishings, including clothesline hooks over the doors, the call bell and a coal stove. Read more.
The main branch on 42nd Street opened a new children’s room in '08, after the old one closed. The first one is now home to administrative offices and still contains the original chairs meant for kids. Read more.
Henry Clay Frick’s private art holdings shares space with a bowling alley. After he passed away in 1919, his daughter Helen turned it into a catalog room, but original details remain. Read more.
The 6/27 - 9/1 installation, "Robert Irwin: Scrim veil—Black rectangle—Natural light (1977)" was designed specifically for the Whitney’s light-filled fourth-floor gallery. Read more.
The city’s oldest museum has an archive of more than 1.6 million pieces of art, including Hudson River School paintings and the entire collection of John James Audubon’s Birds of America watercolors. Read more.
Hidden behind the wall at the first bay near the rotunda is a ceramic tile mural done by Joan Miró. The work was commissioned by museum trustee Harry F. Guggenheim in 1963 to honor his late wife. Read more.
Mysterious artifacts were found in the wall of a room where Poe’s young wife, Virginia, slept, and visitors can view the bed frame that she died on. Read more.
When you visit the oldest farmhouse in Manhattan, ask to see the still-visible board used for nine men’s morris, a strategic game dating back to the Roman Empire. Read more.
