I’ve visited New York a number of times now and have loved it every time. Before I moved to London, I went to New York for my 21st birthday. It was incredible but felt a little bit like a fever dream. When I returned with my now husband later on, it felt strangely like a second home. I think because it’s a lot like London and living in a big city, despite its exponential size, it’s still got that London city vibe.
As you would imagine if you’ve never been to New York, everything is bigger. The skyscrapers are truly incredible and everything can be found in New York, whether you’re looking for diverse eateries or places to shop. There are a lot of tourist spots, just like London and whenever we go, we always want to get as much done as possible.
Myself and Sam are visiting New York in April to see our best friend but to also visit a newly-found American family for a wedding! As we’re in America, we thought we’d take advantage of visiting one of our favourite places first before moving to Milwaukee where most of our American family reside or came from.
If you’re looking for ideas on what to do when you’re in New York for the first time, then we definitely have some great suggestions to share. Here’s everything you must do in New York as a first-timer.
*This is a collaborative post.
*This is a collaborative post. Top of the Rock and The Empire State Building
Seeing the cityscape from up above is the best way to start your trip to the big apple. There are a number of places you can visit in order to get up high and experience a birds-eye view of New York. However, from the visits I’ve had, it’s definitely worth going to the Top of The Rock, as well as the iconic Empire State Building. I have to admit, I prefer Top of the Rock but it’s like a right of passage that you have to go to the Empire State Building too.
Both times I visited New York, we bought the New York City Tourist Pass, which I recommend anyone visiting the city for the first time, to do. This allows you access to a number of attractions, including the Empire State Building.
9/11 Memorial Museum and Ground Zero
It’s a very haunting experience even though it’s been over twenty years since the tragedy of 9/11 occurred. It’s crazy because I remember it as if it was yesterday and has to be one of the worst Western acts of terrorism I’ve ever seen.
Ground Zero itself is peaceful, despite it being surrounded by the city. There’s a sense of calm and sadness about the place as everyone from locals to the city to tourists from around the world, come together to pay respects to the lives lost.
Another place to visit during your trip to New York is the 9/11 Memorial Museum. It’s located within the vicinity of Ground Zero and is a real insight into the events that occurred that day and the sheer scale of the lives that were lost. It’s humbling, and upsetting in parts but something that’s definitely worth seeing. We should never forget an event such as 9/11 and the memorial is testimony to that.
Times Square
Times Square is a beautiful place, although full of activity which may be overwhelming for some. It’s incredible to see in person and one of those places where capturing it on camera or film just doesn’t do it justice. You’ve got these huge screens on buildings that are huge and it makes you feel like an ant. On the ground, there’s so much going on from the TKTS building that offers last-minute show tickets to street performers that are dressed in weird, budget versions of superheroes or Disney characters.
If you’re looking for somewhere to explore on foot, then Times Square is definitely a good place to go.
Go see a Broadway show
Whether you like theatre or not, seeing a Broadway show is a must. The glitz and glamour of Broadway are just next level. Anyone who is a theatrical fan will be blown away by the talent and performance of any show they go to see in this part of the world. Myself and my husband often agree that Broadway just does it so much better than the West End (with a few exceptions of course). There’s just a superhuman level of performers on Broadway that have the whole package.
The only downside to Broadway is that it’s ridiculously expensive for tickets so make sure to try and book ahead where you can. There are lots of shows on currently too, so you’ll certainly be spoilt for choice.
Statue of Liberty
It’s weird just how small the Statue of Liberty is in comparison to what you believe it to be. Well, it’s still huge when you’re standing next to it but in films and how it’s shot, it’s always made to look so much bigger.
The island that the statue is on is fairly lacklustre. There’s not much going on there so you’re really on going over there to look at the statue. It’s an attraction you can probably do in just over an hour or two, so it’s something to fit around the rest of your day. I think when we visited, we just booked a ticket on the Ferry on the day, rather than needing to book in advance.
Central Park
Anyone who comes to London is often surprised when they see a bit of greenery. It’s surprising that such a big city made out of concrete has a lot of nature scattered throughout the city centre. The same goes for New York but on a bigger scale. Central Park is HUGE and takes up a big part of the city. Located in between the Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan, it’s only the fifth largest park in the city – which is wild. It covers 843 acres and it’s beautiful. It’s well worth exploring, even if you only manage to cover a patch of it.
For those that have visited, you’ll notice the picture on this blog is of me and my husband looking out over a part of Central Park!
Grand Central Terminal & The High Line
Whether you enjoy transport or not, seeing Grand Central Terminal is a must. It’s another iconic spot to explore and is great if you’re a big people watcher like I am. I love imagining where everyone is going or where everyone has come from in these places.
Another good spot to explore on foot is The High Line. What used to be an old railway line has been transformed into a wonderful walkway for tourists and locals alike to enjoy. It takes you all the way from the Meatpacking District to West Side Yard on 34th Street near Javits Center. Despite its length, you could probably walk it in 30 minutes or up to an hour depending on how slow or fast you like to walk.
Do the open-top bus tours
Finally, the open-top bus tours are an absolute must to do when you’re in New York. They help you to see every inch of the city, which can be handy to do over the first couple of days in the city. That way, you can then focus on certain areas you’re most interested in seeing on the remaining days of your visit. The open-top bus tours are also reasonably affordable, especially if you’re buying a pass.
Are you looking to visit New York this year or the next? Let me know what you think of it in the comments below and recommend your own must-visits if you’ve already been to NYC.
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post with Go New York. All words are my own.
