New York. The Big Apple. NYC. What a dream. I’ve been lucky enough to visit twice in the past few years and thought it was about time I shared some tips on the best things to see, what you should prebook and not prebook, and what you should even give a miss.
Let’s face it – nobody visiting NYC has endless time on their hands. Guaranteed it will be one of the most action packed and exhilarating trips you ever do. The sort where you walk for 8 hours straight without even thinking about it, then find yourself out for the count by 11 pm – ready to do it all over again the next day.
Now I’m not much of an athlete (by any stretch of the imagination), but my iPhone some what reliably informed me that we walked an average of 8-10 miles each day during our 5 day trip. All in perfect time to then sleep for the whole flight back!
The accommodation
The sheer volume of hotels in New York can mean this initially looks like a daunting process (approx 260 – to put this into perspective). Where do you even begin?
The good thing about New York is everything (roughly speaking) is within up to an hour’s distance. Make a list of the sights you don’t want to miss and study google maps for a while and I guarantee you’ll come to the conclusion that ‘somewhere in the middle of Manhattan’ is a good place to start.
Based on the length of your trip, I would choose your hotel wisely. I am sure that there aren’t many people who would disagree with me in saying that the most important factor is a comfortable bed. When you’ve walked your 10 miles you will want to be guaranteed a good night’s sleep.
I would always recommend Midtown. Chains are good. Depending on your budget. If it’s a special trip then peple are raving about the Knickerbocker, the Ludlow and the NoMad.
Don’t lose hours on your research though (as I have so often done). The beauty of going to New York is that you’re actually unlikely to be in your hotel room very much at all as there is literally so much to see. Pick something as a base, but make sure it’s got a big bed and is either in walking distance to a few places or near a subway station.
Let’s start at the top – Upper East Side and Central Park
Nothing beats a Sunday stroll around Central Park with the Upper East Siders (yes, I am a Gossip Girl fan so please expect a few references). I’ve grouped some places together based on their proximity to eachother to make things easier.
Can I just say I love Central Park? This is approx a 30-40 min walk from Midtown if you head straight up. I always forget how big it is. You can easily lose a few hours just circling the park.
Highlights – look out for Strawberry Fields, the lake with the little boats and if you’re a tad obsessed by Blair and Chuck (GG reference – check 1) the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain.
We visited in the Fall – New York is great at any time of the year but wandering around as all the leaves are falling is pretty top notch.
The good thing about the park is you can frequently dip in and out of it if you fancy mixing it up and taking in some of the Upper East and Upper West sides. We wandered out onto Madison Ave and happened across Laduree for some refueling macaroons.
Don’t even think about heading up to Central Park without stopping at the iconic Plaza on the way. It’s pretty much opposite the entrance to the park so you can’t miss it. We had afternoon tea here (great cakes, but the tea and service was a tad questionable).
Rockefeller and the New York Palace
The Rockefeller Center is such a classic. Even in the middle of summer I’d find it hard to stand in the Rockefeller Plaza and not think about Home Alone.
You can pay to go to the Top of the Rock – or if you fancy beating the queues then look no further than the Rainbow Room. We booked a table at Bar 65 at the top for Friday evening (you can book this online a few weeks in advance). Reservations are free and you get the same views (without the tourists) and can spend the money you would have spent on a ticket for the Top of the Rock on cocktails instead!
If you’re an instagram addict (like me). It’s worth knowing that the skyline views from the Rockefeller are slightly better than the Empire State Building as you can actually get the ESB in your shots.
Just across from here you’ll also find the New York Palace (a total classic). Worth a stroll to see, especially if you’re a GG fan.
The Library, Grand Central and the Chrysler Building
For a trip down memory lane, don’t forget the Public Library, Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building which are all near eachother and iconic in their own way.
I can’t even count on both my hands the number of films and TV shows I’ve watched which have featured these three. Plus the architecture is just amazing and they are all free to see!
You shouldn’t experience much of a queue at the Library, but they will scan your bags before you enter. Expect crowds at Grand Central, but don’t be put off as it’s a must see!
Empire State Building and Flatiron
Don’t miss out on the beautifully art deco Empire State Building. An ideal time to head to the top would be at sunset so you can come away with some day and night shots, but naturally this is the most popular time.
Luckily, you can book ahead online and even get a VIP pass to skip the queues (which can often mean you’re herded around various places of the building for around an hour before you get to the top). You don’t have to specify a day for your visit either, your online ticket will be valid for 365 days, so if you wake up one morning and it’s raining, you can go on another day instead.
Speaking of architecture, a short walk from the Empire State Building and you’ll come across the Flatiron building, right near Madison Square Gardens. We used this as a perfect excuse to visit Shakeshack, which has developed a huge following over the past few years. There are a few dotted around the city, but I’d recommend going to the one in Madison Square Park as this was the first of the chain to open and plus you can eat your burger and fries in the park underneath the twinkling lights which hang from tree to tree.
Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street and the World Trade Center
I mentioned at the beginning of this post how important it is to plan your time wisely. We devoted a day to Lower Manhattan and got a subway from our hotel in Midtown/Chelsea which took about 30 minutes tops.
In Lower Manhattan you can tick off another selection of greats, the Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, The new World Trade Center and the 9/11 memorial.
Let’s start with Brooklyn Bridge – an amazing walk across which will take you about 45 minutes. Expect crowds here and you’ll need to keep dodging out of the way for cyclists, but it’s so worth it for some epic views of the skyline.
Head up to Wall Street to see the Stock Exchange and also Battery Park to catch glimpses of the Statue of Liberty if you don’t fancy one of the cruises.
Don’t miss the 9/11 memorial fountain which is thought provoking but also serene and peaceful. The area around here and the New World Trade Center is poignant but beautiful with lots of open spaces.
There’s so much more to see that I haven’t had time to mention – comment below with any other suggestions of what not to miss in the Big Apple! If you’re thinking about going then do it as there’s something really special about the city that never sleeps.
Happy Travels!
Sophie x