🗽 New York in 24 hours: express guide
Imagine that you only have one day in New York City. What should hotels do first? Go through some interesting things and check the box? Or feel the city, breathe it in and remember its sound? This guide is for those who are truly in love with New York, even if they have never been there before.
How to see New York
Helicopter
The fastest way to enjoy views of New York, as well as Brooklyn and New Jersey, is a helicopter ride. It will take from 15 to 45 minutes depending on the package chosen. From a bird's eye view, you can see the Statue of Liberty and the expanses of Central Park, the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. The helicopter will then fly under the George Washington Bridge along the Hudson River to once again rise above the glittering peaks of the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building.
Cost: from $200. Read more here.
Ferry
A separate type of pleasure for those who are keen to see the beauty of the “Big Apple”, as New York is also called, is ferries. There is a paid option called NYC Ferry, which will take you on six different routes for just $4. But I recommend free.
The Staten Island Ferry departs from the Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and goes to the St. George Terminal on Staten Island. And then back. The ferry departs every 30 minutes day and night. To avoid the crowd of similar tourists and island residents who are getting home, plan your travel time from 9:30 to 12:00 and after 19:00. Travel time one way takes 25 minutes.
The best panoramic views are from the lower deck at the rear of the ship. From here, lower Manhattan, Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty are clearly visible, especially if you stand near the railing.
Cost: free
Cruise
In addition to sailing on a ferry, you can see New York from the water using a river cruise. There are several options from typical tourist to romantic with dinner and champagne.
On average it takes 1.5 hours. You will have the opportunity to listen to the history of the city from a gadfly tour or through an audio guide, slowly taking in the sights. Be sure to sail under the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges. This is a great option for those who don't want to rush. And you can always find last-minute tours.
Cost: from $30. Details here.
Excursion bus
Listening to an audio guide while sitting on the second floor of a tour bus is the easiest way to quickly get to know New York. On the way, you can get off the bus, walk around the neighborhood, see the sights, and then take the next bus of the same company. I recommend taking a 24-hour ticket for the Hop on Hop off tour from Big bus. It allows you to visit not only Lower Manhattan, but also Upper Manhattan.
Cost: from $54. Details here.
With a guide
The best solution for exploring a new city is to find a professional guide who is in love with New York and will tell you about it. Boring facts can be found on Wikipedia. But you can feel like a real New Yorker only by exploring secret routes accessible only to your own people.
Each guide works differently. For example, someone transports their wards by car, thanks to which they cover several parts of the city remote from each other in a short time. Small routes, such as exploring Central Park, can be conquered by pedicabs.
But the real pleasure is walking around the city. In 4 hours it is quite possible to see the most beautiful places in Lower Manhattan and walk to the Brooklyn Bridge.
Cost: from $100
Must see
There are so many attractions and significant places in New York that it is unlikely that you will be able to see every one of them. But there are those that will tell the real history of the city. Their visits include tours to the USA.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island, three kilometers from Manhattan.
If during the whole day you never see this majestic lady with a torch in her hand, you can say that you have never been to New York. America received the Statue of Liberty as a gift from France.
The statue was made of copper, but over the years it oxidized and turned green. The frame of the statue was invented by Gustave Eiffel, the same one who worked on the Eiffel Tower.
You can see the attraction completely free of charge, but you can only get there by ferry. According to rumors, this is one of the first places where green card holders go.
Ferry cost: $25.
Central Park
A wonderful oasis in the middle of the concrete jungle. Here you can wander barefoot, eat ice cream and listen to real jazz performed by street musicians.
Times Square
Times Square is perhaps the most famous square in New York and one of the symbols of America. Every day it passes through about 300 thousand pedestrians and 115 thousand drivers and passengers.
Broadway
Broadway productions are famous all over the world. And if you find yourself in New York, make sure you get to at least one of the performances. The most popular musicals are ” Chicago ” at the Ambassador Theater and “The Lion King” at the Minskoff Theater.
Cost: “Chicago” – from $66, “The Lion King” – from $135
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Stardust diner
Stardust diner – a cafe with singing waiters. And it seems like a typical American place with burgers and fries, but they come here not for food, but to listen to music. There are always huge queues at the cafe, so it’s better not to come here during dinner.
Summit One Vanderbilt
Summit One Vanderbilt is an observation deck with an audiovisual attraction. On the 91st floor of One Vanderbilt, you'll enter the Transcendence Room, which features mirrored floors, walls and ceilings. It is better not to appear there in a short skirt. The panoramic window offers stunning views of Times Square, Bryant Park, the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.
Next, you will go to the Affinity zone, where silver balls are floating everywhere. There, the window will offer views of Upper Manhattan and Central Park.
If you're not afraid of heights, you can stand on Levitation's transparent ledges overlooking Madison Avenue.
In the Air zone there is a cafe with access to an open-air terrace.
The very top of the skyscraper can be reached by the Ascent glass elevator from outside the building. It will freeze for a few moments so that passengers can admire the views.
Cost: observation deck – $45.73, elevator – $59
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a popular tourist location due to the excellent views from the 86th floor. It is better to buy tickets in advance and not be late for the time indicated on the voucher.
Cost: from $48
The Friend's Experience
The Friend's Experience is for those who are crazy about the series ” Friends “. The exhibition, which was intended to be temporary, is now firmly established in Manhattan. The interiors of the apartments of Joey and Chandler, as well as Monica and Rachel, where Phoebe and Ross often visited, are recreated here. Only the heroes themselves are missing.
Cost: from $41.25 (in a group)
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium can also be called a local landmark. It's not difficult to get to a New York Yankees game – the team plays games six times a week. Even if you're not a big baseball fan, this place is worth a visit just for the atmosphere.
The easiest way to get there is by subway to the 161st Street station.
Cost: from $10
Wall Street
The charging bull on Wall Street symbolizes “dollar” America. They made it from bronze. They say that if you rub his balls, it will open up money flow. So rub it, don't be shy. After all, judging by how they shine, you will not be the first and not the last.
World Trade Center
World Trade Center is the world's most expensive subway station. It was opened on the site of the World Trade Center buildings. The cost of the station is about $4 million.
According to the architect's idea, the interlacing of steel ribs and glass should have been large white wings. But to some, the structure more closely resembles the bones of a prehistoric animal, and to others, an eye with huge eyelashes.
9/11 Memorial and Pumphouse park
The 9/11 Memorial is one of the saddest places in New York. Previously, there were twin towers in this place, but now there are fountains. The water flows into two black marble pools with no visible bottom. Along the edges are engraved the names of the dead – about 3,000 people. The depth of the fountains symbolizes the depth of grief for the dead, and the water symbolizes the tears shed.
There are small indentations next to the names. Every day, the memorial staff inserts a flower into this recess – a white rose for those who have a birthday.
In honor of the 343 firefighters who died while rescuing victims, 343 oak trees have now been planted next to the fountains.
Pumphouse park is located next to the 9/11 memorial. And this is a completely different New York. It is very clean here, there are a lot of flowers and trees. And few people.
Cost: 9/11 Memorial – free, entrance to the 9/11 Museum – $33
The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is at its most beautiful against the backdrop of the famous New York sunsets. And this is the last point of our route, unless, of course, you want to spend time in one of the popular cafes on the roof of the city.
To save on sightseeing before your trip, you should purchase tourist discount cards. The most popular are The New York Pass. There are other interesting options, such as The New York Sightseeing Pass.