Awards & recognition
#1
America's Best City
Resonance Consultancy · 2026
#1
Best U.S. City to Visit
U.S. News & World Report · 2026
#16
Best Places to Visit in the USA
U.S. News & World Report · 2026
#8
Favorite City in the U.S.
Travel + Leisure · 2025
#9
Best Big City in the U.S.
Condé Nast Traveler · 2025
#8
Best Big City in the U.S.
Condé Nast Traveler · 2024
About this city
Also known as: The Big Apple, Gotham, The City That Never Sleeps
New York City is the largest metropolis in the United States and a globally unparalleled economic, cultural, media, and financial titan, beautifully straddling a massive natural deepwater harbor at the mouth of the Hudson River. Founded in 1624 by Dutch traders as New Amsterdam, the city is configured across five highly distinct boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Today, New York stands as the absolute economic capital of the planet, seamlessly blending its soaring, iconic Art Deco skyscrapers and neon-lit street grid with an unrivaled public subway infrastructure and explosive global culinary diversity.
Location & Administrative
County
New York County
Time Zone
EST
State Code
NY
Transportation & Accessibility
Nearest Airports
JFKLGAEWR
Rail Systems
Amtrak (Intercity Rail)MTA (NYC Metro)
Train Stations
New York Penn StationGrand Central Terminal
Getting Around
SubwayBusWalkableBike-FriendlyFerryRideshare-Friendly
Weather & Timing
Best Months
AprMayJunSepOctNovDec
Average Temperature
Peak Season
SpringChristmas & New Year Festive Season
Off Season
Deep WinterQuiet Season
Economics & Local Vibe
Population
City proper 8.3M · Metro area 20.1M
Sales Tax
8.875%
Key Industries
Global Finance HubWall Street Investment Banking & SecuritiesGlobal Mass Media, Broadway Entertainment and Haute CoutureTech Innovation, High-growth Startups and Software EngineeringUN HeadquartersGlobal Diplomacy and Public Administration
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 3–7 days
Walk past dazzling neon Broadway billboards at Times Square, admire the historic steel web paths of the Brooklyn Bridge, view masterpieces at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and stroll the paths of Central Park.
⭐
Must-See
Must-See9/11 Memorial & Museum
Cemeteries & Memorials★ 4.8$$
HistoryIndoor
Must-SeeBrooklyn Bridge
Bridges★ 4.8Free
HikingMust-SeeFree
Must-SeeThe Met Cloisters
Art Galleries★ 4.8$30
Date SpotHealingSlow-Paced
Must-SeeGreenwich Village
Historic Neighborhoods★ 4.8Free
Youth-FriendlyDate SpotOutdoor
Must-SeeCentral Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.8Free
OutdoorFreeFamily
Must-SeeEmpire State Building
Observation Decks & Towers★ 4.7$$
Historic Building
Must-SeeStatue of Liberty
Monuments & Statues★ 4.7$
HistoryFerry
Must-SeeBryant Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.7Free
FamilyDate SpotWinter Snow
🎨
Museums & Culture
27Museums14
Museum of Broadway
Museums★ 4.8$34
FamilyDate SpotIndoor
Must-SeeAmerican Museum of Natural History
Museums★ 4.7$$
FossilsScienceFamily
Brooklyn Museum
Museums★ 4.7$20
FamilyDate SpotIndoor
Intrepid Museum
Museums★ 4.7$38
KidsIndoorOutdoor
Museum at Eldridge Street
Museums★ 4.7$15
IndoorCity LandmarkEducational
New York Transit Museum
Museums★ 4.7$10
KidsIndoorInteractive
The Morgan Library & Museum
Museums★ 4.7$25
Date SpotSlow-PacedIndoor
Hayden Planetarium
Museums★ 4.6$30
KidsIndoorImmersive
Mmuseumm
Museums★ 4.6Free
IndoorQuirkyFree
Museum of the Moving Image
Museums★ 4.6$17.5
KidsYouth-FriendlyIndoor
The Tenement Museum
Museums★ 4.6$30+
IndoorGuided Tour OnlyGuided Tour
SPYSCAPE
Museums★ 4.5$39
KidsYouth-FriendlyIndoor
Color Factory NYC
Museums★ 4.4$39-45
KidsDate SpotGirls' Trip
Museum of Illusions - New York
Museums★ 4.4$29-35
KidsYouth-FriendlyIndoor
Art Galleries10
Must-SeeThe Met Cloisters
Art Galleries★ 4.8$30
Date SpotHealingSlow-Paced
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Art Galleries★ 4.8$30
Senior-FriendlyDate SpotIndoor
The Noguchi Museum
Art Galleries★ 4.7$12
Slow-PacedIndoorOutdoor
Arte Museum New York
Art Galleries★ 4.6$45
Date SpotYouth-FriendlyIndoor
The Frick Collection
Art Galleries★ 4.6$30
Senior-FriendlySlow-PacedIndoor
Must-SeeThe Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Art Galleries★ 4.6$30
Date SpotYouth-FriendlyIndoor
Whitney Museum of American Art
Art Galleries★ 4.6$
Contemporary ArtArtRiver
El Museo del Barrio
Art Galleries★ 4.4$9
IndoorEducationalArt
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Art Galleries★ 4.3$30
Date SpotIndoorPhoto Spot
Mercer Labs
Art Galleries★ 4.0$46-60
Youth-FriendlyDate SpotIndoor
🏛️
History & Heritage
11Historic Sites4
Historic Neighborhoods5
Must-SeeGreenwich Village
Historic Neighborhoods★ 4.8Free
Youth-FriendlyDate SpotOutdoor
DUMBO Brooklyn
Historic Neighborhoods★ 4.7Free
DowntownArtMust-See
Little Italy
Historic Neighborhoods★ 4.5Free
FamilyOutdoorLocal Life
SoHo
Historic Neighborhoods★ 4.3Free
Youth-FriendlyDate SpotOutdoor
Chinatown
Historic Neighborhoods★ 4.2Free
FamilyLocal LifeBudget-Friendly
Monuments & Statues1
Cemeteries & Memorials1
⛪
Religion & Education
3
🏗️
Architecture & Landmarks
17Landmarks14
Strand Book Store
Landmarks★ 4.8Free
Youth-FriendlyIndoorLocal Life
Whispering Gallery in Grand Central Terminal
Landmarks★ 4.8Free
KidsIndoorFree
Must-See5th Avenue (Fifth Avenue)
Landmarks★ 4.7Free
FamilyDate SpotOutdoor
Must-SeeBroadway
Landmarks★ 4.7Free
Date SpotNight-FriendlyIndoor
Must-SeeGrand Central Terminal
Landmarks★ 4.7Free
HistoryFree
Harry Potter New York
Landmarks★ 4.7Free
KidsYouth-FriendlyIndoor
Oculus
Landmarks★ 4.7Free
IndoorPhoto SpotCity Landmark
Rockefeller Center
Landmarks★ 4.7Free
DowntownFestivalIce Skating
Chrysler Building
Landmarks★ 4.6Free
Photo SpotCity LandmarkFree
Friends Apartment Building
Landmarks★ 4.6Free
OutdoorPhoto SpotFree
Must-SeeThe Vessel
Landmarks★ 4.6Free
Youth-FriendlyOutdoorPhoto Spot
Must-SeeWall Street & Charging Bull
Landmarks★ 4.5Free
DowntownSculptureFree
Dover Street Market New York
Landmarks★ 4.3Free
Youth-FriendlyIndoorLuxury
📍
Avenue B & East 11th Street
LandmarksFree
filming-location
Bridges2
🌲
Parks & Nature
17
Parks & Gardens13
Must-SeeCentral Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.8Free
OutdoorFreeFamily
Creative Little Garden
Parks & Gardens★ 4.8Free
HealingSecluded & UncrowdedSlow-Paced
Domino Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.8Free
KidsDate SpotSunset
Wave Hill
Parks & Gardens★ 4.8$10
Senior-FriendlyDate SpotScenic Lookout
Must-SeeBryant Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.7Free
FamilyDate SpotWinter Snow
Little Island
Parks & Gardens★ 4.7Free
FamilyDate SpotSunset
Prospect Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.7Free
KidsOutdoorHealing
Must-SeeThe High Line
Parks & Gardens★ 4.7Free
HikingArtFree
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.6Free
KidsOutdoorCity Landmark
Governors Island
Parks & Gardens★ 4.6Free
ArtFerry
Madison Square Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.6Free
FamilyOutdoorFree
The Battery
Parks & Gardens★ 4.6Free
FamilySunsetOutdoor
Washington Square Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.6Free
Youth-FriendlyOutdoorPhoto Spot
⛰️
Natural Landscapes
5Islands2
Beaches & Coast2
🔭
Scenic Views
6Observation Decks & Towers5
Top of the Rock
Observation Decks & Towers★ 4.8$$
Must-See
Must-SeeEmpire State Building
Observation Decks & Towers★ 4.7$$
Historic Building
One World Observatory
Observation Decks & Towers★ 4.7$44-74
Contemporary Art
Must-SeeEdge NYC
Observation Decks & Towers★ 4.6$49
Date SpotYouth-FriendlySunset
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
Observation Decks & Towers★ 4.6$43
ArtMust-See
🦁
Wildlife
2
🎡
Entertainment
28Sports Venues2
Theaters & Performance Venues9
Drunk Shakespeare
Theaters & Performance Venues★ 4.8$39+
Youth-FriendlyNight-FriendlyIndoor
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Theaters & Performance Venues★ 4.8Free
Senior-FriendlyDate SpotNight-Friendly
Radio City Music Hall
Theaters & Performance Venues★ 4.8Varies
Senior-FriendlyDate SpotWinter Snow
BATSU!
Theaters & Performance Venues★ 4.7$59+
Youth-FriendlyNight-FriendlyIndoor
Apollo Theater
Theaters & Performance Venues★ 4.6Varies
Youth-FriendlyNight-FriendlyIndoor
Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg
Theaters & Performance Venues★ 4.6$18
Date SpotNight-FriendlyIndoor
The Slipper Room
Theaters & Performance Venues★ 4.6$15-35
Youth-FriendlyNight-FriendlyIndoor
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Theaters & Performance Venues★ 4.6Free
Youth-FriendlyIndoorFree
Rooftop Films
Theaters & Performance Venues★ 3.9Varies
Date SpotYouth-FriendlySeasonal
Activities & Entertainment10
Beat The Bomb Brooklyn
Activities & Entertainment★ 5.0$29.95-44.95
Team BuildingYouth-FriendlyIndoor
Gaming City
Activities & Entertainment★ 4.9Varies
Youth-FriendlyIndoorInteractive
Escape Room NYC - Mission Escape Games
Activities & Entertainment★ 4.8$40-50
FamilyTeam BuildingYouth-Friendly
Unarthodox
Activities & Entertainment★ 4.8Varies
Team BuildingCraftIndoor
Roosevelt Island Tramway
Activities & Entertainment★ 4.7$2.9+
FamilyScenic LookoutSunset
Project KE (Anime Club)
Activities & Entertainment★ 4.6Free
Youth-FriendlyIndoorQuirky
The Rage Cage
Activities & Entertainment★ 4.6$38+
Youth-FriendlyIndoorThrilling
SeaGlass Carousel
Activities & Entertainment★ 4.5$6+
KidsDate SpotNight View
Shipwrecked Mini Golf
Activities & Entertainment★ 4.5$21.99
KidsIndoorInteractive
Swingers NoMad
Activities & Entertainment★ 4.4$28+
Date SpotYouth-FriendlyNight-Friendly
Nightlife & Bars7
Comedy Cellar
Nightlife & Bars★ 4.8$14-25
Date SpotYouth-FriendlyNight-Friendly
McSorley’s Old Ale House
Nightlife & Bars★ 4.7$6-20
Youth-FriendlyNight-FriendlyIndoor
Smalls Jazz Club
Nightlife & Bars★ 4.6$25+
Date SpotYouth-FriendlyNight-Friendly
Threes Brewing
Nightlife & Bars★ 4.4Free
Youth-FriendlyOutdoorLocal Life
Bemelmans Bar
Nightlife & Bars★ 4.3Varies
Date SpotNight-FriendlyIndoor
Cellar Dog
Nightlife & Bars★ 4.3$5+
Youth-FriendlyNight-FriendlyIndoor
Blue Note Jazz Club
Nightlife & Bars★ 4.2Varies
Date SpotNight-FriendlyIndoor
🍽️
Food & Drink
4
🛍️
Shopping & Markets
2
Nearby Cities
Jersey City
View all →
Loew's Jersey Theatre
Theaters & Performance Venues★ 4.8Varies
Date SpotIndoorCity Landmark
Tear Drop Memorial
Monuments & Statues★ 4.8Free
Scenic LookoutOutdoorPhoto Spot
Must-SeeLiberty State Park
State Parks★ 4.7Free
City LandmarkCoastRiver
Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal
Museums★ 4.6Free
FamilyIndoorOutdoor
Colgate Clock
Historic Sites★ 4.6Free
OutdoorPhoto SpotCity Landmark
Must-SeeLiberty Science Center
Museums★ 4.5$31.99
KidsIndoorParking Available
