10 Must See Landmarks in New York City

According to Architecture Magazine, by 2016 New York City will have the skinniest tall building in the world. The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission has given its final approval and plan is underway for 105-111 West 57th Street’s 1,350 feet skinny tower. This might be the beginning of the skinny towers of the world. (Source: Architecture Magazine)

New York City is known for its skyscrapers and unique landmarks that range in age, size and design. Here is Travelmath’s 10 must see landmarks in New York City:

One: Statue of Liberty
Lady Liberty is a New York City icon. You need to make a reservation to visit the pedestal or the crown of the Statue of Liberty. Visiting the crown is the highlight of the visit. The National Park Service takes care of all the reservation.

Information: Statue of Liberty

Two: Brooklyn Bridge
When completed in 1883, Brooklyn Bridge was the first steel suspension bridge and the tallest structure in New York City. The bridge across East River connects Manhattan Island to Brooklyn, which are two of the five boroughs in New York City.

Brooklyn Bridge is designed to have a pedestrian walkway at the upper level. It takes about 20 minutes to walk each way.

Information: Brooklyn Bridge

Three: Flatiron Building
The front of this building is only six feet across. Flatiron comes from the word flat iron because of its resemblance to the old-fashioned iron. This 22-story building by architect D.H. Burham was completed in 1902. It still stands out among the buildings on Fifth Avenue between 22nd and 23rd Street.

Four: Radio City Music Hall
Over 300 million visitors have enjoyed concerts, special events, stage shows and movies at the Radio City Music Hall for more than six decades. It is home to the Rockettes and Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Take an 80-minute Stage Door Tour and discover the interior design of the building with a massive 1.8 million cubic feet auditorium, original aluminum statues, eight lounges, grand foyer and the famous Roxy Suite.

The Radio City Music Hall is just a short distance from the neon lights and giant wraparound news tickers of Times Square.

Information: Radio City

Five: Empire State Building
Empire State Building is one of the most photographed landmarks in New York City. Visitors can have a bird’s eye view of the city by visiting the 86th or the 102nd floor of the building’s observatories. On the 86th floor is the open air 360-degree terrace and an indoor viewing gallery for cold days. Or ride the elevator a quarter of a mile high to 102nd floor- New York’s highest public viewing point.

The Empire State Building has a Tower Light Schedule that tells you the color of the Empire State Building when you visit. For example- December 25 and 26 is the red, green and white.

Information: Empire State Building

Six: Guggenheim Museum
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s design of Guggenheim Museum was ahead of his time. Walking on the grand ramp from the foyer to the dome is the best way to feel the slope and winding pyramidal inverted ziggurat structure.

Information: Guggenheim Museum

Seven: Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal is an engineering marvel, technological pioneer and an interior design at its best. Every part of the exterior and interior of the building was properly thought out. A Parisian artist Sylvain Saliéres was brought in to craft bronze and stone carvings including the oak leaves and acorns – symbols of the Vanderbilt family.

Information: Grand Central Terminal

Eight: Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock, NBC Studio, ice skating rink, hundreds of flags outside the building and hundreds of shops have attracted millions of tourists each year.

It is a must see even if you are not a first time visitor to New York City because chances are you have not dined in one of the restaurants or stepped onto Top of the Rock to get a view of NYC.

Information: Rockefeller Center

Nine: Central Park
America’s most famous park has it all- a zoo, a reservoir named after a First Lady, a 133 year old Obelisk, 250 acres of lawn, 150 acres of lakes and streams, 24,000 trees, 55 sculptures and monuments, 36 bridges, a famous restaurant, a carousel and much more.

Information: Central Park

Ten: 911 Memorial
The 911 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 killed on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, Shanksville, PA, at the Pentagon and the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993.

The Memorial is an ongoing project. Currently visitors can visit the Memorial’s twin reflecting pools, manmade waterfalls and browse through the names of those who lost their lives in the attacks.

Information: 911 Memorial

Tips to help you plan and enjoy your sightseeing trip in NYC:

1.   Finding the best airfares.
2.   Flight distance, for example Dallas to New York City.
3.   Hotels in the area.
4.   Bring comfortable walking shoes. New York is a great city for walking tours and shopping.
5.   The streets are divided into East and West side. Fifth Avenue is the ‘dividing line’ – for help with walking distance use Travelmath’s Walking Distance calculator. For example it is 2.55 miles from The Empire State Building to The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Have you been to NYC? Let us know your favorite landmark in NYC.