What to see in New York City, the “Big Apple” between culture and leisure
What to see in New York City? Everyone wonders this when planning their visit to the American city. In this post I will try to give you some useful tips on what to visit in New York !
New York is one of those places in the world where emotions never fade, a modern and revolutionary city, but above all catapulted into a reality outside of time itself. Known worldwide as the Big Apple, New York, with its five boroughs, namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and Bronx , remains a lifelong dream for any traveler.
New York map
For anyone of you who is in initial difficulty, given the size of the city, let’s start posting the map of New York, which will allow you, by downloading it, to immediately have the complete picture of the situation:
New Yorkers
New York is one of the most densely populated cities in the world . In fact, the population of New York is about 8 million inhabitants residing in the city center, while if we count the whole urban agglomeration the number rises dramatically to over 23 million inhabitants! A stratospheric number that makes you understand how New York is really the navel of the world, as Jovanotti sang in one of his most famous songs.
In the 2010 census, the population in New York was found to be divided as follows:
- whites of European descent 33.0%;
- Hispanic 29.0%;
- African Americans 23.0%;
- Asian 13.0%;
- Native Americans 0.5%;
There is a large number of Italians residing in the Big Apple or in any case of Italian origin, who together with those of Irish origin have given rise to high migratory flows in the past centuries. There is therefore a lot of Italian blood among the inhabitants of New York!
What to visit in New York
A thousand attractions to discover and immortalize await you.
From the symbolic monuments: the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, to Times Square and Central Park, passing through the countless and extraordinary art museums.
Probably if we had to make an overview of what to visit in New York, words would never be enough because there really is a world to discover, to admire, and above all to love. But let’s at least try to show you the key points of your trip to New York City!
Statue of Liberty: the symbol of the Big Apple and American democracy
The Lady Liberty , as the Americans call it, also known as the Statue of Liberty, is located in the heart of the Manhattan neighborhood in the Midtown area, along the rocky Liberty Island and is today a symbol of the city as well as of American freedom and democracy. Donated by the French in memory of the centenary of the American Revolution, today this monument is one of the most famous in the world. Those who visit the Statue of Liberty for the first time can find all the information on the official website to better plan their tour.
Empire State Building: the second tallest skyscraper in the city
The Empire State Building, in the Midtown district of the borough of Manhattan, with its 443 meters of height and the second tallest skyscraper in the city after the One World Trade Center . Art deco style, the Empire is one of the seven wonders of the modern world that offers a thrilling New York skyline. Whatever the duration of your stay in New York, a visit to the Empire State Building cannot be missed! Those who visit the Empire State Building for the first time, by clicking on the previous link, will find all the info they need!
Central Park: New York’s man-made oasis
In a hectic city like New York, you certainly cannot miss a quiet corner, away from the chaos of an excessive and unstoppable city: here we are in Central Park . Within walking distance of Harlem, Central Park is the most famous and largest park in Manhattan. At first glance it is a real natural oasis, while instead it is all artificial, so much so that it is largely the work of man. Inside, the peculiarities are in fact, precisely the artificial lakes of which the largest is the Reservoir , very popular with Americans and tourists, as well as the skating rinks, always artificial, playgrounds for children, and so on. .
Times Square: the most beautiful square in New York and the center of city life
As in American films, Times Square is something utopian: blinding lights and colors, giant advertising panels, speeding taxis and a bustle of people strolling between Broadway and Seventh Avenue. And not only that, Times Square, in the heart of Manhattan, is always full of life, music and street artists, street food and New York specialties.
Fifth Avenue: New York shopping and fashion
Dedicated exclusively to fashion and the most exclusive shopping, Fifth Avenue is certainly a must for all fashion lovers. With its prestigious luxury boutiques, from Louis Vuitton to Gucci, Armani, Fendi, Versace, Rolex, Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany & Co and many other brands, Fifth Avenue is the most famous street in the world, especially admired by women.
New York museums: the most beautiful to see
In New York there is certainly no lack of art kept in its extraordinary museums.
We point out the three most beautiful museums in New York, which you just can’t miss:
MOMA – Museum Of Modern Art
It is the modern art museum par excellence, with over 150,000 works from Salvador Dali to Picasso, passing through Cloude Monet, Edgar Degas, Vincent Van Gogh, Marc Chagall, Paul Cezanne, Umberto Boccioni and many others.
It is located in the heart of Manhattan, in the Midtown area and is still considered today the most important museum of modern art in the world.
For more information regarding the purchase of tickets, you can consult the official website of the museum.
Guggheneim Museum
Another museum worth visiting and certainly the Guggheneim Museum, recognizable by its incredible spiral structure along 15th street.
In addition to elegance, the museum boasts a collection of modern and contemporary works of art by the greatest artists of the past such as Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas, Marc Chagall, Edouard Manet and many others.
Metropolitan Museum
The Metropolitan Museum , also known as “The Met” and the museum dedicated to medieval art.
With over two million works, divided into 19 sections, it is today one of the most important museums in the world. Mainly inside it preserves masterpieces of classical antiquity: from Ancient Egypt to the greatest masters of art in Europe, also passing through the large collections of period accessories such as armaments, musical instruments from every corner of the world.
Cheesecake in New York: where to eat the best cheesecake in the city
A must of the American tradition is the New York cheesecake cake, with its tasty and enveloping cream of fresh cheese, usually Philadelphia, combined with a cascade of berries, chocolate and biscuits. We point out where to eat the best cheesecakes in New York.
Magnolia Bakery: the true American tradition
One of the most famous bakeries in New York is the Magnolia Bakery, with its chain of delicious American cupcakes of which the most famous is the Red Velvet cupcake: a perfect mix of cocoa, vinegar and butter.
On the official website of the Magnolia Bakery, you will find all the delights offered by the house, the special cupcakes and all the delicacies of the American tradition. Try their delicious New York Cheesecake, literally mouth-watering!
Two Little Red Hens: the most popular with tourists
The real desserts of the American tradition are at Two Little Red Hens in New York’s Upper East Side: from classic cupcakes to muffins, passing through the delicious and special cheesecakes that have always left tourists mouth watering. On the official website of the Two Little Red Hens you will find the menu with all the desserts and specialties of the American tradition.
Time zone in New York: what time is it in the Big Apple?
Especially in the early hours of our stay in New York, the first thing that plagues us is definitely the time zone. The time zone of New York belongs to the band called Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) and is respectively -6 hours compared to Italy. This means that if in Italy it is 6 pm, in the Big Apple it will be 10 am (10 am according to the American wording).
Your trip to New York starts here: are you ready to go?
