In New York there is something to see everywhere. But the ways to see everything can be different. In the following list we present you 10 ways to discover the “Big Apple”.
1. By foot
Manhattan is an island about 25 kilometers long and 4 kilometers wide. This means that if we “melt” our soles we can walk on it. Lower Manhattan and Midtown Manhattan are where most of the attractions are. Walk fearlessly and you won’t even know when you’ve gone around the whole island. For very long distances there is the metro and also the buses that you can find everywhere.
2. By tourist bus
There are two types of tour buses in New York. Hop On Hop Off that allow you to get off at stops with points of interest, take your ride, and get on the next one with the same ticket. These buses cover routes for the entire island of Manhattan as well as for the neighboring boroughs of Brooklyn and the Bronx. There are also tourist buses that make routes without stops. Usually these routes are the night ones. You can find tickets for 1, 2 or 3 days.
3. From the buildings
There are five buildings in Manhattan that allow public access to their observatory. The Empire State Building, GE Building (Top of the Rock) at Rockefeller Center, The Edge, One World Observatory and Summit One Vanderbilt. The Empire State Building has one of the most popular outdoor observation decks in the world, with over 110 million tickets since it first opened to date. The main observatory, on the 86th floor (outdoor), and the second, on the 102nd (indoor), offer impressive images of New York in all directions (360 degrees). There is a second observation deck on the 102nd floor that is open to the public. The observation deck at Top of the Rock, which is built to look like the deck of an ocean liner, offers visitors a panoramic view of the city, and rivals the observation deck on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building. It is often considered the best panoramic view of the city, simply because it offers a view of the Empire State Building.
4. From the sea
There are many types of boats that operate cruises around Manhattan Island. These boats take you to the Statue of Liberty, pass under the impressive bridges and offer you a different view of the landmarks and the view of Manhattan. On some of the boats you can enjoy a dinner or a drink. Routes vary and can be from one hour to 2.5 hours. Whatever the case, the experience you will live will be unprecedented.
5. By sailboat
Two sailboats cruise around Manhattan Island. Clipper City and Shearwater. Clipper City, is a replica of a wooden schooner that drove America’s industry more than a century ago. At 48 meters, with masts reaching up to 36.5 meters from the deck, the ship is New York’s largest and most elegant sailing vessel and can accommodate up to 150 passengers. The Shearwater is a 25 meter long hand built sailboat built in 1929 from hardwoods. It is a New York landmark and has been sailing in the harbor since 2001. The boat can accommodate up to 48 passengers, and departs daily from lower Manhattan.
6. With “The Beast” Speedboat
The “monster” is a speedboat that takes you on a breathtaking 30-minute cruise of New York Harbor. With a speed that reaches 40 knots (over 45 mph), the “monster” is a roller coaster of water. Hold on to your hats and enjoy this unique ride. The boat makes a short stop very close to the Statue of Liberty for photos and then returns to the harbor at the same frantic pace.
7. By foot tours
Certainly walking as we said is a way to get to know the city. But there are also dozens of walking tours where a guide together with other tourists takes you around different places and tells you their history. Some of these tours include food tours, Broadway area tours, Gospel church tours, building and opera tours, movie city themed tours, and more. Surely a New Yorker will show his city much better.
8. By bike
New York City is bike-friendly and of course has the infrastructure in place. There are marked bike lanes everywhere, even on bridges. There are two bike routes that stand out. Through the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway you can circumnavigate the entire island of Manhattan, rarely entering regular roads. This “journey” will take you through the Hudson River, Harlem, the East River and finally you will end up in Battery Park. The second route is exploring the sprawling Central Park. You’ll find bike rental and equipment shops all over Manhattan. Guided bicycle tours are also organized.
9. By helicopter
In New York there are many companies that offer an unforgettable helicopter ride. The price may be a bit steep but it is an experience that must be experienced. The ride takes 20 minutes and takes you over the Statue of Liberty and along the Hudson River. You will also have the opportunity to see some of the most important sights of New York from above such as the 9/11 Memorial/Freedom Tower, Battery Park, Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Chrysler Building, Times Square, Central Park, Intrepid, Harlem, Columbia University, Yankee Stadium, George Washington Bridge and more. A ride costs around $150 per person.
10. From the bridges
Most of the bridges that connect Manhattan to neighboring boroughs also have pedestrian walkways. Prefer to walk these routes towards Manhattan so that you have the chance to enjoy the amazing skyline spread out before you. The main bridges with pedestrian walkways are the Brooklyn Bridge, the Queensboro Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge and the George Washington Bridge which is the only one connecting Manhattan to neighboring New Jersey.
