Brooklyn Bridge
John Roebling's engineering masterpiece was the world's longest suspension bridge upon its completion in 1883. One of the most recognizable structures in NYC, the bridge has been featured in countless movies and television shows and, as the first land pa**age between Manhattan and Brooklyn, represents a critical piece of New York City history. Though the bridge is visible from the shores of both boroughs, it is best experienced through a leisurely stroll across its elevated pedestrian walkway. Here, visitors from around the world can share a path with New Yorkers making their daily commute; those walking across can enjoy views of downtown Manhattan and New York Harbor on every step of the 5,989-foot traverse. The Manhattan-side entrance is at Park Row and Centre Street, across from City Hall Park.
Staten Island Ferry
More than a means of transportation, the Staten Island Ferry is an attraction unto itself. For no charge, visitors can enjoy the 25-minute voyage by water from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island and take in the Statue of Liberty and amazing views of New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline. The ferry—which runs 24 hours a day and serves beer until midnight—drops off visitors at the St. George Ferry Terminal, close to the Staten Island Museum and the St. George Theatre, and just a short bus ride from the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. The latter is an educational and entertaining destination (a former retirement home for sailors) encompa**ing numerous institutions whose diverse offerings should appeal to all interests and ages. Among them are the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, the Noble Maritime Collection and the Staten Island Children's Museum. Within walking distance of the ferry terminal is Richmond County Bank Ballpark, home of minor league baseball team the Staten Island Yankees (they play from June through early September). Catch a game at this intimate stadium, which affords glorious waterfront views from the stands. For more things to see and do around the ferry terminal, check out our St. George slideshow.
Downtown Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the seat of the City's government, the home of Wall Street and a place where much of America's early history unfolded. The area is packed with cultural institutions, including The Skyscraper Museum and the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Battery Park features 25 acres of open space—including gardens and the Castle Clinton National Monument, a fort built in preparation for the War of 1812. Stone Street, an appropriately named cobblestone thoroughfare, features a wide range of worthwhile drinking and dining establishments including Harry's Cafe and Steak, Vintry Wine & Whiskey and many more. Nearby, City Hall—one of America's oldest functioning seats of municipal government—offers public tours. After visiting the premises, consider walking across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, located just across the street.
For more on downtown, see our Lower Manhattan page.
9/11 Memorial & Museum
The memorial portion of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center was dedicated on September 11, 2011—the 10th anniversary of the attacks—with a ceremony for the families of victims, and opened to the public the following day. Admission requires a reservation, which is free if made in person. Reservations made over the phone or online carry a nonrefundable $2 service fee (9/11 victims' family members are exempt). The memorial honors the nearly 3,000 people who died in the attacks on February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001 (including those who were k**ed in Pennsylvania and at The Pentagon). Eight acres in all, the Memorial Plaza features more than 400 trees and provides a sanctuary for quiet contemplation. Waterfalls flow into two large reflecting pools, in the towers' footprints, and the names of the men, women and children who lost their lives are inscribed in bronze parapets that surround the pools. The museum, which is in the works, will house exhibitions with artifacts, pictures, videos and accounts from people from around the United States and the world, amounting to a jointly told history of September 11, 2001. Also nearby, the 9/11 Tribute Center offers photos, walking tours and a collection of objects that bring visitors together in remembrance of 9/11 and in its aftermath.
The 7 Train
Queens is New York City's most international borough, so a ride on the 7 train—the purple-hued subway line that cuts through Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Corona and Flushing—can feel like a journey around the globe. Indeed, in 1999, the route was named one of 16 "National Millennium Trails" representing the legacy of the United States, as it features an abundance of immigrant neighborhoods along its stops. Riding the 7 is certainly an essential NYC experience for anyone who's interested in world cultures. What should you do when you get off at each station? Well, eating is one great option. For guidance, check out our roundup of ethnic restaurants with tasty food along the diverse line. Conveniently, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park is adjacent to Mets/Willets Point, the second-to-last 7 train stop. Also near the 7, you'll find innovative contemporary art at MoMA PS1 in Long Island City.
For more tips on what to do and see in neighborhoods along the 7 train, read our "Must-See" guides to Corona, Long Island City, Astoria and Flushing.
Prospect Park
If Prospect Park feels like Brooklyn's answer to Central Park, there's a reason—Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed both ma**ive green spaces in the mid-19th century. For its part, the 585-acre Prospect Park is highlighted by the immense Long Meadow, whose name isn't just an empty boast—at almost 1 mile long, it may be the longest continuous meadow in any American park. The meadow is a popular site for sports and picnics. Prospect Park as a whole is home to endless recreational possibilities, including not only the usual suspects like jogging and biking but also such rare treats as dog swimming—four-legged New Yorkers can make a splash at Dog Beach. The beach is part of Prospect Park Lake, where visitors are also known to go fishing (it's a great place to catch largemouth ba**—but anglers must abide by the "catch and release" rule). Prospect Park also contains Brooklyn's only remaining natural forest, which spans 250 acres (in total, the park features more than 30,000 trees).
Other notable Prospect Park attractions include Lefferts Historic House, where visitors can view artifacts, churn bu*ter, start fires with flint and steel, sew and otherwise experience some of the rural activities that once characterized life in Flatbush; the Prospect Park Zoo, home to a wide array of animals you're unlikely to see frolicking through most parks, including red pandas and kangaroos; and the Prospect Park Bandshell, which during the summer hosts Celebrate Brooklyn!, a mostly-free concert series that has showcased Sonic Youth, They Might Be Giants, David Byrne and more. Finally, the nearby Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of the largest, most complete attractions of its kind; highlights include a scent garden for the blind and a serene Japanese tea garden. Other neighboring sights include the Brooklyn Museum and the gorgeous main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. For many more worthy attractions west of Prospect Park, check out our guide to Park Slope.
Nightlife Uptown and Beyond
For the true NYC experience, it's essential to go out after dark. While it's a fool's endeavor to attempt a summary of the City's nightlife offerings in just a few words, we can make some recommendations: be sure to spend some time in Harlem, where the Apollo Theater stages its famous Amateur Night—over the years, the Apollo has hosted performances by such stars as Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, The Strokes and comedian Tracy Morgan. Beyond Harlem, the City is also home to countless other concert venues. B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, the Highline Ballroom, Irving Plaza and many more all host both rising and multiplatinum artists; check out our concert calendar for a list of notable upcoming shows. The Lower East Side, meanwhile, is one of many neighborhoods that's full of bars running the gamut from cla**y joints to gritty dives to dancing dens. The five boroughs are also a humor mecca—NYC's comedy clubs host headliners and rising stars every night of the week, and sometimes a big name will make an unexpected late-night appearance at one of the smaller venues. See our comedy calendar for specific comedians and weekly shows. And for more up-to-date going-out goings-on throughout New York City, check out our nightlife calendar.
Coney Island
The ups and downs of the 85-year-old Cyclone roller coaster are a fitting metaphor for the Coney Island experience lately—every year seems to bring big changes to the quirky beachfront amusement district, but a visit there is always entertaining. These days, cla**ic Boardwalk institutions like Ruby's Bar and Grill, Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and Nathan's Famous operate next to shiny thrill-ride tract Luna Park, whose Scream Zone twists, turns, drops and spins patrons into a state of pure bliss (or at least bliss with a splash of queasiness). Other area attractions include MCU Park, the gorgeous home of Mets minor-league affiliate the Brooklyn Cyclones (who play from June through early September), and the New York Aquarium, which features a menagerie of aquatic life including walruses, penguins and cownose rays; as the aquarium continues to rebuilding following the damage from Superstorm Sandy, more and more of its creatures will be on display. Also worth visiting on Brooklyn's south shore is famed Russian enclave Brighton Beach, just a short stroll away on the Boardwalk. For even more things to do in the waterfront neighborhood, check out our "Must-See Coney Island" guide.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Presenting thousands of performances each year, Lincoln Center has established itself as a hub for New York City's performing arts scene. The sprawling 16.3-acre Upper West Side complex is home to 11 organizations, including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet. If you're looking for an enriching way to spend an afternoon or evening, Lincoln Center delivers with an extensive lineup of concerts, plays and film screenings throughout the week. The landmark space seamlessly blends cla**ic elements with modern renovations, seen most recently in the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, which opened its doors to the public in 2011. Within its 17,500 square feet, the center houses two theaters (one for special releases and the other for new releases and special programming), an amphitheater and a café. On Thursday evenings, the David Rubenstein Atrium—a gathering space complete with vertical gardens, an abundance of seating and a floor-to-ceiling fountain—presents free performances, courtesy of Target. Additionally, tours are available daily for guests in search of the story behind the center. Highlights include the majestic Revson Fountain, the recently renovated Alice Tully Hall and behind-the-scenes looks at top venues. Not sure what to do before your show? Lincoln Center's bustling neighborhood is full of top-notch attractions, including the American Museum of Natural History, a mere 15 minutes away on foot, and Central Park, which is only a two-block walk.