1 Day in New York... What to see?

Woogie · 21 Jun 2019 at 15:11

Hey, So I am currently in NY for work and have all of Saturday free. What are the top things I should see?

If the weather stays clear for today (It has been pretty crap the last 24 hours) I was going to up the Empire State building as it started to turn to night to see the skyline light up. My Father in Law is saying I need to go to Ellis Island for the history which seems OK, I am not even remotely fussed about seeing the Statue of Liberty so thought I'd ask what others would suggest.

thegreysquirrel · 21 Jun 2019 at 15:22

Not massively practical if you only have one day (as it's quite a subway ride) but I loved Coney Island for some classic americana.

jsmoke · 21 Jun 2019 at 15:25

Times square?

Marky · 21 Jun 2019 at 15:30

I only spent 3 nights in NY, but I just enjoyed walking around looking/seeing things really... I loved walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, and hanging out over the other side watching the bridge at night was awesome. Really enjoyed Central Park, and wish I walked further and explored more.

I went to see the Twin Towers site, which was very moving and interesting.

Also Grand Central Station - Which is massive and so good if you're a people watcher (aka a nosey *******

)

And I'm a sucker for a Comedy Club, so I went to see a show which was awesome

Raymond Lin · 21 Jun 2019 at 15:33

Erm....There are 3 main skyscrapers in New York that people typically go up.

1 - Rockafellar
2 - Empire State
3 - New WTC

The best one IMO is Rockafellar because you will get to see Empire State dead centre in front of you, which is the iconic photo. If you are on Empire State then you are IN the very building that you should be looking at.

New WTC is down town so your best view isn't back at the city, more so looking towards Brooklyn and see the 3 bridges.

Be warn that you need to arrive early to get tickets, if you get there at 6pm, you are unlikely to get to go up unil 9pm for Top of the Rock, with WTC you can book online.

Other things I would do.

Go to Katz Deli to get a Pastrim Sandwich (Where they filmed When Harry Met Sally with that fake orgasm scene). Really good sandwich, almost orgasmic

Take a walk in China town as you are next to it or to New WTC, at least see the Oculus and 911 Memorial

Train up to Grand Central Station to have a look (The basement has ShakeShack)

Then Train up to Central Park or The Met if you want too go to a Museum (personally I am not a fan of the the Met, each to their own)

May be go to Time Square when you are waiting to go up to Rockafellar Centre (Top of the Rock), it's close by.

peterwalkley · 21 Jun 2019 at 15:35

Only thing I could add to the excellent post above would be the Staten Island ferry round trip (its free !) for view of Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline.

Woogie · 21 Jun 2019 at 15:42

Raymond Lin said:
snip.

That is super helpful, Cheers. It never really occurred to me to go up the Rockafella and look at the Empire State. I'll be up and out at around 6am tomorrow morning so hoping to get quite a bit done.

I walked through Times Square a few nights back and went for a beer at the Oyster bar (Didn't eat as not a massive sea food fan) in Grand Central yesterday

Royal Fleet · 21 Jun 2019 at 15:51

If it is a nice day consider walking the High Line.

jsmoke · 21 Jun 2019 at 15:53

Go to hells kitchen and take some pics, was just reading up on the westies. I'm sure it's all changed now though.

Raymond Lin · 21 Jun 2019 at 16:06

jsmoke said:
Go to hells kitchen and take some pics, was just reading up on the westies. I'm sure it's all changed now though.

New York has changed a lot, it is not as rough anymore.

There is a saying from the locals about the East Village for Example.

That back the day Avenues A, B, C, and D stood for Adventurous, Brave, Crazy, and Dead.

now they stand for Affluent, Bourgeois, Comfortable, Decent.

Master_X · 21 Jun 2019 at 16:18

September 11 Memorial & Museum was really worth a visit.

roccles · 21 Jun 2019 at 16:32

If your interested in seeing some sights and only have a few hours I would highly recommend one of the boat sight seeing tours. I was a bit dubious before I went on it but as it was included in our New York Pass I thought why not, and I really enjoyed it.

We did the evening tour as it was getting dark - this one i think LINK

MBennett · 21 Jun 2019 at 17:46

Rooftop pool party at Jimmy at the James, it’s in TriBeCa about 200m from the Ghostbusters firestation. Go up about 7 and watch the sunset. It is free but you need to book and drinks are the usual NY expensive, fantastic views of downtown and uptown. Alternatively go to the Campbell cocktail bar under Grand Central, it’s small and most people don’t even know it’s there (about 20ft x 30ft) last time went I bumped into Jennifer Lawrence, so if it’s good enough for her it’s ok for pleb like me!

booyaka · 21 Jun 2019 at 18:03

Agree - Rockafeller is way better than ESB - much bigger at the top and you see Central park one side and ESB the other.

Get one of the bus tours - you can hope on and off as much as you like - that way you can see lots in a day

NickK · 21 Jun 2019 at 18:31

Loved the rock - it's a bit of hassle with the security the long queues but once up (lift to top is a special one.. it goes fast!) there's a couple of floors to look out.

We walked from the statue of liberty back to central park - including Chinatown (bubble tea!) and Little Italy.

AHarvey · 21 Jun 2019 at 18:38

If you're there on work, I'd be asking the people I am there working with. they know the area

Woogie · 21 Jun 2019 at 18:48

AHarvey said:
If you're there on work, I'd be asking the people I am there working with. they know the area

They suggested a few things which others have also suggested, but mostly just go to the area to work and get out of it.

mattx2 · 21 Jun 2019 at 19:02

Natural history museum is a great place to spend a morning and then you can walk through central park after.

Have a look round the new Hudson yards development the weird looking vessel structure is open now

Get the ferry over to dumbo and take a walk along the piers there. Great views of downtown Manhattan

banja · 22 Jun 2019 at 09:11

Do what I did - get caught with a beer on the street, have your ID taken for 30 minutes by an armed cop (all armed to be fair) get a ticket, attend the police station, then spend several hours sorting the fine and queing in the post office to send it off.

Don't do this.

I did both the Rock and ESB and preferred ESB. If you go up ESB pay to go right to the top. Definitely go at dusk and stay up there watching the lights across the city come on. That was awesome.

[FnG]magnolia · 22 Jun 2019 at 11:27

@Raymond Lin, nice photos my dude