5 Must-See attractions in New York City

New York City … where do you start? There are so many places to see, from the famous Empire State Building to the Statue of Liberty and Time Square. Wherever you go, there’s always something exciting to do in the NYC.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the most famous buildings in the world. This 102-story art deco skyscraper is located right in the heart of Manhattan, in the intersection of 5th Avenue and 34th Street in New York City. It is the tallest building in New York today. It was named as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

Featured on the 86th floor is the observation deck, which offers a panoramic view of New York City. Over 110 million people have visited this glass-enclosed pavilion since it opened in 1931. You probably recognized it from movies such as Sleepless in Seattle, Elf and the most famous of all, An Affair to Remember.

At night, the top of the building luminates with chosen colors to match the season or events, such as green and red for Christmas and sports teams colors when they have home games.

Times Square

Times Square is one of the busiest intersections in the world. Famous for its annual New Year’s Eve ball drop, it is also an icon and a symbol of New York City. With flashing neon lights, big marquees and Broadway shows, you can feel the energy in this city that never sleeps.

The main attractions include MTV’s TRL Studios, ABC’s Good Morning America studios and Toys’R’Us, but within blocks of Times Square you can find the Ed Sullivan Theater, where they tape the David Letterman Show every weekday, the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, Rockefeller Center, NBC Studios, Broadway and Disney Store.

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty (pictured) was a gift by the people of France to the people of the US as a sign of friendship between the two nations. It is one of the most recognizable icons of the US. The statue is 151-feet tall, but with the pedestal and foundation, she stands at 305-feet tall.

She is a symbol of freedom and opportunity. Many of our ancestors have passed through Ellis Island and by the Statue of Liberty with hopes of greener pastures.

In 1984, it was named as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Liberty and Ellis Island is only accessible by ferries. The park is opened 8:30am - 6pm. Admission is free. The ferry tickets are $11.50, Adults, $9.50, Seniors (62 and up), children, $4.50(4-12), under 4, free.

Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center is an art deco complex, consisting of 19 commercial buildings, covering 22-acres between 48th and 51st Street, in Midtown Manhattan. The Rockefeller family built it in 1930.

It is home to the Radio City Music Hall, NBC, Christie’s Auction House, the famous ice-skating rink and the associated press.

The Rockefeller Center transform into a magical place during Christmas time, with the famous Christmas tree and its beautiful lights and decorations everywhere.

Tours of the Rockefeller Center and the NBC Studios are available.

Madison Square Garden

If you like sports, the best way to experience a live game is at the Madison Square Garden. It’s the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”

You can take an All Access tour of the Madison Square Garden to visit the New York teams locker rooms, backstage tour of the theater and Star dressing rooms among other fun areas.

Madison Square Garden hosts about 320 events a year, but it is popularly known as the Home of the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers.

Whenever you decide to go to New York City, make sure to include these places to your itinerary.