How to have fun in New York? Where to go on trips or shopping? What activities are worth travelling to New York for?

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Coffee break

Drinking coffee has become a traditional activity in New York and you'll find many people on the street with a paper cup in their hand at any time of day.

Take a seat in one of the hundreds of Starbucks coffee shops as you wander around the city and observe the daily hustle and bustle of New Yorkers.

Personally, I tend to seek out the lesser-known coffee shops.

• ☕ Read the article Our favorite coffee shops in NYC

Panoramic viewpoints

New York's Manhattan skyline is one of the main things that attracts tourists from all over the world.

The concentration of skyscrapers is huge (it's only bigger in Hong Kong, which we also visited) and very photogenic.

But where are the best vantage points and views in New York?

You have two options. Either pay to ride one of the skyscrapers and enjoy New York from above, or walk along the East River or Hudson waterfront and see the Manhattan skyline as a whole.

Find out prices for flights to NYC

The best views from the skyscrapers

• SUMMIT One Vanderbilt - one of the newest and definitely the most fun sightseeing experience full of interactive displays is located in the skyscraper right next to Grand Central Terminal.
• Rockefeller Center - The most popular viewpoint is Top of the Rock. The top is divided into an indoor section, where you can warm up in the winter, and an outdoor section with no glass. In addition, the Rockefeller skyscraper itself is relatively ugly, but you can see the iconic Emipre State Building as well as Central Park, and Lower Manhattan with One World Trade Center in the distance.
• One World Trade Center - The tallest building in New York City provides a breathtaking view of Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty or the Brooklyn Bridge. The downside is that logically, from this vantage point, you can't see the tallest skyscraper - you're standing on top of it.
• Empire State Building - It will provide an excellent view of the tallest One World Trade Center and the Chrysler Building. Since the Empire State is probably the most iconic skyscraper, the viewpoint is not very popular: you won't see the skyscraper itself.
• The Edge - The highest outdoor observation deck in the world will provide a breathtaking view of lower Manhattan with the OWTC.
  • In our article you will find practical information on how to visit the observation deck for free, or as part of a reservation at the Peak!
• Prices are always similar (around $40-60, then up to over $70 at sunset), always book at least a week in advance.

Best view of the skyline (free)

• Brooklyn Bridge Park - The best view of both Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge from the Brooklyn side. The park and boardwalk is a 10-minute walk from the "High Street-Brooklyn bridge" subway station (A, C lines). The best photo conditions are in the morning.
• Brooklyn Bridge - one of the most iconic bridges in the world will offer beautiful views of Manhattan from the wooden footbridge.
• Governors Island, Statue of Liberty, and Staten Island Ferry - From all of these spots, you'll see the tip of Lower Manhattan with the tallest skyscrapers as plain as day. Good light awaits you here all day long.
• Jersey City - Offers a similar view to Brooklyn, only from the other side. That's also why it's best to go here in the late afternoon and early evening, when Manhattan is beautifully lit by the setting sun.
• Roosevelt Island - The pedestrian promenades at the southern tip of the island offer unparalleled views of Midtown Manhattan.
• Dumbo - a neighborhood on the Brooklyn side with iconic views of the Manhattan Bridge pylon.

Film Location Tour

Friends, Sex and the City or Gossip Girl?

Hundreds of films, led by the iconic Home Alone 2: Lost in New York?

Film and TV enthusiasts will find plenty to do in America's greatest city. There are hundreds of locations in NY where famous scenes from iconic TV shows and feature films have been filmed!

We've only visited a fraction of them so far.

• The Plaza Hotel - we stayed here and wrote an honest review of our stay
• The House of Friends
• Dozens of locations in Central Park

What are your favorite movie locations in New York and do you have photos from them? Show us in the comments below this article.

Shopping for clothes

Shopping in New York City is a big topic. The main places where you can shop well and cheaply for new, unglamorous goods from leading fashion brands are:

• Macy's in Herald Square is a legendary department store in Manhattan. You can find literally everything from suits, sportswear, shoes and home accessories.
• 21 Century in the Financial District used to be famous for its uncontrolled grabbing of the latest pieces at the best prices, which often hit the limit 1 usd.
• New Jersey Garden's is an outlet mall, reached by buses from the Porth Authority. You can buy a return ticket from the machine behind 14 usd and it is bus 111 leaving from stop 222.
• Fifth Avenue is probably the most famous shopping street in the entire world. Here you will find not only luxury boutiques such as Prada, Tiffany, Gucci, Armani, Versace, BVLGARI and others, but also mainstream fashion brands such as Victoria's Secret, Michael Kors, Abercrombie Fitch, Hollister, Next, Zara, Victoria Secret's, etc. Definitely don't ignore this street and its shops - every store has a sale section where you can also find pieces at 90-70% off.

Museum tour

There are over a hundred museums and otherwise culturally or historically oriented organizations in New York City. You know many of them, many are recommended on the map of places to visit, but by no means do we have the space here to list every museum in New York.

From our own experience, we recommend these museums:

• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• American Museum of Natural History
• Intrepid Museum
• Guggenheim Museum
• Ellis Island Museum of Immigration

What are your favorite museums in New York City? Share them with us and with travelers from around the world in the comments below this article. Thanks!

Free museums on certain days

Formerly common practice, now the complete exception.

Of the well-known museums, only the Guggenheim allows free admission every Sunday between 4:00-5:30pm - details.

The 10 best hotels in New York

World-class gastronomy

Although New York is America's city, its cosmopolitan nature means it offers gastronomy from all corners of the world. The advantage is that most restaurants are always run by the country's original inhabitants, giving the dishes a traditional authenticity.

But who would fly to New York for pizza or kung pau? Get a taste of the real America!

Some of the best burgers are at Five Guys. Get a taste of the Elvis Presley era at Johnny Rocket's, with its red leather seats, giant milkshakes and, of course, great burgers.

Sporting activities in Central Park and beyond

Central Park is not only a place to relax in an otherwise bustling metropolis, but also an ideal place for sporting activities. Put on your new Nike shoes and run some miles across the park. You won't be alone.

• Tip: store your clothes in the lockers for free and go for a run - details here

Roosevelt Island is also a great place to play sports or take a stroll, with its unparalleled views of Manhattan.

And a very popular promenade is the nearly endless waterfront along the Hudson River, which has been converted into wide sidewalks for walkers and runners from Downtown to Uptown. The prettiest stretch runs past Little Island and the iconic Vessel building.

To the beach at Coney Island

If you're going to be in New York City during the summer months and the tiring heat won't stop following you, take a trip to New York's only beach, Coney Island.

It's easy to get here on the F and Q subways, and outside of the sandy beaches, you can get your kicks at Luna Park and ride the wooden Cyclone roller coaster.

Sports matches

New York and the surrounding area is home to some of the biggest sports clubs across the sporting world. Don't miss New York Rangers hockey games with an iconic atmosphere at MSG Arena, which is also home to the New York Knicks basketball club.

And of course, there's hockey rivals the New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devil's.

Conveniently purchase tickets for sports games online at ticketmaster.com.