Coffee break
Drinking coffee has become a traditional activity in New York City, and you'll find more than one person 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.
Shopping for clothes
Shopping in New York City is a big topic of discussion among travelers. 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. Pick up a card at the front desk for an additional 10% off - you'll need your passport.
21 Century in Financial Disctrict used to be famous for its uncontrolled grabbing of the latest pieces at the best prices, often hitting the 1 usd mark. Today, there are fewer such extreme closeouts and you'll find more mainstream collections.
New Jersey Garden's is an outlet mall, reached by buses from the Porth Authority. A return ticket can be purchased at the vending machine for $14 and it is bus 111 leaving from stop 222. A $5 discount book can be picked up at the front desk upon entry - check the current discounts to see if it's worth it for you.
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 Secret, Michael Kors, Abercrombie Fitch, Hollister, Next, Zara, Victoria Secret's, etc. Definitely don't neglect this street and the shops on it - every store has a sale section where you can also find pieces at 90-70% off.
Museum madness
There are over a hundred museums and otherwise culturally or historically oriented organizations in New York City. You know many of them, and many are recommended on our map of places to visit, but by no means do we have the space here to list every museum in New York.
For perhaps a comprehensive list, visit: wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_in_New_York_City.
New York Sports
New York City 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 the 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.
World gastronomy
Although New York is the capital of America, its cosmopolitan nature means that it offers cuisine from all corners of the world. The advantage is that most of the restaurants are always run by the country's original inhabitants and therefore the dishes have 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.
Sports activities in Central Park
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.
Outlook
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 and very photogenic, especially for us Europeans who are not used to such a large number of tall buildings. But where are the best views and vistas in New York?
You have two options. Either you can pay for a ride up one of the skyscrapers and enjoy New York from above, or you can take a walk along the East River or Hudson waterfront and see the Manhattan skyline as a whole.
The best views from the skyscrapers
- 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; instead, you can see the iconic Emipre State Building like the back of your hand, 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.
- Prices are always similar (around $40-60, then up to over $70 at sunset), always book at least 3 days in advance.
Best skyline views
- The Granite Prospect - The best vantage point from the Brooklyn side of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. 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.
- Governors Island, Statue of Liberty, and the Staten Island Ferry - From all of these spots, you can see the tip of Lower Manhattan with the tallest skyscrapers like the palm of your hand. Good light awaits you here all day long.
- Jersey City - Offers a similar view to Brooklyn, but from the other side. That's also why it's best to come here in the late afternoon and early evening, when Manhattan is beautifully lit by the setting sun.
To the beach at Coney Island
If you'll be in New York City during the summer months and the tiring heat won't stop following you, make 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.