1.Visit Central Park

Central Park is on everyone’s must-see list when visiting New York City. It’s not just an oasis of green within this busy city, it’s a place to go for art, music, entertainment, and even boating on the lake.

Be warned; the park is huge. Don’t rush through one of the best features of the entire city. You have roughly 1.5 miles and approximately 30 minutes of walking time. I would definitely plan on 2 hours, possibly more.

The park is home to scenic hills, meadows, playgrounds, skating rinks, ball fields and many well-known attractions, including Strawberry Fields, Belvedere Castle, and the Central Park Zoo. 

The Central Park Conservancy offers free walking tours. The tours last one to one-and-a-half hours, and they have over ten different walks available.

For movie buffs, you can take a movie tour of Central Park locations where movies were filmed.

Keep in mind that most of the crimes that do happen in Central Park happen at night.

2. Take in Times Square at Night

Times Square is not really a square. What is technically Times Square is the four quarters created where 7th Ave. and Broadway intersects in Midtown Manhattan. However, most New Yorkers refer to the larger neighborhood as Times Square, which stretches north and south from 40th St. to roughly 52nd St. and east and west from 8th Ave to 6th Ave.

If you are new to NYC public transportation, click here for the subway map.

Times Square is one of the best places to sit and watch the world rush past. The ”crossroads of the world” as it is known, is jam-packed with free entertainers as well. See for yourself via their real-time webcam!

3. See the Statue of Liberty (Ellis Island)

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom, inspiration, and hope, an icon, a national treasure, and one of the most recognizable figures in the world.

Check here GetYourGuide tour ticket.

Origins of the Statue of Liberty: Around 1865, as the American Civil War drew to a close, the French historian Edouard de Laboulaye proposed that France create a statue to give to the United States in celebration of that nation’s success in building a viable democracy.

4. Go to the Coney Island

Coney Island is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora, some of which are critically endangered. Some plants at the park are presumed nationally extinct in the wild.

Download the park map for more information.

Here few tips I got from the official website park:

– The park is closed from 7pm to 7am.

– Terrain is rugged at parts and may be unsuitable for younger children.

– To maintain the rustic character of the park and as part of our efforts to preserve the park’s natural habitat, there is no electricity or piped water on the island. Please bring water with you when you visit the park.

– Please wear long pants and covered shoes for protection from insects such as sandflies.

– Do keep to the designated trails and appreciate any animals you may see from afar. If you encounter Long-tailed Macaques, keep a safe distance and do not feed them.

– Do avoid visiting the park during a storm, or seek shelter immediately if it rains while you are within the park.

– Please remember to take only what you have brought in, and leave nothing behind but footprints.