Skip to Content

The New York Trip Planner: Things to do in the Big Apple

Arriving from the Atlantic, intrepid travellers are welcomed into New York by the 46 metre statue of Libertas that has been greeting overseas visitors to the Big Apple since its installation in 1886.  Nestled behind the statue of liberty is a huge cityscape of towering skyscrapers at the bottom of which lay New York’s vibrant and bustling streets.

The Big Apple is a city that has so much to offer and explore that you can easily get overwhelmed when planning a vacation there. Which is why we decided to put together this handy New York travel guide, detailing 5 of the best things to do in the “City That Never Sleeps”, read on to find out what they are…

Visit Madison Square Gardens

Soccer may be the number one sport on the planet but the American sports scene certainly has a lot to offer, especially if you’ve never experienced it before. Whilst there are a number of different sports teams that call New York home, we’d recommend trying to catch a basketball game above all else.

The New York Knicks are right up there according to NBA lines and there’s a reason for that – they’re a fast flowing and exciting team. Could there be anything better than getting tickets to a regular season game and watching the New York Knicks strut their stuff on the court? We don’t think so.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=BS4t3wguGHM%3Fsi%3DKRexU6J9OHNohAFm
Madison Square Gardens is where you can experience the best that American sports have to offer.

Climb the Empire State Building

There’s no building on the planet as famous as the Empire State Building, which, when it opened in 1931 was the tallest man-made structure on the planet. It goes without saying then that it has one of the best vantage points in the city.

Our tip would be to head to the top at sunset so you can see the sun coming down on New York’s famous cityscape.

Visit the Museums

There are too many excellent museums in New York to single one out in particular at the expense of all the others. So instead what we will say is do your best to visit as many of New York’s museums as time allows.

The Met with its uptown cloisters and 5,000 years of art from all around the world is an absolute must visit as is the American Museum of Natural History. Art fans will find something to soothe the soul in the Museum of Modern Art and at Brooklyn’s Bushwick Collective Street Art.

If you’d like something a little different and macabre, The Bone Museum in Brooklyn which explains the use of human bones in medical history is absolutely fascinating.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=z-RNqV2-SBc%3Fsi%3DQACvcFXSU_fk5Ps4
Morbid and fascinating finds at The Bone Museum in Brooklyn.

Explore the World

New York is a truly global city. Traditionally seen as the first port of call by European immigrants, The Big Apple is home to a thriving melting pot of different cultures. If you know where to go, walking around the city can feel like a whistle stop tour of the world itself.

Arthur Avenue, home to the real life Little Italy is a must-visit for anyone wanted to explore the city’s Italian roots. There are amazing Asian culinary delights to be sampled in Queens and the best of Ukranian, Russian, Jamaican and many other countries cultures to be explored elsewhere in New York.

Visit Central Park

From the air New York certainly resembles a concrete jungle, but if you shift your attention just north of the Empire State Building you’ll find a huge strip of greenery right in the centre of the city. 

That greenery is the world famous Central Park which is an absolute must-visit for any tourist. Spanning 843 acres, Central Park is home to 18,000 trees and a number of lakes and rocky outcrops.

If you haven’t visited New York before, then you’ll love the unique experience of being at one with nature whilst just above the tree tops hang the spectre of some of the biggest and most impressive skyscrapers on the planet.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=kaoILYFb8cE%3Fsi%3DZ9cQLqbG9wB7-RTW
A list of suggestions of things to do in Central Park