New York
Travel Guide
New York Travel Guide
New York is America’s most populous city with just over 8 million inhabitants in the center and close to 20 million in the metropolitan area. The city is home to a lot of entertainment, events and some of the world’s largest fortune 500 companies.
Park & nature
CENTRAL PARK
Central Park is a beautiful park in downtown Manhattan surrounded by some of the country’s most expensive homes and addresses. New Yorkers as well as tourists from around the world embrace and love this wonderful park. The park is big, rent a bike and explore the park on your own!
Visit Bethesda Fountain, a fountain in front of Bethesda Terrace in the heart of the park. A vantage point and focal point, surrounded by the beautiful park and green nature.
Belvedere Castle attracts many visitors annually and offers a panoramic view of the entire park. Other nice places in the park worth visiting are the Shakespeare Garden, the Alice in Wonderland statue, the Hans Christian Anderson statue, the Central Park Carousel and Loeb’s Boathouse.
Tip for those in a hurry, take a morning walk in the park! This is something that many take part in as the park offers a beautiful 10 km long loop. If you can’t bear to run, you can always rent a small boat and row around in the park’s greenery.
Sightseeing
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
The Empire State Building is a large office building in Manhattan and was the world’s tallest building for 39 years until the World Trade Center took the prize in 1970. You can find the skyscraper at Fifth Avenue and 34th West Street.
The observation decks are open to the public and provide a fantastic view of the entire city from the 86th and 102nd floors.
Entrance prices vary depending on what you want to experience, but start around $40 for adults for a standard ticket. Children under 6 enter for free.
Sightseeing
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
You can find the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, just outside Manhattan. The statue is visited annually by millions of tourists and is classified as one of the most popular places to visit in the United States. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and was a gift from the French people to the United States to celebrate its independence. Designed by Auguste Bartholdi and designed by Gustave Eiffel who later constructed the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The statue measures 46 meters and stands on a 47 meter high plinth. The statue arrived in New York in 1885 in 350 pieces and took four months to assemble. The statue has sisters in both Tokyo and Paris as well as a couple of replicas in Las Vegas and Colmar.
Zoo & animals
BRONX ZOO
The zoo can be found in Bronx Park in the Bronx district and is the country’s largest urban zoo at more than 107 hectares.
The park opened to the public with 843 animals on November 8, 1899 and has since expanded its park with almost another 6,000 animals. Here you will find everything from exotic birds to a snow leopard, tigers, reptiles, lions, rhinos and much more. A very nice and cozy zoo to visit if you have a day to spare.
Sightseeing
BROOKLYN BRIDGE
The Brooklyn Bridge is New York’s oldest suspension bridge and spans the East River. The bridge connects Brooklyn with Manhattan since 1883 and measures 38.7m above sea level and is 486.3m long.
The photo opportunities are endless and the views are amazing. The bridge is best known from movies and is something most people choose to visit and photograph during their visit to New York.
Sports
YANKEE STADIUM
The baseball arena Yankee Stadium can be found in Concourse, Bronx and is home to the New York Yankees.
A tip for anyone with a great interest in sports: Try to plan your stay in the city in connection with a major match. It’s an experience you don’t want to miss and won’t soon forget.
Relax
CONEY ISLAND
The peninsula consists of an amusement park, beach and a cozy environment to walk around in to get away from all the hysteria in the rest of the city. A perfect half-day excursion in the southern part of Brooklyn.
Sports
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
The arena that all artists dream of one day playing at and that many have managed to sell out in batches. Madison Square Garden is located along 7th avenue between 31st and 33rd streets and seats almost 20,000 spectators for basketball games and almost 18,000 for hockey games.
The arena is widely used by artists but is best known as the main arena and home ground for the New York Rangers ice hockey team and the New York Knicks basketball team.
Sightseeing
TIMES SQUARE NEW YORK
New York Times Square gets its name from The New York Times, which previously had its office in the area. Times Square is also one of the world’s most densely populated and popular places. Annually, a million people gather in the square, tourists as well as Manhattanites, to celebrate the new year.
The square is a major tourist destination and a must on most visitors’ list of places to visit in the city. Close to 50 million people visit the square annually, mostly tourists to take pictures and experience New York. This location is featured in almost every Hollywood movie shot in the city.
Sightseeing
STATEN ISLAND FERRY
The Staten Island Ferry is a free ferry that takes you between Manhattan and Staten Island 24/7. The ferry runs during high season and at peak times every 15 minutes, then changes to every 30 minutes. Keep in mind that the boat only runs once an hour during certain periods of the year and day. However, this mostly applies in the evening.
Once on the boat, you have the opportunity to get fantastic pictures of Manhattan and the Manhattan Skyline. A wonderful sight and experience. Highly recommended for those who want to take the perfect vacation photo with all of Manhattan in the background.
Aquarium
NEW YORK AQUARIUM
The New York Aquarium is the nation’s oldest active aquarium and is home to 266 different species of aquatic animals. The aquarium offers a water theater with sea lions, a shark tunnel and many other activities.
You will find the aquarium on Coney Island and offers free entry for children under 2 years of age. Surf Avenue and West 8th Street, Coney Island.
History
ELLIS ISLAND
The island was the starting point for all immigrants who came to the United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s. During its active years between 1892-1954, 12 million immigrants passed through the port, but unfortunately 2% of all who arrived were denied entry to the country due to symptoms of chronic diseases and other birth defects and were forced to return home.
Today there is a museum in the former main building full of pictures, suitcases and other personal possessions left behind on the island. Take part in the stories of the immigrants who today form the basis of half of the family trees of the US population.
Take part in the story with the help of on-site audio guides. Real guides are also on site to enhance your stay.
Sightseeing
THE VESSEL NEW YORK
The Vessel, also called the Hudson Yards Staircase, was completed in 2019 and has since attracted tourists and photographers from all over the world. Everyone wants to take part in and take photos of the world-unique stair tower sculpture.
Unfortunately, since the end of 2021, it is no longer possible to climb the sculpture. This is due to an enormous number of accidents and suicide attempts.
The honeycomb-patterned building structure held 1,000 people and consists of 154 stairs covering 16 floors and 80 landings. The sculpture was designed by Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick Studio and offered a panoramic view of the entire city.
You can find the sculpture at: The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001, USA.
As mentioned above, Vessel can be found at Hudson Yards, Manhattan’s latest new development, and is an open park along the waterfront in a nice, newly built office environment. Take in the area, enjoy a lunch and visit The Vessel in the same vein. This experience is highly recommended by our team even if you can no longer go up into the sculpture.
Shopping
OUTLETS IN NEW YORK
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets is a large and popular clothing, accessories, electronics and brand outlet about 50 minutes north of Manhattan.
The shopping center consists of 220 stores and is home to brands such as Adidas, Asics, Bose, Boss, Breitling, Burberry, Celine, Calvin Klein, Chloé, Coach, Converse, Dior, Disney, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Forever 21, Fila , Furla, G-star Raw, Gucci, Hackett, Jimmi Choo, Kate Spade, Karl Lagerfeld, Lacoste, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Nike, Oakley, Paul Smith, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, Superdry, TAG, Tommy Hilfiger, UGG , Under Armour, Versace and more.
Address: 498 Red Apple Ct, Central Valley, NY 10917, USA
History
GROUND ZERO
Ground Zero is a memorial site from the devastation that took the United States by storm on September 11, 2001. In memory of the twin towers, the Ground Zero memorial stands today where the World Trade Center once stood. There is no charge to visit the memorial site, but the nearby museum charges a lower entrance fee.
The full name for Ground Zero is actually the National September 11 Memorial & Museum but is also called the 9/11 Memorial & Museum for short.
Entertainment
ROCKEFELLER CENTER
Rockefeller Center is a large entertainment, business and office complex in Midtown and is best known for its popular outdoor ice rink. Rockefeller Center actually consists of 19 complexes and skyscrapers but is loosely associated as a single skyscraper.
The Top of the Rock Observation Deck on the 70th floor of the Comcast Building offers a great view with great photo opportunities with Manhattan in the background. The entrance is at 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York between Fifth and Sixth Avenue. Open between 08:00-00:00 but with the last possibility to go up at 23:00.
The entrance fee is around 38 USD per adult and 32 USD for children.
Sightseeing
HIGH LINE NEW YORK
The High Line Park is classified as New York’s most delicious park by a number of major newspapers and is an old decommissioned railway which today has been upgraded into a fantastic park and walking loop above ground level.
The trail stretches for about 2.5 kilometers and is free to visit. The park opens at 07:00 and is recommended to be visited early as the park easily becomes overcrowded with both tourists and locals. At the far end of the park you will find on- and off-speeds with stairs down to ground level every 3 blocks.
The park is only a few minutes from the unique sculpture The Vessel and the newly built Hudson Yard. The High Line stretches from 34th Street down to Gansevoort Street, home to the newly constructed Whiney Museum of American Art.
Sightseeing
ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL
The cathedral is located on Fifth Avenue at 50th street and is a Roman Catholic church in the middle of Manhattan. St. Patrick’s Cathedral has a unique location in the middle of Fifth Avenue among luxury shops and breaks away from the rest of its surroundings. Very cheeky to see something so unusual among the skyscrapers of New York. The cathedral is open to the public.
History
CHRYSLER BUILDING
The office building can be found on Lexington Avenue and consists of 77 floors. The building measures a total of 319 metres, but the height to the roof is only 282 metres.
The building is the sixth tallest building in the country. In 1930, the master builder behind the Chrysler Building competed with another master at 40 Wall Street to build the world’s tallest building, hence the spire on the roof to secure his win. Once completed, the building was the first to surpass the Eiffel Tower in Paris until the Empire State Building was completed.
In the early 2000s, the property was renovated after being mostly empty for a couple of years. The property was then sold for $800 million to the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in 2008.
Theatre
BROADWAY
Broadway is the world’s largest theater district and is located in central Manhattan. Unfortunately, most larger theater buildings are not located on Broadway street itself, but on side streets at the moment.
Some of the world’s greatest actors have been on Broadway and began their careers on stage before life in Hollywood.
Sightseeing
FLATIRON BUILDING
Also called the Iron House in modern contexts, it is best known for its unique design. The building features in many Hollywood films set in the city and is today classified as a must on every visitor’s bucket list.
The 22-story, 87-meter high skyscraper was one of the tallest in the city at the beginning of the 20th century. The round part of the house facing Madison Square is only 2 meters wide.
Address: 175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA
Food & shopping
CHINATOWN
150,000 Chinese are estimated to live in Manhattan and around 90-100,000 of these in Chinatown. The neighborhood is bordered by Little Italy to the north, the Lower East Side to the east, Tribeca to the west, and the Civic Center to the south.
Here you will find good food, Asian culture and strange food markets. It is undeniably a pleasant neighborhood to walk around.
Citylife
FIFTH AVE
The famous avenue is home to many exclusive and famous stores such as Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Rolex, Fendi, Saks, Macy’s, Disney Store, Abercrombie & Fitch and the world’s largest Apple Store.
The street runs along Central Park and is classified as one of New York’s most expensive addresses. The street is also home to many well-known buildings and museums. The most popular and well-known part of 5th avenue is considered to be 49th and 60th Street. The world’s most expensive street in the world to shop on.
Sightseeing
ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER
One World Trade Center stands today where one of the twin towers used to stand. The tower is also called 1 WTC and formerly Freedom Tower.
This tower stands today together with Ground Zero as a reminder of the devastation that struck New York in 2001. The twin towers of the World Trade Center were subjected to acts of terrorism and were demolished by two passenger planes that had previously been hijacked in the air. A total of 2,996 people died in connection with the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.
Food & shopping
LITTLE ITALY
During the late 19th century, the area became home to almost 120,000 Italians from Sicily and Naples. Little Italy has since acted as home to thousands of American-Italian citizens. Unfortunately, Chinatown is gradually taking over Little Italy, which today only has about 2,000 Italian Americans left.
But don’t let yourself think that the Italian charm has disappeared, the area consists of lots of bakeries, restaurants and shops. A charming and pleasant neighborhood that we strongly recommend visiting.
Weather & information
ESTA is something that is needed to enter the country. This is easily applied for online and a response is usually received within 24 hours. As a non-convict and a Swedish citizen, the application carries no risks – the Swedish passport is so strong.
The application is made through the following link: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
Taxis are both expensive and time-consuming. NYC is a very active and densely built-up city, which often causes traffic jams. We therefore recommend that you take the subway or walk around. Believe it or not, sometimes it’s faster to walk if you’re only going a couple of blocks.
The city’s “public transport” is very well-functioning, this also applies to the subway.
The city’s two main airports are named LaGuardia and JFK International. Avoid “gypsy cabs” that jack up the prices.
Buses and other types of transport can of course be used to get into the city if you would rather save on taxi costs.
The official currency is USD, American Dollar.
We recommend an exchange before the trip at Forex or another currency exchanger to be able to pay for any transport from the airport, food and drinks on site and the first time on holiday. Avoid carrying around too much cash.
The US is a country built around cash trading, which is usually recommended. But the country is modern enough to take cards everywhere. However, avoid using your card in less shady shops.
Some shops only accept cash but usually have their own ATM in the shop in these cases.
Tipping is something that people expect in the US unfortunately. Their wages are low and the staff subsist on tips. Something that we may not be used to, but almost a must.
In contrast to, for example, Japan, tipping is very common in the United States. Unfortunately a little too common, we have to mention. In most states it is considered almost a requirement or must and almost a little rude not to tip. Almost all employees as service personnel live on their tips.
USA uses socket types A & B.
When traveling to New York there are some important things to keep in mind to make the trip smooth and enjoyable. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Pack Appropriate Clothing: New York’s weather can be variable, so be sure to pack seasonally appropriate clothing and be prepared for temperature changes. It can also be good to have comfortable shoes for a lot of walking, as the city is best explored on foot.
Plan your time and prioritize attractions: New York is a big city with many attractions and sights. Make a list of the places and attractions you want to visit and plan your time accordingly. Be aware that some attractions may require advance booking or have limited visiting hours.
Use public transportation: New York has a well-developed public transportation system that includes subways and buses. It is usually the best way to get around the city, avoid traffic jams and find parking.
Be aware of safety: As in any big city, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and take basic safety precautions. Keep track of your belongings, avoid displaying valuables and stick to well-lit and well-trafficked areas.
Explore Different Neighborhoods: New York has different neighborhoods with their own unique character and charm. Take your time to explore areas like Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx to get a diverse experience of the city.
Enjoy the food culture: New York is known for its wide variety of food from different cultures. Try local specialties and explore food markets, restaurants and food carts to experience the city’s food culture.
There are many amazing places and sights in New York that you must not miss. Here are some of the highlights you should experience while visiting the city:
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: Visit this iconic symbol of freedom and immigration history by taking the ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. You can also get an impressive view of Manhattan from the crown of the Statue of Liberty.
Times Square: Experience the pulse and vibrancy of Times Square, known for its neon lights, theaters and shopping opportunities. It is a place that never sleeps and a must visit, especially in the evening.
Central Park: Explore the beautiful greenery and tranquility of Central Park amidst the noise of the big city. Here you can walk, rent bikes, go boating or just enjoy a picnic in one of the park’s many areas.
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Go on an artistic journey through history at the Met, one of the world’s most famous art museums. Explore thousands of artworks and collections from different eras and cultures.
9/11 Memorial and Museum: Visit the memorial and museum dedicated to the victims of the September 11 attacks. It is a place of reflection and remembrance, with an impressive water fountain and exhibits that recount the events.
High Line: Stroll along the High Line, a converted elevated rail line that is now a park and public space. Here you can enjoy greenery, art installations and panoramic views of the city.
Brooklyn Bridge: Take a walk across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge and enjoy stunning views of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It is one of the world’s most famous bridges and a symbol of New York.
Broadway show: Experience a Broadway show and enjoy a spectacular theater experience. There is a wide variety of musicals, plays and performances to choose from.
Chinatown and Little Italy: Explore the lively Chinatown and Little Italy neighborhoods. Try authentic food, shop at markets and experience the rich culture and atmosphere of these areas.
If you are traveling as a tourist and want to have a really good experience of New York, we recommend that you stay between 4 and 7 days. In the first few days, jet lag can affect your energy and it may take some time to get used to the new time zone. To really explore and enjoy all that the city has to offer, you need more than just a few days. With 4-7 days, you will have the opportunity to visit famous sights, experience the city’s culture and atmosphere, as well as explore different neighborhoods and try the culinary offerings.
The subway in New York is a popular and reliable way to get around. It’s fast, well-maintained and open 24/7, making it a convenient choice for getting around the city.
