VI
EN
Statue of Liberty
Few buildings evoke as much emotion as New York’s Statue of Liberty – a symbol of freedom, democracy and hope that stands tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The 92-meter-tall statue, a gift from France, designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and built by Gustave Eiffel to commemorate the American Declaration of Independence, has appeared thousands of times on television and in Hollywood films. It has transcended the boundaries of a single country and become a World Heritage Site.
Today, Lady Liberty is still open to visitors, with free admission, but all visitors must pay for the ferry ride. Tickets are available at Castle Clinton in Battery Park or at the Communipaw Railroad Station in Liberty State Park.
Along with the ferry ticket, visitors who intend to enter the base of the statue must also purchase a separate ticket to visit. Those who want to climb the stairs to the crown inside the statue must purchase a special ticket, which must be booked up to a year in advance. Groups of 10 people per group, 3 groups per hour, a total of 240 people per day are allowed to go up there after several rounds of strict security checks. From the crown, visitors will admire a unique view of Manhattan and Brooklyn that is not available anywhere else.
Grand Central Terminal Secrets Walking Tour
Located at East 42nd Street and Park Avenue, Grand Central Terminal was built as a subway, train and bus station for the first time in 1913. Grand Central Terminal is not only the largest train station in the world but also a popular destination with about 750,000 people coming and going every day to admire its magnificent architecture. With a variety of restaurants, shopping areas, dining areas and even a trendy cocktail bar, The Campbell Apartment, this place becomes an ideal entertainment spot.
Enter from 42nd Street in Midtown and stroll toward Main Concourse, the central area of the terminal, and you’ll recognize this vast space as the setting for many a Hollywood film. As in the movies, you can descend one of two opulent marble staircases modeled after the grand staircases at the Paris Opera House, or make out under the multi-million dollar, four-faced opal clock atop the information pavilion.
Visitors can book a guided walking tour of the terminal to learn the secrets behind the iconic buildings, explore a historical journey through the past, present and future of the restored Grand Central Terminal, and hear inspiring stories about its turbulent years and how the terminal became one of America's most iconic.
Empire State Building
The world-famous Empire State Building has been the setting for many famous movies such as “Love Story of the Century,” “King Kong,” and “White Nights in Seattle.” In fact, it is one of the most important and romantic skyscrapers in the city. Officially opened in 1931, the Empire State Building surpassed the Chrysler Building to become the tallest building in the world, a record that held for 40 years. The building took the nickname “Empire State” from New York, which immediately comes to mind when mentioning it – similar to the Eiffel Tower to think of Paris, or the Space Needle to think of Seattle.
The building, which stands at an impressive 1,432 feet (443.2 m) including the radio tower, offers views of Manhattan's twinkling lights from two observation decks, one on the 86th floor and another very near the top on the 102nd floor. On your way to the observation deck, make time to stop by the Dare to Dream exhibit on the 80th floor. This permanent exhibit includes photographs, construction notes, and information about the building's design. On the 86th floor, take an outdoor stroll to take in the stunning views of Midtown, Lower Manhattan, and Central Park. On a clear day, you can see as far as New Jersey and Connecticut. Use binoculars for a closer look at surrounding attractions, like Bryant Park and Times Square. The 102nd-floor observation deck is the highest public access point in New York. The enclosed viewing area is ideal if you're visiting in the winter.
The Empire State Building is located in Midtown, Manhattan, in the heart of the city, and is easily accessible by bus, subway, or train. The two observation decks are open to the public 365 days a year. The walk to the ticket office and elevators can be quite long, so it is advisable to purchase tickets on the official Empire State Building website. Proposals are not uncommon, and a saxophone player sometimes serenades couples visiting the 86th floor.
One World Observatory
One World Observatory was put into operation in 2015 to create a new and exciting space for visitors to New York to enjoy the modern and magnificent beauty of this bustling city. The tower has 104 floors with One World Observatory located from floors 100-103. Start your journey to discover New York by taking the unique elevator with LED screen from top to bottom, taking you to the observatory in just 60 seconds. While taking the elevator up, you will admire the time-lapse image of the change of New York City on the screen, from the 1500s to the big city it is today. Stepping into the glass-floored room Sky Portal, you will experience the unique feeling of floating above the buildings.
The One World Observatory is located at the northwest corner of One World Trade Center on Fulton Street and is open from 9am to 10pm every day of the week. Children under 5 are admitted free.
National September 11 Memorial
The 9/11 Memorial Plaza and Museum honors the victims of the September 11 attacks and casts a somber light over bustling Lower Manhattan. On the site of the Twin Towers, two ponds were built to symbolize the lives lost and mark the site of the attack. The names of the 2,977 victims are engraved on the shores of the ponds. The memorial and the surrounding 6-acre Memorial Plaza, which includes 400 trees, were dedicated on the 10th anniversary of the attacks. Nearby is the Tree of Life, a pear tree found burned to the ground under the rubble of the Twin Towers. Miraculously, however, it survived and now stands tall, a shining symbol of hope.
Inside Memorial Plaza is the 9/11 Museum, an underground exhibition area that opened in late 2011. The museum's exterior design mimics a section of one of the Twin Towers that once stood on the site, and it displays artifacts collected immediately after the attacks.
Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), located on Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street, east of Central Park, houses one of the most diverse collections of art and art-related artifacts in the world. From the most cutting-edge contemporary artists and art movements to 2,000-year-old artifacts, the MET's permanent collections and special temporary exhibitions have made it one of New York's most popular attractions.
The MET’s collection is too vast to see in one visit. The best way to discover its treasures is to plan ahead: Use the MET’s online database to research tips for getting the most out of your visit and some of the museum’s best features before you visit.
Here, visitors can admire works by Jackson Pollock and Van Gogh, see The Adoration of the Magi by 14th-century Florentine painter Giotto, and admire Ming Dynasty furniture at the Astor Palace...
In addition, the MET also has restaurants, cafes and many regular art events and workshops. Visitors can learn about acclaimed artists or take a workshop on costume design, animation or painting, or enjoy a symphony performance in the concert hall or see a rare film.
The museum is open daily, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays; it is closed on Easter, Christmas, New Year's Day, and the first Monday in May. Children under 12 enter free, and the admission fee includes admission that same week to The Cloisters Museum at Fort Tryon Park, where visitors can learn about medieval European art and architecture.
Broadway
Broadway theater district stretches right next to the heart of Times Square. Hundreds of people regularly line up at the outdoor TIX booths to buy half-price tickets on the afternoon of a performance at one of 40 theaters.
Times Square is located in the heart of New York City, on the west side. Grand Central Terminal is also located here. Noisy and bustling, this crowded central area is one of the most well-known and visited attractions in the world. Illuminated 24 hours a day, bulletin boards, flashing exchange information boards and dazzling billboards contribute to the distinctive atmosphere of Times Square. Day and night, it is filled with dancers, jugglers and African drummers. For years, the Naked Cowboy, a street performer famous for playing guitar in his underwear, has been a tourist attraction. Impromptu musical performances and insightful public lectures are common; it is not surprising that Mickey Mouse suddenly appears and gives visitors a kiss.
