New York, a cinematic skyscraper city | the must see & do
- We Love Experiences
- Apr 30
- 7 min read
When I stepped out of the subway, the first things I saw, were the skyscrapers! At that moment I realized that I would finally see in real life, the city I have watched so often in the movies! The buildings popped up in front of me as in a dream and honestly I wouldn't be impressed if a Godzilla appeared somewhere around the corner... But it didn't - instead I met the New Yorkers, beautiful kind people, making me feel welcomed, giving me the chance to enjoy and live the experience of touring in this unique city. Following are some highlights from my 10 day stay in New York, while visiting my cousin.
I started my day by walking in one of the most famous and most expensive streets in the world. Fifth Avenue starts in Lower Manhattan, from Washington Square Park, and extends up to 142nd Street in Harlem. In addition to the stores, many sights and attractions are located here, including the Empire State Building, the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rockefeller Center and of course the Times Square.
The Crossroads of the World - Times Square
It feels like the whole New York tried to squeeze in a small square! Filled with advertising billboards, many flagship stores of popular brands (I got my Levi's jacket from here -affordable prices) and many many people - mixed all together, tourists, business men/women and youth creating a non-stop biz in this vivid place. When you move on into the city, everything seems to calm down to a more normal rhythm.
Art | Museums and Art Galleries
I have visited Paris and London in the past, so my standards in art are pretty high. Unfortunately I was quite disappointed, nevertheless visiting MOMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are a must.
MOMA - Museum of Modern Art with a comprehensive collection of primarily American and European art ranging from the late 19th century to the present. Vincent van Gogh with "The Starry Night", Claude Monet with the "Water Lilies", Joan Miró, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock and other popular authentic art to admire. www.moma.org/
MET - Metropolitan Museum of Art the largest art museum in New York City and one of the foremost in the world with 5.000 years of art but still it ain't Louvre...
I would highlight the Egyptian wing with it's amazing history.
Also the airy galleries of arms and armor where metal helmets, cuirasses (breastplates) and gauntlets (gloves) are assembled and displayed on life-size horse mannequins.
In addition you will see many artwork from belle-époque Paris such as Monet’s Haystacks, Degas’ dancers, Cézanne’s mountains and Van Gogh’s irresistible Self-Portrait.
Art Galleries: New York boasts numerous art galleries, many of which are concentrated in the Chelsea area, specifically between West 22nd and 27th Streets. Keep an eye out, as some galleries are located on upper floors of buildings and don't have street-level show windows.
Street Art: In New York, street art has become an attraction as a host of cities offer their own developed street art trails for visitors to explore. If you are not so obsessed with art just pay attention while walking through the city streets and you’ll find colorful murals on walls by yourself! In Brooklyn though you will see many gems - it is indeed an open-air gallery!
The view above the skies | Observatories
There are quite a few observatories in the city - here are four that stand out.
City Climb, the new one, is the highest open-air building ascent in the world. Climbers scale the outside of a skyscraper more than 350m. above the ground, then lean out and look down from the highest outdoor platform in New York City.
Opening on March 2020 is the Edge at Hudson Yards – the tallest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere at more than 1,000 feet.
The Empire State Building located on Fifth Avenue, is a steel-framed skyscraper rising 102 stories that was completed in New York City in 1931 and the tallest building in the world until 1971. Open daily from 8am to 2am, with a newly renovated 102nd floor observatory with 360-degree views through floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
And the one I chose is the Rockefeller Center, with breathtaking views on three different levels, offers 360-degree views of New York City.
Boat Tour In New York - another point of view
Take a break from walking all over the city, by going on a boat tour - a super idea of seeing this impressive city from another point of view. It gives you a perfect perspective of the actual massive construction of skyscrapers and the spread of it. Don't exaggerate though by wasting too much money or time. We took the ferry from Astoria to Wall street.
Another option would be taking the boat to Ellis Island (where the immigrant had to come threw before getting in America) and you will find there the Statue of Liberty and a great museum of immigration.
American Museum of Natural History - the "Jurassic Park"
Some of us remember it from the "Night in the Museum" with Ben Stiller, some from "Friends" series and so many other TV shows! And yes they are real! The bones are actual bones and Dinosaurs used to rule in our planer million years ago! The largest natural history museum in the world, is New York City's most iconic institution.
The museum features four floors filled with exhibits on every natural history topic from dinosaurs and mammals to biodiversity and outer space. On top of that you can look at most exhibits very closely and take pictures as well.
Must things to see are the dinosaur halls on the fourth floor and I would suggest to start from there as the museum is massif. The Titanosaur, measuring a whopping 122 feet long, is amazingly large with the "movie star" Tyrannosaurus Rex, stand out. The names seem complicated but take into consideration that these are science names and the origin is the Greek language!
Moving on to the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, you will see the Great Blue Whale - 94 feet long, 21,000 pounds weight. It’s a great reminder of the majesty and beauty of the blue whales, which unfortunately have been hunted to near extinction in the wild.
There is also the institution’s newest wing, the Gilder Center – home to a center for education and research – took 10 years to build and cost $465 million! Hopefully some of the other wings will be renovated soon as it is sad to see T-Rex squished with other dinosaurs and many impressive exhibits shown in a rather old fashioned way.
American Museum of Natural History is made up of 29 buildings and houses 4 million pieces (only about 30,000 are exhibited to the public). It is impossible to see or even write everything in one day so organize yourself in advance and choose wisely.
Outdoors: Central Park & The High Line
Least but not last (honestly first thing to do), when arriving in New York, check out the weather forecast and choose the "best" day to visit The park! Set in the middle of bustling Manhattan, arguably one of the most famous parks in the world, Central Park is a manmade wonder. The first public park built in America is 693 acres of gardens, meadows, forests, and rolling hillsides and has free entrance!
Visiting the other park, the High Line is a one-of-a-kind, distinctly New York City experience. A transformative presence in Manhattan, built on a long-abandoned railway in Chelsea, it seamlessly blends the built environment with the natural world, offering perspective views of the city while creating an elevated getaway from the bustle of the streets below.
Don't miss also to visit the 9/11 Memorial which is a tribute of remembrance, honoring the 2,977 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site.
Restaurants & secret bars reccomendation in NYC
Some food reccomendation from a local New Yorker would be
The Ubani - West Village, a Georgian restaurant
Blue Note - serves contemporary American cuisine alongside live jazz
Tomi Jazz is a great jazz club with japanese food (not sushi but real japanese) and good cocktails. The quee is long so better arriving around 5pm . Take into consideration that you can stay only for 2 hours and there is réservation policy.
The Back Room - a speakeasy in New York City that operated during Prohibition. Visit The Back Room using the same hidden entrance that was used 85 years ago and enjoy a cocktail from a teacup...
Please Don't Tell is another speakeasy-style bar serving great cocktails
Before arriving in New York, I would suggest booking tickets in advance in order to skip the quee and fine availability for MOMA, MET, American Museum of Natural History and the Observatory of your preference.
Keep in mind that the weather here can be extremely unpredictable. During my spring visit to NYC, one day I was comfortable in a tank top, and the next day I had to bundle up with multiple layers and still felt cold. Make sure to check the weather forecast in advance!
Sonia Gerodimou
Special thanks to Oceane le Mener, my travel companion in this trip and citizen of NY.
Proof-reader Valerie Kousoulis
