For the fourth instalment of our bitesized guides to New York's boroughs, we explore Manhattan, home to the city's greatest attractions, straight-from-the-movies sights and host to the most visitors.
Why go?
Manhattan is why people come to New York – the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Times Square are all concentrated on this 61.4 sq km (23.7 sq m) island. You’ll also find world-class restaurants and luxury boutiques amongst the cultural institutions.
See
Times Square
Don’t miss the bright lights of Times Square. Inside the flagship Toys “R” Us store, visitors will find an 18m (60ft) Ferris wheel and a two-storey Barbie house. Madame Tussauds is also close by, as are the many theatres of Broadway.
Empire State Building
Get to the top of the Empire State Building to see out across the city from this art deco skyscraper. There are observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors, open till 2am. Completed in 1931, it is now once again the city’s tallest building.
Statue of Liberty
Sail across to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty, smaller than expected but still standing grandly over New York Harbor. Donated by France in 1886, it is one of America’s most iconic sights – seen by 12 million immigrants as they entered the country in the 20th century.
Central Park
Enjoy the city’s sanctuary – Central Park can be found right in the middle of Manhattan, from 59th Street to 110th Street. Its attractions include a zoo, Belvedere Castle and the Shakespeare Garden.
Do
Museum Mile
Explore ‘Museum Mile’ (Fifth Avenue, between 82nd and 105th Streets on the eastern border of Central Park) – nine museums are concentrated here, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim and the National Academy.
South Street Seaport
Take the family to South Street Seaport, where you’ll find eight enormous sailing vessels lined up on Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan. Three of these can be explored as part of the South Street Seaport Museum.
Manhattan Waterfront Greenway
Walk, cycle or skate the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway – a 51km (32 mile) route around the island that runs along the shoreline where possible and is closed to motorway traffic. It passes a Grecian temple in Harlem, winding paths in Stuyvesant Cove in the East Village and the Battery’s gardens.
Sex and the City Tour
Sarah Jessica Parker fans should take a tour of Carrie and co’s favourite haunts across Manhattan on a Sex and the City bus tour. The trip includes cupcakes in Greenwich Village and Cosmopolitans in Scout.
Getting there
Grand Central Station is in Manhattan and all of the city’s four other boroughs can be reached from downtown.
From JFK Airport, the AirTrain JFK light rail system connects to the NYC subway ‘A’ train at Howard Beach Station.
Did you know?
The famous clothing brand Abercrombie & Fitch was founded in 1892 in a waterfront store on Water Street in Lower Manhattan. Famous clients have included President Theodore Roosevelt, who bought equipment for his African safari in 1908.
Don’t forget to check back next week for the final borough in our series – Staten Island.
