New York City was the first place I visited coming to the states for my study year abroad, and it’s safe to say it set the standards pretty high. There’s still so much of the city I haven’t seen, but here’s what we did on our 5 days in NYC.
We visited the city for the first time in August, but I would recommend coming outside of the summer months, as the heat and humidity had us searching for shade and bottled water whenever we could! We stayed on the other side of the Hudson River in New Jersey and took the bus across to the city each morning. The Airbnb prices in that area were so much cheaper than the city, and staying across the river gave us amazing views of the skyline. The buses were a little bit busy, but only cost a couple of dollars a day and took less than 20 minutes to reach NYC, which saved us a lot of money on our trip.
DAY 1
We got the Greyhound Bus from Rhode Island to NYC that morning, so arrived in the city in the late afternoon. After checking into our Airbnb, we immediately went to Times Square – undoubtedly a must-see tourist attraction. The massive amount shops and huge advertisements in and around the Square were mind-blowing, and the atmosphere was buzzing. Definitely watch out for pick-pocketers and people trying to sell you merch and CD’s – we got scammed into ‘tipping’ someone for a fake CD. It’s also useful to remember that some people dress up as film and TV characters and will expect money after you take a photo with them, as I found out after having an argument with Mario and Luigi in the middle of the Square!
DAY 2
We visited some more tourist attractions on the second day, which unfortunately involved spending some money! We took a boat tour to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, which was amazing. The tour included transport, an audio guide about the statue and entrance to the Ellis Island museum, so it was definitely worth the money.
After this we went to the 9/11 Memorial, which is something I think everyone should see. It was really moving to see, especially the names of those who died carved on a memorial placed on the former site of the towers. Next to this is the New World Trade Centre, which offers fantastic views of the city, and out across the Hudson River.
In the evening, we went and saw a Yankees baseball game – the most American thing we could think to do. The game a lot of fun to watch, but we only managed to stay for the first 6 innings as the game was so long! We managed to get our tickets online for only $10 each, so it was a very affordable way to spend an evening in the city.
DAY 3
The weather was beautiful on this day, so we walked around Central Park. The park has a zoo, several lakes to walk around, and dozens of statues to admire (the Alice in wonderland one was my favourite). There’s not many things to do in the park besides these, but it’s just so iconic you have to visit.
We then went to the Museum of Natural History, which is on the west side of Central Park. They ask for donations to get into the museum, but there’s no pressure – you can pay whatever you can afford. We only had $5 each in cash on us that day, so that was all we paid! It’s a pretty cool museum full of history, geography and science exhibits from around the world, and was especially exciting as we got to see all the exhibits we remembered from Night at the Museum!
In the evening, we went to the famous Grand Central Station, which was pretty damn grand – I’ve honestly never seen such a beautiful train station in my life. There’s also a food market there (Grand Central Market) selling anything from fresh fish to handmade chocolates, which was nice to walk around as the sun began to set.
DAY 4
We started the day going to Chelsea Market for some food. It’s a quirky indoor market with loads of amazing food stalls, restaurants, and funky gift shops. I got a Japanese style salad with cashew nuts, avocado and noodles, which was around $5, and most of the food they sold there was similarly affordable.
After this, we walked along the ‘highline’, which is an abandoned over-ground railway track that people can walk along to get great views of the city. It’s right next to Chelsea Market, so definitely worth seeing after some good food.
At this point, my boyfriend felt sick and went home so I had a little explore round the city by myself. I jumped on the subway to a tiny little park called Greenacre Park, which had a small waterfall, a cafe, and public seating area. This park was a lot more quiet than Central Park, so I chilled here for a bit to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
If you want to see the prettiest library EVER, definitely visit New York Public Library. It’s free to enter even without a library card, so I just had a little wander round admiring the beautiful artwork on the walls and ceilings. Next to the library is Bryant Park, which is probably my favourite park in New York. Here there’s a cafe, water fountain, and a large seating area, which was packed with both tourists and locals. I sat here for a good hour just people-watching and taking in the views of the park and the skyscrapers surrounding it. This park was so nice, I came back to it every time I visited NYC throughout my year in America! At Christmas, they also have a free ice-skating rink, Christmas tree, and Christmas market selling gifts and amazing food.
DAY 5
On our final day here, we ventured out to Brooklyn. Brooklyn Bridge was PACKED but the crowds were worth it for the photos – it’s definitely an iconic New York landmark. We walked through Brooklyn Bridge Park, which gives you amazing views of the Manhattan skyline. There’s also a playground and beach there, as well as an ice-skating rink in the winter.
We then jumped on the subway again to Coney Island, which was probably the highlight of my trip. On Coney Island, there’s a beach, mini-golf, arcade games, go-karting, and an amusement park, so it definitely brought out the inner child in me. It’s a very popular tourist spot especially for families with children, so it was very busy, but such a fun trip. They also sold pina coladas (the best cocktail) with unlimited refills – unfortunately we were both under 21 at the time!
Another must-see attraction in New York is the Rockefeller Centre, where you can go to the ‘Top of the Rock’ and see incredible views across Central Park and downtown Manhattan. I did this on a weekend trip over Christmas, and although it was a little pricey in my opinion, it’s worth it for the view. Make sure you see the famous ice rink and Christmas tree there too, and have a wander down 5th Avenue for some shopping (or just window-shopping – the shops can be VERY expensive).
New York definitely is one of the world’s best cities, and I think everyone needs to see it at least once in their lifetime.
Laura’s Travels 