7 landmarks
The monuments, the bridges, the historic sites — the ones tourists actually go see, and why they're worth it.
Statue of Liberty
Dedicated on October 28, 1886, and sculpted by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the statue itself stands 151 feet tall — 305 feet including its pedestal.
Crown and pedestal access require reservations booked well ahead of time (crown tickets can sell out months in advance), and every visitor passes through mandatory security screening before boarding the ferry, so arrive early.
Brooklyn Bridge
Designed by John A. Roebling, who died before construction began, and completed in 1883 under his son Washington, its 1,595-foot main span was the longest suspension bridge span in the world, a record it held until the Williamsburg Bridge surpassed it by 4.5 feet in 1903.
Since a 2021 redesign the pedestrian promenade is physically separated from a dedicated bike lane, but the Manhattan-side entrance remains a tight pinch point — stay in the marked pedestrian lane and watch for cyclists at the approaches.
Times Square
Renamed from Longacre Square in April 1904 as The New York Times built its new Times Tower there, the area became home to the annual ball drop starting in 1907, after a rooftop fireworks show was stopped as a fire hazard.
Costumed characters offering photos will aggressively demand a tip afterward — agree on a price beforehand or skip the photo, and keep valuables zipped up given the dense crowds.
Grand Central
Opened February 2, 1913, the Beaux-Arts terminal is the largest train station in the world by platform count, with a main concourse ceiling painted with twelve constellations and 2,500 stars.
The terminal is free to enter with no ticket required — duck into the Whispering Gallery near the Oyster Bar, where two people standing at diagonal corners of the tiled arch can hear each other's whispers.
9/11 Memorial
The twin reflecting pools sit in the exact footprints of the Twin Towers and are inscribed in bronze with the names of the 2,983 people killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
The Memorial plaza with the reflecting pools is free and open to the public with no ticket needed, while the Museum requires timed-entry tickets reserved online in advance.
Rockefeller Center
Built between 1931 and 1939 as a 14-building Art Deco complex under lead architect Raymond Hood, the site includes Lee Lawrie's Atlas statue facing Fifth Avenue, one of twelve sculptural works he contributed there.
Top of the Rock observation deck tickets and the seasonal outdoor ice rink both sell out on busy days, so book online in advance rather than counting on same-day box office tickets.
Woodlawn Cemetery
Founded in 1863 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2011, Woodlawn's 400 acres hold more than 300,000 graves, including jazz greats Duke Ellington and Miles Davis alongside Herman Melville.
The grounds are vast and the famous graves widely scattered, so pick up or download a map and plan a route — and remember it remains an active cemetery, so visit respectfully.