Discover New York City: Culture, History and Great Urban Experiences

Central Park as a Contrast to the City

Central Park stretches between 59th Street and 110th Street, and between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West. Covering 843 acres, it is a large public communal space for playing and relaxing. The park therefore offers its own daily rhythm within the city: you can plan a break in the greenery while children have room to play, or explore the paths and landscapes at your leisure.

The Central Park Conservancy also offers the “Iconic Views of Central Park” tour. Anyone who would like to get to know the park not only on their own can include this offering as a set cultural or scenic highlight. The choice of accommodation can thus also be guided by whether your trip is likely to be shaped more by extended moments in the park or by museum and history visits.

History in Museums and Historic Buildings

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum honors the nearly 3,000 people who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993. The museum is located at the site of the former Twin Towers and presents the history of the attacks of September 11, 2001, as well as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. This visit places a deliberate emphasis on remembrance and historical examination.

Other places also tell the story of formative chapters in the city’s history. Federal Hall is where George Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States. The Tenement Museum takes visitors through historically reconstructed apartments of immigrant and migrant families who lived in New York tenement buildings. Neighborhood tours of the Lower East Side also focus on the district’s past and present. The “New York at Its Core” exhibition presents the history and future of New York City through the stories of immigrants, politicians, builders and other New Yorkers.

Art, Science and Views

For families with children aged 4 to 12, the Discovery Room at the American Museum of Natural History is a hands-on learning area. The Rose Center for Earth and Space presents the 13-billion-year history of the universe. Both offerings have different focuses and can help add variety to your schedule between sightseeing activities.

MoMA has a collection of nearly 200,000 works from the past 150 years and offers museum tours led by professional art historians. The Whitney Museum of American Art focuses on American art of the 20th century and the present, with particular emphasis on works by living artists. The museum is located in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District and is accessible by bicycle, car and public transportation. If art is an important part of your trip, you can use these offerings as a guide when searching for a suitable holiday apartment and planning your days.

The observation deck on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building offers a 360-degree view over New York City. The visitor exhibitions are located on the second and 80th floors and are open to all ticket holders. This allows you to add a highly visible highlight to a day of museums or exhibitions.

Harbor, Islands and Traces of Defense

Governors Island is accessible by ferry from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan. On the island, you can get around on foot and by bicycle. Castle Williams was completed in 1811 and influenced the design of coastal defense installations over the following 50 years. Castle Clinton was built to defend the harbor during the War of 1812. These places illustrate how closely New York’s history is connected with its harbor and defense.

For your further search, you can view the direct destinations New York City, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Bronx, Queens, Manhattan and Brighton Beach. Another destination search offers Livingston County.

To the higher-level travel overview: New York.