What to see in United States

Manhattan

Many of the landmarks which give New York its place in our shared cultural landscape call Manhattan home. The Empire State Building, Central Park and Times Square are icons of countless films, books and songs, but they’re only a small part of what there is to see. Manhattan is also a borough of residential neighbourhoods, small cafés, independent shops and local parks. Midtown is known for its skyscrapers, department stores and theatres. Greenwich Village has smaller townhouse-lined streets, interspersed with cafés and music venues. To the south, SoHo is recognised for its cast-iron buildings and shops, Chinatown for its restaurants, bakeries and food markets. To the north, Harlem has a long association with music, literature and African American culture.Navigating Manhattan usually involves a combination of walking and taking the subway. Grouping attractions helps make the most of each day leaving time for a café, bookshop or neighbourhood deli along the way. Times Square is one of Manhattan’s best-known sights, with illuminated billboards, busy pedestrian areas and Broadway theatres nearby. From here, explore more of Midtown, including Rockefeller Center, an Art Deco complex whose Top of the Rock observation decks offer views across the city. Further south, the Empire State Building is another classic choice for seeing Manhattan from above.Grand Central Terminal is a working railway terminal and a landmark in its own right. Other sights in the area include the Chrysler Building and the New York Public Library’s main building on Fifth Avenue. Behind the library, Bryant Park has outdoor seating if you need a break from sightseeing.Central Park offers walking paths and lakeside views away from the surrounding traffic. On the park’s eastern edge is The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Guggenheim is another option nearby, with a distinctive spiral design, while MoMA in Midtown focuses on modern and contemporary art.On Manhattan’s west side, the High Line is a public park built on a former elevated freight railway. Its planted walkways offer views of the surrounding streets and the Hudson River as you pass between buildings. Nearby, Chelsea Market occupies former factory spaces and has a range of food stalls, making it a useful stop for lunch. The surrounding Meatpacking District is known for fashion and restaurants, while Hudson Yards, further north, is one of Manhattan’s more recent developments.In Lower Manhattan, visit the streets around Wall Street and the reflecting pools of the 9/11 Memorial. Towards the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge connects Manhattan with Brooklyn and offers views of the waterfront from its pedestrian walkway. At Manhattan’s southern end, The Battery is a waterfront park beside New York Harbour, allowing views of Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty.