New York City Travel Guide

New York is a city of different races and cultures, iconic images and a sense of community. With its yellow cabs, skyscraper buildings, steam vents and amazing people, you won’t find another place like it in the world. In other words, New York has a unique personality of its own and is a place that everyone should visit at least once in their life. Whether you are enjoying a spot of shopping, strolling through Central Park, experiencing the money buildings on Wall Street or just relaxing over brunch at one of the city’s many diners, New York has something for everyone.

Once you have experienced this amazing city you will want to return time and time again, each time discovering something new. You can experience all the major suburbs by foot, cab or bus. From Little Italy to Brooklyn and Chinatown to Manhattan, there is so much to explore and discover.

Eating out is an experience in itself, with thousands of restaurants you will be absolutely spoilt for choice. Favourites include Diner which is a converted dining car, Chat ‘n’ Chew where friends congregate for a good old ‘chin-wag’ over a huge Holy Cow burger or some delicious macaroni cheeses and not forgetting the New York institute which is the 21 Club.

Manhattan

The oldest of the five boroughs of New York City, Manhattan is the main commercial, financial and cultural centre of the USA. Manhattan has many famous landmarks, attractions, museums and universities. The other four boroughs are the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

The Bronx

This is the only borough that is located primarily on the mainland. Although the Bronx is densely populated, about twenty-five percent of its area is open space which includes the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden, Pelham Bay Park, Van Cortlandt Park and the Woodlawn Cemetery.

Brooklyn

This is the most densely populated of New York’s boroughs. This amazing multi-cultural borough is home to some great attractions including Prospect Park which includes Prospect Park Zoo, the Long Meadow, Litchfield Villa and a 60 acre lake. The park is also home to the Prospect Park Bandshell which hosts outdoor concerts in the summer and several baseball fields.

Queens

Home to JFK International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, these airports are among the busiest in the world. Queens is also home to some great attractions, including Flushing Meadows Park (home of the New York Mets baseball team and the US Open tennis tournament), the Aqueduct Racetrack, Kaufman Astoria Studios and the Silvercup Studios.

Staten Island

Sitting in New York Bay, Staten Island is the least populated of the five boroughs of New York. The island can be reached from Brooklyn by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge but most visitors choose to visit the island via the Staten Island Ferry. This ferry is popular with tourists as it offers amazing views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Little Italy

Located in lower Manhattan, as the name implies the neighbourhood is known for its large population of Italians. You will be spoilt for choice by the many Italian restaurants and shops here.

Chinatown New York City

Located in one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Manhattan, Chinatown is where Chinese immigrants settled in the 1800’s. Here you will experience a unique cultural and historical experience that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Explore the history of the people who settled here, including Chinese, early Irish, Jewish and Italian immigrants, as you wander around the intriguing streets of this neighbourhood. Some landmarks not to be missed when visiting Chinatown include Columbus Park, Chatham Square, Five Points, Edward Mooney House, the Church of the Transfiguration, Mahayana Buddhist Temple, Shearith Israel Cemetery, the Museum of Chinese in America and the Museum at Eldridge Street.

Whatever you are looking for in a holiday New York has it all, you won’t be disappointed!