New York guide. What to see in NY in 2 days

New York probably doesn’t even need an introduction. However, we have to start somewhere, so let’s at least briefly characterize it. We can confidently call New York the “capital of the world.” In terms of population and area, Tokyo, Japan, is in first place. No other metropolis on the planet can match New York in terms of cultural and ethnic diversity.

But it is precisely the diverse mix of population that is, or rather used to be, the result of high crime, for which the city is infamous. For a long time, it caused wrinkles on the foreheads of all honest citizens – until the city authorities decided to deal with the criminals properly. Even so, it is still better to avoid some neighborhoods, both in daylight and at night.

On the other hand, what is great about New York is that the climate here is relatively favorable in all four seasons. Moreover, there is always something going on here, so a visit to this vibrant metropolis is worthwhile at any time of the year. Even above the “concrete jungle” we can see an incredibly blue sky in good weather. The city owes this to the proximity of the ocean and the fact that one-seventh of its area is occupied by parks. Even in the middle of a noisy metropolis, you can hear the soothing sound of the wind and the singing of birds.

New York Accommodation

There are literally thousands of accommodation options in this city. During our vacation in NY, we stayed at the Howard Johnson hotel in Saddle Brook.

What to see in New York in 2 days

When you are in NY for a few days, these are the places you definitely shouldn’t miss, just like us. We managed them in two days, it was in the summer in August. Maybe at another time of year, like in the fall. T those queues wouldn’t be so long and it could be done in a day.

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From the hotel we took a bus to Penn Station and the subway to Down Town. About 8 lines mix like a highway on the surface. The trains are longer and older than in Prague, the platform is narrow, there are no walls here.

We traveled around NY by subway all day, but it wasn’t exactly exemplary. Everywhere was messy and incredibly stuffy (over 40C) and with that heat came the smell. Terrible traveling.

At the end of the article, I describe how to travel in New York. Definitely take some of the tips to heart.

Statue of Liberty

Originally a gift from the French in 1886, today it represents a symbol of the city and perhaps all of America. The design of the 225-ton statue comes from the famous Gustav Eiffel. The island on which “Miss Liberty” stands can be reached by boat from Battery Park. However, especially in the summer, it can easily take two hours to get to her crown through the crowds.

We arrived at Penn Station and walked to Manhattan. From there we sailed by boat to the island where the Statue of Liberty (Statue of Liberty) stands.

The queues were terribly long. When we got inside, we preferred to take the stairs (192) rather than the elevator, because there was another queue again. The base of the statue is 27 m high. We climbed up and took a few photos. But the photos from the boat are undoubtedly nicer.

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Ellis Island

After queuing for the boat (Miss Eliss) she then dropped us off at Ellis Island, where there was a museum and reminders of the first immigrants. In the immigration museum we are looking for the names of our possible ancestors, in vain.

Then we queued again for the boat (Miss New York) and finally after 3-4 hours landed on the mainland.

Empire State Building

From 1931 to 1970, with a height of 380 meters (not counting the sixty-meter antenna), it was the tallest building in the world. But even now it is unique: approximately 15,000 people work here, and over 70 elevators operate. In good weather, the observation decks offer views of up to 70 km.

The first elevator goes up 80 floors per minute, another six floors are reached by another elevator for the same amount of time, we are at a height of 321 m, enjoying the view of the traffic below and the 320 m high Chrysler Building opposite.

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Times Square

The square between 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue is for Americans something like our “Wenceslas Square”. If there is something to celebrate, people gather here. The famous Broadway with its countless theater stages also runs from Times Square.

At Times Square we look at the main station and return to the hotel.

Manhattan

Manhattan is the heart of all of New York. And probably the most famous place that most people think of when they say New York. Skyscrapers, yellow cabs, crowds of people and famous places that we know from movies and series – it’s all here.

It is an island, about 21 kilometers long and less than 4 kilometers wide. But even so, everything possible fits here – from Central Park to the financial district with Wall Street. Basically, when you go to New York, you spend most of your time here.

And one more piece of advice: wherever you go, expect it to be always lively here. Locals are used to walking fast. If you stop for a moment to look at a map or a photo, be prepared for someone to push you. But that’s just part of New York.

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden is a sports hall that is among the most famous in the world. It is simply called “Garden” – although it has nothing to do with any garden, of course. It stands right in Manhattan, right above Penn Station. When you get off the subway or bus, it’s literally a few steps away.

The New York Rangers hockey players and the Knicks basketball players play their home games here. At the time of our visit, I photographed the jerseys of legends – Gretzky (99) and Lindros (88). They sold them in the souvenir stand, even though they had long since stopped playing by then. But in New York, these players are still a concept.

In addition to sports, there are also concerts and various shows. Practically every evening something is happening here. The hall has a capacity of just under 20,000 people, so when it’s sold out, it’s a decent cauldron.

5th Avenue

Fifth Avenue – this is probably the most famous street in New York. It stretches across Manhattan from Washington Square all the way up around Central Park. It is an American answer to the Parisian Champs-Élysées.

Central Park

The park called the “green lungs of New York” covers a 4 km wide and 800 meter long area of Manhattan. It is a popular place for relaxation for both residents and visitors. Every summer, performances are held in the open air at the local Delacorte Theater. In June, tens of thousands of people flock to the “Great Meadow” to see the Metropolitan Opera and listen to world-famous opera singers.

We only walked a small piece, but it was beautifully cleaned, clean and mainly cool. We arrived at Strawberry Fields, where we photographed the John Lennon memorial.

Thousands of people jog, walk, bike, rollerblade, and ski around it.

If you’ve seen the movie Home Alone, then you definitely have to see the Plaza Hotel, which is right next to Central Park.

People were playing sports in the park, and horses with carriages were driving through it, carrying tourists.

Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller family managed to build a real center of New York between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. 19 architecturally interesting high-rise buildings, which are connected by a shopping center on the underground floor. The tallest building is the 206-meter-high RCA Building with an observation deck, and the complex also includes Radio City Music Hall. With almost 6,000 seats, it is the largest cinema in the world, where concerts and other cultural events are often held.

In Rockefeller Center, there is a Christmas tree in winter and a permanent ice rink with artificial ice; today, there was only a golden angel.

New York landmarks

The history of New York is not as long as the history of most European cities. Therefore, it is clear that we cannot look for ancient monuments here. But even among the skyscrapers and super-modern buildings, you can occasionally come across references to the past – one of them is.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The seat of the New York Catholic Archbishop was built right in the middle of Manhattan between 1858 and 1906, modeled after European Gothic cathedrals. Every year, on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), a solemn mass is held here, opening the season of New York parades.

St. John the Divine

St. John the Divine. Surprisingly, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world is not in Europe, but in New York. It is known mainly for the traditional blessing of animals on the first Sunday in October. More than 6,000 people gather here with their pets.

New York points of interest

Let’s leave the shrines and focus on the famous New York tourist attractions in the following lines.

Brooklyn Bridge

Although many bridges connect the individual parts of New York, the Brooklyn Bridge is by far the most famous and admired. It was opened in 1883 and was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Its middle lane is reserved for pedestrians (entrance in City Hall Park). The view of downtown Manhattan at sunset is particularly impressive.

Chinatown

In addition to the Orthodox Jews, the Chinese community has also isolated itself from the surrounding city and created a “city within a city.” When visiting Chinatown, you won’t feel like you’re in New York, but like you’re in Shanghai or Beijing. Don’t miss the Buddhist temple on Pell Street and the Chinese Museum on Mott Street. Have a meal in one of the Chinese restaurants, where many Chinese people flock, which indicates the quality of the dishes offered.

Madison Avenue

The street, the most important part of which extends between 57th and 79th streets. Known mainly for its luxury fashion boutiques, antique shops and art galleries. Members of the “upper ten thousand” like to air out their wallets here. However, it is worth taking a short walk and looking around. And if you don’t go anywhere else, at least visit the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Wall Street

This street, together with its surroundings, enjoys a world first in the concentration of banks and stock exchanges. Anyone who wants to experience the atmosphere of genuine business should go here on a weekday. On weekends, it’s like a ghost town.

Washington Square

The most picturesque square in all of New York is also the oldest. The houses on its north side date back to the 1830s. The buildings on the east and south sides of the square belong to New York University. This is the largest American private university – 40,000 students and 5,000 professors!)

Museums and galleries in New York

Thanks to the collecting passion of American rich people, New York museums and galleries are not lagging behind those in London or Paris. That is, mainly in terms of fine art.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The museum is the absolute top among local art collections. If you want to at least partially walk through its exhibition, you should set aside at least half a day. And even then, only a fraction of the huge art collection is exhibited to visitors. The museum owns it, which results in the addition of more and more wings to the building. For all, let’s name, for example, the Ancient, Egyptian, Chinese collection and collections of European art from all possible periods. 5th Avenue and 82nd Street

Guggenheim Museum

It draws attention to itself with its architectural uniqueness. The museum houses a collection of 20th-century art, which numbers 6,000 works. 5th Avenue/corner of 88th Street, 575 Broadway/corner of Prince Street

Frick Collection

Its environment is more reminiscent of a cozy home than a public building. It owes this mainly to the original decoration in the form of nice furniture, flowers, porcelain and enamel works. Works by old masters are exhibited here, such as Rembrandt, Velázquez, Titian, Fragonard, etc. 1 East 70th Street/corner of 5th Avenue

American Museum of Natural History

Its botanical, mineralogical and zoological collections are among the largest in the world. The most popular with visitors are the exhibitions of life in the oceans, dinosaurs, African mammals and Mexico and Central America. Central Park West between 78th and 79th Streets, right next to Central Park.

Museum of Modern Art

Founded in 1929, the museum has become the most important collection of 20th-century art in the world. It also boasts the largest collection of photographs and films in America. The films are screened in two cinemas, which are part of the museum. 11 West 53rd Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

No one can count all the galleries in New York, but there will certainly be 500 or 600 of them. In any case, most of the galleries of older art are on 57th Street/Madison Avenue, contemporary American art is exhibited by galleries in the SoHo district.

Restaurants in New York

American culture differs significantly from European culture in certain respects. There are relatively large differences mainly in the culture of dining and visiting restaurants in general. If you want to avoid misunderstandings or possible faux pas, we have a few tips for you on how to behave in American, or New York restaurants:

Payment by card

It is customary to pay by credit card, but it should be noted that the tip is usually not included in the price and waiters expect it. The tip should be 15% of the order price. Anyone who can’t calculate it in their head can help themselves like New Yorkers: simply multiply the tax highlighted on the bill by two. We also recommend that you always recalculate the bill. Some waiters take advantage of foreigners’ ignorance and add the tip to it themselves (of course, many times higher than is the norm).

Don’t seat yourself at the table

It is common for us to come to a restaurant and sit down at the first free table. In America, this is considered rude. Always wait for the staff to show you to your seat, even if you don’t have a reservation! It is also impolite to sit down at an already occupied table.

Dress code

Although it is surprising, Americans are more formal than us in some ways. This applies, for example, to clothing in public establishments. If you are hesitant about what to wear for lunch or dinner, it is better to ask about the dress code when making a reservation. Good restaurants take care that guests appear in a jacket and tie.

Coffee shops

– Very popular for small refreshments during the day are the so-called coffee shops, which you can find on every corner. They will usually only offer you coffee and something to eat.

River Café

And one more tip. If you want to enjoy an unforgettable view of Manhattan, the River Café right under the Brooklyn Bridge is perfect for that. The cuisine here is rather average, but the panorama, especially in the evening, is really worth it.

Shopping in New York

Every shopaholic will be in their element in New York. It is simply a shopping paradise. You can get everything you can think of here, and even things you have never seen before. Of course, you will always buy the most advantageously in stores with the sign “sale” (clearance).

The prices of goods depend on both the season and the seller. A dress that you saw for $1000 on Madison Square can be found for a quarter of the price or even less at a Jewish seller. And hopefully in the same quality.

As for grocery stores, most Korean “convenience stores” are open 24 hours a day. However, alcohol can only be sold in specialized stores with a license, which have the word “liquors” in their name.

Shops with all sorts of things are scattered all over the city, but everything in one place is offered by, for example,

Macy’s (between Broadway and 7th Avenue, a world-famous department store where they sell absolutely everything.

Another example is Bloomingdale’s (between Lexington and 3rd Avenue). Although modern and tasteful, it is still accessible to ordinary people. Saks Fifth Avenue (5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Street). Mainly women with refined taste shop here, but also men looking for quality clothing.

Transportation in New York

Subway

The subway is famous for its vastness, but also for its dirt and noise – fortunately, this is no longer the case. There are trains that stop at every station (local trains) and express trains. Although the subway runs 24 hours a day, it is better to take a taxi after midnight for your own safety.

Bus

The bus system in New York is quite complex, but it can be understood.

Taxi

Yellow cabs are known all over the world, and you can find them on the street at any time of the day or night. They have a lit symbol on the roof when they are available. The fare is determined by the meter, and there is an extra charge after 8 PM. Drivers expect a tip of about 15%.

We were in the USA in 2001, so the quality of the photos reflects that. Unfortunately, digital cameras did not become widespread until a few years later (in the Czech Republic).

Apart from the “Twin Towers”, the sights are still in the same place. Therefore, you can use this travelogue to plan trips around New York this year as well.

September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked America. Planes flew into the WTC – World Trade Center, i.e. the Twin Towers. Both later collapsed. Furthermore, a plane crashed into the Washington Pentagon and one plane crashed near Pittsburgh.

I would say that we have some of the last photographs of the still-standing Twin Towers.

Frequently Asked Questions