While everyone's to-do list in New York is slightly different, there are a few things that are on everyone's list - or should be!
Read on to find out about the most iconic things to do in New York.
1. Central Park
The most famous park in the world is a beautiful mixture of great fields of green with the iconic skyline surrounding you. I have wrote an article on the best things to do in Central Park, as there is too much to fit here, but due to it's beauty, the history and the amount of things to do, it had to be my number one on the Top Things To Do in New York.
2. Ride in a Yellow Taxi
The Yellow Taxis of New York are as iconic as the Empire State Building. While London has the red buses, New York has the yellow taxis. I would say a Taxi trip is an absolute must as a tourist and a lot of locals use them regularly as well because they are fairly priced.
Click here to read my tips and learn everything you need to know about Taxis in NYC.
3. Empire State Building
The Empire State building is known for it's impressive stature and throughout the world for it's iconic scenes in King Kong, James and The Giant Peach, An Affair to Remember, Sleepless in Seattle etc.
4. Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
The copper statue, a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States in 1886 has long been a sign of the American Dream to those coming in to New York by boat - a symbol of their new life.
The statue is situated in Upper New York Bay on Liberty Island south of Ellis Island, which can be visited by boat.
Don't forget to also see Ellis Island. Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration tells the story not just of Ellis Island but of immigration from the colonial era to the present day, though numerous galleries containing artefacts, photographs, and taped oral histories.
5. Times Square
The location for everything from the New Years Eve ball drop to daily morning shows, Times Square is quintessentially New York. The bright lights, music, and crowds of people make you feel like you are in the middle of a movie and there is always something to see there.
6. Brooklyn Bridge
One of New York's noblest and most recognized landmarks, the Brooklyn Bridge stretches over the East River, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. A walk across its promenade—a boardwalk elevated above the roadway, shared by pedestrians, in-line skaters, and cyclists—takes about 40 minutes and delivers exhilarating views.
7. Go to a Broadway show
Broadway is the theatre district of New York due to the fact most of the theatres are on the road named "Broadway". All of the biggest musicals have performed here and to see a show performed on Broadway is to see it performed at it's best. The easiest way to get there is to go to Times Square and then it's hard to miss the signs for the big musicals.
8. Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central is not only the world's largest (76 acres) and America's busiest railway station—nearly 700,000 commuters and subway riders use it daily—but also one of the world's most magnificent, majestic public spaces. Past the glimmering chandeliers of the waiting room is the jaw-dropping main concourse with a twinkling map of the constellations. To admire it all with some sense of peace, avoid visiting at rush hour.
9. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
This massive complex contains 23 theaters, as well as the Juilliard School, the New York City Ballet, the Film Center of Lincoln Center, and a branch of the New York Public Library, making Lincoln Center one of the most concentrated places for the performing arts in the nation.
The largest hall, the Metropolitan Opera House is notable for its dramatic arched entrance as well as its lobby's immense Swarovski crystal chandeliers and Marc Chagall paintings, both of which can be seen from outside later in the day.
10. Wall Street and the Wall Street Bull
Wall Street is also known as the financial district of the world and it is definetly worth taking a stroll and seeing the huge American flag waving proudly.
The Charging Bull, which is sometimes referred to as the Wall Street Bull or the Bowling Green Bull, is a bronze sculpture that stands in Bowling Green in the Financial District in Manhattan, New York City. Originally guerrilla art, installed unofficially, but it's popularity led to it being a permanent feature.
11. St Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral is the most famous church in Manhattan - for good reason. A massive brick and marble masterpiece built in 1879, the enormous Roman Catholic church can seat 2,200 people and sees thousands of tourists walk through its heavy doors to admire its pointed vaults and stunning stained glass windows every day. Adorned by not one, but two spires that reach up to 330 feet in the air, the Neo-Gothic style cathedral enjoys prime real estate along Manhattan's famous Fifth Avenue and hosts the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. It's also seen its fair share of famous faces. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated mass there!
11. Washington Square Arch
Designed by Stanford White, the Washington Square Park arch was first built out of wood to commemorate the 100th anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration. The prominent citizens paid for White to design it out of marble.
If you are incredibly lucky you can take a tour inside.
13. Ice Skating at the Rockefeller Centre
One of the most iconic things you can do in New York, especially when they have the beautiful gigantic tree up at Christmas. This can only be done during certain times of the year. Read my article on the Rockefeller Centre to find out details about prices and on-season times of the Ice Skating rink.
The rink can get incredibly busy during peak season. However, this is what it looked like when I was there in February. Much quieter but just as beautiful. It is quite an experience to be skating surrounded by skyscrapers.
14. New York Public Library
This main branch, officially called the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, attracts plenty of book lovers, history junkies and architecture aficionados. Most people swing by the Bryant Park landmark to say hello to Patience and Fortitude (the famous stone lions guarding the entrance) and to admire the lovely beaux-arts design.
15. Ride the Staten Island Ferry
Every day, some 70,000 people ride the free 25-minute ferry to Staten Island and you should be one of them. The views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island are breath-taking.