The 12 Best Landmarks in NYC (2026)

1. Empire State Building — Midtown, Manhattan

The Art Deco tower that still defines the New York skyline, with an open-air deck on the 86th floor.

Completed in 1931, the Empire State Building is the city's most recognizable skyscraper. The visit starts with an interactive museum on the building's history before elevators carry you to the 86th-floor observatory, which wraps around the tower in the open air.

An upgraded ticket adds the 102nd floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows. The restored Art Deco lobby on Fifth Avenue is worth a look on its own.

Good to know: Go after dark: the observatory stays open late, the lines are usually shorter and the lit-up city is spectacular.

20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001

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2. Statue of Liberty — Liberty Island (ferries from Battery Park), Manhattan

The symbol of New York and of American immigration, best paired with Ellis Island on the same ferry.

Dedicated in 1886, Lady Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The official ferry from Battery Park stops at Liberty Island and then Ellis Island, home to the National Museum of Immigration, so plan most of a day for both.

General tickets cover the grounds and the Statue of Liberty Museum; pedestal and crown access are limited and sell out well in advance.

Good to know: Buy tickets only from the official ferry operator linked on the National Park Service site — street sellers near Battery Park often push unofficial harbor cruises.

Liberty Island, New York, NY 10004

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3. Brooklyn Bridge — Dumbo / Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn

The 1883 suspension bridge whose elevated wooden promenade is the city's most famous free walk.

When it opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world, and its Gothic stone towers and web of cables are still breathtaking. The raised pedestrian promenade runs about a mile from City Hall in Manhattan to Dumbo in Brooklyn.

Cyclists now have their own protected lane on the roadway, which leaves the promenade to people on foot. Allow 30 to 45 minutes to walk across with photo stops.

Good to know: Start on the Brooklyn side and walk toward Manhattan so the skyline is in front of you the whole way; early morning is the least crowded time.

4. Grand Central Terminal — Midtown East, Manhattan

A Beaux-Arts railway palace with a celestial ceiling, a whispering gallery and a working commuter station.

Opened in 1913, Grand Central is one of the most beautiful public spaces in the country. Look up in the Main Concourse at the turquoise ceiling painted with constellations, then find the four-faced brass clock above the information booth.

Below the concourse, the tiled arches outside the Grand Central Oyster Bar form the Whispering Gallery: stand in opposite corners and whisper into the wall, and your companion can hear you clearly.

Good to know: Visit midmorning or early afternoon on a weekday to avoid the rush-hour crush; the balconies overlooking the Main Concourse give the best photos.

89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

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5. Chrysler Building — Midtown East, Manhattan

The most elegant skyscraper in New York, with a gleaming stainless-steel crown.

Completed in 1930, the Chrysler Building is the purest expression of Art Deco on the skyline: a terraced stainless-steel spire, eagle gargoyles and ornaments modeled on car parts. It was briefly the tallest building in the world before the Empire State Building overtook it.

It is an office building, so the experience is mostly from the outside — and it is right around the corner from Grand Central, making it an easy add-on.

Good to know: For the best views of the crown, look from the Empire State Building or Summit One Vanderbilt, or walk east along 42nd Street at dusk when the spire lights up.

405 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10174

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6. One World Trade Center — Financial District, Manhattan

The tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, rising 1,776 feet above the 9/11 Memorial.

One World Trade Center anchors the rebuilt World Trade Center site, next to the 9/11 Memorial pools and Santiago Calatrava's Oculus transit hub. Its height of 1,776 feet is a deliberate nod to the year of American independence.

One World Observatory occupies the top floors, reached by elevators that play a time-lapse of the city's growth on the way up. The views take in the harbor, the Statue of Liberty and all five boroughs on a clear day.

Good to know: Combine it with the 9/11 Memorial pools (free) and the Oculus; check the weather forecast, since low cloud can blank out the view entirely.

117 West St, New York, NY 10007

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7. St. Patrick's Cathedral — Midtown, Manhattan

A soaring neo-Gothic cathedral on Fifth Avenue, directly across from Rockefeller Center.

Dedicated in 1879, St. Patrick's Cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of New York and one of the great Gothic Revival churches in America, with twin spires, marble interiors and vast stained-glass windows.

Entry is free, and the cathedral is open daily to visitors as well as worshippers, so it is an easy stop while walking Fifth Avenue.

Good to know: Visit between services and dress respectfully; it is especially beautiful during the holiday season, when it pairs with the Rockefeller Center tree across the street.

Fifth Ave & E 50th St, New York, NY 10022

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8. New York Public Library (Stephen A. Schwarzman Building) — Midtown, Manhattan

The marble Beaux-Arts library guarded by the stone lions Patience and Fortitude.

The library's main branch on Fifth Avenue opened in 1911 and is one of the city's finest buildings. Inside, the Rose Main Reading Room has long oak tables under a painted ceiling, and free exhibitions draw on the library's collections.

Bryant Park is directly behind it, making it easy to combine the two.

Good to know: Admission is free; check the library's site for free guided tour times and current reading-room access before you go.

476 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10018

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9. Yankee Stadium — Concourse, The Bronx

Home of the New York Yankees and Monument Park, the team's open-air hall of legends.

The current Yankee Stadium opened in 2009 across the street from the original 1923 ballpark. Monument Park, beyond the outfield wall, honors Yankees greats with plaques and retired numbers.

Baseball season runs from spring into fall; outside the season, guided stadium tours are the way to see the clubhouse, dugout and Monument Park.

Good to know: The B, D and 4 trains stop right outside at 161st Street–Yankee Stadium. On game days arrive early — Monument Park usually closes to fans well before first pitch.

1 E 161st St, Bronx, NY 10451

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10. Coney Island Cyclone — Coney Island, Brooklyn

A 1927 wooden roller coaster that is an official city landmark — and still rattles riders every summer.

The Cyclone opened in 1927 and is one of the most famous wooden coasters in the world, with a steep first drop and a famously rough, rattling ride. It is operated today by Luna Park and sits steps from the Coney Island boardwalk.

Make a day of it with the boardwalk, the beach, the Wonder Wheel and a hot dog at the original Nathan's on Surf Avenue.

Good to know: The Cyclone runs seasonally, roughly spring through early fall — check Luna Park's calendar before making the trip. The D, F, N and Q trains all end at Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue.

834 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224

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11. Unisphere — Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens

The giant stainless-steel globe built for the 1964–65 World's Fair, Queens' best-known icon.

Standing about 140 feet tall, the Unisphere was the symbol of the 1964–65 New York World's Fair and remains the centerpiece of Flushing Meadows Corona Park. In warm months fountains spray around its base.

Nearby you can see the Queens Museum, home of the Panorama of the City of New York, and the towers of the New York State Pavilion. Citi Field and the US Open's tennis center are in the same park.

Good to know: Take the 7 train to Mets–Willets Point and walk south through the park; it is free and rarely crowded outside summer weekends.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY 11368

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12. Historic Richmond Town — Richmondtown, Staten Island

A preserved village of historic houses, shops and a courthouse spanning three centuries of Staten Island life.

Historic Richmond Town is a living-history village and museum complex on the site of Staten Island's old county seat. Dozens of historic buildings, moved here or preserved in place, include homes, trade shops, a general store and a courthouse.

Seasonal programs and demonstrations bring the village to life, and the grounds make an easy half-day trip from the Staten Island Ferry.

Good to know: From the St. George ferry terminal, the S74 bus runs to Richmond Town; check the site for open days, since hours are shorter in winter.

441 Clarke Ave, Staten Island, NY 10306

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