History · New York City · United States
7 historic sites to see in New York City
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Start with Metropolitan Museum of Art, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 15–19 hours across 7 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 15–19 hours
- Areas
- Upper East Side, Liberty Island and Financial District
Historic sites in New York City
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Museum · Upper East Side
1.Metropolitan Museum of Art
The roof garden opens in the warmer months with views over Central Park. New York State residents pay what they wish; other visitors pay fixed admission.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
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Landmark · Liberty Island
2.Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Ferries from Battery Park stop at Liberty Island, where the statue, a gift from France dedicated in 1886, has a museum and pedestal views, and at Ellis Island, whose immigration museum tells the story of the roughly 12 million people processed there between 1892 and 1954.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Views
Historic site · Financial District
3.9/11 Memorial and Museum
The museum below, built around the original foundations, holds the Survivors' Stairs and personal artefacts; the memorial plaza itself is free.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Architecture · Midtown
4.Grand Central Terminal
Below, the tiled vaults outside the Oyster Bar form a whispering gallery where a whisper carries across the arch.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Fort Tryon Park
5.The Met Cloisters
The Unicorn Tapestries, illuminated manuscripts and medieval herb gardens make it one of the city's most peaceful museums.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Views
Museum · Lower East Side
6.Tenement Museum
Visits are by guided tour only.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
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Theme park · Coney Island
7.Coney Island
It sits at the end of the D, F, N and Q subway lines.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Food
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Upper East Side | Metropolitan Museum of Art | 3–4 hours |
| Liberty Island | Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island | Half a day |
| Financial District | 9/11 Memorial and Museum | 2–3 hours |
| Midtown | Grand Central Terminal | 30–45 minutes |
| Fort Tryon Park | The Met Cloisters | 2 hours |
| Lower East Side | Tenement Museum | 1.5 hours |
| Coney Island | Coney Island | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 1 free, 1 low cost, 5 mid-priced. Book ahead for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, 9/11 Memorial and Museum and Tenement Museum. The longest visit is Metropolitan Museum of Art; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: Pedestal and crown access are limited and must be reserved with the official ferry operator, Statue City Cruises; crown tickets sell out months ahead.
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum: Timed museum tickets bought online avoid queues at busy times.
- Tenement Museum: Tours are small and often sell out; book online.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Upper East Side): Metropolitan Museum of Art, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Liberty Island): Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Financial District and Midtown): 9/11 Memorial and Museum → Grand Central Terminal, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Fort Tryon Park and Lower East Side): The Met Cloisters → Tenement Museum, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Coney Island): Coney Island, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 6°C (43°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold and grey with the best chance of snow, but quiet museums and good hotel deals.
- January: highs of 4°C (39°F), about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds. The coldest month, often below freezing at night with occasional snow; hotel prices are at their lowest after New Year.
- March: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 11 rainy days, moderate crowds. Changeable, with cold snaps and the first mild days; spring break brings more visitors late in the month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Midtown — Times Square, Broadway theatres and the classic skyscrapers
- Upper East Side — Museum Mile, Madison Avenue boutiques and grand townhouses
- Lower East Side and East Village — Old tenements, dive bars and some of the city's best cheap eats
- Financial District — Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial and harbour views
More of New York City
All things to do in New York City · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in New York City?
Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met's collection spans 5,000 years, from the Egyptian Temple of Dendur in its glass-walled hall to European paintings by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Van Gogh, arms and armour and the American Wing.
+Which of these are free in New York City?
Grand Central Terminal.