Top 10 New York City Landmarks

Covering a total of forty-eight acres and acting as a hub for the City, this classy and grandiose depot is home to more platforms than any other railroad station across the globe. As an enduring favorite filming location for Hollywood, it has made scores of appearances in countless television shows and cinematic blockbusters, as a much-frequented location even on screen. Catering to over 20 million commuting locals and visitors each year, Grand Central Terminal aptly sits as one of the ten most-visited tourist attractions in the world.

Situated on the southwestern end of Brooklyn, this peninsula is the ultimate outdoor leisure and entertainment destination for City residents. Connecting a few of New York’s major beaches, the seaside resort has attracted countless millions each year ever since opening in the 1880s and continues to be a favorite tourist destination. Home to a string of amusement parks, Coney also plays host to some of the U.S.’s most iconic historical gems in the world of theme parks, including The Wonder Wheel and Cyclone roller coaster. These are just two among only a handful of amusement park attractions recorded in the National Register of Historic Places.

Finished in 1883, this cable-stayed superstructure was the first steel-wire suspension bridge ever built, and it connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. With more than 120,000 vehicles, 4,000 pedestrians and 3,000 cyclists crossing it each day, the Brooklyn Bridge is the second busiest bridge in NYC, and today it stands as one of the city’s finest architectural marvels. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1972. Although oily characters have often tried to sell the Bridge to unsuspecting rubes for a bargain, the bridge remains a priceless New York landmark.

The center of the fourth largest library system in the world, the New York Public Library’s main chapter is the organization’s largest and most-visited. Officially “The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building,” the central branch was opened in 1911 at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, adjacent to the local-favorite Bryant Park. Another favorite destination for Hollywood films hoping to situate themselves within the City, the flagship library is a lively character in its own right, featuring the famous Rose Main Reading Room and being declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Stretching from the neighborhoods of Harlem to Greenwich Village, this bustling boulevard is 6.2 miles of landmarks, lavish apartments, and luxurious retail boutiques. Home to iconic American treasures including the illustrious Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and the celebrated Rockefeller Center, there’s no shortage of ornamental reverence along this flamboyant thoroughfare. It boasts dozens of flagship stores and department emporiums from some of the fashion industry’s most prestigious names, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Lord & Taylor. Fifth Avenue has continually endured as one of the U.S.’s busiest and most expensive shopping promenades - so prepare to bid your savings a fond farewell.

Home to many memorable museums, including the Guggenheim and MoMA, NYC is renowned for its embrace of the arts. However, with all due respect to the other artistic institutions, nothing compares with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Casually referred to as “The Met,” this two million square-foot realm of awe-inspiring works is the largest art museum in the country and one of the most-visited in the world. With a generous pay-what-you-wish admission, this galaxy of galleries sees an annual average of five million visitors every year.

Measuring 1,250 feet to the base of its spire, this iconic skyscraper surpassed the equally renowned and ARTfully DECOrative, or art deco, Chrysler Building as the tallest in the world in 1931, a title it held for over forty years. A national landmark, the Empire State Building was ranked #1 on the American Institute of Architects’ List of America’s Favorite Architecture in 2007. Today, it stands as the fifth tallest freestanding structure in the Americas. Its outdoor observatory is especially popular, having been visited by over a hundred million guests over its lifetime.

Positioned on the appropriately titled Liberty Island in New York Harbor, Lady Liberty has stood as a colossal welcoming beacon for immigrants and returning citizens since the 1880s. The statue’s astonishing interior is open to the public for tours; however only a limited number of people are permitted to ascend to her crown each day. The neoclassical beauty of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi’s masterpiece can also be appreciated from all around, including back in the mainland’s Battery Park, and especially at sunset.

Despite having over 1,700 public parks, including the historical Union, Washington, Gramercy and Madison Square Parks, selecting the essential must-visit among all of them was no contest. Situated in the heart of Manhattan, Central Park is one of the most filmed and photographed locations in the world. The Park blissfully blends nature with beauteous buildings in the background, including the world famous Plaza Hotel. Covering 843 acres, it’s actually only the city’s fifth largest park, but it’s the U.S.’s most popular, receiving approximately 37 million visitors roaming across her majestic grounds each year.

Before we visit our top pick, here are honorable mentions:
- South Street Seaport
- National September 11 Memorial & Museum
- High Line

With epithets like “The Heart of the World” and “The Center of the Universe” attached to it, there was never any question that this bright and blazing intersection would take the top spot. As the central hub for New York’s glorified Broadway district as well as a major crossroads for all things entertainment, Times Square draws in an annual average of fifty million visitors. Even a slow day sees 300,000 pass through. With an abundance of prominent names and landmarks, this neon-illuminated destination is proof that New York is truly the Empire State.

Do you agree with our list? Which landmarks in New York City are on your must-visit list? For more travel Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.