In no particular order, here we go…
Central Park
Type of Attraction: Park
Estimated time spent: 45 minutes – 1.5 hours
Estimated cost: USD$0.00
Why? There’s a reason why so many celebs choose to buy apartments around the park. The photo does not justify how beautiful and breath taking it is. If you visit in the middle of the winter, then you might be slightly disappointed. It’s a great place to walk from one end to the other (I highly recommend going through the park from the MET to Central Manhattan). It screams nature, cleanliness, and a reason why you would want to live in New York.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Type of Attraction: Museum
Estimated time spent: 2 – 5 hours
Estimated cost: Any (they consider admission as a donation to the museum, therefore you are free to pay whatever you desire!)
Why? I’ve been to more museums than any other tourist attractions, because I’m a sucker for museums. The MET has remained being my favourite art museum. I love how they section the museum by regions, organize the displays, while keeping a clean, crisp, and extremely spacious layout. They have relatively “new” pieces (centuries ago), and others that are thousand years old. It is a MUST.
Statue of Liberty
Type of Attraction: Sight seeing
Estimated time spent: 1 -3 hours
Estimated cost: USD$9.00 – USD$35.00 (age and options for packages)
Why? The Statue of Liberty is a classic. It symbolizes the United States of America, and it’s stunning. It’s not that simple to see it though – you need to take a ferry to access the island. A bonus that comes with visiting the Statue is that the Ellis Island is right next door, and many packages include a visit to the Island!
Chinatown, Manhattan
Type of Attraction: Sight seeing / Food
Estimated time spent: 1 – 3 hours
Estimated cost: Depends (on whether you purchase anything)
Why? You’ve never been to China? Well the Chinatown in Manhattan is a pretty good replica of China. If you take away all the English in the signs, I would have mistaken it as China. You get to experience an entire culture within couple streets.
Times Square
Type of Attraction: Food / Shopping / Sight seeing
Estimated time spent: 1 – 3 hours
Estimated cost: Depends (on whether you decide to do some spending!)
Why? I think this is the first place that comes to mind when visiting New York. Time Square – I have a love hate relationship with this place. I’m already terrible at controlling my spending, and Time Square definitely doesn’t help with it. Here, you see the NASDAQ, the Hershey’s and M&M store, the lights and screens, the people, and the shops. It’s glamorous, it’s crowded, and it’s definitely worth a visit. In my experience, I recommend going when the sun first sets – you get to see the “better” version with the bright lights while all the stores are still open.
5th Avenue
Type of Attraction: Shopping
Estimated time spent: 30 min – 5 hours (5 hours for those who love to shop!!)
Estimated cost: OH BOY (high end, luxury shopping district)
Why? This is not for you if you are not a shopaholic, or names like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin or Tiffany Co. doesn’t ring a bell. The boutiques here are the definition of luxury – almost like a museum when you walk in.
The Bull / Wall Street
Type of Attraction: Sight seeing
Estimated time spent: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Estimated cost: Free
Why? An investor? Work in the finance industry? Go visit The Bull, touch it for good luck, and walk around Wall Street to get a feel of how it’s like working in the financial district of New York, the central of control. It gives a old town vibe, something you will never see in Chicago, Toronto, or Shanghai.
A Broadway Show
Type of Attraction: Show
Estimated time spent: 2 – 3 hours
Estimated cost: USD$100.00+ (depends on the show and seating)
Why? There are a ton of Broadway Shows that play within a certain time period, and (hopefully) there’s something for everyone – from cartoon based to adult themes. It’s on most people’s bucket list, and even local New Yorkers enjoy going to a Broadway Show once in a while. There is a reason why it is highly spoken about.
Photos in this post are not mine. Sources are posted below each photo.
Simply Caffeinated 
I love New York! You captured it amazingly well!
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Thank you!
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