Manhattan Landmarks
The Five Neighborhoods of New York City’s Boroughs
For many visitors, Manhattan is synonymous with New York City. Most of the sights are located here, such as Times Square, Broadway, the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Wall Street Stock Exchange, as well as the bohemian districts of SoHo and Greenwich Village. Most of the famous museums such as the Solomon Guggenheim Museum, the most exclusive luxury hotels and the various ethnic districts of Chinatown, Harlem and Little Italy are also located in Manhattan.
The Bronx
According to travelationary, the northernmost district is the Bronx, which consists of 24% parkland. That’s more than any other urban region in the country, by the way. The Bronx Zoo prides itself on simulated flooding and lightning storms for the welfare of the animals. They are also proud of Yankee Stadium, which has certain similarities with a wedding cake. A variety of scents can be enjoyed in the 27 special gardens and in the forest that once covered all of New York City.
Brooklyn
Everyone is talking about Brooklyn with the tree-lined streets of Brooklyn Heights, the pretty brick mansions and the manicured front gardens. The view of the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn Heights Esplanade is unforgettable – especially at sunset. The breathtaking footpath over the Brooklyn Bridge, which has connected the district with Manhattan since 1883 and was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, is one of the highlights of a visit to New York.
Queens
East of Manhattan, across the East River, Queens is fast becoming a top cultural destination. It is home to some excellent museums such as the contemporary MoMa PS1 Art Center, Film Studios and the American Museum of the Moving Image. By the way, Queens is six times the size of Manhattan. Incidentally, the two largest New York airports are located here: JFK International and La Guardia. Both parts of the city are characterized by the diversity of the different immigrants who live here. Long Island City (LIC) — a borough in the borough of Queens — is one of New York City’s up and coming hip areas.
Staten Island
Southwest is Staten Island. The green and diverse district is an idyllic destination that is definitely worth a visit. Complimentary rides on the Staten Island Ferry guarantee scenic views of the Lower Manhattan skyline. The area of St. George is worth seeing, with its art galleries, bars and the St. George Theatre. South of that, in the Tompkinsville area, is Little Sri Lanka, which attracts visitors with its alluring scents. Historic Richmond Town is a meticulously recreated historic village reminiscent of colonial Williamsburg. Fort Wadsworth is one of the oldest military installations in the country.
Tips for New York City visitors
VUSA Tip 1: Free Wi-Fi (WLAN) service in some city parks. This provides visitors with a free Internet connection and makes it easier to navigate through the five New York boroughs. As an additional guide, NYC & Company has developed the NYC Maps app with a directory of 90,000 locations and associated logos. This makes it easier for visitors to find and explore the city’s attractions.
Currently there are said to be 500 LinkNYC kiosks in the five boroughs of New York City. They offer residents and tourists free wireless (Wi-Fi) high-speed Internet, the ability to make phone calls and charge devices (via USB ports). The Wi-Fi hotspots that replace the old payphones are touch screen tablets that can be used to research, get directions and make calls.
VUSA Tip 2: When visiting New York City, the only place to go is the Official Information Center in Manhattan (810 Seventh Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets), which has recently been renovated. There, visitors can pick up the latest guidebooks and maps, purchase attraction and public transport tickets, speak to travel advisors and print out maps for exploring the five boroughs.
VUSA Tip 3: The Free in NYC Guide ( nycgo.com/free ) gives visitors tips and recommendations on the best free activities and attractions in New York City. It includes events, museums, tours, TV productions and numerous attractions.
VUSA Tip 4: Visit nycgo.com/annualevents for the list of this year’s events in New York City .
