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High Line Park (1-2 hrs)
There are several parks in New York but there’s one you definitely shouldn’t miss and that’s High Line Park. This is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side.
The High Line is located on Manhattan's West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. The High Line is operating on its winter schedule, with the park open daily from 7 am to 7 pm. In summer the park is open until 10 pm. For more information about the park and the access points, visit their website.
Empire State Building Lookout (1-2 hrs)
Manhattan has many iconic buildings. The Empire State Building is a 102-story skyscraper located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It is designed in the distinctive Art Deco style and has been named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
This building has the highest observation deck in the city and of course you have to go there on a clear day. Tickets start at $25 for a visit to the Main Observation Deck. You can buy your tickets at the building and there’s an option to buy your tickets online in advance.
The least crowded visiting hours are at 8 am or around 3 pm, but peak visiting times vary by season. The observation deck is open from 8 am to 2 am regardless of weather conditions.
Battery Park Esplanade (1-2 hrs)
Battery Park is a public park located at the southern tip of Manhattan, facing New York Harbour. The Battery is named for artillery batteries that were positioned there in the city's early years to protect the settlement behind them.
It is great to walk along the esplanade from 9/11 Memorial to the Staten Island ferry or vice versa. During the walk you get great views on the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty. The park is always open and the entrance is free.
Sex and the City tour (3 hrs)
Follow in the fancy footsteps of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte & Miranda from the hit HBO TV series Sex and the City. Drink where they drink, shop where they shop and gossip where they gossip on this 3-hour tour. And, check out a few Sex and the City movie locations.
During this tour you will visit over 40 locations seen in Sex and the City. You can have a cupcake at the bakery where Carrie and Miranda ate cupcakes or stop at a bar used the series. Go on location to the gallery in SoHo where Charlotte worked, see one of Carrie's favorite shoe stores and much more.
Tours depart on Monday through Friday at 11 am and 3 pm. On Saturday and Sunday at 10 am, 11 am and 3 pm. You can purchase your ticket or check the availability here.
And once you have your ticket, look for your guide, who will be holding a blue umbrella at the meeting point in front of Pulitzer Fountain on Fifth Avenue at 58th Street.
Row your boat in Central Park (1-2 hrs)
As most apartments in New York are quite small, New Yorkers use Central park as their garden. So there are many activities and wonderful places. The Loeb Boathouse is centrally located within Central Park. It houses the Boathouse Restaurant, a famous icon of Central Park. Overlooking the Lake it is the perfect place to dine on a relaxing afternoon lunch or romantic dinner in the warmer months.
Besides the restaurant they have great Rowboats for rent. They have a fleet of 100 new boats. You can rent a boat from 10 am till dusk. You have to pay a $20 cash deposit and the rental cost is $12.00 for the first hour. There are 4 persons allowed in a boat. You will experience a completely different New York in your rowing boat.
Circle cruise (3 hrs)
Manhattan, the heart of New York is an island and of course you have to see this island from all sides. The best way to do that is by making a full island cruise.
During this 3-hour tour you will discover the secrets of the New York City. You'll circumnavigate Manhattan Island and see it all: 3 Rivers, 7 major bridges, 5 boroughs, over 25 world renowned landmarks and Magnificent close-ups of the Statue of Liberty. Discover Manhattan like the great explorers and see the city and the outer boroughs via the water.
A ticket costs $35 per person. You can check the schedule here. The cruise will depart from the pier at the end of 42nd Street.
9/11 Memorial (2 hrs)
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is the principal memorial and museum commemorating the September 11 attacks of 2001, which killed approximately 3,000 people, and the World Trade Center bombing of 1993, which killed six.
The 9/11 Memorial is located at the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. Visitors can access the Memorial by presenting a visitor pass at the 9/11 Memorial Entry at the northwest corner of Albany and Greenwich Streets.
Admission is free to the 9/11 Memorial. Visitor passes are required. Reservations made online or by phone carry a $2 non-refundable service fee per pass. It is advisable to get your tickets online. Check the updated opening hours as well online.
Gospel Church (2 hrs)
At Sunday morning you can go to a church in New York. There are a lot of churches, but a nice one with a great choir is Mount Neboh Baptist Church in the Harlem neighbourhood at 1883 Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard.
It is a wonderful service with great music and an amazing choir. A visit is a great way to start your Sunday. There’s a service on Sunday morning at 8 am and 11 am.
The Big Apple by bike (1 hr - 1 day)
The New York City Greenway bike path is the ultimate way to tour Manhattan. It is car-free, fun, safe and easy. Bike and Roll offers a variety of guided bike tours and self-guided bike rides that allow you to see all the top sites. Bike Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, NY Harbor, and much more.
There are several locations where you can start your tour. For more details about the tours and locations click here.
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Language of the world
Of course you like to speak a few words of the local language onboard the plane or at your destination. Here you find some simple basics of the main language spoken in New York.