One day is not long enough to see everything New York has to offer, but you should not miss certain iconic attractions. The city is home to world-famous museums, historic buildings and a thriving nightlife. No matter your particular interests, you should be able to find more than enough to keep you occupied for 24 hours in New York.
Museums
The American Museum of Natural History and Metropolitan Museum of Art are both located near Central Park, the former on Central Park and the latter on Fifth Avenue. Children will enjoy the American Museum of Natural History with its dinosaur skeletons, planetarium shows and IMAX theater, while the Met is home to ancient artifacts and works of art from all over the world. The Met opens every day, except Monday, at 9:30 a.m., while the American Natural History Museum opens daily at 10 a.m., allowing you to get an early start to your sightseeing.
Central Park
From either museum, you can walk to Central Park, a popular attraction for both visitors to and residents of New York. You can explore the network of paths on foot or hire a bicycle to cover more ground. In the winter, two temporary ice rinks are set up in the park, allowing you to enjoy skating with Manhattan as your backdrop. For a small fee, you can rent a rowboat on the lake, or just relax with a picnic on the Great Lawn. If you prefer more action, the park is popular with joggers and you can join in games on the free basketball courts and baseball fields as well.
Boat Trip
New York is surrounded by water, and a good way to see the city's attractions from a new perspective is by boat. Various companies run tours, lasting between one and four hours, but the Staten Island Ferry is a short, free trip that lasts just 25 minutes. The trip is ideal if you only have one day in the city. The journey allows you to get a view of the New York skyline as well as sailing by Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. You can choose from more than 100 crossings a day on weekdays or around 70 on weekends.
Empire State at Dusk
The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic buildings in the city and a must-see on any visitor's list. The best time to take a trip up to the observation deck is at dusk, when you can still enjoy views of New York in daylight before watching as the city lights up at night. You can buy tickets to the 86th-floor observatory online, beating the queues, but tickets to the higher observatory on the 102nd floor are only sold on the day at the building itself, so be prepared for a wait during busy times.
Broadway and Times Square
New York's theater district, around Broadway and Times Square is where the city comes to life at night. Here you can find many restaurants, including Becco, which offers an all-you-can-eat pasta menu on evenings. You can also take in a Broadway show, either by booking in advance yourself or asking at your hotel if they can acquire tickets, but be prepared to pay above face value. Popular shows in 2010 included Mamma Mia and Billy Elliot.
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