I went to New York for about ten days. From what little I saw as a tourist, I came away with a very positive feeling about this city that lives at full speed!

The Big Apple is a fantastic city with its architecture and its different neighborhoods, all of which promise wonderful surprises. New Yorkers made a very good impression on me. With my Guide du Routard in hand, many New Yorkers came up to me asking whether I needed help or whether I was French, while giving me advice on places to visit. So maybe Americans do indeed form deep bonds only with difficulty, but they are smiling and approachable. A real breath of fresh air…

For this stay, I was lucky enough to benefit from a mistake on a travel website, which allowed me to stay at a hotel in Times Square. This ultra-touristy but so mythical place lives up to everything you see in the movies, and it is strategically located for visiting New York properly! It is full of people, lights, and gigantic stores, and you feel good there!

During that week, I was able to discover 5th Avenue, SoHo, Greenwich Village, Seaport, Wall Street, Brooklyn, and Harlem, which are key places if you are going to NYC on vacation. To get around, the subway, which runs 7 days a week and 24 hours a day, is ideal! To visit New York in one week, I chose the Unlimited Ride MetroCard, which is valid unlimited for 7 days! I also tried the yellow cabs and I was not disappointed 😉

Here are a few souvenir photos from my stay!

Central Park

Chrysler Building

 

Rockefeller Center

Atlas

St Patrick

Flatiron

5th Avenue

 

NYSE

Church on Wall Street

SoHo

UN street

Greenwich Village

Seaport

Grand Central Terminal

To fully enjoy the famous Brooklyn Bridge, I took the subway to Brooklyn fairly early in the morning and had my breakfast there (pancakes!) before heading back toward Manhattan via the bridge. Walking across it offers a breathtaking view of the city! 🙂

Brooklyn Bridge

Downtown from Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge from South Street Seaport

To see the Statue of Liberty more closely, I chose to take the Staten Island Ferry. The crossing is free, but you will not be able to visit the island. For those who want to visit it, you have to take the boat from Lower Manhattan and book your tickets in advance. On the other hand, you will not be able to see the inside of the Statue.

Manhattan from ferry

Liberty

I of course went to the Rockefeller Center, known for its ice rink that we often see on TV, but above all for its Top of the Rock Observation Deck, which offers a breathtaking view over the whole city from the height of its 70 floors! On one side, a wonderful view over Central Park, and on the other, the Empire State Building!

Central Park from Top of the Rock

Empire State Building and the city from Top of the Rock

West Central Park from Top of the Rock Being in New York, I had the chance to see the famous musical “The Phantom of the Opera” staged in true Broadway style. As a fan of dance and music, I simply loved it!

In New York, there are many places where you can enjoy jazz and blues. I went to the jazz club “Blue Note“, one of the main jazz clubs in the city and even in the world. Pure happiness and a unique atmosphere! I recommend it 😉

Then, I finally tasted a Cosmopolitan and strolled through Greenwich Village like Carrie (Sex and the City fans will understand me!).

To taste my first Cosmopolitan, I went to the Marriot Marquis with its stunning view and its revolving panoramic bar on the 48th floor (a feast for the eyes). If I remember correctly, there was a very nice buffet option, and to delight the foodie that I am, there was also a chocolate fountain. 😉

View from Marriot Marquis

I also attended a memorable gospel service in Harlem on Sunday morning. I took the subway there and had breakfast in Harlem before the service. You should know that there are many churches in Harlem, so it is better to do a little research beforehand to make sure tourists are welcome. In any case, I loved this service mixed with singing, and also the fact that people from the congregation could come up on stage and take part!

Gospel Church

During that day, I also discovered the extravagances of the famous MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) with its many contemporary artworks, whose beauty depends on each person’s sensitivity.

Warhol – Campbell’s Soup Cans Picasso – MoMA

I ended my stay beautifully by going to the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, located one hour by bus from New York. It is a very pleasant American-style village outlet with unbeatable prices and a wide choice of clothing.

The entire week spent visiting New York was packed from morning to night in this fantastic city. I did not want to leave it so much that I almost missed my plane! 😉