Manhattan
Manhattan is rightfully called the heart of New York City. This relatively small neighborhood houses the city’s major financial, cultural, and commercial institutions. It is here that the famous Broadway street is located, which is a landmark in its own right.
Video: Manhattan in Motion
” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen> Contents- Highlights
- Neighborhood history and geography
Manhattan Sights - Where to Eat
- Manhattan from Above
- Travel Tips
Highlights
The name “Manhattan” first appears in written sources in 1609. Its origin is attributed to the word “manna-hata”, which means “a small or hill-covered island”. In addition, settlers from the Old World called so the Indian tribe living in the area and one of the local islands.
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Modern Manhattan did not immediately join New York City, a process that lasted until the middle of the last century. The region played an important role in the history of the city. For example, it was here, in the famous Federal Hall, that the inauguration of President George Washington took place. Today, this district remains one of the largest economic and cultural centers of America. It consists of the following neighborhoods:
- Lower Manhattan;
- Midtown; .
- Central Park; .
- Upper West Side; .
- Upper East Side; .
- Upper Manhattan;
These are in turn divided into smaller neighborhoods such as Times Square, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, and others.
.Manhattan Attractions
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The Manhattan Center building is the center of all kinds of entertainment. Travelers and locals alike flock here to take a break, listen to concerts, enjoy dancing and have a hearty time. Chinatown is similar, but it is dominated by oriental culture and numerous stores offering Chinese food.
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Broadway
The most popular street is, of course, Broadway. What celebrities have strolled along its sidewalk. The place has become iconic. Here are scattered brand name stores, attractive restaurants, bars and banks. The street has a distinct north orientation and is an original example of a compass. Walking along the legendary Broadway is easy to navigate in search of Manhattan attractions. Almost all intersections with Broadway are memorable symbols of the island: for example, the historic Manhattan Center, next to the New York Stock Exchange. Walking slightly ahead is City Hall, the island’s City Hall.
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Manhattan’s Famous Skyscrapers
Manhattan is famous for its high-rise buildings. Almost every one of them is a work of art, but probably the most famous is the Empire State Building. It was on it that King Kong climbed in the movie of the same name. It is worth climbing to the top of the building to admire the views of New York City, both during the day and in the late evening, when the lights of the big city come on. When buying an entrance ticket or printing out a CityPass pass, it’s worth remembering that all unnecessary items, including tripods, will have to be deposited.
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Climbing the Rockefeller Center skyscraper (Top of the Rock) offers a beautiful panorama of Central Park. Several top floors and outdoor terraces are available for visiting at once. In addition to the beautiful views of the city, the famous photo of workers taking a lunch break at a height of over 200 meters – it was taken here – is also noteworthy.
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The Flatiron Building, a skyscraper named for its triangular shape, is a popular tourist attraction. From one of the angles it seems almost flat. To be photographed against the backdrop of this architectural marvel, you have to stand in a long line.
.Times Square
The square attracts 35 million visitors each year. Huge brand name stores like American Eagle and themed stores like Hershey’s draw people in, and multiplex movie theaters draw crowds thanks to their huge screens. In an effort to make the area more pedestrian-friendly and reduce the usual amount of traffic, Broadway from 47th to 42nd Streets has been turned into a bike zone.
.Manhattan Museums
The borough of Manhattan is also famous for its museums and exhibition centers. Fifth Avenue is home to the so-called Museum Mile, which is home to 10 of the city’s most famous cultural institutions.
A beautiful exhibit on the nature of our planet is available for viewing at the American Museum of Natural History, located in Central Park. It is also home to one of America’s most famous planetariums. The huge halls don’t just feature exhibits – they recreate different parts of the Earth. For example, to realize the majesty of the savannah or the rich world of the ocean depths will help skillfully created dioramas.
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a must-see for culture and art lovers. Antique statues, paintings of classical artists and representatives of modernist movements, whole rooms with rich interiors and even houses with squares – all this is placed on a huge territory. As in the case with the Museum of Natural History, you need to allocate at least a day to familiarize yourself with the expositions of all the halls.
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You can not ignore the New York Museum of Modern Art (Museum of Modern Art) or, as it is abbreviated, MoMA. In it you can quietly admire paintings by Chagall, Malevich, Warhol, Dali and many other recognized geniuses.
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The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (Guggenheim Museum) is interesting primarily for its collections of art objects representing individual civilizations: China, the Aztecs, the Russian Empire, Africa and others. The artistic value of the exhibits is hard to overestimate.
.Central Park
In the heart of Manhattan is a real island of greenery – New York’s Central Park. From all sides of this place is surrounded by skyscrapers, which only emphasizes the calm and peaceful atmosphere that reigns in it. Here you can stroll along shady alleys, sit on a bench near the pond, feeding fish or ducks, eat lunch or have a picnic right on the grass. In winter, a large outdoor skating rink is set up on the grounds.
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The park is a favorite recreational spot for residents of the area. Here come not only moms or nannies with children, but also young people who want to distract themselves from the bustle of the metropolis. Every year festivals and concerts are held here on special platforms.
.Special services with the help of volunteers closely monitor the cleanliness of the park and the safety of all the structures in it. Thanks to their work, fountains, gazebos, bridges, which in the last century were damaged by the effects of time, have been restored.
Central Park helps the avenue divide the city into the East Side and West Side – the East and West sides. Seventh Avenue crosses Broadway just north of 42nd Street at the site of Times Square.
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Statue of Liberty
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A nice bonus of visiting this attraction is the opportunity to go to another memorable place for Americans – Ellis Island. It was there that the first settlers arriving on the continent from various parts of Europe landed. A museum located here is dedicated to these events.
.Where to eat in Manhattan
Walking around Manhattan, you should definitely stop for lunch at one of the many restaurants. For example, Harry’s is very popular among tourists – here you can taste meat and fish dishes of modern cuisine, drink delicious coffee with a delicious dessert.
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Burger lovers will appreciate the So Long Saloon cafe, where visitors are offered a large selection of sandwiches. In addition, it offers searing Mexican cuisine – no one will be left indifferent.
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Coffee and light dessert are also available at Radina’s Coffeehouse. A large selection of varieties of the invigorating drink, ginger tea, juices, and fresh pastries are just a small part of the cafe’s menu.
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Those who prefer fish dishes should definitely visit Coco Bolos restaurant. Tables are set both in the hall and on the open veranda, and if you wish, you can order takeaway dishes.
.Manhattan from above
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Travel Tips
If you have the opportunity to devote a few days to getting to know Manhattan, it’s best to travel on foot. The fact is that sights are found here at almost every step. In addition, not everywhere is allowed access to transportation.
.If there is a need to quickly get to another quarter of Manhattan, the subway is best for this purpose, because of the busy traffic on the roads there is a danger of being stuck in traffic jams for a long time.
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Another convenience of Manhattan that makes city travel easier is that all streets are one-way, and bus numbers correspond to the streets they travel on. If you take the number 34 bus, it means you’ll take the same street to get to the place you’re looking for, while the number 35 will just take you back in the opposite direction.
.Central New York attracts not only tourists, but also pickpockets and scammers of all kinds. Vacationers should keep a close eye on their belongings and avoid using the services of private individuals.
It is important to remember that an adult in America is defined as someone over the age of 21. You must have a passport to purchase alcohol or cigarettes.
Manhattan is famous for its entertainment venues, but it is worth remembering that smoking in public places is prohibited here. Breaking the law carries a pretty hefty fine.Before you capture the exhibits of any museum on your camera, you should clarify whether you can take photos there. Near many attractions photography is prohibited, and in some cases to obtain a permit you need to pay up to 10 dollars extra.
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To save money on sightseeing and avoid long lines for tickets, you can buy one of the passes in advance: New York Pass or CityPass. The first one costs a little more, but gives you free access to more than 80 tourist attractions in the city. For those who are here for a few days, the second option is more suitable.
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