New York - General Information

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. As many as 800 languages are spoken in New York, making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. The home of the United Nations Headquarters. New York is an important center for international diplomacy and has been described as the cultural capital of the world.

New York City is in reality a collection of many neighborhoods scattered among the city's five boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island - each exhibiting its own lifestyle. Moving from one city neighborhood to the next may be like passing from one country to another.

New York City's boroughs are home to some of the world's most recognizable, cherished landmarks and attractions. From Times Square and Central Park to the Empire State Building and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the island of Manhattan packs more legendary icons into one compact area than any other place on Earth - and that's to say nothing of the City's four other boroughs, each of which contains its own roster of must-see destinations. With so much to see and do, a trip to NYC may seem a little overwhelming. To help, we've rounded up attractions that belong on any visitor's to-see list.

Statue of Liberty

Many of New York City's major monuments and attractions are America's iconic landmarks - the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge. But that's only the beginning.
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frederic Bartholdi,  Enlightening the World.  It was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.

The Statue of Liberty greeted millions of immigrants as they came to America by ship in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and is a globally recognized symbol of the United States and its democracy.

Times Square

Times Square is a major intersection in New York City that was named after the Times Building (now One Times Square), where The New York Times was formerly headquartered. Times Square, iconified as "The Crossroads of the World", is the brightly illuminated hub of the Broadway theater district, one of the world's busiest pedestrian intersections, and a major center of the world's entertainment industry.
New York City's financial district, anchored by Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, functions as the financial capital of the world and is home to the New York Stock Exchange, the world's largest stock exchange by total market capitalization of its listed companies.

This is a city made for pedestrians: Manhattan's grid makes for easy orientation, subway stations are relatively close together, and there are so many other pedestrians that you'll find strength in numbers when you choose to cross against the light.

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 as the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time. It was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, and a New York City Landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River. With a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m). The Brooklyn Bridge was initially designed by German immigrant John Augustus Roebling. More than 120,000 vehicles, 4,000 pedestrians and 3,100 bicyclists cross the Brooklyn Bridge every day. With over 127 years of heavy use, this iconic East River crossing is now one of three DOT bridges in the New York City area rated "poor" in a 2007 state inspection. The rating means components of the bridge - ramps, approaches, and decking - are in need of rehabilitation.