New York

[BeefyCakes]

Me and dp are going to New York in December.

We are going for 3 nights, what do we need to see? We have already said we're going up the Empire State building, seeing the statue of liberty and looking at the Xmas lights and tree at the Rockefeller centre.

But what else do we need to fit in? Other must see places? Anyone got any advice?

Brooklyn Bridge and the high line are nice to walk if the weather is okay. Soho is good for shopping and meatpacking district for nightlife- recently went to a great cocktail bar there called The Wild Son and I there is a small breakfast chain call The Grey dog that is one of my favs.

Grand Central station - the ceiling of the main hall is amazing and it's worth going to the food court and exploring the whole station. Loads of nice shops!
The Rockefeller Center always looks lovely at Christmas and the ice rink is probably one of the most famous in the world. The Christmas displays in Macy's are stunning too.

Try and go to the 9/11 Musuem, or at least Ground Zero. The museum was really well out together and so moving. My other two favourite museums in NYC are MoMA and the Met.

Thank you for the suggestions. I went to ground zero in 2003 and it was absolutely haunting. That will be on the list.

I forgot about the ice rink, that'll be on the list. And grand central station. Ooh are we going to have time to do it all!!

Go to the Rockerfeller and avoid the Empire State. Much quicker to get into the Rockerfeller and loads of space once you get up to the viewing platform. Empire State we spent ages queuing then were only allowed to stay at the top for a short while.

Helicopter flight over Manhattan worth doing.

You have to go and see the GhostBusters fire station building (is it on 34th Street?), it's the law!

Top of the rock is better than Empire State! Oooh am so jealous I love NYC. Will be so special at Christmas.

If I was to go back I'd do Top of the Rock again, wander round Times Square, see the xmas tree. You can go see the real Winnie the Pooh soft toys (originals) in the New York Public Library which we did and thought was really cool. I'd also go back to Central Park just for another mooch with a coffee in hand.

Oh and I'd go see another broadway show. I loved Anastasia

Ooh ooh and we saw the Script at Radio City. Have a look see what's on for your dates usually people only do one or two nights. I expect there will be xmas themed stuff but it was great to go and do, Harry Styles had done one night before the Script and the prices were insaneeeee...

Juliana's pizza over the Brooklyn bridge and the Ferrara Bakery for breakfast in Little Italy.

I'll stop with the crazy amount of posts now, sorry I got excited

Definitely skip the Empire State Building in favour of the top of the rock. Even better still there’s a bar up there, Rainbow room I think it’s called, so you can admire the view with a drink in hand!

It's going to be coooooooold! High line, rockerfeller centre (loads of things to see) and St Particks cathedral, skyscraper watching, UN, central Park, little Italy/little China (next to each other), Greenwich is interesting to walk around (lovely houses)... Shopping (if you must).

I’d do Top of the Rock. Then you get the Empire State Building in your photos. Plus no queues. The Empire State Queue can be interminable.

The 911 museum wouldn’t have been open when you last went; it’s well worth a visit.

We like the West Village and avoiding the touristy places to eat if it’s just the 2 of us. Buvette is really good and La Bonbonnierre is our favourite for an authentic NYC breakfast.

We had three days in NY back in July, Dh and I had been before in 2006 but it was the DC first visit.
Arrived Thursday afternoon and left Sunday evening we did/saw
ESB, Grand Central, Chrysler Building, ferry to Staten Island, 911 memorial museum, lunch at Grimaldis in Brooklyn, walked back over the bridge, Chicago, the High line, Greenwich ( Friends apt) Washington Sq. Park, Ellen’s stardust diner, cycled in Central Park, took. The backstage tour of Radio city and Top of the Rock!! As well as shopping!
As you’re going in December would highly recommend seeing The Rockettes at Radio City.

Of course, grand central but read up on it first - there are absolute gems of info!

Ooh thank you everyone, we're so excited. It's going to be (very likely) a once in a lifetime trip.

We're going to plan an itinerary, let's see if we can fit everything in

That’s what we did Beefy, we were staying a coup,e of blocks from ESB so planned things in that area for the first afternoon/evening, went downtown/Brooklyn second day etc, when I went in 2006 it was the first weekend in December and we walked down 5th stripping off coats and jumpers because it was so warm, 5 days later it was freezing!!
Please please go to see The Rockettes!!

Don’t pay to go up the ESB - book a table in the Rockefellar bar/restaurant instead which is one floor below the viewing platform floor. It’s free, and you just pay for your drinks. It has an outdoor balcony looking just like the viewing floor.
It’s called Bar SixtyFive at Rainbow Room and I wished I’d known about it the first time we went to NY - it’s amazing! rainbowroom.com/bar-sixty-five/

I'm going in December too so pinching some of these recommendations

Yes!!! We did VIP tickets to Top of the Rock....worth it to avoid queueing...and got pics in daylight and sunset. Then bar 65 for dinner and drinks which was surprisingly good....excellwnt food and great venue. We had the bonus of an electric storm at 10pm which was surreal.

Definitely the ferry to Staten Island - great views of the Statue of Liberty. OPen top buses are a great way of seeing lots when you have a limited amount of time. Walk up and down Fifth Avenue looking at the window displays. Radio City - backstage tour. So much to see and do!

Following - we are going for 5 nights at the end of the month! Friend has already recommended the high line and Staton Island ferry. DH has booked us tickets to a Rangers game (he loves sports). I definitely want to at least stand outside Tiffany’s posing and eating my breakfast and we like to run so we are going for a run in Central Park!

We are also looking at going at the beginning of dec. lots of food for thought.

If you're actually climbing the Statue of Liberty, then I wouldn't bother with the Empire State Building, since the point of both is just to see a vie from high up. I'd check on the time involved for the Statue of Liberty; you may find that it takes so long that you might not want to devote so much time to it on such a short trip. If you like Christmas trees, the Met Museum has a famous one.

When in December?. Just to warn you the whole period between Christmas and New Year can be very busy in terms of visitor numbers; its absolute peak season then.

Do not bother to climb the Statue of Liberty; the whole process of waiting in line for security clearance can take hours and most of the wait is done outdoors. Tickets for that too can and do sell out well in advance. December too can be mightily cold (it certainly was bitterly cold there last December) so would also pack some thermals and a thick overcoat. I was there last December and the line for the Top of the Rock late afternoon was insanely long. The line overall was shorter at the Empire State Building. Would visit such attractions early morning.

Do see the Rockettes perform at Radio City Music Hall.

Go to Ellis Island, but don't bother getting off at the Statue of Liberty (just stay on and continue to Ellis).