New York is the type of city that captures the hearts of people all around the world. The mere mention of the name will garner almost immediate recognition and fascination no matter where you are. People from New Zealand, Thailand, Paris, Bolivia, all dream of coming to this one city: New York City. And come they do. Once you arrive, immigrants from the entire swath of the globe will be here to greet you; tourists and locals alike. What do you do in such a vast city? Well I’m here to tell you how to spend two days in Manhattan.
Pick up a classic New York bagel for breakfast.
We’ve all heard about New York’s bagels. Locals insist on their superiority while foreigners rush to pick them up in fascination. Growing up with bagels, I did not really understand all the hype until I tried a salmon and cream cheese bagel for the first time. Boy, was I in for a surprise. Salmon and cream cheese on a bagel is an absolutely perfect combination. But even if you don’t get a bagel with salmon, if it’s your first bagel you’re sure to be in for a treat!
The most hyped bagel places in Manhattan are:
- Russ and Daughters (pictured above)
- Best Bagel and Coffee
- Absolute Bagels
- The Bagel Store (this one’s in Brooklyn but has those rainbow bagels that are blowing up on facebook so I figured some of you might like to know)
Explore the South coast of Manhattan (Battery Park)
Especially during the spring time, when everything is in new bloom, Battery Park and its surrounding areas are absolutely stunning. The distant view of Brooklyn one one side combined with the gorgeous apartments on the other makes for quite the picturesque stroll.
Visit the 9/11 memorial.
This one day shook up our entire nation’s history – whether or not you were anywhere near New York, the atmosphere of America was irrevocably changed. Even if you have no idea what happened on 9/11/01, the architecture of the monument is stunning, as is the new One World Trade Center. But be sure if you do visit to be respectful!
Grab a bite to eat from one of the many street food carts
Another New York classic is the street food cart, which you’ll see many of while roaming the streets. Why get street food instead of a classic sit down meal? Well, it’s cheaper, quicker (so you have more time to explore Manhattan), and the portions are smaller so you can sample as many different types of cuisines as there are different food carts (there are very very many).
To read more about the food you should eat in New York, click here!
Roam around Times Square!
Yes it’s gimmicky and touristy, but it’s just one of those things that you must do in New York. There will be a lot of foreigners taking pictures with no regard for the personal space of others, and it is kinda weird that there are essentially television screens on the sides of buildings, but if you just take a step back and take it all in, you’ll realize that it’s really quite amazing.
Top of the Rock
For the best view of the iconic Manhattan skyline, you must go to Top of the Rock, which is short for the top of the Rockefeller Tower. You may wonder why the Empire State Building doesn’t have the best view, and that’s because while you’re on it, you won’t actually see the iconic Empire State Building. Top of the Rock also has shorter lines (although, not by much). Yes, it’s touristy as all hell and you’ll see people from all over the world crammed up in that little tower, but the stunning views are absolutely worth it.
Brunch!
If New York is famous for anything besides it’s bagels, that would be it’s brunch. Brunch in New York is a social event, many even plan their entire weekends around brunch! You gotta either love it or hate it – and I’m one of those who loves it. New York has a wide range of choices for brunch options, the one pictured above is from an Australian brunch place! But if you’re from outside America, I’d recommend a classic American brunch: fluffy pancake stacks dripping in maple syrup with a healthy dose of bacon on the side.
For more on brunch choices in Manhattan, read this super helpful post by the Blonde Abroad!
Hang out in Central Park
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to hang out in Central Park so I don’t have a great picture, but you definitely should! Compared to the bustling city around it, it’s a lovely escape. Once you’re lost in the middle you might even forget that you’re in one of the world’s most famous cities.
Go shopping at 5th Avenue
You’re already in New York – you may as well indulge. Fifth avenue’s got almost every big clothing store you can think of and more! For a full list of all the stores, click here.
Take a photowalk through the iconic Brooklyn Bridge
Everyone knows this landmark – it’s a classic! Stroll down the footpath (be wary of bicyclers!) and go as early as you can so there won’t be as many tourists, and take as many cheesy pictures as you want. You’ll end up in Brooklyn (whoops, this is supposed to be a guide about Manhattan) (oh well) where you can go on to…
Get snap-happy in DUMBO
Yes this is another Brooklyn thing but how incredible is this shot??? It’s as if it was built for Instagram. The Manhattan bridge is perfectly framed between these two buildings, and it’s only a few minutes away from the Brooklyn end of the Brooklyn bridge. If you’ve already walked across the bridge, then make sure to capture this shot.
Take a stroll down the High Line
The High Line used to be a railroad track that fell into disuse in the 1980’s. Since then, a dedicated team has been renovating the old railroad track into what is now a lovely place to hang out. A cross between a public park, a garden, and a walkway, the High Line is a great way to see much of the city by foot. I highly recommend it.
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Have you ever been to Manhattan? Where did you go? What did you see? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
