I have lived in New York for over 13 years. Even though I solo traveled to 17 countries so far, New York remains my favorite place in the world. His energy is unmatched. Plus, you can never get bored in this city. There is always so much happening and so many new places to explore. In a way, it feels like you’re constantly living in a new city, as there’s so much to keep up with.
New York has some iconic tourist attractions such as Central Park, the Empire State Building and Times Square. All are worth a visit if it’s your first time visiting the city that never sleeps. But if you’ve been here a few times, you probably want to check out the hidden gems so you can get a taste of what it’s like to live like a local.
I did all the hard work to find the secret spots in the city for the past 13 years. And I want to introduce you to the 5 hidden gems in New York that even most locals don’t know about.
1. Pier 57 Rooftop Park
Pier 57 Rooftop Park just opened in 2022. It’s not that busy yet, maybe because it’s not at street level, so if you don’t know about it, you won’t see it.
The park is one of the largest in New York and has a 360 view. As the name suggests it is located on Pier 57 which is very close to Chelsea Market and the Highline.
Little Island is right across the street, so you’ll get a great view from Pier 57 Rooftop Park. You can also see the Downtown Manhattan area, including the new World Trade Center building.
There are plenty of benches where you can sit with a snack from Pier 57 Market (my personal favorite is Malai’s ice cream) and take in the view while catching up with a friend.
There are also many lawns where you can have a picnic or just lay in the sun. And it even has bleach that can be used for movie screenings during the summer.
The park is open from 7am to 10pm every day and deserves a place on your itinerary.
2. A piece of the Berlin Wall in Manhattan
What if I told you that you don’t have to travel to Berlin to see a piece of the Berlin Wall? Is true! There is a small piece of it on display in Manhattan.
You don’t even have to go to a museum to see it. It is located at Kowsky Plaza in Battery Park City and is free to the public. It is a very short walk from the 9/11 Memorial. The exact location is 393 South End Ave, New York, NY 10280.
The work was given to the Battery Park City Authority by the German Consulate in 2004 as a thank you for their commitment to using street art as a medium of education. It features one of Thierry Noir’s famous heads on a green background. It’s amazing to have such an important piece of history in New York.
3. Rainforest inside the Ford Foundation building
When you think of New York, one of the first things that comes to mind is skyscrapers. That’s because there are over 7,000 of them in New York. One of the last things that comes to mind is a rainforest.
So what were the designers of the Ford Foundation building thinking? We can’t have a rainforest in the city, so we’ll put it in a skyscraper. A jungle in the middle of the concrete jungle, the Ford Foundation Garden is home to around 40 different species of plants. It also has a small, square, reflecting pool.
The Ford Foundation building has an art gallery next to the garden. Both the garden and the art gallery are free to visit.
The exact address is 320 East 43rd Street. The garden is open to the public from 11am. until 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and Saturday from 11 am. until 6 p.m. only when the gallery has an exhibition.
4. Roosevelt Island Streetcar
Roosevelt Island is a small island between Manhattan and Queens named after the 32 President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt. During its history, the island was mainly used for hospitals and today houses the ruins of a smallpox hospital from 1856.
I suggest you visit it in the spring because it has a lot of cherry trees and it is beautiful. While you’re there, grab a drink at the Panorama Room, a rooftop bar with 360-degree views of New York.
This small island is a great place to visit, but how you get there is just as cool: the Roosevelt Island Tram. It is the oldest urban streetcar in the United States still operating today. You can take it from the Upper East Side and in minutes, you will be on the island.
The view is amazing, especially on the way back when you can see the Manhattan skyline in front of you. A ticket costs $2.90 one way, the same as the subway or bus in the city.
5. Greenacre Park
Greenacre Park is a small, urban park located in midtown Manhattan, near Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Modern Art. The exact address is 217 E 51st St, New York, NY 10022.
The park opened in 1971. It has a waterfall of granite boulders, colorful flowers and trees. There are chairs throughout the park where you can sit and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. This little park is such a peaceful spot in the middle of the busiest part of town. I highly recommend it if you need to recharge your batteries for a while.
The park is open from 8am to 6pm every day.
Joanna is running Blog The Solo Travel in Style
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