First thing to do upon arriving in New York?

[Chr]

The top things to do in NYC thread lists a lot of great activities.
But wich one of them should I do first?

I'll be arriving at 11 o'clock at night, so I won't get time to do much that night. I'm thinking of doing the mandatory double decker sightseeing bus the first morning. This will give me a general overview of manhattan and it's different neighborhoods. Then I can do more in depth exploration on foot in the following days.

Does this sound like a good plan?
Do you have any other suggestions for "First thing to do upon arriving in New York"?

Cheers
Christian from Norway, Europe.

[ablarc]

I'm thinking of doing the mandatory double decker sightseeing bus the first morning. This will give me a general overview of manhattan and it's different neighborhoods. Then I can do more in depth exploration on foot in the following days.

Does this sound like a good plan?
Yes, yes, yes!

An excellent introduction and orientation. Take both the Manhattan tours, and add the Brooklyn tour if you have time (high point of that one is the Manhattan Bridge crossing). Hop on and off if the spirit strikes you. Consider the two-day ticket.

For contrast, consider spending Day Two in Central Park (don't miss the Ramble) and pop into some of the numerous museums flanking the park (Met, Natural History, Guggenheim, NY Historical Society, Cooper-Hewitt, Frick (especially good for an hour's visit!), Museum of the City of New York, etc.

Also a good overview (from the water): New York Water Taxi Ferries: get a full-day, hop-on-hop-off ticket. Great views, frequent service. Info online.


http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7469&highlight=double+decker

http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8470 Scroll around.

http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2905&highlight=water+taxi

http://www.nywatertaxi.com/nywt.aspx?s=sig

[Gunslinger]

Depends on where you're staying of course, but I hit Times Sq as soon as you arrive. (Yes at that time of night!!)

The first evening I arrived in NYC, that's where I headed and as tourist as that is, you get a real buzz - Also you can see where to catch the bus the following day as there is a pick-up spot in Times Sq.

Lots of people, noise, lights and always busy (especially at that time of night - theatres getting out etc) I realise you'll be tired from travelling, but well worth it !!!

[lofter1]

Depending on when you arrive ...

Empire State Building open until 2 a.m. in summer

May 22, 2006[/URL]

http://www.newyorkology.com/archives/2006/05/empire_state_bu_4.php

As part of its 75th birthday celebrations, the Empire State Building will stay open late (http://www.newyorkology.com/archives/images/esb.2.jpg) this summer, [U]keeping its observtory decks open until 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

During the rest of the week, the last elevator will go up as normal at 11:15 p.m. with the decks closing to the public at midnight. But three nights each week from June 22 through September 10, the last elevator will go up at 1:15 a.m.

A visit to the main observation deck on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building costs $16 for adults, but since November 2005, visitors have been able to pay an extra $14 at the ticket office to get access to the 102nd floor. The higher perch had been closed because the long lines for the elevator were causing traffic jams on 86, according to the building's official web site.

The Empire State Building is located at 350 Fifth Ave., 34th Street , map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=350+Fifth+Ave.,+nyc&ll=40.748557,-73.984723&spn=0.015508,0.053558&om=1).

[Chr]

My hotel is on 42nd between Grand Central and the UN.
How long does it take to walk from Grand Central to Times Square?

Probably a good idea to have dinner in the times square area the first night then. I arrive on a sunday, so a late night visit to ESB would probably be a great way to cap off my first day in NYC.

Thanks for the input :)

[Schadenfrau]

Grand Central to Times Square is about a ten minute walk, depending on how many people have decided to come to a dead halt in the middle of the sidewalk.

[lofter1]

Probably a good idea to have dinner in the times square area the first night then.

No ... too expensive and not that great -- walk over to 9th Ave. between 43rd / 50th -- there are a slew of terrific restaurants along that strip.


I arrive on a sunday, so a late night visit to ESB would probably be a great way to cap off my first day in NYC.

...the Empire State Building will stay open late (http://www.esbnyc.com/tourism/tourism_visitorinfo.cfm) this summer, keeping its observtory decks open until 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Top of the Rock is open until midnite EVERY night.

[Ninjahedge]

No ... too expensive and not that great -- walk over to 9th Ave. between 43rd / 50th -- there are a slew of terrific restaurants along that strip.

YES!

Also, the village has a bunch of little bistros and whatnot. If you feel healthy, you can always walk crosstown until you hit 9th, then walk downtown until you hit.... whatever. It all depends on how much you feel like walking!

Loop to consider? Try walking down to Houston (pronounced House-Ton) street and following that for a bit. Feel free to take loops off of Houston when you feel like it. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, bars and music venues scattered all over that part of town.

If you are feeling adventurous, go further south to Canal street (Chinatown central) and walk around. There are some good shops (and noodle shops and the like) around Mott street.


...the Empire State Building will stay open late (http://www.esbnyc.com/tourism/tourism_visitorinfo.cfm) this summer, keeping its observtory decks open until 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Top of the Rock is open until midnite EVERY night.


Go on a clear night, and hopefully you have a camera that has longer exposure times (flash does not work that well, unless you likeshots of parapet barriers at night! ;))

[milleniumcab]

I think the first thing you should see is the Lady...Nobody or nothing can welcome you to NYC like the Statue of Liberty can...
Head downtown, all the way downtown to Battery Park and take the Staten Island Ferry to Staten Island and back (round trip takes an hour). Ferry offers the best view of the Statue of Liberty and the Dowtown Skyline and it is free.
From the Grand Central, #4 or #5 Subway line will take you to Bowling Green or jump in a taxi to take a ride down on FDR( around $12), along the East River for a scenic ride.
It really doesn't matter whether it is day or night time, both times the view is spectacular.:):):) The only thing that should stop you is the rain as it will effect the view...

www.siferry.com (http://www.siferry.com)

[Chr]

YES!

Go on a clear night, and hopefully you have a camera that has longer exposure times (flash does not work that well, unless you likeshots of parapet barriers at night! ;))
Ah, you read my mind
My camera has up to 10 seconds exposure time, and i just bought a mini tripod that i can have with me at all times. You can take really beautifull pictures in the dark if you can hold the camera still. Took som kinda cool pictures in Paris last summer. I didn't have a tripod so most of the pictures got blurred. But I sure discovered the potential in night time photography :)