A densely populated metropolis nearly half of whose residents were born outside the USA, New York City really embraces the term “melting pot.” Every corner of the world is packed into the Big Apple’s five boroughs, from vibrant enclaves such as Little Guyana in Queens and midtown’s Koreatown to lower Manhattan’s bustling Chinatown and Little Italy. The city wears its history of welcoming outsiders with pride. The Tenement Museum, on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, brings the stories of New York’s immigrant communities to life, while Ellis Island and the iconic Statue of Liberty are enduring reminders of the freedom and opportunity America represents for exiles.
Best of New York tourism
The majority of New York’s best-known tourist attractions can be found in Manhattan. Just south of Central Park, midtown – home to Times Square, Broadway and many iconic skyscrapers – has all the glitz and glamor of the city that never sleeps. Lower Manhattan is crammed with cool districts, including the West and East villages, the très chic Nolita neighborhood and the shopping destination SoHo. Many visitors spend their entire visit in Manhattan alone, but the city’s four outer boroughs have plenty of their own charm and things to do. Brooklyn is the hippest of the bunch, boasting experimental nightclubs, gorgeous brownstone buildings and unrivaled views of Manhattan’s skyline across the East River. Queens is blessed with green spaces and great restaurants, while the Bronx has Yankee Stadium and the New York Botanical Garden. Known for its free commuter ferry, Staten Island is the least busy and greenest of the five, giving New Yorkers a much-needed breath of fresh air.
