5 Things Not to Miss in NYC?
 

I'm going to NYC next week for the first time. We have tickets to see Beautiful, plans to ride the State Island Ferry, and I have to see the Statue of Liberty. I haven't had the time to really plan out what else I want to do--am going with a friend who's been there many times, and she's open to my suggestions.
What are 5 places, restaurants, or things to see on a short (6 day) trip?
Thanks!

I'll start off with the first three:
1. Walk the High Line
2. Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art
3. Go to Top of the Park

Ooops, correction: #3 should be Top of the Rock.

This is a terrific way to get a feel for Greenwich Village:
http://www.foodsofny.com/greenwichvillage.php

Metropolitan Museum of Art (Choose a few sections/exhibits. You cannot see everything in one visit.)

Visit Central Park (again, too large to see it all in one visit) -- maybe have lunch at the Boathouse or one of the cafes. Also walk some of the adjacent neighborhoods (Upper West or East sides) for distinctive architecture and atmosphere.

Walk the Greenwich Village/West Village neighborhood

Visit Brooklyn Heights, Walk back via the Brooklyn Bridge

Stop by Grand Central Terminal, one of the world's great public spaces. Good (expensive) food market, shops, a place or two to grab a drink.

See the New York Public Library. Grab a sandwich to go and have lunch in Bryant Park. Check out the jugglers.

First of all,unless you already have tickets I very much doubt if you will be able to get to the Statue of Liberty. If you don't have tickets go immediately to the web site of the National Park Service to see if there are any tickets still available (unlikely). If you can't get a ticket you can try to get on the ferry to Liberty Island- but not into the statue - but it might well mean a wait of several hours before you can get on a ferry if at all. The other options are to get a decent but distant view from the Staten Island ferry or a closer view from one of the Circle Line boat tours of NY harbor.

As for top things to see:

Metropolitan Museum
Central Park
Top of the Rock for a great aerial view
New York Public Library - main branch - incredibly beautiful reading room (this is a research only library) as well as wonderful exhibits
American Museum of Natural Hist - I think this is the best in the country and find it fascinating - esp dinos and human evolution - plus Hayden Planetarium and space shows

You obviously have time to see a lot of other things and that would depend on who you are/your interests

Assuming all adults or older kids I would do:

Tenement Museum
MoMA
NY Historical Society

And use the evenings to explore some of the more interesting residential areas - having dinner at places with sidewalk cafes (there are hundreds) and watch the local world go by.

If you have special interests let us know and we can reco specific places.

We visited in February and loved:

Top of the Rock (in the snow!)
Metropolitan Museum of Art (IMO the greatest art museum in the world)
David Letterman Show (sorry!)

People always say the view of the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry is "distant." I think you'll find it close enough, and I certainly wouldn't spend hours trying to get closer.

Dine at the Four Seasons. One of the great interior spaces in the US. And in today's NYTimes: notice that it will probably close next year. A tragedy.

One of the things that most visitors rarely seem to do is eat the ethnic food that is available. There is a great variety beyond the usual Italian and Chinese that most people enjoy. And even within Chinese and Italian there are interesting regional variations.

If you are interested I and some others can post suggestions. Think Turkish, Vietnamese, dim sum, tapas, Moroccan, Portuguese, Lebanese, Israeli, Indian, Eastern European, Thai, etc.

I agree elberko about the food tour of Greenwich Village. I did that one too and it was a lot of fun.

I will add (and I know these are touristy, but...)

St Patrick's Cathedral: I found it majestic and beautiful

Strawberry Fields in Central Park: A must visit for John Lennon fans

9/11 Memorial: Touching, peaceful, haunting

5th Avenue, Times Square: I am from small town America. To me, these are a big deal

On one of my trips, we got tickets for Good Morning America. That was so much fun and I got to talk to Rod Stewart and hear him sing up close. Score!

Not to miss: good NYC pizza, a good NYC bagel. Iconic and so worth it. Someone else will have to add where the best place to get these are.

So awesome--thanks so much to those who answered so thoughtfully! I have free passes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, so we're definitely going. Love the food tour--we live in the San Francisco Bay Area, so can't help but be 'foodies.'
NY bagels and pizza--oh yeah.
You've really given me a great list.
Thanks again.

I'm surprised that no one but me has recommended the High Line. It's really one of today's great NY experiences. Check it out on Google.

The Frick Collection
Intrepid

I would suggest the semi circle Circle Line cruise. Great way to get on the water and see NYC.

As far as the High Line is concerned, only , and I mean only, go there on a weekday not the weekend. I have been there many times and when it first opened it was delightful. However, now they have built luxury buildings right up against it and have cut out some of the wonderful views. SO, why on the weekdays? Because the weekends are crazy crowded. You may find yourself only walking in line behind someone else. I'm not sure if it will be just as crowded during the week as the weather is so nice now and there are more tourists, but at least you'll have a fighting chance.

If you go, check out the neighborhood around it. Cobblestone streets, views of the water, bars and restaurants on rooftops.

And, yes, definitely cross the Brooklyn Bridge - a fantastic walk - and go into Brooklyn Heights - 19th century neighborhood, and even walk down to the waterside for a beautiful park and great Manhattan views.

We're staying in Chelsea, so I think we're pretty close to the High Line, so can get there easily during the week. I also hear there are great restaurants in that area.
And thank you, Elberko, for the recommendation for the walking food tour--am signed up for The Heart of the Village tour next week!