5 Best Landmarks in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Vespera Quill, Expert in Local Experiences and Cultural Analysis · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 7 min read

You've got a few days in New York and a list of names everyone tells you to see: Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty. These landmarks in New York have racked up over 712,000 Google reviews between them, yet the ratings barely move, all five sit between 4.6 and 4.8, so crowd size and ticket price separate them far more than quality does.

Short answer: Central Park is New York's most reviewed landmark by a wide margin, with over 300,000 Google reviews and a 4.8 average, and it's completely free to walk through. The Empire State Building (4.7, 127,590 reviews) is the top paid attraction, with observation deck tickets starting around $44, while the Brooklyn Bridge (4.8, 92,374 reviews) and Statue of Liberty (4.7, 112,074 reviews) round out the shortlist.

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1. Central Park
2. Empire State Building
3. Brooklyn Bridge
4. Statue of Liberty
5. The Battery
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New York's Landmarks, Head to Head

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Central Park	4.8 ★	300,080	Free, all-day green space in the middle of Manhattan	View ›
2	Empire State Building	4.7 ★	127,590	360-degree skyline views from a 1931 Art Deco icon	View ›
3	Brooklyn Bridge	4.8 ★	92,374	A free walk across a 19th-century engineering landmark	View ›
4	Statue of Liberty	4.7 ★	112,074	A ferry trip to a genuine national monument	View ›
5	The Battery	4.6 ★	79,982	A free harbor-front park with Statue of Liberty views	View ›

The landmarks worth your time

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

Central Park

4.8300,080 Google reviews

Central Park is Manhattan's 843-acre urban park, stretching from 59th Street to 110th Street, with lakes, meadows, playgrounds, museums, and miles of walking paths woven through it. It's free to enter, with no tickets required for the park itself, though individual attractions inside it, like the zoo or certain tours, charge separately.

What people praise

Reviewers consistently call it the single must-do activity in New York if you only have time for one thing
Visitors highlight the network of ponds, lakes, and bridges that make it easy to spend hours exploring
Multiple reviewers praise how the park changes with the seasons, especially cherry blossoms in spring and foliage in fall
Reviewers note it feels safe and walkable even with heavy crowds

Worth knowing

A few reviewers mention it gets genuinely packed on weekends, especially around Billionaire's Row at the southern end

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume300,080 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency7 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown85% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Central Park tops this list by a huge margin, over 300,000 reviews at a 4.8 average, more than double the volume of anything else here. It's also the only fully free option on this page, which makes it the easiest yes.

Website +1212-310-6600 Directions

New York, NY

#2🕑 Open 7 days

Empire State Building

4.7127,590 Google reviews

The Empire State Building is a National Historic Landmark on 34th Street, open since 1931, with observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors offering panoramic views of the city. It includes exhibits on the building's construction and its place in pop culture, alongside the main observation deck experience.

What people praise

Reviewers consistently describe the views as living up to the hype, even for people who've seen countless photos beforehand
Visitors highlight smooth, well-organized security and elevator lines that keep the experience from feeling chaotic
Multiple reviewers single out specific staff members by name for helpful, patient service
Reviewers recommend visiting in winter or on weekdays for clearer views and shorter waits

Worth knowing

One reviewer describes a tense moment with a staff member over an optional souvenir photo, worth knowing you can decline it

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume127,590 · 91st

Confidencevery high

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · hours

Rating breakdown80% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The Empire State Building ranks second with 127,590 reviews and a 4.7 average. It's the strongest paid, ticketed option here if you want a classic skyline view with history built in.

Website Directions

20 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001

Brooklyn Bridge

4.892,374 Google reviews

The Brooklyn Bridge connects Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights across the East River, completed in 1883 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. A dedicated, elevated pedestrian walkway runs above the traffic lanes, free to walk in either direction, stretching just over a mile.

What people praise

Reviewers repeatedly call the walk a must-do, citing the stone arches and cable architecture up close
Visitors highlight sunrise and sunset as the best times for both light and smaller crowds
Multiple reviewers suggest combining the walk with a stop in DUMBO on the Brooklyn side
Reviewers value that it's completely free with no tickets required

Worth knowing

Several reviewers warn it gets extremely crowded during the day, recommending an early start to avoid the worst of it

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume92,374 · 78th

Confidencevery high

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite

Rating breakdown85% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The Brooklyn Bridge actually shares Central Park's top rating at 4.8, but on far fewer reviews, 92,374 versus 300,000-plus. It ranks third here on volume, not quality, and it's free.

Website Directions

New York, NY 10038

#4🕑 Open 7 days

Statue of Liberty

4.7112,074 Google reviews

The Statue of Liberty sits on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, a National Monument since 1924 and managed by the National Park Service since 1933. Visiting requires a ferry ticket, typically booked in advance, with optional add-ons for pedestal and crown access that include a small museum.

What people praise

Reviewers describe the scale and presence of the statue up close as far more impressive than any photo
Multiple reviewers highlight the museum and the original torch display as a genuine highlight, not just an afterthought
Visitors praise the ferry ride itself for the skyline views it offers on the way
Reviewers who did the crown climb call it well worth the narrow staircase, with guardrails throughout

Worth knowing

Several reviewers warn about scam ticket sellers near the ferry dock, and recommend booking only through the official site
Crown and pedestal tickets sell out weeks in advance, so this isn't a same-day plan

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume112,074 · 84th

Confidencevery high

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown80% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The Statue of Liberty ranks fourth with 112,074 reviews and a 4.7 average. It takes more planning than anything else on this list, book the ferry and any crown or pedestal access well ahead.

Website +1212-363-3200 Directions

New York, NY 10004

#5🕑 Open 7 days

The Battery

4.679,982 Google reviews

The Battery is a waterfront park at the southern tip of Manhattan, home to Castle Clinton and the departure point for ferries to Liberty and Ellis Islands. It's free to enter, with gardens, an urban farm, and a carousel alongside its harbor views.

What people praise

Reviewers highlight clear views of the Statue of Liberty from shore, even without boarding a ferry
Visitors praise the gardens and walking paths as a genuine break from the busy streets nearby
Multiple reviewers mention Castle Clinton and its history as an unexpected highlight
Reviewers value it as a natural starting point before or after visiting Liberty Island

Worth knowing

One reviewer describes fencing that blocked water views except from the ferry area, worth knowing before you go expecting open harbor access everywhere

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume79,982 · 72nd

Confidencevery high

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown68% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The Battery rounds out the list with 79,982 reviews and a 4.6 average, the smallest volume here but still a substantial track record. It's a solid, free complement to a Statue of Liberty trip rather than a full day on its own.

Website +1212-344-3491 Directions

New York, NY 10004

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Watch: 5 Best Landmarks in New York (2026)

How we ranked these landmarks

We pulled the live Google rating and review count for every major landmark in New York, then weighed the star average against how many visitors actually left a review. A landmark with hundreds of thousands of reviews tells you something a handful of five-star ratings never could. Recency matters too, we favor places people are still visiting and reviewing today. No business can pay us to change any of these numbers.

Do these landmarks cost anything to visit?

Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, and The Battery are all free to walk through, no tickets required. The Empire State Building charges for observation deck access, with tickets starting around $44 for the main deck according to its own site, rising for the higher 102nd-floor deck. The Statue of Liberty requires a ferry ticket to reach Liberty Island, with separate, limited-availability tickets for pedestal and crown access. Confirm current prices directly on each attraction’s official site before you go, since rates and hours shift.

Landmarks across New York City

These landmarks span Manhattan and the harbor: Central Park runs through the middle of Manhattan from 59th to 110th Street, the Empire State Building sits in Midtown near 34th Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge connects Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn Heights across the East River. The Statue of Liberty and The Battery both sit at the harbor’s edge downtown, with The Battery serving as the ferry departure point for Liberty and Ellis Islands. If you’re searching for landmarks near me in New York, Lower Manhattan puts three of these five within walking distance of each other.

Good to know before you go

Do you need to book tickets in advance, or can you show up and buy on the spot?
Is there a difference in price between weekday and weekend or peak-season tickets?
For the Statue of Liberty, do you need separate tickets for the ferry, pedestal, and crown?
What time of day has the shortest lines, morning, evening, or off-season?
Are you buying tickets from the official site, given the scam sellers reviewers mention near Liberty Island?
How much walking is involved, and is it manageable for kids or anyone with mobility limits?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another landmark’s score or position.

How did you choose these five?

We looked at New York’s most-reviewed landmarks on Google, then ranked them by a mix of review volume and rating.

How often is this updated?

We last checked these ratings and reviews in July 2026. We revisit pages like this regularly so the numbers stay current.

Which of these landmarks are actually free?

Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, and The Battery are all free to walk through. The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty both require paid tickets.

Can I see the Statue of Liberty without taking the ferry?

Yes. The Battery, at the southern tip of Manhattan, offers clear views of the statue from shore, and reviewers note you can get decent photos without ever boarding a ferry.

The bottom line

Central Park is the safest default with any amount of time in New York, it’s free, it’s massive, and it has by far the most reviews of anything on this list. If you’ve got a bit more time and budget, pair it with the Empire State Building for the skyline view and the Brooklyn Bridge for a free walk between boroughs. Book Statue of Liberty tickets well ahead if that’s on your list too.

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