From the glamour and excitement of Broadway to the inner-city green space at Central Park, New York City lives up to its billing as one of the world’s greatest cities to visit. Whether you’re here for business or pleasure, with a hire car from New York JFK Airport you’re guaranteed to experience something memorable during your stay.
The magic of Manhattan
You’ll find that this famous city of skyscrapers is actually built upon the islands of a large natural harbour at the mouth of the Hudson River, with Manhattan standing at its centre. Head into this busy grid of towering buildings if you want to find iconic sights like the bustle and glamour of Times Square or the relaxing greenery of Central Park and you’ll also be able to see the view from the top of perhaps the most famous landmark of all, the 102-storey Empire State Building.
The best boat trip is out to the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island in the harbour – you can hop aboard a vessel at Battery Park or Liberty State Park. Beyond that you can experience the traditional fun of Coney Island and the beaches of the islands facing the Atlantic.
A hub of architecture
New York is like a living collection of architectural styles. Wander the streets craning your head upwards, admire the skyline from the water or take trips up to observation decks at many of the most popular towers. From the art deco magnificence of the Chrysler Building to the modernist blocks of the UN Headquarters, you’ll be able to see some of the world’s most famous and most photographed buildings.
Before you enjoy the collections inside, you can enjoy the architecture of some of the most impressive galleries and museums in the USA, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art on 5th Avenue and the Guggenheim Museum, designed by the famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Grand Central Station is another iconic piece of NYC architecture, both inside and out. Nearby you can explore the High Line. This is modern urban architecture at its best: what used to be an elevated section of railroad is now a linear park for walkers and joggers.
Head further afield
When you’ve got one of the world’s most amazing cities on your doorstep it’s hard to think about other destinations – but JFK Airport serves a much wider area than just NYC. Drive out to Long Island and wander the parks of Connetquot River State Park, or if you're looking for a coastal retreat, head for the Hamptons.
You'll find a host of upstate cities on the outskirts of NYC too, all offering a different atmosphere for you to take in. Try the sophisticated city of Buffalo, famed for its neoclassical architecture and cultural scene, and visit Albany, the state capital on the banks of the River Hudson. You could even head right up to the Canadian border to find the spectacular Niagara Falls waterfalls - one of the natural wonders of North America.
