A note about this guide, there’s of course no way for me to cover all of the great photos spots in New York City….I mean, unless I like owned Instagram and lived there, but these are just some of my favourites. If you know of other great spots for photos, add them to the comments!
Raise the rooftop
There’s nothing I love more than a rooftop patio, especially when you’re visiting a city. It gives you a bird’s eye view and yes, makes you feel all fancy. There’s something about being so high up that is just so exhilarating! I like the Archer Hotel because of its unobstructed view of the Empire State Building, but also that it’s open year round. So even though this was take in the dead of winter, I was still allowed outside to take this photo.
Along the River
When you visit Manhattan, you’re always looking for that great shot of Manhattan. But here’s the thing, you’ll probably want to leave the island just to get a sense of how big and beautiful all the buildings are. Â I got this photo on the edge of Bushwick Inlet Park in Williamsburg. It was super chilly because we were on the edge of the river, but it was a perfect spot to capture the glow of the fading minutes of the sun.
All aboard the Staten Island Ferry
Another great way of seeing the city is by taking the Staten Island ferry. Not only is it free, it gives you an amazing view of the city and the Statue of Liberty. And again, it’s free! If your schedule allows for it, try to go around sunset. When we went, the sun was setting on our way to Staten Island and then it had completely set by the time we headed back. We got the same views both ways, but the photos turned out completely different.
Look up, look way up.
When you go to New York, know that there’s lots of islands, but know that one of my favourites is Roosevelt Island. It’s on the city’s east side and you can access it by subway and road, but the most fun way is the tramway, which takes you 250 about the east river and again, gives you great views of the city. It’s also about of the transit system, so if you have a Metro card, you can hop right on. The two trams run at fifteen-minute intervals from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. (3:30 a.m. on weekends) and continuously during rush hours. We did it twice and it was a really fun way of seeing both the city and the island itself.
No time for Times Square.
This one’s a little more specific to New Year’s Eve, but since more than a million people visit the city for that one day alone, I thought it’d be good to share. Whatever you do avoid Times Square. Between the crowds, the inability to go to bathrooms and the cold, there’s lots of other great ways to see fireworks in the city without worrying that you might run into Ryan Seacrest. In the two times we’ve been in NYC for NYE, we’ve gone to Central Park, where the NYRR Midnight Run kicks off with an impressive twenty minute fireworks show. And since the park is huge, you don’t have to worry about crowds. If you look for it, there’s a few spots where you be able to see the Empire State Building and Times Square celebrations from the park too.
The bridge into the city
After several trips to New York without walking the Brooklyn Bridge, for this last trip, I made it a priority. If you’re looking to take some great photos either by it or around it, I’d start in Brooklyn, then walk into the city. That way the sun is shining on the city and not in your eyes, but the the Brooklyn Bridge Park has great views too!
