First time in New York: the 10 things that will strike you

Heading to New York for the first time? Here are the 10 things that will leave a lasting impression on you. New York knows how to amaze its visitors!

1/ Building Heights

New York is undeniably the skyscraper capital of the world. While the Eiffel Tower stands as Paris’s highest point at 300 m (984 ft), even modest buildings in Midtown or the Financial District exceed 300 m. The heights go much higher: the Empire State Building reaches 381 m (1,250 ft), and the One World Trade Center soars to 541 m (1,776 ft), making it the tallest building in North America.
Head to the observation decks of the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center for views that feel like you’re flying over the city. Also consider visiting the Top of the Rock: though the building stands at only 260 m (853 ft), the views are spectacular.

Visitors from European cities are immediately struck by New York’s rigid grid layout, where streets intersect at perfect right angles. This creates endless vistas down avenues and streets. Don’t attempt to walk an entire avenue from end to end—your feet will give out before you reach the other side.
In New York, distances are measured in “blocks”—the number of city blocks between two points. See our article on blocks in New York. For streets with a more European feel, head south of Houston Street to Downtown.

If you’re coming to New York seeking absolute silence, cancel your trip now. New York is the opposite. The city never sleeps, and noise is relentless: traffic, fire truck and police sirens, crowds on Times Square at all hours of the day and night. Even from high atop the buildings, you’ll notice the constant hum of the city from thousands of air conditioning units running continuously.
You’ll find that New York’s noise is often the one thing you’ll miss most when you return home.

Another thing that strikes first-time visitors to New York: the incredible flood of taxis streaming through avenues and streets. There are exactly 13,587 taxis in service in New York, according to the total number of licenses issued by the city.
The fact that all New York taxis are the same bright yellow color reinforces this impression. This color has become synonymous with New York itself. What would New York be without its yellow cabs? Read our articles on yellow taxis and green taxis.

While European restaurants often serve modest portions, New York does the opposite: portions here are enormous. When you order an appetizer, main course, and dessert, you quickly realize you’ll struggle to finish everything once the appetizer arrives—it’s that generous.
Here’s something to know: in New York, there’s no problem asking for a “box” to take home leftover pizza or cake. Just remember that Americans don’t use the term “doggy bag”—they say “box” instead.

Of all the things that strike you when you arrive in New York, this is perhaps what you’ll notice at every corner: the feeling that you’ve already seen the place in a film or TV series. New York hosts more film and television productions than any other city in the world, so you see it everywhere.
The Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Fifth Avenue, and Greenwich Village appear in countless films and TV shows. Here are 10 films to watch before you visit. Also check out our section on film in New York.

Loving New York doesn’t mean ignoring its flaws. The New York subway is something that strikes first-time visitors: unlike Paris, Lyon, or Marseille, most of New York’s subway system is aging, with stations that seem unchanged since the network was built in the early 1900s.
After a while, you get used to it, and the subway becomes part of New York’s charm. There I go, falling in love with New York all over again.

Contrary to what you might think, New York is more than just towering buildings and endless avenues. You’ll discover genuine neighborhood life in the Upper West Side, the East Village, and Brooklyn.
Greenwich Village is perhaps the best example: walking through this neighborhood, despite being in the heart of Manhattan, you won’t feel like you’re in one of America’s largest cities.
You’ll also notice that every New York neighborhood has its own park, and New Yorkers love to picnic or simply relax there. New York is also a village.

You’ll quickly feel the contagious energy that drives New York. On a weekday morning, walk through Wall Street and the financial district to experience the financial power of New York.
On weekends, settle into Central Park to watch New Yorkers jogging, rollerblading, or playing baseball. New York never stops, and it will give you incredible energy.

After a few days, once you’ve settled into the New York rhythm, you’ll likely feel the urge to stay. This happens to many visitors to New York, unlike those visiting Madrid, Berlin, or Prague.
How do you explain this? I think it’s simply the result of the nine points above. What do you think? Join the conversation on the Destination New York Facebook group.