And we're off — the city is calling and the weather is gorgeous. We want to explore the city on foot first, starting with Grand Central Terminal, the largest train station in New York. Hundreds of trains pass through here every day across more than 60 tracks and over 40 platforms. The building was constructed in its current form back in 1913 and renovated in 1998. Particularly impressive is the vaulted ceiling of the main concourse, decorated with stars and centred by a magnificent chandelier. The lower floors house shops and — for oyster lovers — the famous Oyster Bar and Restaurant. We recommend simply strolling through and taking note of the prices.

From there we head to the world-famous Waldorf Astoria hotel, where even "Home Alone's" Kevin caused his fair share of chaos.
We pass by Rockefeller Center, which still has its famous ice skating rink. At the top of Rockefeller Center you'll also find the "Top of the Rock" observation deck.

We continue on to our next destination: Central Park. Of course it can't be missed, and since the weather is glorious, Central Park — the green lungs of the city — is our main highlight for the day. It stretches from 59th to 110th Street and from 5th to 8th Avenue, covering 349.15 hectares and accounting for roughly 4% of Manhattan's total area. Central Park was established in 1859 and completed in 1873. In 1963 it was even designated a National Historic Landmark of the United States. Around 25 million people visit this inner-city park every year. It was designed by a landscape architect and is a beloved destination for New Yorkers. If you're imagining a quiet, tranquil park like we did — think again, as you can see from the photos. On a sunny day it is probably the most populated park in the world; in any case, we've never seen so many people in one park before. Like everyone else, we spread out on the grass at Sheep Meadow for a well-earned break. There is simply so much to see and take in. We stroll on through the park towards Bethesda Terrace and the Fountain, familiar to many from various films. From the terrace you have a breathtaking view over Central Park, the lake and the woodlands. You'll often find musicians and street performers here, happy to share their talents — and naturally expecting a small tip in return! We continue through the park, taking in its 13 beautiful bridges, its lakes, and our cheeky favourites — the squirrels — before leaving through the Alice in Wonderland statue.
Worth noting: there is also a Central Park Zoo with around 130 residents, right at the park entrance on Fifth Avenue (corner of 63rd Street).
We head on down Broadway — one of the most famous streets in the world, if not the most famous of all. At over 20 km long, it is certainly the longest street in New York. Most streets in the city follow a grid pattern, but Broadway is the sole exception, cutting diagonally across all other Manhattan streets all the way up to Harlem. Broadway leads us to One New York Plaza, past the Brooklyn Bridge.

In the evening we reach yet another highlight — one that almost overwhelms you. Times Square is always buzzing, but it truly comes into its own after dark, when the LED advertising displays seem to glow with a life of their own! We round off the day by sitting on the bleachers in the pedestrian zone and watching the world go by.