I have visited New York many times. One of the few places of which you’ll never get enough. The hustle and bustle in Manhattan is overwhelming, yet there are also less visited places that are very rewarding and, as far as I’m concerned, even surpass the big attractions.During my last visit to the city I looked up a few.

Making the best of my jet lag 😉 I was in Times Square at 6:30 a.m. At this hour of the day is still nice and quiet. From here it was a pleasant walk of half an hour to Central Park. I read something the other day about a birdwatcher who goes into all the early Central Park to spot birds because of the serene atmosphere in the early morning, really nice. After breakfast, I continued my day trip to the Williamsburg neighborhood in upstate Brooklyn. 15 minutes by subway and you’re there! There you can enjoy neighbourhoods and places that seem to be completely detached from the hustle and bustle and mass tourism of Manhattan: nice, small shops, boutiques, bars, creativity, a very special atmosphere. Here things happen, fantastic!

Nevertheless, I would also like to mention the High Line in busy Manhattan: an old railway bridge in the Meatpacking District, just like Chelsea a very special neighbourhood in this part of the city. The High Line has been transformed by a Dutch landscaper, Piet Oudolf, into a lustily growing and flowering garden. Go see it!

When you visit New York, make time to visit these beautiful places. If you want to escape the big crowds and still don’t want to miss anything, they are absolutely recommended!