Top of the Rock
When you visit New York City, you should definitely go to the Top of the Rock. The Top of the Rock has the most beautiful view over New York City. The three most well-known buildings with an incredible view are: the Freedom Tower, the Empire State building and Top of the Rock ( located at Rockefeller Plaza ). Top of the Rock is my personal favorite because from here you can see both the Empire State building and the Freedom Tower as well as Central Park and it is not overcrowded. The best time to visit is in the morning when the sky is clear. Lots of people visit the building during sunset, which is beautiful but mostly overcrowded.

More information on prices & opening times on: www.topoftherocknyc.com 

Tip: Other options to enjoy NYC views are rooftops, for example: 1 Rooftop Bar Brooklyn or 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar.  

Brooklyn Bridge
My favourite way to enjoy the New York skyline is walking across the Brooklyn bridge. There are other bridges, for example the Manhattan bridge and the Williamsburgh bridge but the Brooklyn bridge offers the best experience in my opinion.

Another option to enjoy the skyline is visiting the Brooklyn Bridge park (read more about it: Parks ). The Brooklyn bridge connects Brooklyn and lower Manhattan and crosses the East River. You can walk across the bridge at any time every day. You can also cross the bridge with a car or  by bike (read more about  bike tours: Tours)
Tip: Enjoy the New York skyline by boat. For only $2,75 you can travel with the East River Ferry to Brooklyn or Queens. The boat runs underneath the Brooklyn bridge and the Williamsburgh bridge. There are several boat tours available to enjoy the skyline (read more about it: Tours)

High Line
The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long park located in Manhattan.  It is built on a former railroad and the first part was opened in 2009. The route starts on 34th Street and ends at Gansevoort Street. You can access or exit the route at different locations along the High Line. For specific information about the route visit: www.thehighline.org/visit.  Along the High Line different (street) artworks and sculptures can be found. The High Line is perfect for a relaxed walk across New York City. The Chelsea market is also easy to reach from the High Line.

The opening hours of the High Line depend on the season: Dec 1 to Mar 31: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM , Apr 1 to May 31: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM , June 1 to Sept 30: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM , Oct 1 to Nov 30: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM.  In my experience the best season to visit the High Line is during summer. 

Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island

Visiting Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty is a great experience. Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are very important in the history of New York City. The Statue of Liberty is a national monument and on Ellis Island the Ellis Island Museum of Immigration can be found. It is possible to get a guided tour and visit both highlights. This will take an entire day. If you just want to enjoy the New York skyline and have a closer look at the Statue of Liberty you can use the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry is free of charge but it doesn't stop at Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty. More information about the Staten Island Ferry: www.siferry.com

Times Square
Times Square is the world-famous square with lots of billboards. The first time you visit New York City you should definitely go there, it's really impressive. Local New-Yorkers don't enjoy visiting Times square because it is always overcrowded. Times Square is therefore a very popular tourist attraction and 40-50 million tourist visit it every year. During New Year's Eve thousands of people visit Times square for the annual New Year's Eve ball drop. Popular stores are located on Times square, for example: M&M world, Disney Store and Forever 21.
Fun fact: It costs between $1.1 to $4 million a year to buy advertising space at Times Square.