10 secret spots of New York

You're probably aware of the must-see places to visit during a trip to New York, but a city as big as this one is full of possibilities, original things to do and secret places to discover. Take a look at the different things to do in the Big Apple!

One of the most original things to do in New York is to leave the skyscrapers of downtown for a morning to experience the cultural diversity of one of the city's most interesting neighbourhoods: Harlem.

In the early 20th century it became the epicentre of African-American culture and civil rights advocacy in the United States. This was accompanied by the flourishing of a musical and artistic movement led by Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald performing at venues such as the legendary Cotton Club.

A tour of Harlem with a Gospel Mass will show you the most authentic side of this neighbourhood. It will take you to the main sights such as the Apollo Theater, the Cotton Club, the Morris Jumel Mansion and the historic streets of typical flats.

What is a Gospel Mass like?

You'll also visit a local church for a live, authentic gospel service. I recommend going on Sundays, as you'll find a larger congregation and therefore a more genuine experience.

A Gospel service in New York City usually lasts around two hours, although the tour only takes you there for one hour. The experience is highly recommended! The service consists of a combination of singing and sermon. You'll enter moments before the service begins and will usually be seated in the upper box, where you'll have a magnificent view of the proceedings.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

Remember there is a dresscode for attending a Gospel service: avoid tank tops or tank tops and skirts and shorts.

Central Park is New York's most famous park. A true green lung for the city and the most visited urban park in the world.

Given its size, I know from experience that walking through Central Park will take you several visits as it is huge and there is so much to see. If you don't have much time to invest in this visit, one of the most entertaining ways to explore Central Park is by renting an electric bike, which will take you to the most iconic places in the park as well as others that normally go unnoticed by tourists.

You'll also discover the origins of Central Park in a fun way and see some of the locations of movies that have been filmed here, as well as several of the houses of celebrities.

Why do I like this tour?

I love it for autumn in New York, when the sun is still warm in the morning. The light is dim and the landscape is tinged with reds, ochres, browns, oranges... It's a colourful spectacle to admire! Take your camera and get ready to take the most beautiful pictures of your trip.

The streets of New York are exciting, there is always something new to see in this ever-changing city. On the surface there are tourist attractions to suit all tastes but not many know that beneath it lies a secret location known as the ghost underground station of City Hall, which has long been plunged into darkness.

The name alone makes you want to find out what it's all about, doesn't it? All you have to do is enter the subway and take line 6 to the end of the route, as the train continues to travel through this station. After Brooklyn Bridge you can pass by the ghost station of City Hall and admire it from the train car.

Unfortunately, it' s not possible to get off to see it, but at least the underground runs at a very slow speed, so with a little skill you'll be able to take several photos of this piece of New York history, which tells us about the origins of this public transport at the beginning of the 20th century.

What does the ghost station look like?

City Hall was never a station much used by New Yorkers, as most of them got on and off at the nearby Brooklyn Bridge, and it was eventually closed to the public in 1945 for a variety of reasons.

Perhaps this has allowed it to remain in such good condition, as have the original tiles, glass, chandeliers and stained glass windows that decorate it. Many people find a certain resemblance to the decoration of Grand Central Station, what do you think?

Another way to get a glimpse of the station is from above ground. In the middle of City Hall Park there is an area reserved for pets. If you pay attention, you'll see an iron opening from which you can peek inside.

Of all the parks in New York, one of the most original to me is High Line Park. A new urban garden, barely a decade old, built on an old elevated railway line and filled with greenery, mural art and sculptures on the west side of Manhattan. One of New York's almost secret places waiting to be discovered on your trip.

High Line Park is located between Gansevoort Street and 34th Street. Its two-and-a-half kilometre straight line route starts (or ends depending on which direction you take) to the north near Hudson Yards, the trendy new Midtown neighbourhood along the Hudson River. It then runs through Chelsea and finally ends in the south in the Meatpacking District next to the Whitney Museum.

From end to end, the High Line Park walkway is lined with skyscrapers, designer buildings and interesting sculptures. But in addition to the urban art you'll see along the High Line Park, I suggest you take a break from the walk to exit at the 23rd Street entrance and take a stroll around the area to see some of the graffiti by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra. Three of the most striking and which have become true icons of the neighbourhood are:

With a few souvenir photos, head back to High Line Park to continue the route. Don't put your camera away because a little further along 21st Street, on the left, there is a very unique sculpture under whose arch you can take a few more cool photos.

New York is one of the most important cultural centres in the world. The museum offer is vast (MoMA, the MET, the Guggenheim Museum...) but not many travellers know that in New York's Upper Manhattan, west of Broadway, is located the Hispanic Society of America, an elegant Beaux Arts-style building that houses the most important collection of Hispanic art in the world outside Spain. Amazing, isn't it?

If you love art and history as much as I do, the Hispanic Society of America will blow you away, with treasures ranging from the Palaeolithic to the 20th century! It has more than 18,000 works in almost every field (sculptures, decorative arts, drawings, paintings...) and its collection includes such important artists as Diego de Velázquez, El Greco, Francisco de Goya, Joaquín Sorolla, Mariano Fortuny, Ignacio Zuloaga and Francisco de Zurbarán.

Why go to this museum?

It is true that due to its location between 155th and 156th streets north of Harlem, the Hispanic Society of America is not part of the traditional route through the iconic museums of New York, but this institution is a jewel that is well worth a visit not only because of the great legacy it houses within its walls but also because admission is free.

And since you're going to Harlem , you can combine it with a tour of Harlem with a Gospel Mass to immerse yourself in the culture and history of this neighbourhood where the African-American community has traditionally lived. You'll kill two birds with one stone!

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On the way to any of the tourist attractions in downtown New York, it's always a joy to discover little treasures that don't normally appear in the guidebooks.

Especially gardens in a city as bustling as this one, where traffic on the streets and people in a hurry are a constant. It is wonderful to find small oases where you can take a break surrounded by water and greenery. Such is the case of Greenacre Park and Paley Park, both in Midtown Manhattan.

Why go to these parks?

What makes these two secret spots in New York different from other parks are two beautiful waterfalls that adorn the surroundings and the sound of the water transports you to a peaceful place where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city while reading a book or sipping a coffee at one of the cozy little tables available to visitors. The trees in Greenacre Park and Paley Park create the sense of intimacy and serenity that I love about this place.

My favourite time to visit is in spring and autumn, when the flora is at its peak. For example, in autumn the trees were beautiful and decorated with pumpkins so typical of Halloween and Thanksgiving. It makes for some great pictures.

Practical info