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Jet lag sometimes has its advantages. The first days of your arrival in New York, your body will still be at the European rhythm and you will therefore get up around 4 or 5 a.m., which is 10 or 11 a.m. in Europe. So rather than tossing and turning in your bed trying to sleep, take the opportunity to watch the sunrise. Here are my 5 favorite places that are sure to blow your mind.
1/ Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn
On the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge Park offers you a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the towers of the Financial District. The photo below was taken 30 minutes after sunrise, when the sun hits the glass towers of the financial district.
HOW TO GET THERE : subway lines A and C to High Street station, then walk down Old Fulton Street towards the Brooklyn Bridge. Under the bridge, walk a few steps down Water Street and take an immediate left to enter the park. To get there, count about 40 minutes from Times Square.
2/ Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island City
To see the sunrise over Midtown and the Chrysler Building, head to Gantry Plaza State Park, a park along the East River in Long Island City. There, you will be right in front of the UN, with its large glass facade reflecting the first rays of the sun. When the sun comes out, the Chrysler building’s sparkling spire also begins to twinkle. Magic !
HOW TO GET THERE : subway line 7 to Vernon Bvld – Jackson Av station, then walk down 50th Avenue towards Manhattan. Count about twenty minutes from Times Square.
3/ Jersey City
On the other side of the Hudson River, New Jersey offers you breathtaking views of Manhattan. In the early morning, you will see the One World Trade Center tower, the World Trade Center and the New York skyline appear gently in Chinese shadow, before the sun begins to pass over the buildings. Hopefully the clouds will enter the game with beautiful pink colors.
HOW TO GET THERE : take the Path at the World Trade Center towards Newark and get off at the first stop, Exchange Place. Leaving the metro station, all you have to do is go up the Hudson in whichever direction you like! Allow 10 minutes from the World Trade Center and around 40 minutes from Times Square.
4/ Liberty State Park
This large park located in New Jersey, at the level of the Statue of Liberty, is not easily accessible by public transport from Manhattan but it offers you one of the best viewpoints over the bay of New York, Manhattan and sunrise. You have the entire Manhattan skyline right in front of you, with the sun rising just behind the World Trade Center in the foreground. A word of advice: go early to take pictures of the very first light of day.
HOW TO GET THERE : take the Path at the World Trade Center towards Newark and get off at the first stop, Exchange Place. There, take the streetcar from Exchange Place Light Rail Station to 22nd Street. Get off at the Liberty State Park stop. All you have to do is walk a good 10 minutes to get to the viewpoint over the bay. Allow 45 tight minutes from the World Trade Center.
5/ Hamilton Park, in Weehawken
Of the 5 places that I suggest you discover, Weehawken is certainly the most original. This small town located in New Jersey, north of Hoboken and Jersey City, is not well known but it is well worth a visit for its incredible view of Midtown. Main advantage compared to other places: here, you will be on a small hill slightly overhanging Manhattan. And the Empire State building is close at hand!
HOW TO GET THERE : take bus number 166 at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and get off at the Hamilton Park stop. The transport authority suggests a 10-minute journey from Port Authority Bus Terminal, but allow a little more time… From Times Square, count about thirty minutes.
If you saw the sunrise from one of these places (or elsewhere!), feel free to send me a photo and I’ll add it here. My email: [email protected].
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