Art Deco and Architecture Tour in New York City with Expert Guide

The first stop is a significant part of New York architecture and modern culture at large—the Empire State Building (from the outside). This 1,454-foot Art Deco skyscraper has long stood as a symbol of American innovation and ambition and was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Looming large as ever in New York’s skyline, the building is one of the most visited attractions in the city. You have a chance to watch the city from its observation deck. Come and see the building that appeared in many films, songs, and games—touch the New York culture!

The next step is Bryant Park. Bryant Park is a beloved, year-round New York City destination. Known as Manhattan's Town Square, the park is famous for its lush seasonal gardens, free activities, world-class restrooms, and al fresco dining. Located adjacent to the New York Public Library and surrounded by iconic skyscrapers, Bryant Park is a green island between concrete skyscrapers.

Rockefeller Center. Built by one of the richest businessmen of his era, John D. Rockefeller, this giant complex attracts many people attracts many people. An observation deck, luxurious hall, and picturesque interiors, paired with an enormous exterior, await you at 45 Rockefeller Plaza.

The next destination is another legendary place (as are all the others there). Times Square, Manhattan’s heart, attracts people with its midday hurry and the night’s blinding lights; business centers, malls, shops, and nightlife all attract thousands of people each day.

Now you get to the Chrysler Building. Nobody would argue if you wanted to call this glimmering pinnacle of Art Deco architecture NYC’s most eye-popping skyscraper. Triangle-shaped windows in its crown are lined with lights, creating a beautiful effect come nighttime. The structure pays homage to its namesake with giant eagles (replicas of ones added to Chrysler automobiles in the 1920s) in lieu of traditional gargoyles and a brickwork relief sculpture of racing cars, complete with chrome hubcaps.

Grand Central Terminal The 100-year-old transit hub funnels thousands of commuters each day, but it is a destination in its own right. The majestic Beaux Arts framework is a spectacle of both form and function. Familiar features include the vaulted, constellation-adorned ceiling and the four-faced opal clock topping the main information booth, both located in the Grand Concourse. Meanwhile, ornamentation above the 42nd Street entrance includes a likeness of Mercury, the god of travel (naturally), and an ornate Tiffany-glass timepiece.

The Chanin Building is another enormous skyscraper. This 56-story tower's blunt buttressed crown became a symbol for New York's crushing modernist drive. The buff-brick, limestone, and terra-cotta tower is a fascinating synthesis of skyscraper styles. The giant limestone buttresses at the base and crown are a conscious reference to the skyscrapers stylistic origins in the Gothic world. Its giant, 680-foot shaft rises uninterrupted for 22 stories above a series of shallow setbacks.

Central Park looks like a real green jungle in the heart of a concrete one. As seen in numerous songs, books, and movies, America’s first landscaped public park is one of the most beloved attractions in New York City. Millions of tourists and locals alike seek year-round refuge from the concrete jungle within the idyllic, 843-acre plot, which was first brought to life in the mid-19th century by urban visionaries Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux. Their thoughtful design reflects a harmonious balance of scenic elements that lives on today: pastoral (the open, picnic-ready lawn of the Sheep Meadow), formal (the lined, tree-lined Mall), and picturesque (the densely wooded paths of the Ramble). A zoo, museum, and various architecture spots, playgrounds, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoirs definitely make this place a must-see one. So many attractions are located there that discovering the park would become an independent small tour.