New York City is one of those places that seems familiar even before you visit it. Its skyscrapers, bridges, theatres and busy streets have appeared in thousands of films, television shows and photographs. But behind these famous images, there are also fascinating stories.

From Art Deco towers to peaceful green spaces, New York is full of places that have helped shape the character of the city. Here are ten landmarks that show different sides of the Big Apple.

1. Chrysler Building

With its shining silver crown and elegant Art Deco design, the Chrysler Building is one of the most beautiful skyscrapers in New York. It was created for automobile businessman Walter P. Chrysler and designed by architect William Van Alen. Construction began in 1929 and the building was completed in 1930.

There was strong competition between New York developers at the time to build the tallest skyscraper in the world. The Chrysler Building won the race for a short time, thanks partly to its famous steel spire. However, its title did not last long. In 1931, the Empire State Building became taller.

Today, the Chrysler Building is still an unforgettable part of the Manhattan skyline. Its style seems to capture the optimism and excitement of New York in the 1920s and early 1930s.

2. Empire State Building

Few buildings represent New York as clearly as the Empire State Building. Standing on Fifth Avenue, this Art Deco skyscraper has been one of the city’s most famous symbols for nearly a century.

Construction began on 17 March 1930, and the speed of the project was remarkable. The building was completed in only one year and 45 days. When it officially opened on 1 May 1931, it had 102 floors and became the tallest building in the world.

Since then, it has appeared in countless films and photographs, perhaps most famously in King Kong. Millions of visitors have also travelled to its observation decks to look across Manhattan. Even though many taller skyscrapers have appeared since 1931, the Empire State Building has never really lost its special place in New York’s identity.

3. Flatiron Building

The Flatiron Building proves that a skyscraper does not have to be extremely tall to become an icon. Completed in 1902, it stands where Fifth Avenue and Broadway meet at 23rd Street.

The unusual triangular shape of the land strongly influenced its design. Architect Daniel Burnham and his company created a narrow building that looks surprisingly different depending on where you stand. From certain angles, its thin end almost seems two-dimensional. Its shape reminded New Yorkers of the flat irons used to press clothes, and the nickname eventually became the building’s official name.

The Flatiron was also an important example of early steel-frame skyscraper construction. More than 120 years later, it remains one of Manhattan’s most photographed buildings and a reminder of an earlier period in New York’s skyscraper history.

4. Brooklyn Bridge

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the classic New York experiences. The bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn across the East River and offers wonderful views of both parts of the city.

When it was completed in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Its construction is closely connected with the Roebling family. Engineer John Augustus Roebling designed the bridge, but he died before construction began. His son Washington continued the work, although serious health problems later limited what he could do. Washington’s wife, Emily Roebling, then played an important role in communicating between her husband and the engineers working on the bridge.

Today, its stone towers and huge network of cables make the Brooklyn Bridge both an engineering achievement and one of the most romantic sights in New York.

5. 9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is very different from most tourist attractions in New York. It is a place for remembering, understanding and reflecting on one of the darkest days in the city’s history.

The Memorial stands where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center once stood. Two enormous reflecting pools have been built in the footprints of the towers, surrounded by the names of the people who were killed in the attacks of 11 September 2001 and in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The Memorial opened to the public in September 2011.

Below ground, the Museum preserves objects, photographs, personal stories and parts of the original World Trade Center site. Some original foundations can still be seen there.

It can be an emotional place to visit, but it tells an important story not only about tragedy, but also about memory, courage and human resilience.

6. Grand Central Terminal

Some railway stations are simply places where journeys begin and end. Grand Central Terminal is something more.

The present terminal officially opened on 2 February 1913, and more than 150,000 people visited it on its first day. Today, it remains both an important transport centre and one of New York’s great architectural landmarks.

Its most famous space is the enormous Main Concourse. Look up and you will see its beautiful blue-green ceiling decorated with constellations. In the middle of the concourse stands the famous four-faced clock, which has become a popular meeting point for New Yorkers.

Grand Central has survived changing travel habits and even plans for demolition. Fortunately, it was preserved and restored. Today, commuters still rush through its halls every day while visitors stop, look around and realise that even a train station can feel magnificent.

7. Times Square

Bright screens, giant advertisements, yellow taxis, theatres and crowds – Times Square is probably the closest real-life version of the New York we often see in films.

Interestingly, the area was not always called Times Square. It was originally known as Long Acre, or Longacre, Square. This changed in 1904 after The New York Times built its new headquarters nearby. The square was renamed in honour of the newspaper.

Times Square later became closely connected with entertainment and Broadway theatre. Its history has not always been glamorous, however. During parts of the 20th century, the area became known for crime and adult entertainment before major changes transformed it again.

Today, it is one of the busiest tourist areas in the city. It can be noisy, crowded and overwhelming – but perhaps that is exactly why it feels so completely New York.

8. Central Park

After the traffic, skyscrapers and crowds of Manhattan, entering Central Park can feel like stepping into another world.

The park was created in the 19th century as New York’s population was growing rapidly. City leaders wanted to give residents a large green space where they could escape crowded urban life. In 1858, the design by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux was chosen, and construction began.

The finished park includes lakes, lawns, bridges, woodland, walking paths and recreational areas. It covers 843 acres in the centre of Manhattan.

However, the history of the land is also important. Before Central Park was created, communities already lived there, including Seneca Village, a mainly African-American settlement whose residents were displaced when the city acquired the land.

Today, Central Park offers something New York always needs: space to slow down.

9. Radio City Music Hall

With its bright neon sign and spectacular Art Deco interior, Radio City Music Hall brings back some of the glamour of 1930s New York.

The theatre was created as part of the development of Rockefeller Center and opened in December 1932. Its design was strongly influenced by the Art Deco movement, and its enormous auditorium made it one of the city’s most impressive entertainment venues.

Radio City is also famous as the home of the Rockettes, the precision dance company known for its perfectly synchronised performances and high kicks. The group made Radio City its home in 1932, and the famous Christmas Spectacular began the following year.

Almost a century later, Radio City continues to host concerts, shows and special events. Visiting it feels a little like entering another age – one when a night at the theatre was designed to be spectacular from the moment you walked through the door.

10. Broadway

For theatre lovers, few words are as exciting as Broadway. However, Broadway is not one single theatre, and most Broadway theatres are not actually located directly on Broadway itself.

The name refers to a group of professional theatres, mostly concentrated around Times Square in Manhattan’s Theatre District. According to the Broadway League, there are around forty Broadway theatres in operation, with most located between 40th and 54th Streets and Sixth and Eighth Avenues.

Broadway has been at the heart of American theatre for more than a century. Legendary musicals and plays have been produced here, and performing on Broadway is still considered a major achievement for actors, singers and dancers.

When the theatre signs light up in the evening and audiences begin arriving for their shows, the streets around Times Square have a special atmosphere. In a city famous for constantly changing, Broadway keeps one of New York’s oldest traditions alive: putting on a great show.