Valentine’s Day Guide: The Most Romantic New York City Landmarks

Make this a Valentine’s Day to remember by taking your sweetheart to New York City’s most romantic destinations. You’ll recognize these landmarks from classic movies and news reports of creative marriage proposals. The best part? Most of these attractions are low cost or free!

empire state building nyc

The Empire State Building (Photo: Leslie Koch/DowntownTraveler.com)

#1. The Empire State Building

Hollywood films like An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle established the Empire State Building as the most romantic destination in New York City. The 102-story skyscraper was built in 1931 in the Art Deco style and is currently the tallest building in the Big Apple. The 86th Floor Observatory is the perfect setting for a marriage proposal.
> Cost: Adult tickets start at $19.29 (plus $2 surcharge)
> Website: www.esbnyc.com
> Twitter: @ESBObservatory

Top of the Rock

Top of the Rock (Photo: Randy Le'Moine/Flickr Commons)

#2. Top of the Rock

Get great views of Manhattan in the heart of Rockefeller Center. Top of the Rock is located next to the ice skating rink, so you can work off your jitters before popping the question atop the Rock. The TV shows Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock are set in the neighborhood, so you might even bump into a celebrity!
> Cost: Adult tickets start at $22.00
> Website: www.topoftherocknyc.com
> Facebook: www.facebook.com/TopOfTheRockNYC

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty (Photo: aa7ae/Flickr Commons)

#3. The Statue of Liberty

Lady Liberty is not only a symbol of New York, but of the freedoms we enjoy in the United States. The 151 ft. tall statue has greeted immigrants and tourists since it was dedicated in 1886. Make sure to snap a photo in front of the statue, which is flanked by the skyscrapers of Lower Manhattan. You can view the statue from the Staten Island Ferry or visit the grounds with a Statue Cruise boat trip.
> Cost: The Staten Island Ferry is FREE; Statue Cruises tickets start at $13
> Website: www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm
> Twitter: @StatueLibrtyNPS

bryant park citi pond

Citi Pond skating rink (Photo: Leslie Koch/DowntownTraveler.com)

#4. Bryant Park

The Citi Pond ice rink at Bryant Park is the perfect place to spend Valentine’s Day. As part of the Bryant Park 2011 Film Festival, the ice skating love story Cutting Edge will be shown on an outdoor screen near the Sixth Avenue entrance. You can even watch the movie as you skate! Citi Pond sits in a perfect location– just a few blocks from Times Square– and is surrounded by skyscrapers.
> Cost: FREE (if you bring your own skates)
> Website: thepondatbryantpark.com
> Twitter: @CitiPondNYC

The Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge (Photo: Maurice/Flickr Commons)

#5. The Brooklyn Bridge

This bridge, which connects Brooklyn and Manhattan, has seen its share of marriage proposals. One creative groom had strangers deliver pink balloons to his girlfriend as they walked across the bridge. After receiving a few balloons, she started to catch on. “Too many things were going through my mind,” the bride revealed to Glamour.com, “just random thoughts like he is so cute, who are these people, wow I’m really lucky, doesn’t this only happen in the movies? Is this real?”
> Cost: FREE
> For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Bridge

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About Leslie Koch

I'm a New Yorker with a passion for travel and art. I founded DowntownTraveler.com after returning from a year-long backpacking trip around the world. Find me on Twitter at @leslietravel.