7 things to do in New York City in under two hours

Spend some time exploring the 25-acre public park at the southern tip of Manhattan - the city’s birthplace. The park has been revitalized with an ethos of environmental responsibility and historical authenticity. This is thanks to a partnership with the city of New York’s Department of Parks and Recreation and The Battery Conservancy. The Battery, the thriving green heart of lower Manhattan, is a model of conservation and biodiversity. It includes vast public gardens, organic urban farms, toxin-free lawns and SeaGlass, the innovative aquarium carousel.

You will find this complex just south of Tribeca along the Hudson River waterfront. It is the height of luxury shopping, dining and cultural arts in lower Manhattan. It is home to international fashion houses including Hermès, Bottega Veneta and Burberry, as well as contemporary brands such as Diane von Furstenberg, Theory, Michael Kors, Vince and Lululemon. Saks Fifth Avenue occupies 85,000 square feet of retail space. Enjoy best-in-class dining options including Hudson Eats, a collection of 14 chef-driven eateries; Le District, a 30,000-square-foot French-inspired marketplace offering gourmet groceries, fresh pastries, fine wines, and full-service restaurants.

Stretched across the East River, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 to carry nonautomotive traffic between lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. The 1.2-mile (2 km) bridge is one of the most recognizable parts of the New York City skyline. It has been seen in countless movies and television shows, stamping it as a real part of New York City history. A leisurely walk across the elevated pedestrian walkway is a true NYC experience. The Manhattan-side entrance is at Park Row and Centre Street, across from City Hall Park, east of City Hall; on the Brooklyn side, enter at Cadman Plaza East or where Boerum Place meets Tillary Street.

The Chelsea Market, which is a block long and a block wide, is just a short walk from the Hudson River. It is located in an area of Manhattan known as the Meatpacking District. In the past 15 years, it has become one of the greatest indoor food halls in the world. Inside, one can find more than 35 vendors selling everything from soup to nuts, wine to coffee, cheeses and desserts. The neighborhood market with a global perspective attracts more than 6 million local and international visitors annually.

Running from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th avenues, The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan’s West Side. Highlights include the Tiffany & Co. Foundation Overlook, a dramatic balcony marking where The High Line was cut in the 1990s and demolished south of Gansevoort Street. The Diller – von Furstenberg Sundeck and Water Feature spans 14th to 15th Street, with lounge chairs and a shallow water feature where visitors can cool their feet in warmer months. And at the 23rd Street Lawn, the park’s only lawn, a full block of grass stretches north from West 22nd Street.

A branch of the famed Italian market that is opening up all over the world, Eataly offers a simple way to satisfy your stomach and kill a couple of hours. The large-footprint Italian marketplace hosts a variety of restaurants, food and beverage counters, a bakery, retail items and a cooking school. Deciding what to order from the menu at the Nutella Bar (a must) alone will easily consume your time. There is a second location downtown, and most New Yorkers have an opinion as to which is better, but for the record, the Flatiron is the original location, and it provides breathtaking views of the Flatiron Building.

It all began with just a few farmers in 1976. Now the world-famous market boasts 140 regional farmers, fishers and bakers during peak season. Located in one of the city’s great public spaces, the electric atmosphere is filled with 60,000 market shoppers on any given day. From just-picked fresh fruits and vegetables to heritage meats and award-winning farmstead cheeses, artisan bread, jams, pickles, wine, ciders, maple syrup and much more, it’s easy to find things to consume that day or pack away to take home. The market is open year-round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.