Midtown East: 10 Attractions You’ll Want to See

Midtown East is a busy slice of central Manhattan where you'll find plenty of New York icons, like the streamlined Chrysler Building and gorgeous Grand Central Station, plus the settings of classic movies I'll tell you about below.

It runs between 59th and 42nd streets, from Fifth Avenue east to the East River (west of Fifth Avenue is Midtown West).

The eastern side of Midtown, specifically Murray Hill, is packed with embassies and diplomats thanks to its proximity to the UN, along with Madison Avenue ad executives, the crowd Mad Men made famous.

What to see in Midtown West

Beyond the headline attractions I just mentioned, there are more spots worth your time. Keep reading to build your ideal route:

1. Park Avenue and Madison Avenue

Park Avenue and Madison Avenue are two of the most famous avenues running through Midtown East.

Around these grand avenues you'll find skyscrapers, hotels and classic Manhattan bars that could easily pass for the haunts of the ad men from Mad Men whenever they slipped out for a good drink or a cigar.

At the northern end of Park Avenue you'll run into a classic Manhattan postcard: the MetLife Building and Grand Central Terminal.

2. The Summit Observatory

Right next to Grand Central Terminal stands one of Manhattan's newest luxury skyscrapers: One Vanderbilt, which at 427 meters is the fourth tallest building in New York.

Its Summit observation deck opened in October 2021, and you really should check it out. It's much more than views: there are interactive experiences, art, a glass elevator and cocktails hundreds of feet up.

It's smart to buy your Summit tickets online, since slots sell out fast now that it's New York's newest attraction.

3. Grand Central Terminal

The Beaux-Arts building that is Grand Central Terminal tells the story of early 20th-century New York.

It's one of the largest train stations in the world, with 75 tracks and close to 50 platforms, plus the various subway lines that connect there. Grand Central is full of details about the history of its builders, the Vanderbilt family, and about interwar New York.

It's a major New York landmark you shouldn't skip. Follow the link for all the details on visiting Grand Central Station.

4. The Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building fell behind long ago in the race for New York's tallest skyscrapers, but it will always be near the top in New Yorkers' hearts.

The beauty of the Chrysler Building's design is timeless and universal, one of the finest pieces of New York art deco and a sophisticated example of Gothic futurism.

It's steps from Grand Central Terminal and absolutely worth a visit (you can walk in and admire the elegant lobby, no problem). Read all the details on the Chrysler Building.

5. Superman's Daily News Building

Just around the corner from the Chrysler Building, you can visit the lobby of The Daily News Building, where several scenes from the famous 1978 Superman movie were shot.

If you're like me and you chase down real filming locations from movies shot in New York, you have to swing by the «Daily Planet» at 42nd Street and Second Avenue in Midtown East.

6. Marilyn Monroe's subway grate

The subway ventilation grate that blew up Marilyn Monroe's skirt in Billy Wilder's The Seven Year Itch (1955) sits on a Midtown East corner: Lexington Avenue and 52nd Street. Send me your photos XD

You can see a recreation of that iconic movie scene, with a wax Marilyn, at Madame Tussauds New York.

If you love film, check out other movies filmed in New York so you can hunt down their real locations while you explore the city.

7. Murray Hill: diplomats and curry

Thanks to its proximity to the United Nations headquarters and dozens of embassies and consulates, Murray Hill is one of the favorite neighborhoods among diplomats.

It sits between 27th Street to the south and 42nd Street to the north, and between Madison Avenue and the East River.

On the food front, on Lexington Avenue between 27th and 30th streets you'll find Manhattan's Little India, informally known as Curry Hill (Jackson Heights in Queens is another Indian neighborhood in NYC).

There's also a solid lineup of bars around Third Avenue.

Because so many foreigners and diplomats land in this neighborhood, the hotel selection is wide, especially 4-star hotels in New York. It's a good place to stay if you want somewhere quieter but still close to Midtown's biggest attractions.

In Murray Hill you'll see some beautifully preserved 19th-century buildings, like those on Sniffen Court (150 to 158 East 36th Street), which served as the backdrop for the cover of The Doors' album Strange Days (1967).

8. United Nations Headquarters

One of the symbols of this cosmopolitan city is the United Nations Headquarters, designed collaboratively by renowned architects, among them Le Corbusier and Brazil's Oscar Niemeyer.

It's one of Midtown East's landmarks and, in my view, one of the most interesting guided tours in New York, since it's led by international-affairs professionals with a genuinely broad worldview.

If you'd rather skip the tour, you can still enter the UN lobby after going through strict security checks.

9. The Dark Tower's Rose lot

Very close to the UN, in the Turtle Bay neighborhood, is the site of the Rose from The Dark Tower. If you know what I mean, no further explanation is needed and we should sit down and talk 😉

The vacant lot with the Rose from Stephen King's saga would be at Second Avenue and 46th Street.

If you go take a look at that corner (you never know), take the chance to wander the quiet streets of Turtle Bay, especially Tudor City. Its peaceful gardens are striking, just a few blocks from NYC's noisiest streets.

10. Riverview Terrace

At the northern edge of Midtown East, on 58th Street by the East River, you'll find Riverview Terrace. It's a lookout with knockout views of the Queensboro Bridge.

Another bit of movie trivia: from this spot Woody Allen shot the scene in Manhattan (1979) where he sits on a bench with Diane Keaton. None other than the image on the movie poster.

Where to stay in Midtown East, Manhattan

As you can see, Midtown East has plenty of places worth visiting, it's central, and it's well connected by subway.

It's also one of the New York neighborhoods that movie buffs dream about, packed with references to films and TV shows, many more than the ones I've covered in this short article. Go see it!