The East Side and Upper East Side are essentially residential areas but include commercial areas, such as Madison Avenue, chosen by many famous designers as the site of their exclusive boutiques, and other more culture-oriented areas such as the Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue, where various museums, some of which are very important, are held.
Summary sheet
Places to Visit
Residential area, without particular Places to Visit with the exception of museums. This itinerary touches almost exclusively the museums of the area.
Culture
There is a stretch of Fifth Ave. called the Museum Mile (between 82nd St. and 105th St.) for the high concentration of museums. The most prestigious is the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with one of the most important art collections in the world, then there is the Solomon R. Guggemheim Museum, housed in the famous building designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, The Met Breuer, on modern art, the Frick Collection, a small but valuable collection of art, the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, the National Museum of Drawing of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Academy of Design. In addition, the Museum of the City of New York and the ethnic museums, El Museo del Barrio and the Jewish Museum.
Food & shopping
Despite being a residential area there are many shops, especially on Madison Ave., where among other things there are boutiques of big names in world fashion such as Calvin Klein, Chanel, Armani, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Missoni and others.
Length and Visit Time (without visits)
5 km - 1h30’-2h00’
Map
Map created with Google Maps
Itinerary
Subway: N, R, W (5 Ave./59th St.)
Starting from the southeast corner of Central Park, where 59th St. intersects Fifth Ave., follow the latter along the park to 64th St. where on the left there is the entrance to
Central Park Zoo and a little further on, between 65th St. and 66th St., the great synagogue
Temple Emanu-El. Now turn right onto 66th St. to Park Ave. where you'll find
Park Avenue Armory. Then turn left onto 67th St. and then right onto Madison Ave. to 70th St. Here left to reach Fifth Ave. where there is the
Frick Collection, a small but rich art collection from the period 1300 to 1800. Continuing on Fifth Avenue you arrive at 75th St. where, if interested, you can make a detour to Madison Ave. where there is the museum of modern and contemporary art,
The Met Breuer. Continue on Fifth Ave. to 80th St. where there is the most important museum in New York, the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Here also begins the
Museum Mile which ends at 105th St. Following Fifth Ave. again in a northerly direction you will meet later the
Guggenheim Museum, between 88th St. and 89th St., the
Cooper-Hewitt Museum (91th St. & 5th Ave.) and the
Jewish Museum (5th Ave. & 92nd St.).
At 94th St. you go right and then left onto Madison Ave. where there is the
Squadron A Armory, which once housed a military arsenal. If you want to continue, go back to Fifth Ave., turn right until you reach the section between 103rd St. and 104th St. where there is the
Museum of the City of New York and the next block,
El Museo del Barrio.
Underground stations are located on Lexington Ave. at 96th St. and 103rd St.
Subway: 6 (96th St.);
6 (103rd St.)
THE GUIDE
ITA