Agree on the Cloisters, the Met, Museum of Natural History, MOMA, WTC. If you have time or are so inclined, wander the East or West Village, or some of the hipster hangouts in Brooklyn. Lot of good restaurants in Chinatown. Public Library on 42nd & 5th (take a pic with the Library lions)
Do some research on what you’ll be looking at from the top of the Empire State Building.
Places to avoid:
Little Italy is a tourist trap, a sad echo of what it once was
Same with Times Square.
Any street that gives you the heebie-jeebies - trust your instincts.
If you have a particular interest, research to see if there’s a museum, show, etc. about it.
“Same with Times Square.”
Yea dont spend money there but it great to walk around and see it at street level for youself, rather than on TV when the ball drops.