Financial District and Wall Street
Neighborhood Guide

The Financial District, at the southern tip of NYC, was the original settling point of New Yorkers in the 1600s, when the island of Manhattan was purchased by the Dutch from the Indians for 60 guilders (about $24). It is one of NYC's most bustling business and tourist areas, from Monday to Friday only. It is near dead on the weekends. In recent years, some modern high rise buildings started attacting more residents.

Things to Do

World Trade Center Visitor Tour – Usually led by volunteers (many involved in 9/11 in some way) mostly indoors, travels along the windows of World Financial Center, looking out onto Ground Zero. 120 Liberty Street, about 1 hr 15 min, $10, children under 12 free.

American Stock Exchange (86 Trinity Place, Pine St) and the New York Stock Exchange (20 Broad St). Closed to public touring indefinitely for security reasons.

Trinity Church

Brooklyn Bridge – walk across for a great view

NYC Police Museum- 100 Old Slip. Mock jail cell, vintage weaponry, 9/11 exhibit, take a mug shot.

Additional Museums - Fraunces Tavern, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Museum of American Finance, Sports Museum of America

South Street Seaport – shops, restaurants, ships, water views (a little touristy, but nice)

TKTS booth – 1 Seaport Plaza (192 Front Street). Less crowded than Times Square for half price Bway Tickets

Staten Island Ferry (South Ferry) Free, passes close to Lady Liberty, runs every 30 minutes and takes approximately 25 minutes each way. (1, 4, 5, N, R, exit South Ferry)

Statue of Liberty

Downtown Alliance, - Free 90 minute guided walking tour, Thursday and Saturday at 12:00 pm. Stops include the U.S. Custom House, Trinity Church, Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange and other architectural and cultural sites.

Recommended Restaurants

Les Halles (15 John Street)– French Bistro, also one in Murray Hill

Ulysses’ (95 Pearl St, near Hanover Sq) – great pub and night spot with live music. A favorite happy hour and post-work stop for the Wall St crowd.

Delmonico’s (56 Beaver St, William St) – Steak, opened in 1837. Old-boys, historical, expensive steakhouse. More casual and less expensive Grill attached. It’s a Wall Street classic institution, think power lunch, business, politics.

See Tribeca for many more choices, all a 5-10 minute walk.

Shopping

Century 21 (22 Cortlandt, Church/Broadway) – designer discount shopping. Huge Men's department, Work directly with the garment district reps, and only stock locally. Designers include Armani, Pucci, Prada and Missoni, great shoe department for both men and women.