5 Best Sights in New York City, New York

Figures representing Wisdom and Force flank the main portal of this imposing Beaux-Arts courthouse, built in 1899. The structure's purpose coincides with artistic symbolism, and there are statues of great lawmakers, including Moses, Justinian, and Confucius, lining the roof balustrade. In total, sculptures by 16 artists adorn the ornate building, a showcase of themes relating to the law. A branch of the New York State Supreme Court, this is one of the most important appellate courts in the country: it hears more than 3,000 appeals and 6,000 motions annually and also admits approximately 3,000 new attorneys to the bar each year. Inside the courtroom is a stunning stained-glass dome set into a gilt ceiling. The main hall and the courtroom are generally open to visitors weekdays from 9 to 5.

Built in 1848 as Brooklyn's city hall, this Greek Revival landmark, adorned with Tuckahoe marble, is one of the borough's handsomest buildings. The statue of Lady Justice atop its cast-iron cupola was part of the original plan but wasn't installed until 1988. Today the landmarked building serves as the office of Brooklyn's borough president, and the backdrop of weekend skateboarders in adjacent Columbus Park.

What once marked the northernmost point of Manhattan today houses the office of the mayor and serves as a gathering place for demonstrators and the news crews who cover their stories. This is the one of the oldest City Halls in the country, a striking (but surprisingly small) building dating from 1803. If the history of local politics and architecture is your thing, free tours are available (sign up in advance online). Inside, highlights include the Rotunda where President Lincoln lay in state in 1865 under a soaring dome supported by 10 Corinthian columns; the Victorian-style City Council Chamber; and the Governor's Room, an elegantly preserved space with portraits of historic figures, as well as a writing table that George Washington used in 1789 when New York was the U.S. capital.

Built by shipping merchant Archibald Gracie in 1799 as a country retreat when New York ended much farther downtown, Gracie Mansion was made the official residence of the city's mayors in 1942. The first mayoral resident, Fiorello LaGuardia, dubbed it the "little White House." More recently, Mayor Michael Bloomberg stayed in his own town house nearby while pouring millions into renovating the house and turning the second floor into a house museum that reflects the city's history and diversity. Some mayors have chosen not to live in Gracie Mansion; Eric Adams, the current mayor, has said that Gracie Mansion is haunted, and splits his time between here and his Brooklyn town house. The museum's collection includes a bill of sale for an enslaved person, a portrait of Frederick Douglass, and Native American artifacts. Temporary exhibitions have also reflected New York's diversity. Tours of exhibits and the building are offered to the public on Monday at 10:30, noon, and 1:30, and to private groups on Wednesday. Reservations must be made online; plan at least a month in advance, if possible.

Officially an "international zone" in the city's heart, the UN Headquarters sits on an 18-acre tract on the East River, fronted by flags of its member states, who are charged with helping maintain international security and peace. Built between 1947 and 1961, the complex completed an overhaul in 2015 that retained the 1950s look while upgrading its infrastructure. The only way to enter the UN Headquarters is with the 45- to 60-minute weekday guided tour, available in 10 languages; reservations can be made online, and you'll need a security pass from the visitors office at  801 1st Avenue.  Arrive 60 minutes before your tour's start for security screening. The tour includes the General Assembly, major council chambers, and educational details, as well as exhibits on peacekeeping, nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament, and human rights. Children under five are not admitted.

The complex's buildings (the slim, 505-foot-tall green-glass Secretariat Building; the much smaller, domed General Assembly Building; and the Dag Hammarskjöld Library) evoke the influential French modernist architect Le Corbusier, and the surrounding park and plaza remain visionary. The public concourse has a visitor center with a gift shop, a bookstore, and a post office where you can mail postcards with UN stamps; bring your passport to add the UN stamp.