A view of the Renwick Ruin with the Manhattan skyline in the background.

At the southernmost point on Roosevelt Island – which sits in the East River just off midtown Manhattan – is a grassy preserve with breathtaking views and a unique piece of New York history: the crumbling walls and turrets of the Renwick Smallpox Hospital Ruin (www.theruin.org), said to be the most haunted location in the city. It's a must-see for history buffs.

After surveying the ruins there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy iconic Manhattan views. As the name suggests, Southpoint Park is located all the way at the bottom of the island, just above Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park. You can take either the F train or the Roosevelt Island Tram and then keep walking south along the water. The park is about a 10-minute walk from either station.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

2. Gantry Plaza State Park

0.38 MILES

This 12-acre riverside park directly across the water from the United Nations has gorgeous uninterrupted views of the Manhattan skyline. It's nicely…

3. United Nations

0.44 MILES

New York is the home of the UN, a worldwide organization overseeing international law, security and human rights. The Le Corbusier–designed Secretariat…

4. Japan Society

0.47 MILES

Elegant exhibitions of both traditional and contemporary Japanese art, textiles and design are the main draw at this calming cultural center, complete…

5. Roosevelt Island

0.75 MILES

Floating in the East River between Manhattan’s eastern edge and Queens, New York’s anomalous, planned neighborhood sits on a tiny island no wider than a…

6. Citigroup Center

0.75 MILES

With its striking triangular-cut roof and candy-like striped facade, Hugh Stubbins' 59-story Citigroup Center signaled a shift from the flat-roof sobriety…

7. MoMA PS1

0.78 MILES

At MoMA's hip contemporary outpost, you'll be peering at videos through floorboards, schmoozing at DJ parties and debating the meaning of nonstatic…

8. Seagram Building

0.84 MILES

A textbook regular, the 38-floor Seagram Building is one of the world's finest examples of the international style. Its lead architect, Ludwig Mies van…