The Cathedral of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Ave., at 112th St.; 212-316-7540.
This still-unfinished Episcopalian cathedral is spectacular not just because it’s the largest in the world but also because it’s a gorgeous patchwork of Byzantine, French Gothic, and Romanesque architecture.
Eldridge Street Synagogue
12 Eldridge St., nr. Division St.; 212-219-0888.
Built in 1887 by the Lower East Side’s first influx of Eastern European Jews, this synagogue has been restored to its original grandeur with intricate stained-glass windows, Moorish ornamentation, and vaulted 70-foot ceilings.
Mahayana Buddhist Temple
133 Canal St., at Manhattan Bridge Plz.; 212-925-8787.
Gilded lions guard the city’s largest Buddhist temple as well as the sixteen-foot-tall golden Buddha statue inside.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
14 E. 51st St., at Fifth Ave.; 212-753-2261.
The seat of New York’s Roman Catholic archdiocese is a majestic Gothic structure with twin towers measuring 330 feet tall.
Trinity Church
75 Broadway, nr. Rector St.; 212-602-0800.
Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton are both buried in the graveyard of this ornate nineteenth-century church in the financial district.
SEE ALSO: Top 5 Free Attractions First-Timer’s Itinerary Family Itinerary Guide to Walking Tours Historic Landmarks
