A Gothic Ruin in the Middle of the East River

While most visitors to New York focus on Times Square or Central Park, very few venture to Roosevelt Island, a narrow strip of land in the East River that is home to one of the city's best-kept secrets: the ruins of the Smallpox Hospital. This abandoned building, constructed in 1856 in Gothic Revival style, was the first hospital dedicated to treating smallpox in the U.S., and today it is a ghostly ivy-covered structure that seems to have come straight out of a Gothic novel.

Although the interior is closed to the public for safety, the exterior is accessible and offers one of the most dramatic views of Manhattan, with the skyline in the background. The contrast between the decrepit ruin and the modern skyscrapers is surreal. In addition, the island itself is a haven of peace, with pedestrian paths, quiet parks, and an aerial tramway that offers spectacular (and free) panoramic views of the city.

If you're looking for a dark and mysterious side of New York, away from tourist traps, this place will fascinate you. It is especially striking at sunset, when the shadows lengthen the silhouettes of the ruins and the city's profile lights up in the background.