The United Nations headquarters is located on the east side of Manhattan. The four buildings and grounds all belong to the member states of the UN and the entire site is therefore not officially a part of the United States. The UN also has its own security forces, fire department and post office.

Out of the four buildings the UN Secretariat is a 39 story complex that has become an internationally recognized symbol of the United Nations. This building is the home of the UN administration and features a distinct green glass curtain appearance that starkly contrasts with the buildings in the surrounding area.

However one of the smaller structures, the General Assembly building is actually the most important out of the four buildings. The hall which has a seating capacity of 1,800 is where all meetings with UN representatives take place.

The UN headquarters features a postal counter that offers its unique postal stamps, though they cannot be used outside the building and are only for collection purposes. Many visitors to the UN often send postcards to their relatives and friends from the UN post office with its unique stamps that can’t be obtained anywhere else except at other UN structures.

Visitors can also take part in guided tours through unrestricted areas of the UN headquarters. A tour guide will take you to the Main Council Chambers and the General Assembly Hall while explaining what the UN does and how it operates. There is also a bookstore, more than one gift shop as well as a coffee shop.

Adjacent to the United Nations complex is a small park that features art pieces and other objects that have been donated by the various member states. One of the most famous pieces is the ‘ Let Us Beat Swords in to Plowshares’ that was donated by the USSR in 1959.

As one of the most popular hotels near the UN in NYC, Millennium UN Plaza Hotel New York is an ideal choice for visitors who wish to visit this attraction and for those doing business at the United Nations.