The Flatiron Building in New York

Add this and other places to your personal travel plan. We will then help you with further suitable suggestions: free of charge and straightaway!

Add to myNY added
More details about myNY

The Flatiron Building in New York is undoubtedly one of the most striking, renowned and beautiful skyscrapers in the city. Its footprint is a triangle and its shape is thus somewhat reminiscent of an iron – hence its name, the Flatiron. It has long been a sought-after picture for photographers – especially with its beautiful antique clock in the foreground. The building is perfectly shaped with the streets of the city – it completely fills the triangle formed by Fifth Avenue, Broadway, and 23rd Street.

Designed by architect Daniel Burnham and built-in 1902, the building is of historical significance to New York City. Today, it is purely an office building. It is so iconic the whole district is named after the building – the Flatiron District of Manhattan. The district forms a rectangle that is bordered by 20th Street to the south; Seventh Avenue and to the west; 25th Street to the north; and Lexington Avenue to the east.

Flatiron Building From Madison Square Park

Ladies and Men in kilts, watch out! It can get extremely windy!

The streets and avenues converge on the Flatiron in a triangle – and that means that the winds here come together from various directions. That makes the Flatiron one of the windiest spots in the city. So ladies – hold on to your skirts!

Can you go inside the Flatiron building?

Getting inside the Flatiron building is not that easy. You can enter the lobby but can’t go upstairs into the offices. The views from the Flatiron onto Madison Square Park and Broadway are really quite nice however as you can see from the video below.

The Flatiron: popular with IKEA and LEGO

Several manufacturers have cashed in on the popularity of the Flatiron. For a long time, IKEA’s poster of the Flatiron building with a yellow cab in front of it was a top seller.

LEGO also features the Flatiron building. So, if you want to reminisce about New York with your kids, simply build a replica of the Flatiron building with LEGO!

Things to do near the Flatiron building

The location of the Flatiron is ideal – right in the center of Manhattan surrounded by beautiful spots. Right next to the Flatiron building in Madison Square Park, a small green oasis in the middle of all the hustle and bustle. One of the best features of Madison Square Park? There’s a delicious Shake Shack Burger! We visit this restaurant chain at least once on every trip to New York!

Profilbild Steffen Kneist
About the author

I'm a true New York fan! Not only have I visited the city over 25 times but also have I spent several months here at a time. On my blog I show you the best and most beautiful spots of the city, so that you have a really good time! You can also find lots of insider tips in our New York travel guide. Also check out my hotel finder for New York!

Did you like this article?