A few words of history on this emblematic New York avenue
Madison Avenue is an avenue in New York which takes its name from Madison Square Park, whose name comes from James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. Originally, Madison Avenue was not included in the 1811 Commissioners' Plan (plan that defines the organization of Manhattan between 14th Street and the Washington Heights district), but it was defined in 1836.
Madison Avenue runs from south to north. It is a one-way street and today, many luxury brands are established. The most prestigious part stretches from 57th Street to 72nd Street. On Madison Avenue, many advertising agencies and record companies have also set up shop.
Note: Madison Avenue has become a benchmark in the advertising industry.
Today Madison Avenue is great for walking and shopping!
What are the things to see on this avenue?
Madison Avenue runs south to north. During your walk, you will find a multitude of luxury shops ; stores for which Madison Avenue is famous today! Among these brands, you can go to Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein, Barney's New York, DKNY, Gianni Versace, Giorgio Armani, Prada and many others! On Madison Avenue, you can therefore plan a shopping session (if your budget allows it of course 😉)!
In addition to the prestigious boutiques, Madison Avenue is also home to simpler homes, but worth a visit. This is the case with the Pierpoont Morgan Library, a library and a museum located at 36th Street. The place was renovated in 2006 and offers a rich program of exhibitions! So don't hesitate to take a look!
As you continue your walk you will come across Madison square, a square that houses in its center Madison Square Park, a 2.75 hectare park where statues can be seen and where a space reserved for children is open. Madison Square Park is located near the Flatiron Building, the famous iron-shaped skyscraper. So keep your eyes open and don't hesitate to photograph it!
To find out more about this monument, here is all you need to know!
As noted, Madison Avenue passes through several New York neighborhoods: Midtown, Upper East Side, Spanish Harlem et Harlem. All these districts have some nice surprises in store for you: in Midtown, several iconic New York landmarks have been built, the Upper East Side is an upscale neighborhood where you can visit museums, relax in Central Park and go shopping, Harlem is as for it is the cradle of jazz and Spanish Harlem will immerse you in a very Latin atmosphere.
Finally, Madison Avenue is bordered by Fifth Avenue to the west and by Park Avenue to the East. If you have time, check out these two other iconic New York streets!
Why stroll on Madison Avenue?
Walking on Madison Avenue is very pleasant. This avenue will allow you to discover famous and lesser known luxury brands and even if the prices are not in line with your budget, it is always interesting to discover beautiful pieces.
Besides luxury boutiques, Madison Avenue is also an avenue that will take you from one neighborhood to another; districts with very different paces. You will thus dive into various atmospheres and discover an atmosphere specific to the neighborhood you are passing through. Thus, you will go from the famous Midtown to the chic district of the Upper East Side to that of Spanish Harlem and end up in that of Harlem, a district where music reigns supreme! So you will discover multiple worlds without ever leaving Madison Avenue.
Madison Avenue is therefore an avenue that is interesting to visit and on which everyone will enjoy walking! During your visit, keep your eyes wide open and take a few photos to immortalize your passage!
Where is this avenue located?
Madison Avenue is located in Manhattan. It runs from south to north and is bordered by Fifth Avenue to the west and Park Avenue to the east. Here it is represented on the map below:
While in New York, strolling down Madison Avenue is definitely on your list of things to see and visit! Unmissable, you will discover luxury boutiques, but also emblematic districts of New York. As you stroll along Madison Avenue, you will go from one atmosphere to another without ever leaving the avenue. So, walk Madison Avenue and let yourself be immersed in the various facets of the Big Apple! Very good visit!
