Best Things to Do in New York City Welcome to this guide to New York City! The city never ceases to amaze locals and tourists with its blend of culture, history, and continued energy. There is a lot to do, but sometimes, you don’t know what the best is. We’ve curated a comprehensive list of the best things to do in the Big Apple, which will help you enjoy this iconic city of the world.
Historic landmarks, serene parks, skyscrapers, crowded markets and streets, museums with unique items, and exclusive activities are waiting for you in New York City. This list has something for everyone looking to explore, admire, and enjoy the city.
Stunning architectural marvels, popular neighborhoods, and a wide variety of culinary delights will give you an unforgettable journey—New York City awaits! – Contact us
Best Things to Do in New York City 
Enjoy a live show in one of the 41 Broadway theaters currently operating in New York. The top three Broadway shows of all time are Hamilton, The Lion King, and Wicked.
The Edge NYC’s observation deck provides stunning views of New York City’s skyline. It is located in Hudson Yards on the West Side of Manhattan. The main highlights of The Edge NYC are the glass floor, the angled glass walls, the outdoor sky deck, and the champagne bar. Address: 30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.
You will find vast green spaces with stunning natural beauty and recreational areas. In Central Park, you can walk, bike, and have a picnic. It also offers cultural activities throughout the year, such as free concerts and theater productions in the Delacorte Theater. Some of the places you can visit in Central Park are the John Lennon Memorial, Strawberry Fields, The Mall and Literary Walk, Bethesda Terrace, and The Central Park Turtle Pond.
An aircraft carrier that served during World War II and the Vietnam War was converted into one of the Top Museums in NYC. There are exhibitions of air, sea, and space travel history.
In New York City, you can have worldwide food experiences. The most popular ones include food tours to Little Italy, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, and Chelsea Market.
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and one of the top historic sites in NYC. Booking a tour that gives you access to the pedestal and crown areas allows you to enjoy an unforgettable experience.
The 86th Floor and 102nd Floor Observatory of this historic site in NYC will show you spectacular views.
Experience the neon art of “The Crossroads of the World.” Locals and tourists can enjoy Times Square in many diverse manners. The most essential thing you can do in Times Square is walk around its streets, which are full of life. You can also find some Broadway Theaters, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Red Steps, and shopping and dining experiences there.
It is one of the best Shopping places in NYC. Many luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Versace, and Gucci are on this avenue. You will also find historic and architectural significance reflected in the historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Plaza Hotel.
The Brooklyn Bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn. It was completed in 1883 and designed by John Augustus Roebling. The bridge offers scenic views of the Statue of Liberty, downtown Manhattan, and the New York Harbor.
Governors Island was a military outpost from the colonial period. It was used as a U.S. military base until 1996 and by the Coast Guard until 1997. Some of the island’s historic landmarks are Castle Williams and Fort Jay. Visit Governors Island for free by taking the ferry located at the Governors Island Ferry. Also, you can visit Staten Island for free by taking the ferry located at the Whitehall Terminal.
A place of remembrance and honor, the 9/11 Memorial is a historic site in NYC. The Memorial includes the Reflecting Pools, the largest manmade waterfalls in North America, the Bronze Panels, and the Survivor Tree. The 9/11 Museum is one of the top Museums in NYC, with a historical and memorial exhibition and a series of artifacts.
Located in the One World Trade Center, it has many attractions such as the Forever Theater, the Sky Portal on the 100th Floor, the City Pulse, and the main attraction: the observation deck with a 360-degree view of New York City, New Jersey, and nearby areas. Observe the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge without obstructions.
The historical landmark Grand Central Terminal is the major hub for Metro-North Railroad trains that connect New York City to the northern suburbs in New York and Connecticut. There are also many subway lines. The Beaux-Arts architecture will amaze you with Main Concourse, with its celestial ceiling mural of a Mediterranean sky and its windows and chandeliers.
The elevated linear public park was built on a historic freight rail line from the 1930s.
Also known as “South of Houston Street,” SoHo is considered one of the best Shopping places in NYC. Fashion and creativity are displayed along SoHo. Artists started moving to the area in the late 20th century, which provides a unique architectural heritage.
Enjoy unique views of Manhattan from the tram. You can find the tram stop at the 2nd Ave and 60th St in Manhattan. It takes approximately 5 minutes to reach Roosevelt Island.
One of the top Museums in NYC offers dinosaur exhibits, including a collection of dinosaur fossils, a Hall of Biodiversity showing the biodiversity on Earth, the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life with a 94-foot-long model of a blue whale, the Rose Center for Earth and Space, including the Hayden Planetarium, the Cultural Halls for cultures of people around the world, and the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial dedicated to the 26th president of the United States.
There are around 90 branches of the New York Public Library across Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, but the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is considered the Main Branch, and it is located at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan.
A neighborhood in Lower Manhattan with artistic activities, nightlife, charming streets, unique dining scenes, and fashionable surroundings. The New York University (NYU), one of the largest private universities, is in Greenwich Village.
Wall Street is known as the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, with many financial institutions and famous makers such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ. You can also find the Federal Hall, where George Washington was inaugurated as president, and the Charging Bull statue, which is a favorite stop for many tourists and locals to take photos. Wall Street is one of the Historic sites in NYC.
This neighborhood is considered one of the best shopping sites in NYC. The key attractions of the Meatpacking District are the Chelsea Market, the High Line, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. This district has many designer boutiques, and it is a popular destination during the New York Fashion Week.
Also known as “the Met,” it is one of the largest and top Museums in NYC, founded in 1870. There are three locations for The Met in New York City: The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Cloisters, and The Met Breuer. The diverse collection of The Met involves Asian and Islamic Art, European Paintings, Ancient Egyptian Art, the American Wing (American decorative arts), arms and armor, which sows armor for men, horses, and children, and Modern and Contemporary Art from famous artists such as Picasso, Matisse, and Pollock.
The Cloisters Museum is one of the top Museums in NYC. It is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to showing the art, gardens, and architecture of medieval Europe.
A 67-acre park offers panoramic views of the Hudson River and the New Jersey Palisades. It is located near The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The famous Bryant Park is located behind the New York Public Library’s main branch. Many people enjoy its lawn and gardens daily, Le Carrousel, the Bryant Park Reading Room, which offers free books, periodicals, and newspapers, and the Bryant Park Gill & Café. Several events and activities are hosted in the park throughout the year, such as birding tours, language classes, outdoor movie nights, and yoga classes. The Winter Village is a popular festival held during the winter months which offers holiday shops, a food hall, and an ice-skating rink.
The Chelsea Market is a shopping mall, food hall, office building, and television production facility. The place was previously a historic factory building.
Located in the southern area of Brooklyn in New York City, you can enjoy its beaches, boardwalk, and amusement parks. The beaches in Coney Island offer swimming, beach volleyball, and sunbathing. The amusement parks such as Luna Park with the Cyclone, which is one of the oldest wooden roller coasters still working, and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park with the popular Wonder Wheel, which is a Ferris wheel showing panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and New York. There are over 2.5 miles along the beachfront. Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs is located on Coney Island. The New York Aquarium, which is the oldest aquarium still operating in the United States, is also nearby.
Located in the Bronx, New York City, this botanical garden has 250 acres with a huge variety of plant collections and gardens, including the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, one of the largest Victorian-era glass structures with many tropical rainforests, deserts, and seasonal exhibitions; the Native Plant Garden featuring native plants from the Northeastern United States; the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden which is known to be one of the world’s most beautiful rose gardens; and the Rock Garden offering a designed rock landscape.
The 52-acre garden is located in the heart of Brooklyn since 1910. The main attraction of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is the Cherry Esplanade, which consists of a broad lawn of lined cherry trees where you can enjoy the contemplation of the blooming cherry blossoms, which is a traditional Japanese celebration during spring. There are three conservatories: The Palm House, which shows tropical flora; the Desert Pavilion, which shows plants from arid regions; and the Temperate Pavilion, which shows plants from Mediterranean and temperate climates. The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is a traditional Japanese garden with wooden bridges, a Shinto shrine, a koi pond, and stone lanterns.
The Bronx Zoo has been one of the largest zoos in the USA since 1899. It has more than 6,000 animals of 700 species from around the world. The most popular exhibits are the Congo Gorilla Forest, Tiger Mountain, the World of Birds, the Himalayan Highlands, and the African Highlands.
This ferry service departs from Wall Street/Pier 11 and goes from Manhattan to Rockaway Beach. A one-way ticket costs $4 (as of May 2024), and it includes a stop at Sunset Park (Brooklyn Army Terminal). Along the way, you can enjoy scenic views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Statue of Liberty. It has two floors, with the top floor having an open roof and the lower floor having AC during the summer and a heater during the winter. This is definitely one of the most affordable scenic tourist attractions in NYC. At Rockaway Beach, you can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and strolling along the boardwalk. There are many eateries, shops, and public bathrooms in the area.
This is an iconic New York City eatery established in 1888 and located at 205 East Houston Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. You can savor the traditional hand-carved pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, which are among the most popular deli offerings. The famous dishes at Katz’s Delicatessen are the Pastrami on Rye, the Corned Beef Sandwich, the Reuben Sandwich, and the Matzo Ball Soup.
Take a helicopter tour in New York City to enjoy breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline. There are 15-minute and longer flights available, which usually cover the areas of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Central Park, One World Trade Center, and Chrysler Building.
The park offers the following attractions: the Unisphere, a giant steel glove completed in 1964-1965 for the New York World’s Fair; the Queens Museum; the New York Hall of Science, which is the home of the US Open tennis tournament; the Citi Field, which is the home ballpark of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets; the Flushing Meadows Carousel; and the Queens Botanical Garden.
The Rubin Museum of Art was established to promote the understanding of Himalayan artistic and cultural heritage. It is one of the top Museums in NYC. The museum’s permanent collection includes Himalayan and Buddhist art and culture.
The neighborhood of Harlem was established in the northern section of the Manhattan borough of New York City. The Apollo Theater, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture are some of the cultural highlights of Harlem.
One of the most famous and best shopping streets in NYC, Madison Avenue is home to many boutiques and designer shops, as well as luxury fashion brands like Giorgio Armani and Ralph Lauren. There are also luxury hotels at Madison Avenue, like The Carlyle and The Mark.
A jazz cruise along the Hudson River offers scenic views of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, the United Nations headquarters, the Manhattan Bridge, and New Jersey while listening to live jazz bands or solo performers. Many of the Jazz cruises include snacks, dining, and drinks.
MoMa is considered one of the top museums in NYC and one of the most influential modern art museums in the world. It was founded by philanthropist Abby Aldrich Rockefeller in 1929. You will find iconic works like the Salvador Dali’s, Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, and the Pablo Picasso’s Les Demoisells d’Avignon.
Since the 17th century, the South Street Seaport (The Seaport) has constantly served the city for trading and shipping activities. The South Street Seaport Museum, the Pier 17, and the Fulton Stall Market are some of its main attractions.
Little Italy was once a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan for a large population of Italian immigrants, but nowadays, it offers many different tastes of Italian culture, like cannoli, gelato, and pasta. The San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy is celebrated in September in honor of the saint of Naples. Also, the Italian American Museum is dedicated to preserving the Italian American heritage. Nolita is another neighborhood that was once considered part of Little Italy. In Nolita, you can find many boutique shops, the Elizabeth Street Garden, and the St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral.
The Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City, is one of the top museums in NYC. It offers exhibitions and tours related to the lives of immigrants in New York during the 19th and 20th centuries. The Tenement Museum was previously two historical tenement buildings that housed around 15,000 people from over 20 nations from 1863 until 2011.
Also known as the Guggenheim, it is one of the top innovative museums in NYC for its collection of modern and contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, installations, and other media.
Ellis Island was used as an immigrant inspection station from 1892 to 1954. Nowadays, the island is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, which is accessible by ferry service. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration includes many exhibits like People of America, American Immigrant Wall of Honor, Through America’s Gate, and Restoration Exhibit.
A square with Broadway, the Sixth Avenue, and the 34th Street as intersections. It is one of the best shopping areas in NYC since the famous Macy’s entire city block department store can be found next to the square. Nearby Herald Square, there is also a wide range of dining options.
Also known as the “Showplace of the Nation,” attending a show in this entertainment venue is an iconic New York experience. During the Christmas season, you can attend the most famous annual event at Radio City Music Hall: The Christmas Spectacular.
Located at Rockefeller Center, you can get panoramic views of New York City. The main floors you should visit are the 67th floor, which has the Radiance Wall; the 68th floor, which has indoor and outdoor viewing areas; and the 70th floor, which has an open-air roof deck offering unobstructed views of the city.
Close to the southern entrance of the High Line, the Whitney Museum of American Art, also known as “the Whitney,” shows a collection from the 20th and 21st centuries of over 25,000 items.
Assist to a Performance at the Lincoln Center, a complex of 16 acres offering theaters, concert halls, and educational facilities. The Lincoln Center houses The Metropolitan Opera House, David Geffen Hall, Alice Tully Hall, The Juilliard School, the Jaz at Lincoln Center, and the New York City Ballet at the David H. Koch Theater.
The museum is one of the top museums in NYC and is dedicated to the technology, art, history, and techniques of film, television, and digital media. It contains more than 130,000 artifacts of moving images, such as television sets, television cameras, projectors, costumes, and more.
Located between 14th Street and Houston Street, East Village was occupied by a large German population during the 19th century, followed by Italians, Eastern European Jews, Italians, and later Hispanic immigrants. The variety of cultures influenced the neighborhood’s food, shops, and community events. Highlights of East Village are St. Mark’s Place, the Nuyorican Poets Café, and the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS).
This stadium honors the legendary Yankees players. The stadium highlights are the Monument Park, the Great Hall, the Yankee Museum, and many food options such as the Hard Rock Cafe, the NYY Steak, and local specialties.
In New York City, you can attend live tapings. Some of the most popular shows to be part of the live studio audience are Saturday Night Live (SNL), The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallo, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Good Morning America, and Live with Kelly and Ryan.
One of the most prestigious film festivals in the United States is the New York Film Festival (NYFF), which operates generally for two weeks from late September until early October each year. The festival has the Main Slate, which features the films the festival organizers have selected to represent the best of international cinema for that year. There are also talks and panels for discussions about the filmmaking process, the state of the industry, and other analyses.
This annual event, founded by Robert De Niro in 2002, celebrates music, arts, and films. New and established directors show their independent films to a large audience of local and international filmmakers, fans, and artists.
This Neo-Gothic Cathedral is located on Fith Avenue across from Rockefeller Center. Admire this architectural masterpiece currently serving as the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Photography is allowed inside, but it is advised that you dress modestly when entering the cathedral. Also, it can be very crowded during religious holidays and tourist seasons.
Best Things to Do in New York City From the list above, we have created the following top 5 list recommendations:
The top five places to visit in New York City are Central Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, and Time Square.
The top five places to visit in New York City for free are Central Park, The High Line, Brooklyn Brige, Staten Island Ferry, and Governors Island.
The top five museums in New York City are the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
The top five historical places in New York City are the Statue of Liberty, the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, Wall Street, the Tenement Museum, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
You will never get bored in NYC.
Best Things to Do in New York City Best Things to Do in New York City Best Things to Do in New York City 
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