new york the best places to visit

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best of New York for free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy New York without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Attractions
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

The 85 best New York attractions that should be on your list

Discover the New York attractions locals love including historical landmarks, stunning NYC parks and more.

Our definitive guide to the best New York attractions is a great place to start whether you're entertaining out-of-town guests or simply want to channel your inner tourist. The list is a compilation of our favorite sights and spots in the city, including everything from great  parks  and  art museums , to food markets and historical venues. The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty are obviously must-see attractions, but we’ve also highlighted a few of our favorite hidden gems, such as one of NYC's greatest flea markets , Hudson Yard's Vessel , and foodie haven Smorgasburg .

Thirsty for more?  🗽Discover the 50 very best things to do in NYC 🏡Take your pick of  the coolest Airbnbs in NYC 🛥Stay in  the best boat rentals in NYC   ⛴Or how about  the best boat tours in NYC ?

How do we know it's the best of the best? Our lists are expertly curated by our local experts far and wide to offer you the lowdown on where to go, what to eat and what to see. Btw, t his article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click  here .  

An email you’ll actually love

Top New York attractions

1.  One World Observatory

• Towers and viewpoints
• Financial District

Although the One World Observatory occupies floors 100 to 102 of the tallest building of the Western Hemisphere, this observation deck can be reached in just 60 seconds via a set of visually immersive 'Sky Pod' elevators. During the interactive tour experience, guests walk through some of the bedrock on which the building is built before entering the elevators, which are fitted with floor-to-ceiling LED screens showing a video of the city and building's history. Once at the top, the video concludes as the screen lifts up to reveal stunning 360-degree views of the Manhattan skyline. Folks typically spend a couple of hours here including queuing time. 

Time Out tip: After soaking up the sights, head to One Café for casual fare, One Mix for small plates and cocktails or, the gem, One Dine for a full dining experience with large windows looking onto the horizon (reservations required). —Dan Q. Dao

2.  Madame Tussauds New York

• Sightseeing
• Midtown West
• price 4 of 4

When Madame Tussaud first started creating wax figures in Europe in the late 18th century, she immortalized figures from the bloody French Revolution, and later, in her first museum space on Baker Street, London she presented persons involved in sensational crimes. Now, over a 150 years after her death, Tussaud’s legacy lives on with museums in several major cities around the world. Yet, few can compare in either size or popularity with the five-story Times Square, New York edition. Folks hoping to take a memento home with them should splurge for the tickets that include your very own wax hand sculpture–you certainly can’t get something like that at every tourist attraction.

3.  Legoland New York

You know what we all need more of in our lives? Lego. Because, well, play is fun. And you’ll sure find a lot of Lego at this incredible New York attraction that is dedicated to the stuff. Well, kind of, because really it’s a very family-friendly amusement park that leans nicely on those little plastic bricks and all the pleasing vibes they bring. Plus, the rides are a lot of fun. Take the kids in your life and watch their smiles. Good times.

4.  Helicopter Tours

Fancy coasting around the Big Apple in a chopper? Well, now's your chance. There's arguably no better way to see New York City than flying high in the skies, right? Grab your camera – and your safety belt – sit back and relax as your pilot takes you over one of the most iconic skylines in the world. Not sure which one's the right one for you? Take a look at our top picks of the best helicopter tours in NYC to help you decide. 

5.  See a show on Broadway

Is it possible to visit New York City without catching a show on Broadway? We're not sure it is. It's one of the best ways to experience NYC in all of its live(ly) authenticity and as there are so many wonderful shows to catch, we rate you'll be pretty spoiled for choice. From emotional dramas to belly-laughing comedies, there's a show on broadway for everyone. Get your glad rags on and head on down to the theater district. The lights are calling your name. 

6.  New York Aquarium

• Zoo and aquariums
• Coney Island
• price 2 of 4

Seen all you can on the streets of NYC and looking for an ocean-oriented activity? It's time to head to the New York Aquarium. Whether it's visiting the penguin habitat or working up your own appetite at feeding time, the  oldest aquarium in the US  has so much for you to discover. Be sure to check out the sea lion pool, the recreated reef, and the shark exploration tank – only if you dare.

7.  Westfield World Trade Center Oculus

• Shopping centers

The world’s most expensive train station , the Oculus serves the PATH train and 12 subway lines, and houses a beautiful mall inside of it. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the exterior resembles the skeleton of a whale, has white metal-clad steel ribs that reach up and out, which symbolize a hand releasing a dove. The structure is a lasting reminder of the attacks of September 11, 2001. It is in alignment with the sun’s solar angles on each September 11, from 8:46 am, when the first plane struck, until 10:28 am, when the second tower collapsed. Its central skylight fits this alignment and washes the Oculus floor with a beam of light. The new shopping center inside has stores like the Apple Store, Aesop, Kate Spade, John Varvatos and others. Dining includes Eataly, Gansevoort Market, Wasabi Sushi & Bento and more.

8.  Summit One Vanderbilt

• Midtown East

Summit One Vanderbilt sits atop the new 67-floor One Vanderbilt super-tall—a 1,401-foot-high—skyscraper. As the city's fourth-tallest building after One World Trade Center, Central Park Tower and 111 West 57th Street, it is just west of Grand Central Terminal, where you first enter the experience underground. After a trip through a mirrored hallway with its own immersive elements, visitors take an elevator up to the 91st floor, where they're 1,000 feet over the streets and sidewalks of NYC. Kenzo Digital has created a totally mirrored infinity room called "Air" that reflects the sky and city views over and over, making you feel like you're walking in the sky or on another plane of existence. Looking above you and below you in this two-story space, you see your reflection repeating forever. After you ascend to the third level of this experience, guests are introduced to "Levitation," a series of transparent glass sky-boxes that jut out of the building at 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue. Here, you can stand over the street with just glass between you and the ground. It's certainly not for the faint of heart.

9.  Frick Madison

The Frick Madison  is now at 945 Madison Avenue—the former home of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Met Breuer—while Henry Clay Frick's mansion undergoes a massive renovation. This new stint will last two years, and while the Brutalist building by Marcel Breuer is a huge departure from the Gilded Age mansion, the space is offering a much different and rare look at the collection, according to museum officials. Unlike at the Frick Mansion, the Breuer building is a clean slate—stark in contrast, which actually helps to attract the viewer's attention to individual works. Eyes aren't busy looking at ornate furniture here. It's all about seeing the smaller details in the artwork that you might have overlooked at the mansion. According to  Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Director  Ian Wardropper, "It's a different Frick than you’ve ever known."

10.  RISENY

RISENY places thrill-seekers inside a 180-degree, 40-foot projection dome that plays 8K aerial footage to create the sensation of flight. (The ride is similar to Disneyland's "Soarin’ Over California" experience.)  The experience begins with a film by documentarians Ric Burns and James Sanders—narrated by everyone's fave actor Jeff Goldblum—that touches on NYC’s history, specifically Times Square and its global impact. Then visitors are taken to a re-creation of the city’s first subway station at City Hall circa 1904, which transforms into a fully immersive theater with visual and special effects. Eventually, a present-day subway car virtually transports guests to the galleries. While on the subway car, riders see NYC’s vibrant pop-cultural evolution through seven themed galleries— "Finance," "Skyline," "TV/Radio," "Fashion," "Music," "Broadway" and "Film"—that show off historic artifacts, star-studded memorabilia. Once they get through the galleries, visitors are finally whisked into the air, where they'll "soar" around NYC's landmarks (a rendering shows the Statue of Liberty) to a soundtrack with songs like Taylor Swift’s "Welcome to New York" and Frank Sinatra’s "Theme From New York." The full-motion seats will dip, turn and soar while wind, mist and scents are blown at riders' faces.

11.  Edge Observation Deck

The highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere has landed at Hudson Yards. Sadly, the bird's-eye attraction dubbed Edge won't be open to the public until 2020. But judging by the rendering, it appears to be worth the wait—that is, if you’re not afraid of heights. The building’s outdoor terrace takes you 65-feet into the sky making it the highest public balcony in NYC. The deck not only features panoramic views of our city’s skyline but a killer vantage point below. Brave souls can stand on a large, see-through glass floor and wave to passerby 1,100 feet beneath. Much like the Top of the Rock concept at Rockefeller Center, there’s a 10,000-square-foot bar, restaurant and event space on the 101st floor.

12.  Citi Field

• Sports and fitness
• price 3 of 4

While they haven’t been as successful as their Bronx rivals in recent years, the Mets can certainly be happy about their stadium, which opened in 2009. With great sightlines, fun activities for kids and a prodigious selection of food and booze (including Shake Shack and Blue Smoke outposts), even those with the barest interest in the game will enjoy themselves at the park, which in recent years has also doubled as a concert venue with appearances by mega-stars like Paul McCartney and Nas.

13.  Little Island

• West Village

New York City’s hottest new attraction, Little Island, opened to the public in May 2021 and has since brought in plenty of visitors who flocked to see Manhattan’s newest “floating” greenspace. Open from 6am to 1am, the park is filled with open lawns, colorful shrubs and trees and a secret garden. While entry is free to the park throughout the day, entering between noon and close requires a reservation. For those feeling peckish, there are affordable food and drink options offered by Savory Hospitality. The park’s amphitheaters, The Glade and The Amph, offer a spectacular view of the Hudson River, with a majority of the events being free throughout the summer. Every Monday night at 6pm, the theater hosts Savory Talks & Performances, a free dialogue around food sustainability and industry trends. The lineup includes local farms and sustainable meat and fish companies, discussing the future of food production, including "elements of storytelling and dance" from Perform in the Park artists.

14.  Queens County Farm Museum

• Special interest

Though not as easily accessible by public transit as most NYC museums, this Queens County treasure is well worth the bus trek or car ride. As the city’s longest continually farmed site in the city (it’s been in operation since 1697), the 47 acres feels like an entirely different world compared to Manhattan. Feed and pet the barnyard animals, including sheep, ponies and goats, hop aboard a hayride and come back during the fall harvest season when you can go pumpkin picking and attempt to find your way through the Amazing Maize Maze (yes, that’s a corn maze ). Don’t forget to stop by the store on your way out for fresh fruits and veggies grown on the premises!

15.  TWA Hotel

• Things to do

You can actually look forward to going to JFK International Airport because of this gorgeous, completely renovated TWA Terminal , which serves as a hotel, food and drink, and convention destination. The i nterior of Eero Saarinen’s landmark 1962 building exudes 1960s chic with 512 guest rooms that offer views of JFK’s runways, a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant, a rooftop pool, and an observation deck. 

16.  Empire State Building

• Monuments and memorials

It's practically impossible to imagine the sparkling New York skyline without the iconic Empire State Building. A famed piece of Art Deco architecture that took over 400 days to structurally complete, the skyscraper reaches an astonishing height of 1,454-feet—and while it's no longer the tallest building in New York, it held that title for several decades following its 1931 completion date. Visiting this illustrious landmark? Keep your eyes peeled for some of the finer details in the lobby (lovingly restored in 2009), as well as the incredibly impressive benefits from a $165m investment completed in 2019 (the second- and 80th-floor galleries really are something). Enjoy visions of the t opper’s three tiers of lights, which illuminate up to nine  colors  at a time and don't miss the rod at the top of the building, which is frequently hit by lightning—yep, you might see sparks (literally) fly.  Oh, and (of course) spend some time on the observation deck—the cityscape is ace, and the slick reservation system makes things seamless. Besides, the Empire State is open 365-days a year, so there's no reason to pass this one by.

17.  Brooklyn Bridge

• Historic buildings and sites

No mere river crossing, this span is an elegant reminder of New York’s history of architectural innovation. When it opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was a feat of engineering: It was the first structure to cross the East River and, at the time, the longest suspension bridge in the world. (It also made use of steel-wire cables, invented by the bridge’s original designer, John A. Roebling.) Now it attracts thousands of tourists and locals, who enjoy spectacular views of lower Manhattan and other city landmarks (such as the Statue of Liberty and Governors Island) as they stroll its more-than-mile-long expanse. Heads up, though: You may run into the occasional cyclist trying to navigate through the crowds on the pedestrian walkway.  —Amy Plitt

18.  Central Park

• Parks and gardens
• Central Park

To feel truly out of the city, head to the 38-acre wilderness area on the west side of the park known as the Ramble. The area has a storied history (as a gay cruising spot dating back to the turn of the last century, among other things), and it was even proposed as a recreational area in the mid-'50s. Thankfully, the winding trails, rocks and streams remain, seemingly waiting to be discovered. If you want plenty of sunshine and more of a social vibe, spread out a blanket at Sheep's Meadow, where groups playing guitar and frisbee and tanning topless are sprawled out as far as the eye can see.

19.  Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center

• 4 out of 5 stars
• Recommended

Let the world believe the Empire State Building has the best view of New York City–it keeps the crowds slightly more manageable at 30 Rockefeller Center’s spectacular open air observation deck. The bird’s eye view of Gotham from 70 stories up allows visitors to not only see other landmark skyscrapers around midtown–including the aforementioned Empire State building–but also to see the full sprawl of Central Park. Not quite as expensive as that other observation deck (Adults $38, seniors $36, children 6-12 $32), and for those who don't want to wait in line, there's a VIP ticket ($75) that gives guests the chance to skip lines and get priority elevator access. If you’re willing to splurge don’t forget to dress up and stop by the Rainbow Room–the historic lounge on the 65th floor–for exceptional cocktails, fine dining, live music and spectacular sightlines that rival the deck’s, albeit a few stories lower.

20.  The Statue of Liberty

• Liberty Island

Lady Liberty—or Liberty Enlightening the World, as she’s officially known—was a gift from France on America’s 100th birthday. A universal symbol of freedom that welcomed over 10 million immigrants sailing past to Ellis Island during the turn of the 20th century, the copper-plated sentinel stands 305 feet tall from the bottom of her base to the tip of her torch. Reserve well in advance—three weeks or more—to see New York’s skyline from Liberty Island with access to the statue’s crown, and go earlier in the day if you want to also take the ferry to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.

21.  Vessel

• 3 out of 5 stars

New York’s ever-changing skyline has acquired another sky-high attraction for Gothamites to climb: Vessel. The 60-ton sculpture, located at sleek cultural destination Hudson Yards, resembles a honeycomb, although some New Yorkers joke it looks like a waste can. Others say the larger-than-life art installation designed by British architect Thomas Heatherwick is New York’s version of the Eiffel Tour. We say it looks like a good excuse to exercise and Instagram. Visitors will climb the spiral staircase made up of 154 interconnecting staircases, almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings, and while the current sight of construction is less than ideal (the attraction just opened to the public on March 15), the various outlook points offer sweeping views of the Hudson River that will appear mighty dreamy at sunset.  Know before you go visiting and climbing Hudson Yards’ new jungle gym is free, but you must reserve a time slot and get tickets in advance. Every morning at 8am same-day tickets are up for grabs, if you cant get a reservation in advance.

Note: The Vessel is currently closed. Check its website for reopening plans. 

22.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Sprawling doesn’t even begin to describe this Manhattan institution: It’s one of the few spots in the city where you could spend literally an entire day and see only a fraction of the holdings. Behind the doors of its iconic neoclassical facade lie 17 curatorial collections spanning countless eras and cultural perspectives, from prehistoric Egyptian artifacts to contemporary photography. Those seeking to satisfy their anthropological curiosity can explore the extensive assemblage of musical instruments, weapons and armor or the Costume Institute’s centuries of wearable art. And for committed museumgoers who have made their way through the permanent collections—an admirable feat—special exhibitions merit return visits year after year. Recent blockbusters have examined the career of the late designer Alexander McQueen and featured the works of Pablo Picasso.  —Carolyn Stanley

23.  Chrysler Building

• Civic buildings

We won’t argue if you want to call this glimmering pinnacle of Art Deco architecture NYC’s most eye-popping skyscraper. Triangle-shaped windows in its crown are lined with lights, creating a beautiful effect come nighttime. Oozing a moneyed sophistication oft identified with old New York, the structure pays homage to its namesake with giant eagles (replicas of ones added to Chrysler automobiles in the 1920s) in lieu of traditional gargoyles and a brickwork relief sculpture of racing cars, complete with chrome hubcaps. During the famed three-way race to construct Manhattan’s tallest building, the Chrysler added a needle-sharp stainless-steel spire to best 40 Wall Street—but was outdone shortly after its completion in 1930 by the Empire State Building.  —Tim Lowery

24.  The High Line

When the weather is pleasant, there’s nothing quite like walking the High Line. NYC’s elevated park is certainly one of more popular New York attractions everyone needs to check off their list. To give you a bit of history, the High Line was once a railway line, in use until 1980. In 2009, the 1.45-mile-long strip was transformed into what is now considered one of the most unique parks in NYC. Featuring wildflowers, greenery and outdoor art installations in addition to killer views of New York’s skyline. — Evelyn Derico

25.  Rockefeller Center

You’ll find a  smorgasbord of  New York sites in this distinctive, multi-block complex—in fact, the ground level alone is home to the tourist-packed ice-skating rink, the bronze Atlas statue and the ‘Today Show’ plaza. Higher up, Top of the Rock rivals the Empire State Building in panoramic city views. You may not be able to access the five private rooftop gardens if you’re not a Saturday Night Live cast member, but you can still peek at the spaces from Saks Fifth Avenue’s eighth-floor shoe department if you can't help but be curious. Special credentials are not required, however, to inspect the Art Deco murals that appear in several buildings. Don’t miss the triptych above the outdoor entrance to 5 Rockefeller Center or the rinkside Prometheus statue; both purportedly contain secret Freemason symbols.  —Allison Williams

Book Online

26.  Grand Central Terminal

For over a hundred years, this transit hub has funneled thousands of daily commuters (over 700,000 a day) through its expansive halls and concourses. Though technically a passageway for those looking to go elsewhere, the building is certainly a destination in it's own right. With its grandiose Beaux Arts framework, the terminal is a spectacle of both form and function. Familiar features include the vaulted, constellation-adorned ceiling and the four-faced opal clock topping the main information booth, both located in the Grand Concourse. Above the 42nd Street entrance find symbolism of Mercury, the god of travel (naturally), and an ornate Tiffany-glass timepiece.  — Dan Q. Dao

27.  Prospect Park

Urban visionaries Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who most famously designed Central Park, also put their stamp on bucolic, 526-acre Prospect Park. Amenities like the Long Meadow and Nethermead offer plenty of space to pull up on a patch of grass and indulge in some people-watching, and the woodland expanse of the Ravine is a towering forest within bustling Brooklyn. But we also have to give props to Robert Moses: The controversial city planner was behind some of the park’s kid-friendly offerings, including the zoo and LeFrak Center at Lakeside, where roller skating and ice skating goes down.

28.  Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn’s premier institution is a less-crowded alternative to Manhattan’s bigger-name spaces, though the innovative and impactful items found inside are just as important as anything you'll find in the city. The museum, found on the edge of the sprawling Prospect Park, has a large holding of Egyptian art as well as the famous feminist piece, The Dinner Party, by Judy Chicago. Works by such Impressionists masters as Cézanne, Monet and Degas are also included in the collection along with with prime examples of Early American Art, period rooms and so much more.

Book a New York City tour.

29.  Whitney Museum of American Art

When Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, a sculptor and art patron, opened the museum in 1931, she dedicated it to living American artists. Today, the Whitney holds about 19,000 pieces by nearly 2,900 artists, including Alexander Calder, Edward Hopper, Jasper Johns, Georgia O’Keeffe and Claes Oldenburg. Still, the museum’s reputation rests mainly on its temporary shows, particularly the Whitney Biennial. Held in even-numbered years, the Biennial is among the most prestigious (and controversial) assessments of contemporary art in America. The 2015 opening of the Renzo Piano-designed edifice near the High Line drew acclaim for its sleek and simplistic layout. —Andrew Frisicano

30.  New-York Historical Society

• Upper West Side

History buffs will love this Upper West Side institution. Built in 1804, it's the oldest museum in New York City. In a nod to the city’s heritage, the museum kept the hyphen in its name, which is how New York was known in the early 1800s. The collection features more than 1.6 million works that explore the history of the city and the country, including exhibits, art and historical artifacts. Don’t miss floor four, where you’ll find the center for Women’s History and a glowing gallery of 100 beautiful Tiffany lamps. — Cristina Gibson

31.  Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society

Located in the Bronx (obvs) this massive attraction is the largest metropolitan zoo in the country. Spanning 265 acres, it has numerous exhibits, forests, outdoor activities and restaurants. Oh, and don’t forget about the 5,000+ animals! There are lions and tigers and bears (both grizzly and polar), all residing in naturalistic habitats. You can easily spend hours walking the trails past themed exhibits, like the African Plains or World of Reptiles. The zoo also has premium exhibits for an additional fee, but the sea lion feeding is completely free and highly recommended. — Rebecca Fontana

32.  Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

New York’s Guggenheim is as famous for its landmark building—designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and restored on its 50th birthday in 2009—as it is for its impressive collection and daring temporary art shows. The museum owns Peggy Guggenheim’s trove of cubist, surrealist and abstract expressionist works, along with the Panza di Biumo Collection of American minimalist and conceptual art from the 1960s and ’70s. In addition to works by Manet, Picasso, Chagall and Bourgeois, the Guggenheim holds the largest collection of Kandinskys in the U.S. — Howard Halle

33.  Times Square

Manhattan’s heart was once a hub for vice, teeming with sex shops and drug dealers. Over time that notorious reputation has eroded, and now the area can feel like a tourist-clogged shopping mall. Still, changes such as the stairs above the TKTS booth and a pedestrian plaza along Broadway have improved the sightseeing experience…sort of. If the thought of attending the annual glitzy New Year’s Eve celebration gives you hives, you can see the midnight countdown re-created on a smaller scale at the Times Square Visitor Center, thanks to one of the Waterford crystal balls used in years past.  —Allison Williams

34.  New York Botanical Garden

Every city park offers its own brand of verdant escapism, but this lush expanse goes beyond landscaped flora. In addition to housing swaths of vegetation—including the 50-acre forest, featuring some of the oldest trees in the city—the garden cultivates a rotating roster of shows that nod to the world’s most cherished green spaces, such as the regal grounds of Spain’s Alhambra palace and Monet’s alfresco sanctuary at Giverny.  —Sarah Bruning

35.  Brooklyn Flea

• Markets and fairs

Attending an outdoor bazaar is certainly a must here in New York, and Brooklyn Flea is hands-down one of the top flea markets to hit. The market has everything, including an impressive selection of throwback wares and records, which you certainly wouldn’t find in any vintage clothing store or record store in the city. The food selection is also nothing to sneeze at, since the creators also operate one of the city’s best food festivals: Smorgasburg.

36.  Flushing Meadows–Corona Park

Give the city’s fourth-biggest park a day and it’ll show you the world: Its most enduring icon is the Unisphere, the mammoth steel globe created for the 1964 World’s Fair. But there’s also first-rate culture and sports at the New York Hall of Science, Arthur Ashe Stadium and Citi Field (depending on how the Mets are doing). The rolling green fields also encompass a zoo, a boating lake, a skate park, a barbecue area, playfields, and a $66 million aquatic and hockey center. In 2011, wetland plants such as swamp azalea and swamp milkweed were added to better handle the park’s water runoff, improving the catch-and-release fishing in Meadow Lake.  —Allison Williams

37.  Brookfield Place

• Battery Park City

This downtown luxury complex, originally dubbed the World Financial Center, is now home to a number of offices including Merrill Lynch and American Express. On the ground level, however, find a mecca of retail attractions ranging from fashion (Burberry, Hermes, Gucci) to dining (Amada, the food hall Le District). Beyond shopping, stroll around the space to enjoy installations of art in the glass-encased winter garden, or head outdoors for ice skating during cold-weather months. — Dan Q. Dao

See Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Battery Park.

38.  Chelsea Market

Once home to a National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) factory, this Chelsea-set food court caters to locals and restaurant-savvy tourists alike. An ever-changing lineup of dining and drinking options range from all-star Philadelphia hummus slingers Dizengoff to the oyster-and-seafood bar Cull & Pistol and the master-sommelier–helmed Corkbuzz Wine Studio, while commercial vendors include Anthropologie, Posman Books and the locally-driven Artists & Fleas. A stone's throw away from High Line Park and the nightlife hub of the Meatpacking District, the market is a must-visit destination when in the area. — Dan Q. Dao

39.  Apollo Theater

This Harlem institution has been the site of more than a few historic moments: Ella Fitzgerald’s first performance happened here in 1934; Live at the Apollo, recorded in 1962, practically launched James Brown into the mainstream; and a young Jimi Hendrix won an Amateur Night contest in 1964. Despite its storied history and grand decor, this living link to the Harlem Renaissance feels rather cozy inside. As of late, the theater has attracted big-name comedians (Aziz Ansari, Tracy Morgan, Jim Gaffigan) and huge rock stars (Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen), while still welcoming under-the-radar talent to its famed Wednesday Amateur Night. —Tim Lowery

40.  Brooklyn Heights and Brooklyn Promenade

• Brooklyn Heights

For a great place to enjoy a panoramic view of everything the city has to offer, beeline for Brooklyn Promenade. Opened in 1950, this one-third-mile stretch of pavement along the East River has long been a favorite destination of residents, tourists and couples looking to make out next to an unforgettable span of NYC’s skyline. Breathtaking views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty are both visible from here. Follow the views with a stroll around the 19th-century row houses down Brooklyn Heights’ tree-lined side streets, or head down to Brooklyn Bridge Park.

41.  Macy’s Herald Square

• Department stores

Holiday windows and enormous balloons may draw gawkers to Macy’s flagship during the winter, but the mammoth department store is a year-round destination for some 20 million shoppers. The $400 million renovation in 2015 outfitted the store with ostensibly Millennial-friendly gear like 3D printers, selfie-walls and laser-imaging tech, but restored the 34th St entrance and iconic rickety wooden escalators that have been at Herald Square since its opening in 1902. This department store is also home to the always stunning and annual Macy's Flower Show .  —Allison Williams

42.  Brooklyn Botanic Garden

• Prospect Park

Those searching for a little peace and quiet would do well to spend a few hours at this verdant oasis. The garden—which abuts two other neighborhood gems: the Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park—was founded in 1910 and features thousands of types of flora, laid out over 52 acres. Each spring, crowds descend on the space for the Sakura Matsuri Festival, during which many trees bloom along the Cherry Esplanade. But equally impressive are serene spots like the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, the first Japanese-inspired garden displayed in the U.S., and the Shakespeare Garden, brimming with plants (such as primrose and crocuses) mentioned in the Bard’s works.  —Amy Plitt

43.  Yankee Stadium

The Bombers’ current field opened in 2009 to much fanfare and stands opposite the now-flattened original. It may not be the House That Ruth Built, but many elements of the new arena—the limestone exterior, the gatelike frieze around the top—mimic the old, plus cup holders at every seat and a high-def scoreboard are noticeable improvements. A museum behind center field aims to hold signed baseballs from every living Yankees player, but the most potent relic wasn’t allowed to stay on site—in 2008 the construction staff jackhammered out a Red Sox jersey a rival fan tried to install in the structure’s foundation.  —Allison Williams

44.  American Museum of Natural History

• Science and technology

Beyond the iconic, show-stopping displays–the grizzly bear in the Hall of North American Mammals, the 94-feet long blue whale, the prehistoric Barosaurus skeleton rearing up as if to scare the adjacent Allosaurus skeleton–is an expertly curated, 148-year-old museum that fills visitors of all ages with a curiosity about the universe. Whether you’re interested in the world below our feet, or the cultures of faraway lands or the stars light-years beyond our reach, your visit is bound to teach you a few things you never knew. — Tolly Wright

45.  Union Square

• Union Square

This gathering place was named for the union of two of Manhattan’s busiest thoroughfares: Broadway and Fourth Avenue (formerly Bowery Road). Political activism has played a large role in the site’s history; the square has hosted rallies, protests and assemblies from the Civil War through Occupy Wall Street. Nowadays, its biggest draw might be the year-round Greenmarket—the city’s first, started by a handful of farmers in 1976—which brings locally grown goods to thousands of New Yorkers every week.  —Carolyn Stanley

Go on a customized walking tour.

46.  Flatiron Building

This 21-story Beaux Arts edifice once dominated midtown. Although it’s now dwarfed by other structures, when it debuted in 1902, the triangle-shaped monolith represented the threat and the thrill of modernity: Naysayers claimed it would never withstand the high winds plaguing 23rd Street, while revered photographer Alfred Stieglitz—who captured it in an iconic shot in 1903—wrote that it was “a picture of a new America still in the making.” Today, it’s possibly the least tourist-friendly New York landmark. The space above the ground-floor shops, occupied by publishing house Macmillan, is inaccessible to the public, but during office hours you can admire black-and-white photos and read a few panels on the history of the tower in its lobby. If you want to see the “point” offices (just over six feet wide at their narrowest), we suggest getting to work on the Great American Novel.  —Jonathan Shannon

Book a private walking tour of NYC.

47.  The Cloisters

• Art and design
• Washington Heights

This Middle Ages museum may have been constructed in the ’30s, but it feels much older than that. Set in a bucolic park overlooking the Hudson River, the structure re-creates architectural details from five 15th-century monasteries and houses items from the Met’s medieval art and architecture collections. John D. Rockefeller, who donated the land for the museum, even purchased a tract across the river to preserve the pristine view. Make sure to inspect the tapestries, including the famous 16th-century Hunt of the Unicorn.  —Andrew Frisicano

48.  Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

• Military and maritime
• Hell's Kitchen

Get schooled on the glorious history of American aviation and the brave heroes who pioneered the world's last frontier at this non-profit, educational institution featuring the titular, legendary aircraft carrier Intrepid.  Founded in 1982, the museum also boasts an unparalleled collection of fighter jets, a Blackbird spy plane, a Concorde, the nuclear submarine USS Growler, a prototype space shuttle and a capsule that returned one of the first astrotourists to earth. Permanent exhibits include a harrowing 30-minute video with audiovisual effects about the kamikaze attacks the Intrepid suffered, while new, rotating programs range from a summer movie series (kicking off with Star Trek , fittingly) to an annual Space & Science Festival.  — Dan Q. Dao

49.  Lincoln Center

One of the world's largest campuses for the performing and visual arts, Lincoln Center began its construction in 1959 thanks in part to funding from John D. Rockefeller III. Today, the center houses 30 world-class venues—including the Metropolitan Opera House, the David H. Koch Theater and the Julliard School—as well as 11 resident organizations that collectively host thousands of events every year. At the heart of the complex is the well-recognized Josie Robertson Plaza whose fountain can be seen spouting white-lit jets of water with the golden glow of the Met lobby serving as an elegant backdrop.  — Dan Q. Dao

50.  South Street Seaport

Hurricane Sandy may have temporarily wounded the famed Lower Manhattan sightseeing draw in 2012, but with recent developments by the Howard Hughes Corporation—including a pop-up-friendly Culture District and a fancy dine-in movie theater iPic — prove that the iconic port is back and better than ever. — David Goldberg

51.  National Museum of the American Indian

• Natural history

The life and culture of Native Americans is presented in rotating exhibitions—from Navajo jewelry to ritual tribal-dance costumes—along with contemporary artwork. The Diker Pavilion for Native Arts & Culture, which opened in 2006, has already made its mark on the cultural life of the city by offering the only dedicated showcase for Native American visual and performing arts.

52.  Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

Sure, you could spend a day getting lost in the permanent exhibits, which showcase all manner of priceless pieces from renowned artists. But just as essential are this museum’s other elements, including an attached cinema that combines art-house fare and more accessible offerings, a sculpture garden with works by Picasso and Rodin, and the Modern, a high-end restaurant and bar run by Danny Meyer. Free Fridays, an alluring prospect considering the sizable entry fee ($25 for adults), are best left to the tourists and penny-scraping students; visit the museum when you can hunker down for a while.

53.  Queens Museum

Located on the grounds of two World’s Fairs, the QMA holds one of Gotham’s most amazing sights:  The Panorama of the City of New York , a 9,335-square-foot scale model of the five boroughs, created for the 1964 exposition and featuring Lilliputian models of landmarks. With an ambitious expansion project in 2009, the museum doubled in size when it reopened in 2013, featuring public events spaces, eight new artists studios and a glass façade featuring Grand Central Parkway. —Andrew Frisicano

54.  St. Patrick’s Cathedral

• Religious buildings and sites

Even though it faces off against the imposing Art Deco Rockefeller Center, architect James Renwick's Gothic Revival building holds it own with intricate marble towers, a cavernous ribbed vault, pointed arches and buttresses. But the real treasures are inside this active house of worship, which is bursting with awe-inspiring works. With a $175 million restoration project completed in 2015, visitors can delight in a shimmering, bronzed and polished new interior. More than 200 saints are represented throughout the church, with many alters helpfully explaining their stories for those who cut Bible studies class. Seek out the alter of Saint Louis, just north of the Lady's Chapel, designed by the Tiffany workshop and donated by Jackie O's father Michael Bouvier. To the south of Saint Louis is an oversized copy of Michelangelo's Pieta, made by the same sculptor who fashioned the lions outside the New York Public Library on 42nd Street.  —Jonathan Shannon

55.  MoMA PS1

• Long Island City

Fans of the Manhattan predecessor won't mind crossing the river to find this Long Island City offshoot, which is unique for its constantly evolving lineup of avant-garde artwork and new programs. And while there's no shortage of world-renowned artists supplying work here (Janet Cardiff, Olafur Eliasson), the venue also curates one of the city’s most popular music events, Warm Up, which pairs innovative installations with live music from up-and-coming acts to challenge visitors’ expectations of what art can be.  — Dan Q. Dao

56.  Chinatown

Take a walk in the area south of Broome Street and east of Lafayette, and you’ll feel as though you’ve entered not just a different country but a different continent. Mott and Grand Streets are lined with stands selling exotic foodstuffs such as live eels, square watermelons and hairy rambutans, while Canal Street glitters with jewelry stores and gift shops. Here you’ll find some of the best restaurants in NYC representing the cuisine of virtually every province of mainland China and Hong Kong, plus Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese eateries and shops. As Chinatown—NYC's largest Asian community—continues to grow, it merges with neighboring Little Italy and the Lower East Side. — Tazi Phillips

57.  Washington Square Park arch

• Greenwich Village

The beatniks, folkies and hippies who famously flocked to this public space are still there, though sporting slightly different facial hair than their boundary-breaking predecessors. During warmer months, the park is one of the best people-watching spots in the city, as musicians and street artists perform in the shadow of the towering 1895 Washington Arch, a modest replica of Paris’s Arc de Triomphe designed by Stanford White (whose fingerprints are found on more than a few landmark NYC structures). From 2007–2014, the park underwent a controversial, multimillion-dollar renovation, which has yielded more benches, paths, lawn space and vegetation. —Tim Lowery

Go on a two-hour walking tour of Greenwich Village.

58.  Madison Square Garden

• Music venues

Big, beloved and not-so-beautiful MSG is perhaps the most famous sports arena in the world. Perched above Penn Station since 1968, the 20,000 seat venue is not only home to New York basketball and ice hockey teams the Knicks and the Rangers, but also is a favorite spot for college basketball tournaments (The Big East), professional boxing, MMA fighting and, as a destination for WWE. Non-sports fans, however, mainly know the Garden as the best spot in town to catch touring international sensations like Adele, Beyonce and Aziz Ansari and countless other amazing concerts.. To learn about the history of the arena, which existed in several other iterations at other locations for the past 130 years, and for a look at where the athletes get dressed, check out the all-access tour ($26.95, seniors and students $19.95, or with show ticket an additional $16, group rates available), which has stops in the locker rooms, the arena bowl and through exhibits featuring images and paraphernalia from iconic moments in sports and performance history. — Tolly Wright

59.  Socrates Sculpture Park

In 1986, artists and activists created this 4.5-acre city park over a landfill. Now, it hosts large-scale sculpture exhibits year-round, and is one of the few locations in the city specifically designated for artists to create outdoor works. The splendid Queens space looks out over the Manhattan skyline and is open 365 days a year, with a Greenmarket, free yoga and tai chi classes and more.

60.  AKC Museum of the Dog

• Exhibitions

Here’s a pawsh art musem for pups. On February 8, the AKC Museum of the Dog reopend in midtown, and New Yorkers have been panting in excitement ever since. The American Kennel Club moved the original exhibit, formerly doghoused in the New York Life Building, closer to its home turf and library. To be clear: This is not a relentlessly Instagrammable Museum of Ice Cream or Museum of Pizza situation. So, why dig up the 15 bones to enter? For the photo booth that reveals which dog breed you look most like. Have your pup-arazzi moment!

61.  Snug Harbor Cultural Center

• Staten Island
• price 1 of 4

Sitting just a ferry ride away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, this Staten Island gem, a former home for retired sailers, is still somewhat of a secret. Spread across 83 acres, the area boasts an enormous botanical garden and cultural center surrounded by cobblestone streets and tiny paths of Victorian and Tudor homes. One of the most popular attractions here is the Chinese Scholar’s Garden, fitted with magnificent rocks meant to resemble mountains inspired by the poetry and paintings of Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist monks, as well as a bamboo forest path and Koi-filled pond.

62.  Bryant Park

Hitting up midtown's most beloved park? Situated behind the New York Public Library lies a a well-cultivated retreat that hosts a dizzying schedule of free entertainment during the summer, including the popular outdoor movies. In the winter, visit the Bank of America Winter Village for the free ice skating rink and pop-up shops for the holidays.

63.  Smorgasburg

• Restaurants

New Yorkers love eating outside, whether it’s at one of the city’s best waterfront restaurants, elevated rooftop bars or open-air food flea markets like Brooklyn’s famed Smorgasburg. A favorite amongst locals and tourists alike, Smorg features nearly 100 vendors selling seriously delicious and graciously cheap snacks. It’s open from April to November (11am-6pm) at Williamsburg’s East River Park on Saturdays and at Prospect Park’s Breeze Hill on Sundays. — Christina Izzo

64.  Museum of the Moving Image

• Movies and TV

Only 15 minutes from midtown, the Museum of the Moving Image is one of the city’s most dynamic institutions. Rubbing elbows with Kaufman Astoria Studios, it includes a three-story extension that features a state-of-the-art 267-seat cinema and expanded gallery spaces. Meanwhile, the museum’s “Behind the Screen” exhibit examines every step of the filmmaking process, with artifacts from more than 1,000 different productions, and 14 classic (playable!) video games, including Asteroids, Ms. Pac-Man and Space Invaders . And do not miss its fairly new Jim Henson exhibit, where you can "meet" all your favorite Muppets and Sesame Street characters.

Book NYC tours and attractions.

65.  New Museum of Contemporary Art

• Lower East Side

The New Museum takes its name from The New School, where it originally opened in 1977. After a move to Soho, where the it became a fixture througout the ’80s and ’90s, the New Museum moved into its current location in 2007. It houses three main gallery levels, a theater, a café operated by Hester Street Fair and roof terraces. The New Musem focuses it program on emerging—and important but under-recognized—artists. 

66.  The Jewish Museum

The Jewish Museum, housed in the 1908 Warburg Mansion, mounts temporary exhibitions of contemproary and modern art and also has a substantial collection of artworks of art and Judaica. There is a permanent exhibit specifically for children, as well as a restuarant that includes an Uptown outpost of Russ & Daughters, the iconic Lower East Side purveyors of Kosher delicacies like lox, sable and whitefish.

67.  The 9/11 Memorial and Museum

In the footprints of where the Twin Towers once stood are North America’s largest man-made waterfalls, the bottoms of which seem to be impossible to see. The twin reflecting pools, the 9/11 Memorial designed by Michael Arad, are a solemn reminder of all that was lost during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the World Trade Center bombing in 1993. Lining the pools, each one acre in size, are bronze panels with the names of the 3,000 deceased victims from the attacks, including the rescue personnel who died helping the other victims. For those who wish to pay their respects to the tragedy and learn more about the events that transpired, the museum serves as the leading collection of artifacts and documentation of September 11. Inside, visitors can hear first-hand accounts of survivors, see picture and video footage of the attacks and see recovered objects such as wrecked recovery vehicles, large pieces of warped metal foundation and the 30-foot National 9/11 Flag. — Tolly Wright

68.  Blue Note

The Blue Note prides itself on being "the jazz capital of the world." Bona fide musical titans (Eddie Palmieri, Ron Carter) rub against hot young talents, while the close-set tables in the club get patrons rubbing up against each other. Arrive early to secure a good spot—and we recommend shelling out for a table seat.

69.  Theater District

Each year, about 13 million locals and tourists take in Broadway shows at one of NYC's 40 Broadway theaters. Most of those venues are located in the theater district—roughly, 41st Street to 52nd Street and Sixth Ave to Eighth Ave. Each season brings a new wave of megamusicals, plays and star-driven revivals. Some boast gold from the Tony Awards. At the height of the fall and spring seasons, be sure to check our homepage for new critics picks, reviews and cheap broadway tickets. The savvy consumer can find discount tickets at most Broadway shows. NYC hurry—the curtain’s about to rise! — David Cote

70.  The Noguchi Museum

This 12 gallery space occupies a former photo-engraving plant, and the entire building was designed by the artist and sculpturer Isamu Noguchi to be a meditative oasis amid its gritty, industrial setting. As well as some of his most iconic sculptures, drawn, painted and collaged studies, architectural models, and stage and furniture designs, there is a garden populated with Noguchi’s work.

71.  Coney Island Cyclone

• Arcades and amusements

You can guarantee that the majority of New Yorkers have ridden the Cyclone. After all, it’s stood on the banks of the Coney Island Channel since 1927, which is a fair feat considering it’s constructed from wood. Thanks to a cash injection from Astroland, an organization that took over in the ’70s, this rollicking ride is still going strong, which will bring some comfort to remember when you’re being flung around the old thrill ride. — Danielle Goldstein

Experience the magic of New York City.

72.  Queens Night Market

Consider yourself a travel-loving foodie? Queens Night Market is your one-stop-shop in NYC to discover bites from 80 countries. Beginning in April through October, t ry a diverse range of grub that runs the gamut from Middle Eastern stews and Barbadian fishballs to Romanian-Hungarian chimney cake and tacos al pastor. The open-air bazaar operates from 5pm to midnight every Saturday, but the market has more to offer aside from fulfilling your late-night food cravings.  There’s always a great lineup of live music and performances such as Bollywood dancers, Indian electronica tunes, DJs and more. Check out  queensnightmarket.com  for the schedule. 

73.  Radio City Music Hall

New York City is full of legendary performance venues, but few match Radio City Music Hall in terms of sheer elegance. The Art Deco concert hall remains one of the prettiest in the city: Designed by Donald Deskey, its interior features opulent chandeliers and lush carpets, while the stage and proscenium are meant to resemble a setting sun. Although Radio City is probably best known as the home of the Rockettes, a plethora of noteworthy performers have graced its boards, including huge pop stars (Lady Gaga, the Jonas Brothers) and indie faves (Pulp, Grizzly Bear).  —Amy Plitt

74.  New York Public Library, Stephen A Schwarzman Building

The century-old main branch of the NYPL is about as regal a setting for reading—either on your laptop or those old dusty things called books—as you’ll find in the city. Two massive Tennessee-marble lions, dubbed Patience and Fortitude, flank the main portal and have become the institution’s mascots. Once inside, check out the cavernous Rose Main Reading Room, spanning almost 300 feet and outfitted with chandeliers and stunning ceiling murals. Though it’s a classy setting in most instances, it’s also where Bill Murray uttered, “Are you, Alice, menstruating right now?” and “Back off, man, I’m a scientist” in Ghostbusters .  —Tim Lowery

75.  Governors Island

The Hills on Governors Island are alive but not necessarily with the sound of music. Instead, you can hear the hum of parkgoers and their bicycles as they tool around the island’s two-plus-mile promenade, the gleeful squeals of folks slithering down one of the four massive slides and the delighted gasps of visitors ogling perfect views of the New York Harbor and Lower Manhattan. While much of the green space’s landscape has changed (and, oh, is it hilly), preexisting features such as Hammock Grove and Picnic Point are still major focal points.  —Jennifer Sugnet

See lower and midtown Manhattan on a 90-minute cruise.

76.  The Rubin Museum of Art

Opened in 2004, this six-story museum (once home to Barneys New York) houses Donald and Shelley Rubin’s impressive collection of Himalayan art and artifacts, as well as large-scale temporary exhibitions.

77.  Get a taste of the Lower East Side

You know, the only real way to the heart of a city it's through its belly. So what better way to dive into the history of this cultural melting pot one mouthful at a time than by sampling the best food spots on the Lower East Side – all the while discovering the rich immigrant history that gives this concrete jungle its unique cosmopolitan flavor. The tour consists of four main food stops with several sites along the way like the African Burial Ground Monument and St Patrick's Old Cathedral – a significant landmark for the Irish Catholic community. You'll cut through Chinatown as well as Little Italy and taste the beloved knish – originating from the  Ashkenazi Jewish community –  for the first time. Perfect if you've got three hours to kill, and are looking for something fun for under 100 bucks. Steal. 

78.  Village Vanguard

After more than 80 years, this basement club’s stage still hosts the crème de la crème of mainstream jazz talent. Plenty of history has been made here—John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Bill Evans have grooved in this hallowed hall—and the 16-piece Vanguard Jazz Orchestra has been the Monday-night regular since 1966. Thanks to the venue's strict no cell phone policy, seeing a show here feels like stepping back and time. It's just you and the music. 

79.  The Tenement Museum

This fascinating museum—actually a series of restored tenement apartments at 97 Orchard Street—is accessible only by guided tour. Costumed "residents" give glimpses into the daily lives of immigrant clans that called the building home over the decades, bringing to life the stories in an engaging and captivating way.

80.  Fotografiska

• Photography

The Fotografiska gallery in Stockholm, Sweden has opened a New York Branch in the heart of the  Flatiron   District that features three floors of exhibition space as well as Verōnika, a dining room and bar.  The gallery itself mounts temporary exhibits featuring photos from “grand masters and emerging talent” that range from “easily accessible to hardcore conceptual.”

81.  Merchant's House Museum

New York City’s only preserved 19th-century family home is an elegant, late Federal-Greek Revival house stocked with the same furnishings and decorations that filled its rooms when it was inhabited by hardware tycoon Seabury Treadwell and his descendants from 1835 to 1933.

82.  The Morgan Library & Museum

• Murray Hill

This Madison Avenue institution began as the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan and is his artistic gift to the city. Building on the collection Morgan amassed in his lifetime, the space houses first-rate works, including drawings by Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Picasso; three Gutenberg Bibles; a copy of Frankenstein annotated by Mary Shelley; manuscripts by Dickens, Poe, Twain, Steinbeck and Wilde; sheet music handwritten by Beethoven and Mozart; and an original edition of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol that’s displayed every yuletide. This is certainly not your average library.

83.  Neue Galerie New York

• Upper East Side

This elegant addition to the city’s museum scene is devoted entirely to late-19th- and early-20th-century German and Austrian fine and decorative arts. The brainchild of the late art dealer Serge Sabarsky and cosmetics mogul Ronald S. Lauder, it houses the largest concentration of works by Gustav Klimt (including his iconic Adele Bloch-Bauer I ) and Egon Schiele outside Vienna. You’ll also find a bookstore, a chic (and expensive) design shop and the Old World–inspired Café Sabarsky, serving updated Austrian cuisine and ravishing Viennese pastries.

84.  Museum of Sex (MoSex)

Situated in the former Tenderloin district, which bumped-and-grinded with dance halls and brothels in the 1800s, MoSex explores the subject within a cultural context—but that doesn’t mean some content won’t shock the more buttoned-up visitor. Highlights include a permanent collection ranging from a silicone Real Doll torso through to a nine-foot steel-framed love pen donated by a local dominatrix, to sex machines created by keen DIYers, such as the “Monkey Rocker,” constructed from a dildo and exercise equipment. Maybe not one to visit with your mom...

85.  El Museo del Barrio

• East Harlem

Located in Spanish Harlem (a.k.a. El Barrio), El Museo del Barrio is dedicated to the work of Latino artists who reside in the U.S., as well as Latin American masters. The 6,500-piece permanent collection ranges from pre-Colombian artifacts to contemporary installations. The space also features updated galleries, an exposed courtyard for programming and events, and a Pan-Latino cafe that serves tacos, chili, and rice and beans.

[image] [title]

More on Airbnb

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Copyright agent
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Claim your listing
• Local Marketing Solutions
• Advertising

Time Out products

• Time Out Worldwide

North America Chevron

United States Chevron

New York Chevron

The 37 Best Things to Do in New York City

By Melissa Liebling-Goldberg and Alex Erdekian

One of the most mysterious things about New York City is that the closer you look—even at something as minor as a street corner—the more you see. And the longer you look, the faster it changes before your eyes. People can live here for 100 years and never run out of places to go or people to meet, so deciding the best things to do in New York is daunting; which is why we're narrowing your options. Whether you're a local itching to get out of your neighborhood or an out-of-towner who doesn't know The Met from the Mets, these new and classic activities alike will dazzle you. From wandering Central Park to slurping soup dumplings in Chinatown , these are a few of our very favorite things to do in New York City, from Midtown to Brooklyn.

Read our complete New York City travel guide here .

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Central Park Arrow

To get that Nora Ephron New York experience, you have no choice but to take a stroll through Central Park while in the city. As you step off the crowded sidewalks of 59th Street into a mass of green, you’ll hardly realize what lies before you: 693 acres of man-made gardens, meadows, forests, and  hillsides. If you ambled down every one of Central Park’s pathways, you would walk 58 miles. Along the way, you pass sculptures, bridges, and arches, plus 21 playgrounds, a winter ice-skating rink, even a zoo . But you’d hardly notice the four major crosstown thoroughfares, which cleverly disappear into foliage-covered tunnels. Map your park route to stop at classic Central Park landmarks, like the Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge, Belvedere Castle, and the Strawberry Fields John Lennon Memorial.

Chinatown Arrow

 Chinatown is one of the neighborhoods that makes lower Manhattan vibrant and unforgettable. After surfacing from the steps of the Canal Street subway station onto the sidewalk, meandering past thick crowds, neon light shops, and vendors peddling fake designer bags, you’ll find yourself in the narrow streets of Chinatown, where there are bright heaps of produce, succulent ducks hanging in windows, and restaurants old and new. Touching Tribeca, SoHo, Little Italy, and the Lower East Side, Chinatown has a rich history and began being populated by Chinese immigrants as early as the 1850s. You can visit in whichever way makes sense for you. Whether you spend an hour devouring a box of roast pork or duck from street-style Wah Fung No. 1 before you have to proceed elsewhere, or you spend half a day shopping for produce, dining out, and paying a visit to the Museum of Chinese in America , everyone will gain something from a visit to Chinatown.

Whitney Museum of American Art Arrow

The Whitney got a major upgrade when it relocated from the Upper East Side to its vastly-expanded Meatpacking headquarters in 2015. It houses 50,000 square feet of indoor galleries with works by Jean Michel Basquiat, Richard Avedon, and Alexander Calder, four outdoor exhibition spaces and terraces, and a ground-floor restaurant and top-floor bar, both by Danny Meyer, one of the town’s best-known restaurateurs. The floors are connected by two artist-designed elevators (albeit slow-moving, crowded ones). If mobility isn’t an issue, take the stairs instead, which offer uninterrupted views of the Hudson river. The upper floors and sculpture terraces are also connected by a series of exterior staircases, with great views of the downtown skyline, and a rare opportunity to experience art en plein aire.

Yankee Stadium Arrow

A spring or summer day spent cheering at an NYC ballpark is a classic activity for a reason. Located in the Bronx, Yankee Stadium is the home field of New York’s 27-time World Champions. It’s a half-hour subway ride from Penn Station and approximately a 20-minute subway ride from Grand Central Terminal, making it easily accessible from Manhattan. It replaced the 1923 original in 2009 and cost $1.5 billion to build, making it one of the world’s most expensive stadiums. It seats 50,287 fans. New York Yankees games, obviously, are the main event here, but you can also attend concerts, college football, and soccer matches.

Shannon McMahon

CNT Editors

Hannah Towey

The Morgan Library & Museum Arrow

The Morgan is like a multi-hyphenate millennial—only instead of actress/model/influencer/whatever, it’s museum/library/landmark/historic site/music venue. Inside the multimillionaire’s personal library, expanded into a must-see museum and cultural space, you'll find rare artifacts, paintings, and books, some dating back to 4000 B.C. that are worth more than your house. In particular the museum is home to one of 23 copies of the original Declaration of Independence; Mozart's handwritten score of the Haffner Symphony; the collected works of African American poet Phillis Wheatley; the only extant manuscript of Milton's  Paradise Lost ; and Charles Dickens’s manuscript of  A Christmas Carol . Swoon.

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine Arrow

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine on 112th and Amsterdam in Upper Manhattan’s Morningside Heights is the largest cathedral in the world and the sixth-largest church by area. Hundreds of thousands of visitors walk through these doors annually for a reason. The cathedral itself—and its remarkable Gothic architecture, story-telling stained glass windows, and 17th century tapestries—is already worth visiting. But there is artwork that is especially meaningful to New York City here as well, including Keith Haring's white gold and bronze altarpiece and a 9/11 memorial sculpture by Meredith Bergmann, which holds debris of the towers in it.  The cathedral holds daily and Sunday worship services, which welcome all. There is no charge to pray, meditate, or contemplate in the cathedral. Visitors who show for sightseeing purposes can enter for $5 admission. Special tours are offered depending on the day of the week. 

Summit One Vanderbilt Arrow

There’s no shortage of jaw-dropping views found throughout the city, but the team behind Summit One Vanderbilt has assembled a bunch of big names to bring together a full experience where you could easily spend a few hours. It starts with the elevator, a light- and sound-filled ride that whooshes visitors up to the 91st floor. There, you’re greeted by a massive, mirrored room that looks out over New York City. Additionally, there are rotating art installations from Kenzo Digital, as well as two special features: Levitation, a glass skybox that lets you feel as if you’re floating one-thousand feet above Madison Avenue; and Ascent, a separate glass elevator that brings you up even higher to gaze over downtown Manhattan. Inside, a Snøhetta-designed Nordic-inspired space serves food and drinks from Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events, including pastrami-stuffed pretzels and ricotta toast; there’s also a wrap-around outdoor terrace that feels like the city's most exciting rooftop bar.

MoMA PS1 Arrow

The sister institution to MoMA   is no ordinary art museum. Located in a striking Renaissance Revival former public school building in Long Island City, Queens, MoMA PS1’s setting is just as interesting as its collection. All manner of cutting-edge contemporary art is shown here, with a collection over 200,000 pieces strong, from the likes of James Turrell and Ai Weiwei. The people-watching can be just as good as the art, as creative types from around the city come here to find inspiration.

Bemelmans Bar Arrow

At Bemelmans, Ludwig Bemelman's illustrations—you might remember them from the Madeline books—adorn the walls. In one panel, a bunny smokes a cigar in Central Park ; in another, a man hands a boy a clutch of balloons. This is a bar where gawking is permissible. The cocktails here very much depend on who’s making them: an Old Fashioned might be a bit watery, a whiskey sour too tart. But often a dirty gin Martini is just perfectly executed. Everything is expensive—it’s clear why you’re here—so take the edge off that sensation by digging into the free, hearty snacks that float your way.

For locals and first-time visitors alike, seeing a Broadway show is a special experience, and one that is exclusive to New York City. Times Square is ordinarily a drag, but when you’re moseying into Midtown Manhattan for a show the bright billboards and lights don’t flash in your face—they dazzle in your eyes. A Broadway show's costumes, sets, songs, and stories are the stuff of dreams. In November, anticipated Spamalot— (parodying Monty Python and the Holy Grail) —and Harmony —a performance telling the true story of the Comedian Harmonists—take the stage.

New York Botanical Garden Arrow

The New York Botanical Garden has carefully manicured flower gardens, lush fields, winding hikes, and impeccable greenhouses. There are spaces that feel deeply intimate, as if you're truly separated from the world, and there are vast expanses where it's hard to believe you're still in the Bronx . In winter, the greenhouses host an annual train show recreating all of New York City in miniature; the warmer months bring every floral delight imaginable, from cherry trees to peonies. Plan to spend at least half a day here and pack a picnic.

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

It’s one thing to be in the midst of Manhattan, on the ground; it’s quite another to look upon it from across the river. In Brooklyn Heights, a couple subway stops away from lower Manhattan, the city’s image looms large before you. Arguably the best view of the skyline in the city, the Brooklyn Heights promenade hovers above the Brooklyn-Queen Expressway. Underlying the peaceful, tree-lined walkway, traffic rumbles below. The promenade stretches from Remsen Street at the south end to Middagh Street at the north. Around the corner, pedestrians can discretely cross a basketball court to access a suspended footbridge that zigzags down to the piers of Brooklyn Bridge Park. While in the picturesque neighborhood, make stops at the New York Transit Museum, the Sardinian trattoria River Deli, and the old-time dive bar Montero.

Grand Central Terminal Arrow

Grand Central Terminal is more than just one of the busiest train stations in the world—it's a window into old New York and into a time when train travel was the ultimate luxury for the wealthy and a necessity for the working man. If you aren't commuting in or out of the city, avoid coming during rush hour, and take your time admiring the landmark architecture and checking out the top-notch dining and shopping.

9/11 Memorial and Museum Arrow

Every American should visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at least once. As you enter the museum, you descend from the street to bedrock level—the foundation of the former Twin Towers—and are placed in a meditative mindset, forced to recall where you were on that fateful day. The museum itself is a masterful balance: It's grand in scale, contemplative in its construction, and personal in its execution. It pays homage to the enormity of the loss, both physical and spiritual. 

Brooklyn Bridge Arrow

When the Brooklyn Bridge was constructed in 1883—extending 1,595 feet across the East River, connecting lower Manhattan to Brooklyn Heights—it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Now, it’s a historic staple of the New York City skyline, transporting commuter car traffic underneath and touristic foot traffic above . Standing before arches and rectangles with city skyscrapers rising in the distance, will at once inspire a sense of grandiosity and slightness.

The Cloisters Arrow

Located on four acres in northern Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park, the Met Cloisters is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is America’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages. The building overlooks the Hudson River and actually incorporates five medieval-inspired cloisters into a modern museum structure, creating a historic, contextualized backdrop in which to view the art.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Arrow

Located in Midtown Manhattan, the MoMA is larger than it appears as you approach it from the street below. One of the world’s most influential museums—displaying the works of important artists like Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Rothko, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, and Diane Arbus—it has 630,000 square feet of space and attracts more than a million visitors a year. While making a beeline for the fifth-floor Collection Galleries to take in The Starry Night and Monet’s Water Lilies is understandable, don’t miss the exhibitions, which tell new stories and can only be experienced in a limited time frame. Allocate time to spend pouring over the remarkable books and objects in the famous gift shop, too—an NYC must-visit in its own right.

Apollo Theater Arrow

Countless careers have been made and stars have passed through this world famous, legendary Harlem theater—Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross, Lauryn Hill, and D’Angelo to name a few. The venue—which began as a white-only burlesque destination until 1934, when under new ownership it began welcoming and becoming central to the Black community—has been active for 88 years, with swing, blues, jazz, R&B, and comedy acts taking the stage. Today, visitors can attend events like Amateur Night at the Apollo, one of the city’s most long-standing, fame-making live shows. Capacity is 1,500, with three levels of seating, and contrary to the way it appears on 'Showtime at the Apollo,' is intimate without much legroom.

Prospect Park Arrow

Prospect Park is in many ways the Central Park of Brooklyn; in fact, it was designed shortly after by the same team of architects, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, and has many of the same features: sprawling meadows, walking trails, and picturesque bodies of water. In feeling though, it’s more rambling and less manicured than its touristed Manhattan counterpart. Prospect Park Woodlands is Brooklyn’s last remaining forest, with 250 acres of trees, turtles, chipmunks, 200 species of birds, and other fauna and flora. There's also basketball and tennis courts, a carousel, playgrounds, zoo, and a 3.35-mile loop for runners and bikers (they’re fast —watch out!). While there, make a trip to adjacent Brooklyn Botanic Garden , particularly lovely during cherry blossom season.

Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg Arrow

Sip iced coffee in McCarren Park, catch an indie show at Baby's All Right, walk two blocks over to some of the city's most-coveted Italian at Lilia (with a month-in-advance res, of course.) This is the busiest thoroughfare in hip Williamsburg: Bedford Avenue—and the L train that feeds it—might as well be North Brooklyn’s own personal people-watching catwalk. Pedestrians with voluminous pants, dogs with miniature rain boots, and high-speed scooters will swish past you. As you make your way south from the subway station, likely en route from the East Village, you’ll pass local businesses that characterize the area, like Catbird (ethereal, vintage-inspired jewelry), Spoonbill & Sugartown Books (poetry, special design and cookbooks, cards), and Awoke Vintage (best-known for their genuine denim often from the ‘90s.)

Coney Island Arrow

Coney Island has a reputation as a circus-worthy tourist trap, which is exactly what it is. But you may be surprised by the old-timey charms of this beachfront American town. You’ll definitely be impressed by the food and drinks—Totonno's Pizza, Gargiulo's and Coney Island Brewery in particular. Locals and tourists hang out on the beach, eat ice cream cones on the promenade, and stand in line for the famed Cyclone roller coaster. The beach and boardwalk along with spots like Nathan’s are open year-round. The amusement park itself is seasonal. Events like the annual Mermaid Parade (crowded as they may be) are worth watching for the audacity and theatrics you can’t find anywhere else in the world but Coney Island.

Lincoln Center Arrow

World-renowned performing arts center Lincoln Center is always worth visiting when the opportunity arises, and in October 2022, David Geffen Hall, home to the New York Philharmonic, reopened after a major renovation that improved the venue’s acoustics and spiffed it up with a modern look. The sprawling Upper West Side complex is also home to the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and Juilliard. All kinds of music, dance, theater, and films show here; Some highlights from the upcoming calendar include the New York Film Festival, the operas like The Life and Times of Malcom X and La Boheme , and ballets like The Nutcracker . Whether you’re on a special date or reconnecting with old friend when you’re in town, seeing a live performance at Lincoln Center will always make for an elegant and memorable night out.

Washington Square Park Arrow

If people-watching is your sport, Washington Square Park is your place. Entertainment is a given in this intimate, not-quite 10-acre space, filled with career chess players, musicians, performers, students, sunbathers, strollers, and general throngs of Greenwich Villagers, desperate for a bit of fresh air. Take your time as you go through: Pause beneath Washington Arch, honoring our country’s first president (for whom the Park is named), and observe the laurel wreaths and intricate motifs that extend from the base to the keystones, atop which twin eagles perch like constant watchmen. Washington Square Park is the beating heart of this vibrant New York neighborhood.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Arrow

For nearly a century and a half, the Met has remained the cultural epicenter of New York City, thanks to forward-thinking exhibits and an extensive permanent collection. With its Gothic-Revival-style building, iconic tiered steps, and Central Park location, the building is a sight to be seen. But step inside its Great Hall—as a ceaseless parade of museumgoers move to-and-fro—and you’ll feel the overwhelming sense of possibility and discovery that lays beyond. If you've got limited time or compatriots with limited attention spans, start with the Temple of Dendur, a 2,000-year-old soaring Egyptian temple (the only complete one in the Western Hemisphere)

Blue Note Jazz Club Arrow

Blue Note has been one of the best jazz clubs in New York, and the world, since the 1980s. It offers music every night at 8 p.m. and 10:30, and on Friday and Saturday nights has a late night series at 12:30 a.m., which showcases emerging talent. If you're looking to get a taste of jazz in NYC, you can do no better. Over the years, legendary musicians including Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, and Ray Charles have performed on the Blue Note Stage, as well as contemporary jazz acts such as Wynton Marsalis, Keith Jarrett, and Chris Botti. Tables are intimate, close-set, and all-ages (with the bar being 21-plus).

Union Square Greenmarket Arrow

Union Square is a place of the people, not unlike the agoras of ancient Athens—and no offering of Union Square showcases this quality quite like the bustling Greenmarket. From upstate New York, the Berkshires , New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, vendors sell artisan bread, honey, fresh-cut flowers, heritage meats, pastries, seasonal fruits and vegetables both common and uncommon, and much more. Don't miss the free events, like book signings and more: Cooking demos take place at the Market Information tent daily, beer and spirits pop-ups show seasonally, and the education station offers tours and tastings.

Rockefeller Center Arrow

Rockefeller Center sits in the heart of midtown Manhattan, both in terms of its physical location and its prominent place in the city's folklore and culture. Whether you want to check out a performance on the plaza outside the TODAY show, visit the Christmas tree, or practice your best moves on the ice skating rink, you're in for an iconic, family-friendly experience. If you buy a ticket to Top of the Rock, you'll enjoy spectacular views of the city below. No matter where you are, you're bound to be constantly pointing and shouting “hey, look at that!”

Comedy Cellar Arrow

None of the promoters on MacDougal Street shouting “stand-up comedy tonight!” are trying to get you into the Comedy Cellar, where the show is already sold out. Blockbuster stars like Jerry Seinfeld and Eddie Murphy made their names at the Cellar; if you're lucky, one may show up the night you're there. Seating is intimate and close together, and there is a two-item minimum on food or drinks. It's 21-plus and vaccine-mandatory; be prepared to surrender your phone at the door, too. There's no bad seat in the house, but sit in the front at your own risk of getting (playfully) heckled by the host or a comic.

American Museum of Natural History Arrow

Truly one of the world's great natural history museums, the American Museum of Natural History spans four city blocks just across from Central Park . All aspects of the natural world are represented here, from a vast collection of taxidermy mammals, to depictions of the life of Native American tribes, to an entire hall dedicated to marine life—including a life-size model of a blue whale. The crown jewel is the dinosaur floor, with an imposing Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton that dominates the room. The newest attraction comes in the form of the long-awaited Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation , which opened in May of 2023 and, among many other things, boasts a comprehensive insectarium and vivarium. Breathtaking architecture from New York-based Jeanne Gang doesn't hurt, either.

The Strand Book Store Arrow

With its towering stacks, filled with more than 2.5 million titles, this 94-year-old bookstore is less neighborhood haunt and more globally recognized institution. You could call the Strand's employees tour guides, considering their deft ability to find the exact title you're looking for and recommend a book you may not have otherwise plucked from the shelves. The store will make you question why you don’t read more; and chances are you won’t leave empty-handed.

Bronx Zoo Arrow

With more than 700 different animal species spread across 265 acres of parkland thoughtfully designed to mimic natural habitats, the Bronx Zoo is a great place to escape from Manhattan for the day, especially if you're traveling with kids. Don't miss the giraffe building, the Congo gorilla forest, the house of reptiles, the flamingos in the sea bird aviary, and the sea lions, who always make for an exciting show. If you want to blow the minds of a bunch of kids, you can do no better.

Governors Island Arrow

Located in New York Harbor, only 800 yards from Manhattan and 400 yards from Brooklyn, walking onto quirky, car-free, brick-covered, 173-acre Governors Island feels like being transported to an alternate universe from the city—but in reality it's a quick, affordable ferry ride away. One-way fare is $4 and boats are serviced from Lower Manhattan’s Battery Maritime Building every day, as well as from Brooklyn Bridge Park and Atlantic Basin in Red Hook on the weekends. In the past couple of years, Governors Island has become an even more popular city destination, and has welcomed a slew of new luxury businesses. One is special in particular: Collective, the only place you can stay overnight on the island. Collective is a glamping experience, offering plush beds inside the tents, morning yoga, sunset cocktails, and iconic skyline views—Lady Liberty included, herself. Which is all to say, you’re by no means roughing it here. On the menu at their restaurant, you’ll find grilled seafood, gorgeous spreads of pastries, and more. Another luxury experience new to the island is QC NY Spa, with top-grade saunas and a skyline view-filled pool.

McCarren Park Arrow

Fashion and dogs; dogs and fashion. At McCarren Park, these wonders abound. Located smack between Williamsburg and Greenpoint and bound by Nassau Avenue, Bayard Street, Lorimer Street, and North 12th Street, McCarren is one of North Brooklyn’s best gathering places and community hubs. Activities on offer include softball, volleyball, soccer, handball, and more, but you’ll also see Brooklynites running on the track, rollerblading around the park’s perimeter, and hoisting each other up in acroyoga poses on the grass. Shopping and dining opportunities fringe the park and make for a bustling atmosphere—including the Greenmarket on Saturdays, a thrift market bursting with vintage clothes on the weekends, Awoke Vintage, Forma Pasta, Bernie’s, Frankels, and more.

Elsewhere Arrow

Located in Brooklyn on a hip stretch of Bushwick’s Jefferson Avenue, Elsewhere—a vast, three-story nightclub and live music venue with multiple dance floors, stages, and a rooftop—has become one of the city’s best nightlife destinations. Spinning disco balls and kaleidoscopic lights set the scene. A somewhat recent staple in the city’s nightlife scene, Elsewhere is a converted warehouse that opened in 2017. Blocks away from similar venues like Avant Gardener and House of Yes, Elsewhere stands out for its inclusivity, its intimate vibe in spite of its size, and for lifting up smaller, up-and-coming acts.

Rockaway Beach Arrow

One of the best public beaches you can visit in New York City proper, Rockaway is a sandy, sprawling stretch of surf located in Queens on the Atlantic Ocean, complete with a 5.5-mile boardwalk of delicious concessions. A summery way to get there in style? Take the ferry from Wall Street or Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and let the wind blow through your hair as you take in the city views, sailing under the Verrazano Bridge and past Coney Island on the way. From just about everywhere else in the city, you can also get there via the A train. Each stretch has a different crowd and personality: Beach 90-106 is the busiest section, with the most food and drink options; Beaches 67-69 as well as 90-92 are the surfing zones; between Beach 153 and Beach 169 you’ll find Jacob Riis Park, which is popular with young people and is a summer gathering place for the city’s LGBTQ+ community.

Metrograph Arrow

Located on Ludlow Street in the Lower East Side, Metrograph is an independent movie house and a New York City cinema destination. When you walk in, you’ll notice that the decor is trendy, artsy, and has almost nothing in common with an AMC. You might overhear film buffs opining on French directors you never heard of, but hey, it’s all part of the charm. It shows a curated roster of films that includes exclusive archival screenings, special premiers, and Q&As with notable filmmakers; a few of the films playing on the current lineup in November include The Wall , a 1990 documentary about the Berlin Wall with vérité-style footage; Bill Cunningham New York on 35mm film, introduced by director Richard Press and producer Philip Gefter; and the classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf , starring Elizabeth Taylor. Seats are assigned and booked online—to purchase in person, tickets go on sale a half hour before showtime. Seats are red-velvet-cushioned, and pretty comfortable.

Bonus: The legitimate restaurant on site called the Metrograph Commissary serving brunch and dinner, where movie-goers can extend their outing with a meal or a round of drinks. You won’t find your typical movie theater slushies here—espresso martinis, steak tartare, and duck with rosemary are on the menu.

Chelsea's Art Galleries Arrow

If you’ve done the Met and the MoMA a million times but have yet to explore the city’s art gallery scene, get thee to Chelsea. The West Side neighborhood is one of the city’s best-known for art and is home to some of the world’s most respected contemporary art galleries, like David Zwirner —representing legends like Yayoi Kusama, Alice Neel, and William Eggleston—and Gagosian —Damien Hirst, Richard Avedon, Takashi Murakami, and Anna Weyant, whose star is rising. These spaces feel exclusive and glamorous, and you feel special upon walking inside and experiencing their treasures. (And unless you’re an heiress, you’re only window shopping.) The Chelsea gallery scene exemplifies one of New York City’s greatest strengths: walkability. We’d recommend mapping out the spots you want to hit and making half a day out of it—West 24th Street between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues is a prime route.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

15 of the best things to do in New York City in 2024

Mar 23, 2024 • 9 min read

A trip to Central Park is a classic stop on any NYC itinerary © Marco Rubino / Shutterstock

Three life-changing words: New York City .

Millions are drawn to it; some never shake it. Monumental, artistic, cultural, commercial, cosmopolitan – the City That Never Sleeps is everything you've imagined. You'll never be bored here – the only problem is narrowing down what to do from the endless list of possibilities.

To help you get started, here's a list of my favorite inspirational highlights – all perfect experiences for your next trip. However, the big sights lure big crowds, so brace yourself. If you're after a calmer NYC experience, sights in the "outer borough" (beyond Manhattan) will generally be less crowded. 

Ticket costs can also be substantial, so consider purchasing a New York CityPASS , which offers good discounts on top attractions.

1. Visit the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

The iconic copper-green  Statue of Liberty dominates a small island in New York Harbor, casting a protective shadow over neighboring Ellis Island , the site of a stirring Immigration Museum . Still symbolic today, these two landmarks served as an uplifting gateway through which over 12 million soon-to-be-Americans passed from 1892 to 1924.

Planning tip: Boats to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island leave from The Battery in Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. The monuments are often visited on a combined ticket – book well ahead, especially if you hope to spend time in Liberty's pedestal or crown.

2. Soak up the views from the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings

The tallest building in the world when it opened in 1931, the 1454ft  Empire State Building remains a much-loved character on the NYC skyline, although somewhat controversially, street-level views of this New York City skyline icon are about to be obscured by a luxury condo apartment. Vistas from the outdoor, 360-degree view, 86th-floor deck and the indoor 102nd-floor observatory are breathtaking, though – particularly at sunset. Look northeast at the art deco Chrysler Building , also once the world's tallest before being dethroned by the Empire State.

Planning tip:  Buy tickets in advance and devote a few moments to the second-floor Story of an Icon museum.

3. Pay tribute to lost lives at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum

The National 9/11 Memorial is located where the World Trade Center Twin Towers once stood. It features sobering tributes to the lives lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, most poignantly two sunken pools with cascades of water pouring into the fallen towers' footprints. Adjacent to the memorial is a profoundly moving museum with remnants and reminders of the tragic day.

Planning tip:  The memorial is free; museum tickets are best bought online in advance.

4. Have family-friendly seaside fun at Coney Island

Jutting like a Brooklyn thumb out into New York Harbor's Lower Bay, Coney Island boasts a wide beach, a popular seaside boardwalk and a lively amusement park, all reachable by subway in about an hour from Midtown Manhattan. Popular attractions include the family-friendly New York Aquarium , Nathan's Famous hot dogs , Deno's Wonder Wheel and thrill-filled Luna Park , featuring the wooden Cyclone rollercoaster – a city and national historic landmark.

Planning tip:  Walk to nearby Brighton Beach for classic Russian and Ukrainian eats.

5. Tour the vast collections at NYC's major museums

The Met  is NYC's most visited museum for very good reasons. With 5000 years of art from all over the world, two million individual objects and 17 acres of exhibition space, it's massive, astounding and seemingly inexhaustible.

An inside tip – the Met's often bypassed uptown Cloisters were cobbled together from authentic sections of European medieval monasteries. Tickets cover three-day admission to both Met branches.

Directly across Central Park from the Met is another significant museum with a broad scope: the American Museum of Natural History , where your ticket grants you access to more than 50 exhibits and 34 million artifacts!

Art lovers will find modern masterpieces from Warhol, Pollock and more in the Museum of Modern Art ; book ahead to skip the line, particularly at weekends. Somewhat smaller and less crowded, though definitely still comprehensive, is the Brooklyn Museum .

Detour: For something much more contemporary and free of hordes, try Brooklyn's Bushwick Collective Street Art .

Use this guide to plan the ultimate museum tour of New York City .

6. Hang out in Central Park

Hemmed in by buildings, Central Park serves up 843 acres of green space – meadows, groves, gardens and lakes, as well as restaurants, theaters, concert venues, fountains, skating rinks, ballfields, playgrounds and much more. Park Drive, although often crowded, is a favorite route for runners, skaters and cyclists.

Seeking some green space with fewer people? Brooklyn's Prospect Park , created by the same landscapers as Central Park, has all the same charm with far less throng.

Detour: For a leafy overview of Manhattan, consider cycling along sections of the 31-mile Manhattan Waterfront Greenway , especially the Hudson River Greenway segment.

Can't get enough of Central Park? Our local tells you where to find Central Park's best corners .

7. Walk across Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn Bridge Park

Undoubtedly NYC's most beautiful river crossing, the 1596ft-long, stone-towered Brooklyn Bridge was one of the world's first steel suspension bridges when it opened in 1883. Today, a walk along its pedestrian passageway delivers delightful Manhattan and Brooklyn skyline views.

Brooklyn Bridge Park , the 1.3-mile, 85-acre green space on Brooklyn's East River shoreline, prolongs the pleasure (and the Manhattan views). Check out the waterfront, glass-enclosed Jane's Carousel and multiple revitalized pier-based leisure and activity areas.

Save these restaurants to your Brooklyn itinerary.

8. Gaze upon the Manhattan skyline  

Manhattan's tumble of buildings is a mesmerizing spectacle, changing in natural and artificial light, particularly at dusk and night. Harbor cruises are a fantastic way to enjoy it, but there are also numerous land-based vantage points along the East River.

In Brooklyn, head for Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Heights Promenade, East River State Park in Williamsburg and Transmitter Park in Greenpoint. Over in Queens, go to Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City and Astoria Park.

Planning tip:  For a once-in-a-lifetime splurge and unbeatable views, take a helicopter tour over NYC; yes, it's pricey, but it's worth it.

9. See art and architecture on the High Line and at Hudson Yards 

The 1.5-mile-long High Line is one of New York's great surprises. This art-filled, community green space – featuring gardens, events, and amazing city outlooks – was crafted from an abandoned elevated railway. It can be packed on warm evenings when the unique modern architecture on all sides is illuminated.

The northern terminus of the High Line is at the Hudson Yards , Manhattan's newest luxury development, with gourmet restaurants, upscale shops and singular attractions like Vessel , a multilevel public landmark, and The Edge , the city's highest (101st-floor) open-air observatory.

10. Visit the landmark Rockefeller Center

Perhaps best known for its winter backdrop – a world-famous ice-skating rink and New York's giant ceremoniously-lit Christmas tree – the art deco Rockefeller Center is a busy, art-filled national historic landmark all year round.

Named for its entrepreneurial developer – John D Rockefeller Jr, America's first billionaire – it claims highlights such as the 70th-floor Top of the Rock observation deck, the Radio City Music Hall and NBC Studios Tours , as well as plenty of Midtown shopping and dining.

11. Be dazzled by the lights of Times Square and the Theater District

The neon lights really do shine bright on Broadway, especially in Times Square at the heart of the world's most celebrated theater district. Day and night, it provides billboarded sensory overload. In the area are dozens of marquee-fronted playhouses hosting box-office hits, alongside Madame Tussauds and National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey . Bryant Park, Midtown's small but activity-filled green oasis, and the lion-flanked entrance of the New York Public Library , a national historic landmark, are also nearby.

12. Ride the New York City Subway and Staten Island Ferry

The wheels never stop turning in NYC, aided by its sleepless subway , one of the world's biggest mass transit systems. Another iconic part of the New York transport network is the free, orange Staten Island Ferry , the cheapest way to grab pics of Lady Liberty.

For NYC urban transport history, the kid-friendly Transit Museum has climb-aboard subway cars from all eras. There's a museum annex and shop in Grand Central Terminal , a Midtown beaux-arts wonder with an unforgettably grand main concourse.

13. Support conservation at the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Gardens

Who'd have thought the US's biggest and oldest zoo is in NYC? The conservation-minded Bronx Zoo hosts 6000-plus animals in 265 acres of specially designed habitats. Adjacent to it is the New York Botanical Garden , a 250-acre, year-round nature showcase with dozens of indoor and outdoor gardens included in your ticket.

Planning tip: Smaller but impressive alternative zoos can be found at Central Park, Prospect Park and Flushing Meadows Corona Park (Queens). The 50-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden is famous for its seasonally blossoming cherry trees.

14. Find art and entrepreneurs in Brooklyn

In a city that places a high premium on space, Brooklyn now claims three hip, rehabilitated industrial areas commandeered by entrepreneurs, artisanal makers, retailers, artists, start-ups and nonprofits. Industry City occupies six large warehouses on the Sunset Park waterfront.

Further south, 100-plus companies fill the vast and storied Brooklyn Army Terminal . And east of Downtown Brooklyn, the expansive, historic Brooklyn Navy Yard is a modern made-in-Brooklyn manufacturing hub.

15. Go to a game at a New York stadium

New Yorkers take outsize pride in their sports teams, so how better to absorb the city's energy than at a game? The Bronx's Yankee Stadium and Mets' Citi Field in Queens are grand open-air stadiums, while Manhattan's Madison Square Garden , home of Knicks and Liberty basketball and Rangers hockey, and Brooklyn's futuristic Barclays Center , where the Nets basketball and Islanders hockey teams play, are enclosed, so good for rainy days.

Planning tip:  If you'd prefer to see the Giants and Jets compete in the National Football League, their arenas are in nearby New Jersey .

And now for the hard part: should you go to a Mets or Yankees game? Two local experts weigh in .

Keep planning your trip to NYC:

Find out which NYC neighborhood fits your vibe Find the best time of year to visit Getting around NYC is fairly straightforward –  find out how in our full transportation guide . Even better, read on for top tips to see New York on two wheels .

This article was first published May 2021 and updated March 2024

Explore related stories

Apr 10, 2024 • 6 min read

We narrowed down the top Vegas experiences for your hit list.

Mar 22, 2024 • 5 min read

Mar 15, 2024 • 10 min read

Feb 19, 2024 • 7 min read

Feb 16, 2024 • 6 min read

Jan 3, 2024 • 4 min read

Jan 2, 2024 • 5 min read

Sep 6, 2023 • 5 min read

Aug 15, 2023 • 7 min read

Aug 8, 2023 • 6 min read

22 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in New York City

Written by Lana Law Updated Mar 18, 2024 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

One of the greatest cities in the world , New York is always a whirlwind of activity, with famous sights at every turn and never enough time to see them all.

Some people come here to enjoy the Broadway shows; others come specifically to shop; and many come simply to see the tourist attractions: the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, historic neighborhoods, and world-famous museums . As someone who visits regularly, I like to come with friends, try new restaurants, and discover new experiences.

Many of the best places to visit in New York are within walking distance of each other, or just a short ride away, making this city a delight for sightseeing. If you have plenty of time and enjoy the water, touring New York City using the NYC Ferry System offers a unique way to see the sights.

Any time of year and any time of day or night there are an endless array of things to see and do in New York.

See also: Where to Stay in New York City

1. Statue of Liberty

2. central park, 3. rockefeller center & top of the rock observation deck, 4. metropolitan museum of art, 5. broadway and the theater district, 6. empire state building, 7. 9/11 memorial and museum, 8. american museum of natural history, 9. high line, 10. times square, 11. brooklyn bridge, 12. fifth avenue, 13. grand central terminal, 14. lincoln center, 15. one world observatory, 16. the frick collection (frick madison), 17. new york public library, 18. wall street, 19. radio city music hall, 20. st. patrick's cathedral, 21. carnegie hall, 22. bryant park, where to stay in new york city for sightseeing, tips and tours: how to make the most of your visit to new york, map of tourist attractions in new york city, best time to visit new york, ny.

America's most iconic sight, the Statue of Liberty is at the top of every first-time visitor's list of things to do in New York. It was France's gift to America. Built in 1886, it remains a world symbol of freedom and is one of the top attractions in America .

It is one of the world's largest statues, standing just under 152 feet tall from the base to the torch, and weighing approximately 450,000 pounds. You can see the statue from land, with particularly good views from Battery Park , on the southern tip of Manhattan.

To truly appreciate the Statue of Liberty, the best thing to do is to take a short boat trip to Liberty Island and see it up close. Take a pleasant stroll around the base, and if you have reservations, enter the pedestal or the crown. The crown is open for tours, but book well in advance if you want to enjoy this special experience.

On a tour of the Statue of Liberty, you have the option to stop at Ellis Island and explore the Immigration Museum . This fantastic museum is located in the historic immigration station complex, where thousands of immigrants were processed before entering the United States.

Displays focus on the process, the experiences, and the stories of the people who came through here on their journey to the United States. You can even search the on-site computer database to see a record of immigrants who came through here.

Tickets to go inside the statue sell out. Pre-purchasing tickets is a must during the high season and a good idea at any time of year. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour takes you to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. This tour allows reserved access to board the ferry and includes access to the Museum at Ellis Island.

Author's Tip: Buying tickets near the ferry can be tricky, with hawkers swarming you as you exit the subway claiming to be "official representatives" and trying to sell you more expensive tickets before you can find the ticket booth. Be sure to buy in advance at the link above or ignore the hawkers until you reach the booth in Castle Clinton in Battery Park.

Read More: Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in New York State

An oasis of green amongst New York's concrete canyons, Central Park is a sanctuary of peace and quiet for visitors and locals alike.

A walk, pedal, or carriage ride through the crisscrossing pathways of Central Park is a must-do on anyone's New York City itinerary. In winter, you can even lace up your skates and glide across Wollman Rink . This huge park in the city center, a half-mile wide and 2.5 miles long, is one of the things that makes New York such a beautiful and livable city.

Besides being a great place to experience a little nature, Central Park has many attractions within its borders, and most of them are free, making it one of the few cheap things to do in NYC. Some of the most popular places to visit include the Belvedere Castle , Strawberry Fields , the Central Park Zoo , and the Lake . If you are exploring the park on your own, start by picking up a map at one of the visitor centers and plot your route.

Central Park also offers activities throughout the year, from 5km runs and yoga classes to penguin feeding at the Central Park Zoo. Have a look at the park's events schedule for details on what's happening during your visit.

If you're visiting during the summer months, you may want to catch a performance of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. This is a relaxing way to spend an evening in New York City and performances are free.

Read More: Best Parks in New York City

When it comes to New York attractions, Rockefeller Center is on almost all tourists' itineraries. This vast entertainment and shopping complex in the middle of Manhattan is home to NBC-TV and other media, but the centerpiece is the 70-story 30 Rockefeller Plaza , an Art Deco skyscraper that offers awesome views over Manhattan from the famous Top of the Rock Observation Deck .

The "deck," as it's known, includes three floors, located on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors. Indoor and outdoor viewing spaces offer spectacular views by day or night. You can buy a Top of the Rock Observation Deck Ticket in advance. These tickets come with a flexible voucher redemption policy, so you can change the date if your plans change or the weather doesn't cooperate.

Skating on the outdoor skating rink at the base of the tower is one of the most popular things to do in winter in New York City and a fun activity for families and couples. The rink is typically open from October to April. If you aren't a strong skater, don't worry, the rink is tiny, and for many people, this is their first time on skates, so the skill level is pretty low.

After Thanksgiving, a huge Christmas tree is erected in front of the skating rink, lighting up the complex for the holiday season. Many people visit New York in December just to see this site.

Another point of interest in this area is the famous bronze sculpture of Atlas in front of the International Building. It's a popular subject for photographers.

Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York

Read More: Best Places to Go for Christmas

The Metropolitan Museum of Art , or the Met, as it is commonly known, was founded in 1870, and is one of the most famous museums in the United States. The permanent collection of The Met contains more than two million works of art, spanning a period of 5,000 years.

Although the museum has three sites, the centerpiece is The Met Fifth Avenue . Highlights of this collection include American decorative arts, arms and armor, costumes, Egyptian art, musical instruments, photographs, and much more.

Always-changing exhibitions bring some of the world's most famous works to the public.

The Met Cloisters , located in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan, is another extremely popular New York museum. This branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, housed in an outstanding structure, built around medieval cloisters, chapels, and halls, focuses on the medieval art and architecture of Europe.

Address: 1000 5th Avenue, New York, New York

Read More: Top-Rated Museums in New York City

Attending a Broadway show is one of the top things to do in New York City. Considered the pinnacle of American theater, this is the place to see the latest shows and the long-running classics.

Broadway usually refers simply to Broadway theater, which encompasses a large number of theater venues in the Theater District and along the street of Broadway. For the most popular shows , tickets should be purchased well in advance from the website.

Shubert Alley is a famous pedestrian-only alley in the Theater District and home to two well-known playhouses: the Shubert on 221 West 44th Street and the Booth at 22 West 45th Street. Historically, aspiring actors would frequent Shubert Alley looking for opportunities to perform in a play sponsored by theater baron, Sam S. Shubert.

A Chorus Line played at The Shubert for a record 6,137 shows. The musical Oklahoma debuted in 1941 at the St. James playhouse just down the street. Other legendary places include Sardi's restaurant, where many famous actors met, and the Music Box Theater, where Irving Berlin staged The Music Box Revue in 1921.

The Empire State Building is one of New York's most famous landmark buildings and key tourist attractions. The 381-meter-tall, 102-story building was the tallest in the world until the 1 World Trade Center tower rose higher, 41 years later. Topped with a mooring mast for airships, the Empire State Building immediately became a landmark and a symbol for NYC when it opened in 1931.

There are actually two observatories atop the Empire State Building , both offering astounding views. On clear days, you can see up to 80 miles, looking into the neighboring states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

The 86th Floor Observatory (1,050 feet) is the city's highest open-air observation deck, and what most people are expecting to find when they go up the Empire State Building. If it feels familiar, it's because this area has been featured in countless movies and TV shows.

Reached by high-speed, automatic elevators, it has both a glass-enclosed area, which is heated in winter and cooled in summer, and spacious outdoor promenades on all four sides of the building. The views are incredible. The Top Deck on the 102nd Floor stands 1,250 feet above the bustling streets below. While you are 16 stories higher, the viewing area here is enclosed.

The line to go up the Empire State Building is almost always long; moves slowly; and during peak times, it can be ridiculous, making the whole experience more frustrating than it needs to be. Be aware you can easily burn up half your touring day just at this one attraction.

It's well worth buying the Empire State Building Ticket – Observatory and Optional Skip the Line Ticket that lets you bypass the lines .

The World Trade Center's twin 110-story towers once dominated the Manhattan skyline but were destroyed by suicide-piloted jetliners on September 11, 2001, with a tragic loss of life. Where the two towers of the World Trade Center once stood, now stand two square reflecting pools, each one acre in size.

Known as the National September 11 Memorial , this area is a moving tribute to the almost 3,000 people killed as a result of attacks on September 11, 2001, and also the six people killed in the earlier World Trade Center bombing in February 1993.

Surrounded by trees and grass, the pools are recessed, with water cascading over the sides and flowing into a seemingly bottomless square. These are the largest manmade waterfalls in North America . Around the pools are bronze panels with the names of all those who were killed in the attacks.

The 9/11 Memorial Museum is located in an architecturally stunning, curving glass building, between the two pools. It features displays that include artifacts, photos, and videos, presenting the story of 9/11, as well as the aftermath and impacts.

The building is constructed around the remnants of the World Trade Center and incorporates the old structures within the extraordinary new museum building. The memorial and the museum are located on the south side of One World Trade Centre, on Greenwich Street.

Also worth seeing in this area, on the opposite side of Greenwich Street, is the eye-catching Westfield World Trade Center , which contains Oculus Plaza . You can't miss this building with its white fins and spaceship-like appearance. This is a public building with shops and high-end stores, but it's worth popping in for a quick look at the architecture.

Tickets to the 9/11 Museum must be purchased online or at the window in advance. This is one of New York's most popular things to do, so booking ahead is essential to avoid disappointment. If you are traveling as a family, be sure to book the discounted family rate for up to five.

When purchasing your tickets, you will have the ability to select a time to visit, and you must make your time slot. On Mondays, museum entry is free from 3:30 to 5pm, but tickets still need to be booked in advance, starting at 7am, and are limited to four per person.

Address: 180 Greenwich St, New York, New York

One of New York City's best museums for a family outing, the American Museum of Natural History has always been an important institution, but now it's even more exciting.

One of the newest additions to the New York City attraction scene is the recent opening of the Richard Gilder Center for Science , in May of 2023. This impressive renovation and expansion is quickly becoming one of the city's top things to see, with a design reminiscent of the imaginative style of Antonio Gaudi.

The stunning four-story wing features flowing concrete in intriguing formations. Once inside, you can explore the brand-new insectarium, butterfly conservatory, research library, and a wealth of educational opportunities. It's an exciting addition to the city's cultural landscape that is sure to inspire visitors of all ages.

The museum's permanent exhibit halls showcase all that's interesting about the natural environment of our planet, from science and the environment to animals and fossils. It also hosts special exhibits that run for a set block of time.

Some of the current exhibits that are well worth seeing include one on sharks, featuring models of these amazing creatures that you can actually touch. Another fascinating display is the rare 22-carat Okavango Blue Diamond.

Address: 200 Central Park West, New York, New York

An exciting, and recently expanded, attraction in New York City, the High Line is a former rail line that has been transformed into an urban walking trail above the city streets.

This unique linear public park has been planted with a variety of plants and trees, many of which are native species. In spring many of these come into bloom. The park is lined with glass railings in most areas, giving it a natural feel, while still offering outstanding views of the city.

This oasis on Manhattan's West Side runs from Gansevoort Street at the south end (just south of West 13th Street) to West 34th Street at the north end, running parallel to 10th Ave most of the way. You can access it at various points along the route, some of which offer stair access only, and others with elevator access.

Although the High Line is only about two to three stories above street level, the views of the city's architecture and the lookouts over the streets offer a whole new perspective. Along the route are art installations and benches , and near the south end is a sitting area with bleacher-style seating and a glass wall looking out onto the city . The trail is heavily used, and on weekends it can be extremely busy, but without the surrounding traffic, it's still a peaceful retreat.

One of the highlights of the High Line is the Hudson Yards overlook, called The Vessel, near 34th Street. This is a stunning multilevel structure.

You'll find other interesting places to visit just off the High Line. The south section runs through the Meatpacking District , with plenty of trendy restaurants and fine dining. The southernmost access point is adjacent to the Whitney Museum of American Art, which is also worth a visit.

If you hop off the High Line at the 16th Street access (elevator access), it's just a short stroll to the popular Chelsea Market , located in a former Nabisco factory, where you'll find restaurants and unique shops.

In the spring of 2023, a new extension called the High Line — Moynihan Connector opened to much fanfare. This extension adds new access points, public spaces, and transit connections via the Moynihan train station. The new additions consist of two new 600-foot-long bridges, one made of steel and one made of wood.

Tours of the High Line are offered year-round and trace the history of the attraction from its industrial beginnings through to the structure it is today. Tours are free and are 90 minutes long in the spring, summer, and fall, and 45 minutes long in the winter.

Although a late-night stroll on the High Line on a hot summer's night or after a concert or Broadway show may sound enticing, the High Line closes at 10pm.

Location: Manhattan West Side

Lined with huge, brilliantly lit billboards and screens, Times Square is the place to go in New York in the evening, but still exciting at any time of day. This is the location of New York's New Year's Eve Celebrations and the famous "ball drop" at midnight, when the square and surrounding streets are filled with people.

Times Square is busy and perpetually crowded but has its own unique appeal. Bleachers set up at one end are a great place to take a break and appreciate the scene.

Formerly Longacre Square, Times Square was named in 1904 after the New York Times tower. The newspaper first posted current headlines along its moving sign, the first of its kind in the world, in 1928.

If you've had your fill of sitting on the bleachers and are looking for something fun to do either as a group or a couple, stroll over to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum . The eerily life-like wax figurines feature NYC icons like Jimmy Fallon and the set of The Tonight Show , Broadway cast members, and shows where you actually get to dress up and participate. The building's glass dome protrudes over Times Square for awesome views.

Address: Broadway and 7th Avenue, New York, New York

The Brooklyn Bridge, with its Gothic-shaped arches and suspension cables, is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and has inspired generations of poets, songwriters, and painters. This historic bridge, spanning the East River from Manhattan to Brooklyn, was completed in 1883 and was the world's first steel suspension bridge .

You can see it from many of the ferries, or the east side of Manhattan, but the best way to experience this icon is to take an hour and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. A wood plank walkway, only open to pedestrians and cyclists , runs above the lanes of traffic. If you are not up for walking the whole distance, at least go as far as the first pillar, where there is a viewing platform, and you can see one of the granite towers up close.

From the bridge are beautiful views over Manhattan, the East River, and beyond to the Statue of Liberty. Biking over the bridge is another option, but pedestrian traffic is often very heavy, and cycling can be slow and challenging on busy days. Be aware that the access to the bridge begins well back from the water's edge.

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Brooklyn

One of the most famous shopping streets in America, Fifth Avenue is New York's premier shopping area , where many top designers have their flagship stores. Cartier, Tiffany, Bergdorf-Goodman, the famous Apple Store Fifth Avenue, and of course, Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as many others, line this posh avenue.

Even non-shoppers can enjoy a walk along Fifth Avenue. The best area runs from approximately the south end of Central Park to the New York Public Library, or more specifically, between 60th Street and 40th Street.

Grand Central Terminal , often called Grand Central Station, is a fantastic Beaux Arts building, and it's definitely worth popping in to take a look at this famous landmark. The building first opened in 1913 as a terminal for the subway and train stations.

Outside, the 42nd Street colonnaded faces and the statuary on top are some of the key highlights. Inside, you can't miss the Grand Staircase , where you can stop to gaze out over the concourse. The beautifully restored ceiling here shows a celestial scene.

One of the most iconic sights within Grand Central Terminal is the Main Concourse Information Booth Clock. This four-sided clock has been the site of countless meet-ups (and even a marriage proposal or two) and has been featured in many famous movies including The Godfather , Men in Black , and Midnight Run .

You'll also find an extensive selection of retail shops and restaurants inside the terminal.

Address: 89 E 42nd St, New York, New York

If you plan on taking in one of the performing arts such as ballet, symphony, or opera, it's likely that your plans will involve an evening or afternoon at the Lincoln Center . Musicians, dancers, and performers of all kinds dream of gracing one of the 30 indoor and outdoor stages spread throughout the center.

Throughout the summer from mid-June through to mid-August Lincoln Center is one of New York's cheapest cultural hotspots with hundreds of free events during their Summer for the City series . All kinds of entertainment for all ages are on offer.

The Lincoln Center is home to the New York City Ballet, the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, the Juilliard School of Music, the Lincoln Center Theater, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and it's almost a certainty that some sort of event will be taking place during your time in town.

In addition to live performances, Film at Lincoln Center showcases innovative movies on a daily basis.

Location: 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, New York

At the top of the newly constructed One World Trade Center building , One World Observatory is the highest observation deck in the city offering outstanding views from floors 100, 101, and 102, 1,776 feet above the ground. The elevator to the top is part of the attraction. As you ascend, the surrounding panels show New York as it transformed over the years, from a rural landscape to the metropolis you see today.

This glass building, which can be seen from all over the city, is a unique structure on the Manhattan skyline, with angles that give it a very distinct appearance. If you stand near the base and look straight up, the tower appears pyramidal.

If you want to go up and see the view, you can buy an NYC One World Observatory Skip-the-Line Ticket to save you some time, but note, you will still need to clear security.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York, New York

For ambience, the Frick Collection tops the list when it comes to New York City museums. Housed in an early 1900s mansion, the building and the original collection were donated by Henry Clay Frick, who had the mansion built to display his art collection.

However, the original mansion is currently closed for a massive renovation and will be for several more years. A decision was made to move elements of the Frick Collection to the former site of the Whitney Museum. The temporary home is known as Frick Madison .

A visit is still worthwhile — the most notable artwork, which includes a mix of paintings, porcelain, and furniture, are on display, as are works by Monet, Rembrandt, Bellini, El Greco , and many other famous artists.

Temporary Address: 945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street

The New York Public Library's main branch was designed by architects, Carrere & Hastings, in the Beaux Arts style. The library, with its impressive rooms, is a prominent city attraction that has been featured in many movies and TV shows over the years.

Although colloquially known as the main branch, the proper name is actually the Stephen A. Schwarzman building . It opened in 1911 to immediate acclaim. An enormous library, the Main Reading Room alone stretches two city blocks, and the Periodicals Room holds 10,000 current magazines. The collection at this location is vast, to say the least.

Location: Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, New York

Stretching for eight city blocks from Broadway to South Street is the world-famous Wall Street. This street and the surrounding area are home to some of the most important exchanges in the world, including the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ, and the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Also located nearby are the impressive Trinity Church and Federal Hall . Look for the bronze statue of Charging Bull at Bowling Green, on Broadway. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Financial District and a popular photo opportunity for visitors.

Lying in the shadow of Rockefeller Center is Radio City Music Hall , a famous entertainment venue and a designated city landmark. This 1932 Art Deco theater offers musical extravaganzas and films and is the home of the dance company, The Rockettes .

The building was built and financed by the Rockefellers during the 1930s and contained the largest indoor theater in the world at the time. Today, the venue frequently hosts major events, including the Grammy Awards and Tony Awards. Its prominent marquee is hard to miss as it curves around the building and stretches down the block.

Address: 1260 6th Avenue, New York, New York

St. Patrick's Cathedral is one of New York's finest examples of Gothic Revival, with its massive bronze doors, white marble façade, 330-foot spires, the Great Organ, rose window, bronze baldachin, 2,400 seating capacity, and the statue of Pieta at the side of the Lady Chapel. With millions of visitors annually, the cathedral is a major destination for believers and tourists alike.

The building was erected in 1879 and has been carefully restored and maintained throughout its existence, including a $200-million renovation that was completed in 2016.

Location: 5th Avenue, between 50th and 51st Streets, New York, New York

Carnegie Hall opened in 1891 as New York's first great concert hall. Musicians from Tchaikovsky, who conducted on opening night, to Leonard Bernstein and The Beatles have filled the hall. It is said to have some of the best acoustics in the world.

While the best way to enjoy the hall is to take in a performance, one of the best ways to learn about it is on a guided tour . The tour offers a comprehensive look at the hall, insight into the construction, and discusses some of the artists who have taken to the stage. Tours end at the Rose Museum.

Address: 881 7th Ave, New York, New York

On a summer's day, it's hard to beat a leisurely afternoon at Bryant Park . The grounds feature monuments and gardens, and "Le Carrousel," a popular carousel. A games area makes available chess boards, checkers, and backgammon boards for a small fee.

Bryant Park was a seedy area known for crime and a hangout for undesirables until 1989, when the city reclaimed it and turned it into a beautiful urban oasis. Locals have embraced this park, and today, it's a pleasure to walk through. If you don't want to play a game, it is still interesting to watch others playing.

When the snow flies and the temperature drops, an outdoor skating rink emerges at Bryant Park. This small rink is free to use, unlike the one at Central Park. Bring your own skates or rent a pair at the concession stand. Don't know how to skate? No problem. Skating aids, similar to walkers that elderly people use, are available to rent. If you can, try to visit on Tuesdays or Thursdays. At 12:40pm, artistic skating performances by the Ice Theater of New York take place.

The park is located adjacent to the New York Public Library.

Location: Between W 40th Street and W 42nd Street, at 6th Ave, New York, New York

The best way to truly experience New York is to stay in Manhattan, rather than trying to commute from the suburbs, which can be time-consuming and a little tiring. The hotels mentioned below are all centrally located in Manhattan and close to many of the major attractions.

Luxury Hotels:

• Known for impeccable service The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is a New York landmark. The hotel has recently been renovated and upgraded, and now the 253 rooms have all the latest modern features the discerning traveler requires and demands.
• The Mandarin Oriental is an outstanding luxury property with a great location near the south end of Central Park.
• Farther south, near Bryant Park, the New York Public Library, and Grand Central Terminal, the posh 60-story Langham Place, Fifth Avenue is another reliable five-star hotel.
• One of the hot new arrivals on New York's hotel scene is the Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan . This four-star property offers affordable luxury and is located within walking distance to the High Line, Penn Station, and Times Square.
• In a similar price range, near Times Square, is the boutique Casablanca Hotel by Library Hotel Collection .

Mid-Range Hotels:

• With a prime location, within walking distance of Times Square, Central Park, and Rockefeller Center, The Pearl Hotel is at the higher end of the mid-range. It offers quality rooms, great service, and very reasonable rates.
• Another noteworthy mid-range hotel in a good location includes the Kasa, The Duffy Times Square . This small hotel has a B&B-style feel with only 22 rooms and as the name indicates, is close to Times Square.
• The Hilton Garden Inn New York/West 35th Street is located in a great position near the Empire State Building.

Budget Hotels:

• Hotel rates vary considerably depending on the season, but it's usually possible to find a few quality budget hotels offering reasonable rates. Some popular, modestly-priced hotel options include the Econo Lodge Times Square , just north of Times Square.
• Near Seaton Hotel is the more modern and affordable Pod 39 Hotel , with funky, compact rooms featuring en-suite bathrooms, and sociable common areas.

With so much to see and do in New York, purchasing a couple of tours can really help cover all the main attractions and make sightseeing easy and enjoyable. Walking everywhere can be tiring, and figuring out the subway isn't for everyone. There are many tours to choose from, but the following offer a good mix of attractions and experiences, and they are all guaranteed lowest prices.

Explore the City :

• For getting your bearings, seeing the sights, and learning a little history, there is no beating the traditional open-top sightseeing bus. Take a Big Bus New York Hop-on Hop-off Tour to cover all the top sights and save yourself a whole lot of walking, so you will still have some energy to take in dinner or a show in the evening.
• If you are spending several days in the city and plan on sightseeing each day, you can save yourself money and hassle by picking up a New York CityPASS , which covers five major attractions and will allow you to bypass the lines. The pass is good for nine days.

See the Sights from the Water :

• Take a Manhattan Island Cruise to see the city skyline and city landmarks from the water, along with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. These are 2.5-hour cruises that run in the morning and afternoon and include a live guided narration.

Get an Aerial Perspective :

• Indulge yourself with a Manhattan Helicopter Tour and fly over one of the most amazing cities in the world. These 15-minute shared-occupancy flights take you past the landmark buildings in downtown, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. This tour will give you a whole new appreciation for the density of the buildings and the size of Central Park.

No matter the season, New York City shines, and there is truly no wrong time to visit this bustling metropolis. The best time to go to New York City depends on what you want your vacation to be. If your idea of New York stems from movies like When Harry Met Sally and You've Got Mail , with idyllic strolls through Central Park as colorful leaves gently fall on your shoulders, autumn is an ideal time.

If seeing the Rockettes after a day of skating under the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and admiring holiday window displays is what you've always dreamed of, winter is a magical time to be in the Big Apple.

But if you are looking for a quieter and more budget-friendly getaway, with perfect weather, spring is your best bet. Locals, happy to be shedding their winter armor, have a spring in their step as they make their way to outdoor dining spots and markets on sidewalks carpeted with spring blossoms.

Summer is hot and humid, but if the balmy months are the only time you can travel with your family, you can still enjoy New York City's many attractions.

High season in New York is from June to August and November to December during the holidays, when you can expect to pay high prices for accommodations and flights. March to May and September to early November are considered shoulder seasons, and you will experience pleasant weather and relatively low prices. Low season is during January and February when it's chilly, but you will get cheap deals.

An ideal New York City vacation involves mild weather and fewer travelers, and the times that have both are spring and fall. Visit the city anytime between April to early June, or around September to early November, when the kids are in school and people aren't swarming major attractions.

Flights and hotels are also less expensive than the summer months and during the holidays in December. Take advantage of the nice weather to walk the streets, have a picnic in a park, and catch sports games.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

The Boroughs of New York City: If you have time to tour areas outside of Manhattan, you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find. Take a trip on the Staten Island Ferry and discover the sights of Staten Island . Hop on the subway and explore the attractions of Queens . Walk or bike over the Brooklyn Bridge and enjoy the numerous attractions in Brooklyn . Lastly, home to the Yankee Stadium and the largest zoo in the United States, it's worth taking some time to visit the Bronx

Where to Go near New York City: If you want a quick break from New York, have a look at our top day trips from New York City or our best weekend getaways . In summer, you might even want to consider heading out to explore the best beaches on Long Island .

More on New York

45 Things to See and Do in New York City

Here are the best things to do, see, eat, and buy when you're in the Big Apple.

From the best shops and restaurants to experiences you won't find anywhere else, here's how to get the most out of New York City.

Have breakfast at Tiffany's.

More : The 7 Best Places for Afternoon Tea in New York City

Take in outdoor theater at Shakespeare in the Park.

“Seeing a Broadway show is great, but if you’re in New York in the summertime, nothing beats Shakespeare in the Park . It’s a free series put on by the Public Theater in an open-air venue in Central Park, and combines astonishing performances from incredible talent with a night under the stars for an unbeatable theatrical experience.” —Adam Rathe, Senior Editor (Arts and Culture)

Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"Every time I go, I encounter a room I’ve never been to before. But I never leave without visiting the medieval armor on the first floor."— Jamie Rosen, Contributing Editor

Go for a walk in Central Park.

843 acres are open to visitors in America's most-visited urban park, which was designed in 1858 by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux after they beat out 32 competitors for the project. Now a National Historic Landmark, the park is full of places to explore, starting with its zoo , Bethesda Fountain, the Boathouse , the mall ( shown here ), and Woolman Rink. Even the Metropolitan Museum of Art technically falls within its confines.

See a show at the Park Avenue Armory.

The expansive 55,000-square-foot drill hall plays host to year-round events, including the Winter Show , TEFAF New York , and its own cultural programming . But what you might not know is that visitors can tour other areas like the first-floor period rooms and restored Board of Officers Room and Veterans Room with a guide. To learn more about the events at the Armory, visit its website here .

Walk around the Columbia University campus.

Even if your college days are in the past, you can still explore the city's only Ivy League institution. Head out on a self-guided tour or choose one of the options with a guide, including one that covers the history, architecture, and sculpture of the Morningside Heights campus. For more architectural splendor in the neighborhood, don't miss the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine .

Go skating in Central Park.

Ice skating at Woolman Rink is a quintessential New York experience—and has been for more than 70 years. Book your tickets here .

Take in a show at the Café Carlyle.

There isn't an Upper East Side experience more traditional than drinks at Bemelmens Bar and a show at Café Carlyle . The cabaret theater has hosted luminaries like Alan Cumming and Judy Collins since its debut in 1955.

Source some rare bottles on Madison Avenue.

Collezione New York is New York's first luxury spirits boutique, and it fits right in among the designer shops on Madison Avenue (Oscar de la Renta is a few steps away). Founder and CEO Stefano Pileggi, a third-generation retailer, emigrated from Italy in 2011. After amassing an enviable Scotch collection, Pileggi decided to offer fellow spirits collectors a better shopping experience. And while you can find extremely rare offerings like a vertical of every 18-year-old Macallan bottled between 1954 and 1986 (available as a lot for $250,000), Collezione also stocks bottles ideal for kicking off a casual dinner at home—like Via Carota's craft cocktails .

Wander around The Cloisters.

Located on four acres overlooking the Hudson River in Upper Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park, this annex of the Metropolitan Museum of Art includes four cloisters and a group of reconstructed chapels and halls from medieval French monasteries and abbeys.

Check out the New York Botanical Garden.

The 250-acre National Historic Landmark in the Bronx hosts more than a million visitors annually. One of its top draws?The Holiday Train Show, which has been on view during the holiday season for 30 years and features more than 190 replicas of New York landmarks.

Explore the history of design at the Cooper Hewitt.

America's only museum dedicated solely to design has been a branch of the Smithsonian since the 1960s. It now has a collection of more than 210,000 design objects that span 240 years, all housed in industrialist Andrew Carnegie's former mansion on the Upper East Side. Plan your visit here .

Tour the Frick Collection.

The Gilded Age mansion of industrialist Henry Clay Frick is one of the most visually interesting places to visit in the city today. But through late 2024, the Frick won’t be where we’ve always known it. While the museum is being upgraded by architect Annabelle Selldorf, its treasures are a few blocks away in the Frick Madison, the building Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer designed for the Whitney Museum of American Art in the mid-1960s.

Pick up cheese (and a lot more) at Zabar's.

"The king of the old-school appetizing shops, Zabar's is not a deli, as you can’t order lunch. It’s not a supermarket, as there’s no produce (well, not much), and you can’t get paper towels or dish soap. But it has the best selection of cheeses on earth (not an exaggeration), many of them very inexpensive. And prepared foods. And outstanding, reasonably priced coffee. And loose tea of several dozen kinds. And who else has a lox counter—just lox, nothing else. And I haven’t even mentioned the kitchenwares department upstairs, which is one of New York’s best-kept secrets." —James Lochart, Copy Chief

Pay a visit to Lincoln Center.

The Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and New York City Ballet all perform here. The latest change is the newly renovated David Geffen Hall, the home of the New York Philharmonic.

Visit the Museum of the City of New York.

Located at the northern end of Fifth Avenue's Museum Mile, MCNY offers exhibitions on the city's art and history, including the recent " Food in New York: Bigger Than the Plate ," which was first developed at London's Victoria and Albert Museum before being adapted to examine eating and food systems in New York City.

Go to the American Museum of Natural History.

Founded in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History now has more than 32 million specimens and cultural artifacts in its collection. Stroll through the museum's 570,000-square-foot space on Central Park West, which includes 45 permanent exhibit halls including dinosaur fossils, stunning dioramas, and, in the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life, a 94-foot-long, 21,000-pound model of a blue whale suspended from the ceiling.

Dine at one of the world's best restaurants (without breaking the bank).

The city is home to 73 Michelin-starred restaurants , but eating at them doesn't require spending your entire paycheck in one fell swoop. Here's a handy guide with a few tips for making the most of the culinary scene on a tight budget .

Sam Dangremond is a Contributing Digital Editor at Town & Country, where he covers men's style, cocktails, travel, and the social scene.

@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1jdielu:before{margin:0.625rem 0.625rem 0;width:3.5rem;-webkit-filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);height:1.5rem;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-transform:scale(-1, 1);-moz-transform:scale(-1, 1);-ms-transform:scale(-1, 1);transform:scale(-1, 1);background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-1jdielu:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/townandcountrymag/static/images/diamond-header-design-element.80fb60e.svg);}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1jdielu:before{margin:0 0.625rem 0.25rem;}} The Most Luxurious Family Travel Destinations @media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-128xfoy:before{margin:0.625rem 0.625rem 0;width:3.5rem;-webkit-filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);height:1.5rem;content:'';display:inline-block;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-128xfoy:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/townandcountrymag/static/images/diamond-header-design-element.80fb60e.svg);}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-128xfoy:before{margin:0 0.625rem 0.25rem;}}

Best Room At… the Venetian Las Vegas

The Luxury Hotels in 'The Reluctant Traveler' S2

Best Room At...Stanly Ranch

Best Room At... Il Sereno Lake Como

The Best Room At… Necker Island

11 Romantic Hotels in (or Near) New York City

A Snob's Guide to Palm Beach

Best Room At… Hotel del Coronado

Winter Vacation Ideas to Start Planning Now

Is Windham Mountain Becoming Aspen East?

A Perfect Day in London's West End

• Travel recommendations
• The taste of travel
• Tips & tricks
• Travel experiences

The 21 best things to do in NYC

Welcome to the city that offers an endless variety of places to visit and things to do. From iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge to spectacular New York museums like the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. With so much to see planning a trip can be overwhelming.

If you’re looking for the best things to do in NYC to narrow down your list you’ve come to the right place.

What are the best things to do in NYC?

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, find out what you need to know about visiting Central Park, Top of the Rock, Times Square, and more — as well as recommendations for some of New York City’s hidden gems .

Find flights to New York City

• Visit the iconic Statue of Liberty
• Learn the history of Ellis Island
• Walk along the High Line
• Experience the Museum of Modern Art
• Ice-skating at the Rockefeller Center
• Climb at the top of the Rock
• Stroll through the Central Park
• See the 9/11 Memorial
• Travel and marvel at the Grand Central Terminal
• Taste fresh goods at the Chelsea Market
• Cross the Brooklyn Bridge
• Fun and history at the Coney Island
• Watch a play on Broadway
• Feel the vibe of the Times Square
• Explore New York Public Library
• Art and history at the MET
• Cheer at the Yankee Stadium
• Travel back in time at the American Museum of Natural History
• Meet Lower East Side, NYC’s culture hub
• Shop and taste at the Union Square Greenmarket
• Discover the medieval secrets at The Cloisters

1. Visit the iconic Statue of Liberty

One of America’s most iconic landmarks, visiting the Statue of Liberty is a quintessential New York experience that should not be missed . The statue, gifted to the United States by France in 1886, has come to symbolize the American spirit of freedom and democracy.

Take a ferry ride from Battery Park to Liberty Island to get to the statue. Once you’re on the island, you can explore the statue’s pedestal and museum, but for an even more breathtaking experience, climb to the statue’s crown for stunning views of the city skyline.

Be prepared for a strenuous climb, as there are 354 steps to the crown, but the view is well worth the effort. Tickets must be booked in advance.

2. Learn the history of New York on Ellis Island

If you’re interested in American history and immigration, Ellis Island is a must-visit. The historic island served as the main port of entry for millions of immigrants to the United States from 1892 to 1954, making it a significant landmark in the country’s history.

To get to Ellis Island, take a ferry ride from Battery Park, just like when visiting the Statue of Liberty. Upon arrival, you can explore the museum’s extensive exhibits, which include artifacts, photographs, and personal stories of the immigrants who passed through the island’s inspection station.

If you have a personal connection to Ellis Island, visit the Family History Center to search for records of your ancestors who may have passed through Ellis Island. The center has a vast database of immigration records and can help you trace your family’s roots.

3. Walk along the High Line

This elevated park was created on a former rail line, stretching nearly 1.5 miles from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street on the West Side of Manhattan.

As you walk along the High Line, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the city skyline, as well as the beautiful gardens and art installations that dot the park. The park’s design incorporates the original rail tracks, giving it an industrial-chic feel that is both modern and nostalgic.

The High Line is free to visit and open year-round, but it can get crowded, so consider visiting early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the crowds.

KAYAK top tip: Get on at Hudson Yards then walk to Chelsea Market in the Meatpacking District. Here you can sample bites at the different vendors (skip to number 10 on this list for more Chelsea Market food recommendations) before heading to the nearby Whitney Museum .

4. Experience the Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art, often referred to as MoMA , is home to one of the world’s most renowned collections of modern and contemporary art worldwide , with more than 200,000 works of art on display.

Since its founding in 1929, the museum’s extensive collection has grown to include paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints, design objects, film, and media by artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, and Andy Warhol.

MoMA’s gift shop is also a must-visit, featuring unique gifts and souvenirs inspired by the museum’s collection.

5. Ice-skating at the Rockefeller Center

Ice skating at Rockefeller Center is one of the most iconic winter activities in NYC , and a great way to experience the city’s holiday spirit. The ice rink is located at the center of the Rockefeller Center complex, surrounded by towering skyscrapers and the famous Christmas tree.

The rink is open from October to April , weather permitting, and offers skating sessions throughout the day and evening. Skaters of all levels are welcome, and skate rentals are available on-site.

6. Climb at the top of the Rock

The Top of the Rock observation deck is considered one of the best places to visit in New York and takes in breathtaking views of the city’s skyline. Located on the 70th floor of the Rockefeller Center, the observation deck offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the city , including the Empire State Building, Central Park, and the Hudson River.

The observation deck is open year-round, with extended hours during the holiday season. However, to avoid long lines and crowds, book your tickets in advance and arrive early in the morning or later in the evening.

Dress warmly if you plan to visit during winter, as it can get quite chilly at the top of the building.

7. Stroll through Central Park

Central Park is one of the world’s most famous and beloved parks, spanning 843 acres in the heart of Manhattan. In the park, you can enjoy a wide range of activities including jogging, biking, picnicking, boating, and more. The park also has several beautiful gardens, lakes, sculptures, and iconic landmarks, like Bow Bridge and the Bethesda Fountain.

Central Park is vast, so be sure to plan your visit and choose which areas of the park you want to explore, or consider renting a bike or taking a guided tour to get a more in-depth understanding of the park’s history and landmarks.

8. See the 9/11 Memorial

The 9/11 Memorial is a moving and powerful tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City. Located on the World Trade Center site, the memorial features two reflecting pools where the Twin Towers once stood, and a museum that tells the stories of the victims, survivors, and heroes of that tragic day.

Visitors can walk around the pools and read the names of the nearly 3,000 people who died in the attacks. The memorial also features a beautiful plaza with a grove of trees and a path that leads to the One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

9. Travel and marvel at the Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal is one of the most iconic transportation hubs, a historical landmark, and a must-visit destination in New York City. This stunning Beaux-Arts building was completed in 1913 and features a massive main concourse with a celestial ceiling and a clock that has become a popular meeting spot for New Yorkers and tourists alike.

Alongside the terminal’s many shops, bars, and beautiful architecture we recommend exploring the side corridors and more hidden areas, like the Whispering Gallery. Here If you stand in opposite corners with someone, you can hear each other whisper.

Also, don’t miss the many specialty dining options, including the famous Oyster Bar.

10. Taste fresh goods at the Chelsea Market

This food lover’s paradise is popular with locals and tourists alike. Located in the heart of the Chelsea neighborhood, Chelsea Market is a former biscuit factory transformed into a vibrant marketplace filled with specialty food vendors , restaurants, and shops.

Visitors can sample artisanal and international foods, including fresh seafood, handmade chocolates, gourmet sandwiches, and more. Be sure to try some of the market’s signature dishes, such as the lobster rolls at Lobster Place or the tacos at Los Tacos No1.

11. Cross the Brooklyn Bridge

Completed in 1883, The Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time and has become a symbol of American engineering and ingenuity. Visitors can walk across the bridge’s elevated pedestrian path, which offers stunning views of the city skyline and the East River. The bridge also features two massive stone towers and intricate Gothic-inspired details, making it a beautiful and impressive structure to behold.

12. Fun and history at the Coney Island

This fun and historic seaside destination is known for its old-school amusement park, instantly recognizable boardwalk, and carnival games . For more than a century, people have flocked to Coney Island to ride the famous Cyclone roller coaster, take a spin on the Wonder Wheel, or play games and win prizes at one of the many carnival booths.

The beach is also a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing , and there are plenty of options for food and drinks, including Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, a Coney Island institution. If you’re interested in history, be sure to visit the Coney Island Museum, which showcases the area’s colorful past through exhibits, artifacts, and photos.

13. Watch a play on Broadway

Attending a Broadway show is a quintessential New York City experience that shouldn’t be missed. Broadway is home to some of the best theater productions in the world, with an ever-changing lineup of plays, musicals, and other performances.

Tickets to Broadway shows can be expensive, but you can often find discounted tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square , or by entering a digital lottery for the show you want to see.

14. Feel the vibe of Times Square

Times Square is one of the most famous and vibrant areas of New York City, known for its bright lights, giant billboards, and bustling crowds.

The heart of Times Square is the pedestrian plaza at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, which is always teeming with people, performers, and vendors. The area is mainly home to massive flagship stores of major brands like Disney, Hershey’s, and M&M’s, as well as many Broadway theaters.

15. Explore New York Public Library

The New York Public Library , adjacent to Bryant Park in Midtown, is a historic and iconic institution in New York City. The library is known for its stunning Beaux-Arts architecture, vast collections of books and documents, and its role as a cultural center and hub for intellectual discourse.

You can explore the library’s many reading rooms and research areas, including the famous Rose Reading Room, which features soaring ceilings, intricate moldings, and more than 30,000 books lining the shelves.

If you’re interested in viewing rare books and manuscripts, check out the library’s special collections and archives, which include more than 46 million items ranging from medieval manuscripts to contemporary digital materials.

16. 5,000 years of art and history at the MET

Known as “ The Met ,” the Metropolitan is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive art museums, with a vast collection spanning more than 5,000 years of art history from around the world.

Whether you’re interested in Egyptian sculptures or contemporary paintings and installations, the Met has it all. The museum also has beautiful outdoor spaces, including a rooftop garden, which has stunning views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.

17. Cheer at the Yankee Stadium

Home to the New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium is one of the most iconic sports venues in the world and a must-visit destination for any baseball fan. Catch a game at the stadium and experience the excitement of watching one of the most storied franchises in sports history.

The stadium also offers guided tours that take visitors behind the scenes, including the locker rooms, dugouts, and batting cages.

17. Travel back in time at the American Museum of Natural History

As one of the world’s most famous and visited museums, the American Museum of Natural History is home to a vast collection of exhibits and artifacts showcasing the wonders of the natural world.

The museum’s many halls and galleries showcase exhibitions on dinosaurs, mammals, marine life, and human evolution. But given the museum’s massive size, plan your visit carefully and consider focusing on specific areas or exhibits of interest.

19. Meet Lower East Side, NYC’s culture hub

The Lower East Side is a vibrant and historic neighborhood in Manhattan that has become a hub for arts, culture, and nightlife . Once a center for immigrant communities, the area is now known for its trendy restaurants, boutiques, and street art.

In addition to shopping and dining, the Lower East Side is home to several popular music and performing venues, including Abrons Arts Center and Bowery Ballroom.

Be sure to stop by the Tenement Museum, which offers guided tours of historic tenement buildings and explores the lives of the immigrants who once lived there.

20. Shop and taste at the Union Square Greenmarket

The Union Square Greenmarket is one of the largest and most popular farmers’ markets in New York City. Located in the heart of Manhattan’s Union Square Park (worth a visit on its own), the market features a wide variety of locally grown produce, meat, beer and ciders, and prepared foods like pastries or pasta.

The market is also great for discovering new and sometimes exotic foods from local farmers, like reishi mushrooms from Blue Oyster Cultivation and okra flowers and huitlacoche from Lani’s Farm.

The market is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday year-round, but the selection of produce and products vary depending on the season. Consider visiting in the summer, when the market is in full swing, and the selection of fruits and vegetables is at its peak.

21. Discover the medieval secrets at The Cloisters

Located in Upper Manhattan, The Cloisters Museum features a collection of medieval art and architecture, including illuminated manuscripts, sculptures, and stained glass. The Cloisters is a branch of the MET museum.

You can explore the many galleries and exhibitions that showcase Europe’s rich artistic traditions from the 9th to the 16th centuries or the beautiful gardens and learn how medieval plants and herbs played a part in medicine and art. You have free access to The Cloisters Gardens with your museum ticket.

It is a must-visit destination for art and history lovers, but it can be tricky to get to. Our tip? Take the 1 or A trains to Dyckman Street, but wear comfortable shoes, as the museum is on a steep hill.

Of course, there are more than 21 things to do in New York City. Whether you’re interested in art, history, culture, or food , New York City has it all—and don’t miss out on the city’s buzzy LGBTQ+ scene , either.

How did we choose our 21 best things to do in NYC?

The selection of the best things to do in New York City was based on the knowledge of multiple New York City locals, including the author, as well as extensive research. We wanted to provide a well-rounded and diverse list of activities and attractions that would appeal to a wide range of interests and preferences. From iconic landmarks to lesser-known gems, each recommendation was carefully chosen to showcase the best of what New York City has to offer.

Visiting New York City: FAQs

Do i need a car in new york city.

No, you don’t need a car in New York City. New York City has one of the world’s most extensive and efficient public transportation systems, including buses, subways, and trains. The city’s public transportation system can take you virtually anywhere you want to go, often faster and more reliably than driving.

When is a good time to visit New York City?

New York City is a great destination to visit year-round, but the best time to go depends on your preferences and what you want to do.

Spring and fall are generally considered the best times to visit because the weather is mild, and the crowds are thinner than during the peak summer tourist season. Spring is gorgeous in New York City, with blooming flowers in Central Park and a lively atmosphere as people emerge from winter.

Still, ultimately, the best time to visit New York City depends on your preferences and what you want to do while you’re there.

How long should I spend in New York City?

The time you should spend in New York City depends on what you want to do and see while you’re there. There are so many incredible attractions, museums, and neighborhoods to explore that it’s easy to fill a week or more with activities.

For a first-time visit to New York City, spend at least five days to get a sense of the city’s vibrant energy, diverse neighborhoods, and iconic landmarks. This will give you enough time to visit all the famous attractions and explore areas like Greenwich Village, Chinatown, and Williamsburg.

If you’re short on time, you can still get a taste of New York City in just a few days. A three-day itinerary could include highlights like the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the High Line, the Brooklyn Bridge, and a Broadway show or a night out in the trendy Meatpacking District.

Is New York City safe?

As far as large cities go, New York City is safe to visit. The city has made progress in reducing crime, and the overall crime rate is much lower than in the past.

That being said, it’s always essential to take precautions and be aware of your surroundings when traveling to any destination, including New York.

Some neighborhoods in the city may have higher crime rates than others, so it’s a good idea to research the areas you plan to visit and take precautions accordingly.

Does New York City have tourist passes?

Yes, New York City offers several tourist passes that can help you save money on popular attractions and activities.

The New York CityPASS is a popular option that includes admission to five top attractions, including the Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History, as well as three more attractions of your choice, ranging from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise. The pass is valid for nine consecutive days and offers savings of up to 40% off regular admission prices.

Before purchasing a tourist pass, it’s a good idea to research the attractions you want to visit and compare the prices to the cost of a pass. Some attractions may offer discounted admission during certain times or days of the week, so it’s important to do your homework and find the best deal for your needs.

About the author

Explore more articles

• How we work
• Hotel owners
• Advertise with us
• Airline fees
• Low fare tips
• Badges & Certificates
• Terms & Conditions

California consumers have the right to opt out of the sale * of their personal information. For more information on how we securely process personal information, please see our Privacy Policy .

Do not sell my info ON

* The definition of "sale" under the California Consumer Privacy Act is applicable only to California consumers.

The Best 100 Things to Do in New York City (Written by a Local)

Overwhelmed by the sheer number of things to do in New York City as you plan your trip?

Don’t fret! I’ve put together this master list of the top 100 New York attractions to help you put together your New York City itinerary. Plus, at the bottom, you’ll find a bonus section with special NYC things to do that happen only around specific holidays.

But why should you trust me when there are so many guides listing the top NYC attractions?!?

I’ve lived in New York City for 20+ years and have long since been made an honorary New Yorker. Nearly everything on this list is a place I’ve personally visited or an experience I’ve tried. So in addition to my local expertise, this list of 100 best things to do in New York has been travel-tested.

So, are you ready to plan your trip to NYC? Let’s go!

New York Attractions Map

I put together this map to correspond with the list below of the best places to visit in New York City. The only things missing are things that are experiences like dining or tours that don’t have a single set location.

As you decide which things are on your NYC sightseeing list, use the map to help plan the things to do to avoid backtracking or planning visits to multiple places that are too far from one another. (i.e. The Met Cloisters and the Financial District probably don’t make sense on the same day.)

New York Sightseeing Pass: Do You Need One?

Sightseeing passes are a great idea if you’re going to make full use of them. Assuming you do, they can help you save money by bundling costs for attraction tickets compared to buying individual tickets.

Go City offers an Explorer Pass which lets you choose the number of sights you want to see. You’ll have 60 days to visit them. This pass could be right for you if you don’t plan on seeing every sight in NYC and/or if you don’t want to sightsee every day.

If you plan to make the most of every minute in New York City, Go City offers an All-Inclusive Pass . Instead of choosing sights, the pass is good for the number of days you purchase. For example, if you choose a 3-day pass, you can visit as many of the included New York attractions as you want in those 3 days.

New York CityPASS also offers a bundled sightseeing pass that includes 5 attractions. Two are set with the pass and the other 3 are of your choosing. The pass is valid for 9 days so it offers some breathing room if you don’t want to see everything on consecutive days.

No matter which you choose, passes like these offer savings and a ton of convenience. You just need to do the math to decide whether they make sense for your New York trip.

The Best 100 Things to Do in New York City

1. Summit One Vanderbilt

The Summit One Vanderbilt attraction is New York City’s most recently built birds-eye view experience. And it does not disappoint! Even for a New Yorker like me who’s seen the Manhattan skyline from above many times, the sweeping NYC vistas in every direction are absolutely breathtaking! The experience is creative and interactive, too, which only adds to the fun.

The most popular time of day to go is just before dusk because you can see the skyline with the daylight and as the sun sets and the lights of the city go on. If you can’t go then, no worries! You can’t go wrong anytime on a blue sky day but if you go earlier in the morning, you’ll have fewer people photo-bombing your shots.

Just be sure to book your timed-entry tickets in advance because Summit One Vanderbilt is one of the most popular things to do in New York City.

2. 9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum consists of the reflecting pools in the original footprints of the Twin Towers and the museum inside. Both are meant to remember the events of 9/11 and honor its many victims.

As you descend into the 9/11 museum, you’ll find an overwhelming display of artifacts, first-person accounts, recordings, and photos to teach about the horrific events of 9/11. It’s an emotional visit, to say the least, and certainly one of the most moving and memorable things to do in New York.

Plan ahead with a 9/11 Museum skip-the-line ticket . The line to buy tickets can be quite long, especially during peak times. You’ll be glad to have a timed ticket to streamline your entrance into the museum. You can also read my full guide on the 9/11 Museum to know more about what to expect inside the museum.

3. Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

Of all the NYC attractions on this list, visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are probably the most famous! You can take a boat to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty up close. While you’re on Liberty Island, you can also visit the Statue of Liberty Museum and enjoy the gorgeous views looking back on Manhattan and New York Harbor.

Statue Cruises offers tickets from Battery Park to Liberty Island and Ellis Island to see the Statue of Liberty from the outside and visit the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. If you want to go inside the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, you’ll need a separate reservation which you can book here.

Don’t skip the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island, especially if you had any ancestors pass through this gateway! It highlights the journey and the arduous process the millions of people who emigrated to the United States at the turn of the 20th century experienced to enter the country. You can even look for the names of distant relatives on the Wall of Honor outside the museum.

Arriving by boat, I could grasp just a small sense of what it must have been like for my great-grandparents to finally see the Statue of Liberty in the harbor.

4. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge’s design, position alongside the city skyline, and the incredible story, about how the bridge came to be, makes it one of the most special New York attractions on this list!

Just across from the side of City Hall Park in Lower Manhattan , you’ll see the majestic Gothic arches of the Manhattan Tower and the pedestrian promenade that takes you up onto the center of the bridge.

As you walk, you’ll pass the draping 4 main cables and the suspension cables and diagonal stays that create a gorgeous geometric aesthetic. Think about how the bridge was constructed entirely by hand over 14 years. (It only took 1 year to build the Empire State Building!)

Imagine that the Brooklyn Bridge was the tallest structure in Manhattan when it opened in 1883 and offered the first opportunity for the public to see what the growing city and the East River looked like from overhead.

I recommend this amazing book for kids and adults to get some quick history on the Brooklyn Bridge. If you walk to the Brooklyn side, descend the steps on the left side and make the 5-minute walk to Juliana’s Pizza. It might just be the BEST pizza in all of New York City.

5. Discover Battery Park.

This historic park on the southern tip of Manhattan is named for its former purpose as a military and artillery battery dating back to the late 1600s when the Dutch used it as a strategic vantage point to protect the then colony of New Amsterdam. Before that, the Native Lenape who lived on Manhattan also considered this rocky outcropping to be of logistical importance.

Today, Battery Park has winding pathways leading to numerous monuments, the 19th-Century defense fort Castle Clinton (named for DeWitt Clinton, a former NYC Mayor), and the Seaglass Carousel. Castle Clinton is a National Monument where Park Rangers offer daily guided tours

Boats also leave from docks along the park’s shores heading to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Governor’s Island, and Staten Island.

As you visit the park, consider that the streets just adjacent to the park are among the oldest in NYC. In fact, the building housing the National Museum of the American Indian was the former Alexander Hamilton Customs House. And before that, the building was built at the site of the original Fort Amsterdam, built by the first Dutch settlers.

6. Ascend the Empire State Building.

If this isn’t one of the most iconic New York attractions, I don’t know what is! The Empire State Building is synonymous with New York City.

This art deco building is an absolute classic. You’ll have the opportunity to ride the elevators up to the 86th floor and its 360° open-air observation deck. Or if you’d like to go higher, ascend to the 102nd floor for an ultimate panorama over the city.

Throughout your visit, you’ll pass through several exhibitions. You’ll have the chance to learn about how the Empire State Building was built and how it became solidified as one of the most famous buildings of all time. You might even come face to face with King Kong who famously scaled the building in King Kong the movie!

As with all of the best things to do in New York, get your tickets in advance . The timed entry will guarantee you don’t waste any time waiting in line.

7. Savor Central Park.

Urban parks don’t get any better than the beautifully elegant Central Park. It’s an absolute must on any New York itinerary!

Central Park is a perfect rectangle positioned within Manhattan’s grid street layout. It spans from 59th Street up to 110th Street (about 2.5 miles long) between 5th Avenue and Central Park West (about .5 miles wide). Central Park’s most famous sights are mainly between 59th and 86th Streets. Although, if you go further north in the park, you’ll discover the gems like the Reservoir, the Conservatory Gardens, and Harlem Meer.

Must-see spots to see in Central Park include the Mall leading to the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain area. Walk across and along the paths in and around the Bow Bridge. Take a boat out onto the Lake. Picnic in Sheep’s Meadow. Enjoy the views from Belvedere Castle. Admire the Imagine Mosaic at Strawberry Fields. Hike in the Ramble. Stroll in the area of the Gapstow Bridge. It’s easy to laze away many days in this incredible green space.

Most visitors stroll the park on foot or opt to rent bikes to sightsee throughout Cental Park. You can even join a guided Central Park Bike Tour to see all of the park’s prettiest spots.

It’s also easy to combine a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of New York or the American Museum of Natural History since they’re just across from one other on opposite sides of the park’s fringes.

8. Rocket up to One World Observatory. (The tallest building in NYC!)

If you’ve planned a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, grab the chance to also ascend the 102 stories of One World Trade to the indoor observatory. The building is also known as the Freedom Tower and was built after the attacks of 9/11.

On a visit to One World Observatory, you’ll zoom to the top in just 47 seconds while getting a quick history lesson of the island from the time when Native Americans lived on the wild island of Mannahatta to now as a global city teeming with skyscrapers and activity.

At the top, be rewarded with sweeping panoramic views of the NYC skyline and the waterways surrounding the island of Manhattan. You can also have a snack, a drink, or a meal at the restaurant and bar on the 101st floor which also comes with jaw-dropping views!

As with many top things to do in NYC, get your skip-the-line ticket in advance to maximize the time you spend visiting.

9. Shop at The Oculus.

You can’t miss the white modern structure across from the 9/11 Memorial & One World Observatory. The Oculus was built as part of the 9/11 redevelopment plan. Its purpose was to replace the transit hub that existed below the Twin Towers. And the design was meant to inspire. It symbolizes a dove flying out of the hands of a child.

In addition to the many train lines that converge at the Oculus, you’ll find shops, bathrooms, and a cool photo-op spot near the entry overlooking the atrium inside. It’s also a convenient place to warm up, cool off, or escape the weather if you’re visiting the Financial District on a less-than-ideal day.

10. Stroll Fifth Avenue.

World-famous Fifth Avenue is in the heart of Manhattan. In fact, it’s the dividing line between the east and west sides of the island. People come from all over to sightsee, window-shop, and maybe even splurge at the avenue’s high-end shops.

Focus on the area from the luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue between 57th and 58th Streets to the main New York Public Library Building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.

In between these 16 blocks, you’ll find places like Tiffany & Co., Louis Vitton, Cartier, Ferragamo, Saks Fifth Avenue Department Store, as well as Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Bryant Park. As far as things to see in New York goes, Fifth Avenue has it all.

ProTip: If you were to continue further down Fifth Avenue past 42nd Street, you’ll see the Empire State Building at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue and the Flatiron Building between 22nd and 23rd Streets.

11. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

This top New York City sight needs no introduction. MoMA is the most popular modern art museum in NYC. When planning a visit here, get a skip-the-line ticket to avoid wasting time in a long line.

Once inside, you have your pick of masterpieces by Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Frieda Kahlo, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollack, and more. There are also temporary exhibitions which you get access to with your ticket.

Unlike many museums in New York City, MoMA is open on Mondays and it tends to be busy. Avoid Mondays if possible. MoMA is also free on Fridays between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Arrive early if you intend to take advantage of this because as you might imagine there are lots of people who like free.

Audio guides are included with your ticket and, if you’re visiting for the first time, begin on the 5th floor and work your way down.

ProTip: If you’re in MoMA’s neighborhood and feeling hungry, grab a pita or platter from the Halal Guys food cart at 53rd Street and 6th Avenue. It’s just down the block from MoMA and will likely have a line of people waiting for some deliciousness.

12. Visit Rockefeller Center.

This is one of the most popular places to visit in New York and even more so at Christmastime when the famed Rockefeller Center tree is sparkling over the ice rink below.

Outside of the holiday season, the plaza is buzzing with activity from the shops, restaurants, art, gardens, temporary exhibitions, and TV studios within its borders. The most visible is the popular TODAY Show which is filmed here and where the show’s summer concert series takes place.

No matter when you visit, it’s nearly obligatory to take a few photos with Rockefeller Center as the backdrop!

13. Admire the View from Top of the Rock.

Also situated in Rockefeller Center is the famed 30 Rockefeller Skyscraper. This is where the Saturday Night Live Studios and the NBC Studios are located. It’s also home to the Top of the Rock observation deck.

The indoor and open-air observation terraces at the Top of the Rock cover viewing spaces across 3 levels culminating on the 70th floor. You’ll have spectacular unobstructed views over the city in all directions.

Undoubtedly, the best time to make the ascent is at night. The NYC night skyline is breathtaking and from the Top of the Rock, you can get front-and-center views of the Empire State Building in your photos, as well as One World Observatory in the distance.

Avoid waiting in the long lines that develop, especially during peak seasons, and get your Top of the Rock tickets in advance.

14. St. Patrick’s Cathedral

This Gothic Revival Cathedral on Fifth Avenue welcomes thousands of visitors each day. It opened in 1879 after taking 21 years to build and still is the largest cathedral of its kind in the United States.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral stands next to Saks Fifth Avenue Department Store and across from Rockefeller Center so it’s easy to stop in to admire the architecture and the stained glass. In addition to being one of the things to see in NYC, the Cathedral still holds Masses throughout the week. Check the website for exact times depending on when you visit.

15. Bryant Park

Bryant Park is located behind the main New York Public Library building, along 42nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. This public park space in the heart of midtown Manhattan is a bustling hive of activity all year long.

In the winter, it’s where you’ll find the most popular New York City Christmas Market and an ice rink. Outside of this time, the park’s green space becomes a spot to picnic, watch movies (in summer), take part in dance parties, stroll, dine, watch a chess match, play ping pong, read, and people-watch. It’s truly beloved by local New Yorkers and visitors, alike.

In between NYC sightseeing spots from Fifth Avenue to Times Square, Bryant Park is the perfect place to pause and enjoy the urban park vibe.

ProTip: Bryant Park also has some of the best public restrooms in the entire city. They are staff-attended, well-kept, and centrally located.

16. Eat Wafels & Dinges.

It’s no exaggeration to say this will probably be the best waffle you’ll ever eat. Imagine a Belgian waffle encased in a sweet glaze-y crunchiness and topped with heavenly sweet toppings from Nutella to ice cream to whipped cream. (In fact, I’ll BRB!)

There are several locations around the city but if you’re in Bryant Park, there’s a Wafels & Dinges kiosk on the corner of 42nd Street and 6th Avenue. Don’t pass by without trying one! You can build your own with the toppings of your choice or go with one of their “legendary” options.

17. See a Broadway Show.

New York City is known for its world-class theater! Seeing a musical or a play on Broadway is a rite of passage and absolutely one of the best things to do in NYC.

New York Citys Theater District stems in and around the Times Square area. If you’re walking along Broadway in the W.40s and W.50s, look left or right down any of the streets. You’ll almost always see the bright lights of a Broadway marquis or two shimmering with the name of the show playing at that theater.

You can get discounted tickets at the TKTS booth on 47th Street in Times Square for both Broadway and Off-Broadway shows or you can book your tickets in advance. If there is a particular show you’d like to see, be sure to book those tickets online before your NYC trip. The selection at TKTS changes daily so there is no guarantee that the show you want to see is listed.

Keep in mind, the line at the TKTS booth can get quite long.

If you’re flexible about what show you see, you could wait until about 30-60 minutes before show time to buy tickets for a show with tickets available. You could also visit the TKTS location near Lincoln Center on 62nd Street just off Broadway which tends to be less crowded. Sometimes, it’s even worth a visit to the actual theater’s box office to see what their best-priced tickets are for performances that day.

ProTip: Download the TKTS app to see what shows are available that day. You’ll still need to go to one of the booth locations to buy the tickets and availability changes quickly. Mondays have the fewest shows available as it’s typically the day when most theaters are closed.

18. Marvel at Times Square

Times Square is the absolute ground zero for New York sightseeing. If you’re visiting NYC, you have to take at least a few moments to marvel at the flashing bright lights of Times Square with its pedestrians, traffic, and street performers crisscrossing in seemingly every direction.

The best vantage point is from the top of the red stairs just behind the TKTS booth at 47th Street and Broadway. From here, you get a birds-eye view of the entire frenzied, flickering, nonstop scene.

If you’re in Times Square at night, check out the “Midnight Moment.” From 11:57 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. each night, all 90+ digital display boards in Times Square pause their ads and show the works of today’s brightest artists. For these moments, Times Square becomes the largest public art display in the world!

19. Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met, as it’s affectionately called, is one of the most popular art museums in the world. It’s the biggest in the Americas and draws comparisons to the Louvre in Paris. So it comes as no surprise that this is among the top New York tourist attractions.

Even if you’re not a “museum person,” the Met is one of those places where you should at least spend a couple of hours. The museum contains 2 million+ works of art from paintings to sculptures to objects, furniture, and armor. These works represent over 5,000 years of history and culture from around the world

Highlights include the Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian section of the museum. It’s an actual Egyptian Temple that stood along the banks of the Nile 2000 years ago. There are self-portraits by Van Gogh and Rembrandt and an epic painting by Emanuel Leutze called “Washington Crossing the Delaware” in the museum’s American wing.

While you’re at the museum, be sure to check out the gorgeous view from the terrace! You can see Central Park and the skyscrapers that border the greenery on all sides.

Purchase tickets ahead of time online or use the automated kiosks at the museum to avoid waiting in line.

20. Hudson Yards & the Vessel

Located on Manhattan’s far west side, Hudson Yards and the Vessel are between W. 30th and W.33rd Streets in between 10th and 11th Avenues. There are over 100 shops and 20+ restaurants, including the delicious Mercado Little Spain which is a combination market and eatery. The shops skew luxury but you’ll also find favorites like H&M, Zara, Uniqlo, and Madewell.

The Vessel is a nest-like structure that climbs 16 levels with 80 different landings visitors can use to take in the Hudson River views. Unfortunately, the Vessel is temporarily closed but it’s still well worth going over to take photos of this architectural piece of art.

The #7 subway train was extended years ago to add a Hudson Yards stop after Times Square so it’s easier than ever to get to this part of the island. Not to mention, Hudson Yards has bathrooms which are not always easy to find when you’re out and about for a day of NYC sightseeing.

21. Edge Observation Deck

Atop Hudson Yards is the outdoor Edge Observation Deck . Edge is one of Manhattan’s premiere observation decks! It soars 100 stories over the city and has 360° views. There’s also a bar and a glass floor!

What truly sets it apart from other observation decks in Manhattan is its location on the far west side. You get a totally unique vantage point. Go just before sunset. The sunset to the west of the Hudson River casts gorgeous warm light over the cityscape. And, as the sky darkens, you’ll also get to see the city light up.

22. City Climb

Are you someone who loves a thrill? Then, add the City Climb Experience to your NYC itinerary!

You’ll get to channel your inner (quasi) Spiderman and climb 30 Hudson Yards, a 1,200-foot high skyscraper, using a 45° angled staircase. (Code for exceptionally steep!) And in case you’re wondering, that staircase is out in the open, high above New York City. Then, if you dare, you can lean out over the Manhattan skyline for a total adrenaline rush!

This experience also includes access to Edge at Hudson Yards. Keep in mind you need to be 13+ to take on this challenge. Climbers must also be between 4’9″ and 6’7″ and 65 lbs. to 310 lbs.

23. Walk the High Line.

This elevated urban park is one of NYC’s true gems and is rightfully included on many what to do in NYC lists. The High Line stretches from W. 34th Street and the Hudson Yards area to Gansevoort St. in the West Village along old rail tracks above the street. It’s the perfect blend of repurposing urban structures to preserve the past while transforming the space for modern use.

As you walk the High Line, enjoy the city and river views, street art, the plants and flowers growing among the former train tracks, and the modern architecture that runs along either side of the pathway. Sometimes, there are temporary art exhibitions along the way, too.

When you need a rest, stop for a snack or even a beverage at one of the food carts. You can exit or enter the High Line from 12 different access stairways. The next item on this list is one of the main reasons to temporarily pause your walk.

24. Sample Bites at Chelsea Market.

Chelsea Market is one of the best New York City attractions, especially for foodies and anyone who loves good eats! The market takes up an entire city block in a building that once was the old Nabisico factory and where the Oreo was made and invented.

Today, the market is home to popular eateries like Los Tacos No.1, Miznon, and Very Fresh Noodles. There are also bakeries, gelato, and other sweets like the halva at Seed + Mill and the Doughnuttery. You’ll also find some shops like Pearl River Market and Imports from Morocco where you can shop for goods from Asia and Morocco.

Chelsea Market gets crowded midday for lunch. Unless, you’re one of the lucky few to find a seat somewhere in the market, be prepared to grab and go or head to one of the seating areas that line the sidewalk outside. Regardless, it’s worth the hype and the crowds!

25. ARTECHOUSE NYC

Below Chelsea Market on W. 15th Street, ARTECHOUSE transforms a utilitarian space into a digital art display. The interactive and immersive displays are projected onto the walls, floors, and ceiling and show the vibrant work of different media artists. The exhibitions change, too, so it’s possible to have a different experience on a return visit.

The artwork projections run on a loop and you’re welcome to stay for as long as you want. It could be a great way to sit and just enjoy the show if you’re legs are tired from too much nyc sightseeing or you just need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. ARTECHOUSE would also make a fun stop on a rainy day in New York.

If you want to guarantee entry at a specific time, get your ARTECHOUSE tickets in advance.

26. Little Island Park

As you walk along the High Line, you’ll likely spot Little Island Park in the Hudson River. From a distance, it might appear to be giant golf tees or a group of heels from high-heeled shoes all bunched together and at different levels.

The park is a creative outdoor space that attracts a lot of visitors. It’s open daily and, in the warmer months, offers free and low-cost performances and educational programming for kids put on by various artists.

Stroll the pathways to admire the many plants and flowers on display and to take in the Hudson River views. From the park, you can see the rounded edge of Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and the Verazzano Bridge in the distance.

27. Manhattan Helicopter Tour

While it’s most certainly one of the priciest New York activities, a helicopter tour over the city is an unforgettable way to experience the city’s incredible beauty.

Depending on which option you choose, you’ll be in the air for anywhere between 12-30 minutes. From the sky, you’ll see NYC’s most iconic sights like Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Financial District, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, and more. The views are absolutely breathtaking!

The tour also includes narration to give context to what you’re seeing and floor-to-ceiling windows for optimal birds-eye sightseeing!

28. Enjoy Greenwich Village.

When you arrive in historic and chic Greenwich Village, you’ll have left the steel and glass towers of midtown behind for smaller and much quieter tree-lined blocks. Greenwich Village is home to classic cafes, shops, celebrity homes, and cultural and historical landmarks. It’s the type of neighborhood meant for strolling!

You can walk past the Friends apartment building at the corner of Grove and Bedford Streets. People watch in Washington Square Park. Find the cutest cafes tucked into the cobblestone lanes weaving through the neighborhood. Go boutique shopping. Or have a fun night out singing show tunes at Marie’s Crisis!

You can check out my complete Greenwich Village guide to help you plan your visit. The neighborhood is also the setting for many popular walking tours including this neighborhood tour .

29. Washington Square Park

If you’re only passing through Greenwich Village and want to make just a quick stop, visit Washington Square Park. The park is in the heart of NYU’s urban campus so you’re likely to notice groups of students. But in addition to that, the park is a microcosm of New York City life.

You’ll see people chatting on park benches and chess players deep in thought as they strategize over their next move. Artists, musicians, acrobats, activists…you’re likely to see a bit of everything in this historic park. There are plenty of grab-and-go eats from pizza to falafel just outside the park. Bring your snack into the park and join in the scene.

Take a moment to admire the Washington Square Arch which was built to remember the 100th anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration. And years before, when New York was just a growing colony, Washington Square Park was used as a potter’s field. This is why it’s a prominent stop on many Greenwich Village ghost tours.

30. American Museum of Natural History

NYC has no shortage of family-friendly activities when you’re planning an NYC trip with kids. But truly, this Upper West Side gem is a space for all ages to marvel at animals from prehistoric to modern times, fossils, the biodiversity of the planet, human origins, and early civilizations.

Visit the Hayden Planetarium to gaze at the stars and transport yourself through the vast universe. In addition to the planetarium, the Rose Center for Earth and Space has exhibitions that walk you through the history of the universe and help you imagine the vastness of Outer Space.

New in 2023, the museum’s newly opened Gilder Center is 230,000 square feet of space spread over 4 floors. The new science center has immersive exhibits that are all new and are designed to teach visitors about the natural world from butterflies and insects to ecosystems and DNA. It’s a new addition not to be missed!

At the time of rewriting and updating this guide (2023), it was still necessary to have a timed entry to visit the American Museum of Natural History. If you purchase your ticket in advance , you’ll still need to go to the AMNH website and select a specific time on your date.

31. Cathedral of St. John the Divine

St. John the Divine, a Romanesque and Gothic revival cathedral on the Upper West Side, sits on Amsterdam Avenue between W. 110th Street (a.k.a Cathedral Parkway) and W. 113th Street. When you see the cathedral, you’re bound to scratch your head at its unusual appearance.

Despite construction starting over 100 years ago, the cathedral remains unfinished and has a mix of styles due to changes in design, funding issues, and fire. Yet, St. John the Divine, with its gorgeous stained glass rose window, is one of the largest churches in the world.

You can visit with a timed entry ticket or join one of the public guided tours including the Vertical Tour which takes you up to the top of the cathedral. Tickets are available on the cathedral’s website.

ProTip: For 20 years, a trio of peacocks, Jim, Phil, and Harry, lived the good life wandering the 13 acres of the cathedral grounds. However, if you were hoping to see them, they are no longer there (although there is a possibility of a new trio at some point). They’ve been moved to an animal sanctuary to receive care and comfort as they live a happy retirement.

32. General Grant National Memorial

This hidden gem National Memorial is tucked in between Harlem and the Upper West Side of Manhattan at the northern edge of Riverside Park near W. 122nd Street.

The mausoleum is the final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia. The site is managed by the National Park Service and park rangers are onsite to retell the history and stories of this President and the era in which he lived.

The Memorial is open Wednesday-Sunday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. At the time of rewriting and updating this guide (2023), the Memorial Site was still limiting the number of people allowed inside the mausoleum at any given time. Additionally, the mausoleum and mosaic bench areas close at 4 p.m. while the other areas of the National Monument are open until 5 p.m.

And with no ticket needed to visit, it’s absolutely one of the most interesting free things to do in NYC.

ProTip: Riverside Park is beloved by NYers. Particularly beginning in the low 100s, you’ll find grand open walkways, river views, and monuments like the Firemen’s Memorial at 100th Street. You can also rent Citibikes and ride along the Hudson River Greenway to the Battery Park area in lower Manhattan.

33. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Lincoln Center is home to iconic cultural institutions including the New York City Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, the Lincoln Center Theater, the Julliard School, and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, among several others.

It’s situated between W. 62nd and W. 65th Streets just where Broadway and Columbus Avenue intersect. At night, the lights of the buildings illuminate around the center fountain. If you’re planning to see a show at one of the theaters or performance spaces at Lincoln Center, you’ll be taking part in a quintessential NYC performing arts outing.

If you like jazz, take a look at the Jazz at Lincoln Center performance schedule. Part of Lincoln Center, though performances take place in Columbus Circle, a show at a place like the Allen Room or Dizzy’s Club comes with fantastic Columbus Park and Central Park views.

34. Grand Central Terminal

This famous train station is both a National Historic Landmark and Beaux-Arts masterpiece, as well as a connection point for NYC’s subway and many commuter trains. It’s also got shops, a food court, the famous Oyster Bar, and even a gourmet market. It’s almost a small city unto itself!

Take a moment to look at the constellations on the domed green ceiling in the main concourse. Walk the ramps to the lower level to arrive in front of the Oyster Bar. You might notice other people talking into one of the corners just outside the Oyster Bar. Because of the acoustics in the space, you can talk into one of the corners while another person at the opposite diagonal corner can hear every word you say.

Grand Central is on 42nd Street between Park and Lexington Avenues. It’s just a quick 5-minute walk from Fifth Avenue and Bryant Park. It’s also just next to Summit One Vanderbilt with internal access between the buildings.

35. Chrysler Building

If you’re walking down 42nd Street toward Grand Central Terminal, look up! You can’t miss the iconic Art Deco Chrysler Building. It was completed at the end of May in 1930 and, for about 1 year, was the tallest building in the world until the Empire State Building was completed.

In fact, there was a race to build the tallest building among the Chrysler Building, 40 Wall Street, and the Empire State Building. 40 Wall Street was completed first and was the tallest for just a couple of months.

In secret, the former business partner of the guy at 40 Wall Street who also happened to be building the Chrysler Building, had the building’s spire made within the building. Once the building was finished and the spire added, the Chrysler Building had (temporarily) won the race to the sky.

Although there are no tours or observation decks to visit the Chrysler Building, you can go inside to admire the lobby on weekdays between 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. The best close-up sky views of the Chrysler Building are from atop Summit One Vanderbilt.

36. The FRIENDS Experience

Can’t get enough of Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler, and Joey? Here’s your chance to immerse yourself in the show!

Across 2 levels, you can visit the apartments, Central Perk, recreate your own couch-moving “pivot” photo-op, and see many original props and costumes from the show. It’s a ton of fun for fans of the show, who, let’s admit it, always wanted to join the “Friends” group at Monica’s apartment!

The experience is located at the corner of E. 23rd Street and Lexington Avenue. Get your tickets in advance to select the time and date you’d like to visit. There are a limited number of people allowed in at any given time so that you can enjoy the experience and take photos without crowds of people.

37. Museum of Broadway

Finally, Broadway has a museum to celebrate its fascinating history! Opened in November 2022, the museum is broken into 3 parts to show visitors the evolution of Broadway shows over the decades, information about New York City’s theater district, and exhibits that explain the making of a Broadway show.

The museum is full of original costumes, props, and set designs. There are rooms dedicated to specific shows depending on where you are in the Broadway timeline. And the interactive displays let you have your moment in the spotlight of your favorite show. Ever wanted to be Mimi from Rent singing “Out Tonight” on the staircase? You can climb the staircase there and pose for your perfect Mimi shot!

The Museum of Broadway is located in the theater district, of course! It’s on W.45th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. It’s open 7 days a week, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. The museum is one of the top things to do in NYC for theater lovers!

38. Intrepid Sea Air, & Space Museum

The Intrepid is a permanently docked American naval history museum along the Hudson River at Pier 86 (W. 46th Street) on the far west side of Midtown Manhattan. This famous aircraft carrier served in World War II, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and helped Nasa as a recovery vessel.

Today, you’ll find military planes, a submarine, and other vessels on board, as well as a real U.S. Space Shuttle and a Concorde. There are a ton of exhibits and interactive activities for all ages to enjoy. If you have a question while you’re visiting, ask one of the retired Navy Sailors who volunteer their time.

As with nearly all top things to do in NYC, avoid the line by booking your Intrepid ticket in advance .

39. Get a Hudson River Perspective on a Circle Line Cruise.

In my opinion, everyone who visits NYC should see it at least once from the water. It’s the best vantage point to understand that Manhattan is truly an island, as well as pass under bridges and see the city from a different angle. And the view is even more stunning when you go at night and see the city skyline lit up.

Circle Line offers several sightseeing cruises. This Harbor Lights Cruise is about 2 hours long and takes you from Pier 83 (W. 43rd Street) in Midtown Manhattan south into New York Harbor, around the southern tip of the island, and then up the east side as far as the Williamsburg Bridge.

Along the way, you’ll pass by the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Intrepid, and more. There are indoor and outdoor decks, as well as a place to buy snacks and drinks.

40. Guggenheim Museum

Even before you go inside to see the exhibits, stop to admire the Guggenheim’s exterior. It was designed by master architect Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1959. It’s since been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The building works in tandem as a piece of art containing numerous contemporary exhibitions on display inside. The works change so check the exhibitions that are on at the time of your visit.

The Guggenheim sits along Fifth Avenue between E. 88th and E. 89th Streets and is part of New York City’s Museum Mile. Once inside, you begin at the top and experience the exhibits as the rotunda spirals lead to the works of art being shown.

The museum is just a few blocks from The Metropolitan Museum of Art and is opposite Central Park. It’s easy to combine museum visits or combine time at the Guggenheim with some exploration in this part of Central Park including the Reservoir and its popular loop path.

You can get your tickets in advance to avoid the line.

41. Visit Chinatown NYC.

A visit to Chinatown has to be one of the most fun things to do in NYC, especially if you’re a foodie! There are a seemingly endless number of places to taste dumplings, noodles, pork rolls, and the like. The key is knowing where and how to allocate you’re valuable stomach real estate. You can get all my tips in my Chinatown NYC guide !

In addition, a stroll through the neighborhood (especially along Mott Street) during the day gives a glimpse of the lively fish and produce markets lining the streets. Chinatown is also known for its shopping, particularly for knock-off designer items. You’ll find these types of goods on Canal and the side streets in between.

I prefer to spend money in local shops like Ting’s Gift Shop at the corner of Pell and Doyers Streets after indulging in some of my favorite dishes at Wo Hop.

42. Manhattan Bridge Arch & Colonnade

While you’re in Chinatown, walk a few minutes along Canal Street to the Bowery. This is also where the entrance to the Manhattan Bridge is. The arch and the colonnade of the bridge date back to 1915. Together, they create a half-circular monument with columns and sculptures and have been recognized as an NYC landmark.

Aside from viewing the arch and the colonnade from street level, you can go to The Crown, a rooftop bar (all ages welcome with someone 21+ during the day) that overlooks the city and provides a spectacular view of the bridge’s arch and colonnade.

If you have a little time, walk onto the pedestrian walkway of the Manhattan Bridge. It’s located on the right side if you’re facing the arch and colonnade. There are several great photo spots of the city and the bridge even if you walk just a bit of the pathway.

43. See Historic Little Italy.

Just next to Chinatown, you’ll find the remaining streets of NYC’s Little Italy. In fact, for a truly one-of-a-kind look at how close these neighborhoods are, stand at the corner of Canal Street and Mulberry Street. If you look one way down Mulberry Street, you’ll see the hanging lanterns of Chinatown, while the other direction has the tinsel, lights, and Italian welcome to Little Italy.

Mahattan’s Little Italy is centered on the north side of Canal Street in and around the Mulberry, Baxter, Hester, and Grand Streets. The neighborhood is lined with restaurants and shops selling Italian pastries, cheese, and fresh pasta.

It pays to do a little homework before eating in Little Italy. There are more than a few mediocre restaurants catering to tourists.

Parm has excellent eggplant and meatball heroes. Il Cortile and Umberto’s Clam House are both delicious spots to sit down and enjoy a meal. Rubirosa and Lombardi’s (a little north of Little Italy in “Nolita”) both are classic spots for pizza. And for Italian pastries, go straight to Ferrara’s Bakery, open since 1892.

44. Catacombs by Candlelight

The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, or Old St. Patrick’s, is a Catholic church that was built in the early 1800s. It’s on Mulberry Street between Prince and Houston Streets. It was built because of the increasing number of Catholics who were immigrating to the United States, mainly from Ireland and Italy. Today the cathedral is both a New York City Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.

Included in the cathedral’s past is its Catacombs, which can be toured with a guide. While touring the catacombs may be one of the more unique things to do in NYC, it’s a fascinating way to learn about the cathedral and hear little-known historical tales about the neighborhood as it experienced waves of change due to immigration in the 1800s and 1900s.

The Catacombs by Candlelight tour is about 90 minutes and gives you access to non-public areas of the cathedral, including 2 enclosed cemeteries where many high-profile figures have their final resting place.

45. The Frick Collection

The Frick Collection is comprised of the paintings and decorative art pieces that once belonged to Henry Clay Frick, a wealthy businessman and art patron. The small museum is one of the most important in the entire country and is a favorite among New Yorkers and visitors alike. It’s a can’t-miss for art lovers visiting NYC.

The collection includes works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Monet, Goya, and Bellini among many others. There are also valuable pieces of 18th-century furniture, sculptures, and porcelain pieces. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions.

Typically, the collection is housed in Frick’s former mansion on E. 70th Street at Fifth Avenue. However, for the past few years, the space has been undergoing renovations. In the interim, the Frick Collection has been moved to a temporary location called Frick Madison on Madison Avenue at E. 75th Street. There are hopeful signs the Frick Collection will re-open in its original location in 2024.

You can visit the museum’s website to purchase tickets.

46. United Nations Headquarters

We all know what the United Nations is but it may be less clear to understand what the United Nations does on a daily basis. That’s why this is one of those New York activities that is truly noteworthy.

The United Nations offers daily 1 hour tours in a variety of languages. The Standard Guided Tour takes you through the history and work of the United Nations, as you pass through the same spaces as diplomats from around the world. You’ll get to see the General Assembly Hall and the Security Council Meeting room, among other important spaces. There are also themed tours focusing on the architecture of the building, women’s rights, black history, and even a tour geared toward children.

To book the Standard Guided Tour, visit the United Nations booking page .

The United Nations Headquarters occupies several city blocks between E. 42nd and E. 48th Street on Manhattan’s far east side along the FDR Highway overlooking the East River. If you’re visiting Grand Central Terminal or near the Chrysler Building, walk east across any street from 42nd to 48th until you reach The United Nations Plaza. You can also take the M42 bus across town.

47. New York Public Library

The main branch of the New York Public Library along Fifth Avenue is a prominent midtown landmark and the 2nd biggest library in the country after the Library of Congress. The Beaux-Arts building opened in 1911 and has millions of books, manuscripts, and objects in its collection.

It’s also been the filming location for countless movies and TV shows including the library ghost scene in Ghostbusters and the place where Carrie Bradshaw gets left standing at the altar in the first Sex and the City movie.

The library is open to the public. Even before you truly admire the architecture of the building, you’ll pass the 2 lion statues, named Patience and Fortitude. Once inside, you can visit Astor Hall, the McGraw Rotunda with its painted ceiling, the Map Collection, and, of course, the stunning Rose Room and Gallery.

The best way to see the Rose Room and Gallery, in particular, is by joining one of the docent-led tours which take place Monday-Saturday. There are full building tours which last 1 hour and Rose Reading Room tours which are just 15 minutes. These tours are free and are available to a limited group of 20-25 people on a first-come-first-serve basis.

You can book online for the full tour starting on Sunday for the upcoming week. For the 15-minute tour, sign up in the McGraw Rotunda up to 30 minutes before the tour starts. For tour times, visit the NYPL’s website for the most current information.

48. South Street Seaport

South Street Seaport is one of the oldest parts of the city and has been brightly revitalized. You’ll come across historic buildings and restored ships, cobblestone streets, shops, and dining. And from the piers, you’ll have beautiful views of the harbor.

This area is on the southern end of the island, situated on the east side near the Financial District and the East River. The South Street Seaport Museum on Fulton Street highlights the area’s history. The museum also includes access to the Wavertree, a 19th-century cargo ship that is also the largest ship made of iron afloat today.

One of my favorite spots is Brown & Co. Stationers on Water Street. Printing was big business for maritime companies needing to print invoices, cargo lists, and the like. Today, the business still has its 19th-century printing presses and customers can print cards, stationery, and other novelty items.

49. Street Art in Bushwick

The Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick is a mecca for New York City’s street art scene. The Bushwick Collective is the organization behind the murals that cover the walls of the neighborhood’s industrial spaces.

The street art movement here has transformed the neighborhood for the better, with artists from around the world coming to share their work with the public. Murals and works of art in Bushwick are part of a “living” exhibition. Murals change regularly so on a visit today, you’ll see works that are different from a few years ago. If your timing is right, you might even see an artist in action creating a new mural!

You can take the “L” subway train to Bushwick and get off at the Jefferson Street station to wander the neighborhood. A better plan is to go on a guided walking tour . Not only will the guide know where all the best murals are, but you’ll also get background on the neighborhood and the artists who create the public art.

You can read my review of the Bushwick Street Art Walking Tour.

50. Shop and Stroll in Soho.

This iconic NYC neighborhood is known for its architecture, shopping, cobblestone streets, art galleries, and cafes. Soho is situated between 6th Avenue and Crosby Street from west to east and Houston and Canal Streets from north to south. The name itself refers to its location which is SO uth of HO uston Street.

From big-name brands to trendy boutiques and vintage shops, Soho is a shopper’s delight! Whether you’re looking for new shoes, used books, or a one-of-a-kind piece of clothing, simply wander along Broadway and streets stemming from it in a westward direction (toward the Hudson River if you’re looking at a map).

While you explore the neighborhood, it’s impossible to miss the gorgeous cast-iron buildings! The construction of this type of architecture was short-lived, mainly during the latter half of the 19th century, before giving way to the skyscraper. I highly recommend the Cast Iron Soho Walking Tour app (it’s free) to help you find Soho’s prettiest buildings and learn more about their history.

During your time in Soho, be sure to taste a cronut from the famed Dominique Ansel Bakery. You might even want to reserve a table for a classic NYC brunch at Balthazar or have some pub bites at the historic Fanelli Cafe.

51. Tenement Museum

At the start of the 20th century, New York City welcomed millions of immigrants in search of a better life. Many of them stayed in NYC, particularly in the tenement housing on the city’s lower east side.

The Tenement Museum, located in the same neighborhood where these new arrivals lived and worked, tells the stories of some of these immigrants.

The museum is unique in that a guide takes you through a specific tenement apartment and/or even through parts of the neighborhood. During the visit, you’ll get an intimate look at what life was like for that particular person or family.

The Tenement Museum has a varying schedule of tours. So, even if you visit once, you can always return for a different-themed tour and a fresh perspective. If you’re planning a visit to Ellis Island, this can be a great way to expand your understanding of these hopeful new arrivals.

52. Merchant House Museum

If you visit The Tenement Museum (and even if you didn’t), plan an hour or so at the Merchant House Museum .

Less than a mile from The Tenement Museum, this family house turned museum shows the opposite side of life in the late 18th and early 19th century in NYC. Home to a wealthy New York family, the historic house has been preserved fully intact.

The Tredwell family raised their 8 children here, with the youngest Gertrude, living in the house up until she died in 1933. At that point, the house was closed as it was (like a time capsule) until a cousin saved the house in 1936 from demolition and turned it into a museum.

Today, you’ll see the house just as the wealthy family left it, complete with many of their personal possessions. You might also catch a glimpse of Gertrude herself! The house has been nicknamed the most haunted house in NYC.

53. Essex Market

Just near the Tenement Museum between Essex and Ludlow Streets, Essex Market is an indoor market with vendors at ground level selling fruits, vegetables, meats, cheese, and other gourmet food items. There’s also a craft beer-tasting bar and shop.

Downstairs, you’ll find a food court with an eclectic mix of cuisines from Mexican, Turkish, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Moroccan, and Ukrainian.

This historic market is a great spot on the lower east side to stroll indoors and find a delicious respite from the busy NYC streets.

54. Relax at a Rooftop Bar.

There’s no denying how spectacular the New York City skyline is when seen from above. And while you can see it from numerous highrise experiences, enjoying the view from a rooftop bar is a quintessentially NYC thing to do.

As you might expect, there’s no shortage of NYC rooftop bars to choose from! The location of the rooftop bar will determine what buildings you’ll see up close. There are also rooftop bars that are more of a party scene versus others where you can lounge with a cocktail and enjoy the view. Some, like The Crown in Chinatown, even welcome children (when accompanied by an of-age adult) during the daytime.

The rooftop bar at 230 Fifth Avenue might just be the most famous rooftop in New York City. There’s no denying that its front and center views of the Empire State Building are incredible.

For a bit of a more special experience, check out the Ophelia Lounge at the top of the Beekman Tower near 1st Avenue and E.49th Street in Midtown East. The views of the East River and the 59th Street Bridge are stunning at night. And the 360° views from the wrap-around terrace let you look gaze at the full scope of Manhattan’s gorgeous skyline.

Gallow Green wins the award for the most beautiful rooftop. And if you’re up for an adventure, take the tramway to Roosevelt Island to enjoy a cocktail from the Panorama Room. You’ll be rewarded with sweeping NYC skyline views!

55. Rubin Museum of Art

This museum in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood flies under the radar compared to New York City’s more famous spots like The Met or MoMA. Yet, this gem of a museum is worth a bit of your time!

The exhibits include works from the Himalayas, India, and Central Asia. Paintings, photographs, tapestries, artifacts, and sculptures are all part of the permanent collections, with temporary exhibitions serving as a complement.

The Rubin is an extremely peaceful place, too. I particularly love the Shrine Room! For a moment, you just might forget you’re in loud and chaotic New York City! The also museum hosts events as well including mindful meditation sessions and family-themed experiences so that all ages can take advantage of the museum’s interactive experience.

You can book your tickets for The Rubin Museum in advance to enjoy this unique New York City cultural site.

56. Tour Filming Locations.

We can all name movies or TV series that took place in New York City. One of them may have even inspired you to plan a trip to NYC. As a local NYer, I can confirm that it’s a common occurrence to see film trailers around the city shooting TV episodes and movie scenes. Even still, I can’t resist stopping to see what they’re filming and perhaps even glimpse a celebrity.

While I can’t guarantee you’ll see something actually being filmed, you can take a fun tour to visit the filming locations of your favorite TV show or movie.

On Location Tours has TV and movie-themed tours, as well as show-specific tours for die-hard fans of shows like Sex and the City, Gossip Girl, or The Sopranos.

57. Union Square Greenmarket

The Greenmarket in Union Square is chock full of vendors selling local fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats, baked goods, fish, and homemade foods from the farms closest to New York City. It’s beloved by NYers and visitors alike. You’re guaranteed to see local shoppers picking up some of their favorite foods!

Spend a little time walking through the open-air market, talking with the food sellers, sampling, and buying fresh foods. The market hosts events like cooking demonstrations and cookbook signings, too.

Union Square Greenmarket is located along the north and west sides of Union Square Park between E.14th and E.17th streets. It runs all year on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

58. Strand Book Store

The Strand is a New York institution with a few locations around the city. However, the flagship space is near Union Square on Broadway and E.12th Street.

What’s so special about a bookstore? The original Strand is nearly 100 years old. Opening in 1927, its founder wanted it to be a place for true book lovers to browse, read, and talk about books. Today, Strand has 2.5 million used, new, and rare books for sale, which is nearly 18 miles of books! Some are for sale for as little as $1 for a total NYC steal!

Its staff are passionate bibliophiles who are experts at helping you find what you’re looking for…even if you’re not sure yourself! If you’re like me and love books, add this stop to your New York City itinerary. Perhaps you’ll discover a perfect, gently-used, dog-eared souvenir to take home with you.

59. Admire the Flatiron Building.

When you come upon the Flatiron Building, you’ll know it instantly. Its characteristic triangular shape makes it one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in the world. It actually looks like an iron you’d use on your clothes!

The building sits on a triangle-shaped block where Broadway and 5th Avenue crisscross at E.23rd Street. The building isn’t open for visits but it’s still too photogenic to miss. Stand in one of the pedestrian plazas just north of the building to get the best photos.

ProTip: If you walk to the corner of E. 26th Street and 5th Avenue, look north for a great photo-op with the Empire State Building and some New York City street art.

60. Mangia at Eataly!

Once you’ve taken in the views of the Flatiron Building, you and your appetite should head into Eataly on 5th Avenue between E. 23rd and E.24th Streets. It’s NYC’s original Eataly location with over 50,000 square feet of delicious Italian foods.

You can sit down and have pizza, wine, coffee, or gelato. There are also prepared foods available to take away. Others shop for Italian cheeses meats, products, and ingredients that may not be sold elsewhere in the U.S. (except at other Eataly locations).

Another highlight of Eataly’s combined marketplace and eatery is the rooftop restaurant, Serra. Make a reservation, though, because seats fill up quickly.

61. Search for History on Wall Street & in the Financial District.

New York City’s economic headquarters is undoubtedly Wall Street. The New York Stock Exchange is at the corner of Broad and Wall Streets and is one of the most well-known places in the city.

But in and around the Wall Street area, there are several other sights not to miss.

The famed “Fearless Girl” statue stands proudly staring at the Stock Exchange building. The popular “Charging Bull” statue is just 3 minutes south of Wall Street on Broadway.

If you’re standing on Wall Street itself, next to the New York Stock Exchange, look down. Find the wooden squares on the road. These are the former wooden posts that were used for the actual wall built by the Dutch colonists. That’s how Wall Street got its name!

62. Federal Hall

When you’re on Wall Street looking at the New York Stock Exchange, you can’t miss Federal Hall with its giant statue of George Washington overlooking the square.

The building that is Federal Hall today was built in 1842. However, at this site, also stood a building that served as the United States’ first capital, hosting the first congress and the inauguration of George Washington.

Today, Federal Hall is managed by the National Park Service and is a National Monument.

Inside, you’ll find a small museum with artifacts and information about the American Revolution and George Washington’s inauguration. Park rangers also lead guided tours. You may even run into George himself! He occasionally appears to greet visitors and talk about the Revolutionary War.

Federal Hall is without a doubt one of the most interesting free things to do in New York City!

63. Trinity Church & Cemetery

At Broadway and Rector Street in the financial district and close to Wall Street, you’ll find the Trinity Church Cemetery. It’s one of the oldest official burial sites in all of New York City. In fact, one of the graves dates back to 1681 which is 16 years before Trinity officially purchased the land to be used as a churchyard.

The cemetery also happens to be the final resting place of many influential New Yorkers. Alexander Hamilton is undoubtedly the most famous, along with his wife Eliza, sister-in-law Angelica, and son Philip. Other graves are those of American Revolutionary figures like American spy Hercules Mulligan and famous early American military officials, congressmen, and senators.

You can also visit the inside of Trinity Church. It’s actually the third Trinity Church to stand in this spot. It was built in 1846. The first was built in 1698 but was burned in the Great Fire of New York in 1776. The second was irreversibly damaged during a snowstorm in 1839.

64. Stone Street

To continue on your lower Manhattan history tour, head south on Broad Street from the New York Stock Exchange until you reach Stone Street.

Stone Street is one of the oldest streets in the city. Back when New York was New Amsterdam and controlled by the Dutch, some of the local housewives complained about the dust and debris constantly messing the front of their houses. As a result, Stone Street became the first paved road in the colony.

Today, the street is still cobblestoned but is now lined with restaurants and bars. The street is closed to car traffic which makes it a picturesque spot to sit down for a drink and some snacks.

65. Fraunces Tavern

While you’re in the Financial District near Stone Street, walk one more block to the corner of Pearl and Broad Streets.

Fraunces Tavern is a historic restaurant with a connection to George Washington and the Revolutionary War. Once the American Revolution had been won, George Washington held a private dinner here to thank his officers, talking to each one individually.

Today, Fraunces Tavern is both a restaurant and a museum. Inside, you’ll find maps and artifacts from the colonial and American Revolutionary days. The building and the immediate neighborhood are part of the National Historic Registry.

In addition to its restaurant and museum, Fraunces Tavern also has a piano bar with live performances every night except Monday.

66. Ride the Staten Island Ferry.

If you’re looking for free things to do in NYC, take the 25-minute ferry ride to Staten Island and see New York Harbor, the Manhattan Skyline, and Lady Liberty before catching a return ferry from the terminal on Staten Island.

You won’t get to visit the Statue of Liberty but you’ll get a close-up view. On the return trip, the views are equally as beautiful as the boat approaches lower Manhattan.

The Staten Island Ferry departs from the Whitehall Ferry Terminal (a.k.a. South Ferry) on Manhattan’s southern tip. Depending on the time of day, ferries depart every 15-30 minutes. It is possible to take the ferry to Staten Island and hop on the next boat back for an immediate return trip.

If you decide to ride the ferry, try to do it outside of commuting hours when it’s naturally more crowded.

67. Take a Trip to Governors Island.

New York Harbor has several islands open to the public, including Governors Island . However, visitors (and even some NYers!) may not be all that familiar with this NYC hidden gem. Would you believe it’s just 5 minutes by boat from lower Manhattan!? And yet, feels as if you’re worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The island is home to 2 former military buildings, Fort Jay and Castle Williams, which are now managed by the National Park Service and also a combined National Monument. These military outposts were built after the Revolutionary War as the city and the new nation worked to improve coastal defense. During the Civil War, they served as military barracks for new soldiers and a Confederate POW prison.

Today both are open to the public to visit on weekends in the summer, with Park Rangers giving free guided tours.

The rest of the island hosts art exhibitions, free walking tours, and cultural events. Some of these exhibitions are in the former houses of the military families who used to live on the island.

There are bike paths and open outdoor spaces, as well. Bikes are available to rent on the island. Or if you prefer to simply take in the amazing Manhattan views, sit back at one of the waterside restaurants. There’s even the QC NY, a luxury spa on the island where you can indulge in all types of body treatments.

Take the ferry from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street on the lower tip of Manhattan. You’ll also likely see signs pointing in the direction of the Governors Island ferry. The island is open every day year-round with ferries departing lower Manhattan at 7 a.m. and returning until 6 p.m. At the time of rewriting/updating this guide, round-trip ferry tickets are $4.

68. Morgan Library & Museum

This gem of a museum stems from the collection of rare books, historical manuscripts, drawings, and objects that once belonged to Pierpont Morgan. His son, J.P. Morgan, gifted the collection so that it could be used and admired by the public, be it for cultural enrichment or research.

Visitors today can see incredible pieces of history including an original Declaration of Independence, sheet music in Mozart’s handwriting, and an original manuscript of a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Objects date back 4000 years and the Morgan Library also is the only place to have 3 Gutenberg Bibles, the first book printed with a printing press.

The building itself is a work of architectural art. From its rich wood interior and frescoed ceilings to the modern Renzo Piano entrance, the Morgan Library building should be equally as admired as the works in the library’s collection.

The Morgan Library is located on Madison Avenue between E. 36th and E 37th Streets and is open every day except Monday. It’s easily one of the best places to visit in New York City.

69. Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Botanical gardens are always impressive to me, given my total lack of a green thumb. But the Brooklyn Botanic Garden even more so because of its location in the heart of Brooklyn. Like many green spaces in New York City, it’s (pleasantly) surprising and also perhaps temporarily disorienting to go from a concrete jungle to a verdant oasis.

Situated on 52 acres next to Prospect Park, the botanical gardens take you along winding paths through themed gardens showcasing roses, daffodils, a Japanese-style garden, and 12,000 more plant species. There are also a variety of guided tours through the gardens that are free with your entry ticket.

Visiting the Botanic Gardens is a great way to escape the island of Manhattan (the gardens are accessible by subway) for a couple of hours and see one of the best things to do in Brooklyn.

70. Get Spooked on an NYC Ghost Tour.

New York City has been lived in by millions of people over hundreds of years. Some of these past residents have found it hard to leave. I bet you never thought of “the city that never sleeps” in this way before!

Truth be told, NYC has its fair share of haunted places and spooky tales. From private homes, hotels, taverns, restaurants, and even popular places like the Empire State Building and Washington Square Park, they’ve all had reports of ghostly sightings.

If you’re brave enough, join an NYC ghost tour to visit and hear some of the city’s most haunted places. This ghost tour takes you through neighborhoods like Chinatown and Little Italy with a focus on mafia-related ghost stories. While this ghost tour focuses on Greenwich Village, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.

71. Attend a Sporting Event.

New York City is home to some of the best sporting venues and world-famous teams. Depending on when you’re in town, go to a Yankees Game (or Mets…not trying to offend)! The New York City subway runs directly to both baseball stadiums.

Visiting outside of baseball season? Grab seats to a New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets basketball game. Or watch the New York Rangers or New York Islanders battle it out on the ice.

72. Jackie Robinson Museum

Open in the Fall of 2022, the Jackie Robinson Museum honors the life and work of this remarkable American and his achievements as an athlete and a Civil Rights advocate. In fact, it’s the first museum in New York City to highlight the Civil Rights Movement.

The museum’s collection contains thousands of artifacts, some of which have come directly from Jackie Robinson’s family.

If you don’t know much about the life of Jackie Robinson, I highly recommend spending some time at this museum. He’s an incredible historical figure who, through his passion to just play baseball, has left behind countless lessons on character and equality that are impactful for people of all ages.

The Jackie Robinson Museum is located on the corner of Varick and Canal Streets in the Tribeca neighborhood. The museum is open Thursday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased on the museum’s website.

73. Sing at a Koreatown Karaoke Bar.

If you’re traveling with a group of family or friends, look no further than Korea Town for an unforgetable and fun night out. You can rent a private room with waiter service at one of the neighborhood’s Karaoke bars and sing your heart out just amongst your group without the pressure of an entire bar staring at you.

I’ve done this with friends and even a group of teachers who I worked with. Each time, it was a night full of laughs and good times!

Each karaoke bar will have different packages for rooms, amount of time, and optional food and drinks included. As you compare options, take a look at Gagopa Karaoke, Space Karaoke, and Spot Karaoke.

74. Eat Pizza. Lots of It.

I will be completely upfront and say I have planned entire days out in NYC that revolved around tasting different pizzas. And, I highly encourage you to eat as much pizza as your body will allow during your trip to New York. Eating pizza is absolutely one of the best things to do in New York! (For the record, the best pizza I’ve ever had in NYC is at Juliana’s in Brooklyn, just a few minutes walk from the end of the Brooklyn Bridge.)

There are pizza tours you can do like this one . You can also put together your own DIY pizza tour by looking up some of the best pizzerias around the 5 boroughs of NYC and use the subway to hop from place to place.

Here’s an NYC pizza itinerary going from Greenwich Village to Soho.

Start at Bleecker Street Pizza for a Nonna Maria slice. Turn left on Bleecker Street for a stop at John’s of Bleecker Street or Keste. Both sell full pies only so it’s best to choose one of them and not overstuff yourself yet.

Then, at the end of Bleecker, turn left onto Carmine Street and taste a classic cheese slice from Joe’s. Cross over 6th Avenue and walk up Minetta Lane. Turn left on MacDougal and sample a Sicilian slice from Ben’s Pizzeria. Then trace your footsteps back on MacDougal for an artichoke slice from Artichoke Pizza. This is a slice that’s shareable among a few people…trust me!

If you have it in you for one more slice, make the 15-minute walk to Prince Street Pizza. Go for a pepperoni square and/or a square with their vodka sauce. At this point, you’ll be in pizza coma heaven.

75. Coney Island

Coney Island, on the southern end of Brooklyn, is famous for its sandy beaches and retro amusement rides at Luna Park. And it’s all just a subway ride away from Manhattan using the D, F, N, or Q trains.

The most famous ride at Coney Island is the Cyclone at Luna Park . This wooden roller coaster has been running for nearly 100 years and is now the 2nd steepest wooden roller coaster in the world. It’s even a New York City and National Historic Landmark!

In addition to the amusement rides at Luna Park, walk the Coney Island Boardwalk and maybe even walk along the beach and dip your toes in the Atlantic Ocean. Your friends and family back home won’t believe you when you tell them you went to the beach in New York City!

76. Eat up at Smorgasburg!

Calling all foodies…and anyone who likes to eat! Smorgasburg is a sweet and savory New York experience not to be missed. It’s extremely popular and on blue-sky days, expect to see a mix of locals and NYC visitors.

This weekly open-air food market is an eclectic mix of cuisines by some of the best local food sellers in the tri-state area. Visitors can walk through the market deciding which tempting bites are simply too much to resist.

Smorgasburg has 3 locations (in 2023). On Fridays, you can find the market in the Financial District along the side of the Oculus near the 9/11 Museum. On Saturdays, head to Marsha P. Johnson State Park in Williamsburg Brooklyn. And Sundays, you’ll find Smorgasburg in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The market starts at 11 a.m. and runs through the day.

77. The Met Cloisters

The lovely Cloisters Museum focuses on medieval art that will transport you back to the Middle Ages. Located in the far northern reaches of Manhattan on a hill in Fort Tryon Park, The Cloisters combine artifacts, gardens, architecture, and tapestries to shed light on the artistry of the dark ages.

If you’re like me, you’ll be completely swept away by the beauty of this place! It’s hard to believe you’re still technically in Manhattan. Of the 3 sections of the museum, the spectacular Unicorn Tapestries stole the show for me. Made around 1500, the panels show the pursuit to catch the mythical unicorn. It’s mind-bending to think how skilled one would need to be to create such an intricate piece of art.

When you’re done in the museum, walk the grounds outside. From this perch, you’ll have sweeping Hudson River views.

The Cloisters Museum is an extension of The Met. In fact, your ticket is good for both places as long as you visit both on the same day. The quickest way to reach The Cloisters is by subway. Take the A train uptown to 190th Street. Then, walk for about 10 minutes up Margaret Corbin Drive until you reach the museum.

78. Try a Bagel with Lox.

Bagels are as synonymous with New York City as pizza is! You can’t leave without trying at least one.

Visitors usually go for their favorite bagel type with a schmear of cream cheese. But, if you want a classic NYC bagel experience, order a bagel with cream cheese, Lox, tomato, and red onion. You won’t taste this any better, anywhere else!

Russ & Daughters is one of the most famous places to try a bagel with Lox. Their location at 179 E. Houston Street has been open for more than 100 years. They’re clearly doing something right!

I’m also a big fan of Leo’s Bagels in Hanover Square in the Financial District, as well as Absolute Bagels (cash only) on the Upper West Side between W. 107th and W. 108th Streets on Broadway. Don’t be surprised to find lines out the door at either place.

79. Belt Out Showtunes.

If you can’t get enough of Broadway, spend an evening singing your heart out at a piano cabaret bar. There are plenty to choose from it just depends on what type of experience you’re looking for.

Marie’s Crisis on Grove Street just off 7th Avenue in the West Village is an all-time favorite of mine. The pianist plays a mix of musical theater songs while either a performer or the entire bar belts it out. It’s a lot of fun and laughs and a uniquely New York City thing to do!

Others like Don’t Tell Mama in the theater district, The Duplex in the West Village, and Sid Gold’s Request Room in Chelsea are all fun nights out. Singing here is optional if you just prefer to sit back with a cocktail and let the rotating cast of performers (who often also dub as bartenders and waitstaff) perform their favorite show tunes.

80. New York Transit Museum

Have you ever wondered what the subway system in New York City looked like 100+ years ago? Head to downtown Brooklyn to see how the transit system the city can’t live without got its start.

The museum is spread over 2 floors with the lower level being an actual unused retro 1940s train station with vintage train cars that you can go inside. You can even see old signs and advertisements that were in the subway cars decades ago, which I must admit, are pretty funny to see today.

The rest of the museum has exhibits showing the history of the transit system with the information presented in a way that’s friendly for all ages. If you’re traveling to NYC with young kids, put the New York Transit Museum on your itinerary.

81. Attend a Live Music Performance.

New York City is full of amazing musicians who perform every night of the week at the city’s many music venues. No matter what you’re preferred music is, you’re guaranteed to find it playing live somewhere in NYC.

Famed music venues like Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, and The Beacon Theater to name a few will feature headliner performers.

But there are smaller venues dotted across the city where you can enjoy everything from jazz to indie rock. Best of all, the settings are more intimate allowing you to be a part of the experience with the musician(s).

Check out who’s playing at places like The Iridium, Village Vanguard, and 54 Below during your time in NYC.

82. Laugh Hysterically at a Comedy Show.

Besides music and theater, New York is home to legendary and hole-in-the-wall comedy clubs alike. Whether it’s the Greenwich Village Comedy Club, Comedy Cellar, West Side Comedy Club, or Gotham Comedy Club, your sides will ache as you listen to the up-and-coming comedians practice their latest material.

Most of these places are small venues with a laid-back vibe. Plus, you never know when someone big like Chris Rock or Jerry Seinfeld will stop in as a surprise guest for an impromptu set.

83. Splurge on a Fine Dining Experience.

New York City has incredible restaurants in every cuisine you can imagine in every price range. But once in a while, perhaps on a trip to New York City for a special occasion , it’s fun to get dressed up and go for a gourmet meal. So why not indulge in a memorable NYC dining experience?!

Consider making reservations at Le Bernardin, Gotham, Per Se, Daniel, Gramercy Tavern, Marea, Eleven Madison Park, or Blue Hill and savor an expertly prepared meal in a luxurious and romantic setting.

Most of these restaurants refresh at least part of their menus seasonally. They also may offer set menus with a specific number of courses and/or a la carte options. So be sure to check the restaurants’ websites to make the menu suits your palate.

84. Go for a Quintessential NYC Brunch.

Weekend Brunch is a New York institution! Whether you’re in the mood for a more classic brunch menu or want an ethnic twist on the cuisine, you’re likely to find it somewhere in New York City! It’s also not uncommon for an NYC brunch to include alcoholic beverages (although they’re always optional).

If there’s a particular place you’d like to go for brunch, try making a reservation. While it’s not always necessary, it’s not surprising to arrive for brunch only to find there’s a (considerable) wait for a table.

For a few brunch ideas, take a look at Jacob’s Pickles, Good Enough to Eat, Clinton Street Baking Company, Shuka, Cafe Luxembourg, Balthazar, or Jack’s Wife Freda. And if you happen to be on the Upper West Side and prefer somewhere a little more low-key than these suggestions, try neighborhood favorite, Fred’s Restaurant.

85. Katz’s Delicatessen

Katz’s Deli has been stacking sandwiches since 1888. And when I say stack, imagine sandwiches that you can only try to get your mouth around! If it’s your first time in New York City or you’ve never been, it’s worth a stop to taste one of these epic sandwiches.

Katz’s Deli is most famous for its pastrami on rye. People line up to get one because it’s worth the hype! (The matzo ball soup is also really tasty!) The deli was also a filming location for the movie “When Harry Met Sally” and its famous I’ll have what she’s having scene.

Despite what seems like chaos when you arrive, Katz’s is one of the legendary and fun places in New York that you just have to experience!

86. Have a Drink at a Historic Pub.

New York City’s roots as a port and rapidly growing city means pubs were some of the earliest businesses established here. Merchants, sailors, locals, and famous figures are all a part of New York’s pub history.

Pete’s Tavern is one of a few bars claiming to be the oldest continuously operating bar in New York having disguised itself as a flower shop during Prohibition. It opened in 1864 and aptly has an 1864 ale that’s worth a taste!

McSorley’s dates back to 1854 and is the oldest Irish pub in the United States. Complete with sawdust on the floor and years worth of memorabilia layered on the walls, McSorley’s is a true time capsule.

The Ear Inn is also a worthy historic pub for a stop, not to mention a historic building in its own right. The Federal-designed building is one of the last standing in the city. When you’re there, imagine that this used to be where the shore of the Hudson River met the island of Manhattan before the coastline was extended with landfill.

If you prefer, join a historic pub tour to learn more about specific pubs and some history of prohibition in New York City.

87. Watch a Foreign Film.

One of the advantages of seeing a movie in New York City is the variety. From mainstream to indie to foreign films, there’s something for everyone. But going to an independent theater or arthouse is one of those cool things to do in NYC. In fact, it’s typically something unique to big cities like New York because you can find films you can’t see in most other places.

The Walter Reade Theater on the Upper West Side and the IFC Center and the Angelika Film Center, both in Greenwich Village, are great spots to find independent, foreign, and cult movies. Check the schedules and times to see what’s playing and when during your trip to New York.

88. Shop the Grand Bazaar.

This year-round market takes place every Sunday at W. 77th Street and Columbus Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper West Side from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. And, it’s the perfect spot to find that one-of-a-kind NYC souvenir to take home with you!

Each Sunday, different themed vendors come to sell their crafts and products. You can find handmade items from local artists, curated collectibles, antiques, clothes, art, furniture, and even international goods.

The Grand Bazaar supports local sellers by providing a venue and also contributes some of the proceeds to a few local public schools.

89. Party in NYC Nightlife Scene.

New York City isn’t only for sightseeing! The nightlife is also legendary.

If you’re looking for a night out in New York City, you have your pick from heart-thumping nightclubs to swanky lounges to more laid-back cocktail bars. Neighborhoods like the Meatpacking District, the East Village, Chelsea, Midtown, and Nolita offer a plethora of choices.

Admittedly, it’s been a few years since I was out clubbing, but it was always the type of night where you walk away with the type of memories you laugh about with your friends years later!

When you head out for a night of drinking and dancing, expect to pay cover charges to get in, as well as drink minimums of table charges if you have a seated area. Also, check the dress code. Some places don’t allow sneakers or other casual wear.

Tao in Chelsea is one of the most famous spots for nightlife in New York City. Lavo in Midtown East lets guests enjoy a meal first before they head upstairs for a night of house and techno music on the dancefloor.

90. Eat at a Classic New York City Diner

Looking for some comfort food in a classic New York City setting? Head to the nearest diner and choose from favorites like grilled cheese, burgers, french fries, and, of course, breakfast any time.

Many NYC diners have booth seating and a counter with stools where you can imagine a day when milkshakes were being served while the jukebox was playing. Today, though, diners are casual spots for no-frills favorites.

You’ll find diners in nearly every neighborhood around the city, some like the Waverly Diner or the Tick Tock Diner are even open 24/7 for those late nights when you need something after a night out.

Seinfeld fans may even want to make the trip up to Broadway and W. 112th Street to Tom’s Restaurant, otherwise known as the fictional setting for Monk’s Cafe in the hit sitcom. And if you’re in the theater district, the Red Flame Diner is on W. 44th Street and 6th Avenue and is open until 11 p.m. every night. A lifesaver when you want a quick post-show bite without breaking the bank!

91. City Winery

This epic restaurant, wine bar, and performance venue has everything you need within its 32,000-square-foot location for a memorable afternoon or evening in NYC.

City Winery is situated on Pier 57 along the Hudson River in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood and comes with gorgeous views and sunsets. Wine is made on-site with grapes sourced mainly from the west coast. You can do tastings and winery tours.

The patio and dining areas serve a full menu of food, and in winter there are also private heated bubbles (igloos) for visitors to keep warm while still enjoying the food.

The winery also boasts a full schedule of live music and comedy shows, of course, all enjoyed while sipping on one of the winery’s vintages.

City Winery is quite popular. So if you have a specific time of day you want to be there (i.e. sunset), make a reservation.

92. Get Tickets for a Live Show Taping.

Numerous TV shows are filmed right in the heart of Manhattan. Watching or being a part of the studio audience is one of those unique and fun things to do in New York City. The trick is getting tickets!

Luckily, there are a few where all you need to do is show up. The TODAY Show is filmed in Rockefeller Center and no tickets are needed to be part of the crowd gathered outside.

For shows like The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, and Live with Kelly and Mark, check this website to request tickets or join a waitlist for a specific date.

Saturday Night Live is also exciting to see but tickets can be somewhat difficult to get. If you do snag a few seats, you’ll likely have to arrange your trip to New York City around the date of your tickets versus the other way around.

SNL ticket requests can typically only be made in August. Audience members are selected from a lottery system. The great news is you win the lottery, your tickets are free. This SNL website details the procedure for getting SNL tickets and is updated yearly.

93. Fotografiska New York

Fotografiska is a photography museum that stems from the original museum location in Stockholm. Now there are several Fotografiska’s around the world all with the same purpose.

The museum’s exhibits highlight fantastic photographers whether they’re famous or just getting started. Through their photos, you get an intimate look at the story each photo portrays. I’ve been to the Fotografiska in New York and Stockholm and found each visit to be an experience that drew me into the scene the photographer was capturing.

Fotografiska New York is in a renovated Renaissance-Revival landmark building dating back to the late 1800s. Exhibitions rotate regularly so there are always fresh photos to see. Find the museum on Park Avenue South between E. 21st and E. 22nd Streets.

94. Discover Harlem.

Rich in culture, history, and great food, a trip up to Harlem is a great way to get out of the bright lights of midtown to experience one of NYC’s most authentic neighborhoods.

Along Frederick Douglas Blvd between W. 110th and W. 125th streets is Harlem’s own restaurant row. There’s an eclectic mix of cuisines from southern comfort dishes at Melba’s to Caribbean-inspired seafood delights at Lolo’s Seafood Shack.

The historic Apollo Theater opened in 1913, with performances continuing today. The legendary Amateur Night at the Apollo is one of the most famous weekly talent shows and the place where many artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, got their start. Check the Apollo Theater’s website for the calendar of shows and ticket information.

To go deeper into Harlem’s unique culture and history, consider joining a Harlem Highlights and Gospel Tour or a guided neighborhood walking tour .

95. New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden is the largest botanical garden in any city across the United States. It has 50 different garden areas, indoor exhibits and attractions, as well as special events like the annual Orchid Show and the much-loved Holiday Train Show.

One of my favorite areas at the Botanical Garden is the Thain Forest. It’s the largest piece of old-growth forest remaining in New York City. It winds past the Bronx River and into thick areas of forest which can help you imagine what the island of Manhattan looked like 400+ years ago. You might even spot a beaver, an animal that continues to make a comeback in NYC.

The New York Botanical Garden is located in the Bronx, one of the 5 boroughs of New York City. Instead of taking the subway, use the Metro-North Harlem Local line from Grand Central to the Botanical Garden Station. The ride is just 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan.

96. Take the Tram to Roosevelt Island.

If you’re on the far east side of Manhattan close to E.59th Street, you may see the Roosevelt Island Tramway overhead gliding along its cables in between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island. This intriguing island sits in the East River between Manhattan and Queens. And besides the tramway, the F train also stops on Roosevelt Island.

Blackwell Island, as it was called during the 17th and 18th centuries, has a dark past. The island once housed an active smallpox hospital, a prison, and a lunatic asylum, to name a few. Roosevelt Island’s location was a perfect place to isolate unwanted members of the population.

Today, these historic and eerie institutions have started to be restored and open for visitors to see. Roosevelt Island also has one of the city’s oldest farmhouses dating back to the late 1700s.

You can do a DIY walking tour like this one to learn more about the history of the island. Or if you prefer to go with a guide, take a look at this guided tour . It doesn’t run often but is led by expert guides. If you want your “what to see in New York list” to be filled with unusual, off-beat places, Roosevelt Island is for you.

97. Levain Bakery

In a city like New York with a seemingly endless number of things to do, is it wrong to feature a bakery and its cookies on a list of top things to do in New York? Not in the case of Levain.

Their cookies are more like colossal indulgences that come in at nearly 1/2 pound (6 oz to be exact). In fact, they’re the best “meal replacement” I’ve ever had! The cookies are baked fresh daily which certainly accounts for their perfect balance of gooey and crispy.

The chocolate chip walnut or double chocolate are my personal favorites, but you can’t go wrong no matter what you choose. Levain’s original location is on W. 74th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. It’s a hole-in-the-wall shop that you could walk right by if it wasn’t for the to-die-for-smell coming from inside and the people waiting in line outside.

98. Gray’s Papaya Hot Dog

I bet you never expected “hot dog” to come after “papaya!”

Gray’s Papaya has become a New York City icon after 50 years of serving the finest hot dogs around paired with fruit juices like papaya or coconut.

The location on the corner of W. 72nd Street and Broadway is the original location. You can’t miss it as you exit the 1, 2, or 3 train at 72nd Street.

Top your frank with ketchup, mustard, relish, sauerkraut, onions, cheese, and/or chili. If you’re extra hungry, go for the “Recession Special” which includes 2 hot dogs and a drink for a flat rate.

99. Tour the Boroughs of NYC.

New York City is made up of 5 boroughs, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Together, there is an endless number of places to discover, eateries to sample bites, and cultures to experience.

It’s normal for a trip to New York City to center around Manhattan with its Broadway Theaters, museums, and sights. But if you can spare some time, visit one or more of the other boroughs to get a fuller sense of how incredible New York City is with its diverse neighborhoods and the customs and traditions that have become part of the city’s melting pot.

If you’re up for an adventure, take the subway to a neighborhood like Greenpoint, Williamsburg, or Bushwick in Brooklyn. Or instead, head to Flushing or Astoria in Queens. These are great neighborhoods for first-time exploration beyond Manhattan and are relatively easy to get to with public transportation.

You can also join a guided bus tour which will take you to different spots around the 5 boroughs to show you the contrasts that make New York City such a fascinating city.

Either way, it’s a fun and terrific thing to do in New York City to expand your perspective on the city’s true essence.

100. Take a Sunset Yacht Cruise.

If you’d like to see New York City from the water but want to avoid a larger sightseeing or dinner cruise, this sunset yacht cruise might be the perfect choice!

The boat is a bit smaller and the ride is just an hour and a half. So, it’s a great way to see the skyline and relax after a day of sightseeing without sacrificing your evening plans.

Toast to a day of spectacular sightseeing while you pass by some of New York City’s most iconic spots aglow in the orange hue of sunset and as the lights are switched on to illuminate the night sky.

Bonus! Holiday & Seasonal Things To Do in New York City!

In addition to the countless year-round New York attractions, different times of the year come with special events and things to see. This would be an extensive list on its own so instead I’ve handpicked a few of the more popular activities should they match up with your trip to New York.

If you’re planning Christmas in New York , take a look at my detailed guide for this special season, as well as these Christmastime mistakes to avoid in NYC .

101. See the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons Come to Life.

You’ve undoubtedly heard of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. But, what about the balloon inflation party that happens the night before?

Each year along the streets in and around the American Museum of Natural History on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, thousands of people come the evening before the parade to see the balloons take shape.

Balloon handlers inflate each tethered balloon on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. They stay there on display until the next morning when the parade starts. Visitors can stream past and photograph each balloon.

This event has become increasingly popular. If you go, watch for signs pointing you to the entry point, typically W. 72nd Street and Central Park West. From there, you move toward the balloons.

After you see the balloons, head to a local restaurant along Columbus or Amsterdam Avenues for a fun festive meal.

102. Ice Skate in Central Park.

Ice skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park is one of the most iconic things to do in New York in December and throughout the cooler months.

While skating on the large rink, you’ll be surrounded by the park’s gorgeous scenery (and hopefully a dusting of snow, too)! Towering above the treeline are some of New York City’s most expensive high-rise apartments. It’s a beautiful setting that has been used as a backdrop for countless films and TV shows.

If you don’t have ice skates, not to worry. You can rent them there.

103. Immerse Yourself in the Christmas Spirit at Rolf’s.

Dripping in Christmas decorative decor, a visit to Rolf’s during a Christmas holiday trip is a must! This German restaurant in Gramercy Park takes holiday decorating to another dimension. There are lights, ornaments, and sparkles in every direction you look.

Of course, it’s very crowded in the Christmas season. Expect to wait in line even just to grab a drink at the bar. If you’d like a table, be sure to make a reservation well in advance.

104. Photograph the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

Yes, it’s the ultimate in touristy holiday sights, but if you’re in NYC for the Christmas holiday season, braving the crowds to glimpse the tree is a must!

The tree is typically lit the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving. The lights stay on until early January.

105. Admire the Department Store Holiday Windows.

From Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street down to Macy’s in Herald Square, holiday store windows are a sight to see!

Saks Fifth Avenue is opposite Rockefeller Center and adds an evening light show to complement its store windows. Expect crowds and a lot of jostling to get the perfect viewing angle and photos.

106. Stroll the Bryant Park Winter Village.

Bryant Park is the most famous Christmas Market in New York City.

Kiosks and huts circle the ice rink (installed for the season) at the center of the park with vendors selling all types of goods from novelty gifts, clothes, food, art, jewelry, home decor, and more. Many of these vendors are local artisans who typically sell only online and/or at markets like this one.

The festive atmosphere puts everyone in the Christmas spirit! If there is one holiday market you visit during your NYC Christmas trip, it has to be the one in Bryant Park.

107. Watch the Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve.

The New Year’s celebration in Times Square is one of the most famous in the world. I did it once in my early 20s and had a great time. When the countdown begins and the ball drops, it’s an unforgettable moment to be part of a cheering crowd in Times Square with confetti and balloons falling from the buildings overhead.

That being said, it’s a commitment. For the closest/best possible spots, you’ll need to start your wait hours (and hours) beforehand. Once you’re in your place, you can’t leave because you won’t be able to come back.

What’s my advice? If you’re in NYC for New Year’s Eve and you’re on the fence about going, look at the weather. If it looks to be a decent weather night (no rain/sleet/arctic temps), then go for it. It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime events.

108. See Shakespeare in Central Park.

Every summer, Shakespeare productions are performed at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The featured play or plays change each summer, oftentimes with a well-known Broadway actor appearing in a title role.

Tickets are free but you need to wait in line to get them. Or you can use the TodayTix app to enter a digital lottery. People tend to line up early to be ready for the noon ticket distribution time. Each person in line is eligible to receive 2 seats.

109. Wear Spooky Halloween Costumes.

The annual Greenwich Village Halloween Parade is the place to be if you’re in the city on October 31st. Dress up in your most creative goblin and head to the village for the festivities.

The parade travels up 6th Avenue from King Street to W.15th Street. You can line up for free along the parade route (get there early) or buy tickets for access to a VIP viewing location. Better yet, if you’re wearing a costume and a related mask, you can join the parade by heading to Canal Street and 6th Avenue!

Each year, the parade has a theme that inspires many of the costumes you’ll see. I guarantee they’ll be some of the most original Halloween costumes you’ve ever seen!

110. Watch the NYC July 4th Fireworks.

New York City puts on a massive fireworks display to celebrate July 4th. If you’re in New York, don’t miss the chance to see the show as up close as possible.

The fireworks are set off from barges in the East River. The FDR, the highway along the east side of Manhattan, closes to traffic and people walk the entry ramps to get a front-row seat to the fireworks display over the East River. Access points tend to be from E.23rd, E.34th, and E.42nd Streets.

If you can’t get to the FDR, find a spot along the East Side of Manhattan where you can see the river. Better yet, if you have a friend or family member with access to a rooftop, hit them up for a favor!

111. Celebrate San Gennaro in Little Italy.

Every year, Little Italy’s streets fill with booths and festivalgoers for the Feast of San Gennaro.

For roughly a week and a half starting in the middle of September, Mulberry Street is transformed into a street party honoring San Gennaro of Naples who was a martyred Bishop from Benevento in Italy. Aside from all the delicious food, there are concerts, a cannoli-eating contest, and parades.

112. Photograph Mahattanhenge.

If you haven’t heard of it before, Manhattanhenge is when the setting sun is perfectly positioned between the east and west streets of Manhattan’s grid layout. This phenomenon usually happens around May, June, and July.

Find a vantage point along a wide crosstown street like 14th to see the sunset line up perfectly between the buildings and shine across Manhattan from west to east for a fantastic New York City photo-op!

Bottom Line: Best Things to Do in New York City

New York City is an absolute treasure trove of culture, arts, spectacular food, and one-of-a-kind sightseeing experiences! You can spend a lifetime here and still continually discover more.

For your trip to New York, decide which New York activities are at the top of your list. Then, set off on an unforgettable adventure as you enjoy all NYC has to offer!

What questions do you have about what to do in NYC?

Like this post? Please share it using the social media buttons!

Related Posts

Why You Should Drive the Icefields Parkway + Trip Planning Tips

3 Reasons to Visit Banff National Park Immediately

28 thoughts on “the best 100 things to do in new york city (written by a local)”.

What an incredibly comprehensive list! Wow! It must have taken you forever to compile this! I’ve only visited New York once, when I was 16, back in 2001…a trip to the States is long overdue 🙂 I will keep your list in mind for my trip!

Thanks, Tess! I’m glad the list will be helpful for when you’re able to make it back to the U.S. NYC is a must! 🙂

Thanks for such an awesome list! I still haven’t visited New York, but am hoping to in 2017 – bring it on!

Thanks, Shandos! Glad the list will be useful for your 2017 NYC travel plans. 🙂

Great list! I’ve gone through about a 1/4 of it. I’ll have to make an effort to cross off the rest the next time I’m in NY.

Thanks, Jeh-C! New York has so many great things to see and do. Hope you can cross off some more on your list next time! 🙂

This is the perfect list for the NYC traveler! I’ll have to keep it in my back pocket for the next time I head to the city for a trip!

Thanks, Carmen! Glad it’ll come in handy for you!

Wow! What a fantastic list! It must have taken you forever to complete. I’ve experience a lot of them but over many years. I think have so much to see there though.

Thanks, Lesley! To be honest, I got the idea for the post and didn’t really understand what I was getting involved with until I was knee-deep! NYC is one of those cities, though, you have to return to over and over. There’s just so much to do! 🙂

2 trips to New York and i’ve only done 19 of these. Guess I need to go back 😉 Great list. I love New York (and congrats on the 100th post)

Thanks, Claire! It’s best not to rush through all of them at once. Come back and enjoy a few more when you can! 🙂

Great list! I love NYC! We’ve done quite a few on the list. I would also add the Kramer tour (if it still runs) for all the Seinfeld fans out there. It was such a fun day out! We’ll have to return and complete the rest of the list next time! 😉

Thanks, Kim-Ling! The Kramer tour still runs and looks like a good time! Thanks for the suggestion. 🙂 Hope you make it back to NYC soon!

That is really impressive! You really know your city! I haven’t done all the things from your list but there is always a reason to go back to NYC! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, Jey! Reasons to return to such a great city are never a bad thing! 🙂 Hope you make it back soon!

There’s just so much to do in NYC! I’ve only been once, but I loved it and I can’t wait to go again! Oh, and congrats on the 100th post 😉

Thanks so much Vicky and Buddy! You definitely need to get back here and check out some of these 100 awesome things! 🙂

What a list! And it’s a good one! I bookmarked this for future use! Thanks for the post!

Thanks, Joe! Hope you get to NYC soon and start checking off each one! 🙂

I’m pleased to say I did many of the things on your list whilst visiting NYC in May 2016. The most amazing city ever! One thing not on your list, that I truly believe deserves to be there is – Levain bakery – those cookies are to die for! Awesome blog post, thanks for sharing. x

Patrice, you must have had an amazing NYC trip! How great! You are so right about Levain Bakery. I have to actually plan detours away from that place!! I will be adding it to my next 100 things to do in NYC. 🙂

Traveled to NYC for the first time last fall. Had a wonderful time and even home stayed to make it more enjoyable. There was so much to see and do in the short time. We did walk the Brooklyn Bridge and have pizza at Grimaldi’s! As luck had it, we even got to see a Yankee’s game. 🙂

Awesome trip, Robert, and fall really is the best time to visit! I love that pizza at Grimaldi’s! It’s so delicious. Hope you’ll be able to make it back to NYC for another getaway. There’s always more to do. 😉

Thank you so much to sharing it. this will make our trip Awesome. But i have a week to spend my holiday in New York after this my Visa will be expired. Could you suggest me some top places where i should need to visit And i feel I really have seen something.

Thanks for reading, Jackson. Visitors love the main sights in NYC like the Empire State Building or Times Square. But, make sure to visit Lower Manhattan and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. For more NYC info, you can also get itinerary ideas here.

Ride the Staten Island ferry was the coolest thing in NY. I like that too much. Thanks.

Glad you liked the ferry, Lana. The view of NYC and Lady Liberty are great from the boat.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Privacy Overview

The Ultimate New York Travel Guide 2024

Our new york travel tips for first time visitors.

Are you traveling to New York for the first time and want to get an overview of what you should pay attention to? Here, I show you step by step the most important information you need to know for your New York trip. There’s a lot to see and do in New York, from world-famous landmarks like the Empire State Building to a wide selection of unique museums and New York-style foods that you should definitely try.

You may also like:

Where in new york should you stay.

• The 33 Absolute Best New York Attractions
• New York on a Budget

Now, sit back and enjoy our New York Travel Guide to help you have a wonderful time in New York City!

By the way, we now have over 1,600 spots in the city on our site. So, if you’re looking for suitable tours, bars, restaurants, and awesome spots to visit, then you’re in the right place!

Everything you need!

Hello you 👋 Here you will find everything you need for your New York trip!

These are our best New York Travel Tips for first time visitors:

Table of Contents

New York at a Glance

Best time to travel to new york.

Visiting New York is worthwhile at any time of year, but I personally like the warm months best. Summer in New York can be very hot and humid. So, for many, the best times to visit New York is April and June, and September and October.

Spending Christmas in New York or enjoying the pre-Christmas season in New York City is also a wonderful experience.  The ice rinks are open, the city is beautifully decorated, and, if it snows, the dream vacation at wintertime is perfect!

Paying in New York

You can pay for almost everything with your credit card, even the smallest amounts. Credit cards are accepted in hotels, stores, restaurants, and bars. Don’t have one yet? Then, check out the best credit card to have in the USA here.

New York for First Time Visitors: Everything You Need to Know for Your Trip (70+ pages)

Best Way to Travel in New York

Finding your way around New York is quite easy, even if it doesn’t look like it at first. The streets’ checkerboard pattern makes finding your way around easy. These are the best ways to get around New York:

Metro / Subway: If you have longer distances ahead of you, then the Subway is your friend, because here you can travel really cheap. It’s easy to use! The MetroCard is available at every Subway station. You can buy single rides or the popular MetroCard for 7 days; that way you can travel for a week in New York at a fixed price. You can learn more about using the  Metrocard in New York here.

Taxi:  In New York, you can choose between the Yellow Cab and Uber. You can check out our tips and all the information you need to know in our following blog:  Taxi in New York City .

By bike: With many of the New York sightseeing passes (you can find out more about this budget tip in my New York Pass comparison ), the bike rental is included. We ourselves really love using New York’s Citi Bikes. This city bike program has over 1,000 stations throughout New York City, and it’s super-cheap. We’ll show you how it works in the Citi Bike New York article.

On Foot: You’ll be surprised how much walking you’ll do in New York. After all, there’s something to see on every corner. So be sure to bring comfortable shoes!

Where to Stay in New York?

Which neighborhood is best for you depends on several things: your interests, how close you want to be to the attractions and what your travel budget is. In the image below, I’ve drawn you my favorite neighborhoods of New York including the main attractions nearby.

And, on the subject of safety: In all of Manhattan, the Bronx , Brooklyn, and large parts of Queens, you don’t have to worry about being out and about in the evening. New York City is one of the safest cities in the world!

More than 100 hotels and over 70 neighborhoods to choose from –and after just 4 quick questions, I’ll show you which hotels in New York are best suited for you!

Where Should you Stay in New York?

Manhattan – it doesn’t get more central than this: Manhattan is the most famous borough of them all. Plus, it contains 95% of all the attractions New York is known for. Everything is within easy reach, and you are right in the middle of it all. On the other hand, the hotels are a bit more expensive than in Brooklyn or Queens .

Here, you can find my 33 hotel tips for Manhattan .

Brooklyn – urban and relaxed: For a long time, Brooklyn was the insider’s tip: now it’s “completely” normal neighborhoods. However, you’ll quickly notice one thing: life is much more normal, because it’s more of a residential area. It’s super relaxed, pleasant, and just as diverse as Manhattan. Above all, you can enjoy the Manhattan skyline from here!

Here, you can find my 20 hotel tips for Brooklyn .

Queens – the new trendy neighborhood: Queens is a bit more “normal” than Brooklyn is, but, lately, we’ve noticed that it is getting more and more gentrified. The hotels in Long Island City (not to be confused with Long Island!) are especially popular because they are cheaper compared to Manhattan—and they have a perfect connection to the Subway, which makes Queens a great alternative to Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Here, you can find my 20 hotel tips for Queens .

What to See in New York?

One thing to know in advance: just because there is so much to see in New York, a little planning makes absolute sense. For highlights like the Empire State Building ( here ), the Edge Hudson Yards observation deck ( here ) or the One World Observatory ( here ), I recommend buying the tickets online in advance. This will not only save you waiting time on site, but you can also be sure that you will actually be able to visit your desired sights.

👉 These are our 33 best attractions in New York .

These are my tips after more than 20 visits to New York:

• Observation decks:  New York City has no less than five (!) major observation decks to offer, and each one is a dream in itself. My two favorites are The Edge Hudson Yards and the One World Observatory , because from here you have a sensational view of New York from above and you can see the Empire State Building . From the end of 2021, another cool option will be added with the glass One Vanderbilt . One more thing about the Empire State Building: It’s the most visited observation deck in New York, so it’s always busy. Avoid the crowds in the morning – and if you really want to go to the Empire State Building in the evening, choose Thursday, Friday or Saturday. During those times, a saxophonist plays on the observation deck. Important: book the Skip-the-Line-Tickets (you can do that here). Then, you can easily save 1-2 hours of waiting time!
• Visit the Statue of Liberty : The trip from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty is super-popular. To save yourself long waiting times, make sure you take the first ferry of the day. Here, you can find the best Statue of Liberty Cruises right now.
• Definitely take a boat tour , because seeing New York from the water is like being on vacation. Choices range from the free Staten Island Ferry or the NYC Ferry ($2.90 each way) to sailing tours (gorgeous) and the classic sightseeing tours that are included with all major New York passes.
• Walk along the High Line from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards .
• Visit Times Square in the evening – that’s when it’s at its most impressive.
• Relax in Central Park or Bryant Park .
• Plan a maximum of three attractions per day . After all, you don’t want any sightseeing stress.

The 41 Absolute Best New York Attractions In 2024

10 FREE Things to Do in New York City

The 36 Absolute Best Museums in New York

The 9 best observation decks in new york city, new york budget tip.

With the right New York sightseeing pass , you can easily save a lot of money on up to 100 tours and attractions. To find out if a New York Pass is worth it (or not), check out our free New York Pass Advisor to find out which New York Pass is best for you.

And on this page you’ll find our New York Pass comparison .

Itineraries in New York

You don’t know where to start? Then let us inspire you! We have some suggestions for you. By the way, the most popular is the 1 week New York itinerary .

The Perfect Itinerary For Your New York Trip

This itinerary contains over 50 spots and highlights of the city, including a map that shows you the best way to travel each day, taking you to or past the many big attractions. In addition, we‘ve added our favorite places, from great breakfast spots to start your day right to small bars and restaurants and hidden insider spots.

What awaits you here now is the perfect New York week, because this is what my itinerary would look like if I were visiting the Big Apple for the first or second time right now!

What to Do in New York?

For me, an unforgettable New York trip includes the following things in addition to visiting the main sights:

Go Shopping

New York is also really good for shopping. There are many small shopping spots and addresses, but also the big brands can often be found with flagship stores. If that’s not enough, you can go shopping in one of the outlets and flea markets of New York.

The best shopping areas in New York are Broadway, SoHo , Chelsea, the Meatpacking District, and Williamsburg in Brooklyn. And, of course, 5th Avenue!

Avoid Times Square for shopping!

A real tourist trap are the stores around Times Square – they are not only overpriced, but also the quality is not right in most cases!

Here you can find our Guide to Shopping in New York  with everything you need to know!

Shopping in New York: The Ultimate Guide 2024

The Best Outlets in NYC – The Ultimate Guide for 2024

The 15 Best Flea Markets in NYC – Shop Vintage and Rare to Find Items

Shopping in SoHo NYC: The 25 Best Stores Right Now

Visit a rooftop bar.

I love the rooftop bars of New York . You can sit and relax, enjoy a sensational view of the city and listen to relaxing music. All this mixes with the so-typical sounds of the city in the background, and if you have something delicious to drink or eat on top of that, it can’t get any better! You can see where we like to go in our article on the 43 best rooftop bars in New York .

By the way, if you want to experience the view of New York when you get up early in the morning, check out my list of the 26 best New York hotels with a view !

Visit a Broadway Show

New York is known for its many musicals and Broadway shows – most of which are performed in the Theatre District around Times Square. Here are our tips on the  best Broadway Shows in New York . If you already know which Broadway show you want to see, I recommend ordering the tickets in advance ( here ). If you’re still flexible, you can buy leftover tickets at TKTS in Times Square, for example.

Attend a Parade or Special Event

OK, hotel is booked, attractions are on the list, the myNY itinerary is ready, shopping spots are sighted and the first restaurants and bars are also noted. Now comes the last step on the list to the perfect travel planning for New York: the events, parades, and holidays.

They are the icing on the cake of every New York vacation and, therefore, could not be missed in our New York Travel Guide! Just check out our monthly specials that are relevant to you:  January , February , March , April , May , June , July , August , September , October , November and December .

Enjoying the Gastro Scene (in the Evening)

Now comes one of my favorite parts of planning our New York trips: the city’s many bars, restaurants, rooftop bars, and food markets. In our travel guide and insider guides on the website, we put a lot of emphasis on finding the best gastro spots and rooftop bars. So, feel free to browse through them, and if you like something, just add it to your myNY itinerary. Just click on the heart symbol, and you’re done!

The 24 Most Beautiful Bars in NYC Right Now

The 12 Best Food Markets in NYC

The 23 Best Waterfront Restaurants & Bars in New York Right Now

The Best Burger in New York City

Marvel at grand central station.

Be sure to take the time to see Grand Central Station . Not only is it the setting for many series and movies set in New York, it’s also very impressive and has a fantastic ceiling!

The 50 Absolute Best Things to Do in New York (90+ pages)

Walking through DUMBO and Soho

The neighborhoods of DUMBO in Brooklyn and Soho in Manhattan are among the most iconic neighborhoods in the city and are fascinating for their combination of old New York with new New York.

Things to Do in DUMBO

The 15 Best Things to Do in SoHo NYC – The Complete Guide 2024

What to eat in new york.

What should I start with first? With the New York pizza slice, the New York cheesecake, the wonderful pastrami sandwiches at Katz’ Delicatessen, or at the Pastrami Queen? In addition, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse and Luger are two really good steak restaurants waiting for you and if you want to eat really good burgers: go to J.G. Melon, the hidden Burger Joint or Shake Shack!

Get personal tips & tricks, specifically tailored to your trip!

We will provide you with individual tips & tricks as you prepare for your trip. How to plan, save money and make sure you experience the most of NYC are only some of the topics covered!

Specify dates

I hope my New York Travel Guide helped you plan your first trip to New York. Was there anything missing? Feel free to write it in the comments!

I wish you a wonderful time in New York City!

New York on a Budget: The 19 Best Money-Saving Tips for 2024

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 !

Get exclusive content, real insider tips, and the best deals in NYC for FREE!

Start of your trip: We will remind you with current events when you are in NYC!

21 Most Beautiful Places in New York City That Are a Must-Visit

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 17/02/2024

New York is a bustling city with more things to discover than you may think are possible. The sprawling parks and hidden cafes are just a few of the things that make this city an unforgettable destination.

New York is a diverse city with culture, history, and beauty to boot. But where are the most beautiful places in New York City? Let me take you on a journey from the majestic Statue of Liberty to the quiet space of Elevated Acre.

You’ll quickly forget time exists as you wander through the streets and discover some of the best historical places in New York . Whether you live in the Big Apple or are planning the ultimate holiday, here are some of the most beautiful places in New York City.

21 Most Beautiful Places in New York City

Once you’re all set, I’ll dive straight into the most beautiful place in New York City that you simply have to visit.

1. Statue of Liberty

Image by The Digital Artist on Pixabay

I’m fairly certain you know about the Statue of Liberty, so it’s a no-brainer that it would feature on this list. Given to the U.S. as a gift from France at the end of the American Civil War, this magnificent sculpture dominates the New York landscape.

It rests on Liberty Island, which itself is a breathtaking part of the city. The glorious park of oak trees helps the Statue of Liberty pop. If you want to get up close to this iconic monument, you’ll need to join a 15-minute ferry ride to Liberty Island.

The Statue of Liberty consists of copper, which has rusted to the turquoise colour it is today. This sculpture represents freedom within the U.S., and when a mesmerizing sunset lights it up, it’s not hard to see why.

Top Tip: You can also join a four-hour Statue of Liberty tour with a local guide.

2. Central Park

Image by Leonhard Niederwimmer on Pixabay

For a walk within a landscaping masterpiece, look no further than Central Park. This bustling oasis of nature is four km long and 0.8 km wide, and you can easily go from one side to another in just over an hour.

You can consider Central Park as the city’s lungs, where everyone goes to relax and breathe in fresh air. Here are some unique aspects of the park that make it one of the best in the world.

• Belvedere Castle
• Bethesda Fountain and Terrace
• Conservatory Garden
• The Mall and Literary Walk
• Harlem Meer

Each section of the park offers something extraordinary, and you’ll have plenty of fantastic photo opportunities. I highly recommend joining a Central Park walking tour to see all these beautiful sights.

3. Old City Hall Subway Station

Image by Charlotte May on Pexels

Few people associate beauty with a subway station, but the Old City Hall has the prettiest one you’ll ever see. Picture stained glass windows and arches that emit a golden hue from the sun.

Since its closure in the early 20th century, this space has become more bespoke with age. It isn’t easy to see, as it is closed for most of the year, but you can catch a glimpse of it if you take the 6 Train from downtown to uptown.

As it sits below the magnificent Old City Hall Municipal Building, it’s hard to get to. Occasionally the MTA Transit Museum hosts walking tours through the station. I suggest checking for tours before your trip to New York City.

4. The High Line

Image by Elizabeth Villalta on Unsplash 

The High Line in the Chelsea District is one of the trendiest parts of the city. The park and communal area are built on an old elevated rail line and provide a truly unique perspective of West Side Manhattan.

You can explore 15 diverse gardens in the High Line, each showing off a distinct part of the city and nature. Some top gardens you should visit include the Hudson River Overlook, the Wildflower Field, and the Radial Planting garden.

With regular occurrences of public art and live performances across the 2.3 km rail line, you’ll never fall short of breathtaking things to see. There is a wide variety of places to eat, like Shake Shack, so you can enjoy every moment at the High Line.

Top Tip: There is a free guided tour of the High Line on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:30 and Tuesdays from 17:00 to 18:30.

5. Madison Square Park

Image by Meghan Crown on Unsplash

Hidden away in the heart of New York City is a pristine two-acre square park with a lot of history. Its name comes from the fourth president of the United States – James Madison – one of the founding fathers of America.

Despite its small size, the park lies at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway. There are also some fantastic things to see here, from the Roscoe Conkling Statue to the Reflecting Pool. The lush trees and towering buildings make the Reflecting Pool great for a photo shoot.

What makes this such a beautiful space? Well, for starters, it’s one of the places to visit if you want an authentic New York experience. A stunning array of statues, like the Chester Alan Arthur Monument , also make this one of the most picturesque parts of the city.

6. Brooklyn Bridge Park

Image by Sven Becker on Unsplash

Another iconic part of this vibrant city is Brooklyn Bridge, and the best place for sweeping views of this landmark is Brooklyn Bridge Park. Across 85 acres of waterfront, you can enjoy rolling vistas, spacious promenades, and diverse garden features.

The park sits on the east side of the East River and is accessible from the entire Brooklyn Borough region. You can explore six different piers, each offering a unique perspective of the Brooklyn Bridge. One of the top places to visit in the park is Dumbo Point, at the edge of Pier 2.

Top Tip : If you want to see all that this breathtaking park offers, consider joining a Waterfront biking tour .

7. Prospect Park

Image by Tyler Goodell on Unsplash

This list is not short of breathtaking outdoor spaces, but one of the most expansive you can visit is Prospect Park. There is an abundance of beauty to appreciate across the 215 acres.

This lush region of forest and lake calls the Brooklyn Borough home and is particularly pretty during fall. You can admire the colourful display of red and orange leaves dancing in the wind throughout the park.

The Prospect Park Zoo offers a breathtaking adventure past indigenous and exotic animals. Another one of the top sights in the park is Meadowport Arch, which offers the perfect photo opportunity.

Top Tip : There is a wide variety of things to see here. I recommend joining a Prospect Park walking tour to see all the best bits.

8. Times Square

Image by Andreas Kruck on Unsplash

Times Square’s beauty is unique compared to the city’s plethora of parks. With a dazzling light display from billboards, buildings, and cars, this commercial intersection is the city’s hub.

It’s the junction between Broadway, 42nd Street, and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan . This is one of the city’s brightest and most brilliant spaces, so it’s no wonder tourists love visiting.

During the day, you can experience the fast-paced New York lifestyle. At night you can admire the rich display of dancing lights that make this such a photogenic part of the city.

Top Tip : Times Square is also known as the city’s entertainment hub, so be sure to explore Broadway, which is nearby and any live street performances.

Image by Vlada Karpovich on Pexels

Architecture is a big part of New York’s make-up, and SoHo is one of the best areas to admire the city’s buildings. SoHo is in Lower Manhattan, and its buildings are unique, to say the least.

For starters, over 200 cast-iron buildings make up this trendy neighbourhood. It has a lovely combination of Renaissance, Italianate, and Federal architecture that shows off old grandeur.

Inside these buildings, you’ll find upmarket restaurants, shops, and bars that make this such a trendy area. Although the architecture takes centre stage, the cobblestone sidewalks and vibey nightlife mean you’ll have plenty of breathtaking photo opportunities.

Top Tip : Visit the JIMMY rooftop bar around sunset for some of the best views of the New York skyline.

10. Wall Street

Image by Aditya Vyas on Unsplash

At first glance, this financial district in Lower Manhattan isn’t your typical idea of a pretty neighbourhood. But the more time you spend here, the more its charms kick in.

Neoclassical architecture creates a powerful environment with its large columns and arches. Aside from the architecture, the charging bull sculpture is one of the top sights you can visit along the cobblestone streets of Wall Street.

But possibly the best part of Wall Street is Battery Park – the southernmost point of Manhattan. It provides unforgettable views of Liberty Island, and you can see an old sandstone war fort at Castle Clinton.

Top Tip : You can learn all about its history and see the breathtaking attractions on a Wall Street walking tour .

11. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral

Image by Dana Andreea Gheorghe on Unsplash

Pay a visit to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for a journey into the beauty of Catholic architecture. You’ll find the cathedral in the Midtown Manhattan region, and it’s quite easily the prettiest cathedral in New York.

For starters, the building’s facade is magical. It’s the largest Catholic Gothic cathedral in North America, and the intricate design is gorgeous. You can access Saint Patrick’s Cathedral from Madison Avenue. Keep in mind that the church is still in use to this day, so religious ceremonies still occur.

During a self-guided audio tour , you’ll see large columns, ordained relief sculptures, and beautiful wooden seats. The high ceilings and stained glass windows create an awe-inspiring feeling when walking through the building.

Top Tip : If you’re a big architecture fan, read my post on the most famous cathedrals in New York City .

12. Bryant Park

Image by Krisztina Papp on Unsplash

I don’t think you’ll find a more dramatic setting for a park in New York than Bryant Park. This 9.6-acre space in Midtown Manhattan is glorious. Picture the high-rising New York skyline overhead with trees lining a large open lawn.

It hasn’t always been a serene space in the city’s heart, with drugs and crime dominating the park in the 1970s. Now, the park is a beautiful open space for all to enjoy, thanks to the renovations done between 1988 and 1992.

It’s easy to see why this space with a dark past is considered a public miracle. Aside from admiring the jaw-dropping scenery in and around this small park, you can also join the free public tours every Wednesday.

13. Socrates Sculpture Park

Image by Socrates Sculpture Park on Facebook

The outdoor spaces keep coming, and the Socrates Sculpture Park is one of the most distinct. As the name suggests, you can walk amongst large-scale sculptures and take in the views of Lighthouse Park in the centre of the East River.

In 1986, under the leadership of artist Mark di Suvero, this space had a drastic transformation from a landfill to a beautiful sculpture park. You can access the park along Vernon Boulevard in the Queens District, and admission is always free.

New sculptures fill the park annually, so you’ll have a new experience each time you visit. That, coupled with the breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, make this one of the most beautiful places in New York City.

14.The Elevated Acre

Image by Edmond Malin on Facebook

Over the years, the Elevated Acre has become a lesser-known gem in comparison to the famous High Line. This is an elevated one-acre garden above the streets of Lower Manhattan near Wall Street.

With a lawn, beer garden, and amphitheatre, the Elevated Acre is an oasis within the urban jungle that is Manhattan. You spend hours strolling through the winding path of Brazilian Hardwood forests and taking in the views of Brooklyn.

Grab a bite to eat from one of the lovely food trucks nearby, like Souvlaki GR Food Truck, and head to this rooftop garden for a relaxing afternoon. As it’s not as popular as the High Line, you can relax in this quiet, secluded park space.

15.Bannerman Castle

Image by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Believe it or not, this buzzing urban city contains some remnants of medieval times. Enjoy a short one-hour and 30-minute drive along the Palisades Interstate Parkway to the Hudson’s Highlands State Park.

Once here, you’ll witness captivating views of the Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island. Built in 1901, this mesmerising castle dominates a portion of the Hudson River landscape. Simply put, it’s an ode to ancient Scottish castles and the ancestry of the Bannerman family.

Today, you can join walking tours, cruises, and kayaking tours of this iconic castle or simply admire it from Hudson’s Highland State Park.

16. New York Public Library

Image by Patrick Robert Doyle on Unsplash

You may wonder how a library makes it onto this list, but trust me when I say it’s breathtaking. The New York Public Library at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is one of the prettiest places in this city.

Not only can you enjoy some much-needed silence, but the architecture here is also extraordinary. You’ll find this building on W 40th and W 42nd Street next to Bryant Park.

The large open spaces have massive arched windows that allow light to flood into the rooms. The ceilings all have beautiful paintings, and the Rose Main Reading Room is particularly magnificent.

Top Tip : You can join a guided tour of the building from Mondays to Saturdays at either 11:00 or 14:00.

17. Empire State Building

Image by Kit Suman on Unsplash 

Nothing defines the New York skyline more than the Empire State Building. You can find this 102-storey building between 4th and 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, and put simply, it’s mesmerising.

The Empire State Building was the first 100-storey building ever built back in 1931, and its impressive size is still easy to see. The art-deco building is mainly the home of many businesses like LinkedIn.

There are observatories and exhibition spaces on the 82nd and 102nd floors. With an Empire State Building ticket , you can visit the 102nd floor and admire the breathtaking views of New York City from above.

Top Tip: Learn more about the famous landmarks in the U.S . and why the Empire State Building is one of them.

18. Broadway and the Theatre District

Image by Denis Nevozhai on Unsplash

Broadway is a lovely part of the city, teeming with drama – quite literally – and an authentic city vibe. The neighbourhood falls between Central Park to the north and Hell’s Kitchen to the west.

Most Broadway theatres are between 41st and 51st Street and 8th and 6th Avenues. The only exception is the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Centre. In this area, you’ll see the iconic Broadway lights that shine at night.

It is very close and similar to Times Square, but this part of town offers the grandeur of original musicals. You can see everything here, from The Lion King to The Phantom of The Opera .

19. Top of the Rock Observation Deck

Image by Tom Ridson on Unsplash

For unforgettable views of New York City, the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at the Rockefeller Centre is a must-visit. You can find the Rockefeller Centre on the corner of W 50th Street and 5th Avenue.

From the 70th floor of the building, you’ll have unparalleled 360-degree views of the entire city. Admire Central Park to the north, Brooklyn to the east, the Empire State Building to the south, and The Heights to the west.

A Top of the Rock Observation Deck ticket provides flexible dates so that you can plan your visit and have the best weather possible.

Top Tip : Before heading up to the top, go to The Channel Gardens and enjoy the beautiful landscape area.

20. Silver Lake

Image by Marta Wave on Pexels

Stepping away from Manhattan and into Staten Island, you’ll find the gorgeous Silver Lake Park. You can enjoy the simple pleasures of the outdoors in this 209-acre park.

One of the park’s top attractions is the Monarch Butterfly migration which takes place in September. There’s a high chance you’ll see these majestic creatures resting on the butterfly bushes. 

Aside from this, Silver Lake is another breathtaking part of the park that you have to admire in person.

21. Fort Tryon Park and the Met Cloisters

Image by Artem XCX on Unsplash

You can find Fort Tryon Park in the Fort George neighbourhood of Upper Manhattan. The park is blessed with lovely views of the Hudson River and some of the prettiest gardens in the city.

One of the top gardens I highly recommend you walk through is the Heather Garden, with a beautiful array of colourful flowers. But the park’s main feature is the Met Cloisters, a large museum dedicated to depicting Medieval art.

The Met Cloisters derive from iconic medieval buildings like the Bonnefont-en-Comminges. Besides walking through the cloisters, you can admire them from afar, with the park’s lush greenery making them pop beautifully.

Final Thoughts on the Most Beautiful Places in New York City

When I first went to New York City, I wasn’t expecting such a wide variety of beautiful spaces. But if there is one thing I learnt about this city, it will always surprise you in one way or another.

I hope you can take some inspiration from the list of the most beautiful places in New York City for your next trip to this iconic part of the world. But if you want more, read my other post about New Yorks off the beaten path attractions for an unforgettable city experience.

While you’re in New York State you might also enjoy reading about:

Sunflower Fields in Long Island

Best beaches in Montauk Long Island

How to see Niagara Falls from the US side

Beautiful Waterfalls in Rochester

Best Parks in Rochester

Places to go Kayaking near Rochester New York

Best Views of NYC

N ew York’s Covered Bridges

I covered all of the costs involved in the writing of this post on the most beautiful places in new york city. However, this post includes affiliate links. That means if you click through and end up making a purchase I will receive a small commission. I wanted to make sure you were aware of this.

Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Like this post? Why Not Share It?

Thanks for Sharing!

14 Most Beautiful Places To See In New York City

• New York City offers a vibrant and diverse experience with its famous streets, iconic buildings, and beautiful parks and gardens.
• The High Line is a must-visit urban oasis with lush greenery, gardens, and stunning views of the cityscape and Hudson River.
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Washington Square Park, and Central Park are some of the most beautiful and culturally significant places to see in New York City.

New York City is one of the most vibrant destinations on the East Coast. Whether walking down its famous streets, visiting its iconic buildings, or discovering the beauty of New York City's parks and gardens - the city will have anything but a dull moment. New York City is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and people from all over the world visit to immerse themselves in all that it has to offer.

With some of the most delicious world cuisine ( including some authentic Italian restaurants ), museums, a raging art and music scene, shopping, entertainment, and more - New York is the epitome of city life. Experiencing the city's hustle and bustle will be a lifetime trip. This city is home to some of the most beautiful and historical places in the United States. Choosing which sites to add to one's bucket list may be challenging with all the options. Here are ten of the most beautiful places to see in New York City.

UPDATE: 2023/09/28 22:43 EST BY LUANA FERREIRA

More Beautiful Places To Visit In New York

New York is one of the world's biggest cities, and there are countless beautiful places that locals and tourists should visit. Therefore, this list has been expanded to include places such as the High Line, the Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, the Washington Square Park, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Have fun!

RELATED: 10 Things To Do In The Bronx: Complete Guide To NYC's Northernmost Borough

The High Line

The High Line in New York City is an urban oasis suspended above the bustling streets of Manhattan, and its tranquil ambiance and architectural ingenuity make it a must-visit destination, providing both locals and tourists a respite in the heart of the metropolis.

This elevated linear park, repurposed from a historic railway track, offers a serene escape amidst the city's hustle and bustle.

Lush greenery, vibrant gardens, and public art installations adorn the path, creating a harmonious blend of nature and urbanity. The High Line provides stunning views of the cityscape and Hudson River, offering a unique perspective of New York.

• Address : New York, NY 10011, United States
• Open hours: From 9 am to 10 pm

DUMBO, Brooklyn

DUMBO, short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a famous neighborhood in Brooklyn. Nestled along the East River, it boasts a distinctive blend of historic charm and modern vibrancy, thanks to its cobblestone streets, converted warehouses, and stunning views of the Manhattan skyline characterize this waterfront enclave.

DUMBO is a hub for art, culture, and innovation, hosting numerous galleries, boutiques, and tech startups. Visitors can revel in the enchanting scenery of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, enjoy a scenic stroll along the waterfront, and savor culinary delights at trendy eateries. DUMBO encapsulates Brooklyn's dynamic spirit, making it a compelling destination to explore.

It's possible to reach DUMBO by crossing the Brooklyn Bridge walking or by bike

Washington Square Park

Locals and tourists looking for an urban oasis amidst America's most populous city can find it at Washington Square Park. The place is a cultural crossroads, offering a serene respite, captivating ambiance, and a front-row seat to the lively spirit of Greenwich Village.

Located in Manhattan, the Washington Square Park features the iconic Washington Arch, a historic landmark. Trees, gardens, and a central fountain surround visitors. The park's bohemian atmosphere, abuzz with musicians, artists, and locals, lends it a dynamic character. The stunning arch frames views of the surrounding cityscape, adding to its allure.

• Address : Washington Square, New York, NY 10012, United States

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is often referred to as "The Met" (Yes, the same place that hosts the famous Met Gala). The museum is an architectural and cultural masterpiece in New York City thanks to its grand Beaux-Arts façade.

Beyond its architecture, the Met features a worldwide collection representing 5,000 years of history. Visitors admire over two million works, from ancient artifacts to contemporary masterpieces. The museum's diverse exhibits, including European paintings, Egyptian antiquities, and Asian art, offer a global journey through artistic expression.

• Address : 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, USA
• Admission fees: $30 for adults, $22 for seniors, $17 for students
• Open hours: From Sunday to Thursday - 10 am to 5 pm; Friday and Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm

Central Park

Central Park is one of New York's most iconic attractions. People from all over the world visit to admire its beauty, and the best part - is that Central Park is free, and there are many ways to spend time there . This park is famous for its landscape design and is one of the city's most beautiful places. The park offers many things to do and see, where visitors can spend hours discovering different areas with some of the most picturesque views.

• The Central Park has 843 acres

Old City Hall Subway Station

With some of the most beautiful places in New York - Old City Hall Subway Station is a must-see when visiting the city. Initially opening in 1904, this hidden subway station has a mesmerizing architectural build and is a beautiful way to see New York's historical public transportation system. It is located at the end of the six-train line, and tours are available for guests who want to visit the old subway station.

• Admission fees: Between $35 and $50

Related: New York City's Springtime Waterways: Exploring The City's Rivers & Harbors On Boat Tours

Statue Of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is a historical attraction in the city - a neoclassical structure that offers some of the most beautiful views in the city. People worldwide visit to witness the statue and all its beauty. With some of the prettiest parts of New York one can explore , a trip to the Statue of Liberty will show visitors the rich history of New York City. This is one of the best locations to take amazing pictures!

• Ferry fees: $12 (Children), $24.50 (Adult), $18 (Senior)
• Pedestal access: $12.30 (Children), $24.80 (Adult), $18.30 (Senior)

Prospect Park

New York City has some of the most beautiful parks, not just Central Park. Prospect Park is in Brooklyn, New York, and is home to a breathtaking green space in the city. From excellent trails, a botanical garden, waterfalls, and a zoo - Prospect Park is a must-visit when discovering beautiful areas in New York City. Whether walking in the park or having a picnic with family and friends, it's a lovely way to spend some time in the city's gorgeous outdoors.

• Famous events: Evening Under the Sphere, FallFur Picnic, Harvest Moon Circle

Brooklyn Bridge

Take a trip to Brooklyn Bridge to see one of the most iconic bridges in New York. Visiting New York's beautiful and historic attractions is one of the best parts of traveling in the city. Brooklyn Bridge’s stunning architectural build shows the city's vast history. It's a beautiful way to walk along the bridge, with many opportunities to take pictures and view the city's skyline.

It's possible to cross the Brooklyn Bridge using the pedestrian walkway.

Edge Observation Deck

Edge Observation Deck is an attraction in New York City that offers some of the most mesmerizing views of the city. It is 100 stories high and is a beautiful way to immerse in the city's beauty. It is one of the best ways to see the city's beauty from a high point. A trip to the Edge will be the experience of a lifetime with its glass floors, breathtaking 360-degree views of the city, and a bar for enjoyment.

• Address: 30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001, United States

Related: Flavors Of New York State: Discovering 10 Must-Try Cuisines In New York City

New York is home to some of the most iconic neighborhoods. SoHo is a neighborhood worth visiting for those who want to experience New York's beautiful streets and breathtaking buildings. From art galleries, shops, street vendors, restaurants, a nightlife scene, and so much more - there is much to see and discover in this beautiful neighborhood in New York City.

• Things to do: Museum of Ice Cream, The Museum of Modern Art, Housing Works Bookstore

Madison Square Park

Home to some of the most beautiful parks - Madison Square Park is high on the list of New York's mesmerizing outdoor spaces. It is a fantastic place to visit to walk and enjoy New York in the spring. For nature lovers, the park offers various greenery to escape the busy city life. Whether taking a small snack or enjoying time with family or friends, it will be a beautiful and relaxing experience in the city.

• Address : 11 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, United States

Times Square

Times Square is one of the most popular destinations in New York City. People worldwide travel to see its iconic lights, billboards, buildings, and so much more. It is a must-visit when touring the city to see the town's beauty and all it is known for. Offering many shops and restaurants, the area has much to do and see, with many opportunities for pictures. Times Square is one of New York's most busy and thrilling areas and is worth experiencing for those traveling to the city!

The most common and convenient way to reach Times Square is by subway. Multiple subway lines, including the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, and S lines, serve the Times Square-42nd Street station.

Related: 10 Top-Rated Museums In New York City That Should Be On Your List

New York Public Library - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Visit the New York City Public Library to get views of its stunning architecture and immerse in the city's history. This extensive library is a charming destination to discover New York's diverse beauty and experience all the city's spaces. With a fantastic collection of books and areas to discover inside and outside the library, it is one of the most beautiful places to visit in New York City.

• Address: 476 Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Destinations

20 Best Places to Visit in Upstate New York

There's plenty to see in New York beyond the Big Apple.

Wendy O'Dea has worked as a travel journalist and content strategist for two decades. Her work has appeared in USA Today, Travel + Leisure, 10best.com, Robb Report , and many other outlets. 

Occasionally, when I tell people I'm from New York, their reaction is something along the lines of, "But you don't sound like you're from New York." I wonder, have they forgotten there's a whole state beyond the Big Apple?

But upstate New York, with its majestic mountains, abundance of lakes, and charming small towns, is anything but forgettable as anyone who has been to the region knows. For those who haven't yet visited, or want to see more of it, here are 20 of the best places to visit in upstate New York.

Conesus Lake

Conesus Lake is the westernmost Finger Lake, drawing crowds every year for its July 3rd Ring of Fire, when 10,000 flares are lit along its periphery as fireworks explode overhead. Nearby, the tiny hamlet of Lakeville is home to the Little Lake Brewing brewery, one of the stops along the new Livingston Libation Loop that maps out wineries, cideries, and craft microbreweries around the county. While there, don't miss the recently installed street murals and art along the 90-mile self-guided Inspirations Trail.

Cooperstown

The National Baseball Hall of Fame is just one of the notable attractions worth visiting in this quaint New York village. The Fenimore Art Museum , built on land once owned by novelist James Fenimore Cooper, features an impressive collection of American art, and the Glimmerglass Festival , held each summer, lures opera lovers from far and wide. Visitors to nearby Howe Caverns (about 38 miles east), can go caving or spelunking at New York state's second-most visited natural attraction.

Letchworth State Park

Known as the "Grand Canyon of the East," Letchworth State Park features an impressive gorge carved out over centuries by the Genesee River. You'll find dozens of camera-ready waterfalls where the river dramatically crashes down along shale, limestone, and sandstone cliffs that rise 550 feet at their highest point. A recently built Autism Nature Trail , the first in the country designed for people on the autism spectrum, includes eight marked sensory stations spread across a one-mile loop.

Niagara Falls

In addition to the iconic Niagara Falls, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is worth a stop to learn more about the history of the Underground Railroad, which often culminated at the Canadian border. Learn about Harriet Tubman and local heroes like John Morrison. The museum's permanent exhibit, " One More River to Cross ," received the 2019 Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History.

Located at the southwestern end of Chautauqua Lake, Jamestown is best known as the hometown of comedienne Lucille Ball. Visitors with an appreciation of comedy should pop by the National Comedy Center — the first museum dedicated to the art of comedy. For something more intellectual, the renowned Chautauqua Institution is a short drive up the lake, and each summer features speakers, performers, and programs focused on the "exploration of the best in human values and the enrichment of life."

Ellicottville

About an hour south of Buffalo, in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, this quaint village exudes charm as witnessed by the well-preserved and restored homes and buildings dating back to the 19th century. It's also where western New York sports enthusiasts and skiers go to mountain bike, hike, or slalom down the 60 slopes and trails at neighboring Holiday Valley Resort .

Seneca Falls

Situated at the north end of Cayuga Lake, this historic spot is believed to be the inspiration for the town of Bedford Falls in Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life." Most notably, though, is the important role it played in the women's rights movement, having hosted the first Women's Rights Convention in 1848. The town's Convention Days (each July) attract crowds, and the Women's Rights National Historical Park is worth visiting, too. You can also toast to the suffragettes while wine tasting along one of the many nearby Finger Lakes wine trails.

Skaneateles

This affluent town whose name means "long lake" in native Iroquois is another central New York destination known for its wine tasting and fall foliage. It's also a favorite among avid cyclists who come to pedal the 32-mile trail around the lake. Each year, starting Thanksgiving weekend, the town hosts its annual Dickens Christmas celebration with live entertainment, horse and wagon rides, and a cast of Dickensian characters.

Lake George

Few lakes around New York state are known for scuba diving, so visitors are often surprised to discover that certified divers can explore 18th-century shipwrecks at the bottom of Lake George, including the oldest intact warship in North America. Vacationers flock to this town in the Adirondack region each summer, and the crowds can get thick, but there's also plenty of winter fun to be had, including snowshoeing and a family-focused carnival every February.

Saranac Lake

The Adirondack Mountains have beckoned city dwellers for centuries, including tycoons like the Guggenheims and Vanderbilts, who owned rustic yet luxurious compounds known as the Great Camps. The Point , once a Rockefeller Great Camp, still welcomes guests with all-inclusive stays that harken back to that time, complete with black-tie dinners. The resort is near the village of Saranac Lake, nestled between the mountains and lakes and filled with inviting boutiques, galleries, and restaurants.

Not only is Ithaca a top-notch college town, but it's also a natural wonderland with breathtaking gorges, parks, and waterfalls, like Taughannock Falls, with a height three times that of Niagara Falls. There's an abundance of activities around the city, too, including a botanical garden, boat tours, wine trails, and a self-guided Discovery Trail that highlights local history, astronomy, and earth science. Rumor has it that it was also the birthplace of the ice cream sundae .

Watkins Glen and Montour Falls

In upstate New York, many destinations are defined by their proximity to one of the state's lakes — and so it is, with Watkins Glen, found on the southern end of Seneca Lake. Best known for its legendary auto-racing history, the Watkins Glen International racetrack has played host to countless races, from the Grand Prix to Nascar to Formula One. It's also a good jumping-off point to hit the Seneca Lake Wine Trail , which stretches along the length of the lake and is the largest wine trail in the Finger Lakes.

Saratoga Springs

Just because Saratoga Springs is already known as a popular vacation destination doesn't mean you shouldn't go. There's something classically old-school about spending a day at the races at the famous Saratoga Race Course or at Saratoga Spa State Park , which is a National Historic Landmark. The art scene is solid, too, with impressive productions at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center , the Spa Little Theatre , and other venues.

Thousand Islands

The U.S.-Canadian border snakes through the St. Lawrence River, zigzagging through the spectacular Thousand Islands archipelago where the river meets Lake Ontario. The archipelago consists of about 1,800 islands, from small and craggy to large and lush. Visitors converge here each summer and fall to soak up views of picture-perfect lighthouses and dramatic castles, including the never-inhabited Boldt Castle. On the nearby mainland, towns include Clayton, Cape Vincent, and Sackets Harbor, the latter of which has been designated a New York State Heritage Area.

An affluent upstate New York community, Pittsford is a charmer set on the banks of the Erie Canal. This year, the town — and many others along the path of this historic waterway that connects the Atlantic with the Great Lakes — celebrates its bicentennial with special programming. That includes a twilight boat tour on the Sam Patch, a replica 1800s packet boat. Come summer, visitors and locals dine at Schoen Place overlooking the canal, then line up for homemade ice cream at Pittsford Farms Dairy & Bakery . Other attractions include neighboring Mendon Ponds Park and The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester.

Ausable Chasm

In the eastern Adirondacks, not far from Lake Champlain and the Vermont border, Ausable Chasm is a two-mile-long sandstone gorge carved out 500 million years ago. It's another ideal destination for chasing waterfalls (particularly the cascading Rainbow Falls) and exploring the Adirondacks on its many hiking and adventure trails. It's also a stone's throw from the North Star Underground Railroad Museum , which tells the stories of slaves seeking freedom at the Canadian border, located about an hour north by car.

Dia Beacon , a celebrated collection of contemporary art, brought a lot of attention — and visitors — to this city on the banks of the Hudson River. And with that attention came more appreciation for the many other galleries, shops, cafés, breweries, and antique stores that have taken up residence on its magnetic Main Street. Trek to the top of Mount Beacon or book a boat tour to Pollepel Island (known locally as Bannerman Island), which Native Americans believed was inhabited by haunted, hostile spirits.

About a three-hour drive from New York City, this mountain town welcomes adventurers with its multitude of endorphin-producing activities, including the fastest and longest zip-line canopy tour in North America. There's a charming Main Street in this "gem of the Catskills," with inviting boutiques, bistros, and galleries. In August 2022, the Wylder Windham hotel reopened with a pickleball court, heated pool, and wine tastings every weekend.

Don't write off Buffalo just because of its infamous winter weather. The city continues to evolve as a tourism destination, with the recent restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House , a restored historic carousel on the Buffalo Waterfront, and a big expansion of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (previously known as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery).

Sylvan Beach

Since we're highlighting towns around New York's Finger Lakes, Oneida Lake and the village of Sylvan Beach deserve a shout-out, too. It's a great option for a classic upstate summer vacation, where visitors can spend the day at the town's old-timey amusement park, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding, or simply relaxing lakeside with a bottle of local vino. Another way to while away the day is on the water: Rent a cottage at the new Cove at Sylvan Beach, where each rental includes a private pontoon boat.

Protect Your Trip »

18 most romantic getaways in new york state.

Some of the most romantic destinations in the U.S. can be found in New York State.

Romantic Getaways in New York

Courtesy of The Otesaga Resort Hotel

From relaxing at a lake to exploring the city, New York offers plenty of options for a romantic vacation.

It's nearly impossible not to find love in a state that's served as the backdrop for so many romantic films, from "Dirty Dancing" in the Catskills to the countless classics – think "Annie Hall," "When Harry Met Sally," "You've Got Mail" – set in New York City . In popular sitcom "The Office," Pam and Jim tie the knot beneath Niagara Falls , otherwise known as the "Honeymoon Capital of the World."

Even off-screen, romance abounds in New York state's top destinations , from the Finger Lakes to the Adirondacks . Though the options for a couples vacation in the Empire State may actually be endless, these are some of the best places to spend a romantic weekend (or longer) in New York – including several ideal weekend getaways from New York City .

Most Romantic Getaways in New York State

• Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa
• Mirbeau Inn & Spa
• Belhurst Castle and Winery
• The Lake House on Canandaigua

Cooperstown

• Glenmere Mansion
• Mohonk Mountain House

The Catskills

Niagara falls.

• Hutton Brickyards

New York City

• Valley Rock Inn & Mountain Club
• Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa

Westchester County

• Whiteface Lodge
• The Sagamore Resort

Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa: Aurora

Courtesy of Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa

The Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa comprises five historic inns and a cottage, each with their own distinctive vibe. The Aurora Inn (the site's original hotel), built in 1833, blends vintage furnishings with modern amenities, while the Rowland House, built in 1903, is a more eclectic option. All guest rooms are equipped with plush bathrobes; some even feature fireplaces and views of Cayuga Lake, perfect for cuddling up to admire the spectacular sunsets.

Lovebirds can enjoy complimentary coffee and homemade granola bars each morning, a glass of local wine in the evenings, and seasonal s'mores by the lakefront fire pit. You'll also find candlelit dining at the 1833 Kitchen & Bar and culinary classes just down the street from the Aurora Inn. Explore the beauty of the Finger Lakes with complimentary gear such as kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards; bicycles; telescopes for stargazing; bird-watching binoculars; and more.

The highlight of any stay at the Inns of Aurora is its spa, a 15,000-square-foot healing and wellness center less than a mile from the main hotel property. Opened in 2021, the state-of-the-art facility features 10 treatment rooms where you can enjoy a variety of signature and customized treatments, as well as a full-service salon. All spa services come with a seasonal menu of fare at the on-site cafe, six jetted spa pools with optional hydrotherapy circuits, steam rooms, a sauna and fire pits.

Address: 391 Main St., Aurora, NY 13026

Read: The Best Wellness Retreats in the U.S.

Mirbeau Inn & Spa: Skaneateles

Courtesy of Mirbeau Inn & Spa

The sweet town of Skaneateles – brimming with boutique shops, art galleries and lakefront restaurants – merits a trip to the Finger Lakes. But for the ultimate in romance, book a stay at Mirbeau Inn & Spa . This French-inspired spa resort features an elegant spa, overnight accommodations and on-site dining.

Guests have the option to stay in a traditional guest room or private cottage, all of which come with fireplaces and large bathrooms with soaking tubs. Book the Mirbeau Signature Couples Massage or Art of Living couples experience and enjoy use of a heated foot pool, steam rooms and the outdoor Aqua Terrace – which features a heated spa pool with massage jets and a waterfall, a cozy fireplace, and a private bar where you can order beverages and light fare. Afterward, enjoy lunch or dinner at The Bistro & Wine Bar, where breakfast and Sunday brunch are also served. Previous guests rave about this resort, calling it serene and magical.

Mirbeau Inn & Spa also has locations in Rhinebeck, New York (Hudson River Valley), and Plymouth, Massachusetts ( Cape Cod ).

Address: 851 W. Genesee Street Road, Skaneateles, NY 13152

Belhurst Castle and Winery: Geneva

Courtesy of Belhurst Castle and Winery

In the Finger Lakes, not only can you taste some of the world's best rieslings, but you can also spend the night in a castle – with a winery. Located on the shores of Seneca Lake, Belhurst Castle and Winery provides the perfect setting for a romantic getaway in New York.

While the property consists of three hotels, the Chambers in the Castle is the most romantic option for couples. Here, 11 Victorian-era guest rooms – each architecturally and stylistically distinct – feature antique furnishings, some with four-poster beds. There are also three cottages available to rent. Guests of the Chambers enjoy cozy fireplaces and complimentary wine from a self-serve wine spigot.

In addition to wine, Belhurst makes its own craft beer and hard cider, which patrons can enjoy at the winery tasting room or two on-site restaurants. The hotel also offers a spa and salon. The hotel reviews of Belhurst Castle are mixed, but most recent guests agree the staff is wonderful and the property is beautiful.

Address: 4069 W. Lake Road, Geneva, NY 14456

Read: The Top Finger Lakes Wineries to Visit

The Lake House on Canandaigua: Canandaigua

Courtesy of The Lake House on Canandaigua

The Lake House is the first hotel of its kind to open on Canandaigua Lake, the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes. The eco-conscious hotel uses its natural environment to provide holistic luxury to guests – from creekside barrel saunas at the on-site Willowbrook Spa to meals made with local ingredients at the Rose Tavern and Sand Bar. Of course, guests can enjoy Canandaigua Lake via kayak, stand-up paddleboard, private boat charter or even a morning coffee cruise. Light and airy guest rooms and suites feature handcarved furniture, rain showers, and plush robes and slippers; some first-floor rooms are pet-friendly.

When booking your stay, consider the "Romance at The Lake" package, which includes overnight accommodations, a spa credit and a Rose Tavern credit for a candlelit dinner, as well as wine and chocolate upon arrival.

If you can peel yourself from the property, take time to enjoy the award-winning wines and delicious food on the Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail.

Address: 770 S. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424

Courtesy of The Otesaga

Cooperstown is undeniably family-friendly – it's home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and Cooperstown Dreams Park, after all. But this central New York village is also ideal for a romantic weekend getaway, whether you and your beau are baseball fans or not.

Nicknamed "America's Most Perfect Village," Cooperstown boasts plenty of boutiques, breweries and art galleries, such as the Fenimore Art Museum, located on a property once owned by James Fenimore Cooper, author of "The Last of the Mohicans." In the winter, you and your partner can also try cross-country skiing or showshoeing at Glimmerglass State Park.

The village's grand dame, The Otesaga Resort Hotel, features romantic accommodations in which couples can wake up to the sun rising over Otsego Lake. Seasonally, hotel guests can enjoy water sports on the lake and cocktails at the outdoor Fire Bar overlooking the water. The luxury resort also features the Hawkeye Spa and fine dining at 1909 on Friday evenings. Other romantic dining options in Cooperstown include Brewery Ommegang (once famous for its limited-edition "Game of Thrones"-inspired beers); Nicoletta's Italian Café; and Origins Cafe, a farm-to-table restaurant inside of a greenhouse.

Glenmere Mansion: Chester

Courtesy of Glenmere Mansion

You'd never guess that this 150-acre estate is located in the U.S., let alone that it's only around 70 miles from New York City. Constructed in 1911, the mansion – then the summer home of industrialist Robert Goet – sits in the countryside of the Hudson Valley, intended to resemble the villas of Tuscany at the time. Now a Relais & Châteaux boutique hotel , Glenmere Mansion features more than a dozen guest rooms, each one thoughtfully redesigned and unique. Most rooms have fireplaces, and many offer terraces.

Romantic retreats can (and should) include indulging at the Glenmere spa, which features a tandem suite with side-by-side soaking tubs and treatment tables. Guests of the spa enjoy pre- or post-treatment tapas and access to a variety of amenities, including an herbal steam room, dry heat sauna and a Swiss shower.

Visitors at Glenmere also have access to four fine dining venues and local activities such as historic sightseeing and wine tasting at the award-winning Brotherhood Winery, widely considered the oldest winery in the U.S. Note that Glenmere Mansion is an adults-only resort . Many previous guests praise Glenmere, noting that the food is exceptionally good.

Address: 634 Pine Hill Road, Chester, NY 10918

Mohonk Mountain House: New Paltz

Courtesy of Mohonk Mountain House

Perhaps the grandest of all the mansions and castles in New York (and the U.S.) is Mohonk Mountain House. Founded in 1869, the resort can be found tucked into the Hudson Valley, less than 100 miles from New York City.

Another major draw? It's one of few all-inclusive resorts in the U.S. Rates include three farm-to-table meals daily plus afternoon tea and cookies; a roster of activities, spanning water sports on Lake Mohonk to 85 scenic miles of hiking trails; wellness offerings such as a spa and fitness classes; nightly entertainment including live music and seasonal campfires; and, for families, additional kid-specific activities. Couples can choose Victorian-style guest room or suite accommodations with wood-burning fireplaces in the Mountain House, or opt to stay in the more private Grove Lodge.

While this National Historic Landmark resort is pricey, previous guests agree the cost is well worth the experience.

Address: 1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz, NY 12561

Courtesy of Urban Cowboy Lodge

While the Catskills may always be synonymous with "Dirty Dancing," the region looks a bit different than it did when Frances "Baby" Houseman and Johnny Castle fell in love here. A boom in boutique lodging options is once again attracting travelers to an area that saw a period of decline from the 1970s until recent years.

Modern-day Babys and Johnnys can now go glamping at AutoCamp Catskills; spend the night at Wylder Windham, a full-service boutique hotel next to Windham Mountain Resort; relax in rustic-luxe rooms with soaking tubs at Urban Cowboy Lodge; tuck into cozy cabins at Eastwind Windham, which also features standalone saunas in the woods; or even spend the night at a revamped retro motel such as the Starlite Motel, with its outdoor pool. Throughout the region couples will also find breweries and cideries, U-pick farms, and (of course) the outdoor adventures that first put the Catskills on the map: skiing, hiking, biking and more.

Read: The Top Catskills Resorts

Courtesy of Niagara Falls USA

Known as the "Honeymoon Capital of the World," Niagara Falls is the original romantic getaway in New York. Couples in search of romance have been visiting the region since the 1800s, particularly after the Erie Canal opened. Connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River, the canal – along with railroad expansions – made Niagara Falls a more accessible vacation destination for honeymooners.

Today, couples who want to experience the beauty of this natural wonder can hike or bike scenic trails at Niagara Falls State Park. You and your sweetheart can also watch a nightly illumination of the falls from a cozy blanket in the park, which is an especially colorful spectacle during Pride Month. Of course, there are plenty of guided tours in Niagara Falls , including the iconic Maid of the Mist (where Pam and Jim said their vows).

The New York side of Niagara Falls is home to a large wine region, with the Niagara Wine Trail offering more than a dozen wineries. For romantic accommodations, look to The Giacomo in the heart of downtown. Built in 1929 as the United Office Building, The Giacomo is now a luxury boutique hotel with architecture that blends art deco and Mayan Revival styles. In-room amenities include a nightly cookie delivery and panoramic views; select rooms have whirlpool baths and fireplaces. Duos can grab cocktails at the Giacomo Lounge before taking advantage of the "Sweetheart Package," complete with a bottle of Champagne, souvenir glasses, chocolate truffles and a rose petal display.

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks Newsletter

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

Hutton Brickyards: Kingston

Jane Beiles | Courtesy of Hutton Brickyards

The Hudson Valley's last architecturally intact brick manufactory, Hutton Brickyards, sits on more than 70 lush acres overlooking the Hudson River. Here, lovebirds can hide out in waterfront cabins and luxurious suites designed to optimize privacy, then enjoy on-site activities such as spa treatments, yoga, sip-and-paint sessions, archery, kayaking and nature walks. The property's alfresco waterfront restaurant, The River Pavilion, serves elevated wood-fired cuisine alongside the fireplaces. Other upscale eateries as well as boutiques can be found in downtown Kingston.

Within view of the Rhinecliff Amtrak station, Hutton Brickyards is an easy trip for New Yorkers seeking some respite from the busy city. Previous guests can't say enough good things about this seemingly hidden gem, noting that the cabins are especially cozy.

Address: 200 North St., Kingston, NY 12401

Courtesy of The High Line Hotel

Reenact your favorite rom-com moment in New York City, where there are endless places to fall in love – from world-class museums and award-winning restaurants to studio tours, skyline views and some of the country's best Pride events . In the architecturally awe-inspiring Hudson Yards neighborhood, which officially opened in 2019, lovers will find shopping, dining, special events and an on-site hotel.

Speaking of hotels, while the city may never sleep, you probably will, and there's no shortage of romantic lodging options in New York City. At The James New York – NoMad , which sits just steps from the Museum of Sex, curious couples can participate in intimacy workshops that teach you and your partner how to connect breath, emotions and sensations. Another potential accommodation choice is The High Line Hotel , a Parisian-style property whose Remote View garden serves extrasensory cocktails inspired by Ingo Swann, known as a pioneering psychic. At the TWA Hotel, meanwhile, guests enjoy the glamour of 1960s travel (think "Mad Men") as you sip martinis by a rooftop pool that overlooks the runways of John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Read: The Top Statue of Liberty Cruises

Valley Rock Inn & Mountain Club: Sloatsburg

Jean Francois-Jaussaud | Courtesy of Valley Rock Inn & Mountain Club

A fitness-focused resort, the Valley Rock Inn & Mountain Club is ideal for active couples in search of a romantic weekend getaway in New York. The sprawling resort – a popular destination for weddings and other events – is surrounded by 70,000 scenic acres that afford myriad activities, including guided hiking, biking and kayaking tours. The resort also features an expansive fitness center, a variety of fitness and wellness programs, and a 75-foot outdoor swimming pool. Romantic activities include browsing the hotel's organic market and art gallery with its bookstore, cozying up by the outdoor fire pits, enjoying in-room spa treatments and dining at farm-to-table restaurants.

The four historic guesthouses are each equipped with three to five luxurious bedrooms and porches – perfect for enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning. The Farm House and Twin Peaks allow you to book only one bedroom and enjoy exclusive use of the home during your stay, making them ideal for a couples weekend.

The Valley Rock Inn & Mountain Club is about an hour's ride from New York City via the ShortLine Hudson bus from Manhattan; the resort is conveniently located next to the bus stop and train station in Sloatsburg.

Address: 27 Mill St., Sloatsburg, NY 10974

Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa: Montauk

Courtesy of Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa

An icon in the Hamptons, Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa is situated on Montauk's picturesque stretch of oceanfront real estate. Hotel patrons enjoy access to a private beach and ocean views from luxury rooms, suites and beachfront cottages. In-room amenities include wet bars, Nespresso machines, and cozy robes and slippers. Couples can also take in the ocean vistas hand in hand from the Firepit outdoor lounge or relax at The Beach Club. Following a $20 million renovation, the resort's Seawater Spa features new indoor-outdoor spa suites with private soaking tubs, perfect for couples.

While many local hotels close for the winter, Gurney's Montauk is open year-round, so lovebirds can visit whenever the mood strikes. Reviewers say the resort is top-notch, with some noting it's just as good – and less crowded – in the offseason.

Address: 290 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk, NY 11954

Read: The Top Things to Do in Long Island

Courtesy of Discover Long Island

While the Hamptons remains an elite vacation spot on Long Island, the North Fork has been giving that resort destination a run for its money – especially in recent years. Thanks to an ideal terroir for growing grapes, Long Island has an established wine scene, with most of the vineyards and wineries located on the North Fork. You'll find many of the region's wineries along Route 25 (the main thoroughfare); guided wine tours with a personal driver are a popular way to taste the region's signature wines, which include merlot, cabernet franc and chardonnay. In June, many of the wineries celebrate Pride Month.

The area is also dotted with U-pick farms and farmers markets, some of which sell another local delicacy: oysters. For an essential North Fork experience, pair your oysters with wine at places such as Terra Vite North Fork Winery & Vineyard and Peconic Bay Vineyards – the latter offers oyster happy hours seasonally.

Couples can relax by the seaside in Orient Beach State Park, where beachgoers enjoy kayaking, windsurfing, fishing and other opportunities for outdoor recreation. Round out your romantic getaway in Long Island with a game of golf and some upscale dining, then check into one of the North Fork's boutique hotels or bed-and-breakfasts .

Courtesy of Abbey Inn & Spa

Often considered New York City's sixth borough, Westchester County is perfect for a weekend getaway with your partner. Just north of Manhattan, set between the Hudson River and Long Island Sound, Westchester County offers a little bit of everything: quaint river towns (including the legendary Sleepy Hollow), beaches, historic landmarks, seasonal events, and hiking and biking trails galore. You can also traverse the Westchester Farm Trail, which encompasses 13 farms and orchards with markets, U-pick options and more.

Romantic accommodations in Westchester County include the Bedford Post Inn, a Relais & Châteaux property with just eight rooms (many with fireplaces) and two highly rated farm-to-table restaurants. The Abbey Inn and Spa, which overlooks the Hudson River, is another lovely lodging option: Once a convent, the stunning building now houses luxurious guest rooms and suites, a restaurant, and a full-service spa where you and your lover can unwind with a lava stone couples massage.

Whiteface Lodge: Lake Placid

Courtesy of Whiteface Lodge

It doesn't get more romantic than Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid. The AAA Four Diamond resort boasts a variety of rustic-luxe suites (including one-bedroom options), most with cast-iron fireplaces, jetted tubs, and patios or balconies. Romantic on-site amenities and activities include evening drinks under the stars in a private lean-to; a spa with hot tubs, steam rooms and saunas; ice skating in the winter; and fine dining at Kanu, where guests say the atmosphere alone is worth a dinner reservation.

A two-time host of the Winter Olympics, Lake Placid offers a variety of Olympics-inspired museums and experiences, with unique winter activities including bobsledding at Mount Van Hoevenberg and dog-sledding on frozen Mirror Lake. Of course, there's also skiing, snowboarding and the like at Whiteface Mountain, one of the best ski resorts in New York . While you're visiting, take time for a romantic stroll along Lake Placid's Main Street, which looks like a Norman Rockwell painting. Previous guests adore Whiteface Lodge, noting that it's ideal for both couples and families.

Address: 7 Whiteface Inn Lane, Lake Placid, NY 12946

The Sagamore Resort: Bolton Landing

Courtesy of The Sagamore Resort

There are plenty of vacation rentals on Lake George, but if you're looking for the ultimate escape with your partner, book a stay at The Sagamore Resort (part of the Opal Collection). Located on a 70-acre private island in the Adirondacks, the hotel features award-winning dining, an 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Especially unique is the annual Glacier Ice Bar & Lounge, where 18,000 pounds of crystal-clear ice are transformed to create an Antarctic setting overlooking Lake George.

If you're seeking a private outdoor space and/or fireplace, a spacious option is a two-bedroom condo (or perhaps a four-room condo or house if you're traveling with other couples). Otherwise, you'll be perfectly comfortable in a lodge room or suite, some of which also come with fireplaces or balconies. Previous guests say this historic resort – first opened in 1883 and even considered by some to be a haunted hotel – is absolutely majestic.

Address: 110 Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing, NY 12814

Troutbeck: Amenia

Courtesy of Troutbeck

Tuck into Troutbeck, a historic estate hotel whose most famous guests include Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Located in the Hudson Valley, the hotel features field-to-fork dining led by Michelin-starred chef Gabe McMackin, as well as The Barns, a wellness facility featuring yoga, meditation and Kinesoma classes (dance-based movement). The wellness offerings also include services such as acupuncture and massages. An outdoor swimming pool and grill, hammock and picnic sites, tennis courts, and free bike rentals complement the serene setting.

For an especially romantic lodging option, book the Dunham Suite, named for its lovely view of the nearby creek. The suite features a king-size, four-poster bed; a gas fireplace; a wet bar with a minifridge; heated bathroom flooring; and a standalone soaking tub and separate rain shower. Recent guests say they enjoyed the beauty and history of this hotel from the 1700s.

Address: 515 Leedsville Road, Amenia, NY 12501

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Amanda Norcross has traveled to New York countless times, most recently for a stay at the Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa. Of all the places she's visited, she maintains that upstate New York is one of the most romantic destinations in the U.S .

You might also be interested in:

• The Most Romantic Getaways in Ohio
• The Most Romantic Getaways in New Jersey
• The Most Romantic Getaways in Pennsylvania

Tags: Travel , New York Vacations , Mid-Atlantic Vacations , US Vacations , Couples Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

How much does a cruise cost.

Gwen Pratesi April 24, 2024

The Best Whale Watching in Cape Cod

Lyn Mettler April 24, 2024

Best Whale Watching Tours in Maine

Marisa Méndez April 23, 2024

The Best Wineries in Napa Valley

April 23, 2024

The Best East Coast Beaches

April 19, 2024

The Best Carry-on Luggage

Erin Evans , Rachael Hood , Catriona Kendall , Amanda Norcross and Leilani Osmundson April 17, 2024

The Best Luggage Brands

Rachael Hood April 17, 2024

The Best Hard-sided Luggage Picks

The Best Yellowstone National Park Tours

John Rodwan April 17, 2024

The Best Rome Colosseum Tours

Laura Itzkowitz April 17, 2024

• Weird But True
• Sex & Relationships
• Viral Trends
• Human Interest
• Fashion & Beauty
• Food & Drink

trending now in Lifestyle

I dropped 160 pounds in 2 years — these 11 foods made weight...

Tattooed applicant claims she was denied TJ Maxx job over her...

I'm too hot to date but don't call me arrogant — haters are...

8 bad habits that you need to break -- unless you want to age...

Top 25 US beaches revealed — 2 surprising NYC spots made the...

I'm a fitness coach — here are the 3 foods I eat every day

Anti-aging guru shares unique ingredient he uses daily that helps...

I'm a plastic surgeon — here's what I do daily to look younger

Breaking news, these are the best places to stay in the world for 2024, according to tripadvisor.

• View Author Archive
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Choosing your next vacation isn’t just about where you visit, but where you stay.

To help travelers book the vacation possible, Tripadvisor , one of the biggest online travel agencies, revealed its  2024 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards  — including the list of the world’s best hotels .

The list ranks destinations that received a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over the past year — out of 8 million listings, fewer than 1% achieved the milestone.

New York City is still one of the top tourist destinations in the world, so it’s no shock that three of the top stays in the US are right here in Manhattan: The Luma Hotel in Times Square, The Bryant Park Hotel and Casablanca Hotel by Library Hotel Collection, also in Times Square.

But although many people agree NYC is the greatest city in the world, none of its hotels made the list for the best stays on a global scale.

The top hotel in the world is the Hotel Colline de France in Brazil, according to Tripadvisor.

The luxurious stay was highly rated for its “sophistication and comfort” shown through its glamorous rooms and luscious spa.

The live piano music played at breakfast and complimentary sparkling wine were also nice touches.

“The hotel’s sensational design and warm atmosphere make it a unique choice for an elegant, yet cozy, getaway,” Tripadvisor said.

Best hotels in the world

• Hotel Colline de France, Brazil
• OBLU SELECT Lobigili, Maldives
• La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa, Vietnam
• Adiwana Suweta, Indonesia
• Iberostar Grand Packard, Cuba
• Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa, Maldives
• La Siesta Classic Ma May, Vietnam
• Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya, Mexico
• Padma Resort Ubud, Indonesia
• Sofitel Mexico City Reforma, Mexico

The top hotel in the US is the Shore Hotel in Santa Monica, California, according to Tripadvisor.

The pet-friendly hotel stands out with its beautiful view of the ocean and eco-friendly but slick design — its proximity to the Santa Monica Pier also helps to attract guests.

Travelers also raved about the variety of food options, including the in-room breakfast options and the poolside bar.

“A stylish atmosphere and attention to detail ensure a fab stay for you and your furry friend,” Tripadvisor said.

Best in the US

• Shore Hotel, Santa Monica, California
• Luma Hotel Times Square, New York
• FivePine Lodge & Spa, Oregon
• The Bryant Park Hotel, New York
• Hotel Emma, San Antonia, Texas
• The Loutrel, South Carolina
• Lotte Hotel Seattle, Washington
• Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, Illinois
• Ironworks Hotel Indy, Indiana
• San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk, Texas
• The Lodge at Woodloch, Pennsylvania
• Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection, Hawaii
• Casablanca Hotel by Library Hotel Collection, New York

Share this article:

Advertisement

Where To Eat

The 25 Best Restaurants in Boston Right Now

It’s not just seafood and Italian in the greater Boston area. There’s great Vietnamese, omakase, Peruvian and even bagels worth seeking out. (Don’t worry, there’s also great seafood and Italian.) We’ll see you in the comments.

Tonino in Jamaica Plain. Credit... Gabby Riggieri

Supported by

• Share full article

By Kevin Pang ,  Priya Krishna and Brian Gallagher

Kevin Pang is a former restaurant critic and the author of a book about Chinese cooking. Priya Krishna is a reporter and Brian Gallagher is an editor for New York Times Food and Cooking.

• Published April 15, 2024 Updated April 21, 2024

In the Where to Eat: 25 Best series, we’re highlighting our favorite restaurants in cities across the United States. These lists will be updated as restaurants close and open, and as we find new gems to recommend. As always, we pay for all of our meals and don’t accept free items.

Bagelsaurus

Porter Square | Bagels

Bostonians don’t need more guff from New Yorkers, and they certainly don’t want to hear any food bragging, which seems likely to devolve into vulgarities. When it comes to bagels, Boston can’t claim ownership of a style, though Bagelsaurus wouldn’t be a bad example for others in the city to emulate. Using a sourdough starter that’s four decades old, Bagelsaurus’s bagels aren’t as dense as New York or Montreal versions. Fresh from the oven, they bear a chewy and crackly crust with an airy, open interior, like a warm circular baguette. It turns out that this lighter texture makes adding cold-smoked salmon, dill and cream cheese a much more pleasurable sandwich experience. What’s more, a Bagelsaurus bagel sitting out for a few hours doesn’t harden into an object capable of blunt-force trauma. KEVIN PANG

1796 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge; 857-285-6103; bagelsaurus.com

Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ

Dorchester | Vietnamese, Sandwiches

“Fast food” isn’t necessarily pejorative. At Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ, the sheer quantity of Vietnamese groceries, pastries, dessert drinks, noodle salads and hot prepared foods is an overwhelming sight. (With many, just pop the plastic lid and start consuming — it’s that fast.) But there’s a reason the bánh mì is its namesake sandwich. The speed with which they are made belies their refinement. What makes Ba Lẹ’s version especially memorable are the house-baked rolls, with a shatteringly crisp crust and a soft, open interior. When you bite into a freshly made bánh mì here, be prepared for a shrapnel of crumbs exploding in every direction, giving way to tender pork cold cuts, smooth livery pâté and crunchy matchsticks of pickled daikon and carrots. Even better than the flagship đặc biệt sandwich is the barbecue beef bánh mì, its grilled meat bearing the sweetest char you’ll encounter. KEVIN PANG

1052 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester; 617-265-7171; balebanhmiboston.com

Brookline | Greek

Just as you wouldn’t find spaghetti alla puttanesca in Venice, there’s no trace of octopus, branzino or horiatiki on the Greek menu at Bar Vlaha. The restaurant tells the story of the Vlachophone Greeks, historically shepherds from the mountains of northern and central Greece. Unlike their coastal counterparts, the Vlachs foraged mushrooms and snails from forests, caught eels from streams and trout from freshwater lakes. This is Greek cooking with more rustic intentions, with red wine, beef cheeks and prunes marrying for hours inside clay pots. Undeniably, Bar Vlaha’s flavors are of Greek provenance — the spit-roasted leg of lamb is redolent of oregano, rosemary and char — but even familiar sauces get Vlachian touches; the tzatziki, for example, is sweetened with honey. KEVIN PANG

1653 Beacon Street, Brookline; 617-906-8556; barvlaha.com

Belle Isle Seafood

Winthrop | Seafood

Don’t let anyone tell you being a fry cook isn’t a noble calling. Especially when frying seafood, where the margin between perfectly done and overcooked is measured in seconds. Belle Isle Seafood — essentially a waterfront warehouse with views of arriving flights at Logan International Airport — has clearly battered and deep-fried many tons of haddock, scallops and onion rings. A plate of fried pick-your-protein will arrive oversized, with an ideal combination of nongreasy and satisfyingly crisp. For the fried-averse, the lobster pie is fabulous but hardly more calorically advisable: a half-pound of lobster meat topped with breadcrumbs and butter and baked until golden, a direct line to the pleasure centers of the brain. KEVIN PANG

1 Main Street, Winthrop; 617-567-1619; belleisleseafood.net

Union Square | Peruvian

They say that first, you eat with your eyes. Even before a single dish hits the table at Celeste, the surrounding visuals prime you with expectations. The clean lines of the furniture, the room lit in cobalt blue and the restaurant’s neon sign all make you feel you’re at a modern art exhibition doubling as a Peruvian restaurant. Then the ceviche arrives in an arrangement that looks architecturally engineered. It’s a gorgeous pavilion of red onions, orange sweet potatoes, blue cod, squid and shrimp, with smooth and crunchy corn kernels scattered through. Then you taste it. Lesser ceviches elsewhere are made ahead for expediency, turning the fish mealy; the cooks here add the lime juice marinade one minute before it’s served. I could go on (I’ve never had a lomo saltado that allowed me to request the doneness of the beef), but you should just visit, with open eyes. KEVIN PANG

21 Bow Street, Somerville, 617-616-5319; celesteunionsquare.com

Comfort Kitchen

Dorchester | African Diaspora

Is this dish Indian? Jamaican? Senegalese? At Comfort Kitchen, those questions are the whole point. Here, the owners Biplaw Rai, who is from Nepal, and Kwasi Kwaa, from Ghana, want to illustrate just how connected food traditions are, through ingredients that have traveled across continents, either through forced migration or trade routes. Duck is dusted with jerk seasoning, served alongside Jamaican rice and peas and served with pikliz, a pickled vegetable condiment from Haiti. Okra is seared in brown butter, topped with fried plantain crumbs and served with yogurt seasoned with garam masala from Mr. Rai’s mother. Despite all this zigzagging through countries and flavors, each dish still manages to feel coherent and captivating — like a story unfolding in several parts. PRIYA KRISHNA

611 Columbia Road, Dorchester; 617-329-6910; comfortkitchenbos.com

Brookline Village | Sandwiches

Most sandwiches fall into that midzone of expectations, somewhere between acceptable and halfway decent. To stumble upon a spectacular sandwich is rare, which makes Cutty’s a unicorn. Since 2010, the wife-and-husband team Rachel and Charles Kelsey have engineered sandwiches with a rigor befitting their fine-dining pedigree. They understand that different proteins require different breads, toasted to a specific crispness; a plush brioche is best for roast beef with crispy shallots and Thousand Island, while ciabatta can withstand crisp bacon and sautéed Swiss chard. The Kelseys’ sandwich meditations yield bliss in unexpected places: If the idea of a broccoli rabe sandwich sounds dreadful, allow Cutty’s magnificent rendition — with sweet tomato jam, provolone, and mozzarella on a griddled sesame torta — to prove you dead wrong. KEVIN PANG

284 Washington Street, Brookline; 617-505-1844; cuttyfoods.com

Field & Vine

Union Square |New American

Tucked down an alley, Field & Vine reveals itself as a restaurant in an industrial space slowly being reclaimed by nature. Wisteria and grapevines twist into a sculptural bramble that hangs overhead, as if about to swallow the exposed ductwork, and everywhere there is greenery and candlelight. If Sara Markey and Andrew Brady’s restaurant were simply pretty, that’d be enough reason to come sip some wine at the bar. But there are unexpected moments of inventiveness on the menu: a tuna crudo pounded into a 12-inch LP with candied pistachios and rhubarb vinaigrette, or potatoes deep-fried into a hash-brown brick topped with house-smoked mackerel and garlic spread. To further the enchanted woodland theme, a hearth is put to fine use, crisping duck legs and charring cabbage. KEVIN PANG

9 Sanborn Court, Somerville; 617-718-2333; fieldandvinesomerville.com

Porter Square | Italian

Certain restaurants become forever linked with hallmark dishes, like the baked alaska at Oleana or the cannoli at Mike’s Pastry . Giulia, known for its exceptional handmade pastas, can claim four dishes beloved by the Boston dining cognoscenti: the wild boar pappardelle, bucatini all’amatriciana, warm semolina cakes and pistachio gelato. There’s something reassuring about walking into this restaurant with total confidence that all four are fully realized compositions, their deliciousness not up for debate. And that’s no slight to the newer dishes rotated onto the menu by the chef, Michael Pagliarini (he and his wife, Pamela Ralston, are co-owners). But those classics embody the simple, sophisticated cooking that has endeared Giulia to the Cambridge community; you will almost wish you lived within walking distance. KEVIN PANG

1682 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge; 617-441-2800; giuliarestaurant.com

Brookline Village | Thai

What makes Thai cooking alluring is that its sweet-sour-salty-spicy elements are so often pushed thrillingly up the dial. When those assertive flavors are parceled out onto small plates and spread over many courses — as they are at Mahaniyom — a meal turns Technicolor. Dining at this Thai tapas bar sets off many sensory pleasures, from the velvety fieriness in a crab red curry to fried chicken skins that crackle mightily. You taste these dishes in cramped seating arrangements over loud conversations in a dim space that rattles with kinetic energy. Chompon Boonnak and Smuch Saikamthorn, childhood friends turned restaurant owners, have even captured that spirit in their beverage program: The rye whiskey is steeped with Thai tea leaves, then used in a Sazerac. KEVIN PANG

236 Washington Street, Brookline; 617-487-5986; mahaniyomboston.com

Back Bay | Tasting Menu

How many tasting-menu restaurants would serve a straight-up grilled cheese sandwich? Mooncusser does, and it’s playful, unexpected moves like this that make its multicourse dinners far less daunting. In the three years since Carl Dooley took over as chef, the menu has evolved from a focus on seafood to global eclecticism. Successive courses might travel the world, from a dish evoking Texas (a marinated red snapper with smoked pecan tasting like barbecued crudo) to an Ethiopian preparation (snails and injera with green cardamom koch-kocha sauce), to a Korean American grilled cheese. That mini-sandwich — with kimchi and a dough hydrated with butternut squash juice — turns an afterthought like the bread course into something top-of-mind and sensational. KEVIN PANG

304 Stuart Street, Boston; 617-917-5193; mooncusserboston.com

Ming Seafood Restaurant

Quincy | Cantonese, Dim Sum

A rule of thumb for dim sum restaurants: Bigger is often better. For in-the-know customers, crowds waiting for tables in a large banquet hall is a validating sight, and an expansive menu demonstrates a kitchen’s confidence. Ming Seafood Restaurant is big in all those ways. It does the basics well — juicy shumai, beef ho fun noodles with the requisite char. But then there’s a section called “fusion dim sum,” and here’s where things get interesting. You could order a sampler of nine pieces from the fusion menu that arrive in a partitioned wood box. There’s a shrimp-truffle dumpling in a cuttlefish ink wrapper. There’s mango pudding set in a rubber-ducky mold and a durian pastry shaped like a swan. A bit wacky? Sure. But a little whimsy is welcome if you can nail the fundamentals. KEVIN PANG

477 Hancock Street, Quincy; 617-202-5118; ming.bz

Neptune Oyster

North End | Seafood

After 18 years in the North End, Neptune is as much a part of Boston as tour guides in tricorn hats and “Go, Sawx!” You will wait, often more than an hour, but once you are ensconced in a banquette, or better yet at the bar, you will savor the perch. Neptune is among the highest versions of the oyster-bar form — pressed-tin ceilings, a marble bar, iced beds of bivalves and crab claws — but it is also more. Dishes like cuttle-ink risotto with generous chunks of lobster, and Nantucket Bay scallop crudo with Persian cucumbers lift the menu above the merely canonical. There’s a lobster roll, of course, but you didn’t wait all that time for a lobster roll. Or maybe you did. BRIAN GALLAGHER

63 Salem Street No. 1, Boston; 617-742-3474; neptuneoyster.com

Nightshade Noodle Bar

Lynn | French Vietnamese

As restaurants began digging out of financial holes after the pandemic, many opted to serve more accessible dishes, with artistry taking a back seat. Five years ago Nightshade Noodle bar opened on the North Shore, with half the menu features noodles of some kind. But post-lockdown, the chef Rachel Miller zigged when most others zagged: She guessed that guests yearning for adventurous cooking would be receptive to a French-Vietnamese-Southern tasting menu. Her gamble paid off, both in popularity and culinary ambition. Over nine, 14 or 21 courses, you might encounter foie gras glazed with fish-sauce caramel sitting atop coconut sticky rice (a Vietnamese nigiri), or a wondrous grilled cardinal prawn, the size of an outstretched palm, doused with a Viet-Cajun butter of garlic and lemongrass. KEVIN PANG

73 Exchange Street, Lynn; 781-780-9470; nightshadenoodlebar.com

Downtown | Omakase Sushi

When Tim and Nancy Cushman opened O Ya 17 years ago, the idea of introducing ceviche marinades or Vietnamese caramel into Edomae sushi was provocative. But O Ya’s staying power shows that inventive spirit paid off. Like all great omakases, a night at O Ya is more than the sum of its parts: It’s the crescendos and countermelodies that weave between courses. Unexpected treatments of nigiri (a Georgian sauce of apricots and walnuts on bluefin maguro) give way to lighter sashimi. The meal progresses to richer bites like fatty chutoro with green onions and wasabi oil, before ending on a one-two punch of grilled A5 Wagyu, then foie gras lacquered with chocolate balsamic. It remains a thrilling ride. KEVIN PANG

9 East Street, Boston; 617-654-9900; o-ya.restaurant

Central Square | New American

Years ago, Pammy’s received plenty of good press for adding the Korean fermented chile paste gochujang to its Bolognese. It’s delicious, to be sure, but that pasta’s success was also a curse — Pammy’s was misinterpreted as the funky Italian spot between Harvard and Central Squares. But Pammy’s is no one-hit wonder. Here’s a restaurant where a starter plate is bread baked with flour milled in the kitchen each morning. There’s a buttery skate wing glazed with Japanese tonkatsu sauce, and a take on shrimp-and-grits with cardinal prawns and chile crisp. That’s not to say the owners, Pam and Chris Willis, hide their pasta acumen. The standout dish is a luscious, smoky pasta that’s equal parts braised tripe and wavy mafaldine noodles, an incomparable bowl of squiggly goodness. KEVIN PANG

928 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge; 617-945-1761; pammyscambridge.com

Fort Point and other locations | Seafood

Chuck an oyster shell in any direction in Boston and you’ll hit a seafood restaurant, from blue-collar fry houses to multistory harborfront properties. Row 34 (with four locations across Massachusetts and New Hampshire) serves the requisite clam chowder, halibut and calamari, but it takes a few extra steps in advancing the genre. It smokes, cures and pâtés a variety of seafoods, it makes saltine crackers in-house, and lobsters — caught by the chef Jeremy Sewall’s cousin and his son — land on plates within 48 hours of leaving the ocean. The resulting lobster rolls cost more here than at other restaurants, but they are superlative. KEVIN PANG

383 Congress Street (original Fort Point location), Boston; 617-553-5900; row34.com

Winter Hill | Mediterranean, Global

Fusion has become a pejorative term, evoking passé ideas like Southwestern egg rolls. If you’d like to label the chef Cassie Piuma’s cooking as Mediterranean fusion, fine, but it sells short how well her cross-cultural mash-up at Sarma often works. The through line of the vast, small-plates menu is Eastern Mediterranean, but it might wander off to the American South in a custardy jalapeño cornbread with feta, or to Quebec in a poutine of porcini gravy, fried halloumi curds and celery-root fries. In Ms. Piuma’s techniques there’s a respectful nod to tradition, but she’s also unafraid to break a few rules, all in service of making the dish work. If you can make juicy nuggets of fried chicken with a crispy coating reminiscent of falafel, why not? KEVIN PANG

249 Pearl Street, Somerville; 617-764-4464; sarmarestaurant.com

Sofra Bakery and Cafe

Cambridge | Turkish, Lebanese and Greek

Come early and order everything. That’s the appropriate way to experience Sofra, whose menu tours Turkey, Lebanon and Greece, and whose flavor combinations are singular. Here you’ll find excellent versions of classic meze like baba ghanouj and muhammara. But pay close attention to the pastries, overseen by Maura Kilpatrick. Doughnuts come filled with a tahini sour-cream custard and brown butter; cinnamon rolls are sweetened with dates and slathered in cream cheese. Nothing is cloying, and the chef Ana Sortun and her team put the utmost care into perfecting each element, down to the freshly milled grains. PRIYA KRISHNA

1 Belmont Street, Cambridge, 617-661-3161; sofrabakery.com

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen

Kendall Square | Hunanese

Sumiao Chen had a midcareer epiphany that a life in pharmaceuticals wasn’t right for her. Longing for the food of her childhood in Hunan, China, Ms. Chen opened her namesake restaurant in 2017 near the M.I.T. campus, one that resembles no other Chinese spot around town. From the outside looking in, you might think a place with this vibey coastal aesthetic would serve crab cakes and flatbread, but the restaurant’s adherence to traditional Hunanese cooking is without compromise. When a dish is noted as spicy, you’d better believe it — even a salad as innocuous-sounding as green pepper and century egg sneaks up quickly. Those unaccustomed to the slippery texture of fat might flinch at the sheer amount in the red-braised pork belly, but this classic sweet-savory dish of Hunan warms and satisfies like few others. KEVIN PANG

270 Third Street, Cambridge; 617-945-0907; sumiaohunan.com

Union Square | Vietnamese

There are several remarkable things about the Eaves, beginning with the location. Shoehorned inside a 550-square-foot storage closet at Bow Market, the space was seductively transformed by the owners, Vincenzo Le and Duong Huynh. More noteworthy is that in less than a year since opening, the Eaves has demonstrated how Vietnamese cooking in America can evolve beyond the realm of phở and bún bò huế. Mr. Le and Ms. Huynh, who are married, belong to a new generation of Vietnamese restaurateurs, young and hungry, presenting dishes and cocktails faithful to their culinary heritage at prices you’d find on a farm-to-table menu. They pull it off splendidly in offerings like chả cá lã Vọng — typically cooked with catfish in its native Hanoi and reimagined in New England with monkfish — fried crisp with turmeric and served atop vermicelli and cashews. KEVIN PANG

1 Bow Market Way, Somerville; 617-996-6954; instagram.com/midnight_eaves

Jamaica Plain | Italian

Unlike many other Boston neighborhoods, Jamaica Plain (locals call it J.P.) is home to few Italian restaurants. Tonino fills that void with aplomb; the 28-seater is the embodiment of somebody’s favorite cute neighborhood spot. The pasta- and pizza-focused menu put together by the chef and owner, Luke Fetbroth, is taut and efficient. His best trait seems to be taking a handful of ingredients and doing as little to them as possible. The maitake and oyster-mushroom lumache is simple and flawless, its creaminess coming from roasted garlic crème fraîche. Then there’s toasted cubes of housemade bread, each smeared with a borderline inappropriate amount of butter and draped with a single length of anchovy. It is a salty, buttery, perfect one-biter. KEVIN PANG

669A Centre Street, Jamaica Plain; 617-524-9217; toninojp.com

South End | Spanish

The Ken Oringer restaurant universe stretches from Japanese to Italian to wine bars, but his South End tapas joint Toro — 20 years on — may be the most beloved. Perhaps it’s because the small portions of Spanish tapas can afford punchier treatments and bolder flavors: A pressed sandwich of miso butter and uni achieves peak crunch and umami. The executive chef, Darrell Boles, is a faithful steward of the Toro name, his kitchen putting out consistently superb roasted bone marrow and formidable platters of paella. These are dishes that never fail to receive envious stares from guests at nearby tables. KEVIN PANG

1704 Washington Street, Boston; 617-536-4300; toro-restaurant.com

Via Cannuccia

Dorchester | Roman

All Italian-born chefs will claim culinary superiority for their home regions; Stefano Quaresima seems impassioned to make the case for Lazio. Named for the street where he grew up, Via Cannuccia might be the closest Boston gets to a true Roman trattoria. The lengths to which Mr. Quaresima goes to showcase his corner of Italy are impressive: His team prepares cream buns and bombolini doughnuts for brunch, rolls out pasta and pizza doughs, and finds time to roast porchetta and bake sourdough. Lesser chefs might just use quartered chicken for pollo alla Romana. Mr. Quaresima’s version, though, involves a chicken ballotine, deboned and sausage-stuffed, then cooked sous vide for 18 hours. His treatment of cacio e pepe, the quintessential Roman pasta, teases out supreme creaminess and nuttiness from just four ingredients. KEVIN PANG

1739 Dorchester Avenue, Boston; 617-506-1877; viacannuccia.com

Yume Ga Arukara

Porter Square, Seaport | Udon

Yume Ga Arukara makes just one thing and makes it well: udon, the thick Japanese wheat flour noodles. They’re extruded from the stainless steel machine in beautiful floured strands, and emerge smooth and slippery once boiled, with the barest suggestion of a chew. The purest expression of udon is in a dashi broth — here, your choices are hot or cold, spicy or not, each accompanied by fatty beef slices, scallions and crisp tempura bits. Take your pick, you can’t choose wrong. While its original location occupies a cramped and perpetually busy space inside a student center at the Lesley University Porter Square Campus, the new Seaport shop is a sit-down restaurant with a larger kitchen, which in time will offer a larger menu. KEVIN PANG

1815 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge; 70 Pier 4 Boulevard, Suite 260, Boston; yumegaarukara.com

Follow New York Times Cooking on Instagram , Facebook , YouTube , TikTok and Pinterest . Get regular updates from New York Times Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice .

Priya Krishna is a reporter in the Food section of The Times. More about Priya Krishna

Advertisement

• 6 Cutest Small Towns In New Hampshire To Visit In 2024

In the heart of New England , New Hampshire entices visitors with its blend of artistic flair and outdoor splendor. Renowned for its picturesque landscapes, including the majestic White Mountains and tranquil lakeshores, the Granite State is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. But beyond its natural beauty, New Hampshire boasts a vibrant arts scene, with charming towns like Peterborough, Newmarket, Littleton, and Wolfeboro. From scenic hiking trails in Gilford to bustling art galleries in Plymouth, New Hampshire’s rich cultural heritage amidst stunning natural surroundings is waiting to be discovered in 2024.

Often referred to as “The Oldest Summer Resort in America,” visitors to Wolfeboro might feel like they’ve stepped back in time to a place where nothing has changed. With a Norman Rockwell-esque appeal, the town traces its history back to 1759. Visitors can stroll along the town's waterfront promenade, Wolfeboro Bay, and admire views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the surrounding mountains. Cute shops line downtown Wolfeboro’s Main Street, like Black Paper Store & Gift Shop, which first opened its doors in 1867 as “Black’s Paper Store” and has morphed into a one-stop-shop for just about everything—books, art supplies, snacks, and souvenirs. The historic Wolfe’s Tavern has been a place to “eat, drink, gather” for over 130 years.

Don’t be surprised to spot brightly painted pianos in and around town during the summer of 2024. The pianos are part of the Street Piano Project, a visible and hands-on way to engage the community to share in the joy of music, and an initiative of Great Waters that sponsors the annual Great Waters Music Festival held in Wolfeboro and nearby Moultonborough. After an outdoor concert in Wolfeboro, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy activities like boating, fishing, and hiking in nearby parks, such as Wentworth State Park on the shore of scenic Wentworth Lake and the Cotton Valley Rail Trail, a 12-mile hard-packed trail for walking, cycling, wildlife viewing, and exploring railway motor cars.

Fifteen miles from Portsmouth is the historic mill town of Newmarket. Incorporated in 1727, industries like textiles and shoe manufacturing flourished in the city thanks to its location along the Lamprey River. Today, visitors to Newmarket can walk or cycle along the picturesque riverside. Downtown Newmarket is full of unique shops and cafés like the Big Bean, who serve an endless coffee mug in the morning and an espresso mudslide in the evening, or Crackskull’s Coffee & Books, where they offer store credits for best-loved and slightly-used books.

For cultural travelers, the Stone Church, built initially as a meeting house in 1832, has a storied past. It was the first Catholic Church in Newmarket, a roller skating rink, and a playhouse, and then became The Newmarket Heel Factory during the town’s shoe-making heyday. The Stone Church became a music club in 1970 and is now a musical mecca in this small town, having hosted more than 15,000 shows and attracting musicians like Bonnie Raitt, Ritchie Havens, Suzanne Vega, Phish, and Carlos Santana.

Plymouth is a small college town in the stunningly beautiful and rugged White Mountains. The highest point in the area, Plymouth Mountain, rises between Newfound Lake, the Tenney Mountain wind farm and ski area, and downtown Plymouth. It may well be the town’s best-kept secret as the few trails accessing it are mostly locally known. One of the most popular hikes is the Plymouth Mountain Sutherland Trail, a 4-mile out-and-back, moderately strenuous hike with an elevation gain of 1400 feet. Another outdoor activity in Plymouth is the nearby Polar Caves Park. The caves were formed during the Ice Age and named after the "polar" breath that emanates from the caves, even on the hottest summer day.

The town is also home to Plymouth State University, which hosts events such as concerts, theater performances, and art exhibitions open to the public. History enthusiasts can visit the Plymouth Historical Museum and stroll down its 19th-century Victorian Main Street, displaying numerous historical artifacts and large-scale scenes depicting a vibrant community. While in town, don’t miss the Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center in downtown Plymouth, which was originally a vaudeville and silent film theater. Today, the theater hosts folk, blues, and rock music, art exhibits, and community theater, yet it still pays tribute to its silent film past with its 2024 Silent Film Series, “L’ARGENT.”

Gilford offers a blend of natural beauty and historical charm. Visitors can explore the scenic shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire's largest lake at 71 square miles. “Lake Winni,” as the locals know, is a perfect location to enjoy the great outdoors. Visitors can set sail on a small sailboat or rent an inflatable pedal kayak from Fay’s Boat Yard. Moreover, there are many public beaches around the lake for swimming, including the 600-foot Ellacoya State Beach in Gilford.

On a clear day, above Lake Winnipesaukee, visitors can spot the White Mountains from the Gunstock Mountain Resort, a premier winter and summer destination in Gilford. The resort features miles of dog-friendly hiking trails, a stocked pond for fishing, mountain biking trails, and adrenaline-pumping activities at Gunstock’s Adventure Park. Some of the most popular activities are ziplining, traversing a 90-obstacle aerial treetop adventure, taking a mountain coaster ride, or a scenic chairlift ride to the summit.

Finally, Gilford is home to the BankNH Pavilion—an outdoor amphitheater that hosts a variety of concerts and events throughout the year. During the summer of 2024, visitors can catch Hootie & the Blowfish, New Kids on the Block, or Willie Nelson & Family as part of the Outlaw Musical Festival.

Along the Ammonoosuc River, Littleton is a cute, cozy, and charming town with a main street worth exploring. Bursting with New England charm, there are so many funky and eclectic shops, like Chutters, a candy shop that holds the world record for the longest candy counter at 112 feet, and the Coffee Pot, which serves breakfast and lunch all day and still has time to bake fresh bread daily. Meanwhile, those looking to take back some souvenirs can stop to shop at the Bella Funk Boutique and Little Village Toy & Book Shop.

The Littleton Opera House has been a cultural landmark in the community since its construction in 1895. The opera house features stunning Victorian-era architecture, with a grand auditorium adorned with ornate detailing. Today, it continues to serve as a hub for arts and culture in the region. In the summer of 2024, it will host Studio Two, a Beatles tribute band voted “The Best Beatles Tribute Band in New England” by The Boston Globe.

Peterborough

As one of New Hampshire’s oldest towns, Peterborough (founded in 1737) is a cute town surrounded by luscious forests and stunning scenery. It is perhaps most well-known as the location of MacDowell, which, until 2020, was known as “The MacDowell Colony.” Founded in 1907 by renowned composer Edward MacDowell, MacDowell is an artists’ retreat providing residencies for hundreds of artists annually. Its alum list includes composer Leonard Bernstein, playwright Thornton Wilder, and writer Jonathan Franzen. An art town through and through, Peterborough is also home to the Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center and numerous local downtown art galleries.

Established in 1891, Miller State Park in Peterborough is the oldest state park in New Hampshire. It spans over 500 acres and offers scenic views of the surrounding countryside and Mount Monadnock. The park is known for its extensive network of hiking trails, including the Wapack Trail, a 21-mile footpath. Standing at an elevation of 3,165 feet, Mount Monadnock offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including the Wapack Range, the Monadnock Region, and the distant Boston skyline on clear days. After Mount Fuji in Japan , Mount Monadnock is the second most summited mountain in the world.

The six cute small towns of Wolfeboro, Newmarket, Plymouth, Gilford, Littleton, and Peterborough in New Hampshire offer a delightful mix of history, natural beauty, and charming attractions. From the oldest summer resort in America to the longest candy counter in the world to the second most summited mountain in the world, New Hampshire has a lot to offer visitors in 2024. Moreover, visitors can take in the views without the hustle and bustle of urban centers.

More in Places

8 Most Inviting Towns in Alabama

7 Most Inviting Towns in South Dakota

8 Underrated Places to Visit in the Pacific Northwest

8 Towns Perfect for Retirement in Colorado

7 Most Idyllic Small Towns in Nebraska

7 Most Affordable Towns to Retire in North Carolina

7 Most Idyllic Small Towns In Indiana

14 Small Towns In Washington Were Ranked Among US Favorites

What happens if Trump is found guilty in hush money case? Prison is certainly an option.

If former President Donald Trump is convicted on all counts in his New York criminal hush money trial that began last week, he could theoretically face more than a decade in prison.

But most legal experts who spoke to USA TODAY said such a dramatic outcome is unlikely. Instead, he would likely be sentenced to something between probation and four years in prison. And he would probably still be out, free to campaign for president as the presumptive or actual 2024 Republican nominee, while his all-but-certain appeal was pending.

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Each count carries a maximum sentence of four years.

While Trump could in principle be sentenced to serve multiple counts consecutively, several experts said that is unlikely because he has no felony criminal record and the charges don't involve allegations of physical violence.

On the other hand, Trump has tested boundaries and feuded with the judge who may determine his fate.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Trump has antagonized Judge Juan Merchan

Trump's sentence would be decided by Judge Juan Merchan , who has grown exasperated by the former president's pretrial behavior. Merchan expanded a gag order this month after Trump attacked the judge's daughter on social media over her marketing work with Democratic candidates, including posting a photo of her. Merchan said Trump has a history of attacking the family members of judges and lawyers in his legal cases.

"The average observer, must now, after hearing Defendant's recent attacks, draw the conclusion that if they become involved in these proceedings, even tangentially, they should worry not only for themselves,  but for their loved ones as well ," Merchan wrote in his gag order decision .

John Moscow, a New York lawyer who spent 30 years in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, told USA TODAY that type of behavior could worsen any sentence Trump faces.

"If I were representing somebody in (Trump's) position, I would suggest to him that the judge is the one who imposes sentence and he ought to be careful," Moscow said.

If Merchan did consider a hefty sentence, it wouldn't be the first time he has taken a harsh view about behavior in Trump's orbit.

In 2023, Merchan was forced to sentence former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg to only five months in jail because Merchan had previously accepted a plea bargain agreement between Weisselberg and prosecutors specifying that jail term. Weisselberg pleaded guilty to tax and record falsification charges and agreed to testify against the Trump Organization at trial in order to get that sentence.

The judge said, however, that he "would be imposing a sentence much greater than that" had he not accepted the plea bargain before hearing all the evidence at the trial. Without the plea deal, Weisselberg could have faced many years in prison.

What is Trump charged with?

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts in the case, which focuses on whether he falsified business records to cover up reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels. Daniels has said she had a sexual encounter with Trump soon after Melania Trump gave birth to their son, Barron Trump. Trump denies the claim.

In order to secure felony convictions, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office must convince a 12-person jury that Trump falsified the records in order to commit or conceal another crime. In this case, Bragg argues Trump was trying to conceal a federal campaign finance law violation by falsely recording his reimbursements to Cohen as payments for legal services. The federal violation was a limit-exceeding contribution to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, as the payment was allegedly designed to keep Daniels' story from hurting the then-Republican nominee's election prospects. Bragg also alleges Trump was trying to conceal a plan to violate New York tax and election laws.

Nothing in the Constitution prevents Trump from becoming president even if he is convicted or sentenced to prison. If he won the election, however, courts may delay any prison time until after his term in office expires .

What is the maximum possible sentence?

The 34 felony counts Trump faces are classified as "Class E felonies" under New York law – the lowest level felony in the state. The maximum penalty on each count is four years of prison, and a judge would have discretion over whether to order Trump to serve sentences on each count at the same time or one after the other. However, New York caps such sentencing for Class E felonies at 20 years .

In addition, New York judges often impose sentencing ranges, where an incarcerated person becomes eligible for parole at the low end of the range. For Class E felonies, the lowest end of a range would be one-and-a-third years per count, while the highest would be four years. Good behavior in jail or prison can speed things up even more.

A sentence limited to probation?

Merchan would also have discretion to order a fixed sentence of less than those ranges, including probation.

That's what Mitchell Epner, a New York lawyer with decades of criminal law experience, expects would happen even if Trump were convicted on all counts. Epner noted the felony charges aren't violent and don't involve drugs.

"With a defendant who has no prior criminal record, my absolute expectation would be a sentence of probation," Epner told USA TODAY.

Epner wasn't alone in thinking that could be the sentencing outcome.

"This is a case that does not involve any physical violence, and it doesn't – there's not sort of a 'named victim,' so to speak – and so the court is going to take that into consideration," Anna Cominsky, who directs the Criminal Defense Clinic at New York Law School, told USA TODAY.

"In addition, I think it is unlikely that he would be sent to prison given who he is, given both the fact that he has no criminal record, and there is no getting around the fact that he is a former president of the United States," Cominsky said.

Incarceration a real possibility

Norman Eisen, a Brookings Institution senior fellow who served as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during Trump's first impeachment, thought a sentence that includes some incarceration is likely.

Eisen co-authored a report looking at sentencing for other defendants with no criminal history who were convicted of falsifying business records in New York. There, he noted one construction executive was sentenced in 2015 to spend two days each week in jail for a year for falsifying records to conceal payments in a bribery scheme. In 2013, two corporate executives were ordered to spend four to six months in jail for falsifying records to misclassify their salaries as expenses under their employer's larger bribery and fraud scheme.

"I think he's likely to face a sentence of incarceration if he's convicted," Eisen told USA TODAY.

Cominsky said the evidence Merchan hears at trial could also influence his thinking when it comes to sentencing.

"Often you'll hear judges refer to testimony at trial, evidence that was presented at trial, and say, 'This is why I'm imposing this sentence, because I heard from this particular witness or I saw this particular piece of evidence,'" Cominsky said.

Moscow pushed back against the assumption that Trump's sentences on each count would run simultaneously, instead of being stacked on top of each other. Just as a judge may take into account that a defendant has won a Nobel Peace Prize or lifted orphans from poverty, the judge may look at significant evidence of bad acts, Moscow said.

"When you start attacking the judge's daughter, and making her out to be a target, you have just breached the normal rules," Moscow said.

Trump has also posted a photo of himself wielding a bat, with his eyes directed toward an adjacent photo of Bragg, among other attacks on the district attorney. Bragg's office has received thousands of harassing emails, calls, and texts – including death threats – after Trump's social media attacks, it said in a court filing .

Diana Florence, a New York lawyer who spent decades in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, said Merchan's sentence would need to have some relation to what other white-collar defendants in similar cases have received, and she would be surprised if someone had ever gotten a sentencing range for falsifying business records with a minimum of 10 years or more.

Such a long sentence "would be very, very, very, very unusual, and if Judge Merchan wanted to make a point and do that, I highly doubt the appellate division would allow that to stand," she said. "It's just too much time for the conduct."

However, Florence added that a reasonable sentencing range could include a minimum period of more than a year incarcerated.

Sentencing someone with Secret Service protection?

Contemplating any jail or prison sentence would take Merchan into unchartered territory: Trump is the first former president ever criminally charged, and the Secret Service provides him with around-the-clock security.

But avoiding a sentence of incarceration on that basis risks undermining the idea of equal treatment under the law, Moscow suggested.

"If I were the judge − and I don't know what a judge would do in this case − I would reject out of hand the concept that because he was once president, and because as a matter of policy the Secret Service guards former presidents, that therefore he can't go to jail," Moscow said.

The question would then become how to reconcile equal treatment with ensuring a former president's security, according to Moscow. The judge could get creative, for example by ordering the former president to stay in a hotel wing or at a military base, where he is isolated just like any other prisoner but still has Secret Service protection.

"You can structure things to achieve the proper result without conceding that the defendant has the upper hand," Moscow said.

Chances of immediate prison? 'Less than 1%'

Many convicted defendants are "remanded" pending sentencing, a process in which they are taken into custody while they await their sentence, Florence said.

But Florence didn't expect Merchan to give that order when it comes to Trump, and even if Merchan did, Trump would likely be able to get bail set by an appeals court in the thousands of dollars to stay free during his appeal. That's all the more likely if Trump receives a low sentence, since the appeal could take longer than his actual sentence, she said.

"The chances of him going to prison immediately, even if he's convicted in whatever, six weeks from now or whenever, are I would say less than 1% because he would immediately be released on bail pending appeal," according to Florence.

Eisen agreed Trump probably wouldn't be incarcerated by Election Day, even if he's convicted on all counts.

"I think he's extremely unlikely to be forced to serve that sentence pending appeal," Eisen said.