40 Best Things to Do in New York City, According to Local Experts

Sit down for afternoon tea.

Put those pinkies up for afternoon tea at splurge-worthy NYC staples like Palm Court at The Plaza Hotel, The Whitby Bar at the Whitby (an especially fitting spot, given the hotel’s British roots), or the Grand Salon at the Baccarat Hotel. For a more budget-friendly experience that's still quite special, check out Alice’s Tea Cup, Brooklyn High Low, or Kings’ Carriage House.

Have dim sum and more in Flushing's Chinatown.

Though it's often overlooked in favor of the admittedly more convenient Manhattan Chinatown, Flushing is even more vibrant. Venture here to feast on delicious noodle soups, dim sum favorites like shumai and pork buns, dumplings of all kinds, chicken feet, and barbecue spare ribs, to name a few. While you can’t go wrong with any of the restaurants in this neighborhood, we especially love Asian Jewel, Shanghai You Garden, and Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao.

Explore Governor’s Island.

This 172-acre car-free island is an eight-minute ferry ride from downtown Manhattan and a five-minute ferry ride from Brooklyn Bridge Park, making it an excellent day-trip destination. Travelers will find plenty to do year-round on Governor's Island, including biking its perimeter without any honking cars, relaxing at Italian-style QC Spa, and seeing a centuries-old fort. The island also boasts a handful of eclectic drinking and dining venues, a lavender field (open seasonally), and New York City’s only glamping property (also seasonal).

Ride the Ferris wheel at Coney Island.

Coney Island is an easy outing for families who come for its abundance of nostalgia-inducing amusement park rides, including the 150-foot-tall Deno's Wonder Wheel. Add in a charmingly old-school 2.7-mile-long boardwalk and wide sandy beaches and you've got a fun day out no matter the age of your group. If you have time, pay a visit to the New York Aquarium, home to sharks, rays, otters, octopus, and more, followed by a hot dog and fries at the flagship Nathan’s Famous.

Have a drink at a few rooftop bars.

“Indulge in the chic and enchanting atmosphere of New York City's rooftop bars, offering stunning views of iconic landmarks like Times Square or the Empire State Building,” says Alfonso, who especially loves Magic Hour Rooftop in midtown. Other year-round options abound, including Daintree, which has ESB views and a martini menu, Westlight at The William Vale in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood, the rooftop at Royalton Park Avenue, and Panorama Room at the Graduate New York on Roosevelt Island (the views alone are worth the fun tram ride here).

Visit Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

These two New York City landmarks are only accessible via ferry and require tickets. The Statue of Liberty represents freedom and hope, and visitors can climb to its crown, so as long as they don’t mind trekking 160-plus steps. Ellis Island, which welcomed 12 million immigrants into the country, is equally fascinating; today, it’s home to the National Immigration Museum, which houses historical artifacts and exhibits.

Sip vino at an urban winery.

You don’t have to travel to the Finger Lakes or the North Fork of Long Island to sip and savor some of the Empire State’s best wines. Instead, head to one of NYC’s innovative urban wineries. A few of our favorite spots include Rooftop Reds (set on a rooftop in the Brooklyn Navy Yard), Brooklyn Winery (which offers tours and tastings three days a week), The Redhook Winery (a warehouse-turned-winery that uses locally grown grapes), and City Winery, which is a restaurant, winery, and live music and entertainment venue rolled into one.

Stroll the High Line.

The High Line, which stretches through the Meatpacking District and Chelsea in Manhattan, is one of the city’s most unique public parks; it's an elevated rail track that's been transformed into a greenery-filled walkway spanning 1.45 miles. The park boasts 500 species of plants and trees, as well as several striking pieces of art. You’ll find plenty of places to sit and lounge, good people-watching, and great vantage points for snapping skyline photos.

Shop in SoHo.

SoHo, which stands for “South of Houston Street," is among New York City’s busiest neighborhoods. With chic boutiques, eclectic galleries, and hip eateries galore, you can spend hours wandering the streets here and popping in and out of shops. If you're after some wardrobe additions, your options abound, from Patagonia and Anine Bing to Kirna Zabête and Henrik Vibskov Boutique NYC.

Taste your way through the Tin Building.

The Tin Building by Jean-Georges is a giant food hall located in lower Manhattan near the East River. The 53,000-square-foot oasis is a haven for culinary connoisseurs. Expect a handful of stylish sit-down restaurants, bars, and fast-casual spots serving everything from crêpes and dosas (at, well, Crêpes & Dosas) to Chinese-leaning seafood (House of the Red Pearl) and French fare (T. Brasserie).

Visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Located in the World Trade Center, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum aims to educate visitors on the impact and significance of 9/11 through a combination of media and artifacts, plus personal stories of loss and tragedy coupled with those of unwavering hope and resilience. While the outdoor memorial is free and open to the public, you’ll need to purchase tickets to enter the museum. Guided tours are also available.

Visit the American Museum of Natural History.

The American Museum of Natural History on Manhattan’s Upper West Side captivates visitors of all ages with its impressive collection of 32 million specimens and cultural artifacts. Prepare to be dazzled by the now-iconic blue whale model, enchanting dinosaur exhibits, and the fascinating display of extinct mammals. In May 2023, the museum debuted the Richard Gilder Center, which boasts striking architecture and features such as an insectarium and butterfly vivarium.

Take in the city views from One World Observatory.

Travelers can experience the city from new heights by visiting One World Observatory, which is the city’s highest indoor vantage point. In addition to panoramic city views, you’ll find a handful of shops, exhibits, and restaurants. Even the 47-second elevator ride to the 1,268-foot summit is thrilling, as it features a CGI timelapse of Manhattan from the 16th century to the present day.

Visit the Empire State Building.

No trip to NYC would be complete without a visit to The Empire State Building, still the city’s most recognizable landmark since its 1930 construction. Take the elevators up to the 86th-floor, open-air observatory deck which has been featured in so many shows and movies, including "Sleepless in Seattle," "How I Met Your Mother," and "Broad City." There's also the 102nd-floor observation deck, where floor-to-ceiling views (and on a clear day, up to 80 miles of visibility) await.

Explore DUMBO.

Brooklyn already takes the cake for being the city’s coolest borough, and DUMBO (a.k.a., Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) may just be its coolest neighborhood. The historic waterfront area is teeming with high-end eats — snag a seat outside at Cecconi’s to feast on handmade pasta in style — and shopping — the Brooklyn Flea, which takes place here each Sunday, is perfect for picking up hidden treasures.

You'll also find myriad galleries, including Klompching, which showcases incredible contemporary photography, and coffee shops galore (we love Zaruma Gold Coffee, which serves excellent Ecuadorian coffee). Brooklyn Bridge Park is a prime place for people-watching, and it’s also where you’ll find Jane’s Carousel, a must for little ones. 

Venture to Astoria.

An easy subway or ferry ride from Manhattan, Astoria is chock-full of unique restaurants and attractions. Film buffs shouldn't miss the Museum of the Moving Image, a temple to the art, history, and technology of movies. From there, grab a bite at one of many Greek eateries — Astoria has one of the highest populations of Greeks in the U.S. — including the always-buzzing, seafood-forward Taverna Kyclades. Other neighborhood hotspots include Astoria Park (which spans almost 60 acres along the East River), The Bonnie for creative cocktails and bar bites, and a killer slice of white pizza at Astoria Pizzeria.

Eat breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Channel your inner Holly Golightly and splurge on breakfast (or lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner) at Tiffany’s — seriously. Inside the jewelry brand’s flagship Fifth Avenue location is The Blue Box Café by Daniel Boulud, where the elegant, Tiffany Blue-hued interior sets the scene for a swanky meal. Menu offerings include Holly’s Favorites (a croissant, butter and jam, juice, coffee, or hot chocolate) and the trademark Blue Box Celebration Cake, an Instagram-worthy treat shaped like the brand’s iconic blue box.

Enjoy a Michelin-starred meal.

As of 2024, there are 67 Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City, which means many mouthwatering meals await. The now-vegan Eleven Madison Park is a favorite among foodies and celebrities alike, while Eric Ripert’s French-leaning Le Bernardin dishes out spectacular seafood. In Brooklyn, there's Modern American restaurant Clover Hill (Cobble Hill) and Aska in Williamsburg, which serves seasonal Scandinavian fare. In Long Island City, Queens, is Meju, a chic traditional Korean fermentation restaurant.

Catch a comedy show.

If you love to laugh — and who doesn't? — be sure to catch at least one stand-up or improv performance when in town. The city is home to dozens of venues, ranging from nationally renowned staples like the Comedy Cellar, Stand Up NY, and Gotham Comedy Club — all of which are in Manhattan — to hidden gems like The Tiny Cupboard in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Take a helicopter ride over NYC icons.

While the Big Apple is beautiful from every angle, seeing it from up above is an experience like no other. Catch a birds-eye view of your favorite NYC landmarks by embarking on a helicopter ride. This is a short, sweet, and fairly expensive experience: HeliNY's helicopter tours start from $259 and Liberty Helicopter's from $249, both for 12-15-minute rides; these exclude the heliport fee which is around $40.

Indulge in a bathhouse visit.

When you need a break from the city’s bustle, retreat to one of a handful of uber-sleek bathhouses for a rejuvenating soak. The aptly named Bathhouse in Williamsburg is housed in a 1930s-era former factory. Today, it’s a sleek space with amenities like thermal pools, heated marble hammams, saunas, a steam room, and treatments like massages and body scrubs — not to mention a stylish on-site bar and restaurant. AIRE Ancient Baths in Tribeca, which, like Bathhouse, occupies a restored textile factory, is another favorite for its wellness-centric offerings and chic ambiance. Way down in South Brooklyn (right next to a subway stop) is World Spa, the place to go for a full spa day in NYC. Its 50,000 square feet is filled with saunas (including infrared), Moroccan and Turkish hammams, four pools (among them an onsen and a hydrotherapy pool), and serene rooms for massages, facials, and scrubs.

Fill your stomach on a pizza crawl.

No food is more emblematic of New York than a slice of pizza. These are a few standout slice shops: L'Industrie, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and the West Village, does a killer fig jam and bacon slice with mozzarella and ricotta. Lucia (in Soho and Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn) is a favorite for its vodka and pepperoni slices. On the Lower East Side, Scarr's has a perfectly retro interior and pleases with vegan slices and specials like the Hotboi (pepperoni, jalapeños, and extra hot honey). Near the southwest corner of Central Park is Pop's Pizza, with its excellent grandma slices (square) and equally delicious white slice with ricotta and clouds of marinara sauce. One of the best white slices is at F&F in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn — with clams, mozzarella, parmesan, and bread crumbs, plus lemon, parsley, and red chili flakes.

Take in a live performance.

If you've seen a Broadway show and want more, New York's theaters deliver with ballet and modern dance, musicians of every stripe, opera, and even kids' events. The historic Apollo Theater in Harlem has become an institution since it opened in 1914 and is best known for its weekly Amateur Night, a performance/talent competition that helped launch the careers of Lauryn Hill and Ella Fitzgerald. New York City Center, an early 20th-century theater in Moorish Revival style, hosts modern dance troupe Alvin Ailey each December. Lincoln Center has a huge roster of events for adults and kids, ranging from New York City Ballet performances to New York Philharmonic concerts and jazz nights. The Metropolitan Opera, also at Lincoln Center, puts on both classical and contemporary operas.

Take the kids to run around at a playground.

Younger visitors will appreciate the city's unique playgrounds. Down in Tribeca, Hudson River Park's Pier 25 has tons of climbing structures — including a rock-climbing wall — splash areas for cooling off in summer, and swings and slides. The pier also has a historic steamship that's free to visit and an 18-hole mini golf course. Just next door on Pier 26 is the Science Playground, where kids can roam inside enormous fish-shaped play structures (representing the sturgeon native to the river), which have slides and climbing walls and nets. After visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, head to the Ancient Playground right behind the museum. Inspired by the Met's Egyptian collection, the playground has its own mini pyramids, a sundial, and an obelisk, plus swings, a sandbox, and water features.

Cheer on a professional sports team.

Between the five boroughs, New Jersey, and Long Island, the greater NYC area has more than a dozen professional sports teams playing soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. Within the city itself, you can watch the Yankees and Mets play baseball; see a basketball game featuring the Knicks, the Nets, or the Liberty; root for hockey team the Rangers, and watch the fast footwork of soccer team New York City FC. The club currently plays at Yankee Stadium but will have their own stadium in Willets Point, Queens in 2027, next door to Citi Field, where the Mets play, and Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the U.S. Open is held each summer.

Hang out in Bryant Park no matter the season.

Bryant Park is a year-round green oasis in the middle of Midtown, a short walk from Times Square and right behind the main branch of the New York Public Library. In summer, its lawn becomes an open-air movie theater, with films screened every Monday in June, July, and August. From late October to March, the Winter Village sets up, with a holiday market, ice skating, curling, igloo-style bubbles in which to cozy up with hot drinks, and an open-air restaurant/bar. In spring and fall, the park has a packed calendar of free activities, including ping pong, exercise classes, orchestra performances, and kids' programming.