100 Things to Do in New York

100 Things to Do in New York

Last Updated: 2nd April 2019 | Main image: Patrick Tomasso/Unsplash

At last count, there were approximately 6,956,096,248,754,122 things to do in New York.

Which is slightly too many for the average trip.

So we’ve taken the time to look at the full list, and whittle them down to the only the very best 100. It took a long time, but it was worth it. So without further ado, here they are:

1. TAKE A RIDE ON THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND TRAMWAY
Roosevelt Island | $/MTA Card

It costs barely anything, and you’ll never forget it. VIEW MORE INFO
–

2. WALK THE MUSEUM MILE
Upper East Side | $$

Dennis Gekaj/Unsplash

It’s like half the great museums in the city, squeezed into one spot. VIEW MORE INFO
–

3. SEE THE LADY IN GREEN
Battery | $-$$$

Emily Levine/Unsplash

Preferably by boat – then visit the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. VIEW MORE INFO
–

4. THEN WARM UP WITH AN IRISH COFFEE AT DEAD RABBIT
Financial District | $$

It’s an authentic-feeling Irish bar, that’s been awarded World’s Best Bar twice in a row. VIEW MORE INFO
–

5. GET COMPETITIVE AT THE ROYAL PALMS SHUFFLEBOARD CLUB
Brooklyn | $$$

Drinks are on whoever loses. VIEW MORE INFO
–

6. WATCH THE SEA LIONS BEING FED BEFORE TOURING CENTRAL PARK
Upper East Side | $$

Fred Heap/Unsplash

See sea lions eat. VIEW MORE
–

7. ACTUALLY HAVE BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S
Midtown | $$

Their flagship store has finally opened a Tiffany blue-slathered restaurant for brunch. FIND OUT MORE
–

8. TAKE IN THE SPLENDOUR OF GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL…
Midtown | Free

Jack Finnigan/Unsplash

…Then head down to the whispering gallery and talk to someone on the other side of the terminal, thanks to the ultra-weird acoustics. VIEW MORE INFO
–

9. …AND CHECK OUT THE OYSTER HAPPY HOUR THERE
Midtown | $

Oysters are a buck thirty five each. VIEW MORE INFO
–

10. TOUR THE BROOKLYN BREWERY
Brooklyn | Free – $

Then let the Brooklyn Brewery’s goods take a tour of your stomach. VIEW MORE INFO
–

11. SIP COCKTAILS ON THE ROOFTOP AT WESTLIGHT
Williamsburg | $$

Easily the best view of Manhattan. VIEW MORE INFO
–

12. TAKE A DINNER CRUISE DOWN THE HUDSON
Hell’s Kitchen | $$$$

On a 3-storey, 160ft yacht. VIEW MORE INFO
–

13. CHECK OUT THE LARGEST HOT DOG MENU IN MANHATTAN AT CRIF DOGS
East Village | $

Jazz Guy/Flickr

The Tsunami is wrapped in bacon, then topped with teriyaki, pineapple, and spring onions. VIEW MORE INFO
–

14. GO TO A HIDDEN BAR
East Village | $$$

That hotdog place? Has a bar hidden beneath it. You can access it through the phonebox (but you’ll need a reservation). VIEW MORE INFO
–

15. EAT CRACK PIE AT MOMOFUKU’S MILK BAR
Various | $

Let’s just say it’s quite moreish. VIEW MORE INFO
–

16. LISTEN TO JAZZ AT MARJORIE ELLIOT’S HOUSE
Harlem | Free (donations appreciated)

Ninah Beliavsky/Facebook

Every Sunday, she invites musicians – and jazz lovers – into her front room. She’s on piano. VIEW MORE INFO
–

17. HIT CHINATOWN FOR DIM SUM
Chinatown | $$

S./Unsplash

Have an ‘ethnic neighbourhood-off’ with Little Italy.
–

18. HIT LITTLE ITALY FOR NOT-DIM SUM
Little Italy | $$

Alex Haney/Unsplash

Have an ‘ethnic neighbourhood-off’ with Chinatown.
–

19. HIT THE MET
Upper East Side | $$

Robert Bye/Unsplash

See some of the best art in NYC. VIEW MORE INFO
–

20. ACTUALLY, HIT THE FRICK
Upper East Side | $$

It’s just down the street from The Met, and it’s where the locals go. VIEW MORE INFO
–

21. GRAB LUNCH AT A JEWISH DELI
Various | $$

We recommend Russ & Daughters. They’ve only had a century and four generations to get it right. VIEW MORE INFO
–

22. FEEL LIKE A BIG KID IN THE COLOR FACTORY
SoHo | $$$

16 huge, interactive rooms of many hues, including a giant ballpit and a room where you compliment someone using colours. VIEW MORE INFO
–

23. EAT A CRONUT
SoHo | $$

Head to Dominique Ansel’s bakery, and eat a doughnut and a croissant simultaneously while you queue to mentally prepare yourself. VIEW MORE INFO
–

24. HAVE A CHERRY BLOSSOM PICNIC AT THE BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN
Brooklyn | $$

Ruiyan Xu

We’re assuming you’re in New York for cherry blossom season, of course. VIEW MORE INFO
–

25. VISIT THE 9/11 MEMORIAL
Financial District | Free

The sheer size is overwhelming. VIEW MORE INFO
–

26. GET HUSTLED BY CHESS PLAYERS IN WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK
Greenwich Village | $-$$$$

Josh Appel

Don’t get fleeced though, otherwise you won’t be picking up many checks, mate. VIEW MORE INFO
–

27. GO TO A YANKEES GAME
The Bronx | $$$

Dan Gold/Unsplash

Ballpark hotdogs for lunch! VIEW MORE INFO
–

28. WALK THE HIGHLINE
Chelsea | Free

Miss pior/Flickr

It’s a former elevated train track turned into a public park. Which is cool as fuck. VIEW MORE INFO
–

29. GET A FRRROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE TO SHARE (OR NOT)
Upper East Side | $$

sesteaver/Instagram

Serendipity 3’s so famous, it even has its own noughties romcom. VIEW MORE INFO
–

30. SHAKE OFF YOUR JETLAG WITH AN EARLY MORNING DANCE PARTY
Various | $$$

It’s called Daybreaker, and it will break the living shit out of your day. VIEW MORE INFO
–

31. THEN GRAB SOME BRUNCH
Various | $-$$$$

Can be done virtually anywhere, but Cookshop is highly recommended.
–

32. PRACTICE YOUR ARGENTINE TANGO IN CENTRAL PARK
Upper East Side | Free

It happens every Saturday from June – September at 6pm. VIEW MORE INFO
–

33. GO TO GOVERNORS ISLAND
Brooklyn | $

They squeeze a LOT into 172 acres. VIEW MORE INFO
–

36. RISK ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH AT CONEY ISLAND
Coney Island | $$

The Cyclone rollercoaster is over 90 years old. Is that a good thing? We don’t know. VIEW MORE INFO
–

37. TAKE A BRIEF LOOK AROUND TIMES SQUARE
Midtown | $

Nik Shuliahin

You know, so you can say you did.
–

38. TAKE A BITE OF A CELEBRITY’S FACE AT FUNNY FACE BAKERY
Financial District | $$

Why no-one else makes face-cookies, we’ll never know. VIEW MORE INFO
–

39. TAKE A DIP IN THE ASTORIA PARK POOL
Queens | Free

Then bike alongside the East River. VIEW MORE INFO
–

40. PICNIC IN THE PARK!
Hudson Heights | $$

Kristine Paulus/Flickr

No, not that park. Fort Tryon Park, overlooking the beautiful medieval cloisters nearby. VIEW MORE INFO
–

41. GO TO THOSE CLOISTERS!
Hudson Heights | $$

John Saeyong Ra/Flickr

They’re genuinely amazing. VIEW MORE INFO
–

42. TAKE A CULINARY WORLD TOUR AT QUEENS NIGHT MARKET
Queens | $$

Amazing food and live entertainment. VIEW MORE INFO
–

43. HIRE A ROWING BOAT AND ROW AROUND CENTRAL PARK LAKE
Upper East Side | $$

Yoav Aziz

It’s $15 an hour, but it’s craaaazy romantic. VIEW MORE INFO
–

44. GET THE COOLEST ICE CREAM IN TOWN AT BIG GAY ICE CREAM
Various | $$

Try the Salty Pimp. You won’t regret it. VIEW MORE INFO
–

45. GO TO DYLAN’S CANDY BAR AND TEST YOUR SELF-RESTRAINT
Union Square | $$

Spoiler alert: you have none. Make sure you buy some of their pizza-flavoured chocolate. VIEW MORE INFO
–

46. SKIP THE TOP OF THE ROCK, AND GET COCKTAILS THE FLOOR BELOW INSTEAD
Midtown | $$

It’s also better than the Empire State Building because you can SEE the Empire State Building from it. VIEW MORE INFO
–

47. RE-CREATE THE “WHEN HARRY MET SALLY” ORGASM SCENE AT KATZ’S DELI
Lower East Side | $$

Harry Knight

The staff there LOVE it when people do that. VIEW MORE INFO
–

48. TRY THE BANANA PUDDING FROM MAGNOLIA BAKERY
Various | $$

Then frantically Google “Magnolia Bakery UK”. VIEW MORE INFO
–

49. CLIMB VESSEL, GRUMBLE TO LOCALS ABOUT IT
Hudson Yards | Free

You have to reserve in advance, sign a legal disclaimer about falling over, and there’s nowhere to sit down on any of its 80 platforms. But also, views. VIEW MORE INFO
–

50. VISIT NEW YORK’S “OLDEST BAR”, McSORLEY’S
East Village | $

There are two options: light ale or dark ale, and they come by the double half-pint. VIEW MORE INFO
–

51. CHECK OUT PIERPONT MORGAN’S INSANE LIBRARY
Midtown | $$

Then head for lunch in Koreatown. VIEW MORE INFO
–

52. GO SHOPPING IN SOHO
SoHo | $-$$$$

Window, or regular. Swish food store Dean & DeLuca and makers’ market Artists & Fleas are a must.
–

53. GET IZAKAYA-STYLE DINNER AT VILLAGE YOKOCHO
West Village | $$

Then head for a nightcap in their hidden speakeasy. VIEW MORE INFO
–

54. DEVELOP DIABETES AT ECONOMY CANDY
Lower East Side | $

You’ve never seen more sweets in one place, ever. VIEW MORE INFO
–

55. SEE THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS HQ
Tribeca | Free

Eerily similar. VIEW MORE INFO
–

56. SIT NEXT TO JAY Z & JACK NICHOLSON WITH COURTSIDE KNICKS TICKETS
Midtown | $$$$

But first sell a body part for $10,000, to cover the cost. Or, if you have none to spare, get regular (ugh, non-Jay Z) tickets for $50 each. VIEW MORE INFO
–

57. BROWSE THE SHOPS IN EAST VILLAGE
East Village | $-$$$

East Village Hats, and Cloak & Dagger are all worth a look.
–

58. CATCH A SHOW ON BROADWAY
Midtown | $$$

Denys Nevozhai

And by “catch” we mean “book months in advance”. Head to the TKTS booth in Times Square for on-the-day deals. VIEW MORE INFO
–

59. PLAY BOARDGAMES, POOL & PING PONG AT FATCAT
West Village | $$

Understatement alert: they’re known for jazz as well. VIEW MORE INFO
–

60. VISIT MOFAD (THE MUSEUM OF FOOD AND DRINK)
Brooklyn | $$

Then go to one of their after-hours, experimental supper clubs. VIEW MORE INFO
–

61. DRUNKENLY BELT OUT SHOW TUNES AT MARIE’S CRISIS CAFÉ
Greenwich Village | $$

You’ll be accompanied by a piano, and plenty of other drunk people, if that’s important to you. VIEW MORE INFO
–

62. GO TO A DIVE BAR
Various | $

Just don’t plan on doing anything after. VIEW MORE INFO
–

63. TAKE IN SOME SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK
Central Park | Free

Eric Vitale

It would be a tragedy if you didn’t go. Especially given that it’s free. VIEW MORE INFO
–

64. WALK THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE
Brooklyn | $

Colton Duke

And take approximately 6,000 photos while you do.
–

65. GO TO THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Upper West Side | $$

Aditya Vyas

Try to find all of the main characters from Night At The Museum. VIEW MORE INFO
–
–

67. HOMESICK? VISIT MYERS OF KESWICK
West Village | $$ (!)

Just your quintessential British shop, guv’nor, with everything from Savlon to those baked beans with little sausages in them. VIEW MORE INFO
–

68. HIT THE UNION SQUARE GREENMARKET
Flatiron District | $-$$

 

Buy lunch with some of the best chefs in the city. Plus, live cooking demonstrations and local NYC beers and spirits.  VIEW MORE INFO
–

69. HAVE DINNER IN THE DARK AT CAMAJE BISTRO
Greenwich Village | $$$$$

If your partner makes a ‘blind date’ joke, dump them. VIEW MORE INFO
–

70. CATCH A LIVE STORYTELLING-OFF AT THE MOTH
Financial District | $

Watch professional storytellers, or join the StorySLAM with a five minute story on the night’s theme. VIEW MORE INFO
–

71. GO TO A CLASSIC U.S. DINER
Upper West Side | $

You recognise it from Seinfeld. VIEW MORE INFO
–

72. TAKE A TRIP THROUGH NYC’S HISTORY AT THE TENEMENT MUSEUM
Lower East Side | $$

Then come back for one of their Taster Menu evenings. In the name of research. VIEW MORE INFO
–

73. GET A WHISKEY TASTING FLIGHT AT THE FLATIRON ROOM
Flatiron District | $$$

It’s home to one of the most extensive whiskey lists on all of the East Coast. VIEW MORE INFO
–

74. SEE THE BERLIN WALL
Midtown | $

Yes, we are in the right city. There’s a huge hunk of it located in Paley Park. VIEW MORE INFO
–

75. GET THE PASTRAMI SANDWICH AT HARRY & IDA’S
East Village | $$

It’s just ridiculously good. VIEW MORE INFO
–

76. GO TO A BEER HALL
Soho | $$$

Huge halls, huge beers. VIEW MORE INFO
–

77. SEE THE STATEN ISLAND BOAT GRAVEYARD
Staten Island | $

joiseyshowaa

There are signs saying ‘no trespassing’, but you’ll likely see people breeze right past them. VIEW MORE INFO
–

78. LOOK COOL AS HELL AT LITTLE BRANCH
West Village | $$$

It’s one of those “if you don’t know about it, you’ll never find it” places. And it’s awesome… VIEW MORE INFO
–

79. PRETEND YOU’RE IN AN EPISODE OF SUITS AT THE NIGHT COURT
Financial District | $

Eden, Janine & Jim/Flickr

Seriously. You can go see entire trials unfold. VIEW MORE INFO
–

80. PAY YOUR RESPECTS TO ALEXANDER & ELIZA HAMILTON
Financial District | Free

Fun fact: in 1976 this church paid a symbolic rent of 279 peppercorns to the Queen. VIEW MORE INFO
–

81. GET TACOS AT THE CHELSEA MARKET
Chelsea | $$

They do other stuff too. The tacos are just delicious. VIEW MORE INFO
–

82. THEN CHECK OUT SOME LIVE COMEDY AT ASSSCAT 3000
Chelsea | $

Alumni include Amy Poehler, and evening shows are free. No, that’s not a joke. VIEW MORE INFO
–

83. SEE MOVIES THE AMERICAN WAY
Brooklyn | $$

Get drinks and a meal delivered to your seat at Nitehawk Cinema. VIEW MORE INFO
–

84. GET SOME GENUINE NYC PIZZA
Various | $

You can get a life-changing slice for a buck. VIEW MORE INFO
–

85. LISTEN TO JAZZ AT JAZZ STANDARD
Midtown | $$$

Peter Matthews

Ironically, it’s anything but standard. VIEW MORE INFO
–

86. DRESS UP ALL FANCY, GO TO THE MET OPERA
Lincoln Square | $$-$$$$

In $25 daily Rush seats. VIEW MORE INFO
–

87. GO TO ONE OF THESE BARS
Various | $-$$$

They’re the best in the city. Trust us. VIEW MORE INFO
–

88. GO TO ONE OF THESE RESTAURANTS
Various | $-$$$$

They’re the best in the city. Trust us. VIEW MORE INFO
–

89. IS IT CHRISTMAS RIGHT NOW?  IF SO, GO TO THE RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
Upper West Side | $

It’s cliched but, you know, for a reason. VIEW MORE INFO
–

90. THEN GO SKATING AT THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER
Midtown | $$

Bryant Park and Central Park are also good options. VIEW MORE INFO
–

91. SPEND AN EVENING UNDER THE STARS AT ONE OF HAYDEN PLANETARIUM’S SPACE SHOWS
Upper West Side | $$$

And given that you’re on the Upper West Side, you’ll probably see some stars outside the planetarium, too. VIEW MORE INFO
–

92. WATCH AN ICE HOCKEY GAME AT THE BARCLAYS CENTER
Brooklyn | $$$

Because that’s what everyone thinks of when they think about New York. They have concerts and stuff too, though. VIEW MORE INFO
–

93. GO TO A FREE TV SHOW TAPING
Midtown | $

Alex Haney

Just head to 30 Rock (the place, not the show), and you can be on The Tonight Show that very night. VIEW MORE INFO
–

94. BROWSE RETRO LETTERPRESS STATIONERY AT BOWNE & CO
Seaport | $$

–

The business has been going since 1775. VIEW MORE INFO
–

95. GAWP AT THE CHRYSLER BUILDING
Midtown | Free

Simonpix

Art Deco domination. VIEW MORE INFO
–

96. HEAD TO LA COLOMBE COFFEE ROASTERS ON WALL STREET
Financial District | $$

Kyle Peyton

Take a copy of the New York Times, wear suits, pretend you’re bankers & discuss business stuff. Have a pastry with your coffee. In fact fuck it – have two. Greed is good. VIEW MORE INFO
–

97. TAKE A HELI RIDE OVER THE CITY
Various | $$$$

Oliver Niblett

Amaaaazing. VIEW MORE INFO
–

98. GO TO SHOREDITCH, IN BUSHWICK
Bushwick | $$

Go thrift shopping in Beacon’s Closet.
–

99. HAVE A BEER IN BURP CASTLE
East Village | $$

A whispering bar serving only beers brewed by monks. VIEW MORE INFO
–

100. LISTEN TO JAZZ AT VILLAGE VANGUARD
Greenwich Village | $$$

Miles Davis used to play here. That’s more or less all you need to know. VIEW MORE INFO
–