Travel

Hattie Lloyd 02/08/18


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

Roosevelt Island Tramway things to do in New York

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

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

Guggenheim New York

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 | $-$$$

Statue of Liberty things to do in New York

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 | $$

Dead Rabbit things to do in New York

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 | $$$

Royal Palms Shuffleboard things to do in New York

Drinks are on whoever loses. VIEW MORE INFO

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

Central Park Zoo things to do New York

Fred Heap/Unsplash

See sea lions eat. VIEW MORE

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

Tiffany's things to do in New York

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

Grand Central Station things to do in New York

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 | $

Oyster Bar things to do in New York

Oysters are a buck thirty five each. VIEW MORE INFO

10. TOUR THE BROOKLYN BREWERY
Brooklyn | Free – $

Brooklyn Brewery things to do in New York

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 | $$

The William Vale Hotel things to do in New York

Easily the best view of Manhattan. VIEW MORE INFO

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

Hudson Cruise things to do in New York

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

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

Crif Dogs things to do in New York

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 | $$$

Please Don't Tell things to do in New York

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 | $

Milk Bar things to do in New York

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

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

Marjorie Elliot's Jazz - things to do in New York

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 | $$

Chinatown things to do in New York

S./Unsplash

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

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

Little Italy things to do in New York

Alex Haney/Unsplash

Have an ‘ethnic neighbourhood-off’ with Chinatown.

19. HIT THE MET
Upper East Side | $$

Met Museum things to do in New York

Robert Bye/Unsplash

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

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

Frick Collection things to do in New York

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 | $$

Russ & Daughters things to do in New York

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 | $$$

Color Factory things to do in New York

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 | $$

Cronut things to do in New York

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 | $$

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens things to do in New York

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

9/11 Memorial things to do in New York

The sheer size is overwhelming. VIEW MORE INFO

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

Washington Square Park things to do in New York

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 | $$$

Yankees Game things to do in New York

Dan Gold/Unsplash

Ballpark hotdogs for lunch! VIEW MORE INFO

28. WALK THE HIGHLINE
Chelsea | Free

Highline things to do in New York

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 | $$

Serendipity 3 things to do in New York

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 | $$$

Daybreaker things to do in New York

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

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

Cookshop brunch things to do in New York

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

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

Central Park Tango things to do in New York

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

33. GO TO GOVERNORS ISLAND
Brooklyn | $

Governors Island things to do in New York

They squeeze a LOT into 172 acres. VIEW MORE INFO

34. EAT AT THE OLDEST ICE CREAM PARLOUR IN NEW YORK
Queens | $$

Eddies Sweet Shop things to do in New York

Luckily the ice cream itself is a lot more recent. VIEW MORE INFO

35. CATCH A FREE AL FRESCO GIG IN BROOKLYN
Prospect Park | Free

Celebrate Brooklyn Festival things to do New York

Combine it with a visit to the Sunday global street food market, SmorgasburgVIEW MORE INFO

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

Coney Island things to do in New York

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 | $

Times Square things to do in New York

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 | $$

Cupcake Market things to do in New York

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

Astoria Park Pool things to do in New York

Then bike alongside the East River. VIEW MORE INFO

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

Fort Tryon Park things to do in New York

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 | $$

Met Cloisters things to do in New York

John Saeyong Ra/Flickr

They’re genuinely amazing. VIEW MORE INFO

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

Queens Night Market things to do New York

Amazing food and live entertainment. VIEW MORE INFO

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

Boating Central Park things to do in New York

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 | $$

Big Gay Ice Cream things to do in New York

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 | $$

Dylan's Candy Bar things to do in new york

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 | $$

things to do in New York

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 | $$

Katz's Deli things to do in New York

Harry Knight

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

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

Magnolia Bakery things to do in New York

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 | $

McSorley's things to do in New York

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 | $$

Morgan Library things to do in New York

Then head for lunch in Koreatown. VIEW MORE INFO

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

Shopping Soho things to do in New York

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 | $$

Village Yokocho things to do in New York

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

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

Economy Candy things to do in New York

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

55. SEE THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS HQ
Tribeca | Free

Ghostbusters things to do in New York

Eerily similar. VIEW MORE INFO

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

Madison Square Gardens things to do in New York

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 shopping things to do in New York

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

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

Broadway things to do in New York

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 | $$

Fatcat things to do in New York

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

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

Mofad things to do in New York

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 | $$

Marie's Crisis Cafe things to do in New York

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 | $

Rudy's things to do in New York

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

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

Shakespeare in the Park things to do New York

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 | $

Brooklyn Bridge things to do in New York

Colton Duke

And take approximately 6,000 photos while you do.

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

Museum Natural History things to do in New York

Aditya Vyas

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

66. TRY SOME OF THE GRASS-FED GREEK YOGHURT AT GREECOLOGIES
Lower East Side | $

Greecologies things to do in New York

That’s right, they feed grass to the yoghurt. 

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

Myers of Keswick things to do in New York

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 | $-$$

 Union Square Greenmarket things to do in New York

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 | $$$$$

things to do in New York

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

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

The Moth Storyslam things to do in New York

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 | $

Tom's Restaurant things to do in New York

You recognise it from Seinfeld. VIEW MORE INFO

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

Tenement Museum things to do in New York

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 | $$$

Flatiron Room things to do in New York

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 | $

Paley Park things to do in New York

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 | $$

Harry and Ida's things to do in New York

It’s just ridiculously good. VIEW MORE INFO

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

Houston Hall things to do in New York

Huge halls, huge beers. VIEW MORE INFO

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

Staten Island things to do in New York

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 | $$$

Little Branch things to do in New York

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 | $

Manhattan Criminal Court Things to do in New York

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

Trinity Church things to do in New York

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 | $$

Chelsea Market things to do in New York

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

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

Things to do in New York

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 | $$

Nitehawk things to do in New York

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

84. GET SOME GENUINE NYC PIZZA
Various | $

Joe's Pizza things to do in New York

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

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

Jazz Standard things to do in New York

Peter Matthews

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

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

Met Opera things to do in New York

In $25 daily Rush seats. VIEW MORE INFO

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

things to do in New York

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

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

restaurants things to do in new york

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 | $

Radio City things to do in New York

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

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

Rockefeller Ice Skating Things To Do In New York

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 | $$$

Hayden Planetarium things to do in New York

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 | $$$

Barclays Center things to do in New York

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 | $

NBC Studios things to do in New York

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 | $$

Bowne & Co things to do in New York

The business has been going since 1775. VIEW MORE INFO

95. GAWP AT THE CHRYSLER BUILDING
Midtown | Free

Chrysler Building free things to do in New York

Simonpix

Art Deco domination. VIEW MORE INFO

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

La Colombe things to do in New York

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 | $$$$

helicopter tour things to do in New York

Oliver Niblett

Amaaaazing. VIEW MORE INFO

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

thrift shopping things to do in New York

Go thrift shopping in Beacon’s Closet.

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

Burp Castle things to do in New York

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

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

Village Vanguard things to do in New York

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


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