Soar Over Times Square With A Helicopter Tour
Its no secret that Manhattan boasts Americas most enviable skyline, so why not take to the air instead of trekking around on foot?
With a friendly and knowledgeable pilot pointing out all the main New York City tourist attractions below from Times Square to Central Park, the Hudson River, and East River the views, thrills, and luxury experience are superior to almost any other activity.
Simply choose your duration , location, and budget to create your dream flight!
Read our New York City helicopter tours comparison guide.
Eat A Red Velvet Cake Black & White Cookie And/or Ny Cheesecake
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Neither of these dishes is native to NYC, but both have gone pro in this most metropolitan of cities. Where do you go to try oneor ideally bothof these dishes? Lilis Bake Shop on 7th & 53rd. We also like Venieros, City Cakes, and Buttercup Bake Shop.
Their specialty is the Dirty Cheesecake which is delicious, but you could cross cheesecake, red velvet, and the famous black-and-white cookie off your list here. D-LISH!
Spend Valentine’s Day In Nyc
Valentines Day is one of the most celebrated days in New York in Winter . Our list below includes romantic events, restaurants, photo spots, and fun activities for couples. So, what are the best things to in February in New York during Valentines Day? The Valentines Day Dinner Cruise in New York City is a great idea and a perfect surprise for your loved one. Each couple receives a rose as a welcome gift before the yacht leaves for New York Harbor.
My tip: This is our complete guide to Valentines Day in NYC
Usually, locals and tourists alike will flock to New York Citys Chinatown to celebrate the Lunar New Year. A huge Chinese New Year Parade takes place there every year. The official name of the event is called the Lunar New Year and Festival.
The parade will down Mott and Canal Street. It will then make its way down East Broadway and head towards Manhattan Bridge, and it will ultimately end at Sara D. Roosevelt Park. During the parade, there will also be smaller activities going on in Chinatown NYC. It will have all sorts of street vendors and festivities.
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Get Drinks At A Hidden Speakeasy
There is no shortage of great speakeasies in New York City you just have to know where to look! Some of the best speakeasies to grab a drink in Manhattan specifically include:
- Employees Only: Hidden behind a psychic and tarot reader in Greenwich Village
- UES: Tucked away behind an ice cream shop on the Upper East Side
- Please Dont Tell: Accessible through a phone booth at the back of a hot dog joint in the East Village
This is one of the best not so touristy things to do in NYC.
Marvel At A Festival Of Lights
If youre looking for a new family Christmas tradition, look no further than the Amaze Light Festival at Citi Field. This immersive celebration with millions of twinkling lights is poised to become a family tradition for locals and visitors alike looking for a memorable Christmas in New York.
Guests will immediately be impressed with the size of the light display as they explore five unique thematic worlds, all featuring 3D-lighted decor you must see to believe. Take your time exploring the displays, taking holiday photos, and getting into the Christmas spirit along the way.
Get some last-minute Christmas shopping done at the European Christmas market-inspired cottages, where vendors sell handmade crafts and delicious concessions as the kids enjoy the countless activities the Festival has to offer. With train rides, tubing down Zings Thrill Hill, and delicious holiday treats at Sparkys Sweet Spot, kids of all ages are guaranteed to have an evening of fun.
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Visit Adirondack Experience The Museum On Blue Mountain Lake
Kim Knox Beckius
The 6 million-acre Adirondack Park is the largest protected area in the United States. Historic and wildly scenic, this one-of-a-kind land of high peaks and dense forests has infinite stories, and there’s no better place to become acquainted with them than Adirondack Experience, the Museum on Blue Mountain Lake . This 121-acre complex has 23 buildings, and you can spend an entire day discovering what makes this New York region remarkable.
The museum’s focus is on the people whose lives have been entwined with this vast wilderness. Learn about logging and furniture making, watch artisans at work, see the raincoat Teddy Roosevelt wore the night he rode through the Adirondack darkness to become president of the United States and wander among beautifully crafted boats: The museum has the nation’s largest inland collection of watercraft. In 2017, in celebration of its 60th anniversary, the museum debuted the immersive, 19,000-square-foot Life in the Adirondacks exhibition.
See A Game At Madison Square Garden Something Fun To Do In Manhattan
If sports are your thing, then visiting Madison Square Garden is a must-do in Manhattan. This famous indoor arena has an over 19,000-person capacity and hosts all kinds of sporting events, such as boxing and wrestling. You can also see a New York Knicks basketball game or watch the New York Rangers hockey team battle it out on the ice.
23. See a game at Madison Square Garden, something fun to do in Manhattan
Besides sports, this multi-purpose stadium is a popular venue for ice shows, concerts, and other special events. Some of the most famous names in the world have performed here, including Elton John, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga. Moreover, along with the main arena, Madison Square Garden has the smaller Hulu Theater for more intimate concerts and events.
The arena is also close to other tourist attractions in Manhattan, like the Empire State Building, so its the perfect landmark to add to your list. If you want the full experience, you can book this all-access tour , to go behind the scenes and see the arenas Defining Moments and Retrospective exhibits, and witness the view from the VIP box seats.
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Free Things To Do In New York City
Take a walking tour. There are so many different tours to choose from! Try a food tour, bus tour, bike tour, etc. Participation is free, just make sure to leave a tip for the guide.
Participate in a show recording. Tickets are free to attend a recording, but they go fast, so I suggest booking 1-2 months in advance. Shows include: Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, Lake Night with Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Stephen Colbert.
Summer Activity: Watch an outdoor movie at Brooklyn Bridge Park or Bryant Park. The exact dates and movies change from year to year, so make sure to check their websites!
Carnegie Hall Citywide partners with local community organizations to present free concerts throughout New York City. This is a great way to enjoy a free concert during your 4 days in New York City. For a list of current events, .
Further reading: Want more things to do in New York City? Check out 20 Unique FREE Things to Do in New York City.
Kayak At Brooklyn Bridge Park
Get out on the water and try your hand at kayaking from Brooklyn Bridge Park any Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday during the summer. Even kayaking novices can join in the fun the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse will teach you all you need to know before you get out on the water. You can paddle around its protected embayment for 20 minutes. Note, though, that reservations are required.
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Things To Consider Before Visiting New York City
Mikayel Bartikyan/Shutterstock
While you can read countless suggestions on what to see and do in the Concrete Jungle, here are some things to keep in mind before stepping onto the tarmac of John F. Kennedy International Airport.
- Research how to get to and from the airport
- Know how to get around the city
- Give yourself more time to walk around
- Take the subway
- Put on some comfortable sneakers
- Get a multi-day MetroCard
- If traveling on weekends, make sure to allow extra time
- Save money by getting a New York Pass
- Know how much to tip
- Find free hosted events
- Save money and get discount tickets
- Make lunch or dinner reservations
- If on a tight budget, stay away from midtown
- Be careful of pickpockets
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about traveling to NYC.
Hang Out At Little Island
Little Island is one of the most unique parks in New York City. Its a redesigned pier that extends over the Hudson River with a beautiful design meant to be an oasis in the concrete jungle. Access wont cost you a penny making this one of the best things to do in NYC!
The views are spectacular and the experience feels like being on an adult playground. I bring all of my out of town guests here because its so unique. Green grass compliments gorgeous landscape design with ample seating and views to enjoy from.
If theres a hot day in the forecast you can expect to find locals stretched out on the numerous lawns with picnic baskets and friends.
Bonus: Neighboring Pier 57 is also home to a park, only this one is on a rooftop! Its a popular spot for locals to sprawl out and try to get some sun. Its not uncommon to see bathing suits and sun hats up there. Like hanging out at Little Island, this is one of the best things to do in New York City.
Address: Pier 55 at Hudson River Park Hudson River Greenway, NY 10014
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Head To The Empire State Building
Probably the most famous skyscraper in North America, the Empire State Building has recently renovated the viewing platform thats totally cool to visit for views across the city itself.
As with the Top Of The Rock, make sure to book your tickets well in advance and guarantee the sunset slot to see New York transform from day into night. It really is one of the best things to do in New York, even if its just to get a scale of this huge city.
Wall Street An Interesting Place In Manhattan To Visit
Located in Lower Manhattan, Wall Street is NYCs financial district and one of the top places of interestin Manhattan. Among the historical buildings here are the New York Stock Exchange , Federal Hall, and New Yorks first City Hall. The vibe here is definitely all-business, and some of the most significant banks have headquarters here, such as Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, and Lehman Brothers.
5. Wall Street, an interesting place in Manhattan to visit
Wall Street takes up eight city blocks between Broadway and South Street, so the best way to see all the highlights is on this walking tour. It includes a guide who will take you to landmarks like Trinity Church and Bowling Green, the oldest public park in the city. Youll also see the famous Charging Bull sculpture and the Fearless Girl statue.
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Go To Broadway One Of The Top Things To Do In Manhattan
Another great couples activity in Manhattan that can cap off your night is a Broadway show. There are dozens of venues in the Broadway Theater District, so Im sure theres a show for anyone.
Weve seen Aladdin, The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, and Chicago, and everything was wonderful, from the set design and the costumes to the acting. If you want to browse tickets to other shows, you can check this website.
14. Go to Broadway, one of the top things to do in Manhattan
Another option is visiting the TKTS Pavilion at the Red Stairs in Times Square, which sells tickets at a steep discount. While you cant always choose which show youll see, all the musicals and plays, from the mainstays to the limited-time showings, are spectacular.
Experiencing a Broadway show for yourself is something you must do in Manhattan at least once. That said, if youre a theater fanatic, youll love this walking tour of Broadway, which is led by a professional New York City actor.
Check Off The Main Attractions With A Bus Tour
Hop-on and hop-off double-decker bus tours provide an excellent introduction to New York City letting travelers explore the loop around Midtown Manhattan at their own pace.
With stops at the likes of the Empire State Building, Times Square, the Rockefeller Center, and more you can get a feel for all things NYC in one fell swoop.
Tickets include commentary from an expert tour guide/driver on what makes each attraction so special, and also double as a means to get around town!
Big red hop-on-hop-off busses aside, a theater-centric crave sweeping NYC is The Ride. Part tour, part live performance, guests board on a bus whose seats face outwards toward the streets, not forwards. Through a combination of choreographed actors, musicians strumming along on their instruments, and acrobats strutting their stuff, travelers are brought up close and personal with NYCs most iconic sites as the streets of the Big Apple are transformed into a stage!
Read our NYC hop-on hop-off bus tours comparison guide.
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Get Some Sun At Coney Island
Coney Island is a waterfront neighborhood in Brooklyn that is home to a popular beach and amusement park. This has long been a popular weekend getaway for New Yorkers during the summer.
Pro tip: if you can time your visit to align with the annual Mermaid Parade, you wont regret it, as its the largest art parade in the United States.
Tour The Hudson Valley Mansions
Move over, Newport, Rhode Island. New York’s Hudson Valley has more than 25 historic estates to visit including palatial riverside residences and a president’s home. Which Hudson Valley mansions are must-sees?
- Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate in Sleepy Hollow, New York, for its art collection and gardens
- The Hyde Park, New York, trio of Vanderbilt Mansion, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Home and Library and Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill, which are operated together as the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites
- Staatsburgh State Historic Site, in Staatsburg, New York, for its spectacular Hudson River views and
- Olana, the picturesque home of artist Frederic Church in Hudson, New York.
And don’t miss the chance to see these magnificent homes .
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Where To Stay In New York City
New York has no shortage of great places to stay. From the high-end hotels near Central Park to the more affordable accommodation on the upper east side. There is something for everyone. When choosing your accommodation we suggest figuring out where you want to explore the first and then planning your hotel around that.
- If you are a first-time visitor one of the best places to base yourself is in Mid-Town so you are in the heart of it all. The only drawback here is that it gets really expensive.
- If you are on a budget I would suggest looking at the Lower East Side or Upper Westside and taking advantage of one of the best subway systems in the world. It may add a little extra time getting around the city but it will save you a ton of cash.
- We have an entire post on where to stay in New York and a post on our favorite New York Hotelsthat you can read here to find quieter and more reasonable places to suit your needs.
As you can see there are a lot of things to do in New York and there is no way you could cover all of these things in one visit. Our recommendation is to stick to Manhattan if this is your first visit to New York City and leave things like taking the Staten Island Ferry, Brooklyn, and some of the museums for another visit. If there is one thing I can guarantee you it is that you will be back.
Plan more of your New York City travels:
Travel Planning Resources
Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.
The Yankee Stadium Tour
To tour Yankee Stadium, you’ll have to head to the Bronx, and for sports fans, it’s often a highlight of their trip. Knowledgeable tour guides take visitors through Yankee Stadium featuring highlights that go beyond the sights youve seen on TV. The Yankees remain a significant force in NYC culture, and an in-depth tour of the stadium shows visitors the team spirit of New Yorkers from all five boroughs.
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Go To The Statue Of Liberty & Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of the United States and the values embodied here more than any other monument or statue in this land. It was most certainly a welcome site for immigrants coming to the United States through Ellis Island .
If you havent seen it in person, its massive and takes your breath away. Theres also a relatively new museum on the grounds to explore.
The Statue of Liberty is grouped into the category of Colossal Statues and the first on record was built in 280 BC in Rhodes. The Roman Emperor Nero, first century AD, also built a colossal statue in his own image in the valley where the Colosseum would later be erected. Youd never have guessed, but all three of these statues were about the same height!
The Statue of Liberty is far from the largest statue in the world today. This status is taken by the Statue of Unity in India which is over three times the size! However, the Statue of Liberty is arguably the most recognized statue on Earth, though it has close competition with Christ the Redeemer in Brazil.