22 Best Sights in Upper East Side, New York City

Late 2024 is when the Frick Collection plans to return to its opulent 5th Avenue mansion location, which was being renovated and modernized with new technology and accessibility features. Before then, some of the museum's treasures were temporarily shown in a modernist building on Madison Avenue that once housed The Met Breuer (named for the building's architect, Marcel Breuer). Its namesake, Henry Clay Frick (1849–1919) made his fortune amid the smoke of Pittsburgh, where he was a coke (a coal fuel derivative) and steel baron, but his amazing art collection of Old Masters is decidedly far removed from soot. Exceptional pieces from the Renaissance through the late 19th century include paintings by Holbein, Vermeer, and Rembrandt and works by El Greco, Goya, Van Dyck, Hogarth, Degas, and Turner. The museum also has 18th-century French furniture, delicate Chinese ceramics and other decorative arts. Children under 10 are not admitted. At its East 70th Street address, the museum will become equipped with ADA-accessible entrance ramps, elevators and bathrooms, publicly open its second floor and add a café overlooking its restful garden.

If Manhattan had no museums other than the colossal Metropolitan Museum of Art, you could still occupy yourself for days—even a week—roaming its labyrinthine corridors. It is the largest museum in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 1.5 million works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, so plan ahead and be selective. The famous Egyptian Art collection (including the Temple of Dendur) is reason enough to visit. Other don't-miss sections include the extensive European Paintings galleries, the magnificent Islamic Art galleries, the vibrant collection of Impressionist paintings, The American Wing, the Anna Wintour Costume Center (named for the iconic Vogue editor-in-chief and holding The Costume Institute's fashionable collection), and tons (literally) of ancient Greek and Roman statues. Kids will love the Arms and Armor displays.

Be aware of ongoing renovations. A rebuild of the Ancient Near Eastern and Cypriot Art galleries will continue into early 2026; check the website and museum map to plan your visit around gallery closures. In between exhibits, take a break at the Cantor Roof Garden, open late April through late October, or at one of five cafés and lounges offering light bites and cocktails. Or book a reservation for The Met Dining Room, an upscale restaurant with Central Park views and a seasonal menu. Admission includes same-day entry to The Met Cloisters, a combination of medieval European art, architecture and gardens in Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan. Make the most of your visit by downloading a free digital or audio guide from The Met's website or take advantage of guided tours available in 10 different languages.

Frank Lloyd Wright's landmark nautilus-like building is renowned as much for its famous architecture as for its superlative collection of modern and contemporary art and well-curated shows, some of which utilize the entire museum. Opened in 1959, shortly after Wright's death, the Guggenheim is acclaimed as one of the greatest buildings of the 20th century. Inside, under a 96-foot-high skylight, just over a quarter-mile long ramp spirals down past current exhibits. The museum has strong holdings of works by Vasily Kandinsky (over 150 paintings), Josef Albers, Pawel Althamer, Paul Klee, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Robert Mapplethorpe. In 2023, the museum hired its first associate curator of art and technology to promote artists working with technology. 

Wright's iconic design was criticized by some who believed that the distinctive building detracted from the art, but the spiraling layout allows artwork to be viewed from different angles and distances. On permanent display, the museum's Thannhauser Collection is made up primarily of works by French impressionists and postimpressionists Van Gogh, Degas, Cézanne, Renoir, and Manet. Escape the crowded lobby by taking the elevator to the top and working your way down the spiral. The Cafe Rebay offers snacks, salads, and sandwiches, while the gift shop is near the main entrance.

The Cooper Hewitt has taken an ornate, century-old mansion—once the residence of industrialist Andrew Carnegie—and outfitted it with the latest technologies and amenities to create a slick, highly interactive, 21st-century experience, so you don’t just look at design; you engage with it. Download the free app to guide you through some of the wide-ranging collection's more than 215,000 objects from over 30 centuries, including 3-D printed objects, handcrafted furniture, vintage wallpaper, cultural and period textiles, art and design books, and examples of robotics and animation. Rotating exhibits may focus on a particular designer or design era.

The focus on design and discovery extends to the SHOP, where limited-edition objects are for sale. There is a café, and an outdoor garden is free and open to the public. The museum offers guided tours aligned to exhibition topics at 1:30 daily. Admission tickets can be reserved online.

Housed in a circa 1908 French-Gothic, chateau-style mansion that was once the home of German-Jewish immigrant and businessman Felix Warburg, the Jewish Museum draws on an impressive collection of art and ceremonial objects to explore Jewish identity and culture over spanning more than 4,000 years. The wide-ranging artifacts include the world's largest collection of Hanukkah lamps, a 3rd-4th century Roman burial plaque, 20th-century sculpture by George Segal, and works by such artists as Camille Pissarro, Deborah Kass, Lee Krasner, and Kehinde Wiley. The museum's changing exhibitions are well curated and lively. Purchasing timed admission tickets in advance is recommended. The museum's gift shop carries Judaica, ceremonial objects and suggested gift ideas but it's closed on Saturdays.

Founded in 1901, the Society of Illustrators holds many events and programs at this townhouse building turned museum. There are eclectic exhibitions on comics, science fiction, fashion, animation and 3-D, and historic illustrations from the permanent collection, which also includes the holdings of the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA). In addition, there are lectures, costumed sketch nights, and an indie comics and cartoon festival (known as MoCCA Arts Festival). On the third floor, order a drink from the 128 Bar, which sports Norman Rockwell's "The Dover Coach," a large-scale oil painting for The Saturday Evening Post that was donated by the illustrator himself; open Wednesday through Saturday.

The 2-mile-long East River slice of land that parallels Manhattan from 48th to 85th Streets is now a quasi-suburb of more than 20,000 people, and the vestiges of its infamous asylums, hospitals and prisons make it an offbeat historical destination. At its southern tip are the ruins of a Smallpox Hospital, built in 1854. Neighboring the hospital ruins is Four Freedoms Park, a memorial to Franklin Delano Roosevelt designed by architect Louis I. Kahn. In addition to viewing a giant bust of FDR and a wall inscribed with the wartime “Four Freedoms” speech, you can stroll the park's walkways and enjoy views of the United Nations and East River. Group guided walking tours ($15 per person) of the park are available; email or call to reserve. At the island's north tip is a small park with a lighthouse built in 1872 by island convicts. Other developments include the 224-room Graduate Roosevelt Island Hotel. The island's mile of pink- and white-flowering cherry trees along the East River Promenade is a popular springtime destination.

You can get to the island by subway—but it's more fun to take the five-minute ride on the Roosevelt Island Tramway ($2.75, the price of a single subway or bus fare), which lifts you 250 feet for impressive views of Queens and Manhattan. A visitor center stands to your left as you exit the tram. Free red buses service the island.

The 19th-, 20th-, and 21st-century, museum-quality art inside this five-story, marble-floored French neoclassical town house tends to be big-name stuff, from impressionist through contemporary and pop art movement artists, including Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, Lucian Freud, James Rosenquist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol. It's best to check the website of this third-generation, family-owned gallery for individual exhibit hours, which can vary.

The Asian art collection of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller III forms the core of this museum's holdings, with artworks and artifacts dating as far back as the 11th century BCE. A growing contemporary collection features video, animation, photography, and new media art by artists from Asia and the Americas. Founded in 1956, the society has a regular program of panel discussions, film screenings, and performances, in addition to changing on-loan exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art. Trees and flowering vines grow within the glass-enclosed, skylighted Leo Café, whose menu reflects the diversity of Asian cuisine. The AsiaStore carries the best in Asian design and literature. A free audio guide is included with admission. Docent tours are offered regularly; a schedule is posted on the museum's website.

Facing the East River, this park, named for a German immigrant who was a prominent statesman and newspaper editor in the 19th century, is so tranquil you'd never guess you're directly above the FDR Drive. Walk along the esplanade, and take in views of the river and Roosevelt Island across the way. To the north are Randall's and Wards Islands and the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (aka the formerly named, Triborough Bridge)—as well as the more immediate sight of locals pushing strollers, riding bikes, or walking their dogs. Within the park is a Federal-style, wood-frame house that belies the grandeur of its name: Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the city's mayor.

One of the most influential art dealers of the 20th century, Leo Castelli helped foster the careers of many important artists, including one of his first discoveries, Jasper Johns. Castelli died in 1999, but the gallery continues to show works by Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Frank Stella, Robert Morris, and other heavy hitters. There's a satellite gallery in the Times Square area.

El barrio, Spanish for "the neighborhood," is the nickname for East Harlem, a largely Spanish-speaking community; the museum, on the edge of this neighborhood, focuses on Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean art. The permanent collection of more than 8,500 objects is highlighted through evolving themes, including women, African and Indigenous artists, and Latinx representation. Art and crafts from Latin America are prominent. One highlight is the 360 santos, carved wooden folk-art figures from Puerto Rico. El Teatro, formerly the Heckscher Children's Theater, has stunning 30-foot murals and stained-glass roundels. The museum's events include lectures, films, and a Three Kings Day parade.

Designed by Louis Kahn, this triangular-shaped park, at Roosevelt Island's southernmost tip, is a public memorial to FDR and honors his 1941 State of the Union address emphasizing the universal freedoms of speech and worship and from want and fear. A large stone inscripted with this portion of his speech and a bronze bust of the president by sculptor Jo Davidson are on view here. Venture up a 100-foot-wide staircase or along the linden-tree aligned paved walkways going toward a three-sided open air chamber. Here, the skyline views of Manhattan and Queens' Long Island City neighborhood are rewardingly photogenic.

If you are looking for ambitious works by the world's most acclaimed artists in a gallery that easily competes with the city's top museums, you have to visit Gagosian. Perhaps the most powerful art dealer in the world, Larry Gagosian has galleries in Beverly Hills, London, Paris, Rome, Athens, and Hong Kong, among other cities, as well as multiple galleries in New York. The 980 Madison Avenue location, the contemporary art empire's headquarters, is a multifloor gallery that has shown works by big names like Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Cy Twombly, and Damien Hirst.

Built as a country retreat for Scottish-born shipping merchant Archibald Gracie in 1799, when New York City ended much farther downtown, Gracie Mansion was made the official residence of the city's mayors in 1942. The first mayoral resident, Fiorello LaGuardia, dubbed it the "Little White House." More recently, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg stayed in his own town house nearby while pouring millions into renovating the house and turning the first floor into a museum reflecting the city's history and diversity. Some mayors were hesitant about moving into Gracie Mansion; Eric Adams, the current mayor, has publicly said that the mansion is haunted, but he has been focusing on making "the People's House" more experiential to visitors. Public tours of the building are offered on Monday at 10:30 am, noon, and 1:30 pm and to private and school groups on Wednesday. Reservations must be made online; plan at least a month in advance, if possible.

This mezzanine-level welcoming gallery represents some lofty artists. In addition to tapestries by modern masters like Joan Miró, Sonia Delauney and Alexander Calder—one of this gallery's specialties and works by late-19th- and early-20th-century modern artists like Fernand Léger and Marc Chagall are showcased. It is also one of the first gallery dealers for Pablo Picasso's ceramics in the United States. There's also an exhibition space (open by appointment only) in the neighborhood at  330 East 59th Street. Check their website for seasonal hours.

The city's present, past, and future are explored through visually engaging exhibits on subjects such as architecture, fashion, history, pop culture and politics in a Georgian Colonial-Revival building designed for the museum in the 1930s along 5th Avenue's Museum Mile. The award-winning, ongoing exhibition New York at Its Core explores the sweeping and diverse facets of the city's 400-year history through artifacts, photographs, archival film, and interactive digital experiences. Don't miss Timescapes, a 28-minute media projection that innovatively illustrates New York's physical expansion and population changes (free headsets available with translations in French, Spanish, and Mandarin), or Activist New York, an ongoing exploration of the city's history of social activism. You can also find New York–centric lectures, films, family programming and self-guided and curated tours here. The on-site Chalsty's Café serves sweet treats, savory snacks, breakfast, and lunch, and the Museum Shop is a great place to pick up a Big Apple souvenir. After your visit, cross the street and stroll through the Vanderbilt Gate to enter the Conservatory Garden, one of Central Park's gems.

Early-20th-century German and Austrian art and design are the focus here, with works by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Egon Schiele, and designers from the Wiener Werkstätte. It's perhaps best known for having Gustav Klimt's portrait, Adele Bloch-Bauer I or Woman in Gold. Inside a 1914 Carrère and Hastings mansion, where Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt III once lived, the Neue Galerie was founded by the late art dealer Serge Sabarsky and cosmetics heir and art collector Ronald S. Lauder. Children under 12 are not admitted, and teens 12–16 must be accompanied by an adult. The first-floor Café Sabarsky is popular for its elegant Viennese coffeehouse setting and menu. If busy, try the basement-level Café Fledermaus, which has much the same offerings.

Run by the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association, this gallery helps to promote works by its 30 artist members through group and solo exhibitions and other programming. Along with this gallery, the RIVAA manages the Octagon Gallery within the Octagon Building, once the entrance of a hospital that's now part of an apartment complex.

Located right before the entrance to Four Freedoms Park, these fenced off, ivy-covered ruins are of an 1856 smallpox hospital that was in operation during the island's time as Blackwell's Island. While this city landmark is off-limits, informative placards tell much about the building's history and design by James Renwick Jr, whose resume includes the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. If you're in a taxi on the FDR Drive across the river, you'll notice the ruins are floodlit at night, creating an eerie spectacle from afar. While in this area, also see the FDR Hope Memorial, a bronze sculpture depicting Roosevelt in his wheelchair, greeting a young girl wearing leg braces.  

The gallery, located within a historic town house on a tree-lined street, features contemporary artists with a focus on the historical connection of their art to works by established artists. They represent Caetamo de Almeida, Marsha Cottrell, and Farid Haddad, among other artists, while handling secondary market work specializing in Georgia O'Keeffe, Lee Krasner, Roy Litchenstein, and other revered names.