The 15 Best Things to Do in New York City (and Top Things to Avoid)

When I lived in Brooklyn Heights, my favorite thing to do was sit on the promenade overlooking Brooklyn Bridge Park as the sun set and the lights of the skyscrapers came on. With vistas of the Brooklyn Bridge, the downtown Manhattan skyline, and the Statue of Liberty, this area is one of the most picturesque places in the whole city. It’s also, quite simply, a lovely place to hang out, with waterfront restaurants, sandy beach areas, and landscaped lawns that host outdoor movie screenings, opera, and theater in the summer. Locals love to play sports in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and if you’re craving your own outdoor activity fix, there are free kayak rentals, plus pickleball, volleyball, and basketball courts for use on a first-come basis.

While some places are famous for their natural wonders, New York is beloved for its man-made ones. On this architectural tour, you’ll circle Manhattan aboard Classic Harbor Line’s motor yacht, gazing at the city’s landmark buildings with the wind in your hair and a beverage in your hand. Narrated by a member of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter, the journey provides passengers with the inside scoop on each feat of engineering, from the Statue of Liberty and Little Island at Pier 55 to the Chrysler Building. Regardless of whether you’re an architecture nerd, it’s an interesting entry point to the city’s history–and a really nice way to spend an afternoon.

I’ve been to a few of New York’s observation decks, and Top of the Rock is still my favorite. As the name suggests, you’ll find it at the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in the heart of Midtown, perfectly positioned to provide views of the Empire State Building and beyond. A couple of years ago, Top of the Rock introduced a new experience called “The Beam’ which allows visitors to recreate the famous 1932 photo depicting a group of ironworkers apparently having lunch atop a steel beam while suspended over a 69-story drop. It’s less scary than it looks (there’s back support and a safety strap), and you’ll leave with a fun photo souvenir at the end.

No trip to New York would be complete without a trip to Central Park. The United States’ first landscaped park is just as beautiful IRL as it is on screen, especially during fall when the leaves pop with vibrancy. Walk from Strawberry Fields over to the lake and rent a rowboat, then get a cocktail at the Central Park Boathouse. The park can feel crowded in places, but if you walk far enough north, the crowds thin out, and the atmosphere becomes tranquil. Maximize your moment of zen with guided forest bathing–the Japanese practice of walking mindfully in nature to calm the body and mind.

Prospect Park was designed by the same landscape architects who created Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, and is said to be the duo’s preferred project of the two. Think of Prospect Park as Central Park’s less-polished little sister. It’s smaller, feels wilder, and is a true cornerstone of local life in Brooklyn. Grab a coffee and pastry from Winner in the Park, watch the pups swimming at Dog Beach, then take a stroll along the woodland trails. Additionally, the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Prospect Park Zoo are all situated in or around the park. 

Virtually every Sunday for the past 30 years, Harlem resident Marjorie Eliot has opened up her apartment at 555 Edgecombe Avenue, a designated National and Local Historic Landmark affectionately known as “The Triple Nickel,” for intimate jazz performances. Audience members settle into seats in Eliot’s living room, kitchen, and even the hallway to watch the host and her fellow musicians perform. There are plenty of places to hear Jazz in NYC, but none deliver an experience as unique as this one.

There are reportedly around 170 museums in NYC, including obscure gems like the AKC Museum of the Dog (fine art inspired by man’s best friend) and Mmuseumm (a tiny collection of “overlooked, dismissed, or ignored” artifacts housed in a freight elevator). To check some of the more famous institutions off your list, head to Museum Mile, a mile-long stretch of Fifth Avenue that’s home to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and many more. If you’re in town for the annual Museum Mile Festival, held on the second Tuesday of June, entry to each venue is free.

There are plenty of places to see stand-up comedy and improv in New York, but the Comedy Cellar is legendary. “The Harvard of comedy clubs” opened in a cramped basement on McDougal Street in 1982 and has become so popular in the past decade that the owner added two additional venues nearby: Fat Black Pussycat and The Village Underground. Heads up: You’ll be asked to put your phones in a sealed plastic bag upon entry. The reason? World-famous comedians frequently drop by unannounced to practice brand-new material. With the potential to see arena-filling names and fresh comedy talent alike for as little as $15-25 (plus a two-purchase minimum), tickets tend to sell out fast. Book well in advance to avoid disappointment.  

A trip to Governors Island begins with a ferry ride from Battery Maritime Building in Manhattan, Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, or Red Hook, Brooklyn. Once you arrive, rent a bike and head off in search of adventure. There are art installations and historic sites to explore, as well as hammock groves and shady picnic spots to lounge in. The island is also home to the luxury QC Spa, where bubbly outdoor pools overlook a skyline backdrop. Not in a hurry to return to the mainland? Stay overnight at Collective Retreats instead. 

Admittedly, NYC is not considered a beach tourism destination, but the coastline makes a welcome break from the pace of the city. While Fire Island is genuinely beautiful (a barrier island of golden sand and quaint beach homes where no cars are permitted), getting there is a schlep, especially if you’re only in New York for a few days. Instead, take the subway down to delightfully quirky Coney Island, where you can take a dip in the ocean, get lunch at Nathan’s Famous (home of the July 4th hot dog eating contest), ride a rollercoaster at the amusement park, or watch the Brooklyn Cyclones play baseball.

New York is shaped by the 8.2 million people who live here, and among them are some big personalities. On any typical afternoon at Washington Square Park, you might encounter a perfectly bizarre cross-section of society, including NYU students, chess players, acro yogis, street performers, exotic pet owners, dog walkers, protesters, and even actor Timothée Chalamet attending his own look-alike contest (a real thing that happened in October 2024). Get yourself a bagel and a coffee and settle in for some people-watching that’s every bit as entertaining as a Broadway show.

If you have the time and the endurance, walking the length of Manhattan is a memorable way to experience the city’s many distinct neighborhoods, famous sights, and best food. Take the subway up to Inwood and visit The Met Cloisters’ collection of medieval artworks. Then, trace the Hudson River down the west side, passing The Little Red Lighthouse and the Columbia University campus. Wander through Central Park and Times Square, then take the High Line over the streets of West Chelsea. Make your way through the West Village and Soho’s cobbled streets, soak up buzzy Chinatown and the Lower East Side, finally winding up near the Manhattan Bridge. You’ll feel accomplished and very ready to fall into bed.

Times Square receives an estimated 5 million visitors each day, who come to soak up the area’s famed “electric atmosphere.” Meanwhile, the locals generally avoid Times Square, deeming it obnoxiously bright, busy, and loud. Of course, there are reasons you might find yourself in the vicinity–Broadway’s theater district is right there, after all. If that’s the case, then by all means, check it out, but as a standalone tourist attraction, Times Square is overrated. And good luck finding a decent meal nearby, this area is renowned for dull chain restaurants.

This experiential, digital art venue in Chelsea is cool in theory. In reality, it’s just a big empty room with swirling projections. It can feel overstimulating, disorientating, and might even give you a twinge of motion sickness (at least, that was my experience). At around $40 per ticket, it’s just not worth the cost. Instead, go gallery hopping; Chelsea is home to hundreds of tucked-away galleries featuring contemporary artworks, most of them free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday.

Helicopter tours take tourists north from Battery Park along the Hudson River and cost between $200-300 per person. Is seeing the skyscrapers of New York from the air thrilling? Definitely, but these trips also seem to end in tragedy with unsettling frequency. After fatal crashes in 2018, 2019, and 2025, I wouldn’t risk it. Instead, head to one of its many observation decks for a bird’s eye view of the city: Top of The Rock, One World Observatory, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, Edge, and even the Empire State Building are good options.

This NYC dining mainstay is hidden down a graffiti-covered alleyway on the Lower East Side. The food is rustic American with an emphasis on comforting classics (the artichoke dip and mac & cheese are true crowd-pleasers that have been on the menu for years), and the cocktail options include low-ABV apéritifs and booze-free libations. The main appeal of Freemans, though, is the vibe. The restaurant is situated inside a beautiful old townhouse, with tables tucked into nooks and walls lined with taxidermy and antiques. It feels historic and cozy–the perfect atmosphere for an intimate dinner.

Truly budget-friendly hotels are hard to come by in NYC, so hooray for Pod Hotels. There are four convenient locations (three in Midtown Manhattan, one in Williamsburg, Brooklyn), and rooms start at just over $100 per night–sometimes much less when there’s a deal or offer running. Pod’s rooms are small and neat, and each location has pleasant communal spaces like a rooftop or courtyard and a lounge with workstations. It’s the ideal, affordable crash pad after a day of New York adventures.

The 60-room High Line Hotel has tons of personality. It was once a cloistered Collegiate Gothic Seminary, and the interiors pay homage to the building’s Gothic past, with hardwood floors and antique decor galore. Outside on the dog-friendly patio, enjoy alfresco drinks and food beside a big red double-decker bus, or grab a pour-over from Intelligentsia coffee in the lobby and head out to explore Chelsea’s gallery district or the High Line (an elevated park on a former rail line). Guests also enjoy free access to nearby Chelsea Piers, a sprawling fitness and sports complex featuring a rock-climbing wall and boxing ring.

The best months to visit New York are May and June, when the city comes alive again after the long slog of winter; September through November, when the weather is lovely; and the fall colors are at their finest; or in December, when the atmosphere is cozy and festive.

It may be tempting to book your trip during the more affordable quiet season in New York, which runs from January until March. Just be prepared for freezing cold temperatures that will likely limit you to indoor activities.

Walking is the best way to explore a city that promises a surprise around every corner. The subway is also convenient and has become much easier to navigate with recent upgrades to signage and trains. Just remember to check the MTA website for planned closures on weekends. And, of course, you can always try hailing a yellow cab if the traffic isn’t too much of a nightmare.