Contents
- The Best and Most Epic Things to do in NYC
- Walk The Highline
- Visit Chelsea Market
- Explore the Vessel
- Walk on The Edge
- Helicopter Ride Over the City
- Experience Top of The Rock
- Walk Through Times Square
- Stroll Through Central Park
- Check Out A Comedy Club
- See A Broadway Show
- Go Museum Hopping
- Walk Around Grand Central Station
- Shop til You Drop in Soho
- Walk Down Madison and 5th Ave
- Visit The Brooklyn Botanical Garden
- See The Statue of Liberty
- Sunset Cruise Down the Hudson
- Visit the Oculus and 9/11 Memorial
- Cross the Brooklyn Bridge & Explore Dumbo
- Visit Smorgasburg in Williamsburg
- Visit Madison Square Garden
- Adventure Through Coney Island
- Dyker Heights During the Holidays
- Shop at Woodbury Commons
- Admire the Empire State Building
- Getting Around NYC
- Best Things to Do in NYC Review
- Additional NYC Resources
The Best and Most Epic Things to do in NYC
New York City is undoubtedly a special place. I lived in New York City for 2 years, went to school and worked in the city for an additional 2.5 years and have lived outside the city (Manhattan) for an additional 8 years, so I’ve seen experienced my fair share! In this list, I am covering the best things to do in NYC during!
Walk The Highline
Located in the neighborhood of Chelsea, the Highline was once an old railroad, now turned into a green space! It’s one of my favorite things to do in NYC especially now that it’s connected to Hudson Yards (more about that later)! Free to do!
View of the Empire State Building from the Highline
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Visit Chelsea Market
Since you are in Chelsea, don’t forget to check out the Chelsea Market! Located in the Meatpacking District, the Chelsea Market has become internationally-renowned and is considered one of the best indoor marketplaces in the world! This cool urban space has diverse and fresh food and an overall cool vibe to even just walkthrough. Free to visit!
Address: 75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Explore the Vessel
The Vessel at Hudson Yards is one of the newest attractions in NYC and easily one of the best things to do! This funky yet cool honeycomb-shaped structure stands at 154 ft tall and has nice views of the Hudson River.
Update: You can no longer climb the Vessel, but it is still cool to see!
Address: The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001
The Vessel is one of the top free things to do in NYC and is super Instagrammable
Walk on The Edge
Also located in the new Hudson Yards complex stands NYC’s newest and highest outdoor sky deck on the West Hemisphere!
Suspended 100 stories up in the air with a glass sky deck; this is a once in a lifetime experience for sure! The Edge is still on my bucket list since my ticket got canceled due to NYC shutting down this year.
Currently, the Edge is still temporarily closed but should be re-opening by the end of this year, fingers crossed!
Address: The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001 Enter at level 4
Photo by Fred Moon on Unsplash
Helicopter Ride Over the City
This one is for all my adrenaline junkies! Personally, I am scared of helicopters, but when I get over that fear, I’ve always wanted to take a helicopter ride over NYC.
From the photos I’ve seen, the views are sick (New York Slang )! Check out helicopter rides with Get Your Guide!
Experience Top of The Rock
New York City is known for its incredible skyline and experiencing it from the Top of the Rock is no exception! Top of the Rock has 3 observation decks on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors for panoramic views that include the Empire State Building!
You will want to get tickets in advance for this one since it goes by timeslots.
Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Walk Through Times Square
Every New Yorker will avoid Times Square at all costs, but if this is your first time in NYC, it’s one of the best things to experience!
Make sure to see Times Square during both the day and at night when the City is all lit up! I’ll never forget how mesmerized I was when I saw Times Square for the first time!
Times Square NYC
Stroll Through Central Park
You can’t visit NYC without heading to Central Park! Central Park is amazing during all seasons so you’re in luck. With over 800 acres, you can get lost making your way through the park!
Some of the top sites to see in the park include Bow Bridge, Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, The Mall, Strawberry Fields, and Belvedere Castle to name a few!
Check Out A Comedy Club
While walking down the city streets, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone told you about seeing a comedy show. NYC has a great comedy scene and if you are into less touristy things to do, this is one of them!
Gotham Comedy Club in NYC
See A Broadway Show
Experiencing a Broadway Play is always a good idea! I can personally vouch for Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and Hamilton. It’s been said that the best way to get cheaper tickets is to go right to the box office or visiting a TDF location.
Go Museum Hopping
NYC has some of the best Museums in the world making it a no-brainer to check at least one of them out! Some of the top museums to visit include The MoMA, American Museum of Natural History, The Met, and 9/11 Museum.
Find out how to see some of these NYC museums for free here!
Inside the American Museum of History
Walk Around Grand Central Station
Grand Central Station is probably the coolest metro station in NYC! It’s a great place to people watch and enjoy the magnificent ceiling art!
Shop til You Drop in Soho
Soho is one of my favorite neighborhoods in NYC! Not only is the shopping amazing, but it also has some of the most charming cobblestone streets! You can also find really nice murals in Soho and the surrounding areas on Nolita and Little Italy.
Walking down the cobblestone streets in Soho
Walk Down Madison and 5th Ave
Since we are talking about shopping, I can’t leave out Madison and 5th Ave. If you are looking for a luxurious shopping experience, this is it!
Madison & 5th Ave are known for some of the most expensive shopping in the world! Here you will find every top designer you could ever ask for!
Visit The Brooklyn Botanical Garden
If you are visiting NYC during the Spring or Summer, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is easily one of the best things to see! I should add that the Garden is open all year round, but these are my favorite times!
Located in Prospect Park, the garden has 52 acres and 12,000 different plants!
If you are in NYC around March/April, check to see the Cherry Blossoms!
Address: 990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225
Cherry Blossoms at Brooklyn Botanical Garden
See The Statue of Liberty
Lady Liberty is one of the icons of NYC! There are several places you can get a glimpse of her, including taking a trip to Liberty and Ellis Island to see her up close and personal, or even climbing up to the top of her crown!
If I am being honest, the closest I’ve gotten to her is from my free ride back and forth on the Staten Island ferry, but it’s on my list to see her in person!
Sunset Cruise Down the Hudson
If you are looking for something a little more romantic to do during your time in NYC, think about taking a sunset cruise down the Hudson. I’ve seen sunsets in a lot of different places and NYC is one of my favorite places to see the sun go down. You can check out sunset tours here!
Visit the Oculus and 9/11 Memorial
In 2011 NYC was forever changed. Since the construction of the 9/11 Memorial and Oculus, the area has become very popular to visit among locals and tourists alike. The 9/11 museum and memorial remembers those lost in the falling of the Twin Towers.
The Oculus is was the World Trade Center train station that has now been turned into a piece of art! Inside its not just a subway station, but a shopping mall too!
Address: 180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007
Oculus at One World Trade Center
Cross the Brooklyn Bridge & Explore Dumbo
You can’t visit NYC without making your way to the Brooklyn Bridge and exploring Brooklyn Bridge Park in Dumbo, Brooklyn! Crossing the bridge is totally bucket list-worthy IMO and once you make it to the Brooklyn side, you will be treated with such a cute area of Brooklyn!
Next, head to one of the most instagrammable places in Brooklyn and all of NYC with the Manhattan Bridge peeking through the buildings! You can learn more about finding the best NYC Instagram spots, including the Manhattan bridge shot in my NYC Instagram Guide!
Visit Smorgasburg in Williamsburg
Smorgasburg one of my favorite NYC things to do in the eating category. So if you are a foodie, this is for you! This outside market has dozens of food vendors come with cuisines from around the globe.
On top of that, the view of the city from the Williamsburg location is priceless!
They are a little pricy, but the food is soooo yummy! They usually have 3 locations, the Oculus Center, Prospect Park, and Williamsburg.
*Currently, only the Williamsburg location is open for food to go until it’s safe for the markets to completely open from Covid.
Shmorgasburg is generally open starting in the Spring throughout the Fall. For more about visiting them, stay up to date with the Smorgasburg website!
View of NYC from Williamsburg
Visit Madison Square Garden
I’ve walked by Madison Square garden every day to and from school or just anytime I am going to NYC since its located at Penn Station (Pennsylvania Station). Consider catching a basketball game, Hockey game, concert, or a tour through one of the most famous arenas in the world!
Address: 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001
Basketball Game at Madison Square Garden
Adventure Through Coney Island
Coney Island is one of the quirkiest/interesting places to visit. If you are strapped on time or not visiting during the summer, I would probably skip visiting, however.
If it is Summertime, make your way over and take a ride on the famous Wooden Rollercoaster, the Cyclone, head to Nathans Famous hotdogs, lay on the beach, or walk down the boardwalk.
Next, get Pistachio Icecream and candy galore at Williams Candy Shop!
Insider tip: If you have a car and looking for a local spot for food, check out Rolling Roasters for Roast Beef Sandwiches with cheese everything! Its fast food, but it’s so good!
OR, if its the weekend, try the famous Totonno’s Pizza serving Coney Island since 1924. Don’t be surprised if the wait is really long!
Williams Candy shop in Coney Island, Brooklyn
Dyker Heights During the Holidays
If you are visiting New York City during the Holidays, you have to check out the Christmas lights at Dyker Heights! Find rows and rows of extremely extravagant Christmas lights where neighbors compete to outdo each other!
You can learn more about visiting the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights here!
Dyker Heights, Brooklyn Christmas lights
Shop at Woodbury Commons
If you are looking to shop at some premium outlet stores, Woodbury Commons will be right up your alley. They are located in Central Valley, NY just about an hour away from Midtown, NYC.
I personally have never been to the Woodbury Commons, however, it’s one of the most popular things to do amongst tourists who visit our City and I’ve never heard a bad review about it.
Admire the Empire State Building
While I would recommend paying for The Edge or Top of the Rock over going to the top of the Empire State Building, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t walk past it! If you happen to have the City Pass or the City Sightseeing Pass, a view at the top might already be included!
Getting Around NYC
Now that you know some of the best things to do in NYC, you will need to be able to get around. If you are staying in the City (Manhattan), the best way to get around is walking, using the Subway, Uber/Lyft, or renting a Citibike.
Most of the time using the Subway will be your best bet since traffic in NYC is crazy! The subway is totally safe and you can use this guide to navigate the NYC Subway!
NYC Times Square Subway Station
Best Things to Do in NYC Review
Now you are officially ready to see some of the best things NYC has to offer! Don’t forget to also check out 18 Awesome Free Things to do in NYC, NYC Instagram Spots, Things New Yorkers Say and What They Mean, and more on my New York Travel page!
Additional NYC Resources
Where to Stay: MOXY NYC Times Square | Hyatt House Chelsea | Hotel Edison Times Square | New York Marriott Marquis | Lotte New York Palace | NYC Airbnb
Airbnb – Save up to $35 (new accounts)
If you found the NYC Guide helpful, I’d love it if you could share/pin it! Sharing is caring!
17 comments
[…] If you didn’t already know, New York City in Autumn is just amazing! So if you are planning on heading to NYC in the Fall, here is your ultimate bucket list of things to do! Keep in mind this list covers some of the best fall activities in NYC, but if you are looking for NYC staples such as Top of The Rock, The Statue of Liberty, etc, you can find the overall best things to do in NYC here! […]
[…] 25 Best Attractions in NYC […]
I’ve been to NYC 3 times now and still haven’t seen everything! There is always so much to do and just leaves me wanting to go back for more :) Still need to check out the vessel!
A lot of these things weren’t there when I last visited NYC. I would really like to see the Oculus now that it’s complete. One thing I am sorry to see that closed was the Carnegie Deli.
So many things I’d love to do on this list! NYC is so iconic!
I would definitely LOVE to visit NYC when things get better! There’s so much to do it looks amazing *w*
Love this guide! I have done almost all of the things but when NYC shut down I couldn’t continue to get my adventures filled in this amazing city! Been here for only a year!
I’ve been to New York a few times but there are loads of things in here I’ve not seen and done. Will save for my next visit!
I grew up about 45 minutes outside of NYC and I have yet to go to Coney Island :( I really need to make it there! Some wonderful gems here that I’m definitely going to keep in mind for my next visit
this made me sad as I was supposed to go to NYC but COVID got it cancelled :(
A lot of us had trips canceled, unfortunately, but at least you have this guide now for when you reschedule!
Wow — so many great ideas. I’ve visited many times but didn’t know about the Highline in Chelsea! The honeycomb is definitely on my list too :)
I love reading guides written by locals! It’s definitely the best way to find the hidden gems of the city and avoid what’s not worth it. Coney Island looks so fun; I’d love to go there! Thanks for sharing.
I went to NYC only once and there are still so many things to do! I’ve never heard of the Edge before and it seems such a cool place to visit!
NYC looks so amazing. I’ve always wanted to visit NYC and I hope I can do it as soon as possible!
The Edge looks insane!! I visited NYC during Christmas in 2018 and absolutely loved it! Can’t wait to visit again someday :)
Love love love NY! I love taking day trips there. So much to see and do! I haven’t done a helicopter flight, yet, but it’s on my bucket list!