Top 20 Things to Do in New York City

New York City. The city that never sleeps. This magnificent and iconic place on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States is comprised of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. They are essentially mini-cities that lend local flair to this giant metropolis.  With so much to offer in the way of art, culture, and attractions throughout the city, we’ve put together the top 20 things to see and do in New York City.  These are in no particular order.

Empire State Building

Located in the heart of Manhattan stands the hulking Empire State Building. Over 4 million people visit this famous building every year not only for its outer beauty and Art Deco style of architecture but also for the observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors. These observatories allow for 360-degree panoramic views of New York City and fantastic photo opportunities.

Visitors can buy tickets here to catch a glimpse of the sunrise as it crawls over the city.

One World Trade Center

Formerly known as the Freedom Tower, this imposing tower stands at 1,776 feet – a deliberate height signifying the same as the year the United States declared independence from Great Britain.

In 2009 the name changed from the Freedom Tower to One World Trade Center. It currently stands as the tallest building in North America, with 104 stories.

Visitors should purchase tickets prior to visiting, to access One World Observatory.

Statue of Liberty

Gifted to the United States from France, the statue symbolized the friendship between the two nations and their people. The Statue of Liberty has sat on Liberty Island for over a century as it welcomes tourists and newcomers to New York City.

There are plenty of tour options available to see the Statue of Liberty, ranging from a couple of hours to a half-day trip. Visitors can purchase tickets ahead of time to see Lady Liberty from Statue City Cruises.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Found at the World Trade Center, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is an important piece of New York City’s history. The museum provides guests with a narrative of the events that took place during the September 11 terror attacks in 2001 by using multimedia displays, real-time recordings, and authentic artifacts.

The memorial reflects where the twin towers once stood with two manufactured waterfalls that fall into pools enclosed in panels displaying the names of the 3,000 victims of the attack.

Times Square

For an interesting and iconic place to visit that doesn’t cost anything, consider exploring Times Square. The sheer magnitude of this area is reason enough to go. With giant neon screens that show digital billboards and bright Broadway marquees, the best time to visit is after the sun goes down.

While most locals will avoid this area, first-time New York City visitors should not miss the opportunity to feel the energy that Times Square emits.

Central Park

There is so much more to Central Park than just being a regular park. This 843-acre spot is where tourists and locals alike go to enjoy the warmth in the summer and the colorful leaves in the fall.

The park is close to some of New York City’s best attractions, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. It is also home to Belvedere Castle, the Central Park Zoo, Conservatory Garden, and numerous sculptures, fountains, and bridges.

Rockefeller Center

This is a large complex consisting of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres between 48th Street and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan.  The concourse offers shopping and dining and 360-degree views of the city from the Top of the Rock observation deck.  NBS Studios is located here, as is Radio City Music Hall, and the glamorous Rainbow Room restaurant.  During the winter months, ice skating is available on the outdoor rink, and a massive Christmas tree is erected to celebrate the holiday season, which is kicked off with a Tree Lighting event.  The rink is used for roller skating during the summer.

Radio City Music Hall

An iconic spot in the city where everyone from David Bowie to Madonna to Liberace has performed, visiting Radio City Music Hall should be on every music lover’s bucket list.

There is surely something for everyone to see with concerts, comedy shows, and theatrical performances featured almost every night. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of this venue, there are a couple of different behind-the-scenes tour options available too.

Coney Island

Coney Island – also known as the People’s Playground – is a worthwhile trip for those with kids. It has two amusement parks, Luna Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, as well as numerous other attractions like skeeball and other arcade-style games.

This amusement park in Brooklyn is steps away from a sandy beach that spans almost three miles across the coast. It offers fun recreational activities like beach volleyball and basketball. Give yourself a whole day to soak up the rays at the beach or hop between amusement parks if you’re a thrill-seeker.

American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History is one of New York City’s best attractions for all ages. With over 32 million artifacts spanning across 25 buildings, it is impossible to see everything in one day.

Some of the more favorable exhibits are the Rose Center for Earth and Space, Irma and Paul Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life, and the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs. The American Museum of Natural History has the most extensive dinosaur and mammal fossil collections in the world.

Fifth Avenue

Fifth Avenue, also known as Millionaire’s Row, is one of the best and most expensive shopping streets in the world, ranked up there with Paris’s Champs-Élysées and Causeway Bay in Hong Kong. You can find major luxury brands such as Hermès, Gucci, and Prada.

For most people, these high-end stores on Fifth Avenue are a little too pricey for a shopping spree, but there’s nothing wrong with a bit of window shopping. Plus, there are some more reasonably priced stores on Fifth Avenue like Sephora and Gap.

Broadway Show

Going to a Broadway show is a must when visiting New York City. From the dazzling lights that line the Broadway marquees to the sounds of Times Square only a few blocks away, this is the perfect activity for anyone who enjoys a show.

With a constant, ever-changing variety of productions, it’s believed that these shows are some of the best in the world. Some long-running productions include The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, and Chicago.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

If you keep up with celebrity culture, you may have heard of the Met Gala. This annual event is actually a fundraiser for the Costume Institute housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  But there is so much more to the Met than that.

The museum features a permanent collection of more than two million pieces of art from classical antiquities, world-class paintings, sculptures, antique armor, and weapons, as well as musical instruments and photographs.

Yankee Stadium

Home to one of the best teams in Major League Baseball—depending on who you ask—is Yankee Stadium. This giant stadium is located in the Bronx. It was entirely rebuilt in 2009 for $2.3 billion and holds 54,251 people, making it the sixth-largest stadium in the major leagues.

Tickets can be purchased for as low as $10 depending on who the Yankees are playing, so even if baseball isn’t your thing, it’s worth catching a game. You can also go on a Yankee Stadium tour and learn more about the 27-time World Series Champions.

Brooklyn Bridge

What was once the longest suspension bridge in the world at 1,595 feet, the Brooklyn Bridge connects Brooklyn and Manhattan. The bridge is a beautiful display of neo-Gothic architecture with its stone towers and characteristic pointed arches. Not only can you drive across it, but you can also bike or walk across the bridge too.

On average, over 100,000 cars and 10,000 pedestrians cross the bridge daily. The Brooklyn Bridge cannot be missed, as it’s one of the most recognized symbols in New York City.

The High Line

Need a break from the hubbub of the Big Apple? Try visiting the High Line. This almost two-mile-long park overlooks some of New York’s most exciting neighborhoods like the Meatpacking District, Hell’s Kitchen, and Chelsea. Since it stands approximately 30 feet above the street, it makes for great views of the city and the Hudson River.

With plenty of art installations, food vendors, and sunbathing areas, the High Line is the perfect spot to visit on a warm summer day.

New York Public Library

Flanked between ferocious lion statues named Patience and Fortitude sits the beautiful Stephan A. Schwartzman branch of the New York Public Library. Known for being one of the top research centers with extensive historical collections, this library welcomes locals and tourists.

The magical Rose Main Reading Room is one of the library’s most well-known locations, with its 52-foot-tall ceilings that display murals of fluffy cloud-filled blue skies. A great spot to visit for book lovers, history fans, or anyone who appreciates beautiful architecture.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral  

Nestled between high-rise skyscrapers and historic landmark buildings sits North America’s largest Gothic Revival cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This marble building clad with dozens of stained-glass windows makes it feel like stepping out of the concrete jungle and directly into Europe. This beautiful building cannot be missed.

To see St. Patrick’s Cathedral at its peak, visit during Christmastime, when wreaths line the Romanesque columns, and flourishing poinsettias brighten the inside of the church.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

A beautiful and peaceful botanic garden away from the noise of New York City is the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. This lush, green park is 52-acres and includes 13 gardens and five conservatories.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is best known for the Japanese Hill-and-Pond-Garden, featuring wooden bridges and gorgeous cherry blossom trees that bloom at the end of April. Another popular spot is the Shakespeare Garden, with over 80 plants all mentioned in his works.

Famous Sights

The following locations don’t offer a lot to do, but are undoubtedly iconic and should be on your must-see list.  These are just a few examples of some of the most recognizable and Instagrammable locations in New York City. The Washington Arch (seen in the photo) can be found in Greenwich Village in Washington Square Park.  The Flatiron Building was one of NYC’s very first skyscrapers and is identifiable by its triangular shape. Another well-known building worth a visit is the Art Deco masterpiece known as the Chrysler Building, which was the tallest skyscraper in the world until the Empire State Building surpassed it.  For more amazing architecture, Grand Central Station is a historic landmark in Midtown Manhattan—world-famous as a transportation hub and containing shops and several restaurants.  A few recognizable NYC restaurants that tourists like to include on their itinerary, even just to snap a photo, are the enchanting Russian Tea Room, as well as Katz’s Delicatessen on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and Tom’s Restaurant, which was used in countless episodes of Seinfeld. Many visitors take time to tour the well-respected Guggenheim Museum; however, just as many go simply to have their photos taken outside of this extraordinary building.

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