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The Ultimate NYC Bucket List (101 Things to Do in NYC)

Whether you live here or you’re visiting for the 10th time, here is the ultimate list of 101 things to do in NYC.

While we had a love-hate relationship when visiting NYC, we absolutely loved the city when living here. We spent most of our visits eating our way through the city, and later realized that we hadn’t seen much of the city other than the insides of restaurants.

I’ve always had an extensive list of things we wanted to do, but with the help of our friends who’ve been living here for over a decade Charlene, Ted, Caty, and Debbie who was born and raised, we were able to narrow down the options and put together the ultimate NYC bucket list for you.

The Ultimate NYC Bucket List - 101 Things to Do in New York CityPin

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Last Updated: October 19, 2023

The Ultimate NYC Bucket List (101 Unique Things to Do in New York City)

It’s easy to make an entire 101 list for each borough, but we’ll start with the city as a whole.

This list will continue to change and evolve as we find new things to see, do or eat in NYC so keep checking back. We focused more on experiences than food in this post, but we know how important food can be too, so you can check out our full food bucket list.

Tourist Attractions

  1. 1.
    Bronx Zoo

The largest metropolitan zoo in the US.

  1. 2.
    Brooklyn Bridge

Walk across or bike across or take in the views of one of NYC’s iconic symbols from Brooklyn Bridge Park.

  1. 3.
    Chinatown

Pick up some Eggloo waffle ice creams and eat the chicken over rice at Taiwan Pork Chop House.

  1. 4.
    Chrysler Building

(Midtown) Art Deco skyscraper that’s an iconic part of the skyline.

  1. 5.
    Classic Harbor Line

(Chelsea) Take the sunset cruise to see the Statue of Liberty and views of the NY Skyline from the water.

  1. 6.
    Columbia University

(Morningside Heights) Alexander Hamilton, Barack Obama, and many other notable alumni.

  1. 7.

(Hudson Yards) Great views of the city from the highest outdoor sky deck in the western hemisphere. See your ticket options here.

  1. 8.

(Midtown) The most photographed building in the world and the tallest of its time until 1970.

  1. 9.
    Flatiron Building

(Flatiron District) another iconic and historic landmark

  1. 10.
    Gospel Church
  1. 11.

(Midtown) Go upstairs and set up a long exposure shot.

  1. 12.
    Mahayana Buddhist Temple

(Chinatown) This temple houses the tallest Buddha in NYC.

  1. 13.
    New York Public Library

(Midtown) No photos are allowed in the main reading room.

  1. 14.
    The Oculus

(Financial District) The World Trade Center Transportation Hub and popular photography spot.

  1. 15.

(Financial District) Not our favorite view but they still have nice views of the city. Also, the reveal is epic.

  1. 17.
    St. Patrick’s CATHEDRAL

(Midtown) popular for its Neo-Gothic style architecture

  1. 18.
    Staten Island Ferry

Have you tried a Staten Island? 🥂 The ferry is free.

  1. 19.
    Summit One

(Midtown) The 360 views of the city. You can see ESB, Central Park, Chrysler, and more. They also have these instagrammy exhibits, art from Kusama, and a bar.

  1. 20.

(Midtown) The crowds are part of the experience and it’s worth witnessing once, but for locals this is their least favorite place to be. If you want to take photos without crowds, your best bet is around 3 am or during a snowstorm.

  1. 21.

(Midtown) They have one of the best views of the city. Check out our guide here and get tickets here.

  1. 22.

(Hudson Yards) New NYC landmark made of 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs. It’s currently closed, so you can only see it from the outside.

See More: 9 Amazing Things to Do in Rockefeller Center NYC

Spectate: Shows + Events

  1. 23.

(Harlem) Jacob is actually in an episode he gets boo’d off stage!

  1. 24.

Watch the Brooklyn Nets.

  1. 26.

(Williamsburg, BK) High-tech lanes, live music, and good food.

  1. 27.

(Midtown) Home to some of the most legendary performers – NY Philharmonic, NBC Symphony Orchestra, The Beatles, Billie Holiday, Simon & Garfunkel – just to name a few.

  1. 28.
    Comedy Cellar

(Greenwich Village) One of our favorite comedy clubs in the US.

  1. 29.
    Cellar Dog

Previously known as Fat Cat Jazz Club. Diverse venue, open late, offers live music, pool, Ping-Pong, board games, art exhibits, and more.

  1. 30.
    Film Forum

(South Village) An absolute treasure for indie films and other rare, classic movies.

  1. 32.
    Las Chicas Locas

Salsa Dancing, great music, newcomers and beginners friendly.

  1. 33.
    Late Night Show Taping
  1. 34.

(UWS) Includes New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera.

  1. 35.

(Midtown West) We did the All Access Tour, but you can also go see the Knicks.

  1. 36.

(NJ) Watch a New York Giants game.

  1. 37.

(Flushing, QNS) For the US Open.

  1. 38.

(UWS) Amazing environment, concerts with rich histories.

  1. 39.
    Nitehawk Cinema

(Williamsburg, BK) dine-in independent movie theater – perfect for date night.

  1. 40.

(NoHo) An iconic theater and is famous for their logo design. We went and saw the play, Office Hour, which our friends were in.

  1. 42.

(Bronx) Be sure to check out the famous “ball wall” and the museum located inside the stadium. Get tickets here.

Rockettes Radio City Christmas Spectacular ( Rockettes NYC )+ What to do in NYC at Christmas / Christmas Time in New York | LocalAdventurer.comPin

Museums + Memorials + Monuments

  1. 43.

(Financial District) National Park Unit – The largest colonial-era cemetery for people of African descent.

  1. 44.

(UWS) One of the largest natural history museums in the world. We loved the planetarium.

  1. 45.
    Brooklyn Museum

(Prospect Heights, Brooklyn) Over 1.5 million works of art to peruse.

  1. 46.

(Battery Park) National Park Unit – Free Admission. They’re open every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

  1. 47.
    The Cloisters

(The Heights) Part of the Met. Large collection of medieval artworks shown in the architectural settings of French monasteries and abbeys.

  1. 48.
    Chelsea Galleries

David Zwirner Gallery to see Yayoi Kusama’s exhibit.

  1. 49.
    Ellis Island

The United States’ busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 to 1954.

  1. 50.

(Financial District) National Park Unit – A statue of George Washington marks the approximate site where he was inaugurated as President.

  1. 51.
    Frick Collection

(UES) Children under 10 are not admitted.

  1. 52.

(Morningside Heights) National Park Unit – Final resting place of Ulysses S. Grant.

  1. 53.

(Governors Island) National Park Unit – Free guided tours, first-come, first served.

  1. 54.

(UES) Landmark work of 20th-century architecture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

  1. 55.

(Harlem) National Park Unit –  Home of a founding father, Alexander Hamilton.

  1. 56.

Great museum to see jets, planes, and an aircraft carrier.

  1. 57.

(LES) National Park Unit – An estimated 15,000 people, from over 20 nations, lived here between 1863 and 2011.

  1. 58.

(Central Park / UES) Fourth most visited art museum in the world.

  1. 59.

(Free Fri 4-8PM) We recognized so many more pieces of art here than at the Met.

  1. 60.
    MOMA PS1

(LIC, QNS) One of the largest art institutions in the United States dedicated solely to contemporary art.

  1. 61.
    Morgan Library and Museum

(Murray Hill) Short walk from Grand Central and Penn Station.

  1. 62.
    Museum of Moving Image

(Astoria, QNS) We loved how interactive it was. You can learn how to make a. puppet and puppeteer, do a voice over, etc. Kids will love playing the video games.

  1. 63.

(Financial District) All tours are intended for adult and teenage visitors. It’s really well done but very heavy to see everything.

  1. 64.
    New York Transit Museum

(BK) We loved the vintage trains and buses on display.

  1. 65.
    The Noguchi Museum

Salsa Dancing, great music, newcomers and beginners friendly.

  1. 66.

(Liberty Island) National Park Unit – Tickets can be purchased at Castle Clinton or at the Communipaw Terminal.

  1. 67.

(West Village) National Park Unit – The site of the Stonewall riots of June 28, 1969 start of modern LGBT rights movement in the US.

  1. 68.

(Flatiron) National Park Unit – Reconstructed home of the 26th President of the United States.

  1. 69.
    Tibet House

(Flatiron) A cultural center founded by H.H. the Dalai Lama.

  1. 70.

(Meatpacking District) Every Friday evening from 7pm until 9:30pm, admission is pay-what-you-wish.

Outdoors + Urban Parks

  1. 71.
    The Battery Conservancy

(Financial District) Great views of the harbor, skyline, and Statue of Liberty.

  1. 72.
    Brooklyn Botanic Garden

(BK) 52-acre garden holds over 14,000 taxa of plants.

  1. 73.

One of the best bouldering gyms in the US imo. These are the best climbing gyms in NYC.

  1. 74.
    Brooklyn Bridge Park

Waterfront park with tons of rolling hills, great city views.

  1. 75.
    Coney Island Boardwalk + Brighton Beach

(BK) Be sure to grab a Nathan’s Famous hotdog.

  1. 76.
    Bryant Park

(Midtown) Thousands of free activities throughout the year.

  1. 77.

See the Bethesda Fountain, made even more famous by the show, Friends.

  1. 78.
    Conservatory Garden

(East Harlem) The only formal garden in Central Park.

  1. 79.
    Dumbo View of Manhattan Bridge

Best time to go is early morning before the crowds.

  1. 80.
    Gantry Park

(LIC, QNS) Our favorite park with great views and it has more locals than tourists.

  1. 81.
    The High Line

(Chelsea) Iconic path that was built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets.

  1. 82.
    Little Island

(Chelsea) Artificial island park on the Hudson River and is free to visit.

  1. 83.
    New York Botanical Garden

(Bronx Park) The historic stone mill is one of our favorite structures in the garden.

  1. 84.
    The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden

(Staten Island) Especially beautiful and worth seeing in the Spring.

  1. 85.
    Prospect Park

(BK) Degsinated a New York City scenic landmark in 1975, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

  1. 86.
    Rockaway Beach

(QNS) Easily accessible by the A train or NYC ferry at Pier 11 Wall Street.

  1. 87.
    Socrates Sculpture Park

(LIC, QNS) Really cool art exhibits, sculptures, and multi-media installations on display

  1. 88.
    Washington Square Park

(Greenwich Village) One of NYC’s most iconic public parks. Watch out for hoards of pigeons.

Shopping + Food Experiences

  1. 89.
    Afternoon Tea at the Plaza

(Midtown West) Plus, here are some other great spots.

  1. 90.
    Arthur Ave

(Bronx) Apparently the real Little Italy if you want real Italian.

  1. 91.

This is a photographer’s heaven and was high priority on my very first NYC trip. Before you go make sure it isn’t a Jewish holiday. There are so many! P.S. You can pick up your free gift using this voucher or online code: LOCALADVEN

  1. 92.
    Brooklyn Flea Market

(DUMBO) Antiques, repurposed furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles, local crafts, and more.

  1. 93.
    Chelsea Market

Housed in the former warehouse of food manufacturer, Nabisco.

  1. 94.
    Coffee

Try Birch Coffee, A Little Taste, or Piccolo Cafe.

  1. 95.
    Eataly Market

(Flatiron) Famed Italian market, offering counters, restaurants, and cooking demos.

  1. 96.
    Fifth Avenue

One of the most expensive shopping streets in the world.

  1. 97.
    New York Bagel
  1. 98.
    New York-Style Pizza

At any of these iconic spots.

  1. 99.
    Smorgasburg at East River State Park

(Williamsburg, BK) The largest open-air food market in the US.

  1. 100.
    Strand Bookstore

(Union Square) Iconic bookstore with tons of rare books and gifts.

  1. 101.
    Union Square Farmer’s Market

The market runs every Saturday, from May 18 – November 23, 9am-1pm.

Seasonal

(May + July) The sunset perfectly lines up with the east-west streets in Manhattan.

  1. Victorian Gardens Amusement Park

(Central Park) Open May to Sept. Great for families and kids.

(April) One of the best places to enjoy cherry blossoms.

(June) New York City’s official celebration of the past, present, and future of its music scene.

  1. Shakespeare in the Park

101 Things to Do in NYC City Map

illustrated map of nycPin

Essential Tips for First Time Visitors to NYC

  • When to Visit: Fall and Spring are the prettiest times to visit for fall foliage and cherry blossoms. December until New Years is crowded but has all the Christmas decor. January and February are the least crowded seasons but frigid cold. Summer is crowded and hot and humid.
  • When you’re planning your trip, book a rental car at JFK or LGA.
  • Best Airports: LGA is the easier airport to get in and out of. Unfortunately, there aren’t as many direct flights, but we always try to fly here if it’s available and the prices are comparable.
  • Best Way to Get Around? Take the train. NYC hands down has the best public transportation we’ve seen in the US. If you’re planning on taking more than 12 rides then get the unlimited 7-day pass. You can uber, but traffic sucks.
  • Always pack flip flops and high boots for rainy days. When it’s really pouring, the rain has gotten into my waterproof shoes.
  • If you’re planning on visiting a lot of attractions during your visit, pick up a New York Pass. There are multiple-day options and it gives you access to a ton of spots. We did a 2-day pass and visited over 11 spots saving us a lot of money.
  • If you’re a first time visitor, don’t forget to read 21 Things You Should Know Before Visiting NYC, and if you’re about to move here, check out our Local Tips for Moving to NYC.
  • If you’re visiting in the winter, check out our NYC winter packing and survival guide.
  • Want to take a day trip from NYC? Here’s 21 Best Things to Do in Upstate NY and 15 Incredible Weekend Trips from NYC.

Best Places to Stay in NYC

Planning Checklist

Have you set foot in all five boroughs? Anything on this list you weren’t impressed with? Anything you think we missed?

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Esther and JacobPin

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

Follow on Instagram (E + J), YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest.

This Post Has 67 Comments

  1. George

    Great article. Thanks for sharing.

    Have a good day.

  2. Tash M

    I didn’t know about a lot of these places, but the number one on this list is trying New York pizza! Cheers for this Article!

  3. Ubuntu Voyages

    Thanks for sharing! I’m planning to visit NYC next year, this list will be useful for sure!

  4. Justin

    Awesome post, guys! It’s a great list, and shows how different NYC really is – it’s not ALL just concrete!

  5. Lauren

    You guys should check out Long Island City, Queens – specifically Gantry Plaza State Park. Has great views of the NYC and in the summer offers a ferry to the city. I lived in LIC for four years and I still go back every time I visit. Best neighborhood imo!

    1. Esther JuLee

      Thanks Lauren! :) We actually live in LIC and love Gantry Park.

  6. C. Randen

    Such a unique city. I could spend a year there and still probably not hit every thing I would want to do!

  7. Golden Triangle Tour with Ranthambore

    Great post! New York is the best destination to travel. I have always wanted to see it. Thank you for the great information and more destinations to add to our list! You captured literally great pics. Loved this.
    Thank you.

  8. Alexandra Phillips

    Thanks for the information… Good Job..!!!

  9. Isadora Guidoni

    Thanks for the ideas! I’m planning a trip up to the big Apple myself and now I won’t be bored.

  10. Saania Ali

    Truly great list to explore NYC! Thanks a lot Esther for this informative post & it would definitely be useful for the us.

  11. olive jason

    Thanks for sharing these easy tips. Need to follow up with this

  12. Dat Man

    Very comprehensive list here! In truth NYC is one of those places where you create a game plan and then it goes out the window once you arrive. Still, its nice to at least have a few things you just have to do when you get there.

    1. Esther JuLee

      Thanks!! So true. We def use this as a rough guide but the list is changing all the time because there are constantly new things to do. haha

  13. William R. Parks

    Awesome list, will save it. Thanks for sharing such informative post.

  14. Ethel Fleming

    I’ve been to NYC twice and was pretty sure I’ve seen and done all iconic things. Yet your list proves the opposite. I’ve missed out a LOT! Looks like I’m going there for the third time to fix it up. Thanks for sharing.

    1. Esther JuLee

      Thanks for reading, Ethel! Sometimes I’m overwhelmed by all the things there is to do even living here. The crazy thing is that this is an abbreviated version of my personal list. I keep adding to my queue and it’s near 1000… maybe it’s getting out of hand. haha

  15. Zack.Buchanan

    Great Post! I would love to print these and take these with me! I cant wait to go to the zoo!!

    1. Esther JuLee

      Thanks, Zack. :) We’ll be working on putting up a printable pdf. Thanks for the reminder!

  16. Nora

    Oh wow, amazing list! I’ve spent five weeks in NYC but whole year sounds more than great! I wish I can do that too one day and explore every place mentioned in this list. :)

    1. Esther JuLee

      I hope you get to come back and see more here too, Nora! :)

  17. olive jason

    NEW YORK… the most favorite city and this massive list is must do list..next year holiday list done..thankyou for this article

  18. Burmisoutdoor

    New York is a city full of life. I would really love to have this bucket list with me and try everything here. Great list Esther.

  19. Daniel Walker

    Thanks for sharing. You sorted out our work by making list of places.

  20. Destination M

    Outstanding post. I love how complete this bucket list is. I would definitely have this printed. Kudos to you for keeping things interesting Esther.

  21. Kathy

    Recommend joining club free time. We lived in nyc for 4 years and saw some amazing shows and music

  22. Jenny

    This is such a good list! I’ve been to New York but obviously missed out on a lot. Can’t wait to go back one day :)

  23. Lydia

    Wow! This is one of the most detailed lists of things to do when in NYC, Esther and Jacob. You’ve covered all the important things that are to see there. How many days would be enough to explore the whole list?

    1. Esther JuLee

      Good question, Lydia! It would definitely take a few trips to do them all, and the idea is for this list to be for people who’ve lived in NYC all their lives but just don’t get out to explore and also for people who’ve been to NYC at least once. We’ve lived here for over 6 months and still haven’t gotten around to everything, but that’s also partly because new things keep popping up too.

  24. Kesari

    Nice post.

  25. Rose

    Great source of information. I’m glad to recommend these lists. Thanks

  26. Kelcy

    I take for granted living so close to New York (Connecticut). There are so many things on this list I’d like to try. Thanks for posting.

    1. Local Adventurer

      Thanks, Kelcy! We feel the same way. :) That’s why we started the blog!

  27. Linzi Clark

    Wow – a very comprehensive list – thanks for sharing!

  28. Herman

    Thanks for this great post! New York is my ultimate travel goal for 2018! I personally started traveling around two years ago and have been to several different countries including Egypt, Turkey and Spain.

  29. scarlet green

    Nice List…

  30. Ben Lawson

    new york is one of my fav city to visit. really like your post bro. keep it up.

  31. Ezinna7

    These post and wonderful reviews makes me want to visit the city that never sleeps(NYC). I am currently visiting Africa. The wildlife is beautiful, the scenery is scenic. I would visit Seychelles next. For me traveling is a priority.

  32. agine

    highly recommend Rough Trade NYC in Williamsburg for music lovers.

  33. First Lombok

    When I remember new york.. I remember NYPD, ha ha.. hollywood efects .. but the city is also very cool..

  34. Sabs

    What a useful list! I am saving it for the next time I go to NYC!

  35. Sue Field

    Hi, The best ever cupcakes are fund at Little Cupcake Bakeshop! The Blue Velvet is my favourite. The store has the best atmosphere and the staff are awesome! They have a few in Brooklyn but I visited the Prince St store quite a few times.

    1. Esther JuLee

      Thank you, Sue. Will check them out. We’ve been trying to put food on a separate list and make this more about activities :)

  36. I need to go back to New York City. Thanks for putting together this list because there is so much to do.

    1. Esther JuLee

      There really is! You can never run out of things to do here.

  37. Elsy Booser

    Hello! I’ve been following your blog for a long time now and finallygot the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Porter Texas!Just wanted to mention keep up the excellent work!

  38. Alice

    Great NYC bucketlist! If you haven’t already tried them I also recommend the banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery and also the Chocolate & peanut cookie at Levain bakery, both located on Upper West Side.

    1. Esther JuLee

      Thank you, Alice. Oh yeah that banana pudding is really good. We had it the last two times we visited. I’ll have to make it up to Levain bakery next :)

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