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.
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Last Updated: April 8, 2024
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.
Bronx Zoo
The largest metropolitan zoo in the US.
- 2.
Brooklyn Bridge
Walk across or bike across or take in the views of one of NYC’s iconic symbols from Brooklyn Bridge Park.
- 3.
Chinatown
Pick up some Eggloo waffle ice creams and eat the chicken over rice at Taiwan Pork Chop House.
- 4.
Chrysler Building
(Midtown) Art Deco skyscraper that’s an iconic part of the skyline.
- 5.
Classic Harbor Line
(Chelsea) Take the sunset cruise to see the Statue of Liberty and views of the NY Skyline from the water.
- 6.
Columbia University
(Morningside Heights) Alexander Hamilton, Barack Obama, and many other notable alumni.
- 7.
(Hudson Yards) Great views of the city from the highest outdoor sky deck in the western hemisphere. See your ticket options here.
- 8.
(Midtown) The most photographed building in the world and the tallest of its time until 1970.
- 9.
Flatiron Building
(Flatiron District) another iconic and historic landmark
See More: 25 Best Things to Do Indoors in NYC
- 10.
Gospel Church
(Harlem) or Gospel Brunch
- 11.
(Midtown) Go upstairs and set up a long exposure shot.
- 12.
Mahayana Buddhist Temple
(Chinatown) This temple houses the tallest Buddha in NYC.
- 13.
New York Public Library
(Midtown) No photos are allowed in the main reading room.
- 14.
The Oculus
(Financial District) The World Trade Center Transportation Hub and popular photography spot.
- 15.
(Financial District) Not our favorite view but they still have nice views of the city. Also, the reveal is epic.
- 16.
(Midtown) See 9 Amazing Things to Do in Rockefeller Center.
- 17.
St. Patrick’s CATHEDRAL
(Midtown) popular for its Neo-Gothic style architecture
- 18.
Staten Island Ferry
Have you tried a Staten Island? 🥂 The ferry is free.
- 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.
- 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.
- 21.
(Midtown) They have one of the best views of the city. Check out our guide here and get tickets here.
- 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
- 23.
(Harlem) Jacob is actually in an episode he gets boo’d off stage!
- 24.
Watch the Brooklyn Nets.
See More: The Best Escape Rooms in New York City
- 26.
(Williamsburg, BK) High-tech lanes, live music, and good food.
- 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.
- 28.
Comedy Cellar
(Greenwich Village) One of our favorite comedy clubs in the US.
- 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.
- 30.
Film Forum
(South Village) An absolute treasure for indie films and other rare, classic movies.
- 31.
Julliard
- 32.
Las Chicas Locas
Salsa Dancing, great music, newcomers and beginners friendly.
- 33.
Late Night Show Taping
Like SNL (how to score free tickets).
- 34.
(UWS) Includes New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera.
- 35.
(Midtown West) We did the All Access Tour, but you can also go see the Knicks.
- 36.
(NJ) Watch a New York Giants game.
- 37.
(Flushing, QNS) For the US Open.
- 38.
(UWS) Amazing environment, concerts with rich histories.
- 39.
Nitehawk Cinema
(Williamsburg, BK) dine-in independent movie theater – perfect for date night.
- 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.
- 41.
(Midtown) Watch the Rockettes or take the Stage Door Tour to see behind the scenes.
- 42.
(Bronx) Be sure to check out the famous “ball wall” and the museum located inside the stadium. Get tickets here.
Museums + Memorials + Monuments
- 43.
(Financial District) National Park Unit – The largest colonial-era cemetery for people of African descent.
- 44.
(UWS) One of the largest natural history museums in the world. We loved the planetarium.
- 45.
Brooklyn Museum
(Prospect Heights, Brooklyn) Over 1.5 million works of art to peruse.
- 46.
(Battery Park) National Park Unit – Free Admission. They’re open every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- 47.
The Cloisters
(The Heights) Part of the Met. Large collection of medieval artworks shown in the architectural settings of French monasteries and abbeys.
- 48.
Chelsea Galleries
David Zwirner Gallery to see Yayoi Kusama’s exhibit.
- 49.
Ellis Island
The United States’ busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 to 1954.
- 50.
(Financial District) National Park Unit – A statue of George Washington marks the approximate site where he was inaugurated as President.
- 51.
Frick Collection
(UES) Children under 10 are not admitted.
- 52.
(Morningside Heights) National Park Unit – Final resting place of Ulysses S. Grant.
- 53.
(Governors Island) National Park Unit – Free guided tours, first-come, first served.
- 54.
(UES) Landmark work of 20th-century architecture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
- 55.
(Harlem) National Park Unit – Home of a founding father, Alexander Hamilton.
- 56.
Great museum to see jets, planes, and an aircraft carrier.
- 57.
(LES) National Park Unit – An estimated 15,000 people, from over 20 nations, lived here between 1863 and 2011.
- 58.
(Central Park / UES) Fourth most visited art museum in the world.
See More: 11 National Parks in New York City
- 59.
(Free Fri 4-8PM) We recognized so many more pieces of art here than at the Met.
- 60.
MOMA PS1
(LIC, QNS) One of the largest art institutions in the United States dedicated solely to contemporary art.
- 61.
Morgan Library and Museum
(Murray Hill) Short walk from Grand Central and Penn Station.
- 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.
- 63.
(Financial District) All tours are intended for adult and teenage visitors. It’s really well done but very heavy to see everything.
- 64.
New York Transit Museum
(BK) We loved the vintage trains and buses on display.
- 65.
The Noguchi Museum
Salsa Dancing, great music, newcomers and beginners friendly.
- 66.
(Liberty Island) National Park Unit – Tickets can be purchased at Castle Clinton or at the Communipaw Terminal.
- 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.
- 68.
(Flatiron) National Park Unit – Reconstructed home of the 26th President of the United States.
- 69.
(Meatpacking District) A fun museum great for the whole family. Lots of mind-bending and interactive exhibits plus fun photo ops. Use code ADVENTURER15 for 15% off your tickets.
- 70.
(Meatpacking District) Every Friday evening from 7pm until 9:30pm, admission is pay-what-you-wish.
Outdoors + Urban Parks
- 71.
The Battery Conservancy
(Financial District) Great views of the harbor, skyline, and Statue of Liberty.
- 72.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
(BK) 52-acre garden holds over 14,000 taxa of plants.
- 73.
One of the best bouldering gyms in the US imo. These are the best climbing gyms in NYC.
- 74.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Waterfront park with tons of rolling hills, great city views.
- 75.
Coney Island Boardwalk + Brighton Beach
(BK) Be sure to grab a Nathan’s Famous hotdog.
- 76.
Bryant Park
(Midtown) Thousands of free activities throughout the year.
- 77.
See the Bethesda Fountain, made even more famous by the show, Friends.
- 78.
Conservatory Garden
(East Harlem) The only formal garden in Central Park.
- 79.
Dumbo View of Manhattan Bridge
Best time to go is early morning before the crowds.
- 80.
Gantry Park
(LIC, QNS) Our favorite park with great views and it has more locals than tourists.
- 81.
The High Line
(Chelsea) Iconic path that was built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets.
- 82.
Little Island
(Chelsea) Artificial island park on the Hudson River and is free to visit.
- 83.
New York Botanical Garden
(Bronx Park) The historic stone mill is one of our favorite structures in the garden.
- 84.
The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden
(Staten Island) Especially beautiful and worth seeing in the Spring.
- 85.
Prospect Park
(BK) Degsinated a New York City scenic landmark in 1975, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 86.
Rockaway Beach
(QNS) Easily accessible by the A train or NYC ferry at Pier 11 Wall Street.
- 87.
Socrates Sculpture Park
(LIC, QNS) Really cool art exhibits, sculptures, and multi-media installations on display
- 88.
Washington Square Park
(Greenwich Village) One of NYC’s most iconic public parks. Watch out for hoards of pigeons.
Shopping + Food Experiences
- 89.
Afternoon Tea at the Plaza
(Midtown West) Plus, here are some other great spots.
- 90.
Arthur Ave
(Bronx) Apparently the real Little Italy if you want real Italian.
- 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
- 92.
Brooklyn Flea Market
(DUMBO) Antiques, repurposed furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles, local crafts, and more.
- 93.
Chelsea Market
Housed in the former warehouse of food manufacturer, Nabisco.
- 94.
Coffee
Try Birch Coffee, A Little Taste, or Piccolo Cafe.
- 95.
Eataly Market
(Flatiron) Famed Italian market, offering counters, restaurants, and cooking demos.
- 96.
Fifth Avenue
One of the most expensive shopping streets in the world.
- 97.
New York Bagel
- 98.
New York-Style Pizza
At any of these iconic spots.
- 99.
Smorgasburg at East River State Park
(Williamsburg, BK) The largest open-air food market in the US.
- 100.
Strand Bookstore
(Union Square) Iconic bookstore with tons of rare books and gifts.
- 101.
Union Square Farmer’s Market
The market runs every Saturday, from May 18 – November 23, 9am-1pm.
See More: 99 Best Places to Eat in NYC
Seasonal
(May + July) The sunset perfectly lines up with the east-west streets in Manhattan.
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.
Shakespeare in the Park
(Summer) How to score free tickets.
101 Things to Do in NYC City Map
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
- Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
- Download these helpful language apps.
- Find a great deal on NYC hotels.
- Arrange a rental car for your trip.
- Book a tour for your visit.
- Get airport lounge access.
- Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
- Get a new backpack for your trip.
- Buy a New York travel guide.
- Pack the appropriate shoes for your trip.
- Don’t forget your in-flight essentials.
- Save money on attractions with City Pass.
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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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust
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.
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