15 Things to Do in New York

New York is a city that never sleeps. It’s also a city that never stops moving and shaking and it takes a lot of energy to keep up with the pace.

So When you think of New York, what comes to mind?

The Big Apple, perhaps? The Empire State Building? Or maybe just an over-priced slice of pizza?

New York is a city of so many sights and sounds, it’s hard to know where to start. But we’re here to help!

With this list, you’ll be able to get the most out of your trip to NYC. We’ve got 30 things you can do while visiting that will give you a true taste of what the city has to offer.

That’s where we come in. If you’re looking for things to do in New York that are fun, exciting and just plain different, we’ve got you covered!

From outdoor adventures to indoor shopping sprees and everything in between, there’s something for everyone here on our list of 30 Things To Do In New York City.

This will also act as your guide for things to do in new york this weekend.

Our top 30 picks include everything from checking out one of the city’s best museums (MoMA) to taking in some live music at one of its best clubs (SOBs).

Visit Time Square

New York Times Square
Visit Time Sqaure

If you’re traveling to New York, one of the best things to do is take a walk through Times Square. This famous square is filled with lights and sounds, so it’s perfect for people who like to watch and be watched.

Times Square has been around since 1904, when it was built as an intersection between Broadway and Seventh Avenue. It’s now known as one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York City.

Times Square is one of the most famous places in New York. It’s a huge intersection in Midtown Manhattan, where Broadway and Seventh Avenue meet. It’s busy all day long, with people going to work or just passing through on their way somewhere else.

But what makes Times Square so special? Well, for one thing, it has a lot of shops and restaurants—including some great ones that are open late at night! You can find everything from souvenirs to gelato here. Plus, there are always lots of people around if you want to have a conversation or just watch the crowds go by.

If you’re visiting Times Square for the first time, here are some things that will definitely make your trip memorable:

  • Get lost in an enormous store that sells nothing but candy
  • Grab a slice of pizza at 2am after seeing a show
  • Find an unusual item at one of the many novelty shops
  • Take a selfie with Spiderman because he’s always hanging out there

Go see a Broadway show

Broadway show New York

If you haven’t been to New York City before, the idea of going out and seeing a Broadway show can be daunting. You might not feel like you know enough about the city to do it properly, or maybe you don’t want to spend all your time in a theater when there are so many other things to see.

But don’t worry! Going out for dinner and seeing a Broadway show is one of the best ways to experience New York City at its finest. The shows are usually great, but more importantly, they’re an easy way to meet people from around town and make connections with other tourists who have similar interests (not everyone wants to go on some sort of semi-awful pub crawl). Plus they’re relatively inexpensive so even if money isn’t exactly flowing through your veins right now this may still be something worth considering!

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Take photos of food at Smorgasburg in Brooklyn

Image: Smorgasburg

If you’re a foodie, you can’t miss this place. You can call it the food capital of America.

Smorgasburg is the most popular weekly open-air food market in the United States, drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the boroughs of Brooklyn, Manhattan, Jersey City, Los Angeles, Miami, and various other Places in America.

The food is amazing, the prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is fun. It’s located in Brooklyn Bridge Park which makes for some great views of the city as well. Plus, it’s right near Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights so if you want to do some shopping after eating delicious street food, this is a great area!

Walk the High Line

You know those people who always say, “I’ll do it when I get to New York”?

Well, here’s your chance. Walk the High Line park.

It’s a beautiful green space with stunning views of the city. You’ll feel like you’re walking through a treehouse and a jungle at the same time. It’s an Instagram-worthy experience that you don’t want to miss!

It’s a former railway line that was abandoned but has since been converted into a public park and it’s open all year round. You can get there by walking or taking the subway to the High Line stop (A and C trains).

The views are amazing, so make sure you bring your camera! There are also food stalls selling organic burgers and vegan ice cream if you need a break from exploring.

Check out the New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden is one of the city’s most beautiful and peaceful places to catch a breath. With over 50 acres of plants, trees, and flowers and not to mention some pretty cool exhibits like the Enid A.

Haupt Conservatory, there are plenty of things to see and do here.

This year-round attraction is free for everyone on Saturday mornings from 10 am until 12 pm (although there’s an admission fee if you want to enter during other times).

The garden hosts many events throughout the year as well, so it’s worth checking out their website before you go!

Sample a wide range of flavors at Chelsea Market

As you’re walking around Chelsea Market, you may feel like you’ve stepped into a foodie mecca. With its wide selection of eateries and shops, this food hall is the perfect place to sample a variety of flavors. The market is located in Manhattan on Ninth Avenue between 15th and 16th streets, so it’s easy to get to by subway or cab.

Chelsea Market was originally home to the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco), but after their departure in 1994, it reopened as an indoor marketplace where foodies can browse through specialty stores that sell everything from olive oil to vegan cakes.

In addition to being the home base for more than 100 vendors offering everything from wine tastings and artisanal cheese shops to restaurants specializing in Korean BBQ tacos or all-you-can-eat dim sum brunches on Sundays.

it’s also the home base for several longtime New York landmarks including Dean & DeLuca, Grom Gelato Bar & Caffè Dolce Vita Gelateria Artigianale Cucina Italiana Il laboratorio del gelato artigianale Liddabit Sweets and David Chang’s Fuku (closed until autumn 2019).

Grab some drinks and a hot dog at Gray’s Papaya

If you’re looking for a quick bite and a hot dog, Gray’s Papaya is the place to go. It’s famous for its hot dogs, which come in two varieties: “natural casing” (with mustard, relish, onion) or “all-the-way.” If you want to mix things up a bit, try the “papaya drink” (that’s what they call orange juice).

If your mouth isn’t watering yet, it will be once you see how many people stop by this spot on their way to work every day. It’s located on Broadway between 36th and 37th Streets—right across from Bryant Park!

If there are any lines at all at lunchtime or dinner time make sure not just to go with what sounds good but also ask someone behind the counter about their favorite combo before making your choice! You can always ask for some extra veggies if needed so there really aren’t any bad options here 🙂

Stroll through Central Park to catch some fresh air

New York Central Park

Walking through Central Park is a great way to catch some fresh air, relax and enjoy the outdoors. There are many things to do in Central Park including walking, running, biking, or just sitting on a bench and taking photos of the beautiful architecture around you.

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You can’t go to New York without visiting Central Park. It’s the most famous park in the world, and it’s also one of the most beautiful. You can spend hours just walking around Central Park and looking at all the incredible things there are to see.

If you visit in the fall, you’ll see all sorts of people playing football and baseball. There are even some concerts that happen in the park during this time of year!

If you’re looking for something fun to do on a rainy day, try renting some boats at the lake in Central Park. You don’t have to be an expert sailor—just rent them for an hour or two and enjoy a little bit of nature!

Take a photo in front of the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is a great place to take photos. It’s also the best way to get to Brooklyn, which should be on your list of things to do in New York.

When you’re crossing over into Brooklyn, keep an eye out for cyclists coming at you from either direction; they’re not going as fast as cars but they still don’t want anyone getting in their way.

Make your way to Grand Central Station and marvel at its beauty.

You will want to make your way over to Grand Central Station and marvel at its beauty. This Beaux Arts masterpiece is a National Historic Landmark, and it was designed by architects Warren and Wetmore.

You can’t help but be in awe of this masterpiece as you pass through its majestic arches, columns, and friezes. The station has also been used as a filming location for many movies including the first three installments of “The Avengers” series!

Eat pizza at Lombardi’s

If there’s one thing that New Yorkers love, it’s pizza. Since 1905, Lombardi’s has been serving up their famous coal-fired brick oven pizzas to hungry New Yorkers.

This family-run business still uses the same recipes and techniques today that were used when they first opened their doors.

The best way to try this iconic pie is by ordering their Margherita: made with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves (no red sauce here). This pizza comes in at $20 but is worth every penny—it’s delicious!

Lombardi’s may look small from the outside but inside there are three dining rooms offering a range of options from classic Italian dishes like lasagna ($20) or linguine with white clam sauce ($22). There are also burgers for those who aren’t looking for pasta on their trip ($13), which come with fries or garlic bread as sides.

While you’re eating your meal don’t forget to check out some of the historical photos hanging on walls around the restaurant—one even shows its founder making pizzas with his wife back in 1905!

Get lost inside The Strand bookstore

The Strand is the largest used bookstore in the world.

It’s also one of the oldest.

You can find a book on almost any topic, from art to history to science fiction and fantasy, at this store that’s open 24/7. If you’re looking for something specific, ask one of their employees; they’ll be happy to help!

Enjoy some fun people-watching down on the boardwalk in Coney Island.

A boardwalk is a great place to people-watch. If you’re looking for a relaxing spot to sit and enjoy the view, there are plenty of benches and tables available for visitors. It’s also a fun way to get an insider’s glimpse into New York City—you can learn about what people from all walks of life are up to in one afternoon.

Tip back a few cocktails at PDT, one of the coolest speakeasy bars in NYC.

PDT, one of the coolest speakeasy bars in NYC, is located inside a phone booth at the corner of St. Marks Place and East 1st Street. It’s named for the Prohibition era and its bartenders are skilled masters of their craft.

PDT’s bar menu features classic cocktail recipes like the beloved Sazerac, as well as some more unusual offerings like the Last Word (a mix of gin, maraschino liqueur, green Chartreuse, and lime juice) or The Dutch (gin, vermouth blanc, and Benedictine).

Ride a New York Water Taxi tour around Manhattan, while learning more about the city’s history

taxi car between brown buildings during day time
NYC Taxi Scene

If you’re looking for a quick, affordable way to see the city, look no further than New York Water Taxi. A water taxi tour is great because it offers plenty of flexibility: you can get on and off at any stop along the way and choose from various tours including sightseeing, historical, and nightlife tours.

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In addition to being an excellent option for tourists who want to learn more about New York’s history, this tour also allows visitors who want a relaxing experience to enjoy beautiful views of Manhattan while relaxing on board.

See the animals and check out their impressive architecture at either the Bronx Zoo

tiger on water during daytime
See Tiger at Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States and has over 600 species of animals from all over the world. It’s a wonderful place to take your kids or grandchildren, who will be fascinated by its wide variety of animals.

Located in New York City’s Bronx neighbourhood, the Bronx Zoo is part of Bronx Park. It is Spread across 265 acres of park land and naturalistic habitats, this zoo is one of the largest in the United States by area and the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States by area. It is separated from the rest of the city by the Bronx River.

The architecture alone makes it worth seeing and if you’re lucky enough to go on a sunny day when most people have left work early for spring break or Easter break (or both), then you’ll get to see some adorable animal babies out playing too!

Address: 2300 Southern Boulevard, The Bronx, NY 10460, United States

Admire art from all over the world at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Source: hibino, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

MoMA has been called a mecca for art lovers, and it’s easy to see why. The museum features pieces from all over the world, including paintings by famous artists such as Pablo Picasso and Roy Lichtenstein.

You can explore MoMA at your leisure, or book ahead for one of their many guided tours so you don’t miss anything important!

MoMA is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan between 59th Street and 86th Street, which makes for an easy trip from most areas in New York City.

The museum is made up of four buildings: two dedicated to housing permanent collections (the Museum Building and Pugh Gallery) and two others that host special exhibitions (Breyer Pavilion).

While these buildings are separated by several blocks of city streets, they’re connected via indoor walkways running through common areas like cafeterias where visitors can stop for lunch or dinner before continuing on their way toward another must-see exhibit upstairs!

New York is waiting for you!

New York is a city that never sleeps. It’s constantly changing and there are always new things to do and see. This makes it a great place to visit with friends or family, whether you’re looking for an active vacation or something more relaxed.

Final Thoughts

There’s something for everyone in New York, and we can’t wait to hear what you think! We hope this list has inspired you to get out there and explore the city. If your trip is coming up soon, make sure to check out our packing tips for NYC so that you don’t forget anything. And if anyone else has some great recommendations (or corrections) for us, please let us know in the comments below!

Summary of things to do in New York