New York City, who doesn’t love it! One of the most amazing places to visit in the world and not just the US, New York City is every avid traveler’s dream destination. From fashion ops and historical places to super cool places to eat at – there are countless awesome things to do in NYC! So, if you have no idea where to go this vacation, let us be the first ones to suggest you to pack your bags and head straight to New York City. be assured, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip! Take a look below at some of the best things to do in New York City during your trip.
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27 Best Things to Do in NYC to Make Your Trip a Memorable One!
Gear up, visit NYC, and enjoy the best vacay of your life! Here’s what you can do in New York City during your visit:
1. See the New York skyline
One of the must-experience and coolest things to do in NYC is to enjoy its awesome skyline. There are plenty of observation decks in the city that will enable you to soak in the stunning skyline of this remarkable city. Don’t forget to grab your camera as the sights you will see will be truly breathtaking!
2. Book a New York sightseeing tour
The best way to experience New York City is through a sightseeing tour. You can hop on the bus tour or opt for other options such as GPS-enabled tours, guided tours, or even self-guided tours. There are over 40 different kinds of tours you can pick from! See what best suits you and explore away!
3. Visit the 9/11 Museum-cum-Memorial
Dedicated to the memory of those who were killed in the 9/11 attack, the memorial-cum-museum is absolutely free to visit. You can pay homage to those who lost their lives in the unfortunate event and this will be among the most honorable things to do in NYC during your trip.
4. Catch a Broadway Show
You ain’t seen anything in New York City if you haven’t seen a Broadway Show! This is simply a must! There are hundreds of plays and musicals to choose from and you can pick whichever is the most popular one when you visit. Watch the show with a bunch of friends to make the experience a lot more awesome.
5. Take a boat cruise around Manhattan
There are speed boats, single ride boats, sailboats, and hop-on-hop-off tour boats to choose from. This is among the most fun things to do in New York City as the sights you will see will be pretty amazing. If you happen to be on a budget, you can enjoy the free Staten Island ferry. Whatever you decide to pick in the end, be assured that you will have a great time!
6. Gorge on authentic New York food
One of the most amazing and must-do things in NYC is to gorge on authentic New York food. Mouthwatering options include pizzas, knishes, bagels, and pastramis among scores of other things. Everywhere you go you will come across iconic places to eat. Just step inside any of them and have a taste of New York’s best food as well as hospitality!
7. Check out the Statue of Liberty
There is no way to visit New York and not do this! One of the most iconic landmarks in not just America but the world, a visit to the Statue of Liberty should be high on your list of the best things to do in NYC. Make sure to set aside a couple of hours for this as you don’t want to hurry through the experience. Trust us, there’s no fun in that. The trick is to take your time through it so that you can enjoy each moment.
8. Take a walk at Central Park
One of the topmost and fun things to do when in New York happens to be strolling through the world-renowned Central Park. Not only will you see stunning greenery and raw natural beauty, but you will also come across several other tourists as well as locals who regularly come to enjoy this remarkable place. This beauty and serenity of this stunning place will be etched in your memory for a long time to come.
9. Go bar-hopping
For those who love their vodka and beer, this is among the best things to do in NYC! There are innumerable awesome bars in NYC to check out. So, gather your drinking buddies and enjoy bar-hopping in NYC. Some of the best places to visit include East Village, Attaboy, Bemelmans Bar, The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog, NoMad Bar, and The Long Island Bar among other cool places.
10. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
The sense of exhilaration and freedom you get from this must-have experience will be unbeatable. Locals as well as tourists love to take that iconic walk across this stunning bridge in NYC. In fact, this is not just a bridge but one of the most significant landmarks in this gorgeous US city. Enjoy incredible views of the skyline while you do this!
11. Enjoy the view from the Empire State Building
An important tourist attraction as well as an iconic landmark in NYC, the Empire State Building is a must-visit place! The observation deck here is located at the 86th floor and is famous for being one of the highest decks ever! So, if you aren’t afraid of heights, head up there and enjoy stunning 360-degree views of the entire city!
12. Soak in the mind-boggling street art
One of the best things to do in NYC especially if you happen to be an art lover is to enjoy the gorgeous street art in Bushwick. New York is home to some of the most stunning street art and graffiti ever and trusts us, you DO NOT want to miss this! Mind you, most of this art is credited to some of the best and world-renowned artists.
13. Stroll through Brooklyn Heights
If you love taking pictures of beautiful neighborhoods, then a visit to Brooklyn Heights is among the top things to do in NYC for you. A ridiculously awesome and incredibly photogenic place, this neighborhood will have your jaw dropping instantly with its brownstones and tree-lines pathways. Take lots of pictures here!
14. Have fun at the Queen’s Night Market
If you are a food-loving traveler, this should be among the topmost things to do in NYC for you. There are scores of awesome things from over 80 countries you can pig-out on at the incredible Queen’s Night Market. There is a stunning line-up of live music and other performances as well at this mind-blowing open-air bazaar.
15. Visit the Museum of Modern Art
Art lovers will find this to be among the most fulfilling things to do during their trip to New York City. The Museum of Modern Art is home to some of the most amazing and world-famous artwork such as Starry Night by Van Gogh and Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Picasso among others. If you absolutely love art, you should set aside at least half a day to enjoy this experience.
16. Head over to the Bronx Zoo!
Animal lovers will find this to be among the most enjoyable things to do in NYC. The Bronx Zoo is home to some truly incredible and beautiful animals you can look at during your trip. If you happen to be traveling with kids, the visit will be all the more fun as everybody knows how excited kids get when they see wild animals! So, make sure to visit this awesome place during your trip.
17. Watch a game at Yankee Stadium
New Yorkers are passionate about their sports and one of the must-have experiences when visiting the city includes catching a live game at the iconic Yankee Stadium. Not only will you have fun watching the game, but you will also be able to hog on some of the most delicious food while doing so! Think barbeque, burgers, and more!
18. Don’t miss exploring Rockefeller Center!
This iconic plaza happens to be among the most famous and must-see landmarks in the United States. Home to other awesome and famous attractions, the Rockefeller Center is simply a must-visit! You will be able to enjoy a multitude of things at this incredible multi-block complex such as taking in the sights of the stunning architecture, gorging on delicious food, or scoring a few cheap TV tickets.
19. Catch an outdoor movie at Bryant Park
Who doesn’t love movies! However, to make the experience a lot more interesting, head to the famous Bryant Park where you will be able to watch a movie outdoors. Make sure you have a company so that the experience is a lot more enjoyable. The lawns open up at 5 PM on Mondays and mind you, they fill up really fast so get there quickly. Don’t forget to grab a blanket along with your picnic basket!
20. Enjoy surfing the Hudson River
Surfing off Pier 66 at the remarkable Hudson River is among the most exciting things to do in NYC for adventure junkies. There are countless watersports companies in the area that will get you on a sailboat, a paddleboard, or a kayak in no time. Pick whichever option you are most comfortable with and enjoy exploring this gorgeous New York river.
21. Visit the Grand Central Station
For a truly unforgettable experience in New York City, visit the splendid Grand Central Station. The sight of the stunning celestial ceiling, the whispering gallery, and locals on their way to or from work will leave you with a unique taste of the city. While it is a station, it is by no means an ordinary one. Visit to know what we mean!
22. Explore Lower Manhattan’s Chinatown
There are plenty of Chinatowns across New York now but the most memorable one by far is the one in Lower Manhattan. It is the oldest, most mysterious, and most authentic them of all! Take you time to explore this amazing side of NYC as it will be a truly magnificent experience. Soak in the incredible sights, sounds, and smells as you slowly make your way through the area.
23. Grab a delicious and FREE hotdog!
While you can enjoy hogging at any of the top places to eat in New York City, Rudy’s Bar and Grill will give you an utterly delicious hotdog for free! This popular tavern has been keeping it real since the early 1930s and is among the best places to visit in New York City during your trip. Make sure to take a picture in front of the bar on your visit as you won’t be forgetting this for a long time to come.
24. Ride the iconic Roosevelt Island Tram
Many people refer to this as a gondola or a cable car. Well, call it whatever you like but be assured that you will enjoy some of the best and most beautiful sights of New York City when you take to ride this. Offering a day as well as night option, the Roosevelt Island Tram is one of the best things this city has to offer tourists.
25. Read comics at Forbidden Planet
If you love comics, this is among the must-have experiences and topmost things to do in NYC for you. The place has a truly remarkable collection of comics you can sift through on your visit. You will also come across a vast collection of movie memorabilia, Manga DVDs, action figures, sci-fi toys, and anime figures among other things. Make sure to pick up some incredible souvenirs here!
26. Visit Rockaway Beach
A subtle but awesome mix of beach-bum attitude and authentic New York lifestyle, this remarkable stretch of sand is among the best places to visit in New York City during your trip. Enjoy stunning sights, eat delicious food, and shop for some of the best stuff sold by countless shops lining the beach. It’s a good place to visit with friends or even by yourself.
27. Snag a Tourist Discount Pass
To enjoy all of the above-mentioned awesome and unforgettable things to do in NYC, you should get a tourist discount pass. This will enable you to enjoy free entry to most of the attractions in the city and is, thereby, an incredible boon especially for travelers on a tight budget. There are various types of passes so make sure to check them all out before picking the one most suitable to you and your travel companions.
