New York City
We’ve compiled the best of the best in New York City - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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21. Empire State Building
Murray HillWith an iconic silhouette recognizable virtually worldwide, the Empire State Building is an art deco monument to progress, a symbol of NYC, and a star in many romantic scenes—on- and off-screen. Built in 1931 at the peak of the skyscraper craze, this 103-story limestone giant opened after 13 months of construction. The framework rose at a rate of 4½ stories per week, making the Empire State Building the fastest-rising skyscraper ever built. Enter the visitor experience in the building's designated Observatory lobby—a two-story hall off 34th Street—and exit through the building's iconic 5th Avenue lobby. Purchase or retrieve prepurchased timed tickets at kiosks, then head to the 10,000-square-foot Second Floor Galleries to learn all about the skyscraper—from its engineering to its role in modern culture (including a fun photo op with King Kong himself). There are interactive experiences, along with marvelous art deco design details throughout. Rise from Floor 2 to reach Floor 80's enclosed observatory, then head to the 86th-floor observatory (1,050 feet high) to find another enclosed area and the spectacular wraparound outdoor deck. The views from the compact 102nd-floor observatory are better still, though it comes with an extra price tag. A new Sunrise@ESB experience ($135) provides preopening access to the 86th floor observation deck on Saturday morning to watch the sunrise with pastries and a custom Starbucks coffee. Expect long lines during peak tourist times/seasons—best avoided with weekday morning or winter visits. Plan for three-plus hours to absorb the full experience and to pass through security. Save time by purchasing tickets online in advance. The building opens the stairs from the 86th floor down to the 80th floor on busy days so visitors can bypass any potential lines.
View Tours and Activities20 W. 34th St., New York, New York, 10001, USA212-736–3100Sight Details
Rate Includes: $44 for 2nd and 86th fl.; $79 to add 102nd fl.; $84 for Express Pass to 86th fl. ($119 to include floor 102) -
22. Empire Stores
DUMBOHoused in a sparkling renovation of an enormous 19th-century warehouse, this collection of shops and restaurants features a 7,000-square-foot rooftop garden with East River and Manhattan views. Tenants include creative agencies and West Elm's global HQ, as well as Time Out Market, upscale Italian restaurant Cecconi's, and Dumbo House, offshoot of Soho House. There are rotating art exhibits throughout the building, plus programming with pop-ups and installations.
53–83 Water St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA -
23. Fort Greene Park
Fort GreeneWith 30 acres of green hills, Brooklyn's oldest park is the unofficial nucleus of the neighborhood. It served as a military fort during the Revolutionary War and again during the War of 1812. At its center, the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument commemorates American war prisoners. Although it predates them, landscape architects Olmsted and Vaux (known for designing Central Park and Prospect Park) designed the current layout of Fort Greene Park.
View Tours and ActivitiesDeKalb and Myrtle Aves., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA718-722--3218 -
24. Fort Tryon Park
InwoodCome to Fort Tryon Park to visit the Met Museum's medieval branch, the Cloisters, and stay for the glorious Hudson River views, the gorgeous landscaped gardens, the 8 miles of winding pathways, and the Revolutionary War history. Perched on one of the highest points in Manhattan (hence "the heights,") the 67-acre oasis was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and gifted to New York City in 1935 by John D. Rockefeller Jr., and today its more than 650 varieties of plants, trees, and shrubs are the gifts that keep on giving with every season. During the Revolutionary War, the area was part of the Battle of Fort Washington, a seminal Continental army defeat in the American Revolution. While the Continental Army ultimately prevailed, the site originally named for the last British governor of colonial New York, William Tryon, continued to be referred to as Fort Tryon. Look for the monument to Margaret Corbin, a woman who took up her husband's canon when he was shot and killed during battle: “On this hilltop stood Fort Tryon, the northern outwork of Fort Washington, its gallant defense against the Hessian troops by the Maryland and Virginia regiment 16-November-1776 was shared by Margaret Corbin, the first American woman to take a soldier’s part in the war for liberty.” Other highlights include the Billings Arcade, the remains of a stunning arched entrance to a grand mansion (you've likely seen this on Instagram) and the Heather Garden, where locals welcome spring with parading bagpipes and heather shearings. Don't miss the gatehouse on your way into the park with the apt sign "NYC's coolest office."
Fort Tryon Park, New York, New York, 10040, USASight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
25. Frick Madison
Upper East SideWhile the Frick Collection's opulent 5th Avenue mansion is being renovated and modernized with new technology, some of the museum's treasures are displayed in this modernist building nearby, formerly the Met Breuer (named for the building's architect, Marcel Breuer) and before that the Whitney Museum of American Art. Henry Clay Frick (1849–1919) made his fortune amid the soot and smoke of Pittsburgh, where he was a coke (a coal fuel derivative) and steel baron, but his amazing art collection of Old Masters is decidedly far removed from soot. Exceptional pieces from the Renaissance through the late 19th century include paintings by Holbein, Vermeer, and Rembrandt, as well as works by El Greco, Goya, van Dyck, Hogarth, Degas, and Turner. The museum also has 18th-century French furniture and delicate Chinese ceramics and other decorative arts. Children under 10 are not admitted. A free mobile guide for Frick Madison is available through Bloomberg Connect. When the collection returns to its mansion home at 1 East 70th Street (likely in late 2024 or early 2025), it will again include the building's restful 5th Avenue garden, dotted with sculptures.
View Tours and Activities945 Madison Ave., New York, New York, 10021, USA212-288–0700Sight Details
Rate Includes: $22; pay-what-you-wish Thurs. 4–6, Closed Mon.–Wed. -
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26. Governors Island
Financial DistrictOpen year-round to the public (7 am–6 pm daily) and accessible via ferry, Governors Island is essentially a big, charming park that resembles a small New England town; it's popular with locals for biking by the water, festivals, art shows, concerts, and family programs. Wouter van Twiller, a representative for the country of Holland, supposedly purchased the island for his private use, in 1637, from Native Americans for two ax heads, a string of beads, and a handful of nails. In 1784, the island was named for English colonial governors and was used almost exclusively by the American military until the 1960s, when the Coast Guard took it over. In 2002, the city purchased the island and soon began reimagining its 172 acres as versatile public green space. The island's evolution continues with public art installations, all-ages park features, and even the QCNY ( www.qcny.com) luxury "destination day spa" inside the retired barracks. The Governors Island ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building (free before noon on weekends), while the NYC Ferry links there from Wall Street/Pier 11, Brooklyn's Pier 6, and other docks in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
View Tours and Activities10 South St., New York, New York, USASight Details
Rate Includes: Free (Pier 6 ferry either free or $4; all NYC Ferry tickets $3) -
27. Grand Central Terminal
Midtown EastGrand Central is not only the world's largest (49 acres and 44 platforms) and the nation's busiest railway station, but also one of the world's most magnificent public spaces, the majesty of its 1913 building preserved, in part, by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's 1975 campaign to save it as a landmark. The main concourse stands roughly 12 stories high and is modeled after an ancient Roman public bath. Overhead, a twinkling fiber-optic map of the constellations covers the ceiling. Of course, Grand Central still functions primarily as a transit hub: underground, trains travel to the Hudson Valley and to Connecticut via the Metro-North commuter rail and to Long Island via the Long Island Rail Road; the subway connects here as well. To best admire Grand Central's exquisite Beaux-Arts architecture, avoid rush hour and head up one of the staircases at either end, where upscale restaurants occupy balcony spaces. From this level, you can survey the concourse and feel the terminal's dynamism. Then head to the southwest corner to reach the tucked-away The Campbell cocktail lounge. Around and below the main concourse are fantastic shops and eateries—including the Grand Central Oyster Bar. If you're with a friend, position yourselves in opposite corners of the tiled passageway just outside the Oyster Bar, facing away from each other, and murmur your secrets to the wall. Or just stand and watch others indulge in the delightful acoustic oddity that is the whispering gallery. Take Walks NYC ( www.takewalks.com/new-york-tours/grand-central-tours) leads two official daily walking tours for $35 at 11 am and 3 pm.
View Tours and Activities42nd St. and Park Ave., New York, New York, 10017, USA212-935–3960 -
28. Grand Ferry Park
Hipsters, Hasidic Jews, and others hang out at this small waterfront park named for the ferry that for a century connected Williamsburg to Manhattan. The views of Manhattan and the Williamsburg Bridge are sublime anytime. Sand covers the ground in summer, and if you sit on a bench near the waves that crash against the rocks, you can almost pretend you're at the beach. Check out the inscription on the redbrick smokestack, which figured in the development of penicillin.
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29. Green-Wood Cemetery
One of the loveliest places for a stroll in the five boroughs, the 478 acres of Green-Wood Cemetery are also home to more than 560,000 permanent residents. Notables include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Leonard Bernstein, and Horace Greeley, but the elaborate monuments and mausoleums of the nonfamous tend to be more awe-inspiring. Equally impressive are the views that stretch to Brooklyn Harbor and Manhattan. Guided walking and trolley tours, as well as special events, are offered. Keep an eye out for parrots: the bright green monk parakeets have been nesting here since the 1960s when, legend has it, they escaped from a shipment at JFK airport.
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30. Hudson River Park
TriBeCaThe quiet green spaces of New York City are treasured by locals, and one of the best is Hudson River Park, a 5-mile path from Battery Place to 59th Street. This riverside stretch, incorporating the piers that jut out into the Hudson, has been renovated into a landscaped park with walking and cycling paths, a seasonal minigolf course, dog runs, and skate parks. The TriBeCa portion consists of Piers 25 and 26, and has picnic spaces, playgrounds, a sand volleyball court, and an educational river-ecology area. The areas adjacent to the West Village (Piers 45 and 46) and near Chelsea (Piers 63 and 64) are equally attractive, with lots of spots for leisure and recreation. To the north, beginning at 72nd Street, is Riverside Park.
View Tours and Activities -
31. Jackie Robinson Museum
SoHoThe life and legacy of Jackie Robinson, the trailblazing Black baseball player who broke the color barrier when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, is the focus of this new, $42 million interactive museum on the western edge of SoHo. Besides memorabilia—Robinson’s Dodgers uniform, rookie contract, and Rookie of the Year award are among hundreds of archival major-league artifacts on display—Robinson’s Civil Rights legacy is given equal due. The intense racial discrimination the Hall of Famer endured both on and off the field is powerfully narrated through photos and videos, including one clip that vividly recounts the segregation he and his wife, Rachel, experienced en route to Florida spring training as the South was under Jim Crow laws.
75 Varick St., New York, New York, 10013, USA866-454–3772Sight Details
Rate Includes: $18, Closed Mon.–Wed. -
32. Jane's Carousel
DUMBOEqual parts architectural marvel and children's plaything, this beautifully restored 1922 carousel twirls within a glass-walled waterfront pavilion designed by Pritzker Prize--winning French architect Jean Nouvel. Situated between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, near the northern reaches of 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park and directly across from Manhattan's skyline, the carousel's 48 horses and two chariots are off to the races year-round.
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA718-222--2502Sight Details
Rate Includes: $2, Closed Tues. year-round and Mon. and Wed. mid-Sept.--mid-May, Mid-Sept.--mid-May, Thurs.--Sun. 11--6; mid-May--mid-Sept., Wed.--Mon. 11--7 -
33. Koreatown
Murray HillDespite sitting in the shade of the Empire State Building and being just steps from Herald Square, Koreatown (or "K-Town," as it's locally known) is not a tourist destination. In fact, it feels decidedly off the radar and insulated, as though locals wryly planted their own place to eat, drink, be merry, and get a massage right under the noses of millions of tourists. Technically, Koreatown runs from 31st to 36th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, though the main drag is 32nd Street between 5th and Broadway. Labeled Korea Way, this strip is home to late-night Korean barbecue joints, karaoke bars, and spas, all stacked on top of each other. Fill up on kimchi (spicy pickled cabbage), kimbap (seaweed rice), and red-bean doughnuts (delicious); try some karaoke; and then top off your Koreatown experience by stepping into a jade-igloo sauna (at Juvenex Spa, 25 W. 32nd St.) or an amethyst sauna (at Aura Spa, 49 W. 33rd St.).
From 31st to 36th St., New York, New York, 10001, USA -
34. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Upper West SideInternationally renowned, this cultural destination attracts more than 6.5 million visitors annually to its massive, white-travertine-clad complex of buildings, including the homes of the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, the Juilliard School, the Film Center, a branch of the New York Public Library specializing in the performing arts, and the Damrosch Park outdoor performance space. All of this makes Lincoln Center one of the nation's most concentrated destinations for the performing arts. The16-acre campus, containing 30 venues in all, was designed by prolific New York architect Wallace Harrison and was built over the course of several years from 1962 to 1969. When David Geffen Hall reopened in fall 2022 after a two-year $550 million renovation, the acoustically superior venue—home to the New York Philharmonic, the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States—evoked and honored the vibrant Black and Puerto Rican neighborhood that had been razed to make way for the complex with a multimedia piece by the composer Etienne Charles called “San Juan Hill.” The opening included a commitment to making programming more accessible to all audiences: performances from within the Wu Tsai Theater will be simulcast on the lobby’s Hauser Digital Wall for anyone to experience and rotating visual artworks will also be shown on the digital wall as well as on the facade on 65th Street at Broadway. You can also get a glimpse of artists working and rehearsing in the new Sidewalk Studio facing Broadway. The Metropolitan Opera House, notable for its arched entrance, features immense chandeliers and Marc Chagall paintings, both of which can be seen from outside. Even the fountain in the central plaza puts on a show, with performances that include spouts of water 40-feet high. From mid-May to mid-August, Lincoln Center's "Summer for the City" presents hundreds of mostly free events.
From 62nd St. to 66th St., New York, New York, 10023, USA212-721--6500-for ticketsSight Details
Rate Includes: Performance tickets vary by venue -
35. Little Island
Meatpacking DistrictMuch like the High Line when it opened, Little Island was an instant hit with locals and visitors when the gates to this man-made isle in the middle of the Hudson River first swung open in May 2021. The 2.4-acre park is elevated on 132 tulip-looking concrete stilts and connected to Manhattan by two footbridges. Funded mostly by Barry Diller and Diane von Fürstenberg, the island park and its rolling stair-clad hills make for a fun wander. It also provides stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. There's a small outdoor food court and an ambient amphitheater for free concerts.
Hudson River Park at W. 13th St., New York, New York, 10014, USASight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
36. Louis Valentino, Jr. Park and Pier
Red HookThis small pier and park, named for a fallen firefighter, has awe-inspiring views of the Statue of Liberty and across the Hudson. You won't need prompting to take pictures. There are a few benches for relaxing.
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37. Mermaid Parade
Coney IslandPlan a trip to Coney Island in mid to late June for the neighborhood's biggest event of the year, and you'll without a doubt have something to talk about for months to come. The costumes (or lack thereof) and floats are memorable, with some pretty outlandish presentations. It can get hot and crowded and hedonistic—more akin to Mardi Gras, with some nudity, than the Thanksgiving Parade, so you may wish to leave the kids at home.
Brooklyn, New York, USASight Details
Rate Includes: June -
38. MoMA PS1
Long Island CityA pioneer in the "alternative-space" movement, MoMA PS1 rose from the ruins of an abandoned school in 1976 as a sort of community arts center for the future, focusing on the work of currently active experimental and innovative artists. Long-term installations include work by Sol LeWitt, James Turrell, and Pipilotti Rist. Every available corner of the enormous building is used; discover art not only in former classrooms–turned–galleries, but also in the boiler room, and even in some bathrooms.
22--25 Jackson Ave., Queens, New York, 11101, USA718-784–2084Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10 suggested donation (free with MoMA entrance ticket, within 14 days of visit), Closed Tues. and Wed. -
39. Museum at FIT
ChelseaWhat this small three-gallery museum in the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) lacks in size and effects it more than makes up for in substance and style. You might not find interactive mannequins, elaborate displays, or overcrowded galleries at the self-declared "most fashionable museum in New York City," but you will find carefully curated, fun, and interesting exhibits. The Fashion and Textile History Gallery, on the main floor, provides context with a rotating selection of historically and artistically significant objects from the museum’s permanent collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories (exhibits change every six months). The real draws, though, are the special exhibitions in the lower-level gallery. Gallery FIT, also on the main floor, is dedicated to student and faculty exhibitions.
227 W. 27th St., New York, New York, 10001, USA212-217–4558Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Mon. and Tues. -
40. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Midtown WestHousing one of the world's finest collections of modern art, MoMA is renowned for its permanent collection, which includes masterpieces by Picasso, van Gogh, Monet, Kahlo, Warhol, and Dalí, as well as its first-rate multimedia exhibitions. MoMA completed a $450 million renovation and expansion in 2019, and the building now features walkways between old and new galleries, each organized to showcase familiar masters alongside great, but lesser-known, artists—many of them women and people of color. Contemporary works and those of varied media also are strategically exhibited beside familiar classics. The displays breathe new life into the institution's curatorial experience. MoMA spans six levels, and it's helpful to explore from top to bottom. See the most famous works on Floors 4 and 5; installations on 6; and galleries of photography, drawings, architecture projects, and special exhibitions on the lower floors. Level 1 remains home to the delightful Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. Within the museum, dine at high-end The Modern; snack at cafés on Floor 2; and enjoy outdoor views from the Terrace café on Floor 6. The cellar-level cinema screens international films and theme series (museum entry is included with your film ticket). Browse at the famous MoMA Store and MoMA Design Store (across 53rd Street). Entry is free for NYC residents the first Friday of each month, 4–8 pm. The first-floor galleries are free and open to the public. The museum is open until 7 pm on Saturday.
View Tours and Activities11 W. 53rd St., New York, New York, 10019, USA212-708–9400Sight Details
Rate Includes: $25
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