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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1. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Upper East SideThe Cooper Hewitt has taken an ornate, century-old mansion—once the residence of industrialist Andrew Carnegie—and outfitted it with the latest technologies and amenities to create a slick, highly interactive, 21st-century experience, so you don’t just look at design; you engage with it. Download the free app to guide you through some of the wide-ranging collection's more than 200,000 objects, including antique cutlery, vintage wallpaper, art and design books, Japanese sword fittings, and examples of robotics and animation. Rotating exhibits may focus on a particular designer or design era. The focus on design and discovery extends to the SHOP, where limited-edition objects are for sale. There is a café, and an outdoor garden is free and open to the public. The museum offers guided tours aligned to exhibition topics at 1:30. Purchase timed tickets online.
2 E. 91st St., New York, New York, 10128, USA212-849–8400Sight Details
Rate Includes: $18; pay-what-you-wish 5–6 pm -
2. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Upper East SideFrank Lloyd Wright's landmark curving, nautilus-like building is renowned as much for its famous architecture as for its superlative collection of modern art and well-curated shows, some of which utilize the entire museum. Opened in 1959, shortly after Wright's death, the Guggenheim is acclaimed as one of the greatest buildings of the 20th century. Inside, under a 96-foot-high glass dome, a ramp spirals down, past the artworks of the current exhibits (the ramp is just over a quarter-mile long). The museum has strong holdings of works by Wassily Kandinsky (150 works), Paul Klee, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Robert Mapplethorpe. In 2023, the museum added its first associate curator of art and technology to promote artists working with technology. Wright's design was criticized by some who believed that the distinctive building detracted from the art, but the design allows artworks to be viewed from different angles and distances. On permanent display, the museum's Thannhauser Collection is made up primarily of works by French impressionists and postimpressionists van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cézanne, Renoir, and Manet. Escape the crowded lobby by taking the elevator to the top and working your way down the spiral. The Cafe Rebay offers snacks and sandwiches.
View Tours and Activities1071 5th Ave., New York, New York, 10128, USA212-423–3500Sight Details
Rate Includes: $25; pay-what-you-wish Sat. 6–8 -
3. The Jewish Museum
Upper East SideHoused in a French-Gothic, chateau-style mansion dating from 1908 that was once the home of German-Jewish immigrant and businessman Felix Warburg, the Jewish Museum draws on an impressive collection of art and ceremonial objects to explore Jewish identity and culture spanning more than 4,000 years. The wide-ranging artifacts include the world's largest collection of menorahs (ritual candelabras used during Hanukkah), a 3rd-century Roman burial plaque, 20th-century sculpture by George Segal, and works by such artists as Camille Pissaro, Deborah Kass, Lee Krasner, and Kehinde Wiley. Scenes from the Collection, occupying the entire third floor, contains roughly 600 pieces from ancient to contemporary. The space is divided into seven thematic sections complemented by interactive media; displays rotate at least annually. The museum's changing exhibitions are well curated and lively.
View Tours and Activities1109 5th Ave., New York, New York, 10128, USA212-423–3200Sight Details
Rate Includes: $18 (free Sat. and select Jewish holidays), Closed Tues. and Wed. -
4. Acquavella Galleries
Upper East SideThe 19th- and 20th-century, museum-quality art inside this five-story, marble-floored French neoclassical mansion tends to be big-name stuff, from impressionist through pop art movement artists, including Picasso, Modigliani, Lucian Freud, James Rosenquist, and Andy Warhol. Check the website of this third-generation family-owned gallery for individual exhibit hours, which can vary.
18 E. 79th St., New York, New York, 10075, USA212-734–6300Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed weekends (open Sat. during select exhibitions or by appointment) -
5. Asia Society and Museum
Upper East SideThe Asian art collection of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller III forms the core of this museum's holdings, which span territory from Pakistan to Java; date from as far back as the 11th century BC; and include Hindu stone sculpture, Buddhist paintings, Vietnamese ceramics, ancient Chinese bronzes, and Japanese woodblock prints. A growing contemporary collection features video, animation, ink art, photography, and new media art by artists from Asia and the Americas. Founded in 1956, the society has a regular program of lectures, films, and performances, in addition to changing exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art. Trees grow in the glass-enclosed, skylighted Garden Court Café, which serves an eclectic Asian lunch menu and weekend brunch. Timed tickets are available online. A free audio tour is included with admission, or you can take a free guided tour at 2 pm daily.
725 Park Ave., New York, New York, 10021, USA212-288–6400Sight Details
Rate Includes: $12; free Fri., Closed Mon. -
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6. Blum & Poe New York
Upper East SideThis contemporary art gallery might be a relative newbie on the Upper East Side art scene (it opened in 2014), but as one of L.A.'s top art galleries, it was quick to settle into its renovated town house on East 66th Street and establish itself in the New York art world. Past exhibits have featured artists such as Hugh Scott-Douglas, Kishio Suga, Yun Hyong-keun, and Zhu Jinshi.
19 E. 66th St., New York, New York, 10065, USA212-249–2249Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., Tues.–Sat. 10–6 -
7. Carl Schurz Park
Upper East SideFacing the East River, this park, named for a German immigrant who was a prominent newspaper editor in the 19th century, is so tranquil you'd never guess you're directly above the FDR Drive. Walk along the promenade, and take in views of the river and Roosevelt Island across the way. To the north are Randall's and Wards Islands and the RFK Bridge (aka the Triborough Bridge)—as well as the more immediate sight of locals pushing strollers, riding bikes, or walking their dogs. Within the park is a Federal-style wood-frame house that belies the grandeur of its name: Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the city's mayor.
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8. Castelli Gallery
Upper East SideOne of the most influential dealers of the 20th century, Leo Castelli helped foster the careers of many important artists, including one of his first discoveries, Jasper Johns. Castelli died in 1999, but the gallery continues to show works by Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, Frank Stella, Robert Morris, and other heavy hitters. There's a satellite gallery in the Times Square area.
18 E. 77th St., New York, New York, 10075, USA212-249–4470Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Sun. and Mon. -
9. El Museo del Barrio
Upper East SideEl barrio, Spanish for "the neighborhood," is the nickname for East Harlem, a largely Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican and Dominican community; the museum, on the edge of this neighborhood, focuses on Latin American and Caribbean art. Some 10% of its collection is concentrated on works by self-taught artists from New York, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The permanent collection of more than 6,500 objects includes over 400 pre-Columbian artifacts, ceremonial masks from Mexico and Guatemala, sculpture, photography, film and video, and traditional art from all over Latin America. One highlight is the 360 santos, carved wooden folk-art figures from Puerto Rico. The museum's El Teatro, formerly the Heckscher Theater, dates to 1921 and has stunning murals; it's used for cultural programs. El Museo hosts performances, lectures, films, and cultural events, including a monthlong Día de los Muertos celebration.
View Tours and Activities1230 5th Ave., New York, New York, 10029, USA212-831–7272Sight Details
Rate Includes: $9 suggested donation, Closed Mon.–Wed. -
10. Gagosian Madison Avenue
Upper East SideIf you are looking for ambitious works by the world's most acclaimed artists in a gallery that easily competes with the city's top museums, you have to visit Gagosian. Perhaps the most powerful art dealer in the world, Larry Gagosian has galleries in London, Paris, Rome, Athens, and Hong Kong, among other cities, as well as multiple galleries in New York. The 980 Madison Avenue location, the contemporary art empire's headquarters, is a multifloor gallery that has shown works by big names like Pollock, Miró, Calder, Twombly, and Hirst.
980 Madison Ave., New York, New York, 10075, USA212-744–2313Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Sun. and Mon. -
11. Gracie Mansion
Upper East SideBuilt by shipping merchant Archibald Gracie in 1799 as a country retreat when New York ended much farther downtown, Gracie Mansion was made the official residence of the city's mayors in 1942. The first mayoral resident, Fiorello LaGuardia, dubbed it the "little White House." More recently, Mayor Michael Bloomberg stayed in his own town house nearby while pouring millions into renovating the house and turning the second floor into a house museum that reflects the city's history and diversity. Some mayors have chosen not to live in Gracie Mansion; Eric Adams, the current mayor, has said that Gracie Mansion is haunted, and splits his time between here and his Brooklyn town house. The museum's collection includes a bill of sale for an enslaved person, a portrait of Frederick Douglass, and Native American artifacts. Temporary exhibitions have also reflected New York's diversity. Tours of exhibits and the building are offered to the public on Monday at 10:30, noon, and 1:30, and to private groups on Wednesday. Reservations must be made online; plan at least a month in advance, if possible.
East End Ave., New York, New York, 10028, USA212-676–3060Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Tues.–Sun. -
12. Jane Kahan Gallery
Upper East SideThis welcoming gallery represents some lofty artists. In addition to tapestries by modern masters like Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and Alexander Calder—one of this gallery's specialties—works by late-19th- and early-20th-century modern artists like Fernand Léger and Marc Chagall are showcased. There's also an exhibition space (open by appointment only) in the neighborhood at 330 East 59th Street.
922 Madison Ave., New York, New York, 10021, USA212-744–1490Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Sun.; Mon. is by appointment -
13. Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators
Upper East SideFounded in 1901, the museum of the Society of Illustrators presents its annual "Oscars," a juried international competition, from January to March; the best in children's book illustration is showcased October through December. In between are eclectic exhibitions on comics, science fiction, fashion, animation and 3-D, and historic illustrations from the permanent collection, which also includes the holdings of the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA). In addition, there are lectures, arts education programs for K–12, and an indie comics festival (in April; MoCCA Fest).
128 E. 63rd St., New York, New York, 10065, USA212-838–2560Sight Details
Rate Includes: $15, Closed Sun.–Tues. -
14. Museum of the City of New York
Upper East SideThe city's present, past, and future are explored through quirky, engaging exhibits on subjects such as architecture, fashion, history, and politics in a Colonial Revival building designed for the museum in the 1930s along 5th Avenue's Museum Mile. The award-winning, ongoing exhibitions New York at Its Core and Celebrating the City explore the sweep and diverse facets of the city's 400-year history through artifacts, photographs, archival film, and interactive digital experiences. Don't miss Timescapes, a 28-minute media projection that innovatively illustrates New York's physical expansion and population changes (free headsets available with translations in French, Spanish, and Mandarin), or Activist New York, an ongoing exploration of the city's history of social activism. You can also find New York–centric lectures, films, and walking tours here. The on-site Chalsty's Café serves sweet treats, savory snacks, breakfast, and lunch, and the Museum Shop is a great place to pick up a Big Apple souvenir. After your visit, cross the street and stroll through the Vanderbilt Gates to enter the Conservatory Garden, one of Central Park's gems.
View Tours and Activities1220 5th Ave., New York, New York, 10029, USA212-534–1672Sight Details
Rate Includes: $20 suggested donation, Closed Tues. and Wed. -
15. Neue Galerie New York
Upper East SideEarly-20th-century German and Austrian art and design are the focus here, with works by artists Gustav Klimt, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Paul Klee, and Egon Schiele, as well as Josef Hoffmann, Kolomon Moser, and other designers from the Wiener Werkstätte. The Neue Galerie was founded by the late art dealer Serge Sabarsky and cosmetics heir and art collector Ronald S. Lauder. It's in a 1914, wood- and marble-floored mansion that was designed by Carrère and Hastings and was once home to Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt III. One famous work here is Klimt's portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, known as Adele Bloch-Bauer I or Woman in Gold, stolen from the family by the Nazis and returned to a descendant after a legal battle, then purchased for the museum. (There are books and a film, Woman in Gold, about the painting's story.) Children under 12 are not admitted, and teens 12–16 must be accompanied by an adult. A digital audio tour, available for free on the Bloomberg Connects App, offers guided insights on the collection (download to your phone in advance of your visit). Café Sabarsky, in an elegant space on the first floor, is a destination for Viennese coffee, cakes, and Sacher tortes. If Café Sabarsky is full, see if the basement-level Café Fledermaus, which has much the same menu, is open.
View Tours and Activities1048 5th Ave., New York, New York, 10028, USA212-628–6200Sight Details
Rate Includes: $25; free 5–8 pm on 1st Fri. of month, Closed Tues. and Wed. -
16. Roosevelt Island
Upper East SideThe 2-mile-long East River slice of land that parallels Manhattan from 48th to 85th Streets is now a quasi-suburb of more than 20,000 people, and the vestiges of its infamous asylums, hospitals and prisons make it an offbeat historical destination. At its southern tip are the ruins of a Smallpox Hospital, built in 1854. Neighboring the hospital ruins is Four Freedoms Park, a memorial to Franklin Delano Roosevelt designed by architect Louis I. Kahn. In addition to viewing a giant bust of FDR and a wall inscribed with the wartime “Four Freedoms” speech, you can stroll the park's walkways and enjoy views of the United Nations and East River. Group guided walking tours ($15 per person) of the park are available; email or call to reserve. At the island's north tip is a small park with a lighthouse built in 1872 by island convicts. Other developments include the 224-room Graduate Roosevelt Island Hotel. The island's mile of pink- and white-flowering cherry trees along the East River Promenade is a popular springtime destination. You can get to the island by subway—but it's more fun to take the five-minute ride on the Roosevelt Island Tramway ($2.75, the price of a single subway or bus fare), which lifts you 250 feet for impressive views of Queens and Manhattan. A visitor center stands to your left as you exit the tram. Free red buses service the island.
2nd Ave., New York, New York, 10022, USA212-688–4836-for visitor centerSight Details
Rate Includes: Four Freedoms Park and Visitors Center Kiosk closed Tues., Tram leaves approximately every 15 mins -
17. Van Doren Waxter
Upper East SideThe gallery features contemporary artists with a focus on the historical connection of their art to works by established artists. It occupies space in a historic town house on a tree-lined street.
23 E. 73rd St., New York, New York, 10021, USA212-445–0444Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Sun. and Mon.
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