You could live in New York for a lifetime and never run out of things to do.
NYC hides interesting and exciting activities for everyone around all the nooks and corners.
Be its soaring skyscrapers, monuments or flourishing art, culture, food, fashion and nightlife, Gotham has many things to do.
From relishing the city skyline from hundred feet up in the air to romantic dinner cruises, here are the best things to do in New York City.
9/11 Memorial Museum
Built as the memory and symbol of resilience after the infamous 9/11 attack, the 9/11 Museum stands in the same spot as the World Trade Center.
The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools occupy the foundation of the former building and cover over an acre.
Around these pools, the victims’ names are inscribed on bronze barriers to remember them and honor their lives.
The memorial is home to the largest man-made waterfalls in North America, which flow within the pools.
The 9/11 Memorial spans over 110,000 square feet, displaying a multimedia compilation narrating the history of the attacks on the One World Trade Center.
One of the most interesting things to do in New York City is to take a guided tour of the 9/11 Museum and Memorial.
Before you visit, buy tickets for Timed Entry, a tour of the Memorial and Ground Zero or visit One World Observatory with the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
Go City Explorer Pass offers discounted entry to the museum and other attractions.
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History displays the billion-year evolution of your planet.
It is one of the world’s most prominent scientific institutions that serve as the meeting point for science and culture.
It has consistently explored the worlds of nature, biology and innovation.
AMNH occupies four vast floors with 45 permanent exhibits, including the famous bear, whale, mammoth and dinosaur fossils.
The Museum houses over 34 million specimens of animals, fossils, plants, rocks, human remains, artifacts, frozen tissues and more.
However, only a small fraction of the collection is displayed at a specific time.
The Museum also houses one of the world’s largest libraries and is one of the most easily accessible storehouses filled with knowledge for anyone seeking it.
You can get the best experience at this museum by taking up their guided tours for kids and families or private family tours.
Empire State Building
One of the most famous skyscrapers in history, the Empire State Building, is an architectural marvel and a tribute to the 20th Century.
The Empire State Building houses some of the most magnificent exhibits that let you into the ESB and New York City history.
It also has two jaw-dropping observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors, the main deck and the top deck.
The ESB sees more than four million tourists yearly, who go up a high-speed elevator to witness eye-popping 360-degree views of New York City.
Experience NYC’s landmarks, surrounding waterways, and the famous skyline, all from atop 86 floors off the ground.
Visitors enjoy Express Entry, Guided Tours of the ESB, Observation Deck Access and Sunrise Experience with online tickets.
You can also visit the Empire State Building with the Go City Explorer Pass and the New York City Pass.
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is the world’s foremost modern, innovative, contemporary art collection.
MoMA is replete with paintings by Van Gogh, Warhol and Picasso, leaving any art enthusiast awestruck and any newcomer intrigued.
It can be found in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
A trip to one of the best art museums holding the finest modern art pieces in the world, is one you can’t miss.
MoMA is one of the city’s most visited museums, so they offer Timed Tickets to visitors. It is advisable to book your tickets online before your visit.
Statue of Liberty
If you are looking for things to do in New York City, you can not miss a visit to the iconic Statue of Liberty.
The Statue of Liberty or Lady Liberty, is the American symbol of freedom, inspiration and hope.
Every year, millions of tourists board ferries to reach Liberty Island to experience the fantastic views of Lady Liberty and marvel at the Lower Manhattan skyline as they set sail.
The Pedestal and crown section of the Statue of Liberty offers a breathtaking view of New York Harbor.
A roundtrip ferry to Liberty Island that departs from New York and New Jersey also includes a visit to Ellis Island.
You can access the ground and pedestal with online tickets. Guided tours are also available.
Special cruises like day, sunset and dinner cruises offer a wholesome experience as you cruise along Manhattan.
Summit One Vanderbilt
Summit One Vanderbilt is the latest observatory deck in New York.
It offers the highest viewpoints in NYC with the ascent elevator experience.
If you want to get the best views of Central Park, the Empire State Building and Manhattan, this is the place to be.
Apart from the observation deck, it offers immersive art experiences and fine dining at the rooftop.
Summit One Vanderbilt is the visitor’s favorite observation deck and the best thing to do in New York City.
Bronx Zoo
Do you wish to find things to do in New York City but step out of the buzzing life for a while? Then Bronx Zoo is your perfect destination.
The Bronx Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the United States, comprising 265 acres of parklands and natural habitat.
The zoo has a world-renowned collection of animals and award-winning exhibitions.
Integrating four zoos and one aquarium, the Bronx Zoo houses over 10,000 animals.
Various exciting animals like gibbons, gharial the Bronx Zoos, tapirs, rhinos, tigers and red pandas roam in the open habitat of the zoo.
Make sure to book your entry ticket online and visit several famous landmarks in the zoo, like Rainey Memorial Gates, Rockefeller Fountain and the historic Zoo Center.
Guggenheim Museum
Guggenheim Museum, located in New York City, features an international modern and contemporary art collection.
The permanent collection holds more than 7,000 artworks, including gifts, purchases, and specially commissioned pieces.
The design of the Guggenheim Museum reflects its relationship with art.
It has a distinctive architecture, evident in the spiral ramp that leads to a domed skylight, amplifying the monument’s modernity.
You can find all the contemporary art exhibitions and pieces in one place, which is one attraction that will never fail to amaze and surprise you.
Make sure to buy your entry tickets for a hassle-free visit.
One World Observatory
The tallest building in the western hemisphere, the One World Observatory is an emotional and artistic symbol of Manhattan.
The One World Observatory deck is 1268 feet in the air on the 100-102 One World Trade Center floors.
The One World Trade Center also houses a Global Welcome Center, Oculus, Forever Theatre, and more features that provide an immersive experience.
One World Observatory offers a 14-foot wide glass with real-time montage and high-tech multimedia support to bring life to the street beneath your feet.
You can also enjoy combination guided tours like Ground Zero All-access+One World Observatory and Ground Zero All-access+One World Observatory+ 9/11 Museum.
Top of the Rock
Visiting the best observatory decks is one of the best things to do in New York City and Top of the Rock tops the list.
Nested on top of the Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock is a 3-floor observatory that offers a 360° view of NYC.
You can enjoy the marvels of the NYC skyline from the climate-controlled spaces.
The Grand Atrium lobby at the top of the Rock portrays classic Art Deco style and shines with Swarovski masterpieces.
Rockefeller Center also houses the Mezzanine Exhibit, interactive BReezeway room and sky shuttle.
As Top of the Rock is one of the most visited observatory decks in NYC, make sure to get your tickets online.
The MET
The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, also known as The MET, is the largest art museum in the Western Hemisphere.
Found in 1870 to bring art and education to the American people, the museum showcases 5000 years of art.
The museum’s permanent collection consists of works of art from across the globe, from classical antiquity and ancient Egypt to paintings and sculptures.
The museum also houses encyclopedic collections of musical instruments, costumes, accessories, and antique weapons and armor.
Notable interiors that have survived from 1st-century Rome through modern American design are installed in the galleries.
A visit to The Metropolitan Art Museum is a treat for anyone who loves and appreciates art.
With online tickets, you can enjoy entry, self-guided tours or guided tours of the MET.
Broadway
New York is known for its famous theaters that attract millions of visitors annually.
Broadway is the heart of the American theater industry and hosts the top musical of the season and other extraordinary plays.
This avenue runs through Manhattan from City Hall to the Bronx.
It is one of the prime attractions in Times Square.
You can find different types of shows like On-Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway shows.
The most popular shows include The Lion King, Aladdin, Chicago and The Phantom of the Opera.
Niagara Falls
Niagara comprises three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, stretching between New York City and Ontario in Canada.
The largest among the three is Horseshow Falls which acts as the international border between the United States and Canada.
Niagara captivates the beholder with its magnificent height and volume.
The beauty of the falls elevates during the night as the falls are lit from great vantage points.
Niagara also offers an observation deck, the Skylon Tower, that provides a panoramic view of the falls.
If viewing the falls from an observation deck was not enough, a year around attraction called Journey Behind the Falls will take you closer and right next to the falls.
Take your time to visit Niagara Park’s botanical garden, which houses over 2,000 vibrant butterflies.
You can enjoy various activities in Niagara from the American side, like a tour with the Maid of the Mist Boat Ride, a highlights tour and an open jet boat tour.
Edge Observation Deck (Hudson Yards)
Experience New York like never before from the Edge, the highest sky deck in the Western Hemisphere at 30 Hudson Yards.
The unique design of the sky deck gives you an impression of floating in the air while you enjoy a 360 panoramic view that you won’t get elsewhere.
The Edge offers a thrilling experience like CityClimb, the world’s highest open-air building ascension, for the perfect adrenaline rush.
Hudson houses a social space that brings emerging artists from various fields of music, theater, literature and sculpture to dance called the Shed.
If you plan to visit the Edge, online tickets provide entry, a walking tour and guided tour tickets of High Line and the Edge.
Whitney Museum of American Art
If you are wondering about things to do in New York City, you can not miss the exclusive art collection of the city.
The Whitney Museum of American Art focuses on contemporary art in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan.
The Museum has 50,000 square feet of indoor galleries, four outdoor exhibition spaces, terraces, a theater, a library and reading rooms.
You can find indoor galleries on levels five to eight; the fifth level is the largest open-plan museum in New York City.
This gallery showcases temporary exhibits and large contemporary artworks.
Levels six and seven display the permanent collection of the museum.
The top floor of the Whitney Museum of American Art has a studio gallery and a cafe, all naturally lit by the skylit.
New York Aquarium
The New York Aquarium is one of the oldest aquariums in the country.
Spread over 14 acres, and the aquarium houses 266 species of aquatic wildlife.
The Newest exhibit of the aquarium is Ocean Wonders: Sharks which captures all the visitors’ attention with an interactive and immersive exhibit that puts you close to 18 shark species.
New York Aquarium brings a year-round experience to witness the fantastic ocean life off the shore.
This is one of the best places to visit with family and kids.
Museum of Ice Cream
The Ice Cream Museum is a world-renowned attraction in New York, where thousands of tourists and locals flock daily.
It is a one-of-its-kind museum where you learn about ice cream while feasting on them.
The Museum of Ice Cream appeals to kids and adults and is dedicated to ice creams.
Spread over three floors; the museum lets visitors explore 13 immersive and innovative multi-sensory installations.
The museum has a 3-story indoor Ice Cream Portal, Celestial Subway, Rainbow Tunnel and the most popular Sprinkle Pool.
New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden, over 250 acres, houses 12,000 species of plants worldwide.
You can find many specimens on display throughout the year in the conservatory.
The garden also houses outdoor exhibits with 40-acre woodland, a rock garden, a garden of native plants and unique collections of conifers, lilac and magnolias.
Make sure you visit the herbarium and one of the largest botanical libraries in the country located in the New York Botanical Garden.
In addition to their biodiversity, the gardens host many kid- and family-friendly events to amuse and inform visitors.
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