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Top Things To Do In Manhattan

New York City’s most iconic borough has a big reputation. Though Queens is larger and Brooklyn is more densely populated, Manhattan serves as the geographical, commercial,  and cultural heart of New York City. There’s a lot of ground to cover — From the Statue of Liberty to the High Line, these are some of the best things to do in Manhattan.

Critics and locals agree that Manhattan never runs out of highly rated things to do. The best things to do in Manhattan include restaurants, bars, parks, and more.

The best things to do in Manhattan include:

  • Recline on the High Line’s wooden lounge chairs for a calming, litter-free experience
  • Watch a late-night movie at Nitehawk Cinema
  • The 102-story Empire State Building is the most iconic skyscraper in the New York skyline
  • Try and find a ticket to Madison Square Garden, an indoor arena that features hockey games and superstar concerts
  • Take a coffee break in Bryant Park

Tickets & Events

Standard New York City prices ensure that creating a budget before a trip to Manhattan is required. Prices can add up, even if you spend carefully — do your homework and find a few cheap or even free things to do in Manhattan.

Cheap or free things to do in Manhattan include:

  • Taste some authentic New York bagels on Ben’s Bagel Tours
  • Central Park is an urban park with its own ecosystem of events, activities, tours, and even concerts
  • The High Line features lounge areas, food stands, and lush greenery
  • Strawberry Fields, a quiet patch of Central Park
  • Times Square is updated with new billboards every day
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Museum of the City of New York Visit for Two or Four, or Annual Individual or Family Membership (Up to 41% Off)

Museum of the City of New York

Museum of the City of New York Upper East Side $28 $18
Museum of the City of New York - Any Date Through March 31, 2019

Museum of the City of New York

Museum of the City of New York Upper East Side $18 $12.50
Big Apple Circus (Through January 27)

Big Apple Circus

Big Apple Circus Lincoln Center $33 $15
$12 for General Skating Session and Skate Rental For One at Chelsea Piers ($19 Value)

General Skating & Skate Rental

Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers Midtown Manhattan $19 $12
Monster Jam Triple Threat Series January 25 or 26 at 7 p.m.

Triple Threat Series

Monster Jam Conference Center Prudential Plaza $33.85 $19
National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey

National Geographic Encounter

National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey National Geographic Encounter $35.38 $24

The best Manhattan attractions are as iconic as they are beloved. No matter where you begin checking off the items of your New York City itinerary, these cultural landmarks serve as beacons for first-time visitors.

Popular attractions near Manhattan include:

  • Bethesda Terrace and Fountain overlooks Central Park, on the center terrace
  • Union Square is a must-see pedestrian plaza and park
  • The One World Observatory sits atop the One World Trade Center
  • Watch a game at Yankee Stadium
  • Bryant Park offers family-friendly movies in the park
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Museum of the City of New York Visit for Two or Four, or Annual Individual or Family Membership (Up to 41% Off)

Museum of the City of New York

Museum of the City of New York Upper East Side $28 $18
Five or Ten Hip Hop Dance Classes for One or Two at Hip Hop Dance Junkies (Up to 74% Off)

Hip-Hop Dance Classes

Hip Hop Dance Junkies Midtown Manhattan $85 $27
One Month of Acting Classes with 4 or 12 Classes at Bruce Ornstein Acting Workshop (Up to 63% Off)

Acting Classes

Bruce Ornstein Acting Workshop Downtown Manhattan $260 $96
Six-Week Acting Class with Reading or Two-Hour Intro Class at Sedgwick - Russell Acting Classes (Up to 82% Off)

Acting Classes

Sedgwick - Russell Acting Classes Midtown Manhattan $480 $225
Museum of the City of New York - Any Date Through March 31, 2019

Museum of the City of New York

Museum of the City of New York Upper East Side $18 $12.50
Beginner or Intermediate Tango Classes at Dardo Galletto Studios (Up to 81% Off)

Tango Classes

Dardo Galletto Studios Midtown Manhattan $210 $39

There’s always something fun happening in Manhattan, ensuring there’s an abundance of things to do for city dwellers. New York City seems to have the monopoly on psychics, vintage comic book salesmen, and performance art at just about every corner, but its signature street fairs take the fun-finds to a whole new level.

Fun things to do in Manhattan today include:

  • Exploring the shops at Chelsea Market
  • Seeing the contemporary art at The Whitney Museum of American Art
  • Visiting Flatiron Building, a groundbreaking Manhattan skyscraper
  • Eating spicy pork meatballs at The Meatball Shop
  • Slurping trendy ramen creations at Momofuku Noodle Bar

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$49 for Single-Day General Admission for One to Jersey City Whiskey Fest on February 1, 2019 ($70 Value)

Whiskey Fest Admission

Jersey City Whiskey Fest Harborside Plaza Atrium $70 $49
Admission to Brooklyn Wine Fest for One on Saturday, February 9 (Up to 44% Off)

Admission to Wine Festival

Brooklyn Wine Fest Brooklyn Expo Center $70 $39
Royal or Traditional Tea Service at Two E Bar/Lounge at Five-Star Rated The Pierre, A Taj Hotel (Up to 33% Off)

Tea Services

Two E Bar/Lounge at The Pierre, A Taj Hotel Two E Bar/Lounge at The Pierre, A Taj Hotel $138 $93
Brewery Package for Two or Four with Beer Flights and Appetizers at Yonkers Brewing Co. (Up to 52% Off)

Brewery Package

Yonkers Brewing Co. Downtown Yonkers $64 $31
$49 for a Wine Tasting for Two with Appetizer, Dinner, and Bottle of Wine at 1742 Wine Bar (Up to $170.90 Value)

Wine-Tasting Dinner

1742 Wine Bar Upper East Side $170.90 $49
$24 for a Dinner with Two Entrees and One Bottle of Wine at 1742 Wine Bar ($80.90 Value)

Dinner with Bottle of Wine

1742 Wine Bar Upper East Side $80.90 $24

Manhattan’s hustle and bustle continues even after the sun goes down. Try one of the best happy hours in New York City, or dance ’til your heart’s content at a club.  

Things to do in Manhattan at night include:

  • Start any night out with chandelier-lit shots at The Belfry
  • Buy a ticket to a concert at Webster Hall
  • Go on a New York at Night Bike Tour
  • Sing at Marie’s Crisis cafe, with show tunes and live piano accompaniment
  • Watch an opera at Lincoln Center to support phenomenal performances

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Ladies Night R&B Super Jam feat. Brian McKnight, Faith Evans, Jagged Edge, Lil' Kim, and Mario on February 15
BEST OF 2017
Ladies Night R&B Super Jam — Up to 37% Off Concert
Barclays Center
$94.25 $59
1,000+ bought
37% discount_off
Duel of the Decades: 80's VS. 90's on Saturday, February 16, at 8 p.m.
BEST OF 2017
Duel of the Decades: 80's VS. 90's – Up to 51% Off Concert
Wellmont Theater
$40.55 $20
510+ bought
51% discount_off
One-Hour Open Bar at “Pretty Girls Love Brunch & Trap Music” Day Party (January 20–March 17)
BEST OF 2017
"Pretty Girls Love Brunch & Trap Music" – Up to 73% Off Party
TAJ Restaurant & Lounge • 3.2 mi
$54.98 $15
100+ bought
73% discount_off
Silent Disco Beer Garden Party on Friday, January 25, at 10 p.m.
TRENDING
Brooklyn Beer Garden Silent Disco – Up to 63% Off
The Well • 5.4 mi
$12.15 $5
40+ bought
59% discount_off
Toni Braxton, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, and SWV – As Long As I Live Tour on Friday, February 8, at 8 p.m.
BEST OF 2017
Toni Braxton: As Long As I Live Tour – Up to 38% Off
Prudential Center
$135.70 $84
490+ bought
38% discount_off
Hector Acosta "El Torito" - Saturday, Feb 16, 2019 / 8:00pm
TRENDING
Hector Acosta "El Torito" - Saturday, Feb 16, 2019 / 8:00pm
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts • 7.3 mi
$45 $28
30+ bought
38% discount_off

Manhattan continues to move even as the typical work week ends. Make a reservation for happy hour, dinner, brunch, and more.

Things to do in Manhattan this weekend include:

  • Start Sunday off with a doughnut from Peter Pan Bakery
  • Go shopping at the Union Square farmers market
  • Have a champagne Sunday brunch at the Algonquin Hotel’s The Round Table room
  • Find a new dive bar in Meatpacking District
  • See the water alongside Financial District

Manhattan continues to move even as the typical work week ends. Make a reservation for happy hour, dinner, brunch, and more.

Things to do in Manhattan this weekend include:

  • Start Sunday off with a doughnut from Peter Pan Bakery
  • Go shopping at the Union Square farmers market
  • Have a champagne Sunday brunch at the Algonquin Hotel’s The Round Table room
  • Find a new dive bar in Meatpacking District
  • See the water alongside Financial District

Families making their first trip to Manhattan need to make a few stops to ensure the kids remember it forever. Coney Island is a must for children of all ages. At the end of the day there are plenty of things to do with kids in Manhattan, make it memorable.

Family-friendly things to do near Manhattan include:

  • Take the kids on a swim in the McCarren Park pool
  • Hit some baseballs at Chelsea Piers Batting Cage
  • Spread out and graze with your herd at Sheep Meadow
  • Teach the kids tennis at Riverside Park Clay Tennis Courts
  • Trek out to Coney Island for a ride on the Wonder Wheel

The city that never sleeps similarly never runs out of first date spots. Grab a quick drink or, if it’s going well, upgrade your love interest to a full-on dinner date.

More date night ideas near Manhattan include:

  • Go beyond Broadway and immerse yourself in the Theatre District
  • Snug Harbor Cultural Center
  • Lincoln Center of Performing Arts
  • Go on a guided tour together through The Tenement Museum
  • Listen to local music at Rockwood Music Hall

Making a happy hour reservation is essential to meeting up with friends after work. For larger groups, it pays to coordinate plans a couple days ahead of availability.

Things to do with your friends near Manhattan include:

  • The Standard Biergarten offers beer, pretzels, and ping-pong underneath the High Line
  • See improv comedy at Peoples Improv Theater, then share a drink with the comics at the bar
  • Split a pitcher at Rudy’s Bar & Grill
  • Sail by the Statue of Liberty on a summer Alphabet City Beer Co. booze cruise
  • Trek out to Coney Island to see a Cyclones game

With weather conditions that range from humid to frigid, Manhattan offers many ways to seek solace from weather conditions. Let loose and try one of these indoor activities in Manhattan.

Manhattan things to do indoors include:

  • For exercise, book a class at SoulCycle, Barry’s, or Rumble
  • Go to Porto Rico Importing Co. for fresh coffee and friendly staff
  • Sample the unique flavors of Big Gay Ice Cream
  • Play shuffleboard at the Royal Palms
  • Rejuvenate the mind at body at Aire Ancient Baths

Though there’s no shortage of city buildings in Manhattan, there are a few places to enjoy the grass. Do a little sightseeing as you make your way to a park, pool, or landmark before you take your respite.

Things to see in Manhattan include:

  • Go swimming in the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center
  • Relax in Mcgolrick Park, a small, quiet spot with white trees and Sunday farmers markets
  • Rent a stand-up paddleboard from Manhattan Kayak Company
  • Take a breather at FDR Four Freedoms Park
  • Kayak through the Hudson River

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