From Time Square’s neon billboards to the historic Statue of Liberty, the city that never sleeps brims with fun and ambition. New York City comprises 5 boroughs with personalities all their own. Some of NYC’s iconic sites include skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building, the sprawling Central Park. Broadway, and more. For things to do in NYC, here are some of the city’s most popular attractions and best-kept secrets.
For the uninitiated, New York City has many places to visit during a vacation to the city. Plus, no matter what interests you, the public transportation options enable you to save time and money. Tourists can head to the iconic Grand Central Station and take a train just about anywhere in the city.
Popular tourist attractions in NYC include:
Visit world-famous Empire State Building, located in the center of midtown Manhattan
Times Square is a major commercial intersection with Broadway show billboards and functions as NYC’s town square
Visit the iconic Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor
Federal Hall is one of the best surviving examples of neoclassical architecture
Have a whiskey on the rocks at NYC’s smallest bar, Copper & Oak
There’s no shortage of things to do in NYC today. You can craft an itinerary starting in just about any neighborhood. Buy a Metrocard and take on everything that New York City has to offer.
Things to do in NYC today include:
Available each summer, Shakespeare in the Park offers immortal stories for free
Stop and smell the flowers in Bronx’s very own New York Botanical Garden
The Battery is a 25-acre public park located in Lower Manhattan
Peruse the $1 shelves of Strand Book Store
Take the Staten Island Ferry for a free cruise through New York Harbor
New York City is teeming with things to do at all hours of the night. Whether you need a post-work drink or a night that ends at sunrise, the city that never sleeps has something for any occasion.
Things to do in NYC at night include:
Theatre District has energetic crowds and pulsing lights
For a quiet night, Nitehawk Cinema offers late-night films
Hang out at the Cubbyhole, a kitschy bar in the West Village
Bossa Nova Civic Club caters to those craving a house or industrial techno fix on Sunday and Monday nights
See a show at the Bushwick Starr, a no-frills black box theater
With humid summers and frigid winters, New York City has adapted to its wide-ranging temperatures by offering solace indoors. Activities such as museum hopping, arcade bars, and everyday film festivals are just the start of the list of things to do indoors in NYC.
Things to do indoors in NYC include:
Explore the miles of bookshelves at New York Public Library
Bring the family to Dominick’s, New York’s real Little Italy
Geek out at Ace Bar, one of NYC’s many arcade bars
Watch foreign films and indie cinema at Film Forum
See DJs at Good Room, a Greenpoint club with stellar acoustics
Sports and Outdoor Activities in New York CityView All
Parks, monuments, and vantage points of the Hudson River define a things to do outdoors. City dwellers can claim a grassy knoll to perhaps explore the city with a jog. For more, try taking a day trip just outside the city.
Things to see in NYC include:
Fly a kite at FDR Four Freedoms Park
Go bird-watching on the East River Promenade
Look at the beautiful (if a bit unusual) tapestries at The Cloisters
Hit the Hudson River for some free kayaking
Be a beach bum at Jacob Riis Park Beach
Inspiration for things to do in New York City from The Gist!
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