15 fun things you can only do in New York City
With everything from parks and museums to markets and some of the world’s best shopping, NYC is endlessly entertaining.


The only problem you’ll have when visiting New York is choosing what to do while you’re there. The city has so much to offer—from world-class restaurants, museums, and theaters to historic attractions the entire family will love—that deciding where to spend your time can be hard. Below, we’ve rounded up 15 fun things to do in New York City to help you narrow down your options and plan the vacation of a lifetime.

1. Shop Union Square Greenmarket
Visiting the Union Square Greenmarket is a great way to meet some of the farmers and vendors that supply the city’s best restaurants. Open year round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., it features numerous stands (up to 140 during peak season) selling just-picked fruits and vegetables, farmstead cheese, artisan bread, organic meat, jams and pickles, and beautiful, fresh flowers. Check the website for helpful maps, a guide to the vendors in attendance each day, and a calendar of special events, like live cooking demonstrations.

2. Stroll through Central Park
Sure, it’s touristy, but Central Park is one of the most iconic green spaces in the world. Spend an entire afternoon here strolling around, or pack a picnic lunch and find a spot to relax in Sheep Meadow. For beautiful views, swing by Belvedere Castle, the highest point in the park (and where the National Weather Service tracks NYC’s big storms).

3. View The Met's extensive collection
For the art enthusiast, a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is an absolute must. It’s New York City’s most visited museum for a reason: Not only does it host the annual Met Gala (one of the greatest nights in fashion each year), but it’s also home to more than 5,000 works of art from all over the world.

4. See the sights from above
If adventure is calling your name, turn to HeliNY, which offers sightseeing helicopter tours of Manhattan. Ranging from 12 to 30 minutes long, the tours can go as far north as the George Washington Bridge and as far south as the Verrazano Bridge, covering landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, South Street Seaport, the Chrysler Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge—all sans the traffic that comes with a tour bus.

5. Wander the High Line
The High Line—a more-than-a-mile-long elevated public park that was built on top of abandoned railroad tracks—is one of New York’s most popular spots for a stroll. The path starts in the Meatpacking District and runs north along 10th Avenue, passing unique art installations, great dining options, and sweeping views of the Hudson River. Follow it all the way to Hudson Yards, where you can hop off, grab lunch, and do some shopping in this newly developed part of town.

6. Take the ferry to Governors Island
Only a 10-minute ferry ride from Manhattan or Brooklyn, Governors Island is a 172-acre island in the heart of New York Harbor. A former military base closed to the public for close to two centuries, it’s transformed over the last decade into a vibrant destination for locals and visitors alike, with attractions like Slide Hill (a three-story slide), Island Oyster (a waterfront seafood bar), and QC NY (a brand-new spa with infinity pools overlooking the NYC skyline). For a unique lodging experience, consider Collective Governors Island, where you can glamp under the stars without sacrificing hotel-level amenities.
7. Explore Harlem's history
Take a walking tour through Harlem, a vibrant neighborhood in northern Manhattan that's steeped in Black history and culture. The Harlem Hip-Hop Walking Tour—offered through Hush Hip Hop Tours—takes you by important landmarks like the Apollo Theater, the Graffiti Wall of Fame, Lenox Lounge, and historic Harlem jazz clubs. If jazz is more your style, Welcome to Harlem offers an Evening Jazz Tour, that allows you to watch Harlem come alive after dark with a 3.5-hour evening tour to historic churches and landmarks that ends at a live jazz club. Or, take a step back in time and learn about a key period in Harlem’s history on the Harlem Civil Rights Multimedia Walking Tour. You’ll be following in the footsteps of former residents like Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and will learn about Harlem’s role in the Civil Rights Movement of the '50s and '60s.

8. Grab a snack at Smorgasburg
The largest weekly open-air food market in America, Smorgasburg is an excellent place to sample the latest culinary trends in New York. The market now has four locations around the city (The Oculus on Fridays, Williamsburg and Jersey City on Saturdays, and Prospect Park on Sundays—all open from April through October), where both up-and-coming and established food vendors hawk unique eats like Jamaican tacos, jumbo lump crab cakes, vegan subs, mochi, mini donuts, and banana pudding. Bring your appetite and you might just discover the next big thing in New York City food.

9. Cross the Brooklyn Bridge
For some of the best views of downtown Manhattan, walk or bike—there’s a lane for each—over the Brooklyn Bridge. From the halfway point, you’ll be able to see the entire Financial District, including One World Trade Center, as well as the Statue of Liberty. When you reach the Brooklyn side, get a slice of pizza at Grimaldi’s or Front Street (locals argue about which is better; you decide!), a ShackBurger from Shake Shack, or a cone from Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, then head to the 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park and enjoy your eats in view of the Manhattan skyline.
10. Visit the Tenement Museum
Learn about New York’s history of immigration at the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side. The museum is only accessible by guided tours, which take visitors through two old tenement buildings or around the surrounding neighborhood. View recreated homes of immigrant families from the 1860s through the 1980s, learn about the area where they lived, and see how their stories have defined what it means to be a New Yorker.

11. Spend the day in Red Hook, Brooklyn
For a fun day trip, take the NYC Ferry from Pier 11/Wall St. to Red Hook, Brooklyn. After a scenic 25-minute ride, you’ll be greeted by cobblestone streets, expansive waterfront views, and a variety of cultural attractions. Tour the Waterfront Museum, located in an old showboat barge, to learn more about the neighborhood’s maritime history, then hit Brooklyn Crab, a tri-level, half-indoor-half-outdoor seafood restaurant with a beer garden, mini-golf course, corn hole sets, and two bars. Other delicious places to eat include Hometown Bar-B-Que and Steve’s for Key lime pie on a stick. For a real dive bar experience, try Sunny’s.

12. Stop by Grand Central Station
Built in 1913, Grand Central is one of the busiest train stations in the world, with a rich history of immense wealth and genius engineering. You can take an audio tour to learn more about its backstory, or simply walk around to see details like the opal-faced clock above the information booth and the celestial ceiling in the main concourse, painted with 12 zodiac constellations. If you’re hungry, head to the historic Grand Central Oyster Bar for a raw bar platter, then grab a drink at The Campbell Bar, housed in what was once Jazz Age financier John William Campbell’s private office and reception hall.

13. Wander through Chelsea Market
With restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, and more, Chelsea Market is more than your average food hall. Grab a bagel at Black Seed Bagels, tacos at Los Mariscos, or a pita sandwich at Miznon, then shop for gourmet goods at Dicksons Farmstand Meats, Fat Witch Bakery, and Saxelby Cheesemongers. Save time to browse Artists & Fleas, where local makers sell their wares, and Posman Books for a great new read. You may also want to check out the immersive art exhibits at Artechouse or a live show at Chelsea Music Hall.

14. Visit the Little Island
One of NYC’s newest public parks, Little Island floats on 132 tulip-shaped stilts off Pier 55 on the Hudson River, offering impressive views of downtown Manhattan and across the water. Amid the lush landscaping, there are rolling hills and winding pathways perfect for exploring, plus a slate of cultural programming that includes music, dance, theater, poetry, comedy, and art workshops. Kids will love attractions like the spinning discs, dance chimes, and Sing for Hope piano, while adults will appreciate the expansive lawns for relaxing in the sunshine.
15. Kayak the city's rivers
Explore the city from the water with Manhattan Kayak Company, which provides kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for rent, plus classes, tours, and camps for kids. Paddle alone in the cove near the Intrepid Aircraft Carrier or join a guided trip to get out on the Hudson River. There are options for every skill level, from an “NYC After Dark” trip for beginners to an expert excursion all the way to the Verrazano Bridge, where the Hudson meets the Atlantic Ocean.