13 Best Things to Do in New York

Times Square, nestled in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, holds the title as one of the most iconic places in New York City. You can enjoy street performances, explore museums and galleries and catch award-winning Broadway shows.

One of the city's major gathering spots, this open crossroads also offers unique establishments like Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Birdland Jazz Club and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. If you're here in late December, you get to watch star-studded concerts and the iconic New Year's Eve ball drop.

The Empire State Building has 2 observatories, both of which offer panoramic views of New York City and beyond. Its famous open-air 86th floor observation deck has been featured in many iconic film and television scenes.

The top deck is on the 102nd floor, where you get to spot landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square. In addition to the observatories, the Empire State Building houses a visitor's centre and 2 exhibition spaces. 

The Statue of Liberty is usually the first thing travellers spot when they visit New York. Dedicated in 1886, this impressive national monument offers panoramic views of New York, New Jersey, New York Harbor and the nearby Ellis Island. The 2nd floor of the pedestal houses an exhibition hall, where you can learn about its fascinating history through scale replicas, photographs, texts and video footage.

To get to Liberty Island, you need to buy a ferry ticket, which includes a self-guided audio tour. Visiting the pedestal and climbing to the crown of the statue are among the most popular things to do in New York, so tickets are limited and need to be reserved. 

Central Park is a lush, expansive green space in Manhattan, featuring over 20 playgrounds, manmade lakes and ponds, as well as extensive walking tracks. It often hosts a variety of activities, exhibitions and concerts, especially during spring and summer.

Central Park has plenty of family-friendly things to do in New York. Most kids will enjoy the Carousel, Central Park Zoo, the Central Park Conservatory Garden and Belvedere Castle. It's open to the public all year round, and guided tours are also available.

New York Grand Central Terminal Station is one of the city's busiest landmarks, with thousands of New Yorkers passing through it on their daily commute. Located in Midtown, its exterior features Beaux-Arts sculptures and architecture, containing a total of 44 train platforms and numerous restaurants.

The main concourse is always packed with commuters, but you can still make your way to iconic features like the 4-sided clock, astronomical ceiling mural and European-style food market. Even if you're not planning to catch a train, it's not hard to spend hours exploring the food and shopping on offer within New York Grand Central Terminal Station.

Chinatown is a vibrant neighbourhood in the area south of Broome Street and east of Lafayette in New York City. One of the best things to do in New York is explore its busy streets and sample a variety of foods. You'll feel like you're on a different continent, with dozens of restaurants representing the cuisine of Southeast Asia, mainland China and Hong Kong.

If you're a fan of eclectic items, the tiny Mmuseumm exhibits quirky objects from all over the world, including counterfeit beauty products, selfie sticks and toys left behind by immigrants.

Fifth Avenue, situated in the bustling Manhattan borough of New York City, is renowned as a luxurious shopping destination. The Bergdorf Goodman department store has been attracting the rich and famous since 1928, thanks to its extravagant window displays and international brands such as Burberry, Balenciaga and Marc Jacobs.

As you stroll up the avenue between 49th and 60th Streets, you'll see an array of flagship outlets. These include the globally recognised brands such as Louis Vuitton, Armani, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana. 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a colossal building and part of a museum trio that forms one of the largest collections of artworks in the US, encompassing 5 millennia. The exhibitions range from the sculptures of ancient kingdoms to medieval weapons to 20th century artworks. It also includes an entire sandstone temple imported from Egypt.

This magnificent museum is world-famous for the size and quality of its collection, and it's located in the heart of Manhattan. It's easy to get there with the subway, and it's a major stop along what is known as the New York Museum Mile.

The National September 11 Memorial commemorates those who were killed in the terror attacks of 11th September 2001. One of its most striking features is the twin reflecting pools, which were designed to symbolise the fallen Twin Towers. You can also see the names of the deceased inscribed around the bronze edges of the pools.

The museum features a range of thoughtfully curated exhibitions, which include multimedia displays, narratives and authentic artefacts, designed to honour the lives lost, celebrate the bravery of first responders and educate visitors on the legacy of the events. 

The One World Trade Center is an imposing skyscraper in the heart of New York City. Also known as One WTC, it's recognised as the tallest building in the U.S. at 1,776 ft. This glistening structure stands on the site of the former World Trade Center, with high-end restaurants, bars and commercial businesses.

For tourists looking to admire New York City's world-renowned skyline, you won't find a better place than One World Trade Center. With an innovative fine-dining venue and panoramic views available from the viewing point on the 101st floor, exploring the One World Observatory is an unforgettable experience.

The Yankee Stadium is the modern home of baseball in New York City, having replaced the previous building in 2009. Located in the Bronx neighbourhood, it's one of the largest Major League Baseball stadiums in the country, with a capacity of more than 46,000 people. If you consider yourself a sporting fanatic, this world-class stadium must be crossed off your bucket list.

There are plenty of things to do besides catching a baseball game or football match at Yankee Stadium. You can head to the New York Yankees Museum or Section 105 to watch batting practice. With the stadium conveniently located next to a subway station, getting to and from a game is easily done.

The majestic Brooklyn Bridge spans the East River, connecting New York's Manhattan and Brooklyn boroughs. There are 2 lanes on the pedestrian pathway, one is for cyclists and the other for pedestrians. The latter gets notoriously crowded with tourists, which isn't surprising because it's a great place to take photos of New York's famous places like Lower Manhattan, Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty.

After enjoying the stunning views, you can visit the many attractions around the end of the bridge, like the Brooklyn Children's Museum and Brooklyn Bridge Park, as well as a variety of sports fields, playgrounds, bicycle rentals, restaurants and piers.

Harlem is home to many of New York's famous places for music lovers. This vibrant neighbourhood has an extensive collection of jazz clubs playing swing, Latin, Bebop and cool jazz all year round. Popular venues include Bill's Place and Patrick's Place, where you can immerse yourself in the rich, rhythmic tones of the music.

If you want to learn more about the history of jazz, the National Jazz Museum is a must-visit. This free museum often hosts intriguing exhibits, photographs, audio and film archives, as well as weekly talks and concerts.