What should you do on your first trip to New York?

Take a harbor cruise for the skyline and the Statue of Liberty, see a Broadway show, walk the Brooklyn Bridge, spend a morning in Central Park and eat a slice of pizza standing up.

What can you do in New York for free?

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge and the High Line, ride the Staten Island Ferry, visit the 9/11 Memorial pools, see Grand Central Terminal, and use the pay-what-you-wish policy for New York State residents at some museums.

Is a sightseeing cruise worth it in New York?

Yes, if you want the skyline and the Statue of Liberty in one trip. A cruise takes 50 to 90 minutes, passes the statue for photos and skips the island ferry queues.

What is there to do in New York when it rains?

Museums, the Grand Central and Chelsea food halls, Broadway matinees, observation decks on clear-but-cold days, and indoor cruise decks, which are heated and air-conditioned year round.

Things to Do in NYC: Tours, Shows, Food and More

Seeing New York is one thing. Doing New York is another. This page groups the experiences that make a trip memorable, whether you have one evening or a full week.

On the water

A harbor cruise is the fastest way to understand the shape of the city. You pass the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the bridges, with the whole skyline in view, in less time than an observation deck queue takes.

Liberty Midtown Cruise, one hour from Pier 83, best if you are staying near Times Square.
Liberty Super Express Cruise, 50 minutes from Pier 16, the quickest option from Downtown.
Landmarks Cruise, 90 minutes past 11 landmarks and three East River bridges.

Broadway and live shows

Broadway runs about 40 theatres around Times Square. Long-running musicals are easiest to get into; new plays with film stars sell out months ahead. Same-day discount booths sell leftover seats at a discount, and many shows run a digital lottery the day before. Off-Broadway is cheaper, smaller and often better.

Food and drink

Eat a slice at a corner pizzeria, a bagel with cream cheese in the morning, and dumplings in Chinatown. Book a food tour if you want the stories behind them. The big food halls, Chelsea Market, Grand Central Dining Concourse, Time Out Market in Brooklyn, let a group eat different things in one place, which solves most family arguments.

Walking tours and neighborhoods

A guided walk through Greenwich Village, Harlem or the Lower East Side gives you the history behind buildings you would otherwise pass. Two hours on foot with a local teaches you more about the city than a day of landmark hopping.

With kids

The American Museum of Natural History, the Central Park Zoo, the carousel at Bryant Park, a boat ride and the Intrepid Museum all work for mixed ages. Cruises are a good choice with children because nobody has to stand in a line for an hour and the open decks let them move around.

Season by season

Spring: cherry blossoms in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, baseball opening day, outdoor tables everywhere.
Summer: free concerts and films in the parks, rooftop bars, beach trips to Rockaway or Coney Island.
Autumn: the best weather of the year, Central Park in colour, the Halloween parade in the Village.
Winter: ice rinks, holiday markets, the Rockefeller tree, and indoor cruise decks when the wind bites.

Evenings

Sunset is the golden hour for the skyline. Book a late afternoon cruise, an observation deck around dusk, or a jazz set in the Village. If you only have one night, do the show first and eat after, like New Yorkers do.

Next: see what to see, browse places to visit, or read the NYC travel guide.

Things to Do in New York City