The Ultimate Guide To Things To Do in New York

No matter where you are from, New York City is most likely at the top of your list of places to visit. And there are always magical things to see and do no matter what season it is. You can definitely count on having a good time if you plan a trip to NYC. There is never a dull or quiet moment in New York, which is why it is known as the “city that never sleeps!”

There’s a reason New York City is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Millions of people visit New York City each year and knowing the best places to see and eat will allow you to get the most out of your visit. That is why we have put together this ultimate guide to best things to do in New York City. We hope it assists you in planning your next big adventure!

Central Park

You can only get that Nora Ephron New York experience by strolling through Central Park while in the city. It is one of the top attractions in New York, as you step off 59th Street’s crowded sidewalks into a pool of green, you won’t believe what awaits you: 693 acres of man-made gardens, meadows, forests, and hillsides. You would walk 58 miles if you walked down every path in Central Park. Along the way, you’ll see sculptures, bridges, and arches, as well as 21 playgrounds, an ice rink in the winter, and even a zoo. However, the four major crosstown thoroughfares, which cleverly disappear into foliage-covered tunnels, can get unnoticed. Plan your park route to include stops at iconic Central Park landmarks such as the Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge, and Belvedere Castle, and the Strawberry Fields John Lennon Memorial.

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

It’s one thing to be in the heart of Manhattan; it’s quite another to see it from across the river. The city’s image looms large before you in Brooklyn Heights, a few subways stops from lower Manhattan. The Brooklyn Heights promenade, which hovers above the Brooklyn-Queen Expressway, offers unquestionably the best view of the city’s skyline. Traffic rumbles beneath the peaceful, tree-lined walkway. The promenade stretches from Remsen Street to Middagh Street in the north. Pedestrians can cross a basketball court discreetly around the corner to gain access to a suspended footbridge that zigzags down to the piers of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Make stops in the picturesque neighborhood at the New York Transit Museum, the Sardinian trattoria River Deli, and the old-time dive bar Montero.

Whitney Museum of American Art

In 2015, the Whitney relocated from the Upper East Side to its vastly expanded Meatpacking District headquarters. It features 50,000 square feet of indoor galleries featuring works by Jean Michel Basquiat, Richard Avedon, and Alexander Calder, four outdoor exhibition spaces and terraces, and a ground-floor restaurant and top-floor bar by Danny Meyer, one of the city’s most well-known restaurateurs. Two artist-designed elevators connect the floors (albeit slow-moving, crowded ones). If your mobility isn’t an issue, take the stairs for uninterrupted views of the Hudson River. A series of exterior staircases connect the upper floors and sculpture terraces, providing great views of the downtown skyline and a rare opportunity to experience Art En Plein Air.

Chinatown

Chinatown is one of the neighborhoods that help to make lower Manhattan lively and memorable. After exiting the Canal Street subway station and meandering past thick crowds, neon light shops, and vendors peddling fake designer bags, you’ll find yourself in the narrow alleys of Chinatown, where there are vibrant heaps of produce, succulent ducks hanging in windows, and restaurants old and new. Chinatown, which includes Tribeca, SoHo, Little Italy, and the Lower East Side, has a long history and was first settled by Chinese immigrants in the 1850s. You are free to visit in any way you want. Everyone will love a visit to Chinatown, whether you spend an hour gobbling up a box of roast pork or duck from street-style Wah Fung No. 1 before moving on, or you spend half a day shopping for produce, dining out, and visiting the Museum of Chinese in America.

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, located at 112th and Amsterdam in Upper Manhattan’s Morningside Heights, is the world’s largest cathedral and the sixth-largest church in terms of area. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people pass through these doors for a reason. The cathedral itself is worth seeing for its remarkable Gothic architecture, story-telling stained glass windows, and 17th-century tapestries. However, there is artwork here that is especially meaningful to New York City, such as Keith Haring’s white gold and bronze altarpiece and Meredith Bergmann’s 9/11 memorial sculpture, which contains tower debris. The cathedral hosts daily and Sunday worship services that are open to the public. Visitors who come for the sake of sightseeing can enter for $5. Depending on the day of the week, special tours are available.

Also Read: Things To Do in Los Angeles!

Best places to eat in New York

To round out any trip to New York, you must experiment with the local cuisine and dine at some of the city’s most famous restaurants. Here are some of New York’s best restaurants to give a shot:

Barney Greengrass– This deli and restaurant, which has been open for over a century, has a small dining room with vinyl seating and historical art on the walls, where you should eat bagels, sturgeon, latkes, and eggs with a side of lox.

Sadelle’s– This Jewish restaurant in Soho is outrageous in every way and completely pulls it off: The lox is served on towers, the waiters yell “HOT BAGELS!” whenever a fresh batch comes out of the oven, and the French toast is one of the best things to eat in New York City.

Frankel’s Delicatessen– Get pastrami, egg, and cheese, or a BEC on challah at Frankel’s. This Greenpoint spot is a modern take on New York City’s classic delicatessens, and you should definitely leave with a bunch of bagels.

Faicco’s Italian Specialities– Try the chicken cutlets, fresh mozzarella, and pesto. When the people behind the counter try to take your order, they may shout at you, but it’s just their way of being friendly.

Jing Fong– The dim sum here is better than ever, so bring a few friends here while you’re in town for egg tarts and fried turnip cakes. On weekends, arrive by 11:30 a.m. to avoid having to wait for a table.

Joe’s Pizza– If you want to spend the most New York afternoon ever, get a slice from Joe’s and then ride the subway. The slices here are large, bendy, and covered in cheese, with a noticeable hint of sweetness in the sauce.

With four different seasons, New York is a year-round destination. Winter can be enchanting, with heavy snowfalls followed by clear skies. Summer is the most consistent, with sticky, humid air, but the warm weather brings out the fun. The best times to visit are in the spring and autumn when the skies are clear and the air is crisp. The most important thing to remember when planning a trip to New York is to have fun. Stay in the moment and cherish where the city takes you.