Things to do in New York City
From the observation decks above the skyline to a ferry out to the Statue of Liberty, a Broadway show in the Theater District, and a slice of pizza in Brooklyn, New York packs more into a week than most cities manage in a lifetime.
Signature experiences
The categories that define a first trip to New York — walking tours of Manhattan, the observation decks, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, a Broadway show, and a cruise around the harbor.
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tours
Ferry tickets and guided tours out to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, including pedestal and crown access and the Museum of Immigration. Book ahead for crown tickets, which sell out weeks in advance in summer.
5 guides
9/11 Memorial & Museum Tours
Tickets and guided tours of the 9/11 Memorial pools and the museum beneath, some combined with One World Observatory or a Financial District walking tour. A somber, essential stop in Lower Manhattan.
4 guides
Observation Decks and Skyline Views
Tickets to the Empire State Building, One World Observatory, Top of the Rock and Edge, with skip-the-line and sunset options at most. The fastest way to see Manhattan's skyline laid out below you.
5 guides
Broadway Show Tickets
Tickets to Broadway musicals and plays in the Theater District's side streets, plus backstage tours and package deals pairing a show with dinner. Popular titles sell out well ahead, especially around holidays.
5 guides
Central Park Tours and Pedicab Rides
Guided walks, bike rentals, horse-drawn carriage rides and pedicab tours through Central Park, covering Bethesda Terrace, the Mall, Bow Bridge and the reservoir. Options suit every pace, from a quick pedicab loop to a full guided walk.
5 guides
Harlem and Gospel Tours
Sunday gospel church tours and walking tours of Harlem covering its jazz and civil rights history, some paired with a soul food brunch. Church visits require advance booking and respectful dress.
3 guides
Holiday Lights and Christmas Tours
Seasonal tours of holiday window displays, the Rockefeller Center tree, Dyker Heights lights and Fifth Avenue decorations, available by bus, on foot or by trolley. Runs late November through early January only.
3 guides
Movie and TV Location Tours
Guided tours to filming locations from shows and films set in New York, plus studio tours and tickets to live TV tapings. Suited to fans wanting to see familiar streets and sets in person.
3 guides
Helicopter Flights Over Manhattan
Helicopter tours over Manhattan's skyline, the Statue of Liberty and the harbor, running from brief loops to longer routes up the Hudson. The most direct way to see the city's scale from above, at a premium price.
3 guides
Harbor Cruises and Boat Tours
Sightseeing cruises around Manhattan and New York Harbor, from short Statue of Liberty photo runs to full circumnavigations, sunset sails and dinner cruises. A relaxed way to see the skyline from the water.
5 guides
Museums and Galleries
Tickets and guided visits to the Met, MoMA, the American Museum of Natural History, the Whitney and smaller galleries across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Options include skip-the-line entry and curator-led small-group tours.
6 guides
Food Tours and Tastings
Guided food walks through neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, Chinatown, Little Italy and Harlem, sampling pizza, bagels, dumplings and soul food along the way. A good way to eat well while getting local context on each stop.
6 guides
Speakeasy, Mafia and Ghost Tours
Themed walking tours covering Prohibition-era speakeasies, mob history in Little Italy and the Lower East Side, and ghost stories from the city's older buildings. An evening alternative to standard sightseeing.
3 guides
Nightlife and Comedy Clubs
Tickets to comedy clubs, rooftop bars and nightlife tours across Manhattan, some bundled with pub crawls or bar-hopping guides. Suited to visitors wanting a guided night out rather than sightseeing.
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Professional Photo Sessions
Booked photographers who meet you at iconic spots like Central Park, DUMBO or Times Square for a private photo session, delivering edited shots afterward. Popular for couples, proposals and family trips.
2 guides
Bike Tours
Guided and self-guided bike routes through Central Park, along the Hudson River Greenway and across the Brooklyn Bridge, with rental included. A faster way to cover ground than walking, especially in Central Park.
3 guides
Brooklyn Tours
Guided walks and bike tours across DUMBO, Williamsburg and Brooklyn Heights, often including the Brooklyn Bridge walk and skyline views from the promenade. Suited to visitors wanting Brooklyn's own character beyond a Manhattan day trip.
5 guides
Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island Tours
Guided tours reaching beyond Manhattan and Brooklyn into Queens' food scene, the Bronx Zoo and Yankee Stadium, and Staten Island's ferry views. A smaller slice of the market, best for visitors on a repeat trip or with specific interests there.
3 guides
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours and City Passes
Double-decker bus loops covering Manhattan's main sights, plus multi-attraction city passes bundling entry to several landmarks at a discount. Suited to visitors who want to cover a lot of ground with minimal planning.
3 guides
Niagara Falls Day Trips
Long full-day trips from New York City to Niagara Falls, roughly seven to eight hours each way by coach or small van, usually including a boat tour to the base of the falls. A demanding day, best for visitors who won't get another chance to see the falls.
3 guides
Washington DC Day Trips
Full-day trips to Washington DC, about three hours each way by train or bus, covering the National Mall, monuments and the Smithsonian museums. A long but manageable day trip thanks to the Acela's speed.
2 guides
Philadelphia and Amish Country Day Trips
Day trips to Philadelphia's historic district and, on longer itineraries, into Pennsylvania Dutch Amish country further west. Philadelphia alone is a comfortable single day; combining it with Amish country makes for a longer one.
2 guides
Boston and New England Day Trips
Full-day trips to Boston, about four hours each way, covering the Freedom Trail and historic sites, with some itineraries adding coastal New England stops. A long day best suited to visitors with limited time to return.
2 guides
Hudson Valley Day Trips
Day trips north to the Hudson Valley, covering Sleepy Hollow, Storm King Art Center and the fall foliage towns, usually by small coach with a guide. Best from late September through October when the colors peak.
2 guides
Long Island Wine Tours
Guided day trips to Long Island's North Fork wineries, including tastings and vineyard tours, usually with transport included from the city. A relaxed alternative to Manhattan sightseeing for wine-focused travelers.
2 guides
Fall Foliage in the Hudson Valley
An editorial guide to catching peak fall color in the Hudson Valley, covering the towns and viewpoints worth the drive and the narrow window, typically early to mid-October, when the leaves turn. Written for planning a self-driven or guided day trip rather than booking a specific tour.
2 guides
Airport Transfers
Private and shared transfers between JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports and Manhattan hotels, bookable ahead to skip the taxi line and avoid surge pricing. Useful for late arrivals or groups with luggage.
3 guides
Luggage Storage
An editorial guide to storing bags for a few hours or a full day near major stations and landmarks in Manhattan, covering typical rates and where staffed storage points cluster. Written for travelers with a late checkout or a departure flight later in the day rather than for booking a tour.
2 guides
Games, Workshops and Classes
Escape rooms, cooking classes, cocktail workshops and scavenger hunt games across Manhattan, built for groups and families wanting an interactive activity. A change of pace from standard sightseeing.
2 guides
New York City Walking Tours
Guided walks through Manhattan's neighborhoods, from the Financial District to Harlem and Greenwich Village, covering history, architecture and local stories. Options range from short introductions to in-depth small-group tours led by local guides.
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Day Trips from New York City
The full range of day trips out of the city, from the nearby Hudson Valley and Long Island to the long hauls to Niagara Falls, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Boston. A way to see the wider region without renting a car.
3 guidesMore ways to experience the region
Specialist interests and practical planning — food tours, museums, day trips beyond the city, airport transfers, and the comparisons every first-time visitor searches for.
Planning Your New York Visit
An editorial guide to choosing between a walking tour of Manhattan and a day trip further afield, depending on how many days you have. Aimed at visitors mapping out an itinerary before booking anything.
2 guides
Day Trips vs Walking Tours
An editorial side-by-side of what a New York walking tour covers compared with a day trip out of the city, including typical duration and focus. Useful for deciding which suits your schedule and interests, not a page for booking a specific activity.
2 guides
New York City by Season
An editorial look at how sightseeing changes through the year, from long summer daylight and crowded observation decks to quieter, colder winter visits. Helpful for timing a trip around weather and crowds rather than for booking anything specific.
2 guides
New York City in Winter
An editorial guide to indoor and cold-weather options for a winter visit, including museums, Broadway shows and the holiday lights season. Aimed at travelers visiting outside the warmer months.
2 guides
Getting To and Around New York City
An editorial guide covering airport transfers into the city, the subway and OMNY payment, and how day trips typically handle transport to places like the Hudson Valley or Washington DC. Useful for visitors without a car planning how they'll move around.
2 guides
Family Activities in New York City
Suggestions for child-friendly options including Central Park's playgrounds and the carousel, the American Museum of Natural History, and easier harbor cruises. Aimed at families balancing sightseeing with activities that keep younger children engaged.
2 guides
Accessible Ways to See New York City
An editorial comparison of standard walking tours against lower-effort alternatives like bus tours, boat cruises and pedicabs for covering the same ground. Useful for visitors with limited mobility or who prefer not to walk long distances.
2 guidesBrowse by destination
Tours and activities organised by where you're headed — the best of each city and region.
Good to know about things to do in New York
This hub arranges New York activities into more than a dozen categories, because a five-borough city, a national harbor monument and a Northeast day-trip radius don't fit under one label. Museums & landmarks cover the Empire State Building's 86th-floor observatory, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue — all three draw lines that build fast on weekends. Central Park splits by activity: the formal Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge for a first visit, and the quieter North Woods and Harlem Meer for anyone avoiding crowds.
Broadway & Times Square covers the TKTS booth for same-day discount tickets and the theatres themselves, tucked into the side streets off Times Square rather than on Broadway avenue. Walking neighborhoods groups Greenwich Village's tree-lined blocks, SoHo's cast-iron storefronts, and Chinatown's markets, all covered on foot in a few hours. The harbor is its own category: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, reached only by Statue City Cruises from Battery Park or Liberty State Park, and the free Staten Island Ferry for the same skyline without landing anywhere.
Brooklyn outings cover DUMBO's waterfront and Williamsburg's Bedford Avenue, both a short subway ride rather than a Manhattan destination. Coney Island's boardwalk and Coney Island — Stillwell Avenue subway stop are their own beach-and-boardwalk category, reached by the D, F, N or Q line. 3 km end to end. Food & markets covers Chelsea Market and the pizza-and-bagel circuit that varies block by block. Family activities, day trips, transport, seasons and planning round out the rest, since a heat wave or a January cold snap changes what's actually pleasant on a given day.
Frequently asked questions about things to do in New York
What are the main categories on this hub?
Museums & landmarks, Central Park, Broadway & Times Square, walking neighborhoods (Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown), the harbor and Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn outings, Coney Island, the High Line, food & markets, family activities, day trips, transport and seasons.
Is the High Line walk suitable for beginners?
Yes. It's a flat, paved elevated path with no stairs required at most entrances, and it makes an easy hour or so on foot from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards.
What is the Vessel at Hudson Yards?
A honeycomb-shaped climbable sculpture of interlocking staircases, built as the centerpiece of the Hudson Yards development next to the High Line's northern end.
Is entry to the 9/11 Memorial free?
The outdoor plaza with the two reflecting pools is free and open daily; the indoor 9/11 Memorial Museum charges an entry ticket, around $33 for adults, and booking a timed slot ahead is worth doing in summer.
What's the best way to see New York Harbor itself?
By the free Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall Terminal for the skyline and a distant view of the Statue of Liberty, or by Statue City Cruises from Battery Park to actually land on Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
Walking Tours
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GetYourGuide does not provide a product photo for this activity — the image shows the meeting point, photographed by us.
