Favorite Things to do in NYC…
Now it’s time to find the best things to do in NYC and Manhattan. If you followed the New York City Vacation Guide, you got the steepest discounts, downloaded our free calendars and tools, learned all our discount secrets and secured the hottest tickets in NYC. Further in the Vacation Guide, we show you great places to get more coupons and discounts, both online and in NYC.
Fill in the rest of your NYC Insider Guide calendar with more things to do in NYC. Many events, sales and activities are held at the same time(s) every year. Note the dates of past events. If your favorite things to do in NYC have not been announced, check back frequently, because they will be soon. Here are the best NYC Insider Guide related pages to browse…
Things to Do in NYC by Month
Our NYC Monthly Event Calendars show you exactly which events occur by day, but our Things to Do monthly guides highlight seasonal tours, bike rides, best time for boat cruises, when to buy tickets, the biggest sales and all the optimal times to do activities by month, along with typical weather for that month. Check out our Monthly Things to do in NYC Guides.
Things to do in NYC by Season
Each Season in NYC offers special activities and things to do designed to highlight the complement of the weather and our beautiful city. During Spring and Summer, biking is one of the best things to do! In the winter, grab a sleigh or head to a restaurant with a fireplace. Here’s our seasonal guide to NYC:
Visiting New York With Kids | Things to Do, Hotels, Attractions
Visiting New York with Kids is truly a delight. NYC offers tons of activities, hotels, shows, events, restaurants, things to do, attractions and festivals for kids and families. The best part is you don’t have to compromise – what’s fun for kids is usually just as much fun for adults.
If you are joining us for a NYC family vacation, don’t miss the best Things to do in New York with Kids.
New York City Nightlife
How do you make the most of your time in the city that never sleeps?? Some of the best 'only in NYC' nightlife experiences include skyline views, dinner cruises, Museums and attractions open late til 2am, rooftops, night tours, comedy clubs and more. Some of our top NYC Nightlife picks:
- NYC Rooftop Lounge Tour - guaranteed access to exclusive nighttime hot spots as you sip cocktails under the sky
- InviteOnly Party @ the Hottest NYC Clubs - VIP access to NYC Clubs with Bottle Service and dancing.
- New York Dinner Cruise - family-friendly and/or romantic cruise with excellent service, spectacular sights and delicious menu offerings.
- Broadway Comedy Club - laugh out loud all night long
- NYC Night Bus Tour - From Times Square to the Brooklyn Bridge, see our city wink and twinkle right at you.
See all our Top Picks: New York City Nightlife
Free Things to Do in New York City
There are tons of free things to do in New York all day, every day! Tours, attractions, museums, events, shows, sports, movies and more. Kids, adults, outdoors, indoors, active, lazy…you name it!
So whether you want free Museums, neighborhood tours, a moonlight bike ride in Central Park, to ride the Staten Island Ferry, walk the Highline or Brooklyn Bridge, we have you covered with 100s of Free Things to Do in New York City.
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Most Popular Ticketed Tourist Attractions
Sightsee from the Sky
Top of the Rock, Empire State Building, One World Observatory, Edge or Summit? Which is best and, if we have to choose, which should we visit? There is no easy answer, but here are some facts to help guide your choice.
- Empire State Building – (86 and 102 floors) Best for patient movie and history buffs who need to check it off their bucket list. Recently redone indoor 102nd Floor Observatory
- Top of the Rock – (67-70 floors) Best for sweeping 360° vista views, including of the Empire State Building and Central Park. Shorter lines and cheaper than the ESB.
- One World Observatory – (100-102 floors) Best for homage to the Twin Towers. Modern and high tech, with phenomenal views
- Edge – (100-101 floors) Highest outdoor observation deck, glass bottom floor, deck extends 80 feet away from building (photo)
- Summit One Vanderbilt – (91-93 floors) Opens Oct 2021, all glass elevator, indoor and outdoor decks and glass terraces off the side of the building
Free NYC Tourist Attractions
New York City Museum Guides
- All NYC Museum Guides
- NYC Museums FREE Days and Times
- NYC Museums FREE Days Download Chart
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- 9-11 Memorial & Museum
- Statue of Liberty Museum
- Museum of Natural History
- Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
- Museum at Eldridge Street
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- Museum Sleepovers NYC
- Itinerary: Art Lovers Tour of NYC Museums
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New York City Shopping Guides
- New York City Shopping Guide
- Shopping in NYC Department Stores
- Discount Budget Shopping in NYC
- Resale and Consignment Shops
- Shopping Guides by Neighborhood
- NYC Designer Sample Sales
- New York Outlet Malls
- New York City Gift Shopping
- Holiday Markets in NYCÂ
- New York City Shopping Tours
- Add YOUR NYC Shop,Tour, Sample Sale
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New York City Events by Month
Make sure to check our New York City Events Calendar during your visit. See a TimesTalk, street fair, the hottest Broadway shows or catch a Movie Premiere! Catch the Philharmonic in Central Park NY, Fashion Week, Restaurant Week, Spa Week, Martini Week, the Rockettes, Botanical Gardens Orchid Show and dozens more cool and fun, many free, adult and kids activities all year round in New York City!
Things to do in NYC Neighborhoods
Make sure to check out the Manhattan Neighborhood Guide to know all the cool spots in SoHo, Nolita, Lower East Side, Upper West Side and all our rich and vibrant NYC areas.
Do you know the best pizza in NYC? Or at which cafe Bob Dylan might just appear to play a set? The best views of NYC with a cocktail? Check the NYC i-Guide for ALL our real secrets.
Broadway Shows NYC
- List of Broadway Shows NYC
- Best Broadway Shows for Kids
- New York Off Broadway Shows
- TONY Award Winning Broadway Shows
- New York City Broadway Week
- Plan the Ultimate Broadway Night
- About NYC Broadway Shows
- Half Price Broadway Tickets
- Discount Broadway Tickets New York
- Broadway Shows by Category
Buy Great Broadway Tickets Today!
Top Picks for Broadway Tickets
- TicketNetwork - best selection and seats in the house! Very popular and trusted ticket company!
- Direct Tickets - all Ticketmaster shows original source tickets. See telecharge.com and seatgeek.com for theaters not covered by Ticketmaster
- Ticketmaster Deals - lots of shows with 2 For 1, Me+3 and 4-Pack deals.
- American Express Ticketmaster Deals - for cardholders.
- StubHub - great selection, NY's most popular ticket reseller
Note: All of our ticket partners are legitimate, recommended ticket sellers and guaranteed to sell you official NYC Broadway tickets.
NYC Hotels Times Square
The best NYC Hotels Times Square chosen by a NYC local! If you want to be in the heart of Broadway, all the tourist action, Restaurant Row, lounge by a pool, check out the best views from a rooftop or splurge on the live NYE Ball Drop, we will show you the best places to stay.
- Best NYC Hotels Times Square
- NEW NYC Hotels Times Square
- Cheap Hotels in Times Square
- Suite Hotels in Times Square
- Boutique Hotels in Times Square
- Best New Years Eve NYC Hotels with Ball Drop Views
- Best NYC Times Square Hotels with Rooftops
See All: NYC Hotels Times Square & Broadway
Spot Celebrities in NYC
Where to find celebrities in NYC or which celebrities are living in NYC today are common questions by all, but celebrity sightings in NYC are way easier than you may think and happen all the time. You will, of course, see them on the subway, in Central Park, at the gym, in restaurants, at all the current hotspots, at shows and more. But here are some unique ways to see celebrities all over the city.
Museum Sleepovers NYC
Our Museum Sleepovers NYC let you stay overnight at all our favorite hotspots, like the Museum of Natural History, Intrepid Museum, Bronx Zoo, Central Park, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, the NY Public Library, Governors Island, Rubin Museum and more! Experience a real-life Night at the Museum, sleep with the Zoo Animals, camp out in Central Park and more!
Things to Do in NYC – TV Show Tickets
Attending live tapings of TV shows is fun and free. The ticket wait is often months long, so write in for tickets as far in advance as possible. See The Today Show, Good Morning America, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Michael, Regis Mark, The Daily Show, Jimmy Falon and many more. A great alternative to a TV taping is a Movie and TV Tour, combined with your Top of the Rock ticket.
NYC Insider Tip – How Long is a TV Taping?
While watching a live taping is a fun experience, even if you have tickets in hand for a live TV Show taping, it is a very long and slow process. Sometimes, tickets and reservations do not even guarantee you admission. You must arrive at the theater and wait in line for at least an hour, go through an audience warm up (30-60 min), and they often shoot additional footage at the end of the show…so if this is a must-see for you, go for it. Just remember how many other amazing New York City things to do there are! Read more on TV Show Tickets.
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Things to Do in NYC – Movie Screenings
Movie screenings are offered long before movie releases, for Producers who want to test audience reaction, or 2 different endings. You may even be asked to fill out a questionnaire. It’s always fun to say "I saw a preview of that months ago" on opening night of a blockbuster!
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More Things to do in NYC
- Sample NYC vacation itineraries
- If eating at popular restaurant is on your list of things to do in NYC, check the New York Restaurant Guides and make your free online reservations in advance.
- Check if you can see a NYC Museum during their Pay as you Wish Days and Times.
- Maybe add a free tour to your list of things to do in NYC?
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New York City Vacation Planner
Plan your trip in the RIGHT order and get the most out of NYC...
- New York City Vacation Planner
- Best Time to Visit NYC
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- Get the HOTTEST Tickets
- Half Price Broadway Tickets
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- Things to do in NYC
- Manhattan NYC Maps
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- NYC Travel Health & Trip Insurance
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