Travel to NYC, Part 5: What to Do in New York City
- Nov 9, 2025
- 12 min read
Part 5: What to Do in New York City If you have been following our Travel to NYC series, we talked abiut about how to get here, where to stay, and how to get around. But you didn’t come to New York to just learn how to use the MTA app and ride the transit system. And frankly, although Times Square is not #1 on my list, it is for many people, so once you get here and you’ve seen that, what else is there to do?
That depends on your interests, your budget and how much time you have. If you’re a seasoned traveler, you already know what you like to do: outdoor activities, museums, shopping, cultural experiences, exploring neighborhoods, fine dining and more. Typical Tourist Stuff
And a few extras…
1. A good place to start is by using a good guide. Online, check out the NYC official tourism website. It will have the up-to-date information you will need once you get here, even if you planned your itinerary prior.
Take some time to look at the website even before you get to New York so that you can plan your activities logically. For example, if you want to to go to the Statue of Liberty, look at your reservation and ticket time and explore the area around The Battery. Another example is visiting The New York Botanical Garden and The Bronx Zoo. As usual, allow for flexibility (weather is one of those things that can change plans), but you should have an idea of what you want to see.
2. When you arrive, look for the Official NYC Guide book itself, at the airport, hotels and even Macy's. There is actually a tourist booth in the store. Stop by, chat with the folks, maybe even shop a little. It always helps to have a physical guidebook and it is free. Honestly, this guide is about all you need for the most popular sites. But, if you want to see off the beaten path stuff, we'll give you that, too. If you buy any other guidebook, buy it digitally and download it to your tablet or phone.
3. Try to buy all tickets as soon as you can. Even before the pandemic, reservations were necessary for some attractions and now even more so. Also, many tickets are now digital. Make sure you know how to save them to your phone.
The NYC Traveler Tip For Your Trip: did your ticket come to your email as a PDF file? Either take a screenshot or on your computer, save the PDF and airdrop it to your phone if you have Apple products. I use the Books app for my tickets if it doesn’t allow an upload to your wallet.
There are two companies that provide New York City passes that combine several sites in one ticket. Both of them have similar names: City Pass and New York Pass.
4. Whichever company you use make sure you: a) read everything about payment (usually there are no refunds); b) have a plan to see everything included in the pass or you won't save much money at all (there are different versions of the passes); c) take a screen shot of everything in case the download or email does not come through. If you can, print out the confirmations before you leave home. 5. If you don't have much time (and you will never be able to fully experience everything, anyway), consider either one of the double decker bus tours or do your own tour.
To do your own tour, know how to get around New York. See our article here.
This actually brings us back to Tip 1. Figure out what sights to see (just to look at) and what to experience (go inside). You can honestly say you saw the Empire State Building without going to the top. Ditto for the Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Center. You can walk around Rockefeller Center without spending money to go to the top. Instead, you might want to spend the money doing a studio tour or seeing a show at Radio City Music Hall. Save going to the tops of buildings for the next trip. Besides, the weather might not be cooperating anyway (and that goes for The Edge at Hudson Yards and The Summit at One Vanderbilt, which is right outside Grand Central Terminal).
Take public transportation to the area you want to go to. Remember, traffic in Manhattan can be a huge issue, so hiring a car may not be practical. Plus, your car can’t idle waiting for you to come out. Taking car services from place to place is expensive and slow. Buses, trains and even ferries are more efficient. And you can even explore New Jersey, Long Island, the other counties of New York State using public transportation. Here are my top picks for a first timer: Manhattan
1. Tour the Battery and Lower Manhattan. Try to tour the Statue of Liberty, Federal Hall (if it is open) and the 911 Memorial. Know that only Statue Cruises is authorized sell you tickets to the ferry for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We strongly advise you to purchase directly from them. If you have a tour guide, make sure you can verify they are purchasing from them as well.
2. Midtown: See Times Square but then head over to the area between East and West 42-50th Streets between 5th and 6th Avenues. You'll see Bryant Park (5th and 6th Aves, 42nd Street) and Rockefeller Center (5th and 6th Aves, 47-50 Streets). Tip: The East Side ends at 5th Avenue. Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center area straddle 5th and 6th Avenues, so they are located on the East and West Sides.
3. Take a trip uptown to Harlem and/or Washington Heights. Some of the main streets will be Fredrick Douglass Blvd, Malcom X Blvd and the streets between west 116th Street all the way up to West 150 Street. The Studio Museum of Harlem is on 125th Street as well as the iconic Apollo Theater and much, much, much, more.
A NYC well-known "secret": the so-called Southern classic chicken and waffles actually originated in NYC! There are tours for Harlem as well as classic church visits. 4. Want to do something for free and see more than one borough? Walk across the Brooklyn or Williamsburg Bridges to Brooklyn or the Ed Koch (59th Street) Bridge to Queens. Even more adventurous? Ride a bicycle instead and see even more of the other boroughs.
When you get to Brooklyn, especially on a bicycle, explore the Dumbo area, see Domino Park and shop.
In Queens, on a bicycle, go over the Ed Koch bridge and use a bike map or the GPS on your phone to take the bridge to Roosevelt Island. Get back to Manhattan on the tram (yes, bicycle and all).
5. If you can only do one museum, try the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It has modern art, as well as art from every era. The Museum of Modern Art houses Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night. Explore the spiral Guggenheim Museum or walk The High Line from Hudson Yards all the way to the end. Along the way, you’ll see rotating art exhibits for free and you’ll end up at The Whitney Museum. Every museum is worthy of a visit, though. But, if you want something New York-ish, check out the New York Historical Society The New York Public Library (free, always has a special exhibit) or the Museum of the City of New York.
6.Most people walk a little into Central Park and don’t see some of the hidden gems. Instead of entering the park near 59th Street and Central Park South or near Columbus Circle, try East 90th and 5th Ave, near The Reservoir or for even more hidden gems, enter at West 110 Street and Central Park and explore the North Woods.
Downtown near Canal & Varick Streets is the Jackie Robinson Museum. Not only is it a tribute to the trail blazing baseball star, it’s full of baseball history, information and trivia. Plus it has a cool store, which can be accessed without buying a ticket to the museum.
Staten Island
1. The ferry is fun to take (and currently, free) but unless you have firm plans to see something there, you'll be just taking a round trip across the Upper Bay. But, to the right as you exit, there is the Staten Island September 11 Memorial waterfront park. Brooklyn and Queens residents were able to witness the tragedy also, but Staten Island seemed closer with a front row seat. All three boroughs felt the helplessness as they watched the towers fall and the area destroyed. (There are other memorial parks throughout the city).
2. Having said that, Historic Richmond Town, though small, is a charming and quaint area of 17th century houses and buildings. You do expect the founding fathers to walk down the street. Check the website to see if the buildings are open. Some activities may be happening outside of the buildings. Take the ferry from lower Manhattan and this time, yes, take a car service to Richmond Town or the charming Snug Harbor, a cultural center and botanical garden.
3. The Staten Island Zoo has indoor and outdoor exhibits. It actually houses a fairly good-sized reptile house. Our resident groundhog does our spring predictions: Staten Island Chuck aka Charlie C. Hogg live here. You can see him year round.
Bronx 1. If it is your first time, then the Bronx Zoo, of course, and the New York Botanical Garden. Both attractions should be done separately, since they can take a day each, but since they are located near each other, many people try to visit them on the same outing. The NYBG is easier to get to: Metro North trains literally take you directly across the street. And here’s another time to take a car service: take one from here to the Zoo, which is actually adjacent to the Garden, but it’s not that easy to go back and forth from one to the other on foot. Locals can buy memberships at both locales. The Zoo’s membership might include other zoos in the city. Check the website for more info.
2. If you like to hang with the locals, hit up City Island, a nautical eating experience for all things seafood along the mile and a half long City Island Avenue is literally strewn with enough dining to seemingly feed the whole borough. You won’t be able to decide where to eat. The prices may seem high but the portions are extremely generous. For an even more local experience, try Orchard Beach. A car is needed for both destinations.
3. If baseball is in season and if they are in town, a visit to the New York Yankees is always a great outing. Even those not interested in baseball will appreciate Monument Park and the museum. There are actually tours, like many sports venues, check the website for info. If you want merch, the Yankees have a store at the stadium and there is a MLB Store in the Rockefeller Center area.
4. Many people don't realize that the Bronx is actually on the mainland USA, rather than on a island like the other 4 boroughs. It starts to resemble upstate NY with the hills and slopes. Van Cortlandt Park and Pelham Bay Park will give you a good workout as will the streets. Fun Fact: Van Cortlandt Park sponsors a family camping event (overnight). Check the NYC Parks website for more info.
5. Eat yourself silly on Arthur Avenue, a block or two of the finest (mostly) Italian eating in the city (with all due respect to Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn). Each restaurant tries to outdo the other. It can be a bit pricey, so compare the menu prices, which are often posted right outside. You can get great pizza here, too. Also on Arthur Ave is the famous Arthur Avenue Retail Market. Take the ingredients home and make it yourself!
The Hip Hop Museum is still a work in progress but construction is almost complete. Stay tuned.
Brooklyn
At one time, it was said that one in four Americans could trace a family member to Brooklyn. It was also literally the 4th largest city in the USA. It was a city when it was incorporated into NYC. Brooklyn still carries they independent vibe, a flavor all its own. Its neighborhoods are bold, in your face and unapologetically trendy and traditional. Like other parts of the city, cultures meld and flow right into each other. 1. Want to hang with the locals? Go to Coney Island. Even in the winter time, the original Nathan's is worth the trip (featuring hot dogs, seafood, fries and more). A throwback to the old amusement park, with a modern twist, a day can include the New York Aquarium, the beach and the minor league baseball team the Brooklyn Cyclones, all within walking distance of each other. Here you’ll find the famous Williams Candy Shop on Surf Avenue. If you're a resident, one level of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s membership gets you into the Aquarium. Check it out.
2. Downtown Brooklyn has become the hip spot. Normally, you have your choice of performing arts at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), sports and other events at the Barclays Center, nature walks in Prospect Park (which has a zoo and waterfall!), the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (which is one of the best spots in the city for cherry blossoms) and the art of the Brooklyn Museum. It's hard to do it all in one day, but some people try.
3. Make your way over to DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass). Despite its name, which seems to indicate a complicated journey, it's easier to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and then head to the left. Filled with shopping, galleries and eating, instead of taking the train back to Manhattan, you might have to walk off the calories going back over the bridge. 4. The Brooklyn Promenade (less than a mile walk along the East River between the Brooklyn Bridge towards Atlantic Avenue) has great views of Manhattan, snack trucks, a restaurant and gourmet ice cream near the bridge. If you’re lucky, you might see a film crew there: there’s not enough space in this article to list all of the tv shows and movies that have been filmed here not to mention modeling shoots and weddings.
5. The new kid on the block is Domino Park, in Williamsburg. On the site of the old Domino Sugar factory, you explore 5 small acres that packs in a lot, including views of Manhattan's skyline. It’s family and animal friendly, check the website for complete information. Be there at sunset. Trust me.
Queens
1. Although we don't recommend renting a car when you visit NYC, exploring Queens is a good reason to rent one for the day. A trip to the Queens County Farm Museum, a working farm, will help you to understand how Queens was farm land way back in the day. Each season brings a brand new adventure. In autumn, feel free to get lost in the cornfield maze. The farm is hugely popular with schools because it’s on the border between Queens and Nassau County.
2. Another great place to see the sunset over Manhattan's skyline is Gantry Plaza State Park, 4-09 47th Rd. Food trucks are lined up to help you stay nourished as you get a place among tourists and locals alike. On summer, good luck trying to get a spot to see the fireworks on July 4th, when they are on the East River.
3. The heart of Queens' tourism lies in or near the Flushing Meadows Corona Park. It can take a full day or more: you have your choice of the Queens Zoo, the Hall of Science, CitiField, USTA tennis, the Queens Museum, or just the park itself. You won't know what to do first. Rent a bicycle and tour the park. At any given time, you can catch a local sports league of any sport: baseball, soccer, cricket and more.
The USTA gifts us every year with Fan Week, free access to the grounds and stadiums to catch the pros practice or even matches to secure a spot toward the main event. The free highlight is Arthur Ashe Kids Day.
Over at the Queens Museum, see the famous diorama of New York City and watch the locals trying to find their house in the display. It was originally built for the 1964 World’s Fair, which was held at the location where the park is now. And no, next door to the museum, that’s not the set for Men in Black or a scene from The Jetsons: it’s the New York Pavilion, left over from the fair, on the process of being restored.
4. Queens is considered one of the most diverse ethnic areas in the world. And the food is just as diverse. A walk down any major street will give you more choices that you have room for. Get a local perspective: Broadway between 21st and 41st Streets (with the Museum of the Moving Image in the area) Vernon Boulevard between 46th and 51st Avenues in Long Island City (and the MOMA at PS 1 Art Museum) and in Jackson Heights near Roosevelt Avenue and 74th Street.
5. It took years after Superstorm Sandy, but finally the beaches of Queens were restored enough to reopen. There is still work going on believe it or not, but head out to Jacob Riis Park. There is a family area as well as adult sections for those more daring. It's a great alternative to Coney Island and Rockaway Beach, which can be more crowded.
See below for more links.
Happy Travels!
The NYC Traveler Presents Tips for Your Trips
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