The 80 best New York City attractions that should be on your list

The opulent residence that houses a private collection of great masters (from the 14th through the 19th centuries) was originally built for industrialist Henry Clay Frick. The 1914 structure boasts an 18th-century European style, with a beautiful interior court and reflecting pool. Permanent collections include world-class paintings, sculpture and furniture by the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Renoir and French cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener. 

After a five-year closure for renovations, the Frick Collection reopened in spring 2025 with a completely retooled space. For the first time, visitors can walk around a new roster of galleries on the mansion's second floor—once the Frick family's private quarters. That means you can walk into the original bedroom of Henry Clay Frick!

Read more on The Frick's incredible new offerings, including a new 218-seat auditorium, an airy class room, an expanded reception hall, new state-of-the-art conservation studios and the museum’s first cafe.

Beyond the iconic, show-stopping displays—the grizzly bear in the Hall of North American Mammals, the 94-feet long blue whale, the prehistoric Barosaurus skeleton rearing up as if to scare the adjacent Allosaurus skeleton—is an expertly curated, 150-year-old museum that fills visitors of all ages with a curiosity about the universe.

Whether you’re interested in the world below our feet or the cultures of faraway lands or the stars light-years beyond our reach, your visit is bound to teach you a few things you never knew. With four floors filled to the brim with artifacts, you could spend a whole day just looking at the taxidermied animals and studying ancient cultures.

Don't miss the new wing called the Gilder Center, which houses a butterfly vivarium, an insectarium and a 360-degree immersive experience, in an architectural masterpiece.

Not only does it have the trippiest elevator in the city, One World Observatory is also a fierce contender for best views in the city. Ride up to the 102nd floor surrounded by a VR-like film, then admire the 360-degree views at the top of the tower. Standing at 1,776 feet, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the United States. 

Gawk at the entirety of Manhattan and the Empire State Building on one side and the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges on the other. 

Sure, it’s a tourist attraction, but that doesn’t make the sights any less amazing. 

Is it possible to visit New York City without catching a show on Broadway? We're not sure it is. It's one of the best ways to experience NYC in all of its live(ly) authenticity and as there are so many wonderful shows to catch, we rate you'll be pretty spoiled for choice. From emotional dramas to belly-laughing comedies, there's a show on Broadway for everyone. Get dressed up and head on down to the theater district. The lights are calling your name.

Central Park is made up of 843 acres in the center of Manhattan. It includes sprawling lawns, rural woodlands, babbling brooks, and several lakes. The park also features running paths, walking trails, baseball fields, a skating rink, a zoo, formal gardens, theaters, a concert venue, and lots of commemorative art. 

You can really choose your own adventure at Central Park. Whether you have just 20 minutes for a quick stroll on your lunch break or hours to meander on a weekend, it's all possible at Central Park. If you want to loop around the entire park, budget at least three hours. Biking is another great way to see the park and to cover ground more quickly.

For over a hundred years, this transit hub has funneled thousands of daily commuters (over 700,000 a day) through its expansive halls and concourses. Though technically a passageway for those looking to go elsewhere, the building is certainly a destination in its own right.

With its grandiose Beaux Arts framework, the terminal is a spectacle of both form and function. Familiar features include the vaulted, constellation-adorned ceiling and the four-faced opal clock topping the main information booth, both located in the Grand Concourse. Above the 42nd Street entrance find symbolism of Mercury, the god of travel (naturally), and an ornate Tiffany-glass timepiece. 

Some things get better with age. The Empire State Building—now approaching its 100th birthday—is definitely one of them. 

The Empire State Building became an icon when it opened in 1931 as the world's tallest building. Though the landmark may have lost its No. 1 height status, it's remained a beloved destination with incredible views of the city. Thanks to recent updates, it's not just about the views anymore. The building now spotlights art, architecture, and history; plus, it offers a slew of cool events and excellent dining options. 

Tourists tend to make the Empire State Building their first stop upon arriving in New York City, and they're onto something—it's worth a visit, no matter if you're a lifelong New Yorker or just passing through town. 

Sprawling doesn’t even begin to describe this Manhattan institution: It’s one of the few spots in the city where you could spend literally an entire day and see only a fraction of the holdings. Behind the doors of its iconic neoclassical facade lie 5,000 years of art history from pre-history to the present, boasts 36,000 objects, including 2,500 European Old Master, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, as well as the greatest collection of Egyptian art and artifacts outside Cairo—among them, the full-scale Temple of Dendur.

In addition to the trove of permanent exhibitions, The Met also stages special exhibits, including its annual fashion exhibition in connection with The Met Gala.

When the weather is pleasant, there’s nothing quite like walking the High Line. NYC’s elevated park is certainly one of more popular New York attractions everyone needs to check off their list. To give you a bit of history, the High Line was once a railway line, in use until 1980. In 2009, the 1.45-mile-long strip was transformed into what is now considered one of the most unique parks in NYC.

The urbanite playground features wildflowers, greenery and outdoor art installations in addition to killer views of New York’s skyline. The High Line runs from Hudson Yards to the northern edge of Chelsea.

Lady Liberty—or Liberty Enlightening the World, as she’s officially known—was a gift from France on America’s 100th birthday. A universal symbol of freedom that welcomed over 10 million immigrants sailing past to Ellis Island during the turn of the 20th century, the copper-plated sentinel stands 305 feet tall from the bottom of her base to the tip of her torch.

The National Park Service offers daily tours of Liberty Island as well as neighboring Ellis Island, which served as the first stop for more than 12 million immigrants between 1852 and 1954. While admission to both parks is technically free, visitors must buy ferry tickets to get there. Be sure to book online well in advance, as day-of tickets tend to sell out quickly—especially in the summer months.

The century-old main branch of the NYPL is about as regal a setting for reading—either on your laptop or those old dusty things called books—as you’ll find in the city. Two massive Tennessee-marble lions, dubbed Patience and Fortitude, flank the main portal and have become the institution’s mascots.

Once inside, check out the cavernous Rose Main Reading Room, spanning almost 300 feet and outfitted with chandeliers and stunning ceiling murals. Free guided tours (at 11am and 2pm) stop at Rose Main Reading Room and the Bill Blass Public Catalog Room.

Don't miss the permanent Polonsky Exhibition, featuring a true treasure trove of more than 250 unique and rare items culled from the library's various research centers—we're talking Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, the stuffed animals that belonged to the real-life Christopher Robin and inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, and more. 

This fascinating museum—actually a series of restored tenement apartments at 97 Orchard Street—is accessible only by guided tour. Tickets are sold at the visitors’ center at 108 Orchard Street; tours often sell out, so it’s wise to book ahead. Tours give glimpses into the daily lives of immigrant clans that called the building home over the decades.

You can actually look forward to going to JFK International Airport because of this gorgeous, completely renovated TWA Terminal, which serves as a hotel, food and drink, and convention destination. The interior of Eero Saarinen’s landmark 1962 building exudes 1960s chic with 512 guest rooms that offer views of JFK’s runways, a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant, a rooftop pool, and an observation deck. 

Whether you go for a day trip or overnight, it's a fabulous journey back in time. 

The Oculus is one of the world’s most expensive train stations, serving 12 subway lines and the PATH train, with a beautiful mall inside of it. Its wild exterior designed by Santiago Calatrava, which resembles the skeleton of a whale, has white metal-clad steel ribs that reach up and out which actually symbolize a hand releasing a dove.

The structure is a lasting reminder of the attacks of September 11, 2001 — it is in alignment with the sun’s solar angles on each September 11, from 8:46 am, when the first plane struck, until 10:28 am, when the second tower collapsed. Its central skylight fits this alignment and washes the Oculus floor with a beam of light. The shopping center inside boasts stores like the Apple Store, Aesop, Cole Haan, Golden Bar, Moleskine, John Varvatos and others. Dining includes Eataly, Gansevoort Market, Wasabi Sushi & Bento and more.

The 9/11 Museum, located where the Twin Towers once stood, explores the history of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The museum houses artifacts, historical records, firefighting equipment and a memorial exhibition. Tours with expert guides are available. 

Outside the museum is the memorial, which honors the 2,977 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing on February 26, 1993. The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest man-made waterfalls in North America. 

Times Square in NYC—New York's most crowded attraction—is a global icon in its own right. It's the "center of the world" and the epicenter of NYC tourism with the best Broadway shows and photo opportunities with The Naked Cowboy and even those creepy mascots. Its fabled days of grime and crime are a distant memory, thankfully, but it still has much to experience, especially during the holiday season. 

This Madison Avenue institution began as the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan and is his artistic gift to the city. Building on the collection Morgan amassed in his lifetime, the museum houses first-rate works on paper, including drawings by Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Picasso; three Gutenberg Bibles; a copy of Frankenstein annotated by Mary Shelley; manuscripts by Dickens, Poe, Twain, Steinbeck and Wilde; sheet music handwritten by Beethoven and Mozart; and an original edition of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol that’s displayed every yuletide.

Also keep an eye out for literary-themed special exhibitions. 

Take on the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere at Hudson Yards. The bird's-eye attraction dubbed Edge is well worth a visit—that is, if you’re not afraid of heights. The building’s outdoor terrace takes you onto the highest public balcony in NYC. The deck not only features panoramic views of our city’s skyline but a killer vantage point below. Brave souls can stand on a large, see-through glass floor and wave to passersby 1,100 feet beneath. 

In our collective trips up there, we’ve had our heart racing just from peering through the glass. Through a program called City Climb, we’ve even climbed the side of it, which you can do yourself.

Though it’s likely that the only natural wildlife you’ll see at Coney Island is seagulls eager to scoop up whatever boardwalk snacks you leave behind, those intrigued by the ocean can immerse themselves in aquaculture at the New York Aquarium.

A sea lion pool, penguin habitat, recreated reef, shark exploration and more live sea creatures (and occasionally their handlers) offer an up-close-and-personal look at both Atlantic and Pacific Ocean life. Touching pools let you feel the slick surfaces of some animals, and the entrancing tanks are relaxing enough to stare at for hours on end. With a dedicated mission of conserving the oceans and oceanic life, the New York Aquarium—the oldest continually operating aquarium in the country—will leave you with an enhanced and renewed passion for natural preservation.

Sure, the Brooklyn Bridge serves a practical purpose as the means for millions of commuters to travel from lower Manhattan to Brooklyn, but it is also one of the most iconic structures in the city. You can walk and bike over it, but beware, the crowds are serious! Go early in the morning or late at night to avoid the hustle and bustle.

A true feat of 19th-century engineering, this 1.3-mile long steel-wire suspension bridge was designed by famed civil engineer John A. Roebling in 1869 (who, subsequently, would be the first of over 20 deaths caused by the construction of the bridge after a tragic accident involving a docking ferry). When the bridge officially opened 14 years later on May 24, 1883, it was the world’s largest suspension bridge and immediately became a sensation as over 150,000 people crossed the bridge on that day alone. 

Perched atop the One Vanderbilt super-tall just west of Grand Central Terminal, you'll enter this Instagram-worthy experience underground before ascending to a mirrored infinity room. The immersive room, called "Air," reflects the sky and city views over and over, making you feel like you're walking in the sky or on another plane of existence.

Next up is "Levitation," a series of transparent glass sky-boxes that jut out of the building at 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue. Here, you can stand over the street with just glass between you and the ground. It's certainly not for the faint of heart.

When Madame Tussaud first started creating wax figures in Europe in the late 18th century, she immortalized figures from the bloody French Revolution. Now two centuries after her death, Tussaud’s legacy lives on with museums in major cities around the world, yet few can compare in either size or popularity with the five-story Times Square edition.

A favorite among tourists and young, culture-obsessed visitors, this quirky venue is packed with 200-plus wax figures, which include various movie stars, singers, athletes and politicians. Each model is painstakingly made by teams of artists through the use of precise measurements, photographs, casts and oil paints. The result is so uncanny that the picture you take next to President Obama or Jennifer Aniston might just look real enough to trick your friends on social media—which alone might be worth the admission price.

History buffs will love this Upper West Side institution. Built in 1804, it's the oldest museum in New York City. The New York Historical features more than 1.6 million works that explore the history of the city and the country, including exhibits, art and historical artifacts.

The Patricia D. Klingenstein Library has more than three million books, newspapers, maps, photographs and more from our nation’s founding through slavery and Reconstruction and beyond. The museum is also home to the Center for Women's History, which unearths the lives and legacies of women who have shaped and continue to shape the American experience. And don't miss floor four with a glowing gallery of 100 beautiful Tiffany lamps.

New York’s ever-changing skyline acquired another sky-high attraction for Gothamites to climb in 2019: Vessel. The 60-ton sculpture, located at sleek cultural destination Hudson Yards, resembles a honeycomb, although some New Yorkers say it looks like a waste can. Others say the larger-than-life art installation designed by British architect Thomas Heatherwick is New York’s version of the Eiffel Tour. As for what we say?

It looks like a good excuse to exercise and Instagram. We climbed the spiral staircase made up of 154 interconnecting staircases, almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings—the various outlook points offer sweeping views of the Hudson River that will appear mighty dreamy at sunset.

Bonus: New Yorkers can visit for free on select days; here's how.

We won’t argue if you want to call this glimmering pinnacle of Art Deco architecture NYC’s most eye-popping skyscraper. With its steel sunburst crown, the Chrysler Building is the pinnacle of the art deco era and one of the world’s most recognizable skyscrapers.

Despite its historic significance, no public tours are offered of the tower. But during business hours, visitors can explore the elegant lobby with Moroccan marble walls and embellished Sienna marble floors. Since the public observation deck closed in 1945, there has been no official way for tourists to admire the view from the triangular windows of the Chrysler Building’s iconic crown…but there is a dental office located on the 54th floor. So the best way to enjoy a breathtaking view of the NYC skyline is by getting a root canal.

You'll find a smorgasbord of New York sites in this distinctive, multi-block complex—in fact, the ground level alone is home to the bronze Atlas statue, the "Today Show" plaza, and a bevy of restaurants. During wintertime, Rockefeller Center's iconic ice-skating rink and Christmas tree draw major crowds. Higher up, Top of the Rock rivals the Empire State Building in panoramic city views.

While enjoying the Art Deco architecture, don't miss the triptych above the outdoor entrance to 5 Rockefeller Center or the rinkside Prometheus statue; both purportedly contain secret Freemason symbols.

Urban visionaries Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who most famously designed Central Park, also put their stamp on bucolic, 526-acre Prospect Park. Amenities like the Long Meadow and Nethermead offer plenty of space to pull up on a patch of grass and indulge in some people-watching, and the woodland expanse of the Ravine is a towering forest within bustling Brooklyn. 

Also don't miss the park’s kid-friendly offerings, including the zoo and LeFrak Center at Lakeside, where roller skating and ice skating goes down.

Brooklyn's premier institution is a less-crowded alternative to Manhattan’s bigger-name spaces, though the innovative and impactful items found inside are just as important as anything you'll find in the city.

The museum, found on the edge of the sprawling Prospect Park, has a large holding of Egyptian art as well as the famous feminist piece, The Dinner Party, by Judy Chicago. Works by such Impressionists masters as Cézanne, Monet and Degas are also included in the collection along with prime examples of Early American Art, period rooms and so much more.

The Whitney made contemporary American artists its main focus immediately upon opening in 1931—a then quixotic proposition at a time when New York’s art scene was considered provincial compared to those of Paris and the rest of the Continent. But it is a tribute to the vision of the museum’s founder, Gilded Age heiress Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, that her namesake institution’s mission has grown to succeed beyond her wildest imagination.

Still, the museum’s reputation rests mainly on its temporary shows, particularly the Whitney Biennial. Held in even-numbered years, the Biennial is among the most prestigious (and controversial) assessments of contemporary art in America. 

New York's Guggenheim is as famous for its landmark building—designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and restored on its 50th birthday in 2009—as it is for its impressive collection and daring temporary art shows. The museum owns Peggy Guggenheim’s trove of cubist, surrealist and abstract expressionist works, along with the Panza di Biumo Collection of American minimalist and conceptual art from the 1960s and ’70s.

In addition to works by Manet, Picasso, Chagall and Bourgeois, the Guggenheim holds the largest collection of Kandinskys in the U.S. Keep an eye out for temporary exhibitions as well, often featuring contemporary artists.

Every city park offers its own brand of verdant escapism, but this lush expanse in the Bronx goes beyond landscaped flora. In addition to housing swaths of vegetation—including the 50-acre forest, featuring some of the oldest trees in the city—the garden cultivates a rotating roster of shows. Don't miss the annual orchid show every spring.

Among its many amenities is a gallery devoted to art exhibitions, usually of work related to flora and the natural world.

The Brooklyn Flea is undoubtedly one of the most popular flea markets to hit in NYC if you're looking for the best selection of throwback wares and records, which you certainly won't find anywhere else. The food selection is also nothing to sneeze at, since the creators also operate one of the city’s best food festivals: Smorgasburg.

The Brooklyn Flea in DUMBO is open every weekend in spring through winter. Its sister market Chelsea Flea is open year-round on weekends from 8am-5pm.

Give the city’s fourth-biggest park a day and it’ll show you the world: Its most enduring icon is the Unisphere, the mammoth steel globe created for the 1964 World’s Fair. But there’s also first-rate culture and sports at the New York Hall of Science, Arthur Ashe Stadium and Citi Field (depending on how the Mets are doing).

The rolling green fields also encompass a zoo, a skate park, a barbecue area, playfields, a museum and a hockey center.

Thanks to the boxy red tram that glides above the East River, Roosevelt Island may be one of the only spots in New York City that’s a joy to get to via public transportation. The area's attractions include tennis courts, ball fields and Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, a tribute to our 32nd president, located on the island's southern tip.

There’s something for everyone, from label-loving fashionistas to discerning foodies, at this waterfront shopping and dining mecca in Battery Park City. In addition to housing corporate offices, Brookfield Place has a myriad of luxury stores, including Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci and Tory Burch. Not looking to spend a lot of dough during your visit?

If you’re hungry for delicious cuisine, you’ll find a variety of options for every budget, whether you’re seeking a fancy sit-down dinner or a quick bite on the go. 

The former home of the National Biscuit Company is a hot spot for foodies and shopping addicts alike. Primarily known for its wide-range of eateries, Chelsea Market is hands-down one of New York’s most notable food halls boasting more than 55 vendors (including Los Tacos No 1, Amy's Bread, and Miznon).

Whether you’ve got a hankering for a steaming-hot cup of seafood bisque, perfectly aged cheese or a strong and smooth shot of espresso, Chelsea Market has you covered. Aside from finger-lickin’ fare and sweet merchandise, the attraction offers historical charms such as the market’s iconic fountain, which was crafted using discarded drill bits and exposed pipe from the former Nabisco factory.

Visitors may think they know this venerable theater from TV’s Showtime at the Apollo. But you've got to see it to truly experience The Apollo. Known for launching the careers of Ella Fitzgerald, Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo, among others at its legendary Amateur Night competition, the Apollo continues to mix veteran talents like Dianne Reeves with more contemporary acts like the Roots and Lykke Li. 

Looking for a great place to enjoy a panoramic view of everything the city has to offer? The Brooklyn Promenade—a one-third-mile stretch of pavement along the East River—is a favorite destination of residents, tourists and couples looking to make out next to an unforgettable span of NYC’s skyline.

Breathtaking views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty are both visible from here, but the Promenade wasn’t originally built for aesthetic reasons: City planner Robert Moses originally wanted the Brooklyn Queens Expressway to run through Brooklyn Heights. After lots of opposition from the local community, the promenade was built to insulate the mansions and tree-lined streets nearby from highway noise and has been doing so since it opened in October 1950.

Once you’re done enjoying the views, you’ll find no shortage of food and drinks nearby: Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and Grimaldi’s are both within walking distance of the promenade. And no trip is complete without a turn or two on Jane's Carousel!

While the giant signs that adorn this department store with the label of “The World’s Largest Store” are not true anymore, there’s no doubt that the flagship Macy’s is massive (with a big history to boot). For over a century, New Yorkers and visitors from the world over have been visiting Macy’s at its iconic location at 34th Street and Broadway. Though originally founded as a dry goods emporium in the 19th century, today shoppers flock to the store's 2.2 million square feet—which takes up a whole city block—to buy clothes, accessories and home goods.

Be sure to look for the cool wooden escalators, which feel like stepping back in time. And mark your calendar for the annual spring flower show, which fills the front windows and the store's ground level with blooming displays.

Those searching for a little peace and quiet would do well to spend a few hours at this verdant oasis. The garden—which abuts two other neighborhood gems: the Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park—was founded in 1910 and features thousands of types of flora, laid out over 52 acres. Each spring, crowds descend on the space to ooh and ahh over the 70 trees blooming along the Cherry Esplanade.

But equally impressive are serene spots like the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, the first Japanese-inspired garden built in the U.S., and the Shakespeare Garden, brimming with plants (such as primrose and crocuses) mentioned in the Bard’s works.

The Bombers’ current field opened in 2009 to much fanfare and stands opposite the now-flattened original. It may not be the House That Ruth Built, but many elements of the newer arena—the limestone exterior, the gatelike frieze around the top—mimic the old, while cup holders at every seat and a high-def scoreboard are noticeable improvements.

A museum behind right field aims to hold signed baseballs from every living Yankees player, but the most potent relic wasn’t allowed to stay on site—in 2008 the construction staff jackhammered out a Red Sox jersey a rival fan tried to install in the structure’s foundation.

This park is named after neither the Union of the Civil War nor the labor rallies that once took place here, but simply for the union of Broadway and Bowery Lane (now Fourth Avenue). Even so, it does have its radical roots: From the 1920s until the early ’60s, it was a favorite spot for tub-thumping political oratory. Following 9/11, the park became a focal point for the city’s outpouring of grief.

These days you'll find a lively farmers market, holiday shops in the winter and a summer concert series for kids.

This 21-story Beaux Arts edifice once dominated midtown. Although it’s now dwarfed by other structures, when it debuted in 1902, the triangle-shaped monolith represented the threat and the thrill of modernity: Naysayers claimed it would never withstand the high winds plaguing 23rd Street, while revered photographer Alfred Stieglitz—who captured it in an iconic shot in 1903—wrote that it was “a picture of a new America still in the making.”

Today, it’s possibly the least tourist-friendly New York landmark, but it sure is pretty from the outside (when it's not under scaffolding, that is).

Set in a lovely park overlooking the Hudson River, the Cloisters houses the Met’s medieval art and architecture collections. A path winds through the peaceful grounds to a castle that seems to have survived from the Middle Ages. (It was built less than 100 years ago, using material from five medieval French cloisters.)

Be sure to check out the famous Unicorn Tapestries, the 12th-century Fuentidueña Chapel and the Annunciation Triptych by Robert Campin. 

For World War II buffs and anybody who likes checking out fighter ships and planes, this museum on a real aircraft carrier The Intrepid docked at Pier 86 is a chance for an up-close look at the nuts and bolts of our not-so-distant history.

Aboard this vessel, which fought in the Pacific during the 1940s and withstood head-on attacks by Kamikaze planes and a torpedo strike, visitors will find a wealth of information about how naval officers lived on the massive ship, including hands-on-displays of items used in everyday life and views of the lower living quarters, and an outdoor flight deck with an impressive assortment of fighter jets and helicopters. Also check out the Space Shuttle Pavilion where NASA orbiter, the Enterprise, is parked.

"How you doin'?" If you read that in Joey Tribbiani's voice, then you've got to get yourself to "The FRIENDS Experience: The One in New York City." The immersive, walk-through experience in the Flatiron District features photo ops, props from the show, and Easter eggs at every turn.

There’s a chance to pose with the "Pivot" couch, a backdrop that looks like the Vegas chapel, and a photo opp with Phoebe’s grandma's taxi. You can even pose on top of Pat the Dog, snap a photo with the giant poking device and take a selfie in Monica's apartment. Using high-quality cameras, staff take photos at each spot, which you can purchase at the end. But staff will also take free photos with your cell phone if you ask. 

Whether you’re interested in theater, opera, dance, music or film, few names are as synonymous with high culture as Lincoln Center. Originally built in the late ‘50s with financial backing from John D. Rockefeller III, the 16-acre complex, made up of 30 separate venues, is a dream for performance art lovers. Perhaps you'll see the Philharmonic in David Geffen Hall or take in a show with the talented Met Opera or catch the New York City Ballet's annual performance of the Nutcracker. No matter which you choose, you're in for a treat.

On any given night visitors sitting by the central plaza enjoying the glowing lights of the fountain might see Metropolitan Opera patrons in full gowns, classical musicians with instruments on their backs and young children pirouetting, inspired by the latest from the New York City Ballet.

This branch of the Smithsonian Institution displays its collection around the grand rotunda of the 1907 Custom House located at the bottom of Broadway (which, many moons ago, began as an Indigenous trail). The life and culture of Indigenous Americans is presented in rotating exhibitions—from Navajo jewelry to ritual tribal-dance costumes—along with contemporary artwork. 

The museum is a branch of the NMAI in Washington D.C. and thus officially an extension of the Smithsonian Institute—which is why it’s free (well, not entirely; your taxes pay for it). No tickets are required, just show up to explore.

At this massive art institution, find the classics in contemporary art (Picasso, Matisse, Pollock), alongside art by new and up-and-coming artists, with a special focus on women and artists of color. The museum covers a whopping 708,000 square feet, and every inch is packed with paintings, sculptures and films. The galleries are divided by era, so you can literally walk through the evolution of modern art.

Located on the grounds of two World’s Fairs, the Queens Museum holds one of Gotham’s most amazing sights: The Panorama of the City of New York, a 9,335-square-foot scale model of the five boroughs, created for the 1964 exposition and featuring teeny-tiny models of landmarks. In addition to The Panorama, also check out expanded art galleries, fascinating historical exhibits, wide open entryways and a glass facade facing Grand Central Parkway.

This legendary house of worship counts Presidents, movie stars and business moguls among past and present attendees. While its intricate marble towers are a marvel of Gothic Revival architecture, St. Pat’s interior—including the Louis Tiffany–designed altar and spectacular rose window—is tremendous as both a feat of master craftsmanship and a source of spiritual inspiration.

Housed in a distinctive Romanesque Revival building (a former public school), PS1 mounts cutting-edge shows and hosts an acclaimed international studio program. Artwork crops up in every corner, from the stairwells to the roof. PS1 became an affiliate of MoMA in 1999, and the two institutions sometimes stage collaborative exhibitions.

Reflecting the museum’s global outlook, it has focused in recent years on such luminaries as Janet Cardiff and Olafur Eliasson. It also hosts the popular summertime party, Warm Up.

Walk through the area south of Broome and east of Lafayette Streets—that’s Chinatown, NYC—and it might feel like you’ve been transported to another continent. Mott and Grand Street are chock-full of stands selling foods such as live eels, square watermelons and hairy rambutans while Canal Street draws you in with some of the best shops for jewelry and gifts.

As a major part of NYC’s food culture, you’ll find excellent restaurants in Chinatown representing the cuisine of virtually every province of mainland China and Hong Kong, plus Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese eateries.

The hippies who famously turned up and tuned out in Washington Square Park are still there in spirit, and indeed often in person. In warmer months the park—which was once a potter’s field—is one of the best people-watching spots in the city, humming with musicians and street artists, while skateboarders clatter near the base of the iconic 1895 Washington Arch (a modest replica of Paris’s Arc de Triomphe). 

A quick history lesson: The iconic arch came to the city in the late 1800s to celebrate the centennial of George Washington's inauguration. A temporary, wooden arch was erected outside of the park near the mansion of businessman and philanthropist William Rhinelander Stewart.

New Yorkers loved the arch so much that they raised money to erect a permanent version of it for the park. The arch we know and love today was built with those privately raised funds.

Situated behind the New York Public Library is Bryant Park, a well-cultivated retreat that hosts a dizzying schedule of free entertainment during the summer, including the popular Monday night outdoor movies. In the winter, look for an ice skating rink and pop-up shops for the holidays. The park also boasts free wireless access.

Big, beloved and not-so-beautiful MSG is perhaps the most famous sports arena in the world. Perched above Penn Station since 1968, the 20,000-seat venue is not only home to New York basketball and ice hockey teams the Knicks and the Rangers, but also is a favorite spot for college basketball tournaments (The Big East), professional boxing, MMA fighting and as a destination for WWE. Non-sports fans, however, mainly know the Garden as the best spot in town to catch touring international sensations like Adele, Beyoncé and countless other amazing concerts.

To learn about the history of the arena, which existed in several other iterations at other locations for the past 130 years, check out the All-Access Tour, which stops in the arena bowl and takes visitors to exhibits featuring images and paraphernalia from iconic moments in sports and performance history.

Sitting just a ferry ride away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, this Staten Island gem—a former home for retired sailors—is still somewhat of a secret. Spread across 83 acres, the area boasts an enormous botanical garden and cultural center surrounded by cobblestone streets and tiny paths of Victorian and Tudor homes. 

One of the most popular attractions here is the Chinese Scholar’s Garden, fitted with magnificent rocks meant to resemble mountains inspired by the poetry and paintings of Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist monks, as well as a bamboo forest path and Koi-filled pond.

This museum serves as a love letter to the enigmatic street artist known only as Banksy. The Lower Manhattan venue features the largest collection of Banksy’s life-sized murals and artwork in the world. 

After passing through an industrial door, you'll see a city of walls a.k.a. Banksy's ideal canvas. By its nature, street art is impermanent, but this museum offers a long-term space for the ephemeral. Many of the re-creations at the museum no longer exist on the street. Expect to see more than 160 works on display in this celebration of the artist.

Just a programming note: The production at the museum is unauthorized and unaffiliated with the artist. 

Smorgasburg, the food bazaar spectacular, offers dozens of great vendors across several locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan during the summer and fall. Look for fragrant Ethiopian stews, Hawaii-style street comforts, explosive pani puri, potato puff poutine and lots more.

While promoting the reopening of Astoria’s ginormous homage to the silver screen in 2011, film curator David Schwartz described heading into the 267-seat theater as “entering a spaceship and going on a voyage.” We’re hard-pressed to characterize the trippy, almost podlike space any better.

Moving Image manages to land some big gets for Q&As and programs an intriguing mix of cutting-edge world and experimental cinema, classics (sometimes in that rarely screened, beautiful 70-millimeter format) and New York premieres.

The museum also presents exhibitions and screenings that relay the history and cultural impact of movies, television and digital media. Look for ongoing installations such as “Behind the Screen,” which examines the filmmaking process. Film-nerds, if you haven't already been, it's a must. 

Located on New York City’s Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum is a museum at the intersection of art and Jewish culture for people of all backgrounds. It hosts rotating temporary exhibitions and has a permanent collection exhibition that features contemporary and modern art and Judaica.

The Blue Note prides itself on being "the jazz capital of the world." Bona fide musical titans (Chick Corea, Ron Carter) rub against hot young talents, while the close-set tables in the club get patrons rubbing up against each other. Arrive early to secure a good spot—and we recommend shelling out for a table seat.

When sculptor (and landscape architect, and theatrical-set and furniture designer) Isamu Noguchi opened his Queens museum in 1985, he was the first living artist in the U.S. to establish such an institution. It occupies a former photo-engraving plant across the street from the studio he had occupied since the 1960s to be closer to stone and metal suppliers along Vernon Boulevard.

The entire building was designed by Noguchi to be a meditative oasis amid its gritty, industrial setting. Twelve galleries and a garden are populated with Noguchi’s sculptures; also on display are drawn, painted and collaged studies, architectural models, and stage and furniture designs.

Nothing offers a thrilling jolt of Brooklyn nostalgia quite like a ride on the Cyclone. The roller coaster dates to 1927, when Coney Island was a booming seaside resort, but shuttered for six years starting in 1969, marking one of many troubled economic periods for the ’hood. Thankfully, in 1975, the Astroland theme park took control over the wooden roller coaster and saved it from demolition.

It was declared a city landmark in 1988 and a National Historic Landmark in 1991, and is now part of Coney's new Luna Park theme park.

It’s hard to get good food on the cheap, but for ten years, Queens Night Market has prided itself on offering the city’s best eats for just $5-6. Ranked one of the best food festivals in the U.S., the foodie festival runs on Saturday nights through the summer at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. 

In addition to food, shop vintage apparel, handmade jewelry, ceramic products, locally produced art pieces, crochet toys, stationery, and much more.

In its existence, the market has attracted over three million visitors, helped launch 450 new businesses in New York and represented more than 95 countries through its vendors and their food. In 2022, the event averaged over 15,000 attendees each Saturday night. 

Once heralded as the Showplace of the Nation, this famed Rockefeller Center venue has razzle-dazzled patrons since the 1930s with its elaborate Art Deco details, massive stage and theatrics.

Though best known as the home of the Christmas Spectacular, which stars the high-kicking Rockettes and a full cast of nativity animals, many musicians consider the 6,000-seat theater a dream stage to perform on, with everyone from Heart to Hugh Jackman to Teddy Swims on the venue's recent performance calendar. Fans can also take a guided tour to go behind the scenes of the iconic venue and meet a Rockette!

A seven-minute ferry ride takes you to this island sanctuary, a scant 800 yards from lower Manhattan. Thanks to its strategic position in the middle of New York Harbor, Governors Island was a military outpost and off-limits to the public for 200 years, but it finally opened to summer visitors in 2006.

The verdant, 172-acre isle still retains a significant chunk of its military-era architecture, which is worth exploring. Plus, ride a bike, walk through a lavender field, hang out in a hammock and hit the spa.

After 90 years, this basement club’s stage still hosts the crème de la crème of mainstream jazz talent. Plenty of history has been made here—John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Bill Evans have grooved in this hallowed hall—and the 16-piece Vanguard Jazz Orchestra has been the Monday-night regular since 1966. Thanks to the venue's strict no cell phone policy, seeing a show here feels like stepping back and time. It's just you and the music. 

This elegant addition to the city’s museum scene is devoted entirely to late-19th- and early-20th-century German and Austrian fine and decorative arts. Located in a renovated brick-and-limestone mansion that was built by the architects of the New York Public Library, this brainchild of the late art dealer Serge Sabarsky and cosmetics mogul Ronald S. Lauder has the largest concentration of works by Gustav Klimt (including his iconic Adele Bloch-Bauer I) and Egon Schiele outside Vienna.

You’ll also find a bookstore, a chic (and expensive) design shop and the Old World–inspired Café Sabarsky, serving updated Austrian cuisine and ravishing Viennese pastries.

The Museum of Broadway, which celebrates more than 100 years of theater in New York City, opened its doors in November 2022, making it one of the newer museums on the scene. Exhibits include costumes, rare documents, photographs, sketches and immersive tributes to popular musicals.

Situated in the former Tenderloin district, which bumped-and-grinded with dance halls and brothels in the 1800s, MoSex explores the subject within a cultural context—but that doesn’t mean some content won’t shock the more buttoned-up visitor. On the ground floor, “Action!,” which screens around 220 clips from more than 150 years of sex on film, includes explicit scenes from such (literally) seminal porn flicks as Deep Throat.

Upstairs, highlights of the permanent collection range from the tastefully erotic to the outlandish. Cop a feel of one of the silicone Real Doll torsos. An 1890s anti-onanism device could be confused with the S&M gear, which includes a nine-foot steel-framed love pen donated by a local dominatrix. The spacious gift shop is stocked with books and arty sex toys, and aphrodisiac elixirs are served in a new café.

Located in Spanish Harlem (a.k.a. El Barrio), El Museo del Barrio is dedicated to the work of Latino artists who reside in the U.S., as well as Latin American masters. The 6,500-piece permanent collection ranges from pre-Colombian artifacts to contemporary installations. The space also features updated galleries, an exposed courtyard for programming and events, and a Pan-Latino cafe that serves tacos, chili, and rice and beans.

RISENY places thrill-seekers inside a 180-degree, 40-foot projection dome that plays 8K aerial footage to create the sensation of flight. (The ride is similar to Disneyland's "Soarin’ Over California" experience.) 

The experience begins with a film that touches on NYC’s history, then a re-creation of the city's first subway station, and finally into a virtual subway car that speeds through major NYC pop culture moments. Once they get through the galleries, visitors are finally whisked into the air, where they'll "soar" around NYC's landmarks to a soundtrack with songs like Taylor Swift’s "Welcome to New York" and Frank Sinatra’s "Theme From New York." The full-motion seats will dip, turn, and soar while wind, mist, and scents are blown at riders' faces.

Ice cream is at the center of this 20,000-square-foot museum that'll make the cold treat even more fun (who knew it'd even be possible?). Across 13 multi-sensory installations, visitors to the museum will be able to interact with fun elements like a three-story indoor slide, the all-pink Celestial Subway, and a new add-on where guests can build their own edible slime.

Even better: The sweet treats along the way. Yes, we're talking about unlimited ice cream throughout the museum. For adults, check out some fun themed cocktails as well.