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[title]New York City summers are their own special experience. They’re loud, sweaty, glorious and completely worth it. The parks fill up, the waterfronts come alive and the city that spent all winter daring you to step outside suddenly becomes the place to be. But between the bike rides, the ferry trips and the late nights in the park, it's easy to let the heat, the bugs and the general chaos of it all get the better of you.
That’s why we teamed up with NewYork-Presbyterian to make sure you get the most out of summer, without it getting the best of you. NewYork-Presbyterian provides expert care across over 450 locations in New York City and Westchester, with world-class doctors from Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine who can help you have your healthiest summer yet.
So, think of this as your guide to doing the city right, with a little backup from some of NYC’s top doctors.
Manhattan bike tour
Citi Bike’s fleet of over 20,000 bikes includes classic pedal bikes and more than 4,000 pedal-assist e-bikes, the latter being particularly useful if you’re planning a longer route, like the Hudson River Greenway from Battery Park up to the George Washington Bridge, or a loop around Central Park and into the neighborhoods beyond. You can find bike docks throughout the city and unlock them through the Citi Bike app or the dock kiosk.
For a great ride, first be sure to always wear a helmet. And second, be aware that out in the open, moving between sun and shade with no way to duck inside, you’ll be sweating through your sunscreen faster than you think.
Health tip
“When we think about sunscreen, what we’re really thinking about is healthy sun protection strategy overall,” says Dr. Christine Lauren, a dermatologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. “Sunscreen is one component, but protection includes things like seeking shade, and wearing sun-protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.” So, make sure you’re prepared with the right clothing, and keep looking for occasional shaded spots to rest. When it comes to sunscreen, remember that most people apply far less than they should. Each application should be about an ounce, roughly a shot glass worth for an adult’s body. And it's important to remember that sweating washes sunscreen off, so reapplication is necessary. Dr. Lauren says, "One ounce, every two hours."
Governors Island
Governors Island is a 172-acre island in Upper New York Bay, accessible by ferry from Manhattan and Brooklyn every day of the week, and it remains one of the most genuinely transporting places in the city—car-free, breezy and completely removed from the pace of the streets you left behind. The Hills, Hammock Grove and Picnic Point are all part of the South Island Park, and the Jazz Age Lawn Party returns for two weekends in June and August, where live jazz, cocktails and 1920s costumes make for one of the summer’s most memorable days out.
It’s good to note that food and drink vendors on Governors Island are more limited during the week, so come prepared with your own goodies, especially water. Plan to have enough liquids to double your normal fluid intake on especially hot days.
Health tip
“If your body is adequately hydrated, you'll usually urinate about every three to four hours, and the color should be lemon yellow,” says Dr. Judy Tung, an internist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. If you’ve spent hours outside and still don’t feel a need to go, that’s a sign your kidneys are holding onto water, so drink more, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Dr. Alexis Halpern, an emergency medicine physician at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine recommends electrolyte-rich fluids rather than water alone and suggests limiting exertion to the cooler parts of the day—early morning or evening. Avoid excessive alcohol, which contributes to dehydration, and while caffeinated beverages and juice can act as diuretics, they’re still better than nothing if water isn’t available.
Free kayaking on the Hudson
The Downtown Boathouse at Pier 26 in Tribeca offers free sit-on-top kayaks for public use in the protected Hudson River embayment, with no reservations required and no previous kayaking experience necessary. Volunteers provide basic paddling instructions, help you select and adjust your life vest and assist you in getting in and out of a kayak from the floating dock. The program runs Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4:30pm, from late May through early October. You’ll get views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty and the New Jersey coast. Oh, and you will get wet below the waist, so plan accordingly.
It’s also more of a physical workout than it looks, which means you’ll want to think about what you’re fueling up on before you hit the water.
Health tip
Make sure to fuel up prior to any of your summer adventures in NYC. Top your toast or waffle with some peanut butter or an egg for a critical component of a healthy diet, protein. “Protein and fiber will help sustain you and keep you satisfied as you start your day,” says Georgia Giannopoulos, a registered dietitian at NewYork-Presbyterian. “You wouldn’t leave the house with your phone on less than 10%, right? So why would you do that to yourself?” When it comes to snacks, Marti Wolfson, Culinary Nutrition Manager at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, makes the case for a delicious beet hummus: “Hummus contains healthy fats coming from the olive oil and tahini, and beet gives it a beautiful color along with being high in nutrients, such as fiber, folate, manganese, potassium, iron and vitamin C.”
SummerStage
Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage is celebrating its 40th annual season in 2026, presenting more than 80 free and benefit performances in Central Park and neighborhood parks throughout the five boroughs, reaching more than 220,000 fans. The lineup spans jazz, hip-hop, Latin, indie rock, dance and beyond, and most of the shows are free. This summer’s Central Park calendar includes The Martinez Brothers, Elderbrook, Purple Disco Machine and more, with the full lineup still being announced. You spread out a blanket, you find your people and for a few hours, the city feels like it’s putting on a show just for you. It turns out that feeling is doing more for your health than you might expect.
Health tip
“People need food and water. And for most, we need some social connectedness as well,” says Dr. Colleen C. Cullen, a psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. Research backs this up across the board. Being with someone you feel genuinely connected to produces measurable changes in blood pressure. Social connection is also linked to lower levels of depression, anxiety and a range of other mental health challenges. So, getting together with a friend or two and enjoying a free concert in the park is basically self-care.
Shakespeare in the Park
The 2026 season at the newly renovated Delacorte Theater brings two productions: Romeo and Juliet, directed by Saheem Ali, running May 22 through June 28, and The Winter’s Tale, directed by Tony Award-winner Daniel Sullivan, running July 25 through August 23. Both are free, and tickets are distributed daily at noon at the Delacorte on performance days. A Public Theater Patron ID is required, so create or confirm yours at publictheater.org before you go.
What you’re also signing up for, beyond some of the best theater the city has to offer, is a long evening in a grassy, wooded setting at dusk, which brings out mosquitoes.
Health tip
“Mosquito bites can be more than a mere annoyance, so it’s important to focus on deterring mosquitoes and preventing bites,” says Dr. Laura Kirkman, an infectious disease doctor at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. “Apply mosquito repellent before you go outside and consider wearing clothes that will keep the bugs away, like long sleeves or light pants.” Most store-bought repellents contain DEET or picaridin. Both are safe, and both work on ticks, too. If you do get a bite, Dr. Kirkman says, “Most mosquito bites will swell and itch for a day or two and then get better over time. Try not to scratch them, as you do not want to break the skin. To reduce any swelling, apply an ice pack to the site, and for itching, try a mixture of baking soda and water or an over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream.”
Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo spans more than 265 acres and is home to over 10,000 animals, making it one of the largest metropolitan zoos in the world and a legitimate full-day commitment. This summer also brings the world premiere of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood experience (included with admission) running through spring and summer 2026. Flex pricing on admission tickets means planning ahead can save you money, and Wednesdays are pay-what-you-wish.
It’s also a full day on your feet, in the sun, with children who might dehydrate faster than they—or you—even realize. Build hydration breaks into the plan before you need them.
Health tip
“For most kids, I recommend they take a break every hour to have a cup of water,” says Dr. Melanie Wilson-Taylor, a pediatrician at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. To motivate younger kids, offer hydrating foods like cucumbers, watermelon and cantaloupe, or add frozen fruit to their water bottle. If a child feels hot, check their temperature and just make sure it is below 102°F so they are not at risk for severe dehydration or other issues.
Summer in New York is a lot of things: exhilarating, electric and completely irreplaceable. The key is knowing how to move through it smartly, and that’s where having the right experts in your corner makes all the difference. NewYork-Presbyterian's physicians from Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine are leaders in their fields. They bring experience and compassion to every patient’s care, whether at an annual checkup or for more specialized care. With over 450 locations across New York CIty and Westchester, they are always close by for your every need this summer and beyond.
To learn more, visit nyp.org.