80 GREAT ATTRACTIONS IN NEW YORK CITY
No other city in the United States offers such a staggering amount of great attractions as New York City. That's probably why more than 60 million visitors flock to the city annually. It's the type of place you can visit for an entire week each year and always continue to find great new things to do.
New York is a special place, and as we've dug deeper into the city ourselves, we've realized just how magical it is. Using all of the knowledge we've obtained from our trips over the years, we've cultivated this list of 80 great attractions in New York City. I hope you enjoy the list and please email me if I missed any great attractions in the city.
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Central Manhattan | 1/2 to full day | FREE
The section of 5th Avenue between Central Park (59 St.)
and Bryant Park (42nd St.) is one of the world's iconic shopping districts. There are many luxury brand and flagship stores along this very popular avenue. The Louis Vuitton suitcase building can also be seen along this route (although I believe the display is only temporary). Although 5th Avenue is full of stores, many other nearby streets are nearly as packed with them as well (e.g. Madison Avenue, 6th Ave, 7th Ave, etc.).
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near Rockefeller Center | 1-2 hours | FREE (but $$-$$$ for the 'doll experiences')
American Girl NYC is a flagship toy store famous for its beloved dolls, doll accessories, and doll experiences (e.g. doll salon services). If you have the funds, young girls will almost certainly enjoy this store and its (pricey) doll experiences.
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American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) |
along the western edge of the center section of Central Park | 1/2 to full day | $$
The AMNH is one of the premier natural history museums of the United States. It is best known for its wildlife dioramas and dinosaur skeletons/fossils, but there's so much more spread across its four floors. I'm a huge fan of the gem and mineral exhibit on the 1st floor. You could easily spend a full day in this massive museum.
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9th Ave between 33rd St. and 34th St. (near Penn Station and Hudson Yards) | 1-2 hours | FREE
B&H Photo Video is one of the largest photography stores in the world. They have a huge selection of products for both amateur and professional photographers, filmmakers, and audio professionals. The retail space is about 70,000 square feet, which is quite large when compared to the average size of a Best Buy store, which is around 35,000-40,000 square feet.
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Lower Manhattan (56 Leonard St; near Ghostbusters Headquarters) | 10 minutes | FREE
Not nearly as well known as its Chicago cousin (known as Cloud Gate or simply, the Bean) the 'mini Bean' of NYC is a stainless steel structure located at the bottom of the building known as the 'Jenga Tower'.
Its shiny surface provides fun reflections and great photo opportunities.
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Midtown near Times Square | 2-3 hours per show | $$$-$$$$
There are several dozen theaters on or near the street known as Broadway that offer professional-quality live performance productions. Some of the more popular current productions and shows include:
✮ Aladdin
✮ Book of Mormon, The
✮ Chicago
✮ Hamilton
✮ Les Miserables
✮ Lion King, The (this is my recommendation for the best Broadway show for kids)
✮ MJ the Musical
✮ Moulin Rouge
✮ Phantom of the Opera, The
✮ Rent
✮ West Side Story
✮ Wicked
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Lower Manhattan (northeast of the Financial District) | 2-3 hours to walk across the bridge to Brooklyn and back | FREE
Take a 1.1-mile walk across this
iconic, hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge to visit the borough of Brooklyn. You'll earn great views on the bridge (especially when walking back towards Manhattan). Once in Brooklyn, you can walk or take the subway to visit many other great attractions (such as the famous 'DUMBO' view, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Heights Promenade, and the New York Transit Museum), or you can turn around and walk back to Manhattan.
I personally recommend taking the subway to Brooklyn, exploring Brooklyn for a few hours (or a full day), and then walking back across the bridge to Manhattan.
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Midtown Manhattan (between 5th Ave & 6th Ave and 40th & 42nd) | 1-2 hours | FREE (ice skate rentals are $)
Bryant Park is beautiful year-round, but where it really shines is during the colder months. Starting in November, the park hosts the only FREE ice skating in the city (rentals available for a fee). There's also a popular outdoor winter village market with more than 200 artisan vendors. It's absolutely one of the premier places to go in the city during the holiday season.
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Central Manhattan (7th Ave in Midtown, two blocks south of Central Park) | 2-3 hours | $$$$
Carnegie Hall
is a legendary performing arts venue. The list of artists that have played here is astounding (e.g. Tchaikovsky, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and many more). You can attend a performance (e.g. orchestra, recital, jazz band, etc.) or take a guided tour of the hall.
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Central and Upper Manhattan (between 59th St. and 110th St.) | 1/2 day | FREE (but $$-$$$ for an optional guided tour)
Explore some of the 58 miles of walking paths in one of the world's most famous urban parks. Every time I visit this park, I discover new things to love about it. There are nearly two dozen playgrounds for the kids, scenic views of the NYC skyline, 170 different species of trees, rocks and boulders to scramble on everywhere, and numerous monuments and memorials. Frankly, it's just an awesome place to walk around. Come with a specific walking route in mind or just meander around.
My wife and I always visit Central Park each time we visit the city, often looking at a park map and selecting a new area or new paths to explore. If you are unwilling or unable to walk, you can also cycle or take a guided tour around the park on a pedicab or horse-drawn carriage. In winter, there's ice-skating on Wollman Rink.
Here are some of the classic attractions and areas within Central Park:
✮ Alice in Wonderland statue - several large statues of beloved storybook characters; eastern side of the southern end of the park (76th St.)
✮ Bethesda Fountain and Terrace - arguably the most impressive water fountain in NYC; middle of the southern end of the park (72nd St.)
✮ Belvedere Castle - an 1872 Gothic/Romanesque castle with fine views of Central Park; middle of the center section of the park (80th St.)
✮ Billy Johnson Playground - a small but fun playground with a fun and fast curvy slide; eastern side of the southern end of the park (67th St.)
✮ Bow Bridge - arguably the prettiest pedestrian bridge in the park
✮ Central Park Zoo - a small but fine city zoo; eastern side of the southern end of the park (64th St.)
✮ Conservatory Garden - a lovely set of gardens near the northeastern corner of the park (105th St.)
✮ Heckscher Playground - a large and fun playground for kids in the middle of the southern end of the park (62nd St.)
✮ Horse carriage rides - although controversial, taking a guided horse carriage ride through Central Park is a NYC tradition
✮ Mall, The - a long and beautiful park walk that starts near 65th St. and leads to the Bethesda Fountain and Terrace at 72nd St.
✮ Wollman Rink - a small pond that offers outdoor ice-skating in winter (purchase tickets online)
✮ Strawberry Fields Memorial - a small but moving memorial near where John Lennon was murdered; western side of the park (72nd St)
Peak fall foliage for Central Park is typically in early November.
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Lower Manhattan (Financial District) | 10-20 minutes (depends on crowd levels) | FREE
The iconic bronze Charging Bull statue sits directly on Wall Street and proudly resembles both optimism and growth (although some might also suggest greed). I recommend visiting early or late in the day as there can be a long line to take a photo with either end of the bull. I won't tell you why people take photos with its rear end, but you can probably figure it out.
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Lower-Central Manhattan (near Little Island, Chelsea Market, and the High Line) | 2-3 hours | FREE
There are hundreds of art galleries in the Chelsea and West Chelsea neighborhoods of Manhattan. It's definitely NYC's most thriving art scene, and you could spend days visiting all the galleries. Start with a few hours and go from there. The galleries are primarily clustered between 10th Ave and 11th Ave and between 19th St. and 26th St. (although there are a few others outside of these boundaries as well).
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Lower-Central Manhattan (near Little Island and the High Line) | 2-3 hours | FREE
This indoor food and retail marketplace is one of NYC's best. It is also home to one of the famous Los Tacos No. 1 restaurant locations, which in my opinion, serve some of the best tacos in the entire country.
There are many other restaurants and eateries in the market as well.
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Chelsea Waterside (playground)
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Lower-Central Manhattan (between Little Island and Hudson Yards) | 1 hour | FREE
The playground at Chelsea Waterside has the best children's slide in the entire city. Although it's a bit far from other attractions, a trip to this beloved playground is sure to please the kids.
We try to take our daughter here every time we visit the city.
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near Grand Central Terminal | 10 minutes | FREE
While there isn't an observation deck experience at this iconic Art Deco-style building, you can enter its lobby and take a quick look around. The top of the building is also fun to photograph. For a great view of the building, stand at the corner of 42nd St. and Vanderbilt Avenue. There's another good view on 3rd Ave. between 43rd St. and 44th Street. You can also try the northeast or southeast corner of 44th St. and 3rd Ave.
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Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
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Pier 83 in Central Manhattan (between Hudson Yards and Hell's Kitchen) | 2-3 hours | $$$
Circle Line
offers premier guided boat tours of Manhattan. A variety of tours are offered, including landmark tours, sunset tours, special event tours, and more. You can also take a cruise that gets closer to the Statue of Liberty than the (free) Staten Island Ferry. Pier 83 is their primary docking location, but they also offer cruises from Pier 16.
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Lower Manhattan (near Soho) | 1-2 hours | $$$
It's definitely a tourist attraction, and odds are high you'll leave feeling like you overpaid for the experience, but all kids seem to love the Color Factory. It's an immersive experience with color-based exercises and activities, culminating with a giant bluish-gray ball bit.
Throughout the experience, kids will receive various treats like candy and gelato. Why didn't our parents bring us to places like this?
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Dalmatian and Taxi Sculpture
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Lower-Central Manhattan (34th St. and in front of Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone) | 10 minutes | FREE
This 38-foot tall fiberglass
sculpture of a Dalmatian balancing a Toyota Prius taxi on its nose is one of the city's best exhibits of public art (or some would say roadside attractions). It's a bit out of the way to visit, but I absolutely thought it was worth it.
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Lower Manhattan (108 Rivington Street in the Lower East Side) | 30 minutes | FREE
Economy Candy is the most iconic candy shop in the city. The store is loaded from floor-to-ceiling, the prices are very reasonable, and it is simply a fun throw-back to earlier times. It also doesn't hurt that the store entrance is ridiculously photogenic.
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Hudson Yards (near the Vessel) | 2-3 hours | $$$
The Edge is one of several excellent skyscraper observation deck experiences in NYC. It's the largest open-air observatory in the city, and the views are glorious. There is also an optional but thrilling 'City Climb' experience that lets you climb up a portion of the exterior of the building and also hang off the edge (ages 13+). Combine the Edge with the nearby Vessel and perhaps some upscale shopping and/or dining within the adjacent Hudson Yards shopping mall.
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Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration
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on an island southwest of Manhattan | 1/2 day | $$
This museum shares the experiences of the roughly 12 million immigrants that have passed through the facility since 1892. This was the busiest immigrant inspection and processing stations in the country at one time. I highly recommend using the audio tour guide as you roam the museum.
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Empire State Building (ESB)
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34th St. between 5th Ave and 6th Ave (and between Bryant Park and Madison Square Park) | 2-3 hours | $$$
This iconic Art Deco-style
building from the 1930s offers observation deck experiences on both the 86th (main deck) and 102nd (top deck) floors. It's also fun to photograph the building from the surrounding streets, especially when it is illuminated. This was once the world's tallest building.
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Empire State Trail / Manhattan Greenway Trail
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along most of the western edge of Manhattan | 1-2 hours | FREE
Walk, run, or cycle
along the portion of the 750-mile Empire State Trail that is known as the Manhattan Greenway. The paved, dedicated Manhattan Greenway Trail travels from the southern tip of Manhattan north along the western edge of nearly all of Manhattan. The trail is very popular and is a great way to see the city. Bring a heavy duty bike lock if you plan on stashing your bicycle to visit some of the public parks and/or attractions along the way.
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Rockefeller Center | 1 hour | FREE
FAO Schwarz is often lauded as the world's most famous toy store. Because of that accolade, it's almost always crowded. It is known for its life-sized stuffed animals and high-end toys.
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Lower Manhattan (near the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Oculus, and One World Observatory) | 10 minutes | FREE
This bronze wall memorial honors the 343 firefighters who died during the 9/11 attacks as well as all those who continue to serve. It's a quick walk from the Oculus and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
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Fearless Girl / NYSE Building |
Lower Manhattan (Broad St. in the Financial District) | 10 minutes | FREE
The bronze Fearless Girl statue represents a symbol of gender diversity and female empowerment. The statue faces the iconic New York Stock Exchange building, and is an extremely popular photo opp. Go early to beat the crowds if you want an unobstructed photograph like the one you see below.
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5th Ave (between 22nd St. and 23rd St. near Madison Square Park) | 10 minutes | FREE
The Flatiron Building is an unusual triangular-shaped building. You can't actually enter the 22-story building and historic landmark, but the exterior is still a sight to behold. It is one of the city's oldest surviving skyscrapers.
Take note that as of Fall 2024, the building is covered in (ugly) scaffolding. It's been that way for a while, and it's unclear when the work will be completed.
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FRIENDS Apartment Building
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Lower-Central Manhattan (90 Bedford St. in Greenwich Village) | 10 minutes | FREE
If you are a fan of the sitcom FRIENDS, you should take a quick spin through Greenwich Village to see the famous building exterior. Greenwich Village is also full of many boutique shops, adding to the appeal of visiting this area.
If the building isn't enough,
you can also make a reservation for the FRIENDS experience, which features two floors of set recreations from the show. The FRIENDS experience isn't actually located here though - you can find it at 130 E 23rd St (near Gramercy Park and Madison Square Park).
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Ghostbusters Headquarters
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Lower Manhattan (North Moore St.; near the Bean Sculpture) | 10 minutes | FREE
Visit the fully-functional firehouse that was
used in the shooting of the famed Ghostbusters movie franchise. There are usually several signs or paintings of the Ghostbusters icon on display. If the firehouse is open, they typically offer a few gift-shop type items for sale.
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Giant Needle Threading A Button
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7th Ave between 39th and 40th (near Times Square) | 10 minutes | FREE
This sculpture is one of NYC's most famous exhibitions of public art.
Most people that pass it don't seem to care that it's there, but if you are a fan of roadside attractions or 'world's largest' type sculptures, it's a delight to see.
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near Bryant Park | 1-2 hours | FREE
This gigantic transportation hub includes more than 75 stores, food vendors, and restaurants.
Many also find the terminal breathtaking the first time they enter, having never stood in a building so large before.
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near Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building | 1 hour | FREE
New York has one of the flagship Harry Potter stores, and it's a must visit for fans of the books or movies. The hottest items seem to be the character wands (of which they have dozens of types).
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Lower tip of Manhattan (near the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial) | 1-2 hours | $$$$
HeliNY is one of several operators offering scenic helicopter tours of Manhattan. If you can afford it, it's a great way to see the city. The current weight limit is 275lbs.
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a path that travels from Hudson Yards south to the Meatpacking District | 1-2 hours | FREE
The High Line is a
1.45-mile long elevated public walkway that travels from Hudson Yards south to the Meatpacking District on abandoned railway tracks. There are entry and exit points along the way, providing access to many great attractions, such as Hudson Yards, the Vessel, the Edge, Chelsea Waterside (playground), Chelsea Market, the Chelsea Arts District, Little Island, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. You'll typically find a few temporary art installations along the walk (including a giant pigeon, which should be around until 2026 or so). There are a few great cityscape views as well. If you enjoy walking and public parks, the High Line is a must do.
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Lower-Central Manhattan (next to the Vessel and Edge) | 1-2 hours | FREE
Hudson Yards is the premier upscale/high-end shopping mall in NYC. The holiday decorations and lights are usually awesome, and both the Vessel sculpture and the Edge observation deck are here too.
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Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
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Central Manhattan along the Hudson River (near Hell's Kitchen) | 3-4 hours | $$
Explore a giant, World War II-era aircraft carrier and submarine along the banks of the Hudson River.
This is one of the premier military museums in the country.
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Lower Manhattan (56 Leonard St.; near the Ghostbusters Headquarters) | 10 minutes | FREE
If you don't occasionally look up while walking in New York City, you will miss some of the city's appeal. Case in point: the Jenga Tower building! The building doesn't look like much from its lower floors, but as you look up you can clearly see its Jenga-like appearance. At a street corner at the base of the building you will find a stainless steal bean sculpture (very similar to the city-defining Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago).
The photo I have included below was taken from W. Broadway if I remember correctly.
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Lower-Central Manhattan (near Chelsea Market and the High Line) | 1 hour | FREE
This floating 2.4-acre green space is a lovely public park that can be easily accessed by exiting the High Line public walkway at 14th Street.
All of the short and winding paths found on this island are perfectly landscaped, and the concrete pillars that hold up the island make an interesting photography subject.
For a great view or photo of Little Island itself, head to the nearby Pier 57 Rooftop Park, which opened in 2022.
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34st St. between 6th Ave and 7th Ave (near Penn Station and the Empire State Building) | 1-2 hours | FREE
The World's Largest Store, Macy's Herald Square, offers 11 floors and 1.25 million square feet of retail space. You could literally spend days shopping and eating in it.
The exterior of the store is magical around the holidays, as it typically showcases many holiday displays and lights. Inside you will also find the last known surviving wooden escalators. They are fun to see, ride, and photograph. The escalators are loud and rickety, and so who knows how much longer they will last for. There are also a few cafes and eateries inside the mall (including a McDonalds).
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42nd St. between 7th Ave and 8th Ave (near Times Square) | 1-2 hours | $$$
Madame Tussauds New York is one of the world's largest wax museums. It's certainly expensive (some would argue very expensive), but it can be fun to see the 200-plus life-like wax figures.
If you think you'd enjoy this attraction, you probably will. If the concept sounds silly to you, you probably won't.
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near Macy's and Penn Station | 3-4 hours | $$$$
Catch some live entertainment at this
19,500-capacity arena. It's been the site of many iconic sports events over the years, and it's the current home of the New York Rangers (NHL) and the New York Knicks (NBA). There are also many music concerts held here throughout the year. Nearly all seats offer good views (except for perhaps the top few rows and certain other partially-obstructed seats). The sound quality is excellent.
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Lower-Central Manhattan (near the Flatiron Building) | 1 hour | FREE
One of NYC's most popular green spaces, Madison Square Park sits roughly halfway between Central Park and the lower tip of Manhattan. Within the park you'll find a reflecting pool, a playground, water fountain, several monuments, and more. The Flatiron building is close-by.
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near the upper tip of Manhattan | 2-3 hours | $$
The Met Cloisters is an exceptional art museum that is best known for its medieval art, tapestries, and beautiful architecture and grounds. It's a bit further north than most Manhattan attractions, but that means it's often not as insanely crowded as the MET and MoMA art museums.
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Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)
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along the eastern edge of the center section of Central Park | 1/2 to full day | $$
The MET is the largest art museum in the United States, and one of the largest museums in the world.
Some of the more famous art pieces in the museum include Vincent van Gogh's 'Self Portrait with a Straw Hat', Claude Monet's 'Bridge Over A Pond of Water Lilies', Duccio di Buoninsegna's 'Madonna and Child', and Emanuel Letuze's 'Washington Crossing the Delaware'. The Arms and Armor and Egyptian Art exhibits are also some of its highlights. The rooftop of the building is also open to the public and offers great views.
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Morgan Library & Museum, The
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near the Empire State Building | 1-2 hours | $$
Take a guided tour to visit a historic library and museum that oozes with gilded-age opulence.
You'll find priceless artifacts, paintings, and rare books, all set in stunningly beautiful rooms. This is one of the best preserved mansions in the city.
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Lower Manhattan (near Soho) | 1-2 hours | $$$
The Museum of Ice Cream is an immersive experience offering 'unlimited ice cream and unlimited play'. There are a few fun photo ops here, and the kids are almost guaranteed to love the entire experience. Just don't expect the highest quality ice cream. It's perfectly fine, but unremarkable. In my opinion this museum is too expensive for what it is, but again, the kiddos will love it.
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Lower-Central Manhattan (near Chelsea Market) | 1 hour | $$
This child-friendly 'visual, sensory, and educational' museum features a variety of mind-twisting and eye-tricking illusions. It's not a large museum, but there's enough here to share some laughs and snap some fun photos.
I enjoyed this more than the Color Factory and also felt that it was a better value.
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Museum of Modern Art, The (MoMA)
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53rd St between 5th Ave and 6th Ave (and between Rockefeller Center and Central Park) | 1/2 to full day | $$
MoMa is an enormous museum that focuses on art of the past 150 years. Highlights of the collection include Vincent Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' and Pablo Picasso's 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon'.
It's a tough call to say whether the MoMa is a better museum than the MET or not, and so I recommend visiting both. In general, I think most children are likely to enjoy this museum over the MET.
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5th Ave near Madison Square Park | 2 hours | $$$
This quirky museum bills itself as the 'world's foremost museum of the culture significance of human sexuality'.
It's an eclectic, one-of-a-kind type museum that is full of kitschy decor and carnival games. Raunchy fun!
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National 9/11 Memorial & Museum
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Lower Manhattan (near the Oculus and One World Observatory) | 2-3 hours | $$ (memorial is FREE)
A must-visit museum full of artifacts and moving tributes to the victims and survivors of the 9/11 attacks. When you visit, take the time to actually read all the stories. The more you read, the more moving and memorable your experience will be.
You will learn much more about the attacks than you ever saw on TV or the internet.
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visible from an alleyway off 43rd St between 6th Ave and 7th Ave (near Times Square) | 10 minutes | FREE
It doesn't hurt to be reminded of our national debit, and a large sign near Times Square isn't afraid to share it. The amount of "YOUR Family share" is especially troublesome!
Let's all hope we don't have another Great Depression, OK?
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Rockefeller Center | 2 hours | $$
Catch a taping or go behind-the-scenes on an insiders tour of a real TV studio. On guided tours, visitors typically see a few of the studio sets (e.g. SNL, Tonight Show, etc.).
The process for getting tickets to a taping (and actually getting selected to be included in the audience) are complicated, and so you'll need to perform some online research to increase your odds of success (hint: this usually means scoring tickets but then also getting there early and waiting hours in line).
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New York Public Library (Stephan A. Schwarzman Building)
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5th Ave between 40th St. and 42nd St. (next to Bryant Park) | 1 hour | FREE
New York Public Library is known for its enormous book collection and its beautiful architecture. In the words of one online reviewer, it's "too gorgeous to be a library".
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Lower Manhattan (near the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and the One World Observatory) | 1 hour | FREE
The Oculus is a unique building that is intended to resemble a dove flying out of a child's hands. It feels a bit out of place in the city, especially since it lies next to the sobering 9/11 Memorial and Museum. For the best photos, go behind the building and photograph it and the One World Observatory from Church Street.
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Lower Manhattan (near the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and Oculus) | 2-3 hours | $$$
Take a (super fast) elevator to an observation deck on the 102nd floor of the tallest tower in the United States where the views are outstanding. The exterior of the building is also strikingly beautiful, and can be easily photographed from either the 9/11 Memorial pools or from behind the Oculus on
Church Street.
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Pier 26 Science Playground
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Lower Manhattan (near Ghostbusters Headquarters and Teardrop Park) | 1 hour | FREE
This relatively new playground along the Hudson River features two giant sturgeon fish that you can climb up and into. It's a beautiful and unique playground, and one of NYC's best.
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6th Ave at the western edge of Rockefeller Center | 2-3 hours | $$$$
This iconic, 5,960-capacity music hall is the official home of the Rockettes, a must see holiday spectacular show (the season typically runs from early November
through early January). Outside of the holiday season, the music hall is home to a variety of live performances, including concerts.
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between 5th Ave & 6th Ave and 48th and 50th streets | 2-3 hours (which includes some shopping) | FREE ($$ to ice skate)
Rockefeller Center is a national historic landmark and one of the biggest NYC tourist draws. It is a complex of nearly 20 buildings that includes retail and dining establishments. It is also home to the Radio City Music Hall, NBC Studios, and the Top of the Rock observation deck.
Although fairly small, ice-skating in the winter months is very popular at Rockefeller Center. The Tree Lighting, which usually runs from early December through early-to-mid January and features a 70-80 foot tree, is also insanely popular. During the entire month of December, it can be overwhelming to try to get anywhere near the tree as crowds can be shoulder-to-shoulder. If you can visit between 5:00am-7:00am, you'll be able to get much closer to the tree.
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59th St. and 2nd Ave. (near the southeastern edge of Central Park) | 1 hour | $
Score awesome views of Manhattan from the Roosevelt Island Tramway as it travels from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island. Once you are on Roosevelt Island, you can either pay to return to Manhattan or you can explore the island on foot or bicycle. There are several public parks on the island (including Lighthouse Park with its 50-foot tall stone lighthouse). Views of Manhattan are great from various points along the 2-mile long island.
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Lower Manhattan (within The Battery) | 15-30 minutes | $
SeaGlass Carousel is an unusual aquatic-themed carousel. It features 30 spinning, luminescent fish. I don't think there's any other carousel on Earth that is quite like this one.
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Silver Towers Public Park
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Central Manhattan (between 41st St. and 42st St. near the Hudson River) | 30 minutes | FREE
While it is a small playground, the Silver Towers Public Park is a special one.
The elongated figure is a hoot, and the metal slides are a joy for kids.
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Lower Manhattan (near Soho) | 1-2 hours | $$
The ultimate 'slime experience' lives in New York City. The Sloomoo Institute
is a large, interactive studio where kids can go more slime-crazy than they ever have before. An optional 'slime shower' experience is available (for an additional cost, of course). The whole experience feels a bit expensive, but kids won't complain as long as you're paying.
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Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
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along the eastern edge of the central section of Central Park | 1-2 hours | $$
This art museum is probably more famous for its Frank Lloyd Wright design than for the actual art it contains.
This definitely isn't one of the very best art museums in the city, but the art plus the architecture does appeal to many.
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8th Ave (between Times Square and Central Park) | 1-2 hours | $$$
Spyscape is part-museum, and part-interactive, spy and espionage-themed adventure. The experience offers both mental and physical games and challenges. The museum displays all sorts of spy-related gadgets.
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5th Ave (across from Rockefeller Center) | 30-60 minutes | FREE
Visit the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the country.
It's a historic and architectural masterpiece that was built between 1858 and 1879. You can take a quick peek into the church, attend mass (see website for times), or you can take a guided private tour.
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Lower Manhattan (Jay St.; near Ghostbusters Headquarters) | 10 minutes | FREE
There's something charming about
this green-colored, cast-iron arch bridge. It's tough to explain, but go see it for yourself and hopefully you'll feel its charm too.
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On an island southwest of Manhattan | 1/2 day | $$ (however, the Staten Island Ferry is FREE)
The 305-foot Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. A symbol of freedom, it was gifted to the United States by France in 1886.
You have a few options for visiting the Statue of Liberty. If you just want to see the statue from the water, you can take the free Staten Island Ferry from Lower Manhattan (Tip: get on the right-hand side of the top level of the boat for the best views) or pay for a cruise from Circle Line or another boat service. If you want to visit the island to get closer to the statue, you can book an official ferry ride. For the ultimate experience, make an online reservation for 'Pedestal' or 'Crown' access. Take note that it is near impossible to get tickets to the 'Crown', and so you should try to reserve immediately after tickets go on sale. I don't recommend the 'Crown' if you are more than 6' tall as the winding staircase to climb the crown has an incredibly short ceiling.
Take note that many visitors will combine the Statue of Liberty with a trip to Ellis Island. If you do both, plan on spending nearly an entire day.
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Broadway (near Union Square) | 1-2 hours | FREE
NYC's largest bookstore has 3 floors and '18 miles of books'. This independent and family-owned bookstore opened in 1927, and has an outstanding used book selection. It's the #1 book store in NYC in my opinion.
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Strawberry Fields Memorial
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within Central Park (near the T-junction of 72nd St and Central Park W) | 10 minutes | FREE
The Strawberry Fields section of Central Park includes 5-acres of landscaping and a mosaic memorial to the famous musician John Lennon of Beatles fame. John was murdered in 1980 in a nearby building called The Dakota.
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42nd St (near Bryant Park and Grand Central Terminal) | 2-3 hours | $$$
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is the best observation deck experience in the city, although the Edge is a very close second. With this skyscraper, you get multiple floors of viewing plus an open-air area. The views are awesome and the see-through interior glass results in awesome photos.
A tip for women: avoid wearing a skirt or dress to this attraction.
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Lower Manhattan (near the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and Brookfield Place) | 30 minutes | FREE
This small park has two great attributes. First, it's perfectly nestled between buildings and very few even know it exists.
Second, it has a long and fast metal slide in a world where long and fast metal slides are increasingly rare. There are some rocks and boulders that kids can clamber all over, too. We love this tiny park!
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Lower Manhattan (Orchard St.) | 1-2 hours | $$
Take a guided tour of two historic tenement buildings.
Inside, you'll see recreated historic homes and learn the stories of working-class immigrants, refugees, and migrants.
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Midtown Manhattan | 2-3 hours (which includes some shopping) | FREE
Times Square is one of NYC's most famous attractions, but it's also arguably its most overrated. Tens of millions of tourists pass through each year, and while there are some things to do and a few good eateries, you shouldn't make this THE highlight of your trip. I would research the shops and restaurants you want to visit in this area ahead of time so that you aren't just wandering around wasting time. The people-watching here can be great though, especially if you run into the naked cowboy or other crazies that are commonly seen here.
If you are visiting with children, they will likely enjoy the Disney Store, Hershey's Chocolate World, and the M&M's Store.
I highly recommend avoiding this area on New Years Eve. You'll become stuck for many hours with NO access to a bathroom. Adults literally wear diapers to stand all day to watch the ball drop at midnight. Gross.
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Top of the Rock NYC Observation Deck
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Rockefeller Plaza | 2-3 hours | $$$
This open-air observation deck provides great views from 70 stories up. While I don't think it's quite as good as other observation deck experiences in the city, it's still a fine attraction. It does offer a great view of the Empire State Building.
There are some relatively new experiences offered here now as well, including The Beam and the Skylift.
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Lower Manhattan (Financial District near the Fearless Girl and the NYSE) | 10 minutes | FREE
Trinity Church is one of the first and finest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture
in the country. It is a city and national landmark. George Washington attended the original church that was located here, and Alexander Hamilton is buried on the church's grounds. The church is a stunning site to behold.
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Lower-Central Manhattan (between 14th St. & 17th St and Park Ave S. & 5th Ave) | 30-60 minutes | FREE
Union Square is one of the most popular public parks in the city. Within the park you will find public markets, several statues (including Gandhi and George Washington), a children's playground, and excellent people watching. While I don't consider this a "must-visit" park like Central Park, it's certainly worth passing through as you explore the nearby streets.
During the holidays, there's an excellent outdoor market with artisan vendors (run by the same company as the larger Bryant Park Winter Village market).
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Hudson Yards (between 30th and 33rd streets; near Edge) | 1 hour | $
The Vessel is a $200 million dollar 'sculpture-to-nowhere'. It features 16 levels of staircases. I find that people either love or hate this attraction, but we are in the absolutely love it camp. I find it so much fun to climb up and down all the stairs, taking photos as we go. There's nothing else like the Vessel in the world.
Take note that the Vessel was reopened in 2024. It was closed for a few years due to suicides. There is now a mesh net in place to prevent more tragedies.
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Lower-Central Manhattan (between Noho and Greenwich Village) | 30-60 minutes | FREE
Washington Square Park is one of NYC's most famous public parks and green spaces. It is known for its large marble arch, water fountain, street performers, and people watching.
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Whitney Museum of American Art
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Meatpacking District (66 Gansevoort St., which is near Little Island and the southern end of the High Line) | 2 hours | $$
The Whitney Museum of American Art features indoor and outdoor exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. Along with the MET and MoMa, it's one of NYC's three best art museums. I recommend visiting by walking the High Line to get there.
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World's Largest Chessboard
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767 3rd Ave (a few blocks east of Grand Central Terminal) | 10 minutes | FREE
It's probably not going to be a big highlight of your trip to New York City, but a short walk from Grand Central Terminal will bring you to the world's largest chessboard. There are some tables where you can actually play chess below the sculpture. I personally love public art and roadside attractions, and so I think this is pretty neat and worth a quick visit.
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LOOKING FOR EVEN MORE ATTRACTIONS? |
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If for some reason you are seeking more great attractions in MANHATTAN, here are some suggestions:
✮ Apollo Theatre
✮ Battery Playscape
✮ Birdland Jazz Club
✮ Brookfield Place (upscale shopping mall)
✮ Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
✮ Central Park Zoo
✮ Chinatown
✮ Comedy Cellar
✮ General Grant National Memorial
✮ Hippo Playground
✮ Immersive Gamebox
✮ LEGO Stores (2 flagship locations)
✮ Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
✮ Morningside Park
✮ Museum of Jewish Heritage
✮ Museum of the City of New York
✮ Neue Galerie
✮ New York City Fire Museum
✮ Nintendo Store
✮ RiseNY
✮ Riverside Park
✮ Sex in the City Apartment
✮ St. Paul's Chapel
✮ Tom's Restaurant (of Seinfeld fame)
There are also several excellent rooftop restaurants and bars in Manhattan.
And here are some great attractions in BROOKLYN:
✮ Brooklyn Botanic Garden
✮ Brooklyn Brewery
✮ Brooklyn Bridge Park
✮ Brooklyn Heights Promenade
✮ Brooklyn Museum
✮ Coney Island
✮ DUMBO view on Washington St.
✮ Dyker Heights (holiday lights)
✮ Green-Wood Cemetery
✮ New York Transit Museum
✮ Prospect Park
And here are some great attractions in the BRONX:
✮ Bronx Zoo
✮ Joker Stairs (although this area is a little sketchy / neglected)
✮ Yankee Stadium (games or tours)
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