The Top 10 Things To Do In New York, NY 2023
New York is the most visited city in the entire country. From Times Square to Little Italy, there are so many fun and exciting things to do in the Big Apple.
#10 - Times Square
The bustling center of the city with shops, hotels, restaurants, broadway shows, you name it and it is here. We prefer to stay in a hotel near Times Square as its central location provides easy subway access to anywhere that you plan on visiting. Bright lights illuminate the skyscrapers with ads for Coca-Cola and the Read Morenext biggest movie. Look up to see the New Year’s ball waiting for its next midnight drop. The air is full of excitement as New Yorkers and tourists alike take in all this city has to offer. Grab a snack from a nearby food cart and duck into one of the many tourist shops that line the streets. Pick up your favorite NYC sweatshirt and other silly souvenirs before heading over to Radio City Music Hall or taking a tour at NBC Studios. For dessert, stop back over at the Hershey’s or M&M’s store for some yummy treats! We also highly recommend doing dinner and a Broadway show while here.
#9 - Central Park
A relaxing retreat surrounded by a skyscraper skyline, this park is one of our favorite places in NYC. Take a long walk through the park, or even ride some bikes! Enjoy the bridges, music, and artists along the walkways, gardens, and waterfalls as you stroll along. Stop for lunch or a drink at the Loeb Boathouse or Read Moreeven rent a canoe and go out on the water. You could visit this park more than one time during your trip and see new things! Other notable attractions here include Belvedere Castle, Alice in Wonderland statue, the carousel, the zoo, and several museums. Depending on where you are staying, you can walk to the park or take a quick subway ride.
The World Trade Center in New York.
#8 - 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Built to honor those affected by the September 11, 2001, and 1993 attacks, this memorial is truly breathtaking. It stands as a reminder of those we lost, those who survived, and families affected by these tragedies. Walk along the astounding twin memorial pools and touch the names of the thousands Read Morewe now remember. Visit the Survivor Tree and Memorial Glades as a tribute to the courage and sacrifice shown by many. Look up at the buildings surrounding the plaza to catch a glimpse of the endless sky as you reflect upon this time in history. This memorial is easily accessible by subway and if you take the Greenwich exit, you will be awed by the Oculus transportation hub which is a work of art itself. There are also many restaurants, shops, and hotels nearby for your convenience.
The Statue of Liberty at dusk. Photo provided by Unsplashed.
#7 - Statue of Liberty
Enjoy a Ferry ride over to the famous Liberty Island. While there, take in the majestic Statue of Liberty and even go inside! This important part of history became a National Monument in 1924 and stands as a symbol of democracy and freedom. Tours are available to visit the pedestal, or even better, the crown. You Read Morecan also visit the Statue of Liberty Museum to learn more about this treasure’s history. Part of some ticket packages include a stop at Ellis Island, where you can set foot in the Immigration Museum which will teach you about the process that so many of our ancestors took to become American citizens.
The entrance to Rockefeller Center.
#6 - NBC Studio Tour/Top of the Rock
Enjoy incredible 360-degree views from the top of the Rockefeller building on its Observation Deck. Great opportunity for pictures here! You do have to purchase a ticket, but this is also included on the New York City Pass. Inside, take the Rockefeller Center Tour or NBC Tour. The NBC tour allowed us to Read Morewalk onto sets and see how some of our favorite T.V. programs are broadcast. This includes The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and Light Night with Seth Meyers. You might even get a chance to produce your own show! We also enjoyed the gift shop with souvenirs from shows such as Friends, SNL, and The Office. Pretty funny stuff! This is also where the famous Christmas tree and ice skating rink will be in December!
#5 - Empire State Building
One of the things that makes NYC so unique is all of the amazing architecture. A prime example of this is the historic Empire State Building. Once known as the world’s tallest building, this art deco masterpiece gives its visitors a look at the history of the building, as well as incredible views from its observation deck Read More(on the top, 102nd floor!). You can buy tickets in advance for all of their experiences, and once again, it’s offered on the NY City Pass.
#4 - Little Italy/Street Market
Stumble upon this great neighborhood full of food and fun! Love Italian food and culture as much as we do? Then this is a great stop on your trip. We happened to visit when they were putting on their annual Feast of San Gennaro, which occurs every September and pays tribute to the Patron Saint of Naples. We’d Read Morenever seen anything like it, with all of the restaurants serving small bites outside and carnival games and other festivities lining the streets. Be prepared for a crowd and if possible, make reservations if you have your eye on a certain restaurant.
#3 - Mets & Yankees Baseball Games
Take me out to the ballgame! New York offers baseball at the major league level in both the American and National leagues with the Yankees and the Mets, respectively. Visiting either will involve a decently long subway ride; the purple 7 train will take you to Queens to the Met’s ballpark while the orange D or green 4 Read Moretrains will take you to the Bronx to see the Yankees. Both teams built new ballparks in 2009, so a trip to either will give you a taste of the modern baseball experience yet also give you the historic feel of the celebrated franchises. Yankee tickets are infamously the most expensive in baseball, so aim for a weeknight game if you’re looking to save some money. Having been to every MLB ballpark (big baseball fan obviously), we would highly recommend taking in a Mets game at Citi Field, as the stadium is so well done and offers many unique treats and experiences.
#2 - Broadway Shows
A show on Broadway is second to none. High production value, wonderful singers/dancers, and famous actors are some of the reasons that make Broadway a one-of-a-kind experience. Broadway shows are ever-changing, but some of the best that we’ve seen are Hamilton, Wicked, Beetlejuice, and The Lion King. Read MoreBroadway shows can be pricey, so make sure to take advantage of things like TKTS Discount Booth in Times Square and resell sites like StubHub. Make a night of it with dinner and a show. Last trip, we had a delicious meal at Patsy’s (a Frank Sinatra favorite) before walking over to catch The Lion King. It was an unforgettable night!
#1 - Wall Street
Have some extra time? Walk on over to Wall Street to see where all the magic happens. This is a good idea if you are already near Battery Park or are visiting the Statue of Liberty or the 9/11 Memorial. Touch the famous Stock Market Bull and pose in front of the New York Stock Exchange. You can also see Federal Read MoreHall, where George Washington took his oath to serve as president.
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New York Travel Frequently Asked Questions
Is $1,000 enough for a trip to New York? New York is an expensive city. While $1,000 won’t be enough for a stay at the Plaza, one could combine finding a budget-friendly hotel and couple that with taking advantage of many of the city's free activities.Read More
What should I be careful of when visiting New York? Keep an eye on your valuables, especially when in crowded areas or while riding the subway. While we’ve never felt unsafe in the city, we recommend sticking to the main streets and walking in groups at night.
What should a first-time visitor to NYC do? A city bus tour is an affordable and efficient way to see a lot of New York without spending a lot of money. Other great first-timer activities include walking around Times Square, seeing the Statue of Liberty, checking out Central Park, and going to the top of the Empire State Building.
How many days are enough for a New York trip? New York is a huge city filled with nearly endless entertainment options. We would say three full days for a bare minimum and 4-5 days would probably be ideal to allow you to check out different areas.
What month is best to visit NYC? Spring (March-June) and fall (September-October) are the best times to be in New York. The winter months could be cold and feature snowfall; the summer months are very humid and hot. New York is pretty magical when decorated for the holidays, however, so December is actually a busy time for the city.