There are endless places to visit in New York City, the City that most definitely never sleeps. What are the best places to visit in NYC? We asked some locals about their favorite spots across the Big Apple for the adventure seeker, the foodie, or the history enthusiast.
“The Village” is a classic NYC neighborhood—a mashup of culture, history, and fun. Centered around Washington Square Park (another locally beloved spot), Greenwich Village was for decades the center of bohemian life in NYC. Retrace the steps of NYC luminaries like Bob Dylan!
With easy proximity to other neighborhoods, Greenwich Village is an excellent place to stay in NYC. And you don't have to break the bank. Finding a hostel through HI USA is a great way to keep your trip under budget—without sacrificing location.
Right across the river from downtown Manhattan, the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood isn’t just a collection of historical townhouses and fancy restaurants—it’s also home to one of the greatest views in the world. One of the most iconic viewing areas to see the expansive views of the East River and Manhattan skyline is the rooftop bar and restaurant at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade, a public park running along the riverfront, offers the ideal view of Lower Manhattan’s gargantuan skyscrapers. If you’re looking for your ideal NYC photo-op, this is it.
Regally perched in Midtown, locals tell us that the main branch of the New York Public Library is 100% worth a visit. Constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, the building’s massive and gorgeous exterior is only overshadowed by the stunning reading rooms within and the endless book options that it houses.
See NYC like the locals do. NYPL usually offers cool, free exhibits as well. Take the time to wander through the nearby Bryant Park. It's a great spot for people-watching! If reading at the library is not your vibe, but you are a bibliophile, check out Strand bookstore in Union Square. This is a landmark shop with one of the largest literary inventories.
Williamsburg, in North Brooklyn, is thought of as New York’s hipster capital. Here, you'll find tons of colorful street art, vinyl stores, thrift shops, and many of NYC's coolest breweries. On that note, locals suggest visiting East Williamsburg, where you can find locally beloved breweries like Grimm's and a beautiful view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Lower East Side of Manhattan bursts with classic NYC “cool.” Here, locals tell us you'll find off-the-beaten-path gems like the feminist Bluestocking bookstore, as well as NYC institutions like Katz's Deli and the always fascinating Tenament Museum. There are even a few dance clubs if you are in the mood to get your groove on.
Our NYC trip planners tell us that you can't leave the MoMA off a list of must-visit places in NYC. Aside from The Met, it’s probably the most beloved museum in the city. Be sure to check out the rotating exhibitions alongside the museum’s permanent collection—both are worth exploring.
MoMA is $25 to visit but free on Fridays. Also, if you are traveling with children under 16, their admission is free. Don't worry if that’s not within your budget—there are plenty of ways to enjoy New York's vibrant art scene if you're traveling on a budget.
Wall Street is the site of the most important stock exchange in the world, but locals tell us that there are plenty of things to do even when the finance and investment bankers go home. Check out the spot where Washington was inaugurated in 1789, find the nicks left by the bombing of 1920, and make sure to visit Trinity Church, where some of our Founding Fathers are buried (including Alexander Hamilton and his wife, Elizabeth Schuyler). Afterward, walk a few blocks down to the southern tip of Manhattan Island, where New York’s original Dutch settlement was located. Don’t forget to check out the Wall Street Bull and the famous statute of the Fearless Girl.
Artsy and colorful, locals tell us that Chelsea is a joy to explore. Spend an afternoon wandering the High Line, an elevated-railroad-turned-park, grab lunch or a mouthwatering snack from the Chelsea Market, and dip into one of the neighborhood's high-end galleries to see work by some of the world's most famous artists. If you’re not hungry, Chelsea Market also has a number of shopping stores so you can bring a souvenir (or two) back home.
It can be hard to know where to start in NYC—especially when it comes to the city's incredible museums. We suggest prioritizing a visit to The Met.
The museum has a fantastic collection. You could literally—LITERALLY—spend days exploring it. Masterpieces of art, historical artifacts from all over the world, real ancient Egyptian temples—the Met has it all.
Visiting Central Park is a lot of fun, especially on a Citibike. Rent a bike with the click of a button to see the highlights: The Great Lawn, Strawberry Fields, The Jackie O. Reservoir, etc.
Our local trip planners note that the park is massive—it spans from 59th Street (Midtown) all the way up to 110th (Harlem). And there’s tons of stuff to see right along the borders of the park, like the Upper West Side, The Dakota (where Lennon was killed), and The American Museum of Natural History. Or, you can take a long stroll through one side while nursing an iced coffee.
More than 100 years old, the wooden Brooklyn Bridge is iconic. Locals tell us that, yes, you'll encounter lots of tourists here. But it's worth it! (If you want to avoid the crowds, aim to visit early in the morning.) It's tough to beat the incredible view of Manhattan when you walk over from Brooklyn. Make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes for the long walk.
Enhance your trip with local knowledge. Crossing the bridge is fun in either direction, but our trip planners say if you hang out in Brooklyn you can explore the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge Park. And treat yourself to a slice of Grimaldi’s pizza
The birthplace of the amusement park, Coney Island is part attraction, part neighborhood, and part history lesson.
Locals suggest riding The Cyclone (the world’s oldest functioning rollercoaster) and grabbing a hot dog at Nathan’s (the ubiquitous NYC hot dog shop).
Use local knowledge to get off the beaten path. Our trip planners tell us that up the beach from Coney Island is a hidden gem: Little Odessa.
Centered around the Brighton Beach neighborhood, Little Odessa (also known as Little Moscow) is home to a massive population of Russian and Ukrainian immigrants. Locals suggest grabbing a pirozhki and wandering the streets of Brighton Beach.
If you're going to explore NYC like a local, then you've got to see Prospect Park. Our trip planners rave about the immense beauty of this Brooklyn gem, which spans over 520 acres. Both Central Park and Prospect Park were designed by the team of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux—but, reportedly, they viewed Prospect Park as their masterpiece.
You'll find fewer people in Prospect Park, and way more locals than in the more touristy Central Park. Here, you can explore the beautiful Brooklyn Botanical Gardens as well as the park's winding trails, bridges, waterfalls, and peaceful lakes. In the summer, you’ll find groups of friends, families, and lots of adorable dogs enjoying an afternoon in Prospect Park.
As you explore Brooklyn, use insider tips to see a side of this borough that most miss. Our trip planners suggest pairing a trip to Prospect Park with a stroll around its surrounding neighborhoods.
Park Slope, to the west of the park, is full of traditional brownstones and hip cafes. If you're looking for a free thing to do in NYC, walking the neighborhood on foot is a cool way to rub elbows with locals, enjoy some classic Brooklyn beauty, and get off the beaten path.
If you're looking to get off the beaten path and enjoy incredible food, look no further than Flushing, Queens. Our trip planners tell us that Flushing is home to a diverse community—it's a one-stop-shop for delicious cuisine including Indian and Asian food like dumplings and ramen, cool sights, and a visceral look into NYC's epic melting pot. Flushing is also home to the Mets who play at the newly renovated CitiField, so you may even want to catch a baseball game if it’s during their playing season.
Locals say they wouldn't recommend spending too much time in the area around Rockefeller Center, but the view from the top of the building—“The Top of the Rock”—is totally worth it. From there, you can actually *see* the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, 1 World Trade Center, etc. in all their glory.
A total hidden gem, locals note that The Cloisters are unknown even to many New Yorkers. The backstory: almost a century ago, industrialist John D. Rockefeller Jr. purchased four medieval French cloisters and had them moved, brick by brick, to Fort Tryon Park. There, they were reassembled and filled with medieval art from several private collections. Rockefeller even bought the land directly across the river and refused to develop it (to retain the rustic feel). If you can make it up to 190th Street, a walk in this historical park—and a visit to The Cloisters—is a cool way to spend the afternoon.
If you’re nervous about walking around this far uptown, you’ve been watching too much SVU—New York is very safe these days.
Manhattan's East Village is chill. Here you'll find free comedy shows in the back of bars, hidden speakeasies, tiny bookstores, and streets filled with colorful graffiti.
Locals suggest checking out St. Mark’s Place (the epicenter of American punk), Tompkins Square Park, and as many dive bars as you can find.
Since we're all about sustainable travel, we'd recommend staying at a Kind Traveler property. They're the first socially conscious hotel booking and sustainable travel media platform—staying with them empowers travelers to positively impact communities and the environment in the destinations they visit!
You can't miss these two tourist treasures: The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Located on neighboring islands in New York Harbor, these attractions are worth the visit simply for their place in American history. The Statue of Liberty is a beacon of hope. Ellis Island is the harsh reality of the immigrant experience. Both are accessible via the frequent ferries that leave from Battery Park (at the southern tip of Manhattan). Go ahead and look up if your family passed through Ellis Island!
Though a newer neighborhood, Hudson Yards is not one you want to miss. Here you can visit the very-Instagrammable Vessel, an open-air, 150-foot-high structure that looks like a honeycomb. Or, you can go shopping in the upscale indoor shopping mall. If shopping isn’t your thing, be sure to visit Van Leeuwen Ice Cream for an authentic pint of NYC-style dessert.
Part of New York's immense charm is how easy it is to get to nature. And the nature upstate is spectacular.
So, how to get there? Renting a car is a great way to have control and privacy during your trip (although Metro-North is a good option as well).
If you have a big group and are eager for an adventure, we recommend a service like Bus.com. They connect travelers with vetted bus partners across North America, which makes it easy to plan large-scale transportation (even with complicated routes or multiple vehicles).
Plus, you'll have choices between buses or vans, and using a driver or driving yourself. Learn more about Bus.com.
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