NORTHERN LATITUDES
Things to do in New York City
Photo by Luca Bravo | Unsplash
New York City is one of the most visited cities in the world. It has a special mood, a special history, a special identity, you understand, it is special. And as one of the most touristic cities in the world, it offers plenty to do. So let’s dive into some activities to do in New York City.
Updated on 7/8/2025
The Classics
You surely know about the iconic places of New York cities, and we are not here to show you what you might already know, so let’s make a quick summary of the iconic places of New York City.
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is an American icon. It was offered by France and dedicated in 1886. Nowadays, the statue is visited by millions of people each year.
The Statue is part of a bigger complex including the Liberty Museum on Liberty Island. To go there, you will have to buy tickets on Statue city cruises (the only authorized ticket seller). The tickets to go there are usually around $26 for the general admission. You can also buy packages with more visits included. And YES, you are required to have a reservation paid in advance to go up to the crown of the statue. It is also important to know that there is no elevator to climb up there, only stairs.
Fun fact: Although Frederic Auguste Bartholdi is the one who sculpted the design of the statue, the internal structure of the statue was designed by Gustave Eiffel. Yes, the same guy who made the Eiffel Tower.
Photo by Andreas M | Unsplash
Time Square
Well, no need to present you townsquare. This intersection formed by Broadway, Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street is known worldwide and has appeared in many movies. Many will tell you to not go to Time Square, and we can understand why. It is crowded, noisy and there are a lot of tourist traps. However, if this is your first time in New York, is it worth doing at least once. As always, be careful of your surroundings, and avoid buying stuff there since other stores in the city probably sell the same stuff for a lot less money.
The Empire State Building
There are few buildings as recognizable in the New York Skyline as the Empire State Building. The 1,454 ft (443.2m) building was completed in 1931 and was the world's tallest building until 1970. Today, the building contains mostly offices, but also two observation decks that can be accessed by visitors.
Observation Deck
Tickets for the two decks can be purchased separately. The observation deck on the 86th floor cost around $50 during the day and $60 during specific hours like sunset. Another package including both the 86th floor and 102nd observation decks exist with a cost going from around $70 up to $100 per person. Be aware that these prices are only price ranges. Depending on the age of visitors, time of the day and season, prices can vary a lot. Additionally, ticket holders can access some exhibits on various themes.
The Rockfeller Center
The Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 buildings between 48th Street and 51st Street in Manhattan. Most of these buildings were ordered by the Rockfeller family, one of the richest families of its time. One of the most famous parts of it is the Rockefeller Plaza known for being the long-time home of NBC, but also the winter Ice Rink.
Top of the Rock
The “Top of the Rock” is probably one of the most famous observation decks in NYC. The observation deck is located in the 30 Rockefeller Plaza and offers a panoramic view of NYC at night as well as day. The cost to go up there costs from $34 to $61 depending on the age of visitors.
Central Park
What would be New York without Central Park? In that concrete jungle the parks offer grass, trees and a somewhat fresh air. It is the most visited urban park of the United States and the first landscaped park in the United States as well. But people are not just visiting this park because it has trees and grass. What makes Central Park so attractive is its history and significance, but also its many attractions like the Central Park Zoo or Delacorte Theater. Truly one of the best things to see in New York.
Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO
The Brooklyn Bridge is another icon of the Big Apple. The suspension bridge opened in 1883, and has been a major tourist attraction since it opened. What makes it very popular is its architectural beauty, but mostly the fact that it is accessible to pedestrians and bikes, offering stunning views of New York and Manhattan. Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is free, and it takes about 30min to cross it by foot.
DUMBO ( Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass)
Dumbo is a neighborhood of Brooklyn, and if you know a bit about it you know why we are mentioning it with the Brooklyn Bridge. And if you don’t, don’t worry we’ll come back to that quickly. The neighborhood of Dumbo is one of Brooklyn’s most popular neighborhoods. It is well known for its industrial buildings which were converted into restaurants, residences, galleries and more. Today, the area is popular for that, and many startups are beginning there. A very fun neighborhood to visit. But to come back to the statement at the beginning, Dumbo is very close to the Brooklun bridge, often making a step when coming off or from the Bridge. And it is notably here that you can find one of Brooklyn's Bridge most well known points of view (see the picture).
Photo by Connor Misset | Unsplash
The Less Known Things
Now that we mentioned the famous stuff, let’s speak about the less famous stuff. We will present you some very nice things to do in New York which are not always known by tourists.
The New York High Line
The High Line is an elevated linear park created on a former New York Central Railroad. It stretches over 1.45mile (2.33km) along which you can find food, art installations and views of New City.
Hours: Open Daily, but hours vary by seasons as follows.
December 1 - March 31: 7am to 8pm.
April 1 - November 30: 7am to 10pm.​
Admission: Free​
Visit one of New York's Museums
As you may know, New York has a deep history and is a great city for culture, history and art. That reflects in the wide options of museums. Here are two popular museums.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Often colloquially referred to as “The Met”, The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most well known museums in the world. In fact, it is the third largest museum in the world by floor area. The Met exposes some of the most famous artists’ work such as Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso or Johannes Vermeer. It also has a large collection of historical objects from various periods of history. A must for art and history lovers.
The Met contains two buildings located at two different places. The following information are for the biggest one, the Met Fifth Avenue.
Admission:​
Adults – $30
Seniors (65+) – $22
Visitors with a disability – $22
Students – $17
Children, Members, Patrons and Caregiver of a visitor with disability – Free
New York State residents and New York, New Jersey and Connecticut students can pay the amount they chose (the minimum is $0.01 per ticket). A proof of residency will be required.
Hours:​
Sunday - Tuesday: 10 am - 5 pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 10 am - 5 pm
Friday & Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm
​
​Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, January 1, and the first Monday in May.
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is one of the most visited museums in the United States (third as of 2025). Like any natural history museum, the AMNH has various exhibits on various subjects like space, dinosaurs and more. This is also the museum in which the story of Night at the Museum (2006) is supposed to take place – supposed since the filming of indoor scenes did not take place at the museum. In short, an iconic museum, and a visit for everyone.
Added to the permanent exhibits, the museum holds temporary exhibits made available for an additional fee.
Admission:​
Multiple types of tickets are made available. The price depends on your residency, age and status (student or not). The standard pricing (without any advantage) are the following.
General Admission:
Adult – $30
Senior/Student – $24
Child – $18
Member – Free
General Admission + All Ticketed Exhibitions:
Adult – $41
Senior/Student – $33
Child – $26
Member – Free
Hours:​
Open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm.
Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
An admission including the general one and one ticketed exhibition also exist.
Prospect Park
A lot of people know Central Park in New York, but there are so many other nice parks in the city. One of these is Prospect Park. This park is the second biggest in Brooklyn and offers many things to do. That includes hiking areas, a Zoo (yes another), a boathouse and a lot of different activities. The park’s location is also great as it is right next to the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden or Brooklyn Public Library.
Hours:​ Open daily from 6 am to 1am.
Photo by Tyler Goodell | Unsplash
Attend One of NYC Sport Teams' games
When it comes to sport, New York is one of the most important places. It has 11 major league professional sports teams – 2 NBA Teams, 2 MLB Teams, 2 NFL Teams, 3 NHL Teams and 2 MLS Teams. People in New York love sport, and this reflects in the mood of their team’s game. Stadiums are often full, and the mood is electric. Moreover, many of New York’s sports teams are historically significant, and have known some of the best athletes of their sports. Therefore, if you love sport, or never attended an American sport’s game, going to one of New York’s games is a worthwhile experience.
Photo by Mimi Di Cianni | Unsplash
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
One of the things making New York so unique is the skyline defined by some of America’s tallest (or even oldest) skyscrapers in America. One of the best places to enjoy the view is Brooklyn Heights Promenade. The platform is 1, 826-foot (557m) long. More than just Manhattan’s skyscrapers, you can also see landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge or the Statue of Liberty from it.
Hours:​ Open daily from 6 am to 1am.
