PlanoPlanoNew York City compresses the cultural output of an entire continent into five boroughs, each with its own identity and intensity. Things to do in New York range from world-premiere gallery shows and zero-reservation omakase counters to neighbourhood walks through communities representing nearly every country on Earth.
Read the full New York City travel guide →5 days
April, May, September
10
Grand Central Terminal
The 1913 Beaux-Arts terminal in Midtown has a ceiling mural of 2,500 painted stars, a whispering gallery outside the Oyster Bar, and a hidden tennis court on the fourth floor.
MoMA
The Museum of Modern Art on 53rd Street holds Starry Night, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, and Campbell's Soup Cans, with free admission every Friday from 16:00 to 20:00.
The Cloisters
A branch of the Met in Fort Tryon Park at Manhattan's northern tip, reconstructed from five medieval European cloisters, housing the Unicorn Tapestries and Romanesque chapels.
Di Fara Pizza in Midwood
Dom DeMarco has hand-cut every slice at this Brooklyn pizzeria since 1965, using imported olive oil, fresh basil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano for what many call the best pizza in New York.
Prospect Park
Olmsted and Vaux considered their 237-hectare Brooklyn park a superior design to Central Park, with a boathouse, a free summer concert series, and the only lake in New York where you can ice skate outdoors.
Williamsburg and Greenpoint
The north Brooklyn waterfront mixes Polish bakeries in Greenpoint with Williamsburg's converted-warehouse galleries, Smorgasburg vendors, and Domino Park views of the Manhattan skyline.
Jackson Heights, Queens
The most ethnically diverse neighbourhood in the world has Tibetan momos on Roosevelt Avenue, Colombian bakeries, and Indian sari shops all within four blocks.
Cold Spring day trip
A Hudson Valley town 80 minutes north by Metro-North has antique shops on Main Street, the Breakneck Ridge hike with river views, and the Storm King Art Center's outdoor sculptures.
Chelsea Market
The block-long market in a former Nabisco factory has over 35 vendors selling lobster, artisan doughnuts, and imported spices, connecting the High Line at its western exit.
Village Vanguard jazz club
The basement jazz club on Seventh Avenue South in Greenwich Village has hosted live performances every night since 1935, including legendary recordings by John Coltrane and Bill Evans.
The best months to enjoy things to do in New York City are April, May, September, October. Plan around these months for the best weather and fewer crowds.
Tell Plano your dates and pace — get a personalised New York City itinerary with all the best activities, timing, and routes in 60 seconds.
Plan my New York City trip