Writing a travel blog about the best things to do in New York City is rather intimidating. Let me explain. New York City is a frequented travel destination, especially for those living in the USA. Hence, everyone has an opinion regarding the best things to do in New York City. Everyone will have a dinner preference, can recommend a hotel and can suggest a favorite activity. TripAdvisor is a data dump of recommendation after recommendation, so much so that it is anxiety inducing to even search for information. In hopes of making your lives easier, I’ll just give you my suggestions and let you plan your trip accordingly 🙂
My favorite part of New York is that each person will experience it differently. The Broadway fan. The foodie. The artist. The fashionista. The tourist (no shame). The museum junkie. I love that each time I visit New York, I see it through new eyes.
I recently visited New York with a friend on a spontaneous 30-hour trip. We made a bucket list of items we wanted to see and do, and went from there. We picked a hotel upon landing in New York, booked it in the taxi on the way to said hotel, stored our luggage, and promptly began exploring. It was the most perfect day, mostly because we kept running into places on our bucket list by happenstance. We hopped on the Subway when our feet got tired and we even had time for a little bartering on canal street (which I am absolutely horrible at).
Throughout the day, we kept our eyes peeled (thank you iPhone apps) for Broadway tickets to Waitress. We weren’t able to find any reasonably priced tickets, so we stopped by the ticket office two hours before the show to see if any production tickets weren’t being used. Pro Tip: this is the move. We scored reasonable tickets, with no added fees. Might I add – they were the producers seats. dead center. about 15 rows back. Oh, I should also add, that Sara Bareilles and Jason Maraz were doing a short run in the show at the time. Sara Bareilles wrote the musical. The ENTIRE musical. We even had the chance to meet her after the show! I will forever be fascinated by the brilliance of Broadway.
The next morning, we woke up early to grab breakfast and eat it in Central Park. From there, we pretended to be Blair Waldorf and Blake Lively catching up on the latest gossip while sitting on the Met Steps.
In summary, it was a perfect 30 hours and I was the good kind of exhausted as soon as I reached the airport for my flight home.
Here are the best things to do in New York City (according to moi). Remember – everyone sees New York differently, so this list is not comprehensive! You do you in NYC. Make the most of the big city!
Best things TO DO in New York City
Top of the Rock: viewing attraction atop the Rockefeller Center. It offers sweeping views of the entire city and is downright amazing for your birdseye city view.
Rockefeller Center
Flatiron District: home of the iconic Flatiron building, stock exchange and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
World Trade Center: a somber and moving experience. I truly believe everyone should visit this at least once in their life time.
The Battery: get in your morning run or afternoon walk on this beautiful path along the water. How often can you exercise with a view of the Statue of Liberty?
Chelsea Market and Chelsea Highline
Canal Street : your go-to for knock off purses and an experience I guarantee you won’t forget.
Shop on Bleeker Street and meander through Soho
The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art. Deemed “best things to do in New York City” by Blair Waldorf and Serena Vanderwoodsen)
New York Public Library
Bryant Park
Central Park
Grand Central Station
Fifth Avenue
Brooklyn Bridge
Times Square: it is a sight to behold with more people in one place than you could imagine
Best things TO EAT in New York City
Lookie here for the Insider’s Guide of the best places to eat in New York City for every occasion.
DRINKS with a View in New York City
- Le Bain at the Standard
- Standard Hotel
- Brass Monkey
- 230 Fifth
- Cloud Social Bar
Want more? Check out this complete guide of the best rooftop bars in New York City.
BROADWAY (it deserves its own category):
- Waitress
- Wicked
- Dear Evan Hansen
- Beautiful
- Hamilton
