The Best Activities to do in New York City

If you’re planning a trip to The Big Apple, then you’ll certainly want to make the most of your stay by experiencing all of the best and most exciting activities New York City has to offer. Whether it’s your first time visiting or you are just looking for some ideas of different activities to add to your itinerary, this guide will provide some helpful information on what you can do to make the most of your trip.

The Best Way to See the Sights

One of the most efficient and enjoyable ways to get familiarized with the sights of New York City is to take a tour. There are various companies that provide guided walking and bus/boat tours, from narrated history and culture tours to famous food excursions. Aside from getting backstories and Instagram-worthy content from all around NYC, a guided tour is also a great way for both visitors and locals alike to experience the city in a safe and organized fashion. You can often find ticket sales for discounted prices through vouchers and meal-ticket programs, so be on the lookout for those special deals to help you save.

Experience the Urban Parks & Landmarks

Parks and public spaces are a great way to get a taste of NYC culture without the hustle and bustle of the city itself. It’s also a chance to discover pristine urban environments like pocket parks, community gardens, sculpture parks, historic sites, and iconic playgrounds. So make sure you plan some time to explore the backyard of Manhattan Island and take advantage of what these spots have to offer.

A few of landmark sites that should be on your list include Central Park, Bryant Park, Bethesda Fountain (in Central Park), Times Square, The High Line (on Manhattan’s West Side), and Chelsea Market (near Chelsea’s art district). Additionally add Governor’s Island, Washington Square Park, and The Brooklyn Bridge Promenade to your list for some great views overlooking both waterfronts.

Live Music Performances & Shows

From Broadway musicals and Off-Broadway plays to cabarets, comedy shows, opera, classical music concerts, and dance performances, NYC is packed with many entertainment activities f you’re looking for a genuine New York experience. Though tickets can get quite pricey if you plan out far enough in advance you can often find great offers and discounts to help bring down the costs.

The NYC music scene is vast as well as diverse. There are different clubs that offer jazz, blues, EDM (electronic dance music), Latin and Caribbean music, which are all worth looking into. If you’re looking for venues from the underground clubbing circuit or a famous DJ night, there are plenty of options in this department too.

Shopping Excursion

The options for shopping are quite abundant in New York City. You can visit high-end fashion neighborhoods in SoHo or Midtown for luxury items, designer clothes, and upscale boutiques. Or for a more budget conscious approach try Union Square if you’re looking for affordable clothes, makeup products, sneakers and jewelry. Outlet stores can also be found in Brooklyn and other neighborhoods throughout the city if you want to get designer items at lower prices. And if it’s antiques or vintage items you’re searching for, head over to Hell’s Kitchen, the East Village or Chelsea Market.

Explore the Food Scene

This might be one of the best reasons to visit NYC – amazing eats! From romantic restaurant settings to food trucks, coastal seafood, pizza slices (and sauce), knishes, sandwiches, bagels and much more, you won’t have any trouble finding something that’ll make your taste buds happy. If you want full immersion into authentic NYC cuisine be sure to take a culinary tour with one of the popular programs in the city that explore local restaurants and eateries throughout NYC offering economical tasting segments.

And if your ambitions lean more towards tapping into your creative side then you can also look for cooking classes that are designed for each end of the cooking complexity scale. Whether it’s an exclusive hands-on gastronomic experience with professional instructors or just learning some basics from a home kitchen style workshop – there is something for everyone’s needs no matter what type of cuisine they wish to partake in.

NYC Prohibition Pub Crawl East Village

If you want something a bit different than traditional activities there is also New York City Prohibition Pub Crawl East Village by Viator Tours that provides guests with an unexpected unique adventure combining history, architecture, mystery and moments of fun. This Prohibition era themed tour will take guests on a journey through three East Village speakeasy style bars that still capture an air of historic charm today with nods to NYC’s emergence as an epicenter of 1920s avant-garde culture and debauchery. You will learn about the act that spawned NYC’s artistic revival and their influence on the jazz age of downtown Manhattan – all while enjoying specialty prohibition era cocktails at each location! Feel like some celebrity time traveling in prohibition times through the back alleys of Greenwich Village!

You can book this tour through Viator Tours by following this link . Its an exciting activity that adds a unique flavor to any visit in New York City whether its your first time or not while helping you historicize the locale while having fun with yourself or with your friends and family.

Conclusion

No matter what it is that you choose to do while in New York City, there’s no doubt that there are countless activities awaiting you throughout The Big Apple that can fit into any kind of budget depending on how in-depth of an experience you wish to create — whether you want a low-cost or luxury experience. So plan ahead and hit those bucket list activities off one by one!