25 Special Things to Do in New York City

New York City is a one-of-a-kind place with an endless list of things to see and do, so we decided to come up with a list of 25 special things to do in New York City.

Whether you live in New York or you are planning a visit, it seems there’s never enough time to see all that The Big Apple has to offer. Maybe that’s one reason it’s known as the City That Never Sleeps because that’s the only way you’ll get to see and experience everything.  There are plenty of things that you can do in the city mainly due to the fact that New York City is massive and over 8 million people call it home. While a little overwhelming, researching special things to do in NYC can be a lot of fun. You wouldn’t believe how many hidden NYC attractions or just unique things there are to do in the city. I think I will gradually be trying out all of these fun things over the weekends.

If you live in the city, I definitely recommend that you check out this list if you’re tired of doing the same things in the city. However, I am sure you already have a to-do list of your own, and what we have in store for you today will definitely make a fine addition to it. To put it simply, when you are in New York City, you are at the only place on Earth where, entertainment, fashion, media, and finance all comes together in perfect harmony. I won’t go as far as to claim that New York is the best city in the entire world, however I will say that it is definitely one of the best cities in the world. The grander the place you are in, the more you can do with your time. If you came across this list, while searching for some more romantic things to do in NYC, then I can easily recommend 16 Fun First Date Ideas in NYC.

In order to come up with this massive list of special things to do in New York City, I sought help from the database available at Class Curious as well as a Google Search. Also, I added a few things from personal experience. One thing to mention here is that the list is in no particular order. I find all of the activities listed down below to be equally special, and so I could not bring myself to rank them in any way.

I understand you’re here because you’re probably on a mission to learn some new things to do around the city, so let’s not waste any more time and get to our list of 25 special things to do in New York City.

25. Find a special class for yourself

I am sure, there is something that you always wanted to learn. Just head on over to Class Curious and browse through the massive database of all sorts of classes there, and pick one that suits your needs. This city has a class for pretty much anything you can think you want to learn about. It does not matter whether you are a permanent resident of NYC or just visiting as a tourist, you will definitely find the class you are looking for.

24. Visit the Museum of Modern Art

I am sure you know the museum of modern or (MoMA) is considered one of the most influential museums in the world of modern art. When you are in New York City, not planning a visit there with your friends would be a cardinal sin, to say the least.

23. Visit the Central Park

While parks are everywhere, Central Park is a major tourist attraction in America. You just have to visit the central park, as no matter what season it is, it is beautiful all year round. It is an amazing place to contemplate and enjoy the nature in its true form. The park spans over 840 acres of land so if you wish to cover the whole park, you need to pay multiple visits to Central Park before you can see the entirety of it.

22. Visit the Empire State Building 

People don’t call the Empire State building the icon of New York City for nothing. In my humble opinion, you will have the most spectacular view of New York City from the observation deck of the Empire State Building. It has been termed by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. I think this is something that you must do when you are in NYC as a tourist or otherwise.

21. See the Statue of Liberty up close

If you are visiting New York City, or living in it, you will see the Statue of Liberty from time to time. But, you owe it to yourself to take a ferry ride to visit Lady Liberty in person. I mean, she’s the universal symbol of liberty and freedom and there’s nothing else quite like the statue. You’ll also get a great view of Manhattan on the ferry ride over.

20. Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village should be on everyone’s priority list while in NYC. The place is amazing, full of colorful shops, awesome street performers and tons of bars and bakeries to explore. If you are in the mood for people watching, then this is the place you want to be in NYC. It’s also home to the famous arch (pictured below) in Washington Square Park.

19. Ride the Staten Island Ferry

Remember I talked about taking a ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty? Well, I was talking about this ferry specifically. The Staten Island Ferry has been in service since 1905 and it transports over 21 million people each year. The ferry ride itself is a pretty special experience to have.

18. Do take the time to visit the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum

9/11 marks one of the darkest hours of modern history. The effects of that fateful morning are still very much felt throughout the entire world and especially New York. The people who lost their lives in this unfortunate event deserve that we pay our respect. This visit will surely transform you and give you a new perspective on life.

17. Take The Ride

I am not talking about any ordinary ride here, but rather The Ride  (a 75-minute long interactive tour & show of most prominent locations of NYC). Although it’s definitely more of a tourist thing, even if you are a permanent resident of NYC, you should take the time to do it with visiting family or friends. The experience is definitely quite enjoyable, and worth giving a shot.

16. Madame Tussauds museum New York

Since 2000 Madame Tussauds museum has opened its doors to city dwellers and tourists of New York. It would be a shame if you didn’t visit the museum and have your picture taken with your favorite celebrity, or to be more accurate their wax replica.

15. Watch a show at Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall was built by the great John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and since its completion in the early 1930’s it’s been offering world class entertainment to the masses for a very affordable price. Radio City is also home to the world-famous Rockettes and their popular Christmas Spectacular.

14. Go sightseeing from Top of the Rock Observation Deck

Rock Observation Deck is situated atop the historic Rockefeller Center. If you plan a visit there you can basically nail two birds with one stone. You will be able to experience the amazing panoramic view of midtown Manhattan and also be able to visit the world famous Rockefeller Center.

13. Take a walk on the High Line

This is something I am sure you already have in your to do list as well. The High Line is an elevated walkway spanning from the Meatpacking District and ending on 34th Street. It is just an awesome place to be. When you get there, you will know what I am talking about. It’s one-of-a-kind, which is why it landed a spot on this list of 25 special things to do in New York City.

12. The Frick Museum

Named after the collector, the Frick Museum houses an immense collection of immaculately preserved art, furniture, sculptures, and pottery. If you love art, then this is a must see place for you in New York City.

11. Visit the Tenement Museum

The shores of New York have seen many ferries and ships carrying immigrants for centuries. The visit to this museum that ranks 11th on the list of special things to do in New York City is a must do, because the museum is dedicated to the millions of foreign immigrants who entered the country via the New York harbor. If you want to learn about the past of this great city, you ought to visit Tenement Museum.

10. New York Public Library

Books are always going to be special to me, even though books are something of the by gone era. Nonetheless, people still love to read. If you have an hour or two to spare, spending some quiet time reading at the New York Public Library will be the best utilization of your time. Now, let’s see what else we have on the list of special things to do in New York City.

9. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is the cultural hub of New York City. If you are a permanent resident, or not, you owe it to yourself to visit there. The experience is quite special, to say the least.

8. Nintendo World

If you grew up during the 80’s then Nintendo world would spell nostalgia and fun for you. It is the headquarters of of Nintendo. The moment you step into Nintendo World, all the memories of playing those the fun video games will come rushing back to you. It is a pretty special and unique experience, to say the least and that’s why we put it on our list of special things to do in New York City.

7. The Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society

While walking through the 250 plus acres of zoo territory, you will come across some really rare animals that you will never be able to see otherwise. If that is not special then I do not know what is. They even host a fun Brew at the Zoo event where you can sample beers and see animals all at once.

6. Times Square

Way back in the day, the very heart of Manhattan used to be the hub of vice in the city. Thankfully, the place has gotten rid of its notorious reputation these days. If you feel like going people watching, then this is the perfect place to do it as it’s always filled with a lot of people.

5. Brooklyn Flea

Shopping has always been pretty special experience for me. If you feel like doing some quality vintage style shopping, where you are not squinting your eyes at a computer screen, but rather holding the actual product in your hand before paying for it, then head over to Brooklyn Flea market. No wonder, it’s on our list of r it, then head over to Brooklyn Flea market. No wonder, it’s on our list of special things to do in New York City, right?

4. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

There are quite a few museum visits in our list of special things to do in New York City mainly because museums are kind of special, and when doing a list of special things in NYC, I just could not leave them out. It’s an amazing experience to actually see, up close and personal, how technology has progressed over the years.

3. The Strand Bookstore

If you are a bookworm, then this basically is the best place you can be while in New York. You can find new books, used books, out of print books, rare books and all sorts of goodies all in one place.

2. Wall Street Tour

How can you not visit Wall Street, when you are in New York? If you work does not take you there, then you owe it to yourself to visit it sometime. It’s the financial capital of North America, and the experience is very special for its old buildings and history. And now, let’s se the number one on our list of special things to do in New York City.

1. Chinatown

If you want the special experience of visiting an entirely new city, without ever having to leave New York City, then take a walk in the area of south of Broome Street and east of Lafayette. The streets there are lined with vendors selling exotic Chinese cuisine and also authentic Chinese jewelry and souvenirs.

This concludes our list of 25 special things to do in New York City, we hope you put it to good use and explore one of the best cities in the world.