18 Essential First-Timer Things to Do in New York City!

Remus

Last updated 12 Mar 2024

Things to do in New York City

From Times Square to the Empire State Building, you’re sure to never run out of things to do in New York City. With so many things to do, see, and experience in the Big Apple, we can totally understand if you’re intimidated by it all. To help you out, we’ve done the legwork and pulled together a couple of must-do activities to fully maximize your stay.

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Here’s a quick list of things to do, eat and see:

Bike around Central Park
Watch a Broadway Show
Get tickets to a Baseball Game
Shop at SoHo!
Go thrift shopping at the West Village
Visit the Color Factory
Chelsea Market
The Halal Guys
Lombardi’s Pizza
New York Pizza
New York Hotdog
Music Bars
Empire State Building
The High Line
The Vessel
New York Museums
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
The Oculus

Read along to see how you can navigate the streets of New York City:

MUST-DO

1. Bike around Central Park

With 843 acres of land, make sure to rent a bike to enjoy all of the beautiful sights within the park. We recommend stopping off at a local deli to pick up a delicious lunch which you can enjoy in the park!

Address: Central Park stretches from 59th Street to 110th Street, between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West

Operating Hours: 6 AM to 1 AM, Monday to Sunday

2. Watch a Broadway Show

With all those posters plastered throughout Times Square, it’s an absolute must that you watch at least one Broadway play in New York. Come and see the stars portray some of your favorite characters in musicals such as Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Waitress the Musical, The Lion King, and so much more! Make sure to book your tickets beforehand so you get the best seats in the house at the best price!

Pre-book Your NYC Broadway Tickets on Klook!

3. Get tickets to a Baseball Game

Take yourself out to a ball game! See the New York Yankees in action as they play in the different stadiums across the city. Grab a quick snack and cheer on your favorite team with your foam hand in the air. Remember, watch carefully, because you might just be that lucky fan who gets to catch that major home run ball.

4. Shop at SoHo!

Head on to this infamous art district and shopping area! Also known as the “South of Houston,” the SoHo area is widely known as one of the top shopping destinations in New York City. Shop at both trendy and upscale boutiques, as well as some international chain stores like Zara, Nike, Louis Vuitton, etc.

5. Go thrift shopping at the West Village!

Why not shop and make a difference at the same time? At the Vintage Thrift West, you can shop for unique and pre-loved finds. From costumes to jewellery, this boutique has it all. At the same time, the store gives its proceeds to a charity- United Jewish Council of the East Side!

Address: 242 W 10th St., Manhattan, NY 10014 (between Hudson St. & Bleecker St. West Village)

Operating Hours: 11:30 AM to 5 PM, Sunday to Monday

6. Visit the Color Factory

Let your true colours shine through with the Colour Factory! Learn more about different palettes, shades, hues, and even engage in some activities within the museum. With various rooms to explore, Colour Factory is a definite eye-catcher that’ll be sure to captivate your imagination.

Address: 251 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013

Operating Hours: 10 AM to 10 PM, Fridays to Tuesdays | 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM, Wednesdays

MUST-EAT

7. Chelsea Market

Curious to find out where the locals go to dine? Head onto Chelsea Market for a wide variety of both food and drink to choose from. With over 35 stalls in the area, this indoor market has food from all over the world! From New York Cheesecakes to Boston Clam Chowders, the options at Chelsea Market will surely make your taste buds tingle with excitement.

Address: 75 9th Avenue (Between 15th and 16 Streets), New York, NY 10011

Operating Hours: 7 AM to 2 AM, Mondays to Saturdays | 8 AM to 10 PM, Sundays

8. The Halal Guys

If you’re in New York, then you’d definitely want to try out the Halal Guys! Starting out, the Halal Guys was just a simple cart in the streets of New York. Now, they’re a massive force internationally with their Halal food meals. Make sure to catch them at the corners of 53rd St. and 6th Avenue and try their signature platter of chicken and gyro that will make that wait in line well worth it.

9. Lombardi's Pizza

Can you believe that you can still try what is said to be America’s first pizza created in 1905? In Lombardi’s Pizza, you can try their infamous coal-oven baked pizza – favored by locals, tourists, and celebrities alike! Lombardi’s simple combination of tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil keeps customers coming back for more. Drop by and you might just spot someone famous at the next table.

Address: 32 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Operating Hours: 11:30 AM to 11 PM, Sundays to Thursdays | 11:30 AM to 12 AM, Fridays to Saturdays

10. New York Pizza

If there is one dish you need to try in New York – it’s definitely got to be their pizza. New Yorkers pride themselves on their large, hand-tossed, thin crust pizzas, and we totally understand why! Fortunately for us tourists, New York has dozens of pizzerias to try all over the city, so you have no reason not to get a slice or two.

11. New York Hotdog

If there’s one thing you can count on while you’re in the streets of New York, it’s a hotdog stand at almost every corner. If you get hungry while shopping on Fifth Avenue, don’t worry, the street has a handful of hotdog stands just for you. Just like their pizzas, New York’s hotdogs are simply not the same hotdog you’ll find anywhere else. New York’s hotdogs are often topped with a spicy brown mustard, with either sautéed onions or sauerkraut in tomato sauce.

12. Music Bars

If you’re a night owl, then get ready to explore that city that never sleeps! New York City is home to a number of music bars that are open until the early hours in the morning. Enjoy a night-out with your friends and listen to various performances by heading to the various music bars around the city. Some music bars such as Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar and Arlene’s Grocery are open until 4 AM so the fun never stops!

MUST-SEE

13. Empire State Building

Everyone knows it’s not a trip to New York unless you’ve gone to the Empire State building. One of the most iconic buildings in the world, the Empire State building is one of the main skyscrapers that beautifully shows you the New York City skyline on the 86th floor. Lines can be long, so make sure you get a ticket beforehand to see the breathtaking sight that is New York City without the hassle of waiting in line.

Address: 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001

Operating Hours: 8 AM to 2 AM, Monday to Sunday

14. The High Line

The High Line is a public space in the city perfect for anyone looking to relax amidst New York’s fast-paced lifestyle. Formerly one of the city’s old railroad tracks, this elevated park was renovated into a communal area for locals and tourists to gather. Here, you can enjoy various dining experiences, public art and gardens.

Operating Hours: Open daily: 7 AM to 10 PM, April 1 through May 31 | 7 AM to 11 PM, June 1 through September 30 | 7 AM to 10 PM, October 1 through November 30 | 7 AM to 7 PM, December 1 through March 31

15. The Vessel

Having recently opened in March 2019, the Vessel has quickly become one of New York’s most iconic landmarks. The Vessel’s spiral staircase showcases over 154 flights of stairs, 2,500 steps, and 80 landings. This is definitely worth the climb just to see the majestic views of the city!

Address: The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001

Operating Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM, Monday to Sunday

16. New York Museums

Aside from its many iconic landmarks, New York City is also home to some world-class museums, too. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you’ll lay your eyes on some extremely rare pieces of art that tell tales of America’s past and present – including each years’ exhibition from The MET Ball. While you can, pay the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) a visit to appreciate modern and contemporary art.

Book your museums tickets to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) and skip the long queues!

Address: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028) | The MoMA (11 West 53 Street, New York, NY 10019)

17. Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Relax and unwind at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, a public park located outside of Manhattan. This urban botanic garden boasts of 52 acres of land where you can take a lovely stroll to see the various flora and fauna within the park’s multiple gardens and conservatory. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is home to multiple gardens within a garden, plant collections, as well as the Steinhardt Conservatory.

Address: 990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225

Operating Hours: 8 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday to Friday | 10 AM to 10 PM, Saturday to Sunday

18. The Oculus

Travel further in time as you walk into the Oculus – one of New York’s newer landmarks. Otherwise known as the World Trade Center Station, the Oculus is the one of the most expensive train stations built, boasting a jaw-dropping design suitable for anybody’s Instagram feeds! Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Oculus replaces the PATH train station that was previously destroyed during the 9/11 attacks.

Address: New York, NY 10007

Operating Hours: 12 AM to 11:59 PM, Monday to Sunday

There are different options and things to do, but these are our top picks! Otherwise you can find more New York experiences on Klook.

New York United States

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