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INCREDIBLE Things To Do in NYC & How To Explore Like A Local!

New York, New York – the city so nice they named it twice! NYC is a bucket list destination for many people, and in this post we’re going to show you how to explore the tourist capital of the world, like a local! From New York hot-spots to off the beaten path alternatives and secret spots only a local would know – we’re going to share with you all the top things to do in NYC (to help you explore NYC!) Whether you have a week or a weekend, we’re here to help you get the best from the city that never sleeps – keep reading for the ultimate guide to exploring New York City like a local, by a local! 

Things To Do in NYC cover image - aerial shot of the New York skyline with text overlay stating Things to do in New York City, How To Explore Like a Local

Let us help you explore NYC complete with all the New York hot spots!

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New York City is a dream destination for many people all around the world. When I’m traveling outside the States and tell people where I’m from, their eyes open when I reply, they tell me how much they want to visit.

Living here was something I took for granted because I grew up and spent so much time surrounded by the concrete walls. However, I went on my first long-term trip last year, and being away from it all for an extended period of time made me realize that there is nowhere in the world quite like it. And let me tell you – I missed it.

I hope that this list can be helpful as you plan your upcoming trip. To be as helpful and comprehensive as possible, I tried to find a balance between the “tourist hot spots” and “local hidden gems.” No matter what – you should be excited – you’re visiting the greatest city in the world, and it has something for everyone! Here’s a locals guide to exploring NYC!

Things to do in NYC
+ How To Explore NYC Like a Local (by a local!)

Hit the Midtown Manhattan Hotspots

Elevated shot of Time Square in New York with neon advertisements either side of the street, masses of people walking in both directions and across the zebra crossing. In the foreground there are two new york taxi cabs waiting at the crossing. This vibrant scene makes it one of the best things to do in New York City.

Get this out of the way as quickly as you can; there’s so much more to do in the city outside the biggest tourist trap in the world. And while I try to avoid this place as much as possible, anyone visiting for the first time has to stop here and check the famous sites off your list. The great thing is that most of the highlights are within walking distance, and you can see them all within one afternoon!

Top Spots from Google

Start at Grand Central Station (and don’t miss one the top rated Oyster Bars in the city! located under the Grand Central Terminal) then walking a few blocks north along Fifth Avenue to do some window-shopping and visit Rockefeller Center, before heading over to Times Square. If interested, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is right in the neighborhood too!

Off The Beaten Path Things To Do in NYC From a Local

Head over to Bryant Park, where you can sit on the lawn and watch movies during the summer, or go ice skating during the winter. The iconic New York Public Library is conveniently located right across the street. If you’re hungry, check out the Burger Joint, located inside the Le Parker Meridien Hotel.

RELATED – Things are a little bit different during the holidays (especially with kids in NYC!) – Take a look at our guide to the Best of New York at Christmas! OR if you are wanting to save a little $$ – our guide to 20+ FREE Things to do in NYC is just what you need.

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Head to Lower Manhattan

Photograph of the inside of an emplty restaurant with dark wooden tables and bench seats lining the side nearest, separated by a glass wall where there are lighter wooden tables and bench seats with metal legs

 …As quickly as possible – this is where all the action is: the trendiest restaurants, incredible rooftop bars (exactly where you want to be for happy hour!) hole-in-the-wall boutique shops, and best speakeasies, among other hidden gems! There are are also fantastic food tours and between Union Square, the West Village, East Village, SoHo, Tribeca, and Financial District, there is something for everyone. This is where you’ll discover the best, off-the-beaten path spots in the city.

There are so many options, but here are a few of my favorites:

Union Square

The Greenmarket (farmers market); Dylan’s Candy Bar (large collection of candy from around the world); ABC Kitchen (using fresh, organic, local ingredients); Dear Irving (cocktail parlor); 15 East (minimalist Japanese serving creative sushi & fish); and The City Bakery

West Village

Walking tour/Christopher Park, Murray’s Cheese Shop, Magnolia Bakery, Barbuto (a Manhattan Staple renowned for its roast chicken); The Spotted Pig (British & Italian styled meals); Po (traditional Italian); Grom (Best Desert Bar in NYC)

Tribeca

Tribeca Film Festival, Pier 25 (one of the best playgrounds in the city), Bubby’s (simple & fresh comfort food); Locanda Verde (rustic Italian in a lively atmosphere); American Cut (modern steakhouse); The Odeon (French-American Bistro); The Brandy Library (refined bar specializing in rare and eclectic spirits).

RELATED: Need a little wanderlust inspiration? Check out our 100+ favorite travel quotes!

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Explore Downtown Manhattan

What To Do in NYC

Downtown Manhattan is my stomping ground; where I lived for five years. So I might be biased when I say that it’s be the best part of the city… but I’ll let you be the judge of that!

Staring up at One World Trade Center and visiting the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum will be a humbling experience, and one that you must include on your agenda.

Skip the line and book your 9/11 Memorial and Museum Admission here

But the opening of the (new) World Trade Center site also led to several large companies relocating and it has completed changed the dynamic of downtown Manhattan. Development in the area has taken off, with lots of new restaurants, shops and commercial buildings opening – leaving much to do and see in NYC. Underneath the WTC site is the Oculus, a transportation HUB that will eventually connect all the subways in Lower Manhattan. It’s also home to over 50 retail shops and stores, and connects to Brookfield place, another upscale shopping center with Hudson Eats, one of NYC’s gourmet food halls.

RELATED: A Guided Tour is a great way to explore the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island– or if you just want a view of the lady herself, hop on the Staten Island ferry.

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Places to check out

The Financial District is home to the #1 ranked bar in the world, the Dead Rabbit, where you can get some truly unique cocktails. This is where you will also find a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island. Our favorite local things to do in NYC include hanging out at Clinton Hall, Stone Street (Ulysses), Distilled, Stout, and Insomnia Cookies.

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Indulge in the Latest Fad

One of the best Things To Do in New York is to indulge in the latest fad - pictured here are 4 waffle ice cream cones standing in a clear perspex display stand, each with different ice cream flavours including cookie dough, chocolate chip and penut butter

From the Cronut and Churro Ice Cream Sandwiches, to Rainbow Bagels and the Ramen Burger, there’s always a crazy new food phenomenon going on here. Google is your best friend to find out what’s hot when you’re in town.

The Latest: DO (pronounced dough), where people eagerly wait 3 hours to get their hands on scoops of raw cookie dough sold like ice cream – it’s one of the top things to see in New York City! And if sweets aren’t your thing, there always the recently invented sushi burrito…

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Check out the NYC Skyline

If you are wondering what to do in NYC, seeing the skyline from above is it. This is a shot of the empire state building taking from top of the rock observatory with a view over the rest of new york. Sky has a purple tinged haze, photograph was taken at dusk.

From within Manhattan

The view from the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock Observation Deck is popular, but I would recommend heading downtown to the World Trade Center, where its Observatory recently opened and offers an unrivaled view and experience and is one of the best things to see in NYC.

From outside Manhattan

Head over to Brooklyn to the East (the view from the Brooklyn Bridge Park on the Brooklyn Side of the East River has amazing views), or Jersey City to the west – where you’ll find another spectacular view of the iconic Manhattan skyline. You’ve got to witness these views yourself, and they also make for perfect Instagram shots!

RELATED: NYC is the last stop on my Coast to Coast USA Road Trip -> If you’re planning on driving to LA, this is the route to go!

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Hit an Outer Borough

View from the train tracks in the Bronx looking back towards New York City. Train tracks in the forground next to the river, brige over the river in the middle of the image and skyscrapers in the distance behind them

The Bronx

Gentrification has run rampant in the boroughs outside Manhattan and popularity in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx has skyrocketed. A lot the hottest NYC spots now require an Uber or subway ride away from core Manhattan.

Recommendation: check out the Brooklyn Flea Market or Smorgasburg during the summer; eat dim sum in the best Chinatown in Flushing, Queens; visit the lions at the Bronx Zoo; or even go hiking on Long Island. The possibilities and experiences here are endless, and there’s always new things popping up, so you’ll never run out of new opportunities!

RELATED: A Solo Female Travelers Guide to The Big Apple

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See a Show

When wondering what to do in New York, seeing a show is a no brainer. Close up shot of Time Square from ground level looking up at the illuminated billboards advertising the Palace Theater, The Shows Kinky Boots and An American in Paris

Everyone’s knows about Broadway and its headlining shows – it’s a quintessential NYC experience, but can be pricey even for mediocre seats (especially if you want to hit up some of the most well known venues such as Radio City Music Hall!)

Click to check what tickets are available for your visit!

For a unique experience to brag about, that won’t break the bank, I’d recommend looking into an “Off-Broadway” show, where you’ll get much better seats and a lot more bang for your buck. It’s a unique experience and often features well-known performers (for those even more adventurous, there is “Off-Off-Broadway,” which are new, experimental shows that take place in small theaters for $15-$25).

Alternatively: Look into getting tickets at one of NY’s many comedy clubs, one of the most entertaining (and underrated) experiences in the city. Many of them are known to have popular comedians unexpectedly stop in (fingers crossed)!

RELATED – New York is one of the 30 Best Places to visit in the USA – but do you know what the other 29 are? And how many have you visited?!

Watch a Sporting Event

One of the best Things To Do in NYC is see a sporting event - this photo is of a Baseball Stadium from the lower stands with 7 rows of people sat in front, the ball game in the middle and full stands behind the game

This is one of my favorite ways to experience a new city and there’s no place better (although it can be fairly expensive). There’s a wide variety of sporting events you can watch but it completely depends on what time of year you’re visiting.

Check on TicketMaster for events that will be one during your visit!

Where to go: between Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, MetLife Stadium, and Red Bull Arena, you should be able to find something that piques your interest. They also host some big-name concerts. Be sure to take a look at the websites above for all the details!

RELATED: Traveling with kids? Check out this guide to New York for Families

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Go for a Stroll

Explore NYC like a local by walking the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. Image taken from the central point of the bridge, surrounded by the wires that suspend it with New York City in the distance

While you’re going to be doing a lot of walking no matter where you are – NYC has some incredible spots that you should specifically make time to explore.

Hotspots

Central Park (you could spend a few days here), the High Line (don’t forget to stop for gelato), Fifth Avenue (bring your wallet!), Brooklyn Bridge (go early to avoid the crowds – like the pic above!)

New York City Off the beaten path

Head downtown where you can walk along the West Side Highway through Battery Park – one of my favorite places to catch a sunset overlooking the Hudson River, and there are views of the Statue of Liberty. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden or Prospect Park are also great spots to visit in the summertime.

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Visit a Museum

View from the top floor of the Guggenheim Museum looking down on its white concentric circle layouy with people in the atrium below

The Guggenheim Museum

NYC is one of the cultural centers of the world – and no trip to the Big Apple would be complete without a trip to at least one museum. It’s home to some of the most well-known and diverse museums in the world – you could spend a week just visiting all of them! They are definitely some of the to things to see in NYC.

The ones you know

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), Museum of Modern Art, American Museum of Natural History, the Whitney Museum of American Arts, and The Guggenheim Museum.

The ones you don’t

Museum of the City of NY, the Frick Collection, the Transit Museum, the Brooklyn Museum & the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

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Traveler Resources: Extra Ways To Save Money & Get A Great Deal In New York

  • If you’re planning on hitting a few of the attractions listed above, the New York Attraction Passes are a great way to save money!
  • Groupon have awesome local deals for New York and is updated all the time – from massages and beauty treatments to dining deals and money off things to do. Check out their local deals and see where you can save some cash on things you already planned to do!
  • Tour search engine Viator offers affordable organized tours to see different parts of New York
  • TicketNetwork list the best events going on in New York – see if there is anything special on during your trip!

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And that’s a wrap folks! We hope you have some great ideas for what to do in New York City, along with a few ideas to get off the tourist trail and explore the city like a local. Whatever you do on your visit to NYC, I’m sure you’ll have a great time exploring, New York is an incredible place, and with so much to do there, you know there will always be something new for you to see on every trip!

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READY MORE TRAVEL INSPIRATION? YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THESE TRAVEL TIPS, TRAVEL ARTICLES, DESTINATION GUIDES AND RELATED POSTS ABOUT OTHER AMAZING CITIES IN NORTH AMERICA:

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Hi There! Thanks for reading Incredible Things To Do In NYC: How To Explore New York City Like A Local, By A Local. I just wanted to let you know that this post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something after clicking a link, I may get a small commission – which is at absolutely no cost to you. If you enjoyed this article and are going to be searching for some of the things I mention anyway, I would love it if you could click through from the links above & thank you in advance! Read my full Disclosure here.
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Jyoti

Saturday 19th of March 2022

I liked it. Keep going. you are the best writer, your site is very useful and informative thanks for sharing!

Marisse

Wednesday 7th of February 2018

Do you have any quaint little place for breakfast/lunch and vintage shops- hidden treasures - maybe in the village or in one of the neighborhoods? Thanks

Vicki

Monday 12th of February 2018

Hi Marisse For vintage shops I'd recommend checking out Hamlet's Village or Beacon Closet which are both in Greenwich Village - there is a also a little hub of retro/thrift /vintage shops along E 9th Street been 1st and 2nd Avenue :-)

Zoe

Saturday 29th of April 2017

Just what I have been looking for! Some cool tips from a local. These will definitely help with my trip in September!

Jennifer

Friday 21st of April 2017

I've been to NYC at least a dozen times now and it remains one of my favorite cities in the world. I have my favorite spots I like to revisit each time I'm in the city, but I also always add a new sight, neighborhood or experience.

Megan Jerrard

Wednesday 19th of April 2017

Fabulous list! My favorite thing from my time in New York was catching the Staten Island Ferry - I caught it over and the straight back again, mainly to catch the views of Lady Liberty - definitely made me feel like a local though too!

Comments are closed.