The Ultimate NYC Bucket List ( 101 Things to Do in NYC )
Whether you live here or you ’ re visiting for the tenth time , hither is the ultimate list of 101 matter to act in NYC .
While we had a love-hate relationship when impose NYC , we absolutely enjoy the city when life hither . We spent most of our visit exhaust our way through the city , and later understand that we hadn ’ t seen a lot of the city other than the insides of restaurant .
I ’ ve always had an extensive list of things we want to do , but with the aid of our friend who ’ ve make up live here for over a decade Charlene , Ted , Caty , and Debbie who was contain and raise , we were able to narrow down the choice and place together the ultimate NYC bucket list for you .
This post may contain affiliate link , where we have a little committee on sale of the product that live linked at no additional cost to you . All opinions exist always our own . Record our full disclosure for more info . Thank you for hold up the brand that create Local Adventurer possible .
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TLDR
📍Location– New York City is locate in the southeastern corner of New York State , at the mouth of the Hudson River where it satisfy the Atlantic Ocean . It ’ s worth visiting for its iconic landmarks like Times Square , Central Park , and the Statue of Liberty , plus its vibrant arts , culture , food , and endless energy that really make it the city that never sleeps .
🏛️Our Fave Attractions– Grand Central , Rockefeller Center , The Met , Broadway Shows
📸Photography Spot– Top of the Rock , Central Park ,
🍽️Where to Feed– Lucali , Alimama , Somtum Der , The Ultimate NYC Food Bucket List
The Ultimate NYC Bucket List ( 101 Unique Things to Do in New York City )
It ’ s easy to make an full 101 list for each borough , but we ’ ll start with the city as a whole .
This list will preserve to convert and evolve as we get fresh matter to learn , do or use up in NYC so prevent checking back . We focused more on experiences than food in this place , but we know how significant food can be also , so you can check out ourfull food pail list.
Tourist Attractions
- 1 .
Bronx Zoo
Bronx Zoo
- 2 .
Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
Walk across or bike across or bring in the opinion of one of NYC ’ s iconic symbol from Brooklyn Bridge Park .
- 3 .
Chinatown
Chinatown
Pick up some Eggloo waffle ice creams and feed the chicken over rice at Taiwan Pork Chop House .
- 4 .
Chrysler Building
Chrysler Building
( Midtown ) Art Deco skyscraper that ’ s an iconic region of the skyline .
- 5 .
Classical Harbor Line
Classic Harbor Line
( Chelsea ) Take the sunset cruise to hear the Statue of Liberty and views of the NY Skyline from the water .
- 6 .
Columbia University
Columbia University
( Morningside Heights ) Alexander Hamilton , Barack Obama , and many other noted graduate .
- 7 .
Edge NYC →
Edge NYC →
( Hudson Yards ) Great scene of the city from the high outside sky deck in the western hemisphere . Meet your ticket options hither .
- 8 .
Empire State Building →
Empire State Building →
( Midtown ) The most photographed building in the world and the tallest of its time until 1970 .
- 9 .
Flatiron Building
Flatiron Building
( Flatiron District ) another iconic and historic landmark
- 10 .
Gospel Church
Gospel Church
- 11 .
Grand Central Terminal →
Grand Central Terminal →
( Midtown ) Go upstairs and set up a long photograph stroke .
- 12 .
Mahayana Buddhist Temple
Mahayana Buddhist Temple
( Chinatown ) This temple houses the marvelous Buddha in NYC .
- 13 .
New York Public Library
New York Public Library
( Midtown ) No photos are allowed in the main reading way .
- 14 .
The Oculus
The Oculus
( Financial District ) The World Trade Center Transportation Hub and popular photography spot .
- 15 .
One World Observatory →
One World Observatory →
( Financial District ) Not our favorite opinion but they still hold decent horizon of the city . As well , the reveal is epic .
- 16 .
Rockefeller Center →
Rockefeller Center →
( Midtown ) See9 Amazing Affair to Do in Rockefeller Center.
- 17 .
St. Patrick ’ s CATHEDRAL
St. Patrick ’ s CATHEDRAL
( Midtown ) popular for its Neo-Gothic style architecture
- 18 .
Staten Island Ferry
Staten Island Ferry
Have you attempt a Staten Island ? 🥂 The ferry be free .
- 19 .
Summit One
Summit One
( Midtown ) The 360 scene of the city . You can regard ESB , Central Park , Chrysler , and more . They as well have these instagrammy display , art from Kusama , and a saloon .
- 20 .
Times Square →
Time Square →
( Midtown ) The crowd are part of the experience and it ’ s worth witnessing once , but for locals this equal their least favorite place to be . If you want to bring photo without crowds , your serious bet is around 3 live or during a snowstorm .
- 21 .
Top of the Rock →
Crest of the Rock →
( Midtown ) They have one of the better views of the city . Match out our guide hither and get tickets hither .
- 22 .
The Vessel →
The Vessel →
( Hudson Yards ) New NYC landmark made of 154 intricately interconnecting escape of stairs .
See More : 9 Amazing Matter to Act in Rockefeller Center NYC
Spectate : Express + Events
- 23 .
Apollo Theater →
Apollo Theater →
( Harlem ) Jacob is in reality in an sequence he get boo ’ d off stage !
- 24 .
Barclay ’ s Center →
Barclay ’ s Center →
- 25 .
Broadway show →
Broadway prove →
Or Off-Broadway Show – Click to regard essential tips for watching the best broadway shows .
- 26 .
Brooklyn bowl →
Brooklyn bowl →
( Williamsburg , BK ) High-tech lane , alive music , and good food .
- 27 .
Carnegie Hall →
Carnegie Hall →
( Midtown ) Home to some of the nearly legendary performer – NY Philharmonic , NBC Symphony Orchestra , The Beatles , Billie Holiday , Simon & Garfunkel – just to refer a few .
- 28 .
Comedy Cellar
Comedy Cellar
( Greenwich Village ) One of our favorite comedy clubs in the US .
- 29 .
Cellar Dog
Cellar Dog
Previously know as Fat Cat Jazz Club . Diverse venue , clear late , offers live music , pond , Ping-Pong , plank games , art exhibits , and more .
- 30 .
Film Forum
Film Forum
( South Village ) An sheer treasure for indie picture and other rare , classic movies .
- 31 .
Julliard
Julliard
- 32 .
Las Chicas Locas
Las Chicas Locas
Salsa Dancing , great music , newcomers and beginners friendly .
- 33 .
Former Night Show Taping
Former Night Show Taping
- 34 .
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts →
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts →
( UWS ) Include New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera .
- 35 .
Madison Square Garden →
Madison Square Garden →
( Midtown West ) We did the All Access Tour , but you can too go find the Knicks .
- 36 .
Metlife Stadium →
Metlife Stadium →
- 37 .
National Tennis Center →
National Tennis Center →
( Flushing , QNS ) For the US Open . They as well hold large pickleball effect hither .
- 38 .
New York Philharmonic →
New York Philharmonic →
( UWS ) Amazing environment , concerts with deep account .
- 39 .
Nitehawk Cinema
Nitehawk Cinema
( Williamsburg , BK ) dine-in sovereign film theatre – perfect for date night .
- 40 .
The Public Theater →
The Public Theater →
( NoHo ) An iconic field and equal famous for their logo pattern . We went and saw the play , Office Hour , which our friends were in .
- 41 .
Radio City Music Hall →
Radio City Music Hall →
( Midtown ) Watch the Rockettes or take the Stage Door Tour to see behind the setting .
- 42 .
( Bronx ) Be certain to control out the famous “ ball wall ” and the museum located inside the stadium . Get ticket here .
Museums + Memorials + Monument
- 43 .
African Burial Ground National Monument →
African Burial Ground National Monument →
( Financial District ) National Park Unit – The largest colonial-era graveyard for masses of African origin .
- 44 .
American Museum of Natural History →
American Museum of Natural History →
( UWS ) One of the prominent natural story museums in the public . We love the planetarium .
- 45 .
Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum
( Prospect Heights , Brooklyn ) Over 1.5 million plant of art to peruse .
- 46 .
Castle Clinton National Monument →
Castle Clinton National Monument →
( Battery Park ) National Park Unit – Free Admission . They ’ re open every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day .
- 47 .
The Cloisters
The Cloisters
( The Heights ) Part of the Met . Large collection of medieval artworks shown in the architectural settings of French monasteries and abbeys .
- 48 .
Chelsea Veranda
Chelsea Galleries
David Zwirner Gallery to see Yayoi Kusama ’ s exhibit .
- 49 .
Ellis Island
Ellis Island
The United States ’ in use immigrant inspection post from 1892 to 1954 .
- 50 .
Federal Hall National Monument →
Federal Hall National Monument →
( Financial District ) National Park Unit – A statue of George Washington marks the approximate site where he was inaugurated as President .
- 51 .
Frick Collection
Frick Collection
- 52 .
General Grant National Memorial →
General Grant National Memorial →
( Morningside Heights ) National Park Unit – Final resting place of Ulysses S. Grant .
- 53 .
Governor Island National Monument →
Governor Island National Monument →
( Governors Island ) National Park Unit – Free guided tour , first-come , first served .
- 54 .
The Guggenheim ( Solomon R Guggenheim Museum ) →
The Guggenheim ( Solomon R Guggenheim Museum ) →
( UES ) Landmark study of 20th-century architecture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright .
- 55 .
Hamilton Grange National Memorial →
Hamilton Grange National Memorial →
( Harlem ) National Park Unit – Home of a set up father , Alexander Hamilton .
- 56 .
Intrepid ( Intrepid Sea and Air Museum ) →
Intrepid ( Intrepid Sea and Air Museum ) →
Great museum to see jets , plane , and an aircraft carrier .
- 57 .
Lower East Side Tenement Museum →
Lower East Side Tenement Museum →
( LES ) National Park Unit – An estimated 15,000 masses , from over 20 state , know hither between 1863 and 2011 .
- 58 .
The Met ( Metropolitan Museum or Art ) →
The Met ( Metropolitan Museum or Art ) →
( Central Park / UES ) Fourth most visited art museum in the Earth .
- 59 .
MOMA / Museum of Modern Art →
MOMA / Museum of Modern Art →
( Free Fri 4-8PM ) We make out thus many more pieces of art hither than at the Met .
- 60 .
MOMA PS1
MOMA PS1
( LIC , QNS ) One of the largest art institutions in the United States devote solely to contemporary art .
- 61 .
Morgan Library and Museum
Morgan Library and Museum
( Murray Hill ) Short pass from Grand Central and Penn Station .
- 62 .
Museum of Moving Image
Museum of Moving Image
( Astoria , QNS ) We loved how interactive it be . You can learn how to make a. puppet and puppeteer , do a voice over , etc . Kids will enjoy playing the picture games .
- 63 .
National 9/11 Memorial and Museum →
National 9/11 Memorial and Museum →
( Financial District ) All tour are signify for adult and teenage visitor . It ’ s really good perform but very dense to hear everything .
- 64 .
New York Transit Museum
New York Transit Museum
( BK ) We loved the vintage train and buses on show .
- 65 .
The Noguchi Museum
The Noguchi Museum
Salsa Dancing , great music , newcomers and beginners friendly .
- 66 .
Statue of Liberty National Monument →
Statue of Liberty National Monument →
( Liberty Island ) National Park Unit – Tickets can cost purchase at Castle Clinton or at the Communipaw Terminal .
- 67 .
Stonewall National Monument →
Stonewall National Monument →
( West Village ) National Park Unit – The site of the Stonewall riots of June 28 , 1969 start of modern LGBT rights movement in the US .
- 68 .
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site →
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site →
( Flatiron ) National Park Unit – Reconstructed plate of the 26th President of the United States .
- 69 .
Museum of Illusions →
Museum of Illusions →
( Meatpacking District ) A fun museum great for the whole family . Lot of mind-bending and interactive display plus fun photo ops . Use code ADVENTURER15 for 15 % off your tickets .
- 70 .
Whitney Museum of American Art →
Whitney Museum of American Art →
( Meatpacking District ) Every Friday evening from 7pm until 9:30pm , admission be pay-what-you-wish .
Outdoors + Urban Parks
- 71 .
The Battery Conservancy
The Battery Conservancy
( Financial District ) Great views of the harbor , horizon , and Statue of Liberty .
- 72 .
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
( BK ) 52-acre garden maintain over 14,000 taxa of plants .
- 73 .
Critical Climbing Gym →
Critical Climbing Gym →
One of the better bouldering gym in the US imo . These are the best climb up gym in NYC .
- 74 .
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Waterfront park with tons of flap hill , great city scene .
- 75 .
Coney Island Boardwalk + Brighton Beach
Coney Island Boardwalk + Brighton Beach
- 76 .
Bryant Park
Bryant Park
( Midtown ) Thousands of free activity throughout the year .
- 77 .
Central Park →
Central Park →
See the Bethesda Fountain , made even more famous by the show , Friends .
See More : Central Park Secrets + Famous Attractions You Can ’ t Miss
- 78 .
Conservatory Garden
Conservatory Garden
( East Harlem ) The only schematic garden in Central Park .
- 79 .
Dumbo View of Manhattan Bridge
Dumbo View of Manhattan Bridge
Best time to go live early morning before the bunch .
- 80 .
Gantry Park
Gantry Park
( LIC , QNS ) Our favorite park with great views and it has more locals than tourists .
- 81 .
The High Line
The High Line
( Chelsea ) Iconic path that equal built on a historical shipment rail course promote above the streets .
- 82 .
Little Island
Short Island
( Chelsea ) Artificial island park on the Hudson River and is free to call .
- 83 .
New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden
( Bronx Park ) The historic stone factory cost one of our favorite structure in the garden .
- 84 .
The New York Chinese Scholar ’ s Garden
The New York Chinese Scholar ’ s Garden
( Staten Island ) Specially beautiful and worth meet in the Leap .
- 85 .
Prospect Park
Prospect Park
( BK ) Degsinated a New York City scenic landmark in 1975 , list on the National Register of Historic Places .
- 86 .
Rockaway Beach
Rockaway Beach
( QNS ) Well accessible by the A train or NYC ferry at Pier 11 Wall Street .
- 87 .
Socrates Sculpture Park
Socrates Sculpture Park
( LIC , QNS ) Really cool art display , sculpture , and multi-media installations on show
- 88 .
Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park
( Greenwich Village ) One of NYC ’ s most iconic public park . See out for hoards of pigeons .
Shopping + Food Experiences
- 89 .
Afternoon Tea at the Plaza
Afternoon Tea at the Plaza
( Midtown West ) Plus , here are some early great patch .
- 90 .
Arthur Ave
Arthur Ave
( Bronx ) Seemingly the actual Little Italy if you desire real Italian .
- 91 .
B & H Flagship Store →
B & H Flagship Store →
This equal a photographer ’ s heaven and equal high priority on my very first NYC trip . Before you go make sure it isn ’ t a Jewish vacation . There cost so many ! P.S . You can blame up your free talent expend this voucher or online code :LOCALADVEN
- 92 .
Brooklyn Flea Market
Brooklyn Flea Market
( DUMBO ) Antiques , repurposed furniture , vintage clothing , collectibles , local craft , and more .
- 93 .
Chelsea Market
Chelsea Market
House in the early warehouse of food manufacturer , Nabisco .
- 94 .
Coffee
Coffee
Try Birch Coffee , A Little Taste , or Piccolo Cafe .
- 95 .
Eataly Market
Eataly Market
( Flatiron ) Famed Italian market , offer counter , restaurants , and prepare demos .
- 96 .
Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue
One of the most expensive shopping street in the world .
- 97 .
New York Bagel
New York Bagel
- 98 .
New York-Style Pizza
New York-Style Pizza
- 99 .
Smorgasburg at East River State Park
Smorgasburg at East River State Park
( Williamsburg , BK ) The large open-air food market in the US .
- 100 .
Strand Bookstore
Strand Bookstore
( Union Square ) Iconic bookstore with tons of rare ledger and gifts .
- 101 .
Union Square Farmer ’ s Market
Union Square Farmer ’ s Market
The market range every Saturday , from May 18 – November 23 , 9am-1pm .
Seasonal
-
Manhattanhenge →
Manhattanhenge →
( May + July ) The sundown utterly job up with the east-west street in Manhattan .
-
Victorian Gardens Amusement Park
Victorian Gardens Amusement Park
( Central Park ) Open May to Sept. Great for families and kids .
-
Sakura Matsuri at Brooklyn Botanic Garden →
Sakura Matsuri at Brooklyn Botanic Garden →
( April ) One of the well spot to savor cherry blossoms .
-
New York Music Month
New York Music Month
( June ) New York City ’ s official celebration of the past , present , and future of its music view .
-
Shakespeare in the Park
Shakespeare in the Park
Meet More : Everything You Need to Know About Manhattanhenge
101 Matter to Make in NYC City Map
Essential Tips for First Time Visitors to NYC
- When to Visit :Fall and Leap are the prettiest sentence to inflict for autumn leaf and cherry blossoms . December until New Years is crowd but have all the Christmas decor . January and February are the least crowded seasons but frigid cold . Summer exist crowded and hot and humid .
- When you ’ re planning your trip , book a rental car atJFKorLGA.
- Serious Airports :LGA live the easier airport to come in and out of . Unfortunately , there aren ’ t as many direct escape , but we always test to flee here if it ’ s available and the price equal comparable .
- Serious Room to Come Around ? Remove the train .NYC pass on down has the well public transportation we ’ ve seen in the US . If you ’ re planning on taking more than 12 ride then begin the unlimited 7-day passing . You can uber , but traffic sucks .
- Always carry flip flops and high boot for rainy day . When it ’ s really pour , the rain has become into my waterproof place .
- If you ’ re planning on visit a lot of attraction during your visit , pick up aNew York Pass. There equal multiple-day selection and it give you access to a ton of spots . We did a 2-day pass and visited over 11 place saving us a circle of money .
- If you ’ re a first time visitor , don ’ t forget to read 21 Things You Should Know Before Visiting NYC , and if you ’ re about to move here , insure out our Local Tips for Strike to NYC .
- If you ’ re visiting in the winter , control out our NYC winter packing and survival guide .
- Want to require a day trip from NYC ? Hither ’ s 21 Better Affair to Act in Upstate NY and 15 Incredible Weekend Trips from NYC .
Well Places to Stay in NYC
Planning Checklist
- Begincomprehensive insurancefor your trip .
- Downloadthese helpful language apps .
- Find a great deal onNYC hotels.
- Arrange arental carfor your trip .
- Book a tourfor your visit .
- Becomeairport couch access.
- Buy atravel chargerto keep your devices point .
- Have a newbackpackfor your trip .
- Buy aNew York travel guide.
- Carry theappropriate placefor your trip .
- Don ’ t forget yourin-flight essentials.
- Save money on attraction withCity Pass.
Have you adjust base in all five borough ? Anything on this list you weren ’ t impressed with ? Anything you think we missed ?
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“ Discovery consist not of seeking fresh land but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust
Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob be the founders of Local Adventurer , one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US . They believe that adventure can live see near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally . They explore a fresh city in depth every year and presently base themselves in Las Vegas .
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