Choose from 201 Fun Things to Do in New York
Ground Zero Museum Workshop
- Museum workshop tickets must be booked in advance, as only 28 guests can be accommodated per tour.
- Considered non-graphic with a focus on recovery efforts rather than the attacks themselves, the museum is kid-friendly, welcoming children as young as 4.
- The museum's self-guided audio tours are available in four languages.
- Many travelers choose to visit this site before heading to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Note that the two are different and separate.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
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Chelsea
To get to Chelsea, take the N,Q,R,W to Unique Square; F,L,V to Sixth Avenue ; 1,2,3 to 14th Street; A,C,E,L to Eighth Avenue-14th Street; 1 to 18th, 23rd or 28th Street; F,V, R, W, C, E to 23rd Street ; R,W to 28th Street
Empire State Building
- Choose a general admission ticket for standard entrance or a VIP Express Pass to skip the lines.
- The Empire State Building is fully ADA compliant and stroller accessible. Handicapped restrooms are located on the 86th floor.
- Glass bottles, cans, and tripods are prohibited.
- Lines for the elevator can get long, particularly during peak hours. Be sure to use the restrooms on the second floor before getting in line.
- STATE Grill and Bar is the building’s street-level, signature restaurant. You’ll also find five other dining options, plus Starbucks.
Chrysler Building
One of New York City’s most recognizable and distinct skyscrapers, the Chrysler Building is considered a masterpiece of art deco architecture. The tallest building in the world when it debuted in 1930, it was soon surpassed by the Empire State Building. Today, however, the Chrysler Building remains the world's loftiest brick building.
The Basics
The Chrysler Building is visible from all over town, but there are a number ways to get a firsthand look at the landmark. Visit as part of an architecture- or photography-themed walking tour, or zip by on a coach or driving tour of Manhattan’s highlights.
The skyscraper can also be spotted from the air on a helicopter tour, or from the water’s edge on a boat tour. While the Chrysler Building does not have an observation deck, visitors can freely tour its lobby, where an elaborate mural by artist Edward Trumbull decorates the ceiling.
Things to Know Before You Go
- While the Chrysler Building’s lobby is open to visitors, the rest of the building is off-limits to tourists.
- A helicopter tour or the Empire State Building’s observation deck provides the best perspectives of the Chrysler Building.
- Renowned as an icon of art deco design, the Chrysler Building is a must for architecture buffs.
How to Get There
Conveniently located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the Chrysler Building is very accessible. The landmark is a short walk from Grand Central Terminal and Times Square; both transit hubs offer connections with numerous subway and bus lines, plus the Metro-North Railroad. Traveling by taxi is another simple way to explore.
When to Get There
The Chrysler Building is an iconic, year-round landmark that can be visited and enjoyed in every season. The lobby is open from 10am–6pm, Monday–Friday, excluding public holidays.
Chrysler Building’s Exterior
True to name, the Chrysler Building was the headquarters for Chrysler for several decades. If you look closely, you’ll discover hubcaps, fenders, and other automotive flourishes incorporated into its façade. Then, there are its famous, eagle-shaped gargoyles, inspired by the brand’s hood ornaments.
Devil's Hole State Park
- Devil’s Hole State Park is lovely for outdoor enthusiasts.
- It’s free to enter the park.
- The park periodically hosts guided hikes. Check the New York State Parks’ website for up-to-date information.
- Devil’s Hole is partially accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. A stone staircase leads down to the base of the gorge and the Devil’s Hole Trail, but it’s quite steep so may not be ideal for travelers with small kids or mobility issues.
Harlem
- Harlem is a must-visit for fans of African-American culture.
- Wear comfortable shoes and expect to do quite a lot of walking, as Harlem covers a relatively large section of Upper Manhattan.
- Curb ramps are commonplace, making much of Harlem accessible to wheelchair users.
Hard Rock Caf e Times Square
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Chelsea Market
- Chelsea Market is a must for foodies hoping to sample some of NYC’s finest food vendors.
- Restrooms can be found in the market.
- Most vendors in the market accept credit cards.
- Chelsea Market is wheelchair accessible, with accessible entrances at both Ninth Avenue and 10th Avenue.
Bethesda Fountain
You can view Bethesda Fountain from 6am to 1am. To get to Bethesda Fountain by subway on the West Side take the A, B, C, D lines to 72nd Street. If traveling on the East Side, take the 4, 5, 6 lines to 68th Street.
Chautauqua - Allegheny
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Hard Rock Cafe Niagara Falls
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David Geffen Hall
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Ellis Island
- The 45-minute audio tour is available in nine languages and included in the cost of a ferry ticket.
- An audio tour for kids aged 6 to 10 is also available in five languages.
- Pro tip: Ellis Island can be seen up close, for free, from the deck of the Staten Island commuter ferry (though passengers can’t get off at Ellis Island).
- Ellis Island and ferries to it are fully accessible.
Garment District
Visitors also enjoy walking the Fashion Hall of Fame from 38th to 40th along Seventh Avenue. Similar to the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Fashion Hall of Fame showcases decorative plaques dedicated to notable designers that are set into the sidewalk. There’s also the Parsons School of Design from the famous television show “Project Runway,” as well as the free Fashion Institute of Technology Museum, with educational exhibits on fashion.
To get to the Garment District, take the 1, 2, 3, N, R, along Broadway and Seventh Avenue; the A, C, E along Eighth Avenue; N, R, W to 34th Street - Herald Square; B, D, F, V to 34th Street- Herald Square or 42nd Street-Bryant Park; 7 or Shuttle (S) from the East Side/Grand Central Station.
Chelsea Piers
History, recreation and leisure come together at Chelsea Piers, a group of four historic piers on the Hudson River. Some of the most famous ocean-going liners tied up at these docks, including the Lusitania; but these days Chelsea Piers is making waves as an entertainment and sports activities precinct.
You can have a go at more than 30 different sports at Chelsea Piers. Tee off with a round of golf at the Golf Club, work out in the Sports Center health club, go ice skating at the Sky Rink, play football or basketball in the Field House, or join in a game of ten-pin bowling at 300 New York.
You’ll also find an indoor rock-climbing range, gymnastics facilities, a day spa, dance studios, and a training facility for elite athletes.
Practical Info
On Manhattan's West Side, Chelsea Piers are entered at W 23rd Street and 11th Avenue. It's a long walk from the nearest subway at 32rd Street, so you might want to take a taxi. You’ll be dropped at Pier 61 or 60 on the Chelsea Piers Access Roadway.
Greenwich Village
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Belvedere Castle
Originally built in 1865 as a Victorian Folly – a structure with no intended use beyond sheer delight – it would come to be used as both a weather station and a nature center. In 1919, the National Weather Service began taking wind and rainfall readings from the top floor of Belvedere’s tower, the highest point in Central Park; this practice continues today. Over the next several decades, the largely empty structure of high ceilings and winding staircases fell into increasing disrepair, until it was renovated and re-opened in 1983 as the Henry Luce Nature Observatory.
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Fifth Avenue
Cafe Wha?
Cafe Wha? Is open daily from 8:30pm, except for Mondays when it opens at 9pm. Reservations are recommended. Cover charges are $10 on Mondays and Tuesdays, $5 on Thursdays, $12 on Fridays, $15 on Saturdays and free to enter on Wednesdays and Sundays. To get to Cafe Wha? by subway take the A, B, C, D, E, F, M to W 4th Street, or the 1, 2 to Christopher Street- Sheridan Square or Houston Street.