Choose from 159 Fun Things to Do in New York City
Guggenheim Museum
The 20th-century artwork displayed on the gently inclining white walls of the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum often take second place to the building's landmark Frank Lloyd Wright design.
The great architect's last work is an uplifting sight, from both outside and within, and a thorough restoration program was completed in 2008. Unwinding like a coil of white ribbon, the exhibition space spirals upwards around a central skylight.
As well as hosting changing exhibitions of photographs and paintings, the Guggenheim's permanent collection includes works by Gauguin, Picasso, van Gogh, Monet, and other early Modern masters.
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On the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Fifth Avenue at 89th Street, the Guggenheim is opposite the huge Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park. Rubbing shoulders with such prestigious neighbors as the Met, it's on an eminently walkable stretch of Fifth Avenue known as Museum Mile.
To get here by subway, take the train to 86th Street.
Sunset Park Brooklyn
The area's empty rowhouses lost value, creating real estate opportunities for new immigrants from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. These people brought a vibrant mix of Latin shops, design and flavors to the area, some of which still remains today. The increasing Latino population, coupled with a mid-1970s wave of Christians from India, inspired much of Sunset Park's still-lingering Norwegian-American community to bid the neighborhood farvel ('goodbye' in Norwegian) by the 1980s.
As those immigrants exited, Cantonese people were taking their place. Soon after, a larger influx of Chinese from Fuzhou started moving in, and since the late 2000s, a Mandarin-speaking community has started to grow here. The result is a full-fledged Chinatown in Sunset Park, a district of Buddhist temples, shops, restaurants and grocery markets often called Little Fuzhou.
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Museum of Sex
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Hayden Planetarium
- All theaters in the American Museum of Natural History, including the Hayden Planetarium, include wheelchair locations and companion seats.
- The museum has plenty of food and drink options, including the Museum Food Court, the Cafe on One, and the Cafe on Four.
- Although the planetarium is safe for kids of all ages, those under 5 may not understand some of the sophisticated commentary.
- Avoid waiting in long lines by purchasing tickets in advance.
- Dark Universe is not included in general admission tickets.
SoHo
Mets Stadium
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Shubert Theatre
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Ripley's Believe it or Not Times Square
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Museum of Arts and Design
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Trump Tower
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South Street Seaport
Empire Fulton Ferry State Park
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Discovery Times Square
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NY Skyride
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Jacques Torres Chocolate
Often referred to as "Mr. Chocolate," Torres was of the first chocolatiers to use graphic prints on his confections, as well as unique flavors and ingredients like ancho chile and passion fruit. He creates Champagne-filled chocolate corks, menageries of chocolate animals, and his own signature chocolate lollipops, in addition to ice cream, cookies, and an enormous chocolate bar called the Big Daddy. His popularity has allowed him to open five other locations in Manhattan, including an outpost in Chelsea Market.
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TriBeCa
Union Square
A welcome patch of green in Downtown Manhattan, Union Square is one of New Yorkers' favorite city squares. It's the place for public gatherings, yoga and exercise classes, and for people from all walks of life to take a break and catch some sunshine, eat lunch, or read a book.
Stock up on fresh produce at the wonderful Greenmarket held here Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays, and if you're here in November/December you can pick up gifts at the holiday market.
Some striking architecture surrounds the square, and you'll find statues of famous figures dotted throughout, including Washington, Lincoln, Lafayette, and Mahatma Gandhi. Big-name stores and fine restaurants are nearby, and Chelsea, Greenwich Village, and the Flatiron District are just a stroll away.
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Union Square is bordered by E 14th Street to the south and E 17th Street to the north, with Broadway and Park Avenue continuing up to Midtown from the square's northern corners.
The closest subway is Union Square/14th Street Station on the southern edge of leafy Union Square Park.
United Nations Headquarters
- All visitors entering the UN buildings must pass a security check. All visitors age 18 or over must have a valid ID issued by a UN Member State or Observer State.
- For security reasons, children under 5 are not permitted on tours of the UN. All ages can explore the Visitor Centre.
- The Visitors Café at the Visitor Centre serves a variety of international meals, snacks, and drinks.
- Foreign-language tours (including French, Korean, and Spanish) are usually available daily.