14 Things To Do as a First-Timer to New York

Central Park

Bryant Park

Battery Park

Washington Square Park 

Riverside Park

Hudson River Park

Union Square Park

Gramercy Park

Madison Square Park

The Highline

Empire State Building

Top of the Rock  

Cruise/Sailing Tour

Helicopter Tour

Brooklyn Bridge

Roosevelt Tram

One World Observatory

Hotel/Rooftop Bars

Tip: Go to top of the rock or empire state building during the day and the other at night

Fidi 

Tribeca 

Nolita/ Little Italy

Chinatown

West Village/Greenwich

Soho/Noho

Chelsea

Upper West

Lower East

Upper East

NY Library 

Time Square/Theater District – just because you have to but don’t stay long this is not NEW YORK!

Grand Central 

Brooklyn Bridge

Rockefeller Center 

Statue of Liberty

9/11 Memorial 

Chelsea Market/Highline

Wall Street/The Bull

Columbus Circle

Empire State Building

Central Park

Flatiron

Union square

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Madison Square Garden

Radio City Music Hall

Carnegie Hall

Hop on Hop off Bus tour

Hudson Yards Vessel

Circle Line Cruise Tour

Food Tour

Neighborhood Tour

Bike Tours

Looking for a discounted ticket option? Check TKTS day of (tip – seaport district usually the least amount of wait time) and you can get discounted ticket options.

Don’t rule out a show that says “off-broadway” that just refers to the theater and the amount of seating it has, and nothing to do with legitimacy.

If broadway isn’t your thing, check out one of the many other shows: comedy, improv, local musicians, magician, concert at madison square garden, pier 17 rooftop show, gramercy theater etc.

The MET

The MET Cloisters

The MOMA

Natural History Museum

Guggenheim

The Whitney 

The Frick

The Tenement

Color Factory

The Museum of Illusions

Any type of food you can ever imagine you can probably find in New York City.

Take into account that many of the restaurants require reservations and its very common that you will be sitting in close quarters most of where you dine.

Make sure to check out my list on the best food halls and markets in the city.

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Hudson Yards Mall

Soho 

Macys Herald Square

The Oculus

Century 21 – a great option if you are looking for some deals

Boutique stores in the villages

South Seaport District

Use the IOTA app to reserve a ticket to one of the regular tapings:

Kelly and Ryan 

Jimmy Fallon 

Jimmy Kimmel

Good Morning America

There are many seasonal events so make sure to check the app before you come to NYC. I have done many of the tapings, and they are really fun and best part, free.

A good way to check out the city skyline and get a local feel of what neighborhood you are in is with a drink in hand. Here are some options for rooftops and many are open year-round:

Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar, Standard – Le Bain, Mr. Purple, 230 Fifth Rooftop, Refinery, RH Rooftop, Westlight – Brooklyn, Gallow Green, Catch Rooftop

The bar scene is nothing less of short when it comes to options, here are just a few of my favorites:

Beauty and Essex, Bathtub Gin, Pizza Beach, Kind Regards, Fairfax, The Garret, Wilfie & Neil, The Dead Rabbit, The Little Branch, Village Tavern, Blind Tiger, Bowery Electric, The Spaniard, Patent Pending

Spring- Flower Festivals, Shakespeare in the Park, Patio and Waterfront Dining

Summer- Rooftop Eating and Dining, July 4th Festivities, Summer Concert Series

Fall – Halloween Parade, Fall Neighborhood Decor, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

Winter – Christmas Decor, Rockettes, Lighting of the Tree, Ice Skating, New Years Eve

Brooklyn

Coney Island

New Jersey

Upstate New York

Connecticut

Rockaway Beach

Philadelphia

Washington D.C.

Delaware River

Adirondacks

Yankees

Mets

New York City Soccer

NY Rangers

Knicks

Nets

Islanders

NY Giants

NY Jets

NY Redbulls (play in New Jersey)