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Things to Do in NYC

Favorite Things to do in NYC…

Now it’s time to find the best things to do in NYC and Manhattan. If you followed the New York City Vacation Guide, you got the steepest discounts, downloaded our free calendars and tools, learned all our discount secrets and secured the hottest tickets in NYC. Further in the Vacation Guide, we show you great places to get more coupons and discounts, both online and in NYC.

Fill in the rest of your NYC Insider Guide calendar with more things to do in NYC. Many events, sales and activities are held at the same time(s) every year. Note the dates of past events. If your favorite things to do in NYC have not been announced, check back frequently, because they will be soon. Here are the best NYC Insider Guide related pages to browse…


Things to Do in NYC by Month

Our NYC Monthly Event Calendars show you exactly which events occur by day, but our Things to Do monthly guides highlight seasonal tours, bike rides, best time for boat cruises, when to buy tickets, the biggest sales and all the optimal times to do activities by month, along with typical weather for that month. Check out our Monthly Things to do in NYC Guides.


Things to do in NYC by Season

Each Season in NYC offers special activities and things to do designed to highlight the complement of the weather and our beautiful city. During Spring and Summer, biking is one of the best things to do! In the winter, grab a sleigh or head to a restaurant with a fireplace. Here’s our seasonal guide to NYC:


Visiting New York With Kids | Things to Do, Hotels, Attractions

Visiting New York With Kids

Visiting New York with Kids is truly a delight. NYC offers tons of activities, hotels, shows, events, restaurants, things to do, attractions and festivals for kids and families. The best part is you don’t have to compromise – what’s fun for kids is usually just as much fun for adults.

If you are joining us for a NYC family vacation, don’t miss the best Things to do in New York with Kids.



New York City Nightlife

How do you make the most of your time in the city that never sleeps?? Some of the best 'only in NYC' nightlife experiences include skyline views, dinner cruises, Museums and attractions open late til 2am, rooftops, night tours, comedy clubs and more. Some of our top NYC Nightlife picks:

New York City Nightlife

See all our Top Picks: New York City Nightlife


Free Things to Do in New York City

There are tons of free things to do in New York all day, every day! Tours, attractions, museums, events, shows, sports, movies and more. Kids, adults, outdoors, indoors, active, lazy…you name it!

Free Things to Do in New York City

So whether you want free Museums, neighborhood tours, a moonlight bike ride in Central Park, to ride the Staten Island Ferry, walk the Highline or Brooklyn Bridge, we have you covered with 100s of Free Things to Do in New York City.

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Most Popular Ticketed Tourist Attractions


Sightsee from the Sky

Top of the Rock, Empire State Building, One World Observatory, Edge or Summit? Which is best and, if we have to choose, which should we visit? There is no easy answer, but here are some facts to help guide your choice.

Edge NYC Observation Deck

  • Empire State Building - (86 and 102 floors) Best for patient movie and history buffs who need to check it off their bucket list. Recently redone indoor 102nd Floor Observatory
  • Top of the Rock - (67-70 floors) Best for sweeping 360° vista views, including of the Empire State Building and Central Park. Shorter lines and cheaper than the ESB.
  • One World Observatory - (100-102 floors) Best for homage to the Twin Towers. Modern and high tech, with phenomenal views
  • Edge - (100-101 floors) Highest outdoor observation deck, glass bottom floor, deck extends 80 feet away from building (photo)
  • Summit One Vanderbilt - (91-93 floors) Opens Oct 2021, all glass elevator, indoor and outdoor decks and glass terraces off the side of the building


Free NYC Tourist Attractions

New York City Shopping


New York City Museum Guides

New York City Museums

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New York City Shopping Guides

New York City Shopping

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New York City Events by Month

New York City Events Calendar

Make sure to check our New York City Events Calendar during your visit. See a TimesTalk, street fair, the hottest Broadway shows or catch a Movie Premiere! Catch the Philharmonic in Central Park NY, Fashion Week, Restaurant Week, Spa Week, Martini Week, the Rockettes, Botanical Gardens Orchid Show and dozens more cool and fun, many free, adult and kids activities all year round in New York City!


Things to do in NYC Neighborhoods

Things to do in NYC by Neighborhood

Make sure to check out the Manhattan Neighborhood Guide to know all the cool spots in SoHo, Nolita, Lower East Side, Upper West Side and all our rich and vibrant NYC areas.

Do you know the best pizza in NYC? Or at which cafe Bob Dylan might just appear to play a set? The best views of NYC with a cocktail? Check the NYC i-Guide for ALL our real secrets.



Broadway Shows NYC

List of Broadway Shows NYC


Buy Great Broadway Tickets Today!

Top Picks for Broadway Tickets

Note: All of our ticket partners are legitimate, recommended ticket sellers and guaranteed to sell you official NYC Broadway tickets.


NYC Hotels Times Square

The best NYC Hotels Times Square chosen by a NYC local! If you want to be in the heart of Broadway, all the tourist action, Restaurant Row, lounge by a pool, check out the best views from a rooftop or splurge on the live NYE Ball Drop, we will show you the best places to stay.

See All: NYC Hotels Times Square & Broadway

NYC Hotels Times Square







Spot Celebrities in NYC

Celebrities in NYC

Where to find celebrities in NYC or which celebrities are living in NYC today are common questions by all, but celebrity sightings in NYC are way easier than you may think and happen all the time. You will, of course, see them on the subway, in Central Park, at the gym, in restaurants, at all the current hotspots, at shows and more. But here are some unique ways to see celebrities all over the city.


Museum Sleepovers NYC

Museum Sleepovers NYC

Our Museum Sleepovers NYC let you stay overnight at all our favorite hotspots, like the Museum of Natural History, Intrepid Museum, Bronx Zoo, Central Park, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, the NY Public Library, Governors Island, Rubin Museum and more! Experience a real-life Night at the Museum, sleep with the Zoo Animals, camp out in Central Park and more!


Things to Do in NYC – TV Show Tickets

TV Show Tickets NYC

Attending live tapings of TV shows is fun and free. The ticket wait is often months long, so write in for tickets as far in advance as possible. See The Today Show, Good Morning America, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Michael, Regis Mark, The Daily Show, Jimmy Falon and many more. A great alternative to a TV taping is a Movie and TV Tour, combined with your Top of the Rock ticket.


NYC Insider Tip – How Long is a TV Taping?

While watching a live taping is a fun experience, even if you have tickets in hand for a live TV Show taping, it is a very long and slow process. Sometimes, tickets and reservations do not even guarantee you admission. You must arrive at the theater and wait in line for at least an hour, go through an audience warm up (30-60 min), and they often shoot additional footage at the end of the show…so if this is a must-see for you, go for it. Just remember how many other amazing New York City things to do there are! Read more on TV Show Tickets.

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Things to Do in NYC – Movie Screenings

Movie Screening Tickets NYC

Movie screenings are offered long before movie releases, for Producers who want to test audience reaction, or 2 different endings. You may even be asked to fill out a questionnaire. It’s always fun to say "I saw a preview of that months ago" on opening night of a blockbuster!

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More Things to do in NYC

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New York City Vacation Planner

Plan your trip in the RIGHT order and get the most out of NYC...

New York City Vacation Planner

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NYC Insider Guide
NYC Insider Guidehttps://www.nycinsiderguide.com
Welcome! I'm Melissa, a fourth generation New Yorker, who has been lucky enough to live in New York for over 30 years. I love just about everything in New York City, the very reason I started this web site, and I look forward to sharing it all with you. Please explore the New York City Insider Guide at your own pace. I hope it helps you plan your New York City Vacation, so you not only go home as a NYC Insider, but plan to visit us again soon.

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