Above Guide / Curated New York

Things to do
in New York.

Explore New York

Featured
experiences.

Places worth making time for, selected for the quality of the experience rather than the length of the list.

Museums & landmarks

12 experiences

CostPay-what-you-wish admission; suggested adults $8, seniors/students $6. Ages 12 and under free.Time1–2 hoursPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

Queens Museum

The Panorama of New York and changing exhibitions in the park beside the tennis centre.

Explore experience

CostFree general admission for everyone. Separately ticketed performances and events may have different terms.Time1–2 hoursPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

MoMA PS1

Contemporary art in a former school, close to the Long Island City hotel bases.

Explore experience

CostFree to enter the public concourse. Guided tours, food and train tickets cost extra.Time20–45 minutesPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

Grand Central Terminal

A main-concourse architecture stop that can fit into a Midtown East travel day.

Explore experience

CostAdults $30; seniors 65+ $22; students $17; children 12 and under free. Pay-what-you-wish is limited to New York State residents and qualifying NY/NJ/CT students.Time180 minutesPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

The Met Fifth Avenue

Ancient Egypt, American art and major world collections beside Central Park.

Explore experience

CostAdults $30; seniors 65+ and visitors with disabilities $22; students with ID $17; ages 16 and under free.Time150 minutesPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

MoMA — Midtown

Modern and contemporary art, design and film at the Midtown museum.

Explore experience

CostStandard admission for visitors outside New York State: adults $37; seniors/students $30; ages 3–12 $22; under 3 free. Adult admission with one ticketed exhibition $43 or all ticketed exhibitions $48.Time210 minutesPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

American Museum of Natural History

Fossils, the blue whale and the Gilder Center make a substantial family museum day.

Explore experience

CostMuseum adults 18–64 $36; ages 13–17 and seniors 65+ $30; ages 7–12 $24; ages 6 and under free. Visiting the outdoor memorial is free.Time180 minutesPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

9/11 Memorial & Museum

The outdoor memorial pools and a substantial museum of the attacks and their aftermath.

Explore experience

CostAdults 13–64 $38; seniors 65+ and college students $36; ages 5–12 $28; ages 4 and under free. Concorde cabin tours add $15 to general admission.Time180 minutesPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

Intrepid Museum

An aircraft carrier, historic aircraft and the space shuttle Enterprise on the Hudson.

Explore experience

CostAdults 26+ $30; seniors/students $24. Ages 25 and under are free. Free Friday Nights 17:00–22:00 and free second Sundays require available tickets.Time150 minutesPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

Whitney Museum of American Art

American art and changing exhibitions in the Whitney’s west-side building.

Explore experience

CostGallery admission adults $20; seniors/students $12; ages 3–17 $10; under 3 free. Online tickets add $1.50 per ticket. Thursday 14:00–18:00 gallery admission is free.Time150 minutesPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

Museum of the Moving Image

Film, television, digital media and the Jim Henson exhibition in Astoria.

Explore experience

CostGeneral admission $16; seniors 65+ and students $6; children under 12 free. First Friday admission is free.Time100 minutesPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

The Noguchi Museum

Isamu Noguchi’s sculpture, gallery spaces and outdoor garden in Queens.

Explore experience

CostGeneral admission adults $22; children/students/seniors $19. NYSCI Plus adults $33 and children/students/seniors $30. General admission excludes 3D films, Rocket Park Mini Golf and other paid extras.Time180 minutesPaceSee guide

Museums & landmarks / US Open

New York Hall of Science

Hands-on science, design challenges and Rocket Park near the tennis.

Explore experience

Parks & gardens

06 experiences

CostFree ordinary park entry. Organised gatherings and permits can have separate charges.Time30–90 minutesPaceSee guide

Parks & gardens / US Open

Gantry Plaza State Park

East River views, historic gantries and an unhurried walk from a Long Island City base.

Explore experience

CostFree ordinary park entry. Museums, sports facilities and the ticketed tennis grounds have separate admission.Time30–60 minutesPaceSee guide

Parks & gardens / US Open

Flushing Meadows Corona Park & Unisphere

A short walk to the Unisphere and the former World’s Fair grounds near the tennis centre.

Explore experience

CostFree ordinary park entry. Food, carousel rides and separately charged seasonal activities are additional.Time20–60 minutesPaceSee guide

Parks & gardens / US Open

Bryant Park

Tree-lined paths, chairs and a flexible Midtown pause close to the 7 train.

Explore experience

CostFree park admission. Food, guided experiences and other purchases are separate.Time90 minutesPaceSee guide

Parks & gardens / US Open

The High Line

An elevated railway transformed into a planted walk through Manhattan’s west side.

Explore experience

CostFree entry to the park, terrace and fountain area. Boat hire and paid tours are separate.Time90 minutesPaceSee guide

Parks & gardens / US Open

Central Park — Bethesda Terrace & the Lake

A focused Central Park walk around the terrace, Angel of the Waters and the Lake.

Explore experience

CostIsland entry is free. Governors Island ferry round trip $5 adult; ages 12 and under and adults 65+ free. All riders travel free before 11:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. NYC Ferry uses a separate fare.Timea substantial half-day, plus travel.PaceSee guide

Parks & gardens / US Open

Governors Island

Harbour views, walking and cycling on a former military island.

Explore experience

Skyline views & tram rides

03 experiences

CostSUMMIT Experience starts at $44 for adults, plus a $3 online processing fee per order. Ascent packages start at $68; prices vary with date and time. Ages 5 and under visit free.Time120 minutesPaceSee guide

Skyline views & tram rides / US Open

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

A skyline experience built around mirrored rooms, glass ledges and immersive installations.

Explore experience

CostStandard timed admission starts at $42. Higher-priced dates/times and Beam or Skylift products change the total; add applicable taxes and fees at checkout.Time100 minutesPaceSee guide

Skyline views & tram rides / US Open

Top of the Rock

Indoor and open-air skyline terraces above Rockefeller Center.

Explore experience

CostStandard MTA fare $3 each way before eligible transfers or fare caps. A simple out-and-back costs $6 without a transfer benefit.Time90 minutesPaceSee guide

Skyline views & tram rides / US Open

Roosevelt Island Tram & waterfront walk

Ride the red tram above the East River, then make a short island waterfront outing.

Explore experience

Harbour & island ferries

01 experiences

CostOfficial round-trip island ferry: adults 13+ $26; ages 4–12 $17; seniors 62+ $23; under 4 free. Pedestal or crown reservations add $0.30. The island museums have no separate admission charge.Timea substantial half-day, plus travel.PaceSee guide

Harbour & island ferries / US Open

Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island ferry

The official island-landing ferry, with the Statue of Liberty Museum and immigration history at Ellis Island.

Explore experience

City walks

01 experiences

CostFree pedestrian crossing. A guided tour is optional.Time100 minutesPaceSee guide

City walks / US Open

Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian walk

Walk the raised pedestrian deck through the bridge’s stone towers and suspension cables.

Explore experience

Baseball & stadium visits

01 experiences

CostPublic stadium tours: adults $25; children 12 and under $20; ages 3 and under free, limited to two per accompanying family. Game tickets have separate date- and seat-specific prices.Time120 minutesPaceSee guide

Baseball & stadium visits / US Open

Citi Field — Mets baseball & ballpark tours

A Mets game or a separately booked tour of the ballpark beside the tennis station.

Explore experience

Beaches & the coast

01 experiences

CostFree beach and boardwalk access. Subway or ferry fares, beach equipment and food are separate.Timea substantial half-day, plus travel.PaceSee guide

Beaches & the coast / US Open

Rockaway Beach & Boardwalk

An Atlantic beach day with a boardwalk walk, well beyond the stadium neighbourhood.

Explore experience

Theatre, jazz & comedy

03 experiences

CostThe booth is free to visit. Discounted show prices vary; the displayed ticket price includes the $8 TKTS service fee. Some additional theatre charges can apply.Time60 minutesPaceSee guide

Theatre, jazz & comedy / US Open

TKTS Times Square — choose a theatre night

A practical starting point for same-day theatre tickets beneath Times Square’s red steps.

Explore experience

CostCover prices vary by advertised set, plus a compulsory one-drink minimum. The planner allows $50 cover and $15 for that drink per person; replace these estimates with your actual booking and drinks.Time110 minutesPaceSee guide

Theatre, jazz & comedy / US Open

Village Vanguard

A dedicated jazz set in the Village’s historic triangular basement room.

Explore experience

CostRegular cover: Mon–Wed $15; Thu/Sun $18; Fri–Sat $25. Holidays/special shows can differ. A compulsory two-item minimum applies; the planner adds a $20 per-person allowance for those purchases.Time110 minutesPaceSee guide

Theatre, jazz & comedy / US Open