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Best Things to do in New York (2026)

Beyond the museums, many of the best things to do in New York are experiences rather than buildings. The city's observation decks each offer something different: Top of the Rock gives a clear view of the Empire State Building and Central Park, while SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, reached through Grand Central Terminal, surrounds the skyline with mirrored art installations. Times Square is at its most dramatic after dark, and the TKTS booth there sells discounted same-day theatre tickets for a night on Broadway.

Some of the most memorable experiences cost nothing. The Staten Island Ferry is free, runs around the clock and passes close to the Statue of Liberty, making it one of the best-value outings in the city. Chelsea Market, in a former biscuit factory, is a good place to graze on lunch before walking the High Line, which runs beside it. Book observation deck tickets online for a timed slot, particularly at sunset, and keep mornings for the busiest places. Allow time simply to walk, too: neighbourhoods such as Greenwich Village, SoHo and DUMBO reward an unplanned afternoon on foot.

5 places · Updated November 12, 2026

Our top 3 things to do in New York

  1. Top of the Rock Observation deck, MidtownThree tiers of observation decks atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza give unobstructed views of Central Park and a front-on look at the Empire State Building.
  2. Chelsea Market Food hall and market, ChelseaA food hall and shopping arcade inside a former Nabisco factory complex in Chelsea, packed with vendors selling seafood, tacos, bread, gelato and more.
  3. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Immersive observation deck, Midtown EastAn immersive, mirror-lined observation experience at the top of One Vanderbilt, beside Grand Central Terminal, with glass-floored ledges and art installations.

Thing to do

2. Chelsea Market

Food hall and marketChelsea

A food hall and shopping arcade inside a former Nabisco factory complex in Chelsea, packed with vendors selling seafood, tacos, bread, gelato and more.

View details — Chelsea Market

Thing to do

5. Times Square

Neighbourhood and Theater DistrictMidtown / Theater District

The neon-lit junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue is the heart of the Theater District, home to the TKTS booth and the New Year's Eve ball drop.

View details — Times Square