26 Best Things to do in Manhattan in 2022
When you consider New York, Manhattan is normally the primary borough that springs to thoughts. There are limitless issues to do in Manhattan, and the borough has superstar standing. If you need to be entertained day and night time, you might have made a terrific alternative by selecting to go to Manhattan.
Manhattan represents all the pieces that guests love in regards to the Big Apple. It has traditional landmarks just like the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Grand Central Station, and Central Park. Manhattan sights are equally well-known. You’ll discover loads of museums and artwork galleries unfold throughout Downtown Manhattan.
Things to do in Manhattan
Let’s delve into the issues to do in Manhattan you can’t miss when visiting. Whether it’s your hundredth or first time visiting New York, these are the best possible issues to do in Manhattan.
1. Central Park
Central Park doesn’t want an introduction. The 843-acre park is arguably probably the most well-known park within the United States and is a particular addition to your New York itinerary.
Central Park is free to enter. However, you might want to take pleasure in a tour or one of many Central Park sights. Walking excursions depart each day from the Central Park West intersection. You also can spend a day at Central Zoo or take a ship journey on Central Park Lake.
Sheep Meadow can also be a terrific place to go to in Central Park for an exquisite view of the Manhattan skyline.
2. One World Trade Center
One World Trade Center is the tallest constructing within the United States. The skyscraper is a part of the World Trade Center advanced and was inbuilt 2014 to commemorate the 2001 Twin Towers terrorist assault. Visitors can go to to pay their respects and admire the grandeur constructed within the victims’ honor.
The most well-known a part of One World Trade Center is the One World Observatory. One World Observatory sits dizzyingly excessive on the constructing’s a centesimal, one hundred and first, and 102nd flooring. If you need an aerial view of New York, this is likely one of the finest issues to do in Manhattan.
The Observatory additionally options interactive reveals and eating places. Don’t be afraid to deal with your self to a scrumptious meal when you are up within the clouds. Make positive to take a look at the Sky Portal function as properly.
3. Radio City Music Hall
Fancy an evening on the theater? Radio City Music Hall is a surprising artwork deco theater venue in Midtown Manhattan.
Radio City is the place you’ll discover live shows, movie screenings, stage exhibits, and particular occasions. And if you’re visiting Manhattan at Christmas, visiting Radio City Music Hall is unquestionable. Throughout the festive season, there’s a Christmas Spectacular, which incorporates performances by the Radio City Rockettes.
A go to to Radio City Music Hall is well one of the entertaining issues to do in Manhattan. Make positive to carve a while out in your itinerary. Radio City Music Hall excursions are free with New York Pass or $31 at Radio City Music Hall Venue.
4. Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is one in all New York’s most visited sights. The 1,454-foot tall skyscraper sits in the course of Manhattan and has two observatories offering gorgeous metropolis views.
The Empire State Building isn’t the tallest constructing in New York. However, it’s simply probably the most well-known of New York City’s skyscrapers. The constructing has been ceaselessly voted because the United States’ favourite piece of structure, and the artwork deco big is a liked a part of the Manhattan skyline.
Visitors can select to go to the 86th or 102nd ground. You’ll must pay additional to achieve the 102nd ground, however it’s price it for the next vantage level. Get your Skip the Line Tickets up the Empire State Building here.
5. Catch an occasion at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden is well-liked with locals and guests alike. The enviornment is in the course of Manhattan and hosts cultural occasions like sporting competitions and live shows.
Catching an occasion at Madison Square is the kind of Manhattan attraction that relies upon completely in your visiting dates. Unless to plan your go to to coincide with an occasion that pursuits you, you’ll must depend on luck and have a little bit of flexibility and open-mindedness. Still, that’s all a part of the journey.
Check the world schedule on-line to see what occasions you could possibly attend whereas visiting New York. Watching a present, live performance, or sport on the enviornment is a bucket-list expertise in Manhattan.
For many people, New York City is a spot to window store relatively than purchase. The metropolis is stuffed with designer manufacturers and costly shops. However, Canal St is the place to go if you wish to store for bargains.
Canal Street joins many alternative Manhattan areas, together with Soho, Chinatown, and Little Italy. It is extensively thought-about a gentrified space of New York City, and its fame has been on a pointy upwards curve over latest years.
If you stroll alongside the road, you’ll cross road distributors promoting knock-off designer items and loads of garments outlets. You can’t discover a higher procuring spot for worth for cash.
7. Grand Central Terminal
If you haven’t already heard of Grand Central Terminal, you might surprise why it’s such a preferred vacationer attraction.
In brief, Grand Central Station is rather more than a transit hub in Manhattan. It is sort of presumably the grandest practice station you’ll ever see and is full with golden décor and chandeliers. The station has develop into an emblem of wealth, rebirth, and the American Dream. Plus, it’s a fairly unbelievable photograph location and place to seize a espresso and people-watch.
8. High Line
High Line is an inner-city park with a twist. Less than two miles lengthy, it’s a leisurely park to discover in an hour or two. It was constructed on the previous New York Central Railroad, so it’s uniquely raised and gives a vantage level over the busy streets of Manhattan it passes.
If you’re touring to Manhattan on a price range, you’ll get monetary savings by including this park to your itinerary. It is completely free to go to, but it is likely one of the finest issues to do in Manhattan – win, win.
While strolling by means of the park, you may spot the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building, and the Empire State constructing. Who wants a sightseeing tour when you may go to High Line at no cost?
9. Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is one other one of the well-liked vacationer sights in Manhattan. The advanced options many malls and is the right place for a day of procuring.
However, the Rockefeller Center actually involves life at Christmas. There is a seasonal ice skating rink and an enormous Christmas tree all through the festive interval. Manhattan is known for its ice skating rinks at Christmas, and the Rockefeller Center is a superb place to place in your skates. The ambiance is electrical, and you may make sure of a great celebration.
Rockefeller Center is procuring heaven all yr spherical. But positively prioritize a go to for festive enjoyable in December.
10. Chelsea Market
Speaking of procuring, Chelsea Market is one other shopping center to go to when visiting Manhattan.
However, it is best to know by this level that Manhattan doesn’t simply present easy procuring malls. Chelsea Market has all the pieces – from road meals distributors to malls. There is even Artechouse NYC, an artwork middle displaying a group of contemporary artwork reveals.
The market is situated within the Meatpacking District of the Chelsea Neighborhood. It is properly mixed with a go to to the close by Whitney Museum of American Art or High Line park.
11. Liberty Island
To tick off New York City’s most iconic sights, Liberty Island is likely one of the finest issues to do in Manhattan.
The island is residence to the Statue of Liberty, and guests can rise up near Lady Liberty herself – you may even entry the remark deck on the statue pedestal. But, after all, there’s extra to see on Liberty Island than simply the Statue of Liberty.
Allow time to go to the museum, sculpture backyard, and the Flagpole Piazza. The piazza has among the finest views of Manhattan and is a wonderful place to complete your journey on Liberty Island. Read our full information Tips for Visiting The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
You can e-book this 90 Minute Cruise of New York City – If you don’t have time to go to the Statue of Liberty, take this cruise to see the enduring websites of midtown and decrease Manhattan on a Semi-Circle Cruise. See Lady Liberty and Ellis Island. Sail down the Hudson, cruising across the Battery, and up the East River. You’ll cross underneath the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges to the United Nations – after which head again to Pier 83
12. Ellis Island
The Big Apple is just not in need of historical past. There are museums throughout New York City, particularly in Manhattan. But the very best place to expertise immersive historical past in New York City is on Ellis Island.
The island opened in 1892 as an immigration station and was the primary level of contact with the United States for thousands and thousands of immigrants. Nowadays, you may take a guided tour of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration and go to the previous immigration advanced. There are plenty of private tales to listen to, and lots of discover Ellis Island an emotional place to go to – particularly if they’ve private connections to the station.
To perceive New York City and its social historical past, be certain that to incorporate a visit to Ellis Island when visiting Manhattan. Book this extremely rated Ellis Island Guided Tour of Liberty and Ellis Islands. Reserve Line Access boarding on the ferry to Liberty Island.
13. Bryant Park
Okay, we’ve listed a number of totally different Manhattan parks to this point. So what makes Bryant Park totally different from Central Park or High Lines?
For a begin, Bryant Park is smaller than Central Park. At simply 9.6 acres, it has a group really feel and is rather more walkable if you’re brief on time. You’ll typically see workplace employees taking their lunch breaks strolling or sitting to calm down.
In the summer time, you may catch free motion pictures within the park; in winter, there’s a pop-up ice skating rink to get pleasure from. The park can also be situated proper subsequent to New York Public Library. It is ideally mixed with a go to to the library’s Reading Room. On a wet day, you may all the time keep within the library and pop outdoors to discover the park throughout dry spells.
14. Try new meals in Hell’s Kitchen
Food lovers, Hell’s Kitchen is the place to eat when visiting Manhattan. The neighborhood lives quick and livid, with the very best nightclubs and eateries in New York City.
Craving a street-cooked pad Thai? Or possibly skip the Thai delicacies for Uzbeki or Argentinian? Anything goes in Hell’s Kitchen, and you may let your cravings prepared the ground. The neighborhood is stuffed with delicacies choices and is a superb place to go and take a look at new meals.
15. NBC studio tour
Touring NBC Studios is likely one of the finest issues to do in Manhattan if you’re a tv fan. The studio is the place exhibits like The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, The Voice, and America’s Got Talent are filmed.
Tour highlights embody a 4k brief movie introduction in a specialised theater room and a go to to not less than two studios. The tour additionally stops by a particular studio the place you may have a go at creating your individual present.
For these concerned about tv manufacturing or an avid fan of one of many studio’s exhibits, an NBC studio tour is a enjoyable factor to do in Manhattan.
16. St Patrick’s Cathedral
You don’t must enterprise to Ireland to rejoice St Patrick. St Patrick Cathedral was constructed in 1878 and devoted to the patron saint of Ireland as a nod to the variety of Irish immigrants becoming a member of the Manhattan group.
Thanks to its neo-Gothic architectural design, St Patrick’s Cathedral is a significant attraction in Manhattan. The cathedral can also be identified due to its well-known marriages and funerals. St Patrick’s Cathedral has a crypt the place a choose few figures are laid to relaxation. The first bishop of New York, John Connolly, is resting on the cathedral’s crypt, as is Thomas Eckert (Abraham Lincoln’s advisor).
Visitors can take excursions of the cathedral inside and the crypt. You ought to enable an hour or two to understand the whole cathedral and intention to go to on a wet day.
17. Brooklyn Bridge
The East River splits the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan. But, in 1883, Brooklyn Bridge was accomplished as a method to be part of the 2 boroughs.
When visiting Manhattan, it is best to positively stroll throughout the Brooklyn Bridge. You’ll get unmatched skyline views and stroll alongside one of the famed landmarks in New York City. Walking the Bridge is much more spectacular at dawn or sundown – which is price setting your alarm to look at in model.
The stroll takes round an hour if you happen to stroll leisurely and cease to take plenty of pictures. It is a wonderful method to incorporate a day journey to Brooklyn into your Manhattan itinerary, or you may simply attain the top of Brooklyn Bridge and head straight again to Manhattan.
18. Whitney Museum of American Art
Contemporary artwork lovers, you will love the Big Apple. New York City is full of artwork galleries. However, we predict that the Whitney Museum of American Art is the very best.
The gallery options works by Edward Hopper, Jacob Lawrence, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Most works come from the twentieth century, and the artists take an lively function of their exhibitions, as the bulk are nonetheless alive and creating.
For a recent, up-to-date expertise of artwork in Manhattan, the Whitney Museum is the place to go.
19. New York Public Library
Whether you need to learn, analysis, or simply discover the inside, visiting New York Public Library is likely one of the finest issues to do in Manhattan.
As we’ve beforehand mentioned, it’s subsequent to Bryant Park and is a superb wet day exercise in Manhattan. The library is residence to in depth collections and quite a few well-known rooms. The hottest room to go to is the Rose Main Reading Room, which options ceiling murals of skies and clouds.
Anybody can examine in New York’s public library. But for choose rooms just like the Reading Room, you could take a guided tour when visiting ‘just take a look’.
20. American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is one other of Manhattan’s main sights. The museum explores varied matters – from dinosaurs to human biology and outer house. You could possibly be passing a skeleton of a triceratops one second and a stuffed elephant the subsequent.
If you need instructional issues to do in Manhattan, this museum is one in all your finest selections. The normal of reveals can also be extraordinarily spectacular, and you may spend not less than half a day strolling by means of the totally different flooring. The museum is the most important pure historical past museum on the earth, so take your time and tempo your self. The New York Pass provides entry to New York Museums and sights. If you intend to enter loads of museums, it’s a nice possibility.
21. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
As we mentioned, there are loads of artwork galleries and museums in New York City. But in order for you a variety of historic and modern items, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is your most suitable option.
Rather than simply that includes trending latest artists or artists from the twentieth century, the museum has a broad artwork assortment. You’ll discover something from a Samurai Sword exhibit to an exhibit displaying a group of baseball playing cards.
For those that desire a gallery expertise in New York however aren’t large artwork lovers, the Metropolitan Museum can also be a great possibility. The number of artwork means there usually tend to be items that catch your curiosity. The historic artwork additionally provides a historic component to the gallery.
22. Watch a basketball sport
See if there are any basketball video games scheduled when you are visiting Manhattan. New York’s group is the New York Knicks, and their residence floor is Madison Square Garden.
As we’ve mentioned, Madison Square is a superb place to go to, and the ambiance is ideal for large-scale occasions. However, a basketball sport in New York City is an attraction in its personal proper.
International guests ought to know that the United States takes its basketball very severely. A basketball sport is quick and thrilling to look at, plus the best introduction to Manhattan’s sporting tradition.
23. Choose from the Hudson River boat excursions
A Hudson River boat tour is likely one of the finest methods to get a taster of the Manhattan sights and landmarks.
You can catch a ship from New York Harbor and discover loads of New York City by water. Longer boat excursions can cowl all 5 boroughs and take you on a full-day journey round New York City. You also can get categorical excursions that take you rapidly to a particular attraction, like Liberty Island.
If you need extra freedom along with your itinerary, we propose a hop-on, hop-off boat tour. The hottest hop-on, hop-off boats are vibrant yellow water taxis, so you may’t miss them.
24. Times Square
Times Square is the face of New York City. Full of vibrant lights, billboards, and fixed buzz, it’s the finest place to go to in Manhattan to expertise New York City’s commercialism. It can also be a favourite spot for vacationer photoshoots.
Times Square is somewhat tacky, and you may count on to see plenty of road performers in costumes charging cash for pictures. Visiting is signing your self up for sensory overload, so give your self an opportunity to sit down down, individuals watch, and take the ambiance in.
25. Battery Park
Our closing park on this checklist is Battery Park. Located proper subsequent to New York City Harbor, this 25-acre park is likely one of the hottest inexperienced areas in Manhattan and wider New York.
So, why go to? The park is residence to a Nineteenth-century fort which is ideal for historical past lovers. The fort is known as Castle Clinton and was really America’s first immigration station, working earlier than Ellis Island was introduced to make use of.
The park is a superb alternative in order for you a Manhattan park with historical past. You may simply spend half a day exploring its grounds.
26. New Victory Theater
Our closing suggestion of issues to do in Manhattan is for guests with youngsters. Head straight to New Victory Theater within the Theater District for child-centered leisure.
The theater goals its schedule and performances completely at youngsters. From child-friendly present instances to partaking, relatable characters, this theater ensures a enjoyable occasion. Asking youngsters to sit down by means of a 90-minute Broadway present is likely to be a bit bold. However, this theater gives a terrific various. Families, word it down.
How to get to Manhattan
The finest method to get to Manhattan is to fly except you reside a brief drive away or are planning a highway journey.
Getting from New York airports to Manhattan can also be very straightforward. You can attain Manhattan by public transport from all three of New York City’s airports, though John F. Kennedy airport is the most well-liked and easy. From JFK, you merely bounce on the AirTrain and change to the Long Island Railroad or Subway for the ultimate leg of your journey.
Getting round Manhattan
We counsel following the native lead and utilizing the subway when getting round Manhattan. Not solely is utilizing the subway in New York City a ceremony of passage, however additionally it is less expensive than utilizing taxis or Uber. The subway system is so well-connected that it’s normally a lot faster than getting caught in visitors as properly.
You will most likely discover you can stroll between many sights too, particularly if you happen to select an lodging location correctly. While, for a novel method to get round Manhattan, you may all the time catch a water taxi.
If you need to see loads of sights, The New York Pass contains the Hop on Hop off Bus and presents skip the road admission to a lot of Manhattan’s high sights. See more details here.
The finest time to go to Manhattan
Manhattan is great all yr spherical. In late spring and summer time, you’ll profit from hotter climate to benefit from the parks and inexperienced house. In fall, the borough turns lovely, with autumnal leaves creating a unique metropolis aesthetic.
However, we predict Christmas in New York is probably the most magical time to go to Manhattan. Many of our sights listed have notable occasions within the festive interval, and also you’ll discover ice rinks and Christmas timber all around the neighborhood.
Where to remain in Manhattan
You can learn our detailed information on the very best locations to remain in New York here. If you get the possibility, it is best to fastidiously analysis and take into account which places in Manhattan are finest for you. Location is commonly extra essential than the lodge itself, though it is best to all the time search for properties with excessive critiques.
In a rush? These are our quickfire suggestions on the place to remain in Manhattan.
To conclude
Manhattan is a unbelievable borough to go to in New York City. It has limitless issues to do and see, and you may profit from traditional landmarks and sights in your doorstep.
Architecturally, culturally, and traditionally, Manhattan is likely one of the finest boroughs in New York. We hope that you just really feel impressed and enthusiastic about your upcoming journey.
When you consider New York, Manhattan is normally the primary borough that springs to thoughts. There are limitless issues to do in Manhattan, and the borough has superstar standing. If you need to be entertained day and night time, you might have made a terrific alternative by selecting to go to Manhattan.
Manhattan represents all the pieces that guests love in regards to the Big Apple. It has traditional landmarks just like the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Grand Central Station, and Central Park. Manhattan sights are equally well-known. You’ll discover loads of museums and artwork galleries unfold throughout Downtown Manhattan.
So, let’s delve into the issues to do in Manhattan you can’t miss when visiting. Whether it’s your hundredth or first time visiting New York, these are the best possible issues to do in Manhattan.