Museums, monuments, and the rest
Things to do in New York
No ranking, just the list — 10 museums, 6 landmarks, 5 observation decks, and 6 parks, plus where Broadway and live music actually happen.
Museums
All 10 museums →Landmarks
All 6 landmarks →Observation decks
All 5 decks →Parks
All 6 parks →Arts & culture
Theater
Broadway
40+ theaters cluster around Times Square, running long-term musicals alongside limited engagements.
Matinee and evening shows
Music
Live music venues
Jazz clubs, rock rooms, and concert halls — 10+ venues from intimate basements to full arenas.
Jazz · rock · classical
Art
Art galleries
Chelsea's gallery blocks and SoHo's exhibition spaces, showing everything from blue-chip names to emerging artists.
Free to walk in, most days
Tours
Walking, boat, bike, helicopter, food, and night tours all run out of NYC — mostly clustered around Midtown piers and Central Park. There's no single official operator, so check current listings and reviews before booking rather than trusting any one site's pick.
More ways to explore
Plan your trip
Visitor tips
Save money
- A CityPASS bundles several paid attractions at a discount
- Many museums have free or pay-what-you-wish hours
- NYC parks are always free
Getting around
- The subway is the fastest and cheapest way across boroughs
- OMNY (tap-to-pay) works at every turnstile — no MetroCard required
- Walking beats a cab for anything under a mile in Manhattan
Best times
- Early morning or late afternoon beats midday at major sights
- Weekdays are consistently less crowded than weekends
- Timed tickets booked online skip the line-up outside