New York City is a popular destination for a reason—it has something for everyone. Central Park, Broadway, and The Met are just the beginning, though. See everything the city has to offer with our guide to New York City’s five boroughs.
LessNo trip to New York is complete without exploring Manhattan’s many attractions. In Harlem, visit a piece of music history at the Apollo Theater, where legends including Billie Holiday performed. For more culture nearby, check out The Studio Museum, which highlights works by artists of African descent, or stroll down Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue, where you can see highlights at the Met and more. When you need a break from the crowds, stroll through Central Park and relax on a private pedicab ride.
If you’re dreaming of dumplings and noodles, a guided food tour of Chinatown or Little Italy is a delicious way to learn about the city. In SoHo and Greenwich Village, you can make an afternoon of shopping and visiting the local stores and cafés. The Lower East Side also has plenty of cool bars, vintage shops, and boutiques. On a free evening, snag a Broadway show ticket and pop by Times Square afterward to see the lights. This is also the perfect time to snack on a hot dog from a street cart.
On a sunny day in Brooklyn, there’s nothing better than walking or biking across the Brooklyn Bridge or Williamsburg Bridge and admiring the skyline. If you end up in Dumbo, you’ll find cobblestone streets; in Williamsburg, you can work your way through trendy cafés and shops. Some of the other top places include the Brooklyn Museum, which is New York's second largest museum. Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or Prospect Park, which was designed by the same architects who planned Central Park.
Coney Island is fun for its boardwalk, but you can visit the more lowkey Brighton Beach for some great Russian food. If you’re planning a visit to the famous Green-Wood Cemetery, which is the resting place for figures such as Leonard Bernstein and Jean-Michel Basquiat, make sure to stop by nearby Sunset Park. There, you’ll find a wide range of Asian and Mexican food that’s worth the trip, or you can top off your day with a savory slice of Brooklyn pizza.
Queens is one of the most culturally diverse areas in the US—its residents speak more than 150 languages combined. This borough is also a food lover’s dream. One of the best things to do in NYC’s five boroughs is a food crawl, and there are countless foodie hidden gems in Queens. The neighborhood of Jackson Heights is great for South Asian, Mexican, and South American food. Astoria is the city’s best spot for Greek food, and the Chinatown in Flushing is even bigger than the one in Manhattan.
Seeking some contemporary art? Head to the Queens Museum or MoMA PS1 in Long Island City. Design lovers should also check out the Noguchi Museum and its sculpture garden for a peaceful getaway within the city. In Flushing Meadows Corona Park, you’ll find several attractions for sports fans. Catch a baseball game at Citi Field, which is home to the New York Mets; there’s also the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which hosts the US Open.
There are several must-see spots in the Bronx, including plenty of green spaces that will give you a break from Manhattan’s bustle. You can easily spend a day wandering around the sprawling 250-acre New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), which features seasonal exhibitions and a library with an extensive collection of botany-related literature. If you’re in the mood for even more wildlife, the nearby Bronx Zoo will keep you busy with more than 11,000 animals to see, including gorillas.
The Bronx is also famous for Yankee Stadium, where you can catch a game during baseball season. Guided tours of the stadium are available even during the offseason. When you’re feeling peckish, head to Arthur Avenue, aka the Bronx’s Little Italy, for some Italian food. Stroll around and you’ll find pizza and pasta galore, along with many Italian bakeries and great Dominican and Puerto Rican food.
This borough often gets overlooked by visitors to the city, but there are plenty of unique things to do on Staten Island. First, hop aboard the Staten Island ferry for a front-row view of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline for free. One of Staten Island’s best features is its natural beauty. Head to Clove Lakes Park for scenic walking trails. You can also unwind by exploring the New York Chinese Scholar's Garden, which offers pavilions, waterfalls, a bamboo forest path, and more.
Finally, make sure to leave room for some good eats when you get hungry. The neighborhood of Tompkinsville has great Sri Lankan food, as Staten Island has a large Sri Lankan community. Staten Island also makes some of the best pies in the city; although every local has their own favorite pizzeria, Denino’s, Joe and Pat’s, and Lee's Tavern are all reliable options.