Get started downtown in the East Village, the neighborhood that’s arguably the heart of New York City’s rock communities. By the late 1970s, the Village was the epicenter of punk rock in New York; later, it was home base for indie rock bands such as The Strokes at the turn of the millennium. Stop by sites such as St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, where the Patti Smith Group first performed, and Washington Square Park, where musicians performed impromptu shows in the mid-20th century.

The West Village’s historic brownstones and cobblestone streets were once the stomping grounds of some of the New York rock scene’s most recognizable figures. MacDougal Street was once home to several venues that musicians such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez played at in their early careers. Don’t miss Cafe Wha?, one such venue which is still in operation today. You won’t find Bob Dylan here anymore, but the house band plays most nights and Cafe Wha? features touring acts several nights each month.

The Rockefeller Center is a classic New York City tourist attraction for its city views and Christmastime festivities, but this site has plenty to offer the rock fan in you as well. It’s home to NBC Studios, where Saturday Night Live has hosted an impressive lineup of musical guests from Stevie Nicks to the Beastie Boys. It’s highly competitive to secure a spot in SNL’s studio audience to see one of these performances live, but many Midtown tours pass by.

The Dakota may be New York’s most famous apartment complex, no doubt because of its pop culture associations— Rosemary’s Baby was filmed there. However, Beatles fans might know it better as John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s former home; the couple lived there from 1973 until Lennon was killed outside of the building in 1980. Today, fans still flock to the Dakota to pay their respects, and even though you can’t go inside, it’s a popular spot to pass by on sightseeing tours.

While Studio 54 may be best known for its role in New York’s disco scene, it also has a place in rock history. The building housed Scepter Studios, where The Velvet Underground and Nico’s first album was recorded, before it was converted into the famed disco club in 1977. Studio 54 has definitely settled down since those days, but you can still have a great time there today. It’s been a Broadway theatre since 1998 and also hosts performances at 54 Below, the cabaret venue in its basement.

Williamsburg has a reputation for being a hub of hipster life, and the neighborhood’s energy still inspires rising musicians today, and is best felt on a walking tour, which allows for plenty of people-watching. But if you want to fully immerse yourself, try to catch a local show. Venues such as Baby’s All Right host Brooklyn-based and touring acts that run the gamut of the contemporary indie scene in Williamsburg.

You don’t have to go to California to get a taste of psychedelic rock history—just stop into the Brooklyn Museum. This Brooklyn cultural center is home to a collection of Wes Wilson’s concert posters designed for bands including the Grateful Dead, The Byrds, and The Doors. Wilson’s wavy typography and earthy, saturated color palettes helped guide the aesthetic of the psychedelic rock movement throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and make for a must-see for acid rock buffs.

About 50 miles (80 kilometers) away from the city, you’ll find Freehold, New Jersey, where heartland rock legend Bruce Springsteen was born and raised. For an easy day trip from the city, rent a car or take a bus from Manhattan to this small New Jersey town, where you can still see Springsteen’s childhood homes. If you’re running low on time, a helicopter tour from New York City is a great option to get an overview of the Garden State without leaving the city.

A little more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) upstate, Woodstock is an easy day or weekend trip from the city. It’s the namesake of the iconic 1969 music festival—even though it was actually held in nearby Bethel—which saw performances from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, the Jefferson Airplane, and other psychedelic rock artists. You can book a tour through the area to learn about the history of this landmark event with a local guide.