Things to do in New York

Things to do in New York

2,485 ranked activities15 in the 90+ Club

New York has more bookable experiences than any other city on Outty, and the quality spread is brutal. Observation decks are commoditised, so we score them on timed-entry reliability and sunset slots. Food tours and borough walks are where the ranking really separates operators, and the top scores in the city all come from small-group guides.

Quick answer

What are the best things to do in New York?

Outty ranks 2,485 bookable experiences in New York, United States. The highest scoring is NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens: Art, Food & Sports at 95 out of 100, followed by Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights, SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown Walking Tour in New York, Grand Canyon VIP Helicopter Tour. Prices start at $6 per person and 15 experiences score 90 or above, putting them in the Outty 90+ Club. September to early November, and late April through June.

Ranked experiences
2,485
In the 90+ Club
15
From
$6 per person
Bookable today
123

2-minute city guide

Best Things to Do in New York

Get oriented fast: the major attraction hubs, the best ways to experience them, and how the Outty Ranking compares every option.

  • Central Park
  • National September 11 Memorial & Museum
  • Greenwich Village
  • Lower Manhattan
Watch the full guideCompare ranked experiencesExplore top attractions

Top attractions in New York

Landmark by landmark: every ranked tour, ticket and guided visit in one place.

Central Park in New York, United States

Central Park

486 experiences • 4.7/5

Wall Street in New York, United States

Wall Street

212 experiences • 4.3/5

Grand Central Station in New York, United States

Grand Central Station

188 experiences • 4.3/5

National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York, United States

National September 11 Memorial & Museum

161 experiences • 4.6/5

Lower Manhattan in New York, United States

Lower Manhattan

158 experiences • 4.8/5

Strawberry Fields (John Lennon Memorial) in New York, United States

Strawberry Fields (John Lennon Memorial)

153 experiences • 4.9/5

New York City St. Patrick's Cathedral

New York City St. Patrick's Cathedral

147 experiences • 4.7/5

Greenwich Village in New York, United States

Greenwich Village

140 experiences • 4.4/5

New York City Chinatown

New York City Chinatown

120 experiences • 4.7/5

Bethesda Fountain in New York, United States

Bethesda Fountain

120 experiences • 4.8/5

Bow Bridge in New York, United States

Bow Bridge

111 experiences • 4.9/5

New York Public Library (Main Branch)

New York Public Library (Main Branch)

103 experiences • 4.8/5

Top tour operators in New York

The companies behind the experiences, ranked by how much of New York they cover.

Browse all operators

Book Taxi Barcelona

3508 experiences across 241 cities

Avg Outty Ranking 44.2

taxiGo.online - Booking Transfer & Taxi

1964 experiences across 302 cities

Avg Outty Ranking 44.5

taxiGo Limo Airport Service

1250 experiences across 304 cities

Avg Outty Ranking 41.9

taxiGo DMC

1181 experiences across 264 cities

Avg Outty Ranking 43.1

PROFI DRIVER

887 experiences across 133 cities

Avg Outty Ranking 44.8

VoiceMap Audio Tours

703 experiences across 222 cities

Avg Outty Ranking 54.8

Tour Travel & More

685 experiences across 120 cities

Avg Outty Ranking 44.7

Welcome Pickups

488 experiences across 124 cities

Avg Outty Ranking 49.6

Most Popular in New York

The experiences travelers book most right now.

See all 53

Most Highly Reviewed in New York

Highest traveler sentiment with enough reviews to trust it.

See all 47

Last Minute in New York

Confirmed availability today or tomorrow.

See all 121

Family Friendly in New York

Works with children in tow, by age policy and pacing.

See all 11

Food & Drink in New York

Food tours, tastings, markets and dinner experiences.

See all 34

Culture & History in New York

Museums, landmarks and stories behind the streets.

See all 93

Outdoors in New York

Fresh air, water, trails and skyline views.

See all 52

Nightlife in New York

After dark: bars, shows and evening cruises.

See all 20

Highest rated in New York

The top of the Outty Ranking across 2,485 local experiences

  1. 1NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens: Art, Food & Sports6h • from $8494.9
  2. 2Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights4h • from $6894.6
  3. 3SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown Walking Tour in New York2h • from $2594.3
  4. 4Grand Canyon VIP Helicopter Tour14h • from $39993.5
  5. 59/11 Memorial Tour with Optional Museum and One World Access2h • from $2993.1
  6. 6NYC in a Day Tour: Lady Liberty, Times Square, 9/11 Memorial6h • from $8992.9
  7. 7Central Park Pedicab Guided Tours1h • from $3892.7
  8. 8Private Central Park Pedicab Tour1h • from $3892.6
  9. 9NYC: Greenwich Village Food Tour with 6 Locals Favorites Dishes3h • from $9792.6
  10. 10Original NYC Food Tour of Chinatown & Little Italy- 8 tastings3h • from $11192.5
  11. 11Greenwich Village Food and Culture Walk3h • from $8291.9
  12. 12Greenwich Village Food Tour: 6 Tastings + Iconic Sites3h • from $9991.8

People also ask

What are the top 15 things to do in New York?

Our ranked guide lists the 15 best experiences in New York with prices, time needed and quick picks for families, rainy days and last-minute plans. Read the answer

Central Park or Wall Street: which should I do first?

A side-by-side of price, time needed, ranking and flexibility, with a clear verdict. Read the answer

Central Park or Grand Central Station: which should I do first?

A side-by-side of price, time needed, ranking and flexibility, with a clear verdict. Read the answer

Central Park or National September 11 Memorial & Museum: which should I do first?

A side-by-side of price, time needed, ranking and flexibility, with a clear verdict. Read the answer

Central Park or Lower Manhattan: which should I do first?

A side-by-side of price, time needed, ranking and flexibility, with a clear verdict. Read the answer

What is the best Central Park tour?

We compare all 486 ranked ways to see Central Park, best first. Read the answer

What is the best Wall Street tour?

We compare all 212 ranked ways to see Wall Street, best first. Read the answer

Planning questions about New York

What are the best things to do in New York?
NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens: Art, Food & Sports is the highest ranked experience in New York, scoring 95 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking from 4,346 traveler reviews. Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights, SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown Walking Tour in New York, Grand Canyon VIP Helicopter Tour, 9/11 Memorial Tour with Optional Museum and One World Access round out the top five. Outty ranks 2,485 bookable experiences in New York, United States, and 15 of them score 90 or above.
Which attractions should I visit in New York?
The landmarks with the deepest choice of tours and tickets are Central Park, Wall Street, Grand Central Station, National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Lower Manhattan, Strawberry Fields (John Lennon Memorial). Each has its own page on Outty listing every ranked way to visit, from timed entry tickets to guided and combination tours.
How much do activities in New York cost?
The median price across everything we rank in New York is $53 per person, and the cheapest starting price is $6 on Central Park Bicycle Rentals New York City. Guided, small-group and skip-the-line versions sit above the median, and peak weekends price higher than midweek mornings.
Can I book something in New York for today?
Yes. 123 of the top 125 experiences we rank in New York currently show same-day availability. Same-day slots are limited, so book early in the day where you can.
Is New York good for families?
Yes. 11 of the experiences we rank in New York are family friendly, covering short, low-cost activities as well as full-day outings. Check the minimum age on each experience page before booking.
How many days do you need in New York?
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting: one anchor experience each morning, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
When is the best time to visit New York?
September to early November, and late April through June. Prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
Can I cancel a booking in New York?
125 of the 125 experiences we rank in New York offer free cancellation, usually up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact window is shown on each experience page before you book.
How does the Outty Ranking work?
Every experience in New York gets a single 0 to 100 score built from traveler sentiment, the depth of review evidence, recent booking momentum, price fairness against comparable options in the same city, operator standing and cancellation flexibility. Scores are benchmarked within New York so a strong local option is not buried by global volume, and anything at 90 or above joins the Outty 90+ Club.

Browse things to do in New York by type

Last Minute 2,115Culture & History 1,683Outdoors 1,003Nightlife 575Food & Drink 454Family Friendly 231Most Popular 224Most Highly Reviewed 45

Top attractions in New York

Central Park tickets 486Wall Street tickets 212Grand Central Station tickets 188National September 11 Memorial & Museum tickets 161Lower Manhattan tickets 158Strawberry Fields (John Lennon Memorial) tickets 153

New York guides

Best things to do in New YorkCentral Park vs Wall StreetCentral Park vs Grand Central StationCentral Park vs National September 11 Memorial & MuseumCentral Park vs Lower ManhattanGrand Central Station vs Wall StreetNational September 11 Memorial & Museum vs Wall Street

Nearby destinations

Things to do in Midtown 5Things to do in Jersey City 47Things to do in Brooklyn 214Things to do in Newark 104Things to do in Queens 42Things to do in Bronx 16