First time in NYC? Add These 13 Things To Your Itinerary

Essential NYC Experiences

The city can feel huge and overwhelming, but we’ve got your back. From scoring cheap Broadway tickets to finding peaceful green spaces, these 13 essential experiences will help you navigate the city like a pro.

Here’s everything worth doing on your first New York adventure.

1. Central Park, Of Course

You’ll find a peaceful escape right in the heart of Manhattan with walking paths winding through Strawberry Fields, Sheep Meadow, and Cherry Hill.

Rent a rowboat at the Loeb Boathouse, check out the iconic Bow Bridge, or spot some of the 230+ bird species that call the park home.

2. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

This engineering marvel gives you incredible panoramic views of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and the harbor below.

Completed in 1883 as the world’s longest suspension bridge, its Gothic-arched towers rise 276.5 feet above the water and were the tallest structures in NYC when built.

3. Dine at Fraunces Tavern

Grab a bite at NYC’s oldest restaurant and immerse yourself in Revolutionary War history. Patriots planned the Boston Tea Party here, and George Washington held his farewell dinner for his officers in this very building in 1783.

Today, you get both food and history with five museum exhibit spaces showing Revolutionary-era artifacts. The menu mixes historic cuisine with modern takes on colonial fare.

Inside, the Long Room on the second floor appears exactly as it did when Washington delivered his farewell address.

4. Catch a show at Broadway

Experience New York’s cultural heartbeat by catching a show in the famous Theater District, where the tradition dates back to 1750.

“Chicago” currently holds the title of longest-running show, entertaining audiences since 1996. What surprises most visitors is that only three theaters (Broadway, Palace, and Winter Garden) actually sit on Broadway itself—the rest are on numbered cross streets.

For real theater history, go and explore the Broadway Museum as well.

Before your show, grab dinner at Sardi’s, the century-old restaurant covered with caricatures of theater legends.

5. Enjoy a sandwich from Katz’s Delicatessen

This Lower East Side institution has been serving mind-blowing Jewish deli fare since 1888.

Their pastrami sandwich is legendary for good reason—each piece follows a precise 30-day curing process, then gets smoked for up to 72 hours, boiled for three hours, and finally steamed for another hour before serving.

You’ll find Katz’s at the same Houston and Ludlow Street corner where it started, though they’ve expanded into neighboring storefronts over the decades.

When you visit, don’t miss their other classics like matzo ball soup, knishes, and latkes.

6. Stroll Around Grand Central Terminal

Look up when you enter this 1913 masterpiece to see the celestial ceiling mural spanning 25,000 square feet, depicting Mediterranean constellations.

With 44 platforms on two levels, it remains the world’s largest train station. Try the Whispering Gallery near the Oyster Bar, where a bizarre acoustic trick lets you hear whispers from diagonal corners.

7. Pay Your Respects at the 9/11 Memorial

Twin reflecting pools with massive waterfalls now occupy the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood.

Nearly 3,000 victims’ names appear on surrounding bronze panels, arranged through a complex algorithm that placed people near colleagues, friends, and family based on 1,200 requests from next of kin.

You can walk among 416 swamp white oak trees selected from nurseries in areas directly affected by the attacks—New York, Pennsylvania, and near Washington, D.C.

Inside the museum, you’ll find over 70,000 artifacts from personal items to massive structural remnants. Look for the Survivor Tree, a pear tree found damaged but alive in the rubble, now replanted as a symbol of resilience.

8. Have a Meal at The Old Homestead Steakhouse

Taste history at one of the city’s oldest restaurants, serving prime cuts from the same Meatpacking District corner since 1868. Even their classic New York cheesecake hasn’t changed since the early 1900s.

Look up to see the original tin ceiling, meticulously maintained rather than replaced after 157 years. Notable diners throughout history include Theodore Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan, and Fred Astaire.

9. Get Lost at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Founded in 1870, “The Met” offers something for everyone.

History buffs should head straight to the Egyptian collection to see the oldest item—a ceremonial palette from approximately 3500 BCE.

The Great Hall welcomes you with 16 limestone columns, each weighing 18 tons and standing 30 feet tall.

Don’t miss the Temple of Dendur, a complete Egyptian temple from 10 BCE housed in a purpose-built wing with a reflecting pool and windows overlooking Central Park.

The Arms and Armor collection displays 14,000+ objects, including elaborate parade armors made for European royalty.

Check out the rooftop garden for seasonal art installations with amazing views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.

10. Hop Aboard The Staten Island Ferry

Step onto one of these iconic orange boats for a completely free 25-minute harbor cruise.

Boats leave every 30 minutes most of the day, more frequently during rush hours.

Both terminals feature climate-controlled waiting areas with seating, food vendors, and displays about harbor history. On board, choose between multiple observation decks, indoor seating with large windows, and concession stands for snacks and drinks.

Keep your eyes open for wildlife—passengers regularly spot harbor seals, dolphins, and numerous seabird species during crossings.

11. Marvel at Times Square

Join the 330,000 people who pass through daily at the intersection that became “The Crossroads of the World” in 1904 when The New York Times moved to its new tower.

The first electric advertisement appeared that same year, and the New Year’s Eve ball drop tradition started in 1907, now drawing over a million spectators annually.

The Coca-Cola sign has been a fixture since 1920, making it one of the longest-running ads anywhere.

Check out the Clear Channel Spectacolor screen spanning an entire block with 12 million LEDs capable of displaying 281 trillion colors.

Visit at 11:57 PM to catch the Midnight Moment program (running since 2012) when many billboards synchronize to show digital art installations for three minutes.

For Broadway fans, the TKTS booth sells same-day show tickets at 20-50% off regular prices.

12. Stroll along The High Line

Walk above the streets on this elevated park built on abandoned freight tracks where trains once delivered food to Manhattan.

Opened in 2009, this 1.45-mile pathway features over 500 plant species maintained by gardeners using organic methods—they release beneficial insects to control pests rather than using chemicals.

You’ll see around 80 rotating public art installations annually through their dedicated arts program. Rest on the innovative “peel-up” benches that seem to emerge naturally from the planking.

13. Drop by The Statue of Liberty

America’s most recognizable symbol stands 305 feet tall from foundation to torch in New York Harbor.

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi sculpted Lady Liberty’s face based on his mother Charlotte, while Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (who later built Paris’s famous tower) designed the interior framework.

The copper exterior, originally reddish-brown, has oxidized to form a green patina that actually protects against further corrosion. Count the seven rays on her crown representing continents and seas, and check out the tablet bearing July 4, 1776 in Roman numerals.

Notice the broken chains at her feet symbolizing liberation. Inside the pedestal, you can view the original torch, replaced during the 1986 restoration.