10 things NYC is known for (with local-approved experiences)

You can live several lifetimes in New York City and never fully explore all that it has to offer. It’s invigorating—and a little exhausting. But, hey, no one moves to NYC to rest. So, as the city reinvents itself, we locals also discover new ways to experience its most iconic spots.

Twenty-six years into my tenure as a New Yorker, and I’m still smitten with my city every day. Apparently, I’m not the only one: New York City was just crowned the top U.S. destination in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2025 (again!). Whether you’re a first-timer, a seasoned traveler or a long-term local, New York City always surprises with exciting new ways to experience her classic attractions and fresh alternatives to touristy favorites.

I can’t think of any spot in New York City more iconic (and crowded) than Times Square. There are a lot of people crossing the “Crossroads of the World.” Come here to marvel at the lights, shop at the stores, and even get your photo taken with a grown man inside a Minnie Mouse costume. And then come back late at night for the world’s largest digital public art display—which is a secret even for many locals.

Tip: Every night from 11:57 p.m. to 12 a.m., Midnight Moment takes over the electronic billboards of Times Square from 41st to 49th streets. For three minutes, commerce morphs into creativity by showcasing the work of contemporary artists. It’s a special treat and a great reason to make the Times Square trek again.

Few things compare to seeing New York City from above. Whether you’re gazing out from an observation deck or a rooftop bar, the skyline never fails to impress. There are plenty of high-rise vantage points to choose from (the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory), but for those looking for a thrill, one stands out—and it's got bragging rights.

When Edge opened in Hudson Yards in March 2020, New York City gained the highest outdoor skydeck in the Western Hemisphere. The platform extends almost 80 feet out and 1,131 feet high, providing 360-degree views. Entry to Edge starts at $40, but why not get more out of the experience? One floor up from Edge sits Peak restaurant, serving modern American cuisine in the sky. The restaurant is a high-end experience in both ambiance and elevation.

Tip: With a lunch or dinner reservation at Peak, you’ll gain complimentary access to Edge—because breathtaking views are better on a full stomach.

From her perch on New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of our city’s welcoming spirit since 1886. Of course, you can pay for a ferry directly to Liberty Island. But what you really want is a great view and the perfect photo-op, so ride the Staten Island Ferry—for free. An icon herself, the ferry transports 22 million passengers a year on a 25-minute ride between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. Along the way, the ferry skirts right past Lady Liberty.

When you arrive in Staten Island, treat yourself to grandma’s cooking. Enoteca Maria, a restaurant in the St. George historic district is a five-minute walk from the ferry terminal. Though the standard menu serves Italian favorites, the restaurant also invites grandmothers from all over the world to craft a second menu celebrating their culture.

Tip: Try to avoid the rush hours when actual commuters are traveling.

New York City is the country’s most important theatrical hub—and arguably the world’s most important theater spot (though London may have some thoughts on this). The city’s 41 official Broadway theaters welcome more than 12 million spectators a year. That’s a lot of people in the theater district. The area can be mayhem between 10 to 11 p.m., when most performances are ending.

Skip the many tourist-packed bars and restaurants around Times Square and head west to a classic theater hangout for post-show cocktails. Bar Centrale is located on the second floor of an unassuming brownstone in Restaurant Row, above Joe Allen restaurant. The intimate bar is a perfect place for celebrity sightings and classy cocktails.

Tip: Don’t forget to make a reservation. Bar Centrale has a strict “no standing” policy.

New York City’s museum scene is as diverse and dynamic as the city itself. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is massive—and a must for any first-time visitor. For modern and contemporary art lovers, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) showcases some of the most influential works of the past century. Meanwhile, the Whitney Museum of American Art is the place for modern artists from the U.S.

But if huge museums overwhelm you (like they do me) head uptown to The Met Cloisters, the Met’s much more manageable satellite. The Cloisters is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to Medieval art and architecture, set in Fort Tryon Park overlooking the Hudson River. Though not a replica of any one structure, the museum and gardens were built to evoke the architecture of the later Middle Ages. The permanent collection includes paintings, sculptures, textiles, and metalwork of the period.

Tip: For the full 180-degree cultural experience, follow your Medieval Times moment with a taste of the Caribbean. The Cloisters borders the neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Inwood, home to one of the city’s biggest Dominican populations. Stop by Mamajuana for a taste of mofongo, a mashed green plantain Dominican staple.

New York City’s green spaces offer a much-needed escape from the urban rush. Central Park is the city’s crown jewel, with winding trails, open meadows, and wooded areas for birdwatching. In Brooklyn, Prospect Park is a less-touristy alternative, with the only natural forest in the borough.

But if you’re looking for a park that feels like a true getaway, hop on a ferry to Governor’s Island. Just five minutes from Lower Manhattan, this former military base makes a perfect day trip for outdoor enthusiasts, especially during summer when you can cycle through seven miles of car-free bike paths. Now, since the opening of QC NY Spa in 2022, it’s also drawing relaxation junkies all year long. The QC NY Spa offers more than 20 wellness experiences, including steam rooms, saunas and multiple massage options. The pièce de résistance, however, is the heated outdoor pool overlooking the Manhattan skyline. The views are extraordinary at any time—but especially at sunset.

Tip: Add a little dinner to the spectacle. Last year, the spa opened Casa QC Bistro, a gourmet buffet you can enjoy in your robe.

Yes, New York will always have pizza and bagels—two staples that define the city’s carb-loving culture. And let’s not forget Jewish delis, with towering pastrami sandwiches and matzoh ball soup. But beyond the classics, New York is a city that constantly reinvents itself, especially when it comes to food. When Eataly, a food hall dedicated to Italian cuisine, first opened in 2010, it ignited a culture-specific food hall trend in New York City (and beyond). Then in 2019, Chef José Andrés launched Mercado Little Spain as a love letter to his home country.

Both are but for the latest less-known gem, head to Midtown Manhattan. In 2022, Urban Hawker opened as the city’s first foodhall serving Singapore street food, recognized by UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Urban Hawker features 17 vendors, representing cuisines like Malay, Peranaka, Chinese and Southeast Asian, among others.

Tip: Make sure to try Singapore’s signature cocktail, the Singapore Sling. Variations of the fruity gin drink are at the mixology core of Urban Hawker’s Sling Bar.

New York City has long been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ history, activism, and culture, from Harlem’s ballroom scene to the activism of ACT UP. But there's one place that's undeniably iconic: the Stonewall Inn. For decades queer travelers and allies have made a pilgrimage to this Greenwich Village bar, where the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 is widely credited for launching the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the U.S. and beyond.

Now, visitors of all ages can take a deeper dive into this unique slice of New York City history with the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center next door. Eight years after President Obama designated Stonewall as a national monument, the visitor center opened as the first within the National Park System dedicated to LGBTQ+ culture. Admission is free, although timed entry tickets are recommended during peak periods (like NYC Pride in June).

Tip: If you still want to toast equality with a few less tourists, walk around the corner from Stonewall to Julius, the oldest gay bar in New York City and listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 2016.

New York winters can be brutal. So when the weather warms up, we take our culture outside. From theater to live music to film screenings under the stars, the city’s cultural scene truly comes alive in the summer.

For more than six decades the open-air Delacorte Theater in Central Park has featured free Shakespeare performances—a classic in both theatrical and touristy contexts. But when the Delacorte closed for renovations after its 2023 season, a new kid in town was ready to fulfill our alfresco theater needs. Little Island has become a gem of the West Side. Along with the park, gardens, food trucks and public art displays, came an open-air amphitheater with the Hudson River as a backdrop.

Of course, theater is just the beginning. Movie buffs can catch indie screenings with skyline views at Rooftop Films. Free summer concerts at Bryant Park and SummerStage in Central Park bring everything from jazz to hip-hop to the masses. And the New York Philharmonic hosts world-class orchestral performances in green spaces across all five boroughs with its Concerts in the Parks series.

Tip: Previous performances at Little Island have defied categorization, varying from the Marriage of Figaro to a listening party with Childish Gambino. In summer 2025, your outdoor performance cup will runneth over, with an all new Little Island season and the reopening of the Delacorte Theater.

New York City’s hotel scene is as cool as the city itself—and they're more than just a place to sleep.

For a dose of music history, the Hotel Chelsea—the legendary haunt of artists like Patti Smith and Bob Dylan—has been reborn as a stylish boutique hotel that embraces its bohemian past. If you want to be surrounded by stories, The Library Hotel is a dream for book lovers: Its rooms are themed around different sections of the Dewey Decimal System.

For travelers who love a bit of nostalgia, there's the TWA Hotel, set across from Terminal 5 at JFK airport. The former Trans World Airlines terminal from 1962 has been converted into a 512-room hotel, which remains a midcentury modern time capsule. Should your travels require an overnight stay, the TWA Hotel is the only hotel inside JFK. It also offers “Daytripper” room stays charged by the hour, with a minimum of four and a maximum of 12 hours.

Tip: You can purchase a Resort Pass (starting at $25 for adults) for access to the TWA Hotel’s rooftop pool. The heated outdoor pool is open year-round, with bar and food options and pop-up seasonal themes. It also overlooks active runways at JFK—making it the perfect spot for plane spotting with a cocktail in hand.