The 59 Best Non-Touristy Things to Do in NYC Story

Introduction Here are the 59 best non-touristy things to do in NYC. Explore the hidden gems... See all Things to Do

Check out the eclectic Morgan Library and Museum

Thing to do 1 As a visitor of the city, you can never run out of museums to explore... See all Things to Do

Live out your cottage-core fantasies at Elizabeth Street Garden

Thing to do 2 Looking for something a little more idyllic than Central Park? Then the Elizabeth Street Garden... © irot999 via Depositphotos See all Things to Do

Create your own magical cocktails at The Cauldron

Thing to do 3 Located in the Financial District of Manhattan, The Cauldron is a magic-themed bar where you... See all Things to Do

Experience a hot tub boat tour with Sea the City

Thing to do 4 Perhaps one of the most unusual things to do in NYC, this tour allows you... See all Things to Do

Indulge in pastrami from Katz’s Delicatessen, Manhattan’s oldest deli

Thing to do 5 New York City is filled with delis and bodegas, but nothing quite compares to the... © wdstock via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Experience modern contemporary art at its finest at Mmuseumm

Thing to do 6 Another of the NYC non-touristy things to do is going to one of the most... See all Things to Do

Pamper yourself at AIRE Ancient Baths

Thing to do 7 You don’t need to go all the way to Greece to experience the ancient baths... See all Things to Do

Take a circus aerial class at Aerial Arts NYC in Manhattan

Thing to do 8 Ever wondered how circus stars train for their magical and breathtaking shows? Then you should... © Dmitrii Sakharov via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Have a romantic night out at the Temple Court on 10

Thing to do 9 For a night out of pasta and champagne, head to this Beekman St. restaurant. Temple... See all Things to Do

Travel to 1850s Ireland at McSorley’s, Manhattan’s oldest pub

Thing to do 10 Keeping with the same theme as Katz’s, McSorley’s Old Ale House is a pub that... © wdstock via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Learn the art of espionage at Spyscape

Thing to do 11 Visiting museums is one of the most fun things to do in NYC, but the... See all Things to Do

Experience an audio-visual installation at Artechouse

Thing to do 12 Among NYC’s many art installations, Artechouse offers something a little bit different. Located in the... See all Things to Do

Bask in the beautiful Manhattan skyline with the Roosevelt Island Tramway

Thing to do 13 If you’ve ever wondered what an aerial view of the Upper East Side looks like... © Pio3 via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Go for a nightcap inside a bank vault at Trinity Place Restaurant

Thing to do 14 This hidden bar in the Financial District of Manhattan wasn’t just decorated to look like... See all Things to Do

See how a medieval monastery looks like at The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park

Thing to do 15 Manhattan is mainly known for its skyscrapers and beautiful brownstone, so this particular site might... © Terraxplorer via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Find the hidden bar behind a little bodega in Seaport

Thing to do 16 The best thing about New York City is that it's filled with secret spots not... See all Things to Do

Get spooked with the ghosts of New York walking tour

Thing to do 17 Being part of a tour group can get boring sometimes, but that definitely won't be... See all Things to Do

Try the chopped cheese from Hajji’s in Harlem

Thing to do 18 New York City delis are famous for their Reubens and sandwiches made with fresh, high-quality... © Lisa-Blue via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Hunt for the best pizza in the city

Thing to do 19 Another non-tourist thing to do in NYC is to hunt for the best pizza in... See all Things to Do

Feast on halal street food with the Halal Guys food truck

Thing to do 20 For those looking for a halal option when visiting New York City, one of the... See all Things to Do

Kayak and sail on the East River

Thing to do 21 You don’t have to go all the way to Coney Island or Rockaway Beach to... © pikappa via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Unwind under cherry blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Thing to do 22 Considering how dense New York City is, it’s always a treat every time you come... See all Things to Do

Shop for unique souvenirs at the Brooklyn Flea Market

Thing to do 23 Visiting flea markets is one of the best non-tourist things to do in NYC, as... © JJFarquitectos via Depositphotos See all Things to Do

Discover pinball heaven at the Sunshine Laundromat

Thing to do 24 Some of the best places in NYC are pretty underground, and only those who seek... See all Things to Do

Catch the sunset at Westlight at The William Vale

Thing to do 25 Rooftop venues are a-plenty in New York City, but this one provides one of the... See all Things to Do

Have a feast at DeKalb Market Hall in Brooklyn

Thing to do 26 The food scene in Brooklyn is massive, let alone in the entire city. As a... © James Andrews via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Take your bike out on the Brooklyn Bridge

Thing to do 27 One of the best ways to discover a new city is to explore it on... © rabbit75_cav via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Explore the cheese tunnels at the Crown Finish Caves

Thing to do 28 Good quality cheese is often attributed to Italy, France, and the Netherlands, but New York... See all Things to Do

Dance the night away at the House of Yes in Brooklyn

Thing to do 29 New York City is no stranger to weirdly-themed parties that only a few have access... See all Things to Do

Feel the thrill at Beat The Bomb escape room

Thing to do 30 Beat The Bomb is not your average escape room, and it’s perfect for thrill-seekers visiting... Beat The Bomb See all Things to Do

Stroll through Brooklyn Heights on the Squibb Park Bridge

Thing to do 31 The Brooklyn Squibb Park Bridge is a hidden gem that not even many locals have... © AngeloPesce via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Enjoy a fun day out at Luna Park on Coney Island

Thing to do 32 The boroughs of Manhattan and Queens are more well-known for their food, art scene, and... © Gagliardi Photography via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Try pizza ice cream from Max and Mina’s in Flushing

Thing to do 33 Out of all the creameries in New York City, Max and Mina’s is probably the... See all Things to Do

Have a summer surf sesh at Rockaway Beach in Queens

Thing to do 34 Most people don't usually associate New York City with surfing, and maybe that's because you... © franticstudio via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Make your own candles at Wick and Pour

Thing to do 35 There’s nothing better than personalizing your own souvenir, and you can do precisely that at... See all Things to Do

Travel back through time at the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport

Thing to do 36 Airports aren’t usually a go-to attraction for tourists, but the TWA Flight Center is not... © Skyhobo via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Buy fresh, authentic pasta from Cassinelli Pasta

Thing to do 37 New York City might be known for its pizza, but thanks to the large concentration... See all Things to Do

Have bottomless brunch at The Shady Lady in Queens

Thing to do 38 Brunch is such a great way to unwind and spend time with your loved ones... See all Things to Do

Check out the Panorama of New York at the Queens Museum

Thing to do 39 New York City might be a massive metropolis, but this panorama lets you overlook the... © Peeter Viisimaa via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Treat yourself with vintage desserts at Holtermann’s Bakery

Thing to do 40 The journey to this Staten Island bakery might be long and winding. If you don’t... See all Things to Do

Boogie in your skates at RollerJam USA

Thing to do 41 The ice rink in Central Park is iconic, but it tends to be swarmed with... See all Things to Do

Have a fresh pint at the Flagship Brewing Company

Thing to do 42 Staten Island might be called “New York’s forgotten borough,” but the beers from this brewery... See all Things to Do

Reach a state of zen at the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden

Thing to do 43 If you ever find yourself in Staten Island, a must-see place is the New York... See all Things to Do

Catch a show at the historic St. George Theater on Staten Island

Thing to do 44 Broadway shows are a must-see when you visit the city, but for those looking for... See all Things to Do

Taste grandma’s cooking at Enoteca Maria on Staten Island

Thing to do 45 No matter how good a restaurant is, nothing beats grandma's cooking. Fortunately for foodies in... See all Things to Do

Visit the Yankee Stadium in the Bronx

Thing to do 46 If you’re an avid baseball fan, the Yankee Stadium in the Bronx is a must-visit... © neoellis via Canva.com See all Things to Do

Try Puerto Rican moonshine at Port Morris Distillery

Thing to do 47 Most distilleries often focus on creating wine, beer, whiskey, tequila, and other typical liquors. Port... See all Things to Do

Go to the other Little Italy in the Bronx

Thing to do 48 Mulberry Street in Manhattan is not the only neighborhood known for its Italian heritage. There... © littleny via Depositphotos See all Things to Do

Snack on molé with a side of activism at La Morada in the Bronx

Thing to do 49 La Morada is a little Mexican food joint tucked below an apartment building on Williams... See all Things to Do

Explore the East Village

Thing to do 50 The East Village is a Manhattan neighborhood known for its bars, pubs, and clubs. You... See all Things to Do

Shop for books at Strand Bookstore

Thing to do 51 One of the top non-touristy things to do in NYC is spending some time looking... See all Things to Do

Find the Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Terminal

Thing to do 52 Grand Central Terminal is one of the most famous NYC landmarks. A fun New York... © Mishella via Depositphotos See all Things to Do

Ride the Staten Island Ferry

Thing to do 53 One of the best ways to see the Manhattan skyline is by riding on the... © nycruss via Depositphotos See all Things to Do

Hang out at Battery Park City

Thing to do 54 Another of the fun non-touristy things to do in NYC is spending some time at... © nycruss via Depositphotos See all Things to Do

Eat sweet treats at the city’s best bakeries

Thing to do 55 If you have a sweet tooth, one of the New York non-touristy things to do... See all Things to Do

Cheer for NYC’s sports teams

Thing to do 56 New Yorkers love their sports teams, and catching a game when you’re in the city... © littleny via Depositphotos See all Things to Do

Wander along the High Line

Thing to do 57 If you’re looking for an outdoor activity, one of the cool non-touristy things to do... See all Things to Do

Dare to go into the New York Catacombs

Thing to do 58 One of the off-the-beaten-path activities to try in NYC is going underground into the city’s... See all Things to Do

Go on a Brooklyn street art tour

Thing to do 59 Brooklyn is a trendy part of NYC that has some great street art murals to... © Hackman via Depositphotos See all Things to Do

Conclusion

Conclusion These 59 best non touristy things to do in NYC are just the tip of... See all Things to Do

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