Be an NYC Tourist for a weekend!



"If you're bored in New York, it's your own fault." Even those who are difficult to please should be able to find something to do - whether it be in the fine arts, theater, concerts (all genres), sporting events, museums, national monuments, parks, gardens, skyscrapers, fine dining, shopping, and recreation. You can literally give yourself a cultural overload.

Below are links to most of the city's major attractions. Take note of the "Free" and "Pay-what-you-wish" hours that are available at more than 25 institutions.

Well known attractions such as the Metropolitan Museum, Statue of Liberty, and Central Park are definitely worth visiting. But you should also consider some the lesser known pearls such as Wave Hill in Riverdale, the American Museum of the Moving Image, the PS1 Contemporary Art Center, or the tour of Governor's Island.

In most cases, the links are to the official web page of the organization, so you will get first hand information. Also note that some places are closed either due to construction work or security concerns. Closed attractions are moved to the bottom of this screen.

Tourism Sites

  • NYC & Co. (810 7th Ave/53rd St)
  • CitySearch: New York
  • Times Square Alliance and Visitor Center (Broadway/47th St)
  • Downtown Alliance
  • Visit Brooklyn
  • Bronx Tourism Council
  • Queens Tourism Council
  • Fodor's New York City
  • Frommer's New York City
  • About.com New York City Travel Guide

    Museums

    Fine Arts

    Metropolitan Museum of Art (5th Ave/82nd St)
  • The Cloisters Museum - a division of the Met (Fort Tryon Park, Upper Manhattan)
    Museum of Modern Art (11 W. 53rd St/5th-6th Aves - newly renovated)
    Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (5th Ave/89th St)
    The Whitney Museum of American Art (Madison Ave/75th St)
    The Frick Collection (5th Ave/70th St)
    Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution (5th Ave/91st St)
    Museum of the National Academy of Design (5th Ave/89th St)
    The Pierpont Morgan Library (Madison Ave/36th St - newly renovated, opened 4/29/06)
    Brooklyn Museum of Art (Prospect Park, Brooklyn)
    Queens Museum of Art (Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens)
    Bronx Museum of the Arts (1040 Grand Concourse/165th St, Bronx)
    P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center (Long Island City, Queens)
    Dia Center (relocation in progress; exhibitions are at Hispanic Society of America)
    New Museum of Contemporary Art (235 Bowery at Prince St)
    Chelsea Art Museum (556 W 22nd St/11th Ave)
    Museum of Arts & Design (2 Columbus Circle)
    American Folk Art Museum (45 W 53rd/5th-6th Aves)
    Isamu Noguchi Sculpture Garden (Long Island City, Queens)
    SculptureCenter (44-19 Purves St, Long Island City)
    Socrates Sculpture Park (32-01 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City)
    Dahesh Museum (currently traveling exhibitions while moving to new location)
    The Skyscraper Museum (Battery Place and 1st Place)
    International Center of Photography (6th Ave/43rd St)
    Museum of the Society of Illustrators (128 E 63rd/Lexington-Park)
    Studio Museum in Harlem (144 W 125th St/Lenox-Adam Clayton Powell Blvds)
    Neue Galerie (Fifth Ave/86th St)
    Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art (Richmondtown, Staten Island)

    Science and Technology

    The American Museum of Natural History (Central Park W - Columbus Aves/77th-81st Sts)
  • Rose Center for Earth and Space (includes the new Hayden Planetarium)
    The Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum (12th Ave/46th St- currently closed for renovations until 11/08/2008)
    New York Hall of Science (Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens)

    History and Culture

    Museum of the City of New York (1220 5th Ave/103rd St)
    New York Historical Society (170 Central Park West/81st St)
    American Museum of the Moving Image Check website for operating hours and closures during expansion project. (35th Ave/36th St, Astoria, Queens)
    National Museum of the American Indian George Gustave Heye Center (One Bowling Green; near Battery Park)
    Statue of Liberty Museum (Liberty Island)
    Ellis Island Immigration Museum (Ellis Island)
    Jewish Museum (5th Ave/92nd St)
    Museum of Jewish Heritage (18 First Place, Battery Park City)
    Yeshiva University Museum (15 W 16th St/5th-6th Aves)
    Center for Jewish History (15 W 16th St between 5th-6th)
    South Street Seaport Museum and Historical District
    Lower East Side Tenement Museum (90 Orchard Street)
    Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum (42nd St/7th-8th Aves)
    The Museum of Sex (27th St/5th Ave)
    New York City Transit Museum (Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn)
  • Satellite museum in Grand Central Station
    Fraunces Tavern Museum (Pearl St/Broad St)
    The Paley Center For Media (formerly Museum of Television and Radio) (25 W. 52nd St/5th Ave)
    El Museo Del Barrio (5th Ave/104th St) (closed through Fall 2009 for renovations)
    Asia Society Museum (725 Park Ave/70th St)
    Museum of Chinese in the Americas (70 Mulberry St at Bayard St)
    Scandanavia House: The Nordic Center in America (58 Park Ave between 37th-38th)
    Hispanic Society of America (Audubon Terrace, Broadway/155-156th Sts)
    American Numismatic Society (exhibits at the Federal Reserve Bank, Liberty St/Nassau St)
    The Tribute Center (120 Liberty Street, south of World Trade Center site)
    New York City Fire Museum (278 Spring St between Varick/Hudson)
    New York City Police Museum (100 Old Slip between Water/South)
    Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology (7th Avenue/27th St)
    Museum of Biblical Art (1865 Broadway/61st St)
    Staten Island Museum (St. George, Staten Island)
    Noble Maritime Collection (Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island)

    Children's Museums:

    Children's Museum of Manhattan (212 W 83rd/ Broadway-Amsterdam)
    Children's Museum of the Arts (182 Lafayette St/Broome-Grand)
    Brooklyn Children's Museum (Crown Heights, Brooklyn)
    Jewish Children's Museum (729 Eastern Parkway)
    Staten Island Children's Museum (Richmond Terrrace, Staten Island)


    Special "free" windows for visiting:

    (NOTE: These change periodically. Please verify on the official site before going to visit the attraction.)

    Yeshiva University Museum: Free Mondays, 3:30PM-7:30PM
    Wave Hill: Free daily during Dec, Jan, Feb; Mar-Nov: Free Tuesdays (all day off peak months; 9AM-noon peak months) and Saturdays 9AM-noon (year round)
    Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Free Tuesdays (all day, except holidays) and Saturdays until noon; mid Nov-Feb: Free weekdays
    New York Botanic Garden: Free Wednesdays (all day) and Saturdays 10AM-noon
    Bronx Zoo: Free Wednesdays
    Staten Island Zoo: Free Wednesdays after 2PM
    Museum of Jewish Heritage: Free Wednesdays 4PM-8PM
    Van Cortlandt House: Free Wednesdays
    New Museum: Free Thursdays 7PM-10PM
    Museum of Arts & Design: "Pay as you wish" Thursdays 6PM-8PM
    Dahesh Museum:Free first Thursday each month 6PM-9PM
    NY Hall of Science: Free on Thursdays and Fridays 2PM-5PM and Sundays 10AM-11AM from 09/01-06/30
    MOMA: Free Fridays 4PM-8PM
    Whitney: "Pay what you wish" Fridays 6PM-9PM
    Guggenheim: "Pay what you wish" Fridays 5:45PM-[last ticket issued at] 7:15PM
    Pierpont Morgan Library: Free Fridays 7PM-9PM
    International Center of Photography: Voluntary contribution Fridays 5PM-8PM
    New York Aquarium: "Pay what you wish" Fridays starting 3PM
    American Museum of the Moving Image: Free Fridays 4PM-6:30PM
    Asia Society Museum: Free Fridays 6PM-9PM
    Bronx Museum of the Arts: Free Fridays
    New York Historical Society: Free Fridays 6PM-8PM
    Isamu Noguchi Sculpture Garden: "Pay what you wish" first Friday each month
    American Folk Art Museum: Free Fridays after 5:30PM
    Children's Museum of Manhattan: Free first Fridays of the month 5PM-8PM
    Jewish Museum: Free Saturdays 11AM-5:45PM, interactive exhibits/electronics turned off and cafe closed for Sabbath
    Brooklyn Museum of Art: Free the 1st Saturday of every month from 5PM-11PM
    Museum of the City of New York: Free Admissions Sundays 10AM-12noon
    Frick Collection: "Pay as you wish" Sundays 11AM-1PM
    Studio Museum in Harlem: Free Sundays 12PM-6PM
    Brooklyn Children's Museum: Free hours change seasonally; check website.

    Museums with Suggested Admission

    The following museums have "suggested admission" at all times. They suggest what you should pay, and you can pay what you want. At the AMNH, you do have to pay the full requested amount for extra features such as the planetarium or IMAX shows.
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • American Museum of Natural History
  • Brooklyn Museum of Art
  • Queens Museum of Art
  • PS1 Contemporary Art Center
  • Bronx Museum of the Arts
  • Museum of the City of New York
  • El Museo Del Barrio

    Interesting attractions that are Free

    Federal Hall National Memorial (Wall St/Nassau St)
    Castle Clinton National Monument (Battery Park, Lower Manhattan)
    Federal Reserve Bank (Liberty St/Nassau St - advance reservations required)
    City Hall Tour (City Hall Park, Broadway/Murray St)
    Tweed Courthouse Tour (Chambers St/B'way-Elk St)
    African Burial Ground (290 Broadway at Reade St) Memorial is under construction but exhibits are available.
    The World Financial Center
    The Staten Island Ferry
    New York Public Library (5th Ave/42nd St)
  • Tours
  • Exhibits
    Sony Wonder Technology Lab (55th-56th Sts/Madison Ave)
    General Grant's Tomb (122nd St/Riverside Drive)
    Hamilton Grange Currently closed for relocation (287 Convent Ave, Upper Manhattan)
    Hall of Fame for Great Americans (Bronx Community College, University Ave/181st St, Bronx)
    Delacorte Theater (Shakespeare plays in Central Park/81st Street - summers only)
    Central Park
  • Central Park Walking Tours (meeting points vary by tour)
  • Tour of Central Park Conservatory Gardens (105th St/5th Ave)
    Prospect Park (Brooklyn, enter through Grand Army Plaza)
  • Tours
    Gateway National Recreation Area
  • Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (Broad Channel, Queens)
  • Floyd Bennet Field (Flatbush Ave South, Brooklyn)
  • Fort Wadsworth (Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island)
    Forbes Magazine Gallery (62 5th Ave/12th St)
    Free Weekly Guided Tours (Please verify the tour on the official website before going!)
  • Grand Central Terminal (Wednesdays, 12:30PM, Grand Central Terminal Main Concourse Information Booth)
  • East 42nd Street Grand Tour (Fridays, 12:30PM, Whitney Museum at Philip Morris, 42nd St/Park Ave)
  • Times Square (Fridays, 12PM, Times Square Visitors Center, Broadway/46th-47th St)
  • Union Square Walking Tour (Saturdays, 2PM, Lincoln Statue near Pavilion Building in Union Square)
  • Downtown Alliance Wall Street Walking Tour (Thursdays and Saturdays, 12noon at US Customs House, Bowling Green)
  • Lower East Side Walking Tour (Sundays 11AM, April - December, meet outside of Katz's Delicatessin at Houston/Ludlow Streets)

    Interesting attractions for $30 or less

    Empire State Building Observation Deck (5th Ave/34th St)
    New York Skyride (5th Ave/34th St, lobby of Empire State Building)
    Statue of Liberty (Liberty Island)
    Governor's Island Tour (depart from Battery Maritime Building, Lower Manhattan - summers only)
    Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises (Pier 83, W 42nd St and 12th Ave)
    New York Waterway Tours (W 38th St/12th Ave)
    Madison Square Garden All Access Tour (7th Ave/33rd St)
    Yankee Stadium Tours (161 St/River Ave, Bronx)
    United Nations Guided Tours (46th St/1st Ave)
    Rockefeller Center
  • Top of the Rock (W 50th St/5th-6th Aves)
  • Radio City Music Hall "Stage Door" Tour (Ave of the Americas/51st St)
  • NBC Studio Tours (5th-6th Aves/49th St)
  • Rockefeller Center Tour
    Tours at Lincoln Center (Broadway/64th St)
    Metropolitan Opera Backstage Tour (Broadway/64th St)
    Carnegie Hall Tour (57th St/7th Avenue)
    Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex
    Historic Richmondtown (La Tourette Park, Richmondtown, Staten Island)
    Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace (28 E. 20th St/Park Ave S.-Broadway)
    Gracie Mansion Tour (East End Ave/89th St)
    Ripleys Believe it or Not (234 W. 42nd St/7th-8th Aves)
    The Coney Island Cyclone (Coney Island, Brooklyn)

    Zoos and Wildlife Centers

    Central Park Zoo (5th Ave/64th St)
    Bronx Zoo (Bronx)
    Prospect Park Zoo (Prospect Park, Brooklyn)
    Queens Zoo (Queens)
    Staten Island Zoo (West New Brighton, Staten Island)
    New York Aquarium (Coney Island, Brooklyn)

    Gardens

    Wave Hill (Riverdale, Bronx)
    New York Botanical Gardens (Bronx)
    Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Brooklyn)
    Queens Botanical Gardens (Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens)
    Staten Island Botanical Garden (Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Livingston, Staten Island)

    Hiking Trails

    New York City Parks Department Hiking Trails
    Staten Island Greenbelt

    Specialty Tours

    NYC Ducks
    Kramer Reality Tour
    On Location Tours (meeting points vary by tour)
    A Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour
    NYC Chocolate Tours


    Famous Houses of Worship

    Cathedral of St. John the Divine (Amsterdam Ave/110th St)
    St. Patrick's Cathedral (Fifth Ave/50th St)
    Trinity Church (Broadway/Wall St)
    St. Paul's Chapel (209 Broadway between Vesey and Fulton Streets)
    Temple Emanu-El (Fifth Ave/65th St)
  • Herbert and Eileen Bernard Museum of Judaica


    Historic Homes in New York City

    Managed by the Historic House Trust of New York City

    1. Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
    2. Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
    3. Valentine-Varian Cottage
    4. Van Cortlandt House
    5. Lefferts Homestead
    6. Old Stone House Historic Interpretive Center
    7. Pieter Claesen Wykoff House Museum
    8. Dyckman Farmhouse Museum
    9. Gracie Mansion
    10. Little Red Lighthouse
    11. Merchant's House Museum
    12. Morris-Jumel Mansion
    13. King Manor Museum
    14. Kingsland Homestead
    15. Queens County Farm Museum
    16. Conference House
    17. Seguine House
    18. Alice Austen House Museum
    19. Historic Richmond Town



    Recreation

    Chelsea Piers (sports center)


    Coming Soon

    The High Line (West Chelsea, first section expected to open June 2009)


    Attractions That Have Closed


    The following attractions and tours have either closed or are suspended. They are kept here partly for historical reasons, but also because there is a chance of some of these reopening/resuming.

    New York Stock Exchange (Wall St/Broad St) - currently closed to public tours
    American Stock Exchange (86 Trinity Place at Rector Street) - currently closed to public tours
    New York Mercantile Exchange (1 North End Ave/World Financial Center) - currently closed to public tours
    Nasdaq MarketSite Experience (43rd St/Broadway) - currently closed
    Museum of the American Piano (291 Broadway at Reade St) - currently closed
    The Alternative Museum (595 Broadway #401/Houston St) - museum now closed, exhibits only offered on the web)
    Con Edison Energy Museum (currently closed)
    Show Me New York (video tour of NYC) (58th St/Madison-Park Aves)
    Project for a New Guggenheim Museum in New York City (Piers 9,13,14 on South Street near Wall Street - planned, but deferred for financial reasons)
    XS (arcade attraction)
    Lazer Park (Lazer Tag attraction)
    Sports Museum of America (26 Broadway at Morris St, currently closed as of 2/20/09)
    Inside CNN (AOL Time Warner Center/Columbus Circle - opened 9/01/04)
    Broadway Open House Tours (Times Square Info Center, Broadway/46-47 St)
    Free Weekly Guided Tours
  • Historic 34th Street (Thursdays, 12:30PM, 5th Avenue entrance to the Empire State Building - presently posponed until further notice)
  • The Late, Great Pennsylvania Station(4th Monday of each month, 12:30PM, 34th St. Partnership Kiosk in Penn Station - presently postponed until further notice)
  • Lincoln Square Sidewalk Suprises Tours (Saturdays 11AM, at Columbus Circle, presently postponed, check website for current information)


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    This page was last updated 04/18/09.