31 Unique Things to Do in NYC To Avoid Tourist Traps

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Soon after moving to the city, I was tired of wading through crowds and the typical tourist traps, so I compiled the following list of unique things to do in NYC.

Even if this is your first or dozenth visit, try something different than Times Square, Fifth Avenue, and the other oversaturated spots.

Dig deeper—even underground—and check out these hidden gems!

You might also like our guide to free activities or our site’s other 22 NYC guides.

Most Unique Things to Do in New York

1. Take a trip to City Island 

Near the edge of NYC’s borders lies City Island, a tiny island that looks like something out of a New England dream come true. 

The main street is full of quirky business fronts and numerous seafood establishments, and it is nothing like the busy streets of New York.

You can go antiquing, browse the art gallery, check out a book from the public library, eat at the diner, or get ice cream or a cold beer at one of the pubs.  

2. Visit City Island Nautical Museum

If you want to know more about the island, you can check out the City Island Nautical Museum to learn about the town’s maritime history. 

Orchard Beach is just a short drive or bus ride away on the other side of the water.

This free beach is untouched by tourists (it’s much less popular) and offers a chance to stretch out on the clear white sand or swim in the clean, clear water.

Know Before You Go

• If you visit during winter, some shops and restaurants may be closed for the season.

3. Take Pics at Museum of Illusions

Take the kids or feel like a kid again at the Museum of Illusions, which packs a punch for a compact museum and provides heaps of opportunities to take fun pictures.

There are two floors with 45 self-guided exhibits and instructions to help you get the most out of the twisted decor, trippy art, and interactive setup. 

Top tip: For the best picture effects, go with three people or ask staff to take photos of you if you are visiting as a pair. 

4. Do the Staten Island Ferry

If you aren’t fussed about spending time on Liberty Island but want to see the Statue of Liberty from the water, hop on the free Staten Island Ferry.

Join the ferry at The Whitehall Terminal, and 25 minutes later, you’ll get off at Staten Island.

The ferry runs 24 hours a day, year-round, so you can see New York lit up at night!

5. Trek up to the Met Cloisters

The Met Cloisters (99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park) is near the top of Manhattan.

This extension of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is America’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages.

With fantastic architecture that seems misplaced in a place like NYC, it is an amazing chance to step back in time and see something you would rarely see elsewhere.

The most well-known part is the famed Unicorn Tapestries, a series of seven woven hangings that bring people in from far and wide to see.

Whether you’re a medieval fanatic or just want to visit one of the cool spots in NYC, hit up the Met Cloisters and then spend the rest of your day in Fort Tryon Park, one of the city’s least well-known but most beautiful parks. 

You can walk the eight miles of pathway, relax on the laws, wander through the Heather Garden, play ping-pong, volleyball, and more.

Explore more of Fort Tryon Park and its multiple neighboring parks with our NYC parks guide.

Know Before You Go

• Closed on Wednesdays.
• Visits need to be pre-scheduled. 
• All visitors age 18 and older must also show a valid photo ID. 

6. Go Back in Time at the Lexington Candy Shop

This original luncheonette has served New Yorkers since 1925 and is still the picture-perfect image of vintage New York.

Sit at the old-fashioned soda counter and order a malted or egg cream with your classic American breakfast, a big lunchtime sandwich, or a classic burger and fries.

You’ll find Lexington Candy Shop at 1226 Lexington Ave.

Sadly, it doesn’t resemble its name anymore; while it once sold candies and chocolates galore, there’s little to no candy today.

But you can still sip your root beer float and reminisce about days gone by after you spend the day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art just around the corner. 

There is limited seating to expect a wait or to take your order during rush times.

7. Ride the Roosevelt Tram

Riding the aerial Roosevelt Tram (59th Street and Second Avenue) is one of the coolest experiences in NYC – all for the cost of an MTA Subway ride.

Hop on the Tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan, get off at Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island, and see the city from a bird’s eye view.

Initially created in 1976 as a temporary option to shuttle people from island to island, it became such a popular option that it was kept operating.

Board the tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan and get off at Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island to explore this very cool, tiny island and see the city in a whole new way.

It runs daily every 7-15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 3:30 a.m. on the weekend, so you can access it almost any time you want. 

Once you’re on Roosevelt Island, don’t just turn around and jump back to Manhattan—there’s so much to see and do!

It’s just under two miles long and a great way to check out a less touristy part of NYC.

This island was once known as Welfare Island and, from the 1920s to the 1970s, was mainly home to chronic care hospitals and asylums.

Today, its history is still reflected.

The Octagon, Smallpox Hospital, The Lighthouse, Four Freedoms Park, Blackwell House, and Contemporary Art at RIVAA are notable places to visit.

If you’re visiting NYC on a budget, this ride is a must-try.

Know Before You Go

• You must pay by MTA MetroCard.
• Up to three children 44 inches tall and under ride for free on the Tram when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
• Non-service/working animals can only board the Tram if enclosed in a container and carried.

8. Have one of Rudy’s (Free) Hotdogs

If you happen to find yourself in Hell’s Kitchen with a minimal budget but craving a drink and need something to eat, you’ve got to go to Rudy’s (627 9th Avenue). 

This dive bar began as a speakeasy in the prohibition and has grown ever since.

Operating as Rudy’s since 1933, it has been beloved by many – including famous faces like Drew Barrymore, Anthony Bourdain, and Paul McCartney – over the years. 

A night at Rudy’s consists of shockingly cheap drinks and a free hot dog with each one, plus a jukebox that keeps the tunes going all night long. 

Marked by a six-foot pig in a waistcoat and bowtie and a neon sign out front, the inside looks exactly like a dive bar in NYC: red leather booth seating held together with duct tape, colorful bar stools, and old Tiffany lamps hanging from the ceiling.

The most famed part would be the three mosaics, including Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and a 12-foot sax, a nod to the bar’s early origins in the Jazz era.

If you want to see more of Hell’s Kitchen, try this walking food tour. 

Know Before You Go

• The bouncers DO check IDs, so it’s not worth trying to sneak in.
• Open daily from 12 pm to 4 am. 
• A terrace through the back is perfect for a summer’s night.

9. Visit the Bryant Park Bathrooms

Using the bathroom isn’t often seen as one of the most unusual things in NYC, but going to the Bryant Park bathrooms (42nd Street and 6th Avenue) fits the bill. 

These bathrooms are open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and are manned by attendants, but that isn’t what makes them unique.

Upon entering the Beaux-Arts building, you’ll come face to face with bouquets of fresh flowers, beautiful paintings (that have been changed throughout the years) made by artists-in-residence, and serene classical music to have a moment of calm in the city’s chaos.

My favorite part is the rotating plastic toilet seat cover.

When you walk into the stall, you push a button, and the seat cover rotates so you have a fresh and unsullied seat.

Furthermore, you aren’t sitting on just any toilet: it is a Toto toilet, a high-end luxury brand.

Once you’ve done your business, spend some time in Bryant Park, which always has activities no matter what time of year.

On a sunny day, you can sit in front of the fountain, play ping-pong, ride Le Carrousel, grab a snack, and more. 

10. While at Bryant Park…

Check out The Josephine Shaw Lowell Memorial Fountain.

The fountain is a memorial to Josephine Shaw Lowell, a social worker and reformer in the late 19th century.

She was also the first female New York State Board of Charities member.

Lowell is thought to be the first woman in NYC to be honored by a monument.

Pretty unique, huh!

The fountain has a 32-foot-wide lower basin and a 13-foot-wide upper basin.

It was designed by architect Charles A. Platt and was revealed in 1912. 

Byrant Park is a great location for accommodation.

Check out the Park Terrace Hotel on Expedia, Hotels, and Booking for more information.

11. Head to the Lightship Frying Pan

The Lightship Frying Pan ( Pier 66 Maritime/W 26th Street) wasn’t always just a place to get some delicious seafood; from 1930 to 1965, it operated as a lighthouse that guided ships in North Carolina. 

It is featured on the New York State and Federal Register of Historic Places, so while you dine on the patio, consider the ship’s place in nautical history.

12. Grab a Cuppa in Little Britain

You probably know Little Italy and Chinatown, and you might even know Koreatown, but did you know there was a “Little Britain” in NYC? 

In a tiny corner of the West Village, you’ll find the spot that kicked it all off: Tea and Sympathy for all your home-cooked British comfort food needs.

They also have a shop next door where you can stock up on crisps, sweets, and other goodies to take home.

Tea & Sympathy doesn’t take weekend reservations; expect to wait.

13. Eat Fish and Chips like a Brit or Drink Irn Bru like a Scot

If you’re more on the go, you can grab some fish & chips at the nearby chippy called A Salt and Battery, served exactly as it would be anywhere in the United Kingdom. 

Myers of Keswick has everything from fresh pork pies to a bottle of the famed Scottish Irn Bru soda, perfect for a DIY picnic that you can carry out to Washington Square Park on a warm day. 

Myers of Keswick operates under UK hours, closing at 6 pm Monday-Saturday and 5 pm Sunday.

14. Grab a Pint at McSorley’s Old Ale House

Want to check out the oldest pubs in NYC?

Head to McSorley’s Old Ale House (15 East 7th Street) to experience the most traditional bar around.

Their motto is “We Were Here Before You Were Born,” established in 1854, so they’re more than correct. 

This Irish saloon only began to admit women once legally forced to do so in 1970, and while it now happily welcomes all patrons, that’s the only adjustment they’ve made for over a century.  

If you’re in the mood for a glass of wine or a fancy IPA, you’ll have to go elsewhere; McSorley’s only serves its own brew of light or dark ale, and each order comes in two half-pint glasses.

And when you need to soak up the booze, you can order their classic cracker and cheese plate.

It consists of a sleeve of Saltine crackers, some slabs of cheddar cheese, chunks of fresh tomato, and curls of raw onion. For an extra touch of class, some mustard and horseradish are added.

Once you’ve had as many pints as you can manage, wander around the neighborhood and make your way to St. Mark’s Place, where punk rock culture once reigned.

Although much of the area has been gentrified, you can still get a feel for what the area once was.

McSorley’s is also one of our favorite spots for St. Patrick’s Day.

Know Before You Go

• First come, first serve.
• Cash only.
• No kids are allowed after 6 pm.
• The floors are covered in sawdust.

15. Tavern on Jane for Brunch

Head to 31 8th Avenue for Tavern on Jane for very reasonably priced drinks and bar food.

This West Village bar has served lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, daily specials, and late-night bites since 1995.

Look out for specials on games day and live music throughout the year.

Tavern on Jane is popular with newcomers and regulars!

16. Wander the Washington Mews

If you need an escape from NYC but don’t have the time or the budget, stroll down the cobblestone street of million-dollar homes that were once 18th-century horse stables at Washington Mews.

These homes have the colorful feel of old-world European charm.

Once popular with the local artists residing in Greenwich Village since 2018, it has been used as the international house of New York University.

Spend the rest of your day in Washington Square Park, where something is always happening, whether it’s people playing chess, students picnicking, and musicians busking.

Greenwich Village is a dream location for accommodation if you can afford it!

Check out Walker Hotel Greenwich Village on Expedia, Hotels and Booking.

There is also an array of cafes, bars, restaurants, and food trucks within a short walking distance; many people get their food to go and eat it on the benches surrounding the fountain. 

Check out more of Greenwich Village with this walking tour. 

Hey! East Coast USA Tip: We adore the White Oak Tavern near Washington Mews.

Know Before You Go

• While the gates are usually open, it is technically private property 
• The gates are often locked once the sun goes down

17. Find a “Hidden” Speakeasy

Some of NYC’s worst-kept secrets are the many speakeasies throughout the city; these hidden bars are a nod to the prohibition era of the 20th Century.

While you don’t have to hide from the law to get a drink, seeking out these quirky, hidden-away bars is still fun. 

These are three of my favorite secret places in New York:

PDT (Please Don’t Tell) on 113 St Marks Place sits behind a telephone booth in Crif Dogs, a tiny East Village staple where you can get some of the most creative hot dogs imaginable. 

Once you’ve gone through the secret entrance, you enter a world of dimmed lights, interesting taxidermy, and, of course, top-notch cocktails.

Beauty and Essex on 146 Essex Street is a working pawn shop on the Lower East Side with some rare and vintage items available for you to buy.

Make your way to the back, and you’ll enter a glittering world with a grand, wraparound staircase leading to the second floor and a larger-than-life chandelier. 

Enjoy the (pricey) cocktails and food as you sip and dance the night away.

A little further down from Beauty and Essex is Apotheke Bar on 9 Doyers Street, which fronts an apothecary; the bar carries the theme throughout the decor and the cocktails—over 200 of them.

Check out some other fun activities to do in NYC at night here. 

Know Before You Go

• PDT can often have long wait times, so come hungry to eat a few hotdogs ahead of time.
• Beauty and Essex can carry a hefty price tag for food and drinks.
• Apotheke has a “sophisticated” dress code that is strongly encouraged.

18. Visit Strand Bookstore

The Strand Bookstore (12th Street and Broadway) is a family-owned independent bookstore in the East Village.

The store was first opened at its original location on Book Row in 1927 by Ben Bass.

It has become a hub for authors to meet and sell their stories.

Named after The Strand in London, where literary greats are said to have drawn inspiration, it is the only standing store on Book Row, located just around the corner from its original address.

Ben’s son, Fred, took over the business, which is now in the hands of Fred’s daughter, Nancy.

You can find over two million new and used books over the four floors at this landmark bookshop.

Looking for other things to do in NYC when it rains?

19. Summer Lazing at Pier 45 Lawn

Live like the locals do, lazing and trying to catch a breeze on the Pier 45 Lawn during summer.

For more active events, keep an eye on the summer schedule at Hudson River Park.

All year round, you can check out the Apple Garden in West Village Park, named after the bronze sculpture designed by Stephan Weiss at its center.

20. Explore the Catacombs

If you want to experience one of the weirdest things to do in New York, you’ll have to go underground to check out the catacombs at Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral (260–264 Mulberry Street) by candlelight.f

This night tour takes you to the place where the general public isn’t allowed to explore the two walled cemeteries where many prominent Catholic New Yorkers have been laid to rest. 

It also includes historical information about the 19th-century cathedral and its grounds.

Know Before You Go

• The tour is not recommended for children, wheelchair users, pregnant people, or anyone over 80 years old.

21. Get a Scoop at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Since 1978, this family-run spot has delighted locals and visitors with its wide variety of regular flavors, such as almond cookies, green tea, and Thai iced tea.

No matter how often you visit Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (65 Baynard Street), there will always be something new to try; they’ve got a rotation of special appearance flavors such as caramel bacon swirl, chocolate lavender, and NYC cupcake.

Know Before You Go

• The shop is tiny, so the line is usually long, especially in the summertime. 
• The ice cream ranges from $6.50 – $15.75 for a single scoop to a pint.

22. Chinatown Fair Family Fun Center

Once you’ve eaten as much ice cream as possible, walk around the corner to the Chinatown Fair Family Fun Center on Mott Street, as seen in the 1984 film.

Here, you can play classic games you played as a kid or try something new.

23. See the Tiny Wonders in Mmuseumm

Have you ever stepped into a freight elevator and realized you were actually in a tiny museum dedicated to the “overlooked, dismissed, or ignored”?

Well, you’ve clearly never been to Mmuseumm (4 Cortlandt Alley), one of NYC’s tiniest oddities!

Conceived in 2012, they use every possible space in the 36-square-foot exhibition with everything from the mundane to the magnificent, with up to three visitors at a time. 

And even if you have, the micro exhibitions rotate between seasons, so you can visit again and again and see tiny new treasures every time. 

If you don’t have time to visit, you can always check in through the viewing window is open 24 hours but is best viewed early in the morning or late at night.

Next door is a small gift shop and cafe where you can get a hot coffee and browse through souvenirs like 3D postcards and apparel. 

Know Before You Go

• You can book a private viewing for a group.
• Access a free audio guide by calling the 800 number. 
• Mmuseumm is from April to November, Friday to Sunday, 11 am-6 pm.
• Mmuseumm is wheelchair accessible and provides exhibition text, a phone-based audioguide in English, and docents.
• There is a $5 suggested donation for admission.

24. Ride the Seaglass Carousel

At the southern end of The Battery Conservancy is the SeaGlass Carousel, inspired by the original New York Aquarium, which operated from 1896 until 1941.

The carousel consists of 30 gigantic fiberglass fish of 12 different species in a 2,575-square-foot pavilion with color-changing LED lights that rotate via four turntables instead of the traditional center pole. 

The atmosphere also has an integrated audio system; combined with the LED “water effect,” it creates an under-the-water feel.

Know Before You Go

• The carousel is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., but opening times vary; check their Facebook page before you go.

25. Check Out Castle Garden and Battery Park

Once you’ve gone round the merry-go-round enough times, explore the rest of The Battery Conservancy.

There are 195,000 square feet of magnificent gardens to enjoy.

Also, check out Castle Garden, where millions of immigrants first entered America in the 19th Century, and they began to enter through Ellis Island.  

There is also a United States Navy memorial.

26. Tour the United Nations Headquarters

Visit the UN Headquarters in New York to stand in the same spot as Malala delivered her hard-hitting speech to the United Nations and learn all about the UN’s role around the world.

If you can’t do an in-person tour, check out the virtual tours on various topics such as Black history, focus on women, and an architecture tour.

27. The Morgan Library and Museum

While The Morgan is a Manhattan library and museum open to the public.

Here, you can see the draft works of Beethoven and Jane Austen!

It has many lavish rooms, such as Mr. Morgan’s Library, Morgan Stanley Estate Galleries, Marble Hall, and the Morgan Dining Room.

28. Roller Skating and Ice Skating

So roller skating and ice skating don’t sound very unique, but it is all about the location!

Riverbank State Park has a covered rink used by skaters during the drier seasons and for ice skating in winter.

Check out our guide to ice skating in NYC for more suggestions.

29. Midnight Moment

Head to Times Square at 11:57 pm to see the shiny billboards take a break from their regular schedule to showcase digital artwork!

The event lasts only three minutes, so don’t blink; you might miss it!

You may want to check our guide to things to do at Times Square.

30. New York Dinner Cruise

Tuck into a special dinner cruise and see landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building from the water.

Departing from Pier 61, the activity also includes onboard entertainment, such as DJ music and interactive games.

The dress code is business to dressy casual attire, so don’t be afraid to get glam.

Food allergies and dietary requirements can be catered for.

31. Manhattan Sky Tour By Helicopter

See the city from a bird’s eye view in this luxurious six-passenger Bell 407 aircraft.

You’ll see the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Wall Street from above.

Helicopter tours last 15 to 30 minutes and depart from Downtown Manhattan Heliport at Pier 6 on the East River.

Naturally, photography is allowed so you can take incredible pictures from this unique angle.

If this is your first time visiting New York, Manhattan is the best borough to stay in, as it means you are close to tourist attractions and many of the NYC hidden gems mentioned in this guide.

Naturally, staying in a touristy area comes with a price, but it is always wise to calculate how much travel time it saves to pay extra for accommodation and how much you could save on transport.

Check out Pod Times Square for a modern, competitively priced Manhattan hotel in a great location at Expedia, Hotels, and Booking.

Another option is to stay in the Financial District (FiDi) south of Manhattan, which is a little cheaper.

Although it is a little far from Central Park, it has excellent transport links and is close to Brooklyn if you plan to spend time there.

It is near Battery Park and the SeaGlass Carousel mentioned in this guide.

Check out Hilton Garden Inn NYC Financial Center on Expedia, Hotels, and Booking; this is a personal recommendation, Gemma from Hey! East Coast USA has stayed here.

Final Thoughts

Because there is so much to do, it can be easy to get sucked into the popular tourist traps, but there is so much more to see outside Midtown. 

In this ever-changing city, there is always something a little off the beaten path; hopefully, this guide inspired you to see something unique that you would have otherwise missed.

What other hidden or secret parts of New York do you love to see when you visit? Tell us in the comments so we can add them to our travel list!

Our NYC Travel Guides

• NYC Bucket List
• Best NYC Observation Decks
• NYC Activities at Night
• Unique Things to Do in NYC
• Free Things to Do in NYC
• Romantic Things to Do in NYC
• NYC at Christmas
• All Our NYC Guides