Top 10 attractions in New York City

Check out the top attractions in New York City, from immersive art galleries to nighttime river cruises, from rooftop movies to Regency dance events.

New York City has endless opportunities for things to do and experience. After all, it is the city that never sleeps! From the classic must-dos, like visiting Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, to limited-time cultural experiences, like immersive galleries and exhibits, there’s something for everyone’s preferences and interests.

Get sorted into a Hogwarts House at the Harry Potter™: The Exhibition, or spend an afternoon perusing memorabilia and costumes from your favorite musicals at the Museum of Broadway. There are also rooftop movies, cruises along the Hudson River… the list goes on!

Whether you’re visiting the Big Apple for the first time or a seasoned New Yorker looking for new attractions, check out our curated list below, featuring some of the city's top attractions and cultural experiences. Get tickets to attractions right here on New York Theatre Guide.

Learn some magic at Harry Potter™: The Exhibition

Wingardium Leviosa! Get ready to levitate with excitement at Harry Potter™: The Exhibition, a touring exhibition that celebrates the world-changing phenomenon of Harry Potter. Potterheads can learn about behind-the-scenes filmmaking and experience the magic anew with interactive technology and in-depth exhibits that celebrate the franchise’s characters, settings, and iconic moments.

The interactive experience allows visitors to choose a Hogwarts house, select a wand, throw a Quidditch Quaffle, and even sit inside Harry’s Cupboard Under the Stairs at 4 Privet Drive. Fans can also get up close to props and costumes from the films, including wands.

Pack your bags for Hogwarts and get Harry Potter™: The Exhibition tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Go behind the curtain at the Museum of Broadway

Are you a Broadway fanatic? Are show tunes on your most-played list? The Museum of Broadway is for you! This experiential, interactive museum celebrates the incredible art form of Broadway in the very heart of Times Square. The museum, organized chronologically, highlights Broadway history from its mid-18th-century beginnings to current productions.

Explore the four floors and 26,000 square feet of iconic memorabilia, props, and costumes from over 500 Broadway productions. Visitors can peep at Patti LuPone’s wig from the 1979 production of Evita, original sketches of Broadway luminaries by Al Hirschfeld, and even the set model created for Wicked.

Peek behind the curtain and get Museum of Broadway tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Explore the universe at ARTECHOUSE

The Beyond the Light exhibit at ARTECHOUSE plunges you into the depths of space without having to undergo any astronaut training. This immersive experience, created in collaboration with NASA, explores how human innovation has made it possible to see far into the cosmos. See rare footage from space telescopes and hear original music created from galactic data.

Get ARTECHOUSE: Beyond the Light tickets faster than the speed of light.

Watch a movie on a Manhattan rooftop

There’s nothing better than experiencing a cult classic or a blockbuster hit with a crowd. Actually, there is something better — watching a movie al fresco with the backdrop of the New York City skyline! This summer, grab your friends and head to Manhattan’s The Green Room 42, where you can sit back in a lounge chair on the rooftop and enjoy flicks from throughout the decades.

The lineup includes crowd-pleasing titles like Back to the Future, Titanic, and Mean Girls, among others. The venue opens early for food and beverage service, and there’s free popcorn. Need we say more?

If you want a special cinematic experience, get Rooftop Movies tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Go an edge above and view the city from an observation deck

Float above the city at the Edge, New York City’s highest outdoor sky deck offering 360-degree views of the city. Visitors can look through the glass floor 100 stories below from the observation deck, which suspends in mid-air. Onlookers can enjoy the unparalleled views with a glass of bubbly in the Champagne Room or lean against the building’s angled walls for an extra thrill. For an epic photo, visitors can walk to the Edge’s Eastern Point; standing there makes a person look suspended above the bustling city below.

Tickets to Edge include a walking tour of the High Line, an elevated park on the site of an old train track. The High Line boasts outdoor sculptures, flowers, and views of the Hudson River.

Rise above and get The Edge Observation Deck entry with Hudson Yards and High Line Walking Tour Tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Watch the sunset from a sailboat

Ahoy, matey! It’s no secret — the best views of New York City are from the water. Climb aboard the City Clipper for a nighttime cruise, and see the city aglow as you sail along the Hudson River. The City Clipper, the city’s largest sailing boat in commercial operation, features 8,000 square feet of sails and weighs more than 200 tons. The topsail schooner is a piece of history representing New York City’s prominent role in global commerce.

Passengers can help the crew raise the sails and even take a turn at the helm. On deck, riders can marvel at unparalleled views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island.

Get ready to hoist the sails and get City Cruise tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Dive into women's history at the New-York Historical Society

Herstory is happening in Manhattan! The Center for Women’s History at the New-York Historical Society Museum & Library is currently showcasing “Women’s Work,” an exhibit that shares the untold stories of American women of all backgrounds. The special exhibit features 45 historical objects, including a “Shirley Chisholm for President” button and a 19th-century mahogany cradle.

Learn how social class, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation shaped the trends of “women’s work” throughout history.

Prepare to learn something new and get Women’s Work tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Go undercover and learn about masculinity

For a unique cultural experience, check out the Under Cover: J. C. Leyendecker and American Masculinity at Manhattan’s New-York Historical Society. The exhibition focuses on the work of queer artist J. C. Leyendecker and features paintings, advertisements, and magazine covers from the National Museum of American Illustration. In addition to showcasing Leyendecker’s work, the exhibit probes how his illustrations, including the “Arrow Collar Man,” shaped masculinity and implied a queer gaze.

The special exhibit also features art juxtaposing Leyendecker’s worldview, including artifacts and photographs depicting the Harlem Renaissance. The exhibit is curated by Donald Albrecht and coordinated by Rebecca Klassen, the curator of material culture at New-York Historical.

Diver deeper into the implications are art and get Under Cover: J. C. Leyendecker and American Masculinity at Manhattan’s New-York Historical Society tickets on New york Theatre Guide.

Follow in Carrie Bradshaw's footsteps

And just like that, there’s a new way for Sex and the City fans to celebrate the independent women who took the world by storm in the 90s. In many ways, New York City is a character itself in the popular TV and film franchise. Get ready for a bus tour highlighting over 40 hot spots of the show, including Carrie’s brownstone apartment, the famed Magnolia Bakery, and the Manolo Blahnik store.

The three-hour guided tour includes pitstops for cocktails, treats, and, of course, shopping. Along the way, the guide will share behind-the-scenes details from the series, facts about the locations, and quiz passengers with Sex and the City trivia questions.

Grab your girlfriends and book Sex and the City Hotspots Tour tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Explore street art in Brooklyn

Venture outside the glare of Manhattan and explore the art scene in Bushwick, a hip neighborhood in Brooklyn full of vintage stores, third-wave coffee shops, and colorful street art. Whether you’re a visitor or a local wanting to learn more about your neighborhood’s street art, join a guided Street Art Pilgrimage to learn about the symbolism in the vibrant murals.

The murals span the walls of commercial and industrial buildings and help illustrate the dynamic borough. After learning about the illustrious artists and their works, indulge in some of the best food the city has to offer, or score finds in vintage shops.

Lace up your walking shoes and get Street Art Pilgrimage in Brooklyn tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

For more information on things to do and see in New York City, check out our comprehensive NYC guide and tips for planning NYC outings with kids.