Best Things to See in New York (2025)

Guided apartment tours bring immigrant stories to life inside restored tenements. An affiliated National Park Service site, it’s frequently covered by The New York Times and The New Yorker—reserve ahead for the most resonant history lesson downtown.

Stand on Harlem’s most storied stage, where stars were born and legends made. The nonprofit Apollo’s behind-the-scenes tour spotlights Black arts history and ongoing community programming—an experience often highlighted by major critics and historians.

A 478‑acre landscape of art, history, and nature with public programs, trolley tours, and meandering paths. Profiled by The New Yorker in 2025, Green‑Wood pairs reflection with vibrant programming in Brooklyn’s great outdoor museum.

Serene galleries and a sculpture garden designed by Isamu Noguchi himself. Lauded by Condé Nast Traveler and design writers, it’s a meditative counterpoint to Manhattan’s mega-museums—don’t miss Free First Friday evenings.

Saturday nights April–October, 100+ independent vendors serve global dishes at wallet-friendly prices. Celebrated by Eater NY and named among The New York Times’ top restaurants list, it’s a joyful snapshot of the city’s culinary diversity.

Tour Louis and Lucille Armstrong’s preserved home, then explore the new Center’s Here to Stay exhibition across the street. NPR and major outlets praise its world-class archive and intimate window into a jazz giant’s life.

A grassroots museum of everyday New York ephemera—subway tokens, seltzer lore, neighborhood artifacts. Praised by local critics for its heart and humor, it’s an affectionate crash course in the city’s lived-in history.

A West Village basement where the music swings nightly and late-night jam sessions welcome rising talent. Documented by SmallsLIVE and beloved by musicians and critics alike, it’s pure NYC jazz culture—up close.

New York’s leading nonprofit cinema for independent premieres, documentaries, and repertory classics. A critic-favorite institution with year-round calendars, post-show talks, and lovingly restored prints in the heart of downtown.

Walk a working rooftop farm with skyline views. Tours, yoga, and seasonal dinners spotlight sustainable agriculture atop the Navy Yard—an uplifting perspective shift covered by design and food writers citywide.

Volunteer-run paddles on the once-industrial Gowanus Canal pair recreation with stewardship. Free walk-up canoeing days and guided trips reveal ecology in flux—with music nights and art shows at the boathouse.

Since 1940, this indoor market anchors Bronx Little Italy with butchers, bakers, pasta-makers, and the Bronx Beer Hall. Eater NY’s guides send diners here for old-school specialties and everyday neighborhood life under one roof.