Apart from the popular tourist spots, New York City also has amazing places that most people never visit. We share the top cool spots that will make your trip special. 

These unique things to do in NYC are fun activities that go beyond famous places like Times Square. You can explore hidden parks, eat great food, and see awesome art. Read on to discover the best secrets NYC has to offer.

Bushwick, NYC

Image credits: Homes.com

Cool Underground Places and Hidden Spots

The High Line’s Secret Gardens

The High Line is more than just a park in the sky. We suggest visiting early in the morning when it’s quiet. You can find secret garden areas that are inclusive of the self-seeded landscape that most people miss. 

At the southern end of the High Line, the Gansevoort Woodland has special plants that grow wild above the streets. Artists put up new displays that change with the seasons.

Historic National Recreation Areas

We think you should visit Floyd Bennett Field. This old airport now has birds and great views of the water.

Fun Culture Spots Beyond Big Museums

Secret Jazz Clubs and Hidden Bars

NYC has amazing hidden bars that feel like old movies. The Back Room (one of the only two speakeasies in NYC that operated during the popular prohibition era) still has sawdust on the floor like old times. 

Attaboy makes special drinks just for you based on what you like. 

Different Neighborhoods with Amazing Food

Little Guinea in the Bronx feels like visiting Italy without leaving NYC. The Arthur Avenue Retail Market has family stores from long ago. You can buy fresh pasta, cheese, and special meats. 

We suggest Teitel Brothers, which started in 1915. They have Italian foods you can’t find anywhere else.

Koreatown (or K-Town) on 32nd Street comes alive after midnight. Her Name is Han serves great Korean barbecue and new mixed dishes. 

Karaoke Duet 35 has private rooms with thousands of songs to choose from.

Amazing Buildings and Cool Design Details

Art Deco Secrets in Tall Buildings

The Chrysler Building has a metal crown that changes colors all day. We think the best view is from 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar at sunset. The building has a special floor with great city views. Most guidebooks don’t mention this cool spot.

Cool fact: For almost a year, this was the tallest building in the world. 

Beautiful Underground Train Stations

City Hall Station is like a hidden treasure under the city. It has fancy tile ceilings and pretty lights hanging down. 

While the public can’t generally visit, the New York Transit Museum gives special tours. The station looks exactly like it did 100 years ago. This is definitely one of the unique things to do in NYC. 

Outdoor Fun in the Big City

Central Park’s Secret Wild Areas

The densely wooded Ravine in Central Park feels like a real forest. This 40-acre woods has a stone bridge called Huddlestone Arch. We love exploring the Loch, a small stream with birds and turtles. You might also spot beautiful blue herons walking in the shallow water.

Shakespeare Garden has over 200 different plants mentioned in the very author’s famous plays. Each plant has a quote carved on nearby wooden benches. The mulberry tree came from the same town where Shakespeare lived.

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Fun New Spaces

Pier 6 has an awesome playground called Sandbox Village. Smart designers made it with materials that help the earth. The park also has salt marshes that clean dirty water naturally. These areas give birds safe places to rest and eat.

Great Food Adventures

Fresh Food from City Farms

Brooklyn Grange grows food on building rooftops in Queens and Brooklyn. Fresh vegetables go straight to restaurants around the city. We suggest their weekend classes where you learn to grow food. You also get amazing views of the whole city.

Special Food Markets

Essex Street Market has Saxelby Cheesemongers with cheese experts who age cheese underground. Shopsin’s is a pocket-sized restaurant offering nearly 600 different dishes. The owner makes crazy food combinations that actually taste great.

Cool Shows Beyond Broadway

Small Theaters with New Plays

The Flea Theater in TriBeCa shows new plays by young writers. This small 74-seat theater feels very close and personal. 

Cool fact: the 74 seats are movable!

HERE Arts Center mixes theater, dance, music, and art together. They create shows you can’t see anywhere else.

Street Art and Wall Paintings

Bushwick is like a huge outdoor art museum that changes all the time. Artists from around the world paint giant pictures on walls open to public view. 

The Bushwick Collective (first mural was made in 2011) brings artists together for special art festivals. We suggest taking tours with local artists who know all the stories.

Fun Things for Different Seasons

Winter Activities When It’s Cold

Ice skating at Bryant Park is less crowded than the rink at Rockefeller Center. You can skate for free all winter long. 

The Winter Village around the rink has 180 small shops. Local people sell handmade gifts, warm food, and special treats.

Summer Fun and Outdoor Events

Governors Island Art Fair turns an old army base into an art playground. Artists make special displays that fit the island’s history. 

Smorgasburg weekend food markets have around 100 food sellers. Many started with food trucks and now have real restaurants.

Cool Ways to Travel Around the City

Staten Island Ferry for Great Views

The Staten Island Ferry is completely free and has amazing water views. You can see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and tall city buildings. 

We suggest riding at sunset for the prettiest pictures. The outside decks stay open all year for fresh air.

Roosevelt Island Tram for Sky Views

The Roosevelt Island Tram lifts you high above the city streets. This special cable car from Switzerland runs every single day. 

You get cool views of the Queensboro Bridge and East River. The three-minute ride costs the same as the subway but feels almost like flying!

Final Thoughts

New York City has incredible places that most visitors never discover. Therefore, we’ve shown you hidden spots, great food, amazing art, and fun activities, all of which are unique things to do in New York. 

These special experiences help you see the real NYC beyond famous landmarks. You can explore different neighborhoods, meet local people, and create memories that last forever. The city always has new surprises waiting for people who want to explore.

To visit the best spots or get entry to places that are otherwise not easy to get into, book a walking tour via a reliable local tour operator, like e.e.tours. Get your group together, customize your itinerary, or go with one of the standard itineraries and look forward to a fun, knowledgeable and fulfilling experience.