If you’re visiting or living in New York City, there are plenty of things to do solo!
The city is full of energy and excitement, and there’s always something new to explore. Whether you’re looking for a fun night out on the town or want to relax in a park, we’ve got you covered.
In this blog post, we’ll share our list of the best things to do alone in NYC. So read on and start planning your next adventure!
The best things to do alone in NYC
See New York City from above
One of the best things to do alone in NYC is see the city from above. There are plenty of viewing points where you can take in the incredible skyline and the beautiful central park.
There are plenty of observation points across NYC, including:
- The Empire State Building
- Top of the Rock
- One World Observatory
- The Edge
Whichever you choose to go with, you’ll get amazing views from different angles.
Walk the famous Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge is a great way to see the NYC skyline and take a beautiful walk at the same time.
Connecting Southern Manhattan and Brooklyn, the bridge will take you about an hour to walk across but you’ll be blown away by the sights and it is completely worth it.
If you’re walking from Manhattan, we’d recommend taking some time to explore Brooklyn Bridge Park and Brooklyn Heights whilst on the other side.
Visit Central Park
If you’re in NYC then you have to visit Central Park, it is arguably the best thing to do whilst in NYC.
Spanning 2.5 miles long and 800 acres large, Central Park has something for everyone.
There’s the zoo, the famous Alice in Wonderland statue, Bethesda fountain, a lake where you can go boating and so much more – it really is an incredible place to spend some time.
American Museum of Natural History
Located just next to Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History is an incredible way to spend the day if you’re solo in NYC.
Over 150 years old, the museum has so many great exhibitions and shows for you to watch.
From the blue whale to dinosaurs the museum has an exhibition for everybody.
Go to Times Square
It may sound like a 5 minute experience but Times Square has so many stores, bars, cafes, and entertainment to explore.
Some of our favourite things to do in Times Square include:
- Taking in all the advertisements
- The M&M store
- Madame Tussauds
- Get tickets to The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, The Jimmy Fallon Show, or The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
If you’re bored of things to do, there aren’t many better places in the world to people watch and just take in the bustling atmosphere.
See a Broadway show
There aren’t many better things to do solo in NYC than watch a Broadway show.
Anything purchased for 1 ticket is of course a lot cheaper so if you get the chance, we’d recommend going to see more than 1, after all there are so many to choose from.
You can see a list of scheduled shows on the New York Theatre Guide but some of the popular shows you may want to see include:
- The Lion King on Broadway
- Moulin Rouge
- Hamilton
- Phantom of the Opera
- Les Miserables
- The Book of Mormon
- And more….
Honestly, there are too many to list and it really does depend on what show you’re looking to watch.
See the Statue of Liberty
Whilst you can see the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park in Manhattan, there’s no comparison than seeing it up close.
To get over to Liberty Island and see the statue up close you’ll need to catch a ferry which costs just under $25 per person and includes your ferry ride (both ways), access to the Statue of Liberty museum, self-service lockers, and audio tours.
This is definitely one of the top things to do alone whilst you’re in NYC.
The High Line
The High Line is an 1.45 mile elevated park built on a section of disused railway track in 2009.
Located in Chelsea, it’s now one of the most popular things to do in NYC and offers some of the best views over the city and is a really unique way to explore NYC.
Open daily from 7am to 7pm, it’s a great way to explore the city early or into the night.
Dine out
Of course, if you’re looking for things to do alone in NYC then there aren’t many better places to dine.
There are many great hotspots to dine in NYC and you’ll find any cuisine you can think of.
Some great spots to consider are:
- Little Italy – as you guessed it, great for Italian food.
- East village and Lower east side – these are most definitely becoming the cool places to hang and the restaurants and best chefs are following
- Chinatown
- Chelsea
- The Meatpacking District
As NYC is so big, there are honestly options on every corner you turn and sometimes the crowd might be the only convincing you need plus it’s much easier if you’re travelling alone to get a table.
Cafe Hop
This may sound quite boring, but when I was in NYC I went to almost every Starbucks (mainly for the WIFI).
But, don’t worry, there are so many cafe options in NYC and I ate a sweet most mornings so we’d recommend trying a few and having a coffee and sweet treat to start the day.
Open bus tour
What’s a trip to a major city without getting on an open bus tour? NYC is no exclusion. I
Great for first time travellers and travelling alone, there are a variety of open bus tours to choose from in NYC.
Checkout the BigBus tours website who have 2 featured routes, one for uptown and one for downtown (something you’ll need to get familiar with)
Walk 5th Avenue
This is a must and something I did multiple times during a stay In NYC.
Fifth Avenue runs from Washington Square Park in the south to Central Park in the north and is home to some of the most iconic buildings and stores in NYC, including The Plaza Hotel, Tiffany & Co., FAO Schwarz, Saks Fifth Avenue, Apple Store, and NikeTown.
You’ll even bypass the infamous Trump Tower, but honestly, the Apple Store is much cooler.
Day trip to Williamsburg
Williamsburg is such a great place to visit whilst in NYC. There are so many things to do and being very hipster, the place has a tonne of rooftop bars, galleries, quirky cafes, and retro bars for you to check out.
Take the L train from from Manhattan and you’ll be in Williamsburg in no time.
Some of the great things to do whilst in Williamsburg include:
- Williamsburg markets – every Saturday the streets of Williamsburg are filled with market stalls selling local produce, flowers, art, and more. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon people watching and browsing through unique finds.
- Brooklyn Brewery – one of the most famous craft breweries in NYC, Brooklyn Brewery offers tours (which include tastings) as well as a bar and restaurant on site. Perfect for an afternoon or evening out
- The Nitehawk Cinema – this cinema shows both new releases and cult classics on its big screens. Snack on some popcorn whilst enjoying your movie!
- Dinner at Roberta’s – if you’re looking for something different for dinner, head to Roberta’s in Bushwick. This pizzeria is known for its inventive wood-fired pies.
As well as these, there are so many things to see in Williamsburg. We’re sure you’ll pass some great other options whilst wandering around.