In case you ever somehow find yourself in Manhattan and aren’t sure of what to do next, I’ve put together this list as a guide with some recommendations of where to go and what to do. I’m sure almost all of these are no-brainers and super cliche recommendations, but my goal here is to have at least one that you haven’t thought of. Drop a comment if I was successful. Drop a hateful comment if I wasn’t.

Central Park

I didn’t really truly realize it when I first went to NYC in something like 2018, but Central Park is pretty dang cool not only because it’s massive, but also because it’s a massive park right in the center of the biggest city in the United States. It’s something to experience at least once in your life because everywhere you look there is something happening, whether it’s group pilates or a flock of cyclists or a family picnic. It’s a good place to people watch, or just to take a break from the dense urban cityscape that is NYC.

Comedy Cellar

Whether it’s a date night or a night out with friends, Comedy Cellar always has a hilarious show that will make you laugh regardless of who you’re with. I went to the Fat Black Pussy Cat on my last trip and they had five great comics each do 10-15 minutes, and every single one of them had us on the verge of tears. It’s also a no-phone club, so that adds even more to the experience.

Empire State Building

This is probably the most obvious of all of these after Times Square, and if this is your first time in NYC then I assume you already have this on the itinerary. It’s a tall building, a very iconic building, and the views from the top are pretty cool.

One World Trade Center

The One World Trade Center and the surrounding memorial is one of the cooler memorials I’ve been to, and the elevator experience that they’ve created as you ride to the top of the skyscraper is a really fascinating way of making the views at the top even more jaw-dropping. It’s the tallest building in New York City currently, and it has amazing views of the entire city. Stay away from the windows if you’re afraid of heights, though.

The Met

If you like art museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the best place for you. It has hundreds of priceless works of art from all over the world, and so many famous paintings that it will make your head spin. I saw the gigantic ‘Washington Crossing the Delaware’ painting on my last trip, and I could spend hours staring at the incredible selection of paintings they have.

Times Square

Another no-brainer, Times Square is a super touristy spot that (from what I’ve heard) has also gone downhill in recent years. It’s one of those bucket list spots where you go stand in the middle of it, maybe take a few pictures, then move on. In our day and age, our living rooms are basically a miniature-scale version of Times Square, so I’d say the awe of the real thing has diminished significantly nowadays.

Washington Square Park

While not as big as Central Park, Washington Square Park is just as worthy of a visit. It’s a nice place to sit and have a bite to eat, take a break from walking and chill out for a moment. It’s a big center for cultural activities, with lots of people partaking in their different kinds of art and activities. The park also has a nice fountain as well as the famous Washington Square Arch, which is pretty cool.

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Thank you for reading! Let me know in the comments what your recommendations are for places to go and things to see in Manhattan, and follow the blog for a new post every Wednesday!

Have a great week!