We’ve been lucky enough to go to New York a couple of times, both separately and together. When we visited in 2024, we spent a month in the city, so had a lot of time to explore. As we had both been before, we wanted to do some less touristy things during our stay. While of course we walked through Times Square and Central Park too, some of the new things we did ended up being some of our favourites. So if it’s you’re return visitors to New York City, read ahead for some ideas of some great non-touristy activities for your trip to the city.

One of the great things to do in New York City is to walk along the Hudson River. The walk is actually part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway which goes for 51km around Manhattan. There are three parts to this long walk, the East, Harlem, and then this section called the Hudson River Greenway. The Hudson River Greenway runs for 20km down the west side of Manhattan from Battery Park to Fort Tryon Park. You can start anywhere along the water, but we started at Pier 64, about 5km north of Battery Park.

The path continues all the way down, with lots of things to stop and see on the way. There’s a couple of lovely parks on piers 64, 45, 40, 26 and Rockefeller Park towards the bottom of Manhattan. There’s also South Cove Park right down the bottom, that takes you round to Battery Park. Some of the piers also have dining facilities, such as pier 57 where there are restaurants and a rooftop park. If there’s nothing there that takes your fancy, right near pier 57 is the Chelsea Market where you’re sure to find something delicious.

Our favourite thing to visit along the Hudson River is Little Island, opened in 2021. This free public park is located at piers 54 and 55 and incorporates art into the park. The island sits on 132 concrete structures called tulips and looks so cool from the mainland. You can access it by two bridges from the Hudson River Greenway. It is open from 6am to 1am every day.

The island itself is big enough to hold 1,000 people and is mostly greenery and parkland. There are lots of little walkways around the different areas of the park and places to sit. However there is also a small stage, an amphitheatre that holds over 650 people, and lots of little art pieces. There’s also a great view back to Manhattan from the island so it really is worth a visit!

We don’t know why but one of our favourite things to do in other cities is wander around University Campuses. Maybe it makes us feel smart and sophisticated to pretend we go there. If you also like doing this, then Columbia University is perfect for you! An Ivy League university, Columbia was established in 1754 and is the oldest institution of higher education in New York City. The best thing about it is that it’s easily accessible on the subway. The 1 has a stop at 116 St right outside Columbia University. You can then wander around the campus and lawns which isn’t large, but is nice to walk around.

While you obviously cannot go into most buildings unless you’re attending the university, there are some places you can go into. In the middle of the campus is the Columbia University Visitors Centre, open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Here you can book prospective student tours or guided historical tours if you’re interested in that! Another place you can visit is the Columbia University Bookstore, which is open every day and sells books and university merchandise.

Lastly, you can visit St. Paul’s Chapel which is an on-campus chapel open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm. It’s a lovely place to walk around if you haven’t visited before and is one of the great things to do in New York City!

Obviously there are so many parks in Manhattan worth exploring, especially along the Hudson and north of Central Park. We’re only recommending the following two as we visited them during our visit, but check out more of them if you’ve got time!

Morningside Park is a lovely little park on the East side of Columbia University, just above Central Park. A cliff runs through the park, providing a great view over the park and the city beyond it. There is also a pond, a waterfall, a playground, a couple of sports fields and an arboretum. If you’re anything like us, you’ll also enjoy passing by the enclosed dog park. It’s a lovely park to wander around, especially if you’re intending to visit the northern part of Central Park, as it’s located only a few blocks away.

On the other side of Columbia University is Riverside Park, where we entered around West 116th street. Riverside Park runs for almost 6.5km down the Hudson River and is part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway. It has less open areas than other NYC parks, as it’s so thin. It tends to be used mostly for exercise by locals. There are lots of paths through the park as well as seats, places to picnic and some dog parks. There are also lots of sports facilities including tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, soccer and baseball fields, and skateparks. It has a cool view over the Hudson too and it’s a lovely place for a walk if you’re up in the area.

Something that you might not have done on your first visit to the city is to explore the upper east side. This refers to the neighbourhood on the east side of Central Park, from streets 59 to 110. It is one of the wealthiest areas in the city and is full of luxury homes and shopping. Madison Avenue is where you’ll find most of the fancy shops and restaurants.

The upper east side is also home to museum mile, where eight museums line the east side of Central Park. Included in these are the Museum of New York City, The Jewish Museum, The Guggenheim, and the The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s a great place to wander and a great excuse to explore the upper east side of Central Park too.

A botanical garden is always a good idea, and the New York one is a good one. Located in the Bronx, it is accessible by a couple of different subway stations and the Metro-North Railroad. It is open 10am to 6pm Tuesday to Sunday and costs $35 US per adult.

The 250 acre area has over 50 different gardens as well as some wetlands and a greenhouse. There is also a rock garden, a herb garden, a rose garden, a waterfall and a large section of forest. This forest is called the Thain Family Forest, and is the biggest segment of the original forest that once covered New York City. It is an old growth forest, meaning it has never been logged and has developed over a long period of time, with some trees in it over 200 years old.

There are lots of amazing things to see in the garden, making it a lovely day out. However do make sure to check out their website to see what’s blooming when you want to visit.

Roosevelt Island lies in the East River between Manhattan and Queens and is 3.2km long. You can get to Roosevelt island a few ways, including on a ferry, a bus or the F subway. However, the most fun way to get there is by the tramway, a cable car that runs from Manhattan to the island and back. The best part is that the tramway is part of the MTA, meaning it costs the same amount as a subway ride, and you can use the same travel card. The tramway goes every 10-20 minutes and only takes four minutes so is definitely worth a trip!

Once on the island, the best thing to do is follow the walking path around. This is the easiest way to see the highlights, and also gives you a great view over Manhattan and Queens. On the southern end is Southpoint Park which is a nice green area to have a wander around. Here you’ll find the Wildlife Freedom Foundation, a little gated area where lots of wild cats hang out.

Right behind this is the abandoned remains of the Smallpox Memorial Hospital. Opened in 1856, the hospital housed all the New York residents with smallpox until a vaccine was created. The hospital was built in a Gothic Revival style and while you can’t go inside, the ivy covered façade is super impressive from the outside.

The other landmarks worth checking out on the island are the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Statue at the southern tip of the island, and the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse located at the northern end. There are also lots of lovely places to eat and shop, and even one hotel on the island. It’s a great place and somewhere slightly different to spend a couple of hours while in New York City!

While most people visit the Statue of Liberty on their first visit, Ellis Island is often skipped. It is a great thing to do on return visits. This island is where the city processed 12 million immigrants who arrived to New York between 1892 and 1954. Now you can visit the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, which tells stories from the people that passed through the immigration centre. The ferry to the island is $22 USD for adults and includes a 40 minute guided tour of the centre.

On the other side of the island is the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital, where sick immigrants were cared for for almost 50 years in the 1900s. There are 90 minute guided tours for people aged 13 and over for an additional $50 USD. There is also a café and lots of areas to sit and walk around the island. It’s a great place to spend half a day, plus it has a great view back to Manhattan!

If you’re getting the ferry over to Ellis or Liberty Islands it is highly recommended to buy tickets online in advance. On the ticket website you can also get tickets to the Statue of Liberty pedestal and crown. When you go to catch the ferry, ignore the people trying to sell you tickets in Battery Park. They’re often fake tickets so it is way easier if you’ve gotten your tickets online in advance!

The Staten Island Ferry is a cool thing to do for a couple of hours in New York, plus its free! This is a passenger ferry that goes from a port at the very bottom of Manhattan near Battery Park over to Staten Island. The ferry runs 24/7, leaves every 30 minutes and the journey only takes 25 minutes each way. There are seats indoors and outdoors and there is heaps of room onboard as well as cafes and toilets. The best thing about the ferry ride is it goes right by Liberty Island, giving you a great view of the Statue of Liberty for free.

Once at Staten Island, most people turnaround and jump on the ferry back. However near the ferry port there is a short esplanade walk along the water, as well as some shops and restaurants. If you’d like to stay longer, there are parks, museums, historic sites, a zoo and beaches on Staten Island.

Once again, around Battery Park there are lots of people who will try to scam you on your way to the ferry port. They will tell you the ferry isn’t free or that it doesn’t have a good view of the Statue of Liberty. Just try to ignore them!

One of New York’s five borough’s, Brooklyn is one of the most popular places to go when visiting the city. During your first visit you may have walked across Brooklyn Bridge and explored Dumbo. It is a beautiful area and the view back to Manhattan from Jane’s Carousel is amazing. However Brooklyn has so much more to offer and is worth more of an explore if you’ve got the time.

A great place to start is Williamsburg, a chic neighbourhood located just around the water from Dumbo. It can be accessed easily as the J subway goes over the Williamsburg bridge. There is so much going on in Williamsburg, from cool street art to lots of cafes, restaurants, bars, music venues, and markets. There’s also lots of repurposed factories and warehouses and rooftop spots with incredible views across the water back to Manhattan. It’s definitely worth a walk around, especially if you’re into art, good food and local markets.

One of the best reasons to visit Williamsburg is for Smorgasburg, the largest weekly open air food market in America. There are three locations in New York, all running from the first weekend of April to the last weekend of October. On Friday’s you’ll find the market at the Oculus shopping centre in Manhattan. On Saturday’s it’s in Williamsburg on the water and on Sunday’s it’s in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. There is so much delicious food that narrowing down what to eat is honestly overwhelming. But no matter what you choose to eat, just walking around the Williamsburg market on a beautiful day with the view back to Manhattan is such a wonderful experience.

Prospect Park is a large park in Brooklyn, easily accessible by a number of different subway lines. In the park you’ll find the Brooklyn Botanic Garden which costs $22 USD to enter. There’s also the Prospect Park Zoo which you can visit for only $9.95 USD and is very small.

Apart from those there are lots of monuments, gardens, a lake, a couple of waterfalls and a dog beach. Towards the bottom of the park there’s also an activity area called the LeFrak Center that hosts ice skating in the winter and a roller rink in other seasons. There’s no where to get food in the park so make sure you bring your own and have a little picnic while exploring!

Once you’ve finished wandering around the park, check out the nearby suburban area of Park Slope. It has tree lined streets with brownstone buildings and it is such a beautiful area to have a quick wander around while you’re there.

Another popular area we’ve never managed to visit is Coney Island and Brighton Beach. Located at the very bottom of Brooklyn, there’s some beaches here, the New York Aquarium and a large amphitheatre. There’s also a little amusement park called Luna Park (which we didn’t know was a thing outside of Australia’s two Luna Parks!).

The last place we recommend visiting is season specific, as it’s only around for those of you lucky enough to visit New York at Christmas. The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights run from the end of November to the start of January. You’ll find them from 11th to 13th avenue, between 83rd and 86th streets in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. They’re accessible from the D line or the R line if you’re up for a bit of a walk.

The lights go on when it gets dark and stay on until about 9pm. While not every house participates, so many of them do and some of them really go FULL OUT. It is an incredible display of Christmas lights and something really wonderful to do around that time of year. We also have a full blog post about where to see the best Christmas decorations in New York if you are visiting then.

This museum explores the history, science and technique of digital media, film, television and video games through interactive exhibits. There’s also different temporary exhibits, screenings, written articles and live talks with industry professionals. It would be an amazing place to visit for any media lovers or film makers out there. The museum is in Queens and costs $20 USD per adult, however offers free admission every Thursday from 2-6pm.

This museum is a historically recreated tenement building from 1863 in the lower east side of the city. These homes were occupied by refugees, immigrants and migrants from Europe, South America, Asia and more for over 100 years. You can only visit by guided tour, and there are lots of different ones to choose from. Tickets are $30 USD for most tours and there are also some food tours for $45 USD per adult.

Located near the Flatiron building, this quirky museum explores the evolution, history and significance of human sexuality and intimacy throughout time. Various exhibitions are held over 3 floors that shows sex in culture, art, science and history. There is also four additional floors for an exhibition called Super Funland: Journey Into the Erotic Carnival. This exhibition has fun instillations and interactive games where you can win real prizes! Tickets cost $36 USD per adult and include entry to Super Funland, the Funland bar and the museum shop.

This museum is FABULOUS for musical or play lovers. It works through the history of Broadway from 1732 all the way through to what’s currently playing. The exhibits are in different themed rooms, with music playing in each room, lots of things to read, watch, and look at. As well as the actual shows, there’s also a whole room dedicated to everyone behind the scenes such as set builders, stage managers and musical directors. You have to book timed entry tickets online, and tickets are $43 USD per adult. It is a bit expensive but we spent a good couple of hours looking around so it really is worth it if you’re a fan.

We really hope you enjoy your visit to New York whether its your second, third, fifth or tenth time in the city. Hopefully this post has given you some good ideas for things you may not have done before. If you do any of them let us know what your favourite was, or what you’re planning to see on your next visit! Whatever you do, you will have an amazing time in this incredible city that’s for sure. There are honestly endless activities for return visitors to New York, and we’re glad you joined us for a taste of what’s on offer!

We got up to a lot during our month in New York, and you can see it all in our vlogs on our YouTube Channel. Check out the first of our NYC series below:

• Where To See The Best Christmas Decorations In New York City
• How To Make The Most Of Your Time At The Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Complete Guide to the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden Without a Car
• Plan Your Visit: The Best Christmas Markets In Canada