One of the best things about New York City is that there is so much more than the tourist attractions. We have tons of annual events, pop ups and new experiences are all a few of my favorite things about the big apple. While there are many of the best free things, like seeing great views of the city on the high line or enjoying live music at the park, there are also some brand new and very cool attractions to see that are here for a limited time. While I recommend doing all the things like visiting an observation deck, see the Statue of Liberty or head to popular attractions like Grand Central, I think it’s always great to try new things. See a brand new Broadway show, a museum exhibit or head to a pop up. These are our top attractions to check out in NYC this month!
Celebrate the 4th of July
Whether you’re just in town visiting or you’re spending Independence Day in the city, I have you covered! I recently published a whole blog post about everything there is to do this weekend to celebrate the holiday. Let me know what your favorite activity is, other than the fireworks, of course!
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Celebration
Celebrate the Fourth of July from over 1,100 feet above Manhattan at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, where an exclusive ticketed event offers unbeatable views of the Macy’s fireworks, festive games, and holiday-themed food and drinks. Each ticket includes two drinks and one food item from a special menu at their Nordic-style café, Aprés, with highlights like pulled pork sandwiches and smoked mushroom sandwiches. You can also explore all three immersive levels, including the Affinity room decked out with patriotic decor, and enjoy a festive transformation of the Unity screen and elevator lights.
Watch the Macy’s Fireworks at the Watermark
Celebrate the Fourth of July at Watermark at Pier 15 with stunning waterfront views, festive vibes and front-row seats to the Macy’s Fireworks Show. Enjoy a free daytime BBQ Beach Bash from 12–5PM with bottomless brunch, DJs and tropical cocktails or opt for the evening Fireworks Viewing Party with tickets starting at $180 for open bar and BBQ buffet access. VIP reserved tables begin at $549 for two and include early entry, table service and family-style BBQ with premium perks.
Watch Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
On July 4th, the annual Hot Dog Eating Contest is back and at the fan favorite- Nathan’s! This is a great way to spend a little time on the 4th of July, in such an American way! Also, if you haven’t tried a Nathan’s hot dog, you are missing out! Head out to their original location in Coney Island for the real deal or watch it all take place on tv. It’s one of the special events for the holiday weekend in the big apple.
GITANO
This summer, GITANO at Pier 17 is the ultimate escape without leaving Manhattan, blending tropical glamour with downtown edge on its newly opened terrace overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge. From the team behind the original Tulum hotspot, the space is lush with palm trees, bold seasonal dishes and vibrant mezcal cocktails. Perfect from golden hour through late night, GITANO offers a transportive, open-air dining experience at the Seaport.
Tea Around Town
Thursdays in NYC just got more glamorous with Great Gatsby on Broadway x Tea Around Town! Enjoy a chic afternoon tea bus experience through the city, complete with treats and views, followed by the dazzling Great Gatsby musical. Tickets for this two part experience can be purchased separately but it’s incredibly fun to opt for both back to back.
Pier 17 Rooftop
The Seaport District continues to impress. Rent your own mini lawn on The Greens rooftop and enjoy great views, drinks, and music. The Summer Concert Series here features live performances all season long, and the atmosphere is unbeatable. We love doing this with friends! We think this is one of the best ways to spend the summer in the city and you can get the best view for New Yorkers in lower Manhattan.
CityPickle
CityPickle is at the Wollman Rink!. With 14 state-of-the-art courts ready for play, reservations will be available daily from 8AM- 9PM. This season will feature expanded kids’ programming, private event spaces, coaching sessions, and open play, making it even better than before. Check out their camp programs here if you are looking for camp options this summer for your kiddies.
Roscioli
Roscioli brings the spirit of Rome to SoHo, offering two distinct dining experiences: the upstairs Alimentari, inspired by the original Roscioli Salumeria, serves à la carte dishes crafted from premium Italian ingredients, while the downstairs Tasting Room presents a curated five-course Roman feast paired with exceptional wines. Beyond dining, Roscioli hosts wine and cheese classes, private events and has a monthly Dinner Club featuring exclusive regional recipes to enjoy at home. With its dedication to authentic flavors and immersive experiences, Roscioli provides a true taste of Roman culinary tradition in the heart of the City.
The Color Factory
Be immersed in geometric light and vibrant confetti, capturing the perfect photo-ready moment. This experience brings the joy of New York’s twice-yearly spectacle indoors in true Color Factory style. Colorscopes is the newest installation. It blends astrology and color to create a personalized experience for every guest. Developed with astrologer Michele Bernhardt, this vibrant exhibit assigns a unique hue and birthday insight to each day of the year. You can take home their color horoscope card, offering playful guidance and meaningful connections beyond your visit.
Luna Park
There’s no better way to kick off summer than with a day at Luna Park in Coney Island, now open 7 days a week! From iconic coasters like the Cyclone to family-friendly rides, games, and boardwalk treats, there’s something for everyone. As a family, we love the mix of legendary roller coasters and more gentle rides, so it’s good for all ages!
CycleBoats
The boat trips are an hour and a half and it is a communal table where you pedal around Manhattan to help propel to boat for fun. You can book one seat or rent the whole boat for 26 people and the best part is it’s BYOB so you can bring whatever you’d like to sip on! There’s a deckhand and master captain there, so you know you’re in good hands. Your group can connect to the bluetooth sound system to have a so much fun with music, too!
Summer in the Square
Every Thursday this summer through August, Union Square will have Summer in the Square! This will feature kids programs, live performances, children’s activities and live Jazz music. This is a great family friendly option. Live entertainment in warm weather is my kind of night. These are free concerts!
Padel Club
If you’re someone who loves playing padel, you are going to have to check this out! It’s located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This over 16,000 square foot space is for members-only and upscale fitness center actually has 4 full size courts to play on. It’s $150/month for a membership, but if you don’t have one, it’ll cost $55/hour and you can play 3x a month. This is definitely one of the more fun things we’re getting this month!
Brookfield Place Outdoor Fun
Brookfield Place is a go-to summer destination. Enjoy a rotating lineup of DJs, pickleball courts and more throughout the season. Their schedule is packed with fun and excitement for all ages. Enjoy Sound Waves: A DJ Series at the waterfront every Wednesday from July 9 to 30, featuring lunchtime and evening sets by DJs modrums, Raat Ki Rani, Bembona, and Tres Dos—no registration required. Then, on July 15, toast to summer at BFPL Vineyard, a ticketed 21+ wine tasting experience with curated selections and light bites at sunset. Both events offer a perfect way to unwind, connect, and soak in the season’s energy.
Go To a Yankees Game
Whether you’re a Yankees or Mets fan, get your tickets to support your team! Sporting events in the city are a good time to spend extra time with those you love and do something fun. This is something that’s fun to do both with family and friends. My kids love to go to games, it’s always fun to go as a family and enjoy fun baseball food and watch a game!
SummerStage
SummerStage is back and better than ever! If you aren’t aware of what this is, it’s a concert season featuring tons of musical performances. During the summer months, they put on performances throughout all 5 boroughs in NYC and the best part is that it’s free tickets! Grab some friends and check out the lineup!
Outdoor Movies
Bryant Park actually offers outdoor movie showings in the summers, which is great because it’s cooled down by night time and you can bring your own snacks and drinks, although there are concessions available. You can picnic starting at 5PM and the showings begin at 8PM. So definitely go earlier to get a good seat!
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Water splashes to check out are the Pier 6 Water Lab with tons of sprinklers and more water channels to cool down, Pier 2 Water Area that has fountains and sun shade, boating and kayaking options, waterfronts to cool down on and catch up with friends and ice cream from the iconic Van Leeuwen. If you’re looking for somewhere to go to cool down from the hot sun, this is a great spot!
NYC Helicopter Tour
If you want to see the best views in town, you really can’t beat a helicopter tour of the city! It’s one of the most fun things to do and a once in a lifetime experience. While there are so many different places you can book at, Giftory is one of the easiest sites to use, so I like to book on there. The prices are anywhere from $250-$800, so under a thousand for breathtaking views and an amazing experience! Get this for a birthday excursion or use it as a way to treat yourself.
Smorgasburg
Smorgasburg is the largest open air food market in NYC. With locations in Brooklyn Manhattan and Jersey City, there’s plenty of opportunity to find a spot close to you to check out! They have everything from BBQ to sandwiches, baked goods and so much more! It’s also a fun place to bring your kids to try out new bites! Check out their site for hours and days of operation, as well as a full list of their vendors.
Bryant Park Picnic Series
This is a laid back event series that requires no tickets and they have blankets for you to borrow to sit on. There will be vendors with food and drinks, but you are more than welcome to bring your own items. With every type of musical performance imaginable, this is something you will definitely want to check out this summer! It’s one of the few free activities to check out and even more fun with warmer weather.
Attend New York Restaurant Week
Restaurant Week is back! It’s one of the best deals you’ll find in the city! It typically runs in late July and is longer than a week, you’ll discover some of the very best dishes in town! The menus and participating restaurants will open reservations, so check back at this link to make your reservations! It’s an exciting event we look forward to in the summer time.
Free Kayaking
Both the Hudson River and East River offer free kayaking adventures in the summers. If you’re a first-timer or a pro, this is something that’s fun for all! This site has a ton of resources that will help you decide where to book and when to book it for.
See the Manhattanhenge
The Manhattanhenge is when the sun aligns with Manhattan’s street grid. It’s a sight to see and it happens at sunset. Where do we spot it? Here’s a few great locations: 14th street, 23rd street, 34th street, 42nd street, 57th street, Tudor City overpass and Hunter’s Point South Park. You can see it nightly until July 12th around 8:20PM.
Check out Governors Island
Located a short ferry ride from the city, Governors Island is something we love to check out, especially in the summertime! There truly is so much to do there, such as glamping, you can bring your dog to the park there on Saturdays and so much more to see! They have a spa, making it one of the best places to check out with unbelievable views of the city.
Hamptons Day Trip
Take a day out of the city to spend in the Hamptons! There truly is so much to do, such as go shopping, check out the beaches, eat delicious food and just take in the nature and peace and quiet compared to city life. Everyone needs a break from the city every once in a while. Check out this post on everything to do out east!
Walk the High Line
The High Line is a nonprofit organization and a public space that stretches down the west side of Manhattan. It’s built on top of a historic, elevated rail line and is full of plants and art to view as you walk. It’s completely free and is a great way to see a lot of the city. We recommend ending in Chelsea, grabbing a bite and heading over to the Little Island for more great sights!
For more NYC content, visit here!
