It’s a brand new month and there are so many things to see and do in the big apple this summer. Whether you live here and are looking for something to do or are visiting, we have the ultimate guide to July in New York City. Here’s everything to enjoy!
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
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is hosting an elevated Fourth of July celebration this year, offering panoramic views of the Macy’s fireworks from more than 1,100 feet above Manhattan. The exclusive ticketed event runs from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM and includes live entertainment, festive games, and access to all three immersive levels of the experience. Guests will enjoy a specialty holiday menu at the rooftop terrace and café, including classic summer favorites, along with two included drinks. The space will also feature patriotic enhancements throughout, including themed décor in the Affinity room and celebratory visuals across the experience.
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.
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.
Circle Line Cruises
Circle Line Cruises is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with an expanded lineup of five immersive New York Harbor experiences running July 3rd–8th. Guests can experience everything from an exclusive Tall Ships Preview Cruise and Parade of Sail viewing on July 4 to a waterfront watch party at Pier 81 and the brand’s annual July 4th Fireworks Cruise. With 37 tall ships, 40+ naval vessels, and a 120-aircraft Blue Angels salute expected to pass through the harbor, it’s one of the most historic Independence Day celebrations the city has ever seen.
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!
Coney Island
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!
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
Enjoy a chic afternoon tea bus experience through the city, complete with treats and views. The girls and I love doing this experience and it’s a great way to see more of the city if you haven’t been here often.
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
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 too if you are looking for options.
The Color Factory
The Color Factory is filled with immersive rooms, hands-on activities and colorful installations that make it just as fun for adults as it is for kids. We love that every experience feels playful and interactive while still weaving in educational elements throughout the space. This spring, the museum is adding even more excitement with a lineup of seasonal events. Whether you’re visiting NYC with kids or simply looking for a unique activity, this remains one of the most memorable interactive experiences in the city.
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.
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!
Paramount+ Movie Nights at Bryant Park
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. This year, it starts on July 13th. You can picnic starting at 5PM and the showings begin at 8PM. You can get food from the Hester Street Fair and beer or wine from Stout NYC. 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!
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! It actually extends into August. 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.
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