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Must-Do Activities for Culture Lovers in NYC


Must-Do Activities for Culture Lovers in NYC
Hi, I'm Leah!

Leah Still Joll is a freelance writer based in San Francisco with a specialty in travel writing. Her favorite destinations include Maui, Sayulita, the Northern California coast, Paris, Morocco, Indonesia, and Western Australia.

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Hi, I'm Leah!

Leah Still Joll is a freelance writer based in San Francisco with a specialty in travel writing. Her favorite destinations include Maui, Sayulita, the Northern California coast, Paris, Morocco, Indonesia, and Western Australia.

see more

Take a Gospel Tour in Harlem

A church group during gospel service in Harlem.

Get a glimpse of a weekly ritual in Harlem with a gospel tour. On a Sunday morning (most likely, although some tours run other days), visit one of the many local churches where gospel music is a major part of the services. Most tours last about four hours and include a guided walking tour of the area to see its historical landmarks; some tours also include brunch.

Visit an Art or History Museum

Exterior of a museum in New York City.
Photo Credit: Lee Hoagland

To check off some of Manhattan's top museums in one swoop, head to Museum Mile, a Central Park–adjacent stretch of 5th Avenue that's home to the Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of the City of New York, the Cooper Hewitt, and the Neue Galerie New York. Other must-see cultural institutions include the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown and the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. To avoid the admission line at the most popular sites, book a skip-the-line ticket before you go, or opt for a guided tour to gain insight into the pieces on display.

See a Broadway Show

Performers dance during a Broadway show in New York City.
Photo Credit: NYT

A night out at the theater is a classic New York activity all Manhattan visitors should enjoy at least once. There's a musical or play for all kinds of tastes: Disney (The Lion KingAladdin, Frozen), movie adaptations (School of RockWaitress), humor (Book of MormonAvenue Q), pop culture sensations (Wicked, Hamilton), classics (Phantom of the OperaCats), and more.

Learn About the City's Musical Heritage

A musician plays for an audience at a venue in New York City.
Photo Credit: Lee Hoagland

Rock 'n' roll, jazz, hip-hop, and swing have all had a history or presence in NYC. On a walking tour of an area such as Harlem, Brooklyn, or the East Village, you can see places and venues where legendary musicians have lived or performed.

Get Out of Manhattan

A view of Chinatown.
Photo Credit: Amanda Voisard

New York City's most-visited borough is home to the Big Apple's most famous attractions, of course, but to really get a feel for the culture of the whole city, visit one of the five other boroughs. Discover the food of Brooklyn; find art in under-the-radar Queens; learn about the evolution of hip-hop in the Bronx; or ride the ferry to Staten Island, home to several museums.

Top art and culture experiences in NYC

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See all New York City tours
1,790 tours & tickets
Things to do in New York City
See all things to do in New York City
Top 5 NYC Experiences To Book in Advance
Top 5 NYC Experiences To Book in Advance