If you want to explore NYC and its diverse borough then this blog will surely help you out. Most travelers often visit NYC and plan the trip and things to do in New York as first-timers. There are several reasons you should plan a trip to NYC. It is renowned for its incredible cultural diversity, the iconic landmarks such as Times Square, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Brooklyn Bridge are the visitor’s attractions. There are lots of best things to do in New York as it is a global hub for the arts and so many museums are there. If you are looking for things to do in nyc at night, then there are lots of attractions for visitors. They come to experience the Broadway shows, NYC also hosts celebrations in Times Square and a variety of music festivals.
New York City is comprised of five boroughs, each with its own separate neighborhoods, culture, and character. So, if you are looking for some unique things to do in nyc, then visit its diverse neighborhood, you will be amazed to see the rich culture and diversity of this amazing city.
This city never sleeps and it has to offer you so many adventurous things to do in nyc, so let’s plan a visit to this amazing city and its fastest-growing borough, named Queens. It is the largest and most diverse borough in New York, with one of the largest presences of international neighborhoods, languages, and cuisines in the world. It has lots of museums, world-class sports venues, beautiful parks and lots of attractive places to visit.
So, let’s explore and visit Queens and enjoy a multi-day outing during your visit to New York City. Plan the most exciting trip with this complete guide to the top things to do in queens.
Top 16 Places To Go in Queens, New York
1. Citi Field
If you are a sports fan in Queens, you're probably digging for the Mets (a professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens). They play at Citi Field, a baseball park in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. At the park, there are Bark at The Park events that welcome dogs and their owners to have a fun day out. If you want to learn about the history of the Mets, you can visit the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum. The museum is open during game days, but you can also take a tour of the ballpark on non-game days and see some of the restricted areas.
2. Museum of the Moving Image
The Museum of the Moving Image is a high-tech space and one of the best places to go in queens. It is a must-visit for pop culture fans. This museum allows visitors to get up close with costumes like Freddy Krueger's striped shirt and artifacts like the Yoda puppet. Try Museum of the Moving Image your skills with sound and film editing in private booths. Let your inner child come out and enjoy your favorite muppets in the permanent Jim Henson Exhibition. There's something for everyone at this all-ages educational experience. The museum wouldn't be complete without the gorgeous Sumner M. Redstone Theater, featuring exclusive screenings and conversations with celebrity guests. It's one of the cleanest movie theaters in New York City.
3. Gantry Plaza State Park
One of the best places to visit to watch the sunset among the skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan. is the Gantry Plaza State Park, located across the East River in Long Island City. On a clear day, you'll have unfettered views of the United Nations and the Chrysler and the Empire State buildings from the 12-acre park. Now it has become a home to great restaurants, cafes, high-rise luxury apartments, and, of course, spectacular Manhattan views. You can enjoy a nice walk with your dog by the riverfront, take a selfie with the landmark 1936 red neon Pepsi-Cola sign, or explore the beautiful gardens and mist fountain. The park also offers basketball and handball courts, playgrounds, and a fishing pier. You can access the park via the 7 train or the East River Ferry.
4. Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Flushing Meadows Corona Park is one of the largest and the best parks in queens. It features top tourist attractions such as the Queens Botanical Garden, New York Hall of Science, Queens Museum, Queens Theater, and Citi Field. Also, there are large open spaces; a zoo; and other things to do like boating, biking, and hiking. The park's main attraction – the iconic Unisphere is a 140-foot-high steel representation of our planet. It will remain a central place for pictures, along with the Observation Towers of the New York State Pavilion, built for the World's Fair.
5. USTA National Tennis Center
If you are a Tennis fan, then you know what is USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. This tennis complex is one of the largest public tennis facilities in the world and is home to the US Open and is considered to be the largest tennis stadium in the world. Beyond the US Open, the facility hosts various tennis events, tournaments, and training programs, contributing to the promotion and development of the sport on a national and international level.
6. Rockaway Beach & Jacob Riis Park Beach
The Rockaway Peninsula is home to two popular beaches in New York City - Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk and Jacob Riis Park Beach. The peninsula is made up of nine neighborhoods, including Far Rockaway, Belle Harbor, and Breezy Point. Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk is the largest urban beach in the country. The beach has playgrounds and surf schools. The Rockaway Beach Surf Club, located on the boardwalk, is known for its popular food stand, Tacoway Beach, which serves delicious food.
If you take a 10-minute ride from Rockaway Beach, you'll arrive at Jacob Riis Park Beach. This stretch is nicknamed the "People's Beach" and is less crowded. Here, you'll find a Bazaar with some of the best and most diverse food in the city and several Art Deco structures. The Bazaar hosts live shows, sporting and film events, and fun games. The beach also has a golf center, ball courts, concession stands, and vendors.
7. Louis Armstrong House Museum & Armstrong Center
Louis Armstrong, a legendary trumpet player, was one of the many famous and iconic artists who called Queens their home. In 1943, he and his wife Lucille decided to make the neighborhood of Corona in Queens their home. Today, their former residence is open to visitors as the Louis Armstrong House Museum. The museum is a historic site that features archives of 1,600 of Armstrong's recordings, tapes, scrapbooks, photographs, letters, manuscripts, and even some of his trumpets. It's a great opportunity for fans of Armstrong to experience his legacy and walk in his footsteps. In July 2023, the new Armstrong Center opened featuring its permanent exhibit, which houses the 60,000-piece archive of Louis and Lucille, as well as a 75-seat venue for performances, lectures, films, and educational programming.
8. MoMA PS1
PS1 was established in 1971 to organize art shows. A permanent gallery was opened in Long Island City a few years later. In 2001, MoMA partnered with PS1 to create MoMA PS1, which is now a creative space dedicated to showcasing contemporary art forms that incorporate photography, technology, and performance. If you visit MoMa PS1 on a Saturday during the summer, you can enjoy live music in the museum's courtyard as part of the Warm Up music series. This summer series, which has been running for 20 years, features top artists.
9. Socrates Sculpture Park & Noguchi Museum
Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria is a beautiful example of repurposing land. The park was created by American sculptor Mark di Suvero on a five-acre abandoned landfill and turned into an outdoor museum. Since 1986, the museum has showcased large works of art from famous artists and is the only one of its kind to exhibit art in an outdoor space in New York City. The sculptures are built on-site and visitors can enjoy them for free while leisurely taking them in. Just a block away from the park is the Noguchi Museum, which displays a wide collection of the work of Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi, both inside and in its outdoor sculpture garden.
10. New York Hall of Science
The New York Hall of Science is the best fun place for kids and adults. This family-friendly museum, located in the Flushing Meadows Corona Park, offers 450 interactive exhibits, workshops, and programs in the indoor space.
Make your experiment at the Design Lab, learn about evolution on Earth through a series of exhibits, search for life in the solar system, or catch a nature or animal-centric 3D movie in the theater on-site. So, if you are looking for spots to visit and things to do in nyc with kids, then mark this place on top.
11. Queens Botanical Garden
The Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing contains several gardens worth exploring on your outing to Queens. Take a nice walk and admire the Oak Allee, annual and perennial beds, arboretum, herb garden, bee garden, and ornamental grass garden, among others. The essence of the flowers and shrubs in the Fragrance Garden provides a beautiful experience, for kids and adults alike.
So, if you have any wedding or festival coming soon, then consider this garden for a photoshoot. It features a white picket fence and a lovely gazebo, which makes for a nice background for engagement and wedding photos. The Garden is within a short distance of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and other attractions in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
12. Queens Museum
Queens Museum is located in the Flushing Meadows Corona Park and showcases exhibits related to architecture, art, and design. The permanent collection includes 10,000 items, with a majority of them related to the World's Fair. Visitors will also get a chance to ace the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany glass windows, lamps, and objects that are on long-term display from Tiffany Studios, which was closed in the 30s. Don't miss the museum's highlight, "Panorama of New York," a massive room-sized scale model of the five boroughs.
13. Alley Pond Park
It is known as the second-largest park in Queens and is home to the oldest and tallest tree in the city. Don't miss a chance to see this flowering beauty on your visit to the park on an Urban Park Ranger Tour. Visitors who enjoy a thrill-seeking experience can try the high ropes adventure course. The park offers many trails to explore, with meadows, forests, tidal flats, and wetlands. Moreover, visitors can enjoy BBQ areas, playgrounds, courts, and fields. Experience New York the way it used to be and have a great time in the park.
14. Astoria Park
Astoria Park is the largest park in the neighborhood and the heart of so much community activity. This park is a real playground for people of all ages. You will find outdoor tennis courts, a track, a bandstand, walking trails, basketball courts, actual playgrounds, and an outdoor public pool. Outdoor events are common from spring to fall, like concerts, movie nights, and more.
15. Queens Night Market
When you visit this adventurous city, then don’t forget to visit the legendary Queens Night Market. This massive, family-friendly, outdoor night market offers a space to approximately 100 vendors selling everything from international cuisine to art. The market also features nightly cultural performances and live music.
This market is also famous for its food scene, you will find all kinds of international cuisine and local food. Queens may not be as globally renowned for food items like pizza as some other parts of New York City, such as Brooklyn or Manhattan. However, you will still find a delicious pizza scene in Queens. The borough is home to numerous pizzerias offering flavorful and the best pizza in queens ny.
16. Forest Hills Stadium
Forest Hills Stadium is an outdoor music venue located in the neighborhood of Forest Hills. It is one of the best spots in the city to catch a live show. The venue was designed with visuals and audio in mind. It has fantastic acoustics, and the seating arrangement is perfect making it one of the only outdoor venues of its quality and size in the city. Some of the biggest celebs in history have performed here. It is not as massive as Madison Square Garden, and that is the best thing about it which means fans can see their favorite acts with closer view.
