A long time ago, before becoming a tour guide, I worked in Midtown Manhattan but didn't think of it as an area to spend my free time.
But, wow, my opinion changed dramatically once I started getting to know the neighborhood over the past decade.
Now my friends and I meet there all the time since there is so much good stuff to do!
Below I share with you loads of fun and interesting things to do in Midtown Manhattan, including free activities, things to do at night, where to have family fun and what top attractions to check out!
TOP THINGS TO DO IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN
This section covers the top 10 things to do in Midtown Manhattan, some of which are perfect for day or night.
Many of these activities and attractions are included for free or at a reduced price with one of the several money-saving NYC tourist attraction passes.
Times Square
Times Square is one of the most recognizable places in the entire world. It is every bit as electrifying as it looks in movies and TV.
Many New Yorkers avoid the area since it is touristy and can be pretty packed in peak season, but I think it is a must-see for first-time visitors to NYC.
I am always dazzled at night by the brilliant colorful lights of the massive billboards.
During the day, Times Square is ideal for people watching as the cast of characters is quite amusing!
If you are interested in the top attractions in NYC, one of them, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, is in Times Square. See what other attractions are there below.
Our Times Square Guide lists stores, places to eat, and dozens more activities in the area.
AUDIO TOUR
We are proud to provide you with a self-guided audio tour of Times Square. Listen to a sample.
Here is how it works:
- Purchase an audio tour
- Get a confirmation email with .mp3, .pdf, and embeddable Google Map
- Enjoy the tour(s).
Our Times Square audio tour is one of 15 NYC audio tours available for download, including one for all of Midtown Manhattan.
See a Broadway Show
It's hard to stay away from Broadway! It's even harder to choose what to see since there are dozens of shows.
My fellow walking tour guides and I (especially Katherine in the video below) have seen many Broadway shows. Here are some of the shows we loved.
Our post on current Broadway Shows goes over what else you can see.
We are always on the lookout for ways to save on tickets. One option is to look at resale websites like StubHub, where you can sometimes find tickets at less than retail prices.
Read below for several other ways to find lower-priced tickets.
TIP: If you are traveling with kids, see the family-friendly section below which lists shows geared toward a younger audience.
Museums and Attractions
Midtown Manhattan isn't just bright lights, Broadway shows and office buildings.
It's also filled with top museums, cultural activities, and some of the best attractions in the city.
If you are on a budget (like me!) some of these are free to visit or have free days/hours. See our post on free museums in NYC.
Also, several of them are free with the purchase of a tourist attraction pass (see below for details).
- Museum of Modern Art
- Museum of Broadway
- Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
- Morgan Library & Museum
- Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
- Ripley’s Believe It or Not
- Japan Society
- Museum of Arts and Design
- Paley Center for Media
I absolutely adore the Museum of Modern Art and can't recommend it highly enough. The Intrepid is also a pretty cool museum.
A few are open in the evenings, making them an excellent choice for a night out in NYC (see below).
Museum lovers, here's our list of all the museums in Manhattan!
Go to an Observation Deck
Take your pick of New York City's tallest buildings for breathtaking panoramic views.
Three observation decks are in Midtown Manhattan - the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and SUMMIT.
Each has somewhat varying views, additional engaging features and different ticket prices.
If you need help deciding which to visit, read our post comparing all five of NYC's observation decks.
Save Money with a Tourist Attraction Pass
Who doesn't love saving a buck?
If your list of things to do in NYC is long, using a New York City tourist attraction concession pass can help you save money and time.
Many of the attractions included are located in Midtown Manhattan. These are just a few:
- Museum of Modern Art
- Empire State Building
- Madame Tussauds
- Madison Square Garden All-Access Tour
These passes save you money by bundling dozens of popular attractions and tours into one lower-priced ticket (up to 55% off) and save you time by often letting you skip ticket lines.
Some passes include price cuts on Broadway tickets, dining, shopping and more.
Read our post comparing the NYC tourist passes available to you.
Explore Grand Central Terminal
This famed train terminus is one of NYC's most magnificent sites!
Though I don't often take the subway through here, when I am nearby, I pop in to gaze at the spectacular celestial ceiling and grand marble staircases.
And in this video, Kyle, a fellow guide of mine with Tours by Foot, takes you on a video tour of the terminal.
Read all about Grand Central, its history, architectural features and even its secrets! Of course, it's free to visit
For more free places to see in Midtown, see the free things to do section below.
TIP: If you go to Grand Central, go for a 5-minute visit to see the remarkable lobby of the Chrysler Building, just across the street.
Rockefeller Center
This massive complex of buildings covers three full city blocks from West 48th St. to West 51st St. between 5th and 6th Avenues.
As someone interested in Art Deco architecture and style, I find Rockefeller Center an impressive 'city within a city'.
It's one of the most recognizable NYC sights with plenty to do like shopping, dining and seeing its indoor murals and artwork like the famous outdoor sculpture of Atlas.
And in the video below, Katie takes you on a walking tour around the campus.
To find out about the center's history and how to take a guided or self-guided tour see our post on visiting Rockefeller Center.
Some fun activities at Rockefeller Center are the Radio City Music Hall tour and the NBC Studios tour.
Plus, the Top of the Rock observation deck discussed above is here.
If you don't mind getting up very early in the morning, one really fun thing to do is to be part of the live taping of NBC’s Today Show!
Just be sure to arrive there by 6:45 am.
Shop ‘til You Drop
Fifth Avenue is a shopper’s paradise, even if you are just window shopping! It's one of the best shopping destinations in NYC.
You will find some of the most famous department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Cartier and Tiffany's, alongside chain stores like Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike, Aldo, and Banana Republic.
Bloomingdale’s (affectionately called Bloomie's) is a few blocks east on Lexington Ave and E. 59th St.
During the Christmas season, the top department stores set up magical and wildly creative window displays.
If you are in town in December, make it a point to visit the holiday windows!
Dine Out
The food scene in NYC is world-famous. Midtown Manhattan has some of the top restaurants in the city.
From 5-star restaurants to popular family eateries and everything in between, you can find it in Midtown.
Here's a list from Open Table of more than 200 restaurants in Midtown Manhattan.
Historic Restaurant Row is just off of Times Square as are many other good dining options.
If you are traveling with kids, below we list family-friendly restaurants.
TIP: I love fine dining, but my wallet doesn't. That's why I love Restaurant Week, a bi-annual event where more than 300 of NYC's top restaurants offer a prix-fixe menu at an affordable price.
Discover Midtown Manhattan on a Sightseeing Tour
Take it from me, Midtown Manhattan is big!
It runs the full width of Manhattan from the East River to the Hudson River and is bordered by 34th and 59th Streets.
Our guided walking tours of Midtown Manhattan take you to the best places in a condensed amount of time.
After one of our tours, you'll walk away knowing a lot about the area, its history, culture and more.
If you prefer to explore Midtown Manhattan on your own, try our GPS-enabled audio tour, narrated by one of our tour guides, or use our free, downloadable self-guided tour.
Both of these can be used at any time of day or night.
See below for details on Midtown Manhattan tours.
FREE THINGS TO DO
Luckily for me -- and you, if you are on a budget -- there is no shortage of free activities in Midtown Manhattan.
I already mentioned some above. Here are a bunch more!
Be sure to check out our post on free things to do in New York City.
Attend a TV Show Taping
This is one of the most entertaining free things to do in NYC!
Lots of popular TV shows are taped in Midtown Manhattan including some of the best late-night shows.
Attending a taping takes up only a few hours of your day, leaving you with time to do other things in the area.
And, in this video. Katie covers what you need to know about getting free tickets to TV show tapings and live broadcasts of popular shows in NYC.
Here are some of the shows with studios in the heart of Midtown Manhattan:
- The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
- Saturday Night Live
Our post, Live TV Show Tapings has all the details and insider tips on how to get tickets to these shows and many more.
Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Pat’s, as it is commonly referred to by locals, is the largest Catholic cathedral in America.
Its neo-gothic style is stunning and it is free to enter and admire. You can also attend services there.
Our post on visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral explains how to visit for free and take an official guided tour if you wish.
Relax in Bryant Park
Ah, wonderful, Bryant Park, an oasis of green in the heart of Midtown to escape the concrete jungle.
In summer, the park hosts so many free events like outdoor movies, a Broadway in the Park series, and even yoga classes.
Ever seen a hundred people doing Downward-Facing-Dog at once? I often partake in this experience.
In winter, the park has one of NYC's ice skating and a really great Christmas market.
Our detailed post on Bryant Park lists all the things to do there year round.
Take a Tour of the Historic New York Public Library
A simply gorgeous building protected by two very famous lions!
Maybe you've seen the public library in movies and TV shows, like the 1984 film “Ghostbusters".
Sex and the City fans know that this is where Carrie and Mr. Big plan to wed.
Well, here's your chance to take a peek inside.
The interior is even more beautiful than the exterior with sumptuous murals on its walls and ceiling, grand marble staircases and a famous reading room.
Read our post on how to visit the library to see its hours, what to see there, and how to take a free tour.
Ride the Roosevelt Island Tram
The Roosevelt Island Tram which crosses over the East River between Midtown Manhattan and a small island in the river, provides a skyline view of the city like no other.
Our post on how to ride the Roosevelt Island Tram tells you where to get the tram, the cost, schedules, and other details.
In this video, Katie shows you how to ride the Roosevelt Island Tram with some visitor tips for exploring Roosevelt Island.
It’s not free, but it costs the same as a subway ride so it's not a lot to pay for an incredible ride! I love it.
This small but interesting island can be explored using my Roosevelt Island self-guided tour and the views of Manhattan are amazing!
TIP: Take the tram to Roosevelt Island and then take the NYC ferry to your next destination. The ride is a lot nicer than a subway ride!
Go to Trump Tower
Though Donald Trump no longer lives here, Trump Tower is worth popping into if only for a few minutes to see where history was made.
Its glitz and glamor are tacky to some and attractive to others. Find out for yourself by visiting the tower.
In the five-level atrium of Trump Tower, you can get food and shop and here's a little tip: they have public bathrooms!
If interested, here is a self-guided tour of Trump buildings in New York City.
See a Broadway Show
Though I can't say that you can see a Broadway show for free, you can save a lot of money on tickets in a few ways.
During the twice-annual Broadway Week, tickets for select shows are two-for-one.
Ticket lotteries can get you $10 tickets to shows - though you are playing the odds. Still, give it a go!
In July and August, you can attend Broadway in Bryant Park, and see free, short performances by the cast of some of the top shows.
Other ways to save big on Broadway tickets are by purchasing tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square.
Find out more from our post on how to get cheap Broadway tickets.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT
Many of the activities in the other sections of this post can be enjoyed at night.
For example, Grand Central is open 24 hours a day. It's less crowded at night and just as pretty. Times Square is always bursting with energy at night.
Below are things to do at night, and while some can be done during the day as well, they can be extra special at night.
For more ideas see our in-depth post on things to do at night in New York.
Jaw-Dropping Night Views of NYC
The views from the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock or SUMMIT at night are like nothing you've seen before.
I still love how the city sparkles with millions of lit windows and colorful spires.
Even if you go to one of the observation decks during the day, consider going to a different one at night!
Read our post comparing NYC's observation decks to see which one interests you the most.
Museums with Late Nights
Take advantage of fewer crowds by visiting a Midtown museum during evening hours.
Some of these are free to visit on their late nights.
- MoMA - open until 7 pm on Saturdays and until 8 pm on the first Friday of every month
- Japan Society – free on Fridays 6 pm – 9 pm
- Morgan Library & Museum – open until 7 pm Wednesday to Sunday. Entry is free on the first Friday of every month.
Find out about other free museums in NYC.
Attractions Open Late in NYC
These attractions have quite late hours, some as late as midnight or 1 am.
Since they are in the heart of Times Square, you can have a full night out by grabbing a meal, going to one of these attractions, and then doing some people-watching in Times Square.
- Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
- Ripley’s Believe It or Not
- The Escape Game
See a Comedy Show
How many famous comedians got their lucky break in NYC? A lot! The city that never sleeps is a city that likes to laugh.
I believe that visiting a comedy local is a great way to get a good feel for NYC.
Here are two great clubs in Midtown.
Broadway Comedy Club at 318 West 53rd Street features at least four nationally known headliners for a performance that lasts from 90 minutes to two hours.
Drunk Shakespeare at 35 West 39th Street is the New York City branch of this nationwide comedic phenomenon.
Here's how it works: five actors, one of whom is drunk, attempt to perform a Shakespeare play.
Even tragedy is funny with a format like this.
See our post on stretching your dollar at the best NYC comedy clubs.
Experience the Midnight Moment
Every night from 11:57 pm to midnight, you can witness the world’s largest digital art exhibition in Times Square.
And although I am usually in bed by 10 o'clock, I did make one exception and visited at midnight, and I was very impressed.
The synchronized billboards provide three fabulous minutes of the same whimsical imagery.
Watch the short video of the synchronization.
Dine Out on Restaurant Row
Restaurant Row (West 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue) has over 20 long-time restaurants that cater to Broadway showgoers who want to dine just before heading to the theater.
They are also ideal for a meal after your show.
Read here about Restaurant Row.
Relax at a Rooftop Bar
Midtown has lots of them and unlike observation decks, they offer a more intimate, small-scale view of the city around you, not to mention some very creative cocktails!
Some of my personal favorites are Cloud Social and Top of the Strand.
Read about other rooftop bars in NYC.
Go Bowling
Bowlmor Times Square has 48 bowling lanes, an arcade, billiards, and lounge areas serving beer and alcohol.
It is open Sundays to Thursdays from 2:00 pm - 12:00 am and Fridays/Saturdays from 2:00 pm - 2:00 am.
Go Shopping
New York truly is the city that never sleeps. It's also the city that always shops!
Many stores around Times Square are open late. Popular stores like H&M, Gap, Urban Outfitters, Superdry, Old Navy, and Sephora are open until 10 pm or later.
For 24-hour shopping, head to the Apple Store on 5th Avenue and 57th Street. Check your email, play on the latest gadgets, and more.
For the child in all of us, the Disney Store is open until 1 am!
People-Watch
The cast of characters in Midtown is a sight to behold.
You’ll see everything from street performers to people rushing nowhere, from tourists speaking every language to locals with New Yawk accents.
I think the very best place is on the famous TKTS red stairs.
If you don't know what TKTS is, you should. TKTS sells cheap Broadway tickets, so check it out!
THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS
NYC is a city made for children, believe it or not! With so many kids living in NYC, there are loads of activities for locals and visitors alike.
In the other sections of this post above, you'll find other kid-friendly activities like bowling and going to an observation deck.
Below are kid-centric activities that are also fun for everyone in the family.
For more activities, see our map of 25 things to do with kids in Midtown Manhattan.
Also, take a look at our list of things to do with kids in NYC and our 3-day NYC itinerary for families.
Broadway Shows For Kids
These are superb shows that people of all ages will enjoy.
- The Lion King
- Wicked
- Aladdin
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Also, if you are traveling to NYC in February, be on the lookout for Kids' Night on Broadway when young people aged 18 and under can see a participating Broadway show for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult.
The New Victory Theater
If you are traveling with children between 2 and 12 years of age, check out this special Broadway theater.
This is NYC’s first and only full-time performing arts theater for children and their families.
Check their show calendar to see what’s on.
United Nations
For the ultimate educational experience in NYC, take the kids on a tour of the United Nations!
I bet they didn't know that the United Nations headquarters is not in New York City!
In fact, it is not even part of the United States.
The 18-acre site and the buildings upon it are under the sole jurisdiction of the United Nations, not the U.S. government.
The UN HQ tours are quite interesting. They even offer a special Kids' Tour.
Find out more about the tours of the General Assembly at the United Nations.
Kid-Friendly Museums
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is by far the best kid-friendly museum in midtown.
Exhibits are more than paintings on a wall. Much of the museum is installation art and interactive exhibits.
MoMA also has audio tours for younger children and a separate one for teens.
Better still, admission is always free for visitors 16 and under.
Another big hit with the kids is the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
These museums are curated with kids in mind. They are engaging and interactive.
- Museum of the Dog
- National Museum of Mathematics
- New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex & Store at Grand Central
Specialty Kids Stores
While not exclusively for kids, these stores are heaven on earth for many children (and some adults too!)
- LEGO Store
- M&M’s Store
- Nintendo World
- FAO Schwarz
- Disney Store
Play in Bryant Park
All year long this park right near Times Square has a full children's program ranging from StoryTime, and a free hour of music, stories, and jokes.
There is also an old-fashioned carousel open all year for $3 per ride.
The park also has a reading room, two ping-pong tables, board games, and other activities that are fun for any age.
Read more about Bryant Park and all the free things there are to do here, for kids and adults.
Go Ice-Skating
Midtown is the site of the best ice skating rinks in NYC.
You can go to the famous Rockefeller Center rink, the rink in Bryant Park, and Wollman Rink in Central Park.
Read our post on where to go ice skating in New York City.
Family-Friendly Restaurants
Kids love milkshakes. If they love hamburgers too, then Shake Shack is the place to get food.
To cover all taste buds in one place, go to either the food court in Grand Central Terminal or City Kitchen, a huge food market with seating two blocks from Times Square.
Our post on things to do in Times Square has a list of family-friends restaurants.
Midtown Comics
Midtown Comics is both a comic book store and a toy store. There is plenty to see (and buy) for kids and adults.
TIP: Superhero fans should take a look at our free self-guided Superhero tour to visit many sites from your favorite superhero movies!
Take a Selfie with Cartoon Characters
For the little ones, you can find a bunch of ‘cartoon characters’ around Times Square. Look for Elmo.
They will happily post with you for a picture, but they will be happier if you give them a dollar for it.
I need to warn you though, they can be quite aggressive.
I see they often jumping next to kids and getting unsuspecting adults to take a photo and then tell them it costs $10 or $20 for the photo.
Be firm and offer an appropriate payment for the photo.
Enjoy a Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity’s
This eatery has been around for over 50 years and is known for its signature dessert, Frozen Hot Chocolate.
Enjoying this dessert is a quintessential New York experience, so much so that it has been the locale of several films and TV series, including the 2001 comedy Serendipity, Girls, and Gossip Girl.
This was my favorite spot for sweets when I was a child. I wouldn't say no to one now!
GUIDED TOURS OF MIDTOWN MANHATTAN
We offer several walking tours of Midtown Manhattan, including some that have no cost to book and some have a pay-what-you-like policy.
- Midtown Manhattan Tour
- Midtown Manhattan Night Tour
- Grand Central Terminal Tour
- Audio Tour of Grand Central Terminal
- New York Holiday Lights Tour (seasonally)
We also have a GPS-enhanced Audio Tour as well as a printable self-guided tour you can take any time.
Reviews: We are proud to say that on TripAdvisor we are rated 5 stars with over 5,500 reviews. Take a look at our full calendar of offerings.
WHERE TO STAY IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN
Midtown is one of the best areas to stay in New York City, with both posh and pricey hotels and minimalist-style hotels with lower prices.
Midtown Manhattan is a large part of Manhattan encompassing several neighborhoods like Chelsea, NoMad, Murray Hill, and others.
Staying in Midtown Manhattan is a good choice if you’d like to be close to major attractions you can reach by foot or by relatively short subway rides.
The vibe is lively with tourists and businesspeople day and night.
But late at night, it is somewhat quieter, depending on what part of Midtown you stay in.
Recommended Hotels
Budget
- Pod 39
- Leo House
- The Paul Hotel NYC-Chelsea
Mid-range
- Arlo NoMad
- Cambria Hotel New York - Chelsea
- Hilton Garden Inn West 35th Street
Expensive
- Moxy NYC Chelsea
- Hyatt Place New York
- Bryant Park Hotel
How To Get To Midtown Manhattan
There is plenty of subway service in Midtown Manhattan. There's practically a subway stop every five blocks!
For help using the subway, see our post about navigating the New York subway and which Metrocard to buy.
Plus there are MTA bus lines, the Grand Central Shuttle, Metro-North commuter trains, Long Island Railroad trains... there's nothing to stop you from exploring Manhattan!
Here are the subway stops in Midtown (not including the few below 42nd Street). Multiple trains go to these stations.
Subway lines and stations:
- 34th St-Herald Square B/D/F/N/Q/R/W trains
- Times Square-42nd St N/Q/R/W/1/2/3/7/S trains
- 42nd St-Bryant Park B/D/F/M trains
- 5th Ave-42nd St - 7 train
- Grand Central - 42nd St 4/5/6/7/S trains
- Rockefeller Center 47th-50th St B/D/F/M trains
- 57th St F train
- 49th St N/R/W trains
- 50th St 1 train
- 5th Ave - 53rd St E/M train
- 57th St- 7th Ave N/Q/R/W trains
- 5th Ave- 59th Street - N/R/W trains
Local Buses:
Crosstown buses run on 34th, 42nd, 49th/50th, and 57th Streets.
North-South buses run along 1st Ave, 2nd Ave, 3rd Ave, Lexington Ave, Park Ave/Madison Avenue, 5th Ave, 6th Ave, 7th Ave, Broadway, 8th Ave, 9, Ave, 10th Ave, 11th Ave, and 12th Ave.
TIP: If you aren't familiar with the bus system, the fare is the same as a subway. Plus, if you use a Metro-Card you get a free transfer between buses and subways!
MAPS OF MIDTOWN MANHATTAN
Here are two PDF maps from the MTA, the city's official transportation agency. Midtown East and Midtown West.
Here's a map of Free WiFi in Midtown Manhattan at kiosks sponsored by the city, called LinkNYC. Not only do the kiosks have free Wi-Fi but you can also recharge your devices for free.
Also, see our post on where to find free Wi-Fi in New York.
WHAT IS REDDIT SAYING?
The information in this post is based on my and my fellow tour guides’ experience but I think it’s important that you hear from others and their opinions on Midtown Manhattan.
More than 2 million people go to work there every day with more living there and millions more who spend time in Midtown every year, be it locals or tourists.
Let’s see what a handful of those people had to say on Reddit.
Here, a Reddit user asks people what their favorite things to do in Midtown are.
The commenter mentioned a few things suggested in this post, but also some other interesting ideas like shopping at the fabric shops in the Garment District, a small part of Midtown between 5th and 9th Avenue, from 34th to 42nd Streets.
It's sometimes referred to as the Fashion District, but mainly it's a lot of wholesale shops that sell materials to clothing makers, whether haute couture or streetwear.
I can't recommend spending time there unless you are interested in these types of activities and objects.
I can recommend getting bagels at Best Bagel & Coffee in the heart of the district at 225 W. 35th St at 8th Avenue.
Here a Reddit user mentions ice skating in Bryant Park and how it is free if you have skates.
Dining out is something suggested in this post. This commenter mentions one of the best restaurants in NYC, Keens.
If you like giant steaks and mutton chops in a lush, wood-paneled restaurant, Keens is for you!
They also love walking around Grand Central or having a drink at one of Midtown's 'swanky' hotel bars.
Here's a Reddit user asking about non-touristy restaurants in Midtown Manhattan. There are a lot of replies so I'll let you read through the hundreds of recommendations yourself!
Just click on the image.
Enjoy your time in Midtown Manhattan!
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