Things to Do in Midtown Manhattan & Midtown NYC

By Shashia Mitchell

Looking for things to do in Midtown Manhattan?

As home to world-famous Times Square, Fifth Avenue, and many of the city's most popular skyscrapers and landmarks, there are a lot of fun and entertaining things to do in Midtown Manhattan and it’s one of the most frequented spots in the city for visitors.

Midtown Manhattan is considered the area between 60th Street and 14th Street. Stretching nearly 50 blocks within the middle of the Manhattan borough, its packed with popular attractions, historic landmarks, some of the world’s best restaurants, shopping, and more.

Guided Tours in Midtown Manhattan

Often a quick and easy way to view as much as possible, Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tours and The Ride are popular ways to get a guided over tour of the city and you can start both right in Midtown.

Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Sightseeing Tours plays chauffeur to large groups, taking them around the city to all of the most notable landmarks like Rockefeller Center, Madison Square Garden, the Empire State Building, and many more.

Not only can you take a comfy journey through midtown on the double-decker Big Bus, you also have the option of touring Manhattan’s Uptown and Downtown routes, in addition to the Midtown route, with your same ticket.

The Ride features a unique way to experience the city with tons of entertainment along the way. The interior design of the bus allows groups to sit sideways and take in the view of Midtown’s beautiful skyscrapers as well as the action-packed streets of Manhattan, where you’ll get to see 5-7 performances by street talent throughout the city.

While in New York, it would be a shame not to spend some time touring and admiring the amazing architecture that exists in the city. The Highlights of Midtown Architectural Tour will take you to the famous NYC buildings like the Chrysler Building, Ford Foundation Building, and even Grand Central Station, where you can take the self-guided Grand Central Terminal Audio Tour and gain insight to GCT’s history and interesting facts about the design of the building.

Another great Midtown tour is the Madison Square Garden – All Access Tour which allows you to visit the world’s most famous entertainment arena. While touring, you can step foot inside of the locker rooms of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.

Further uptown, you can take the Rockefeller Center Tour and learn about the Rockefeller family and history of the plaza. After the tour, use your pass for the building’s observation deck experience, Top of the Rock, where you’ll get a stunning, 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city.

Museums in Midtown Manhattan

No trip to New York City is complete without experience the museum-going culture that NYC is known for. Manhattan is home to some of the world’s most famous art museums, many of which can be found right in Midtown.

Tourists and native New Yorkers alike love to view the creative exhibits on display at museums like the MoMA and the Whitney Museum of Art just as much as they enjoy seeing the lively figures of famous celebrities shown at Madame Tussauds.

If you’re more a fan of the sciences, another great museum experience in Midtown is the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum which is held on a real ship docked on the Hudson River with installations and exhibits you can explore in the ship’s interior.

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Explore Midtown Manhattan with New Big Bus Loop

Big Bus at Flatiron Building | Photo by Noel Y. C. In 2017, Big Bus has added a brand new bus route to accommodate the heavily trafficked Midtown Manhattan. The new Midtown Loop starts at stop 17, M&M's World, then makes its way through Times Square to Pier 83, where it stops right in front of Circle Line Cruises. After a loop around Javits Center and Hudson Yards, the bus continues to Madison Square Garden, Korea Town, up Madison Avenue to Grand Central Terminal then all the way to the East side to the United Nations Headquarters, after which it returns to Times Square, stopping at Rockefeller Center on the way. List of stops: M&M's World Times Square Circle Line Sightseeing Modell's Grand Central Terminal United Nations Building The Waldorf Astoria Rockefeller Center The first bus on the Midtown loop departs M&M's World (Stop 17) at 8:30 am and the last one departs at 5 pm. For a full timetable and updates on the Midtown Loop, please visit the Big Bus Website. New York Pass includes a free ticket for 1 day with a 1 day pass, and 2 days with any multi-day pass and includes the Downtown Loop, the Uptown Loop and the new Midtown Loop. To get your free Big Bus tickets, please visit one of the Big Bus locations with your New York Pass or your redemption voucher. Your bus ticket will be active from the time of printing. Big Bus Midtown Loop Map
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Exhibitionism - The Rolling Stones Now Free with the New York Pass

[URIS id=1024] [spacer height="20px"] Exhibitionism - The Rolling Stones has opened its doors in the West Village and we could not be happier to announce that you can now visit it for free with your New York Pass. The exhibit covers an extraordinary amount of material and memorabilia from the 50 years of existence of The Rolling Stones, one of the world's most legendary rock bands. The exhibit takes you through every facet of existence of the band, ranging from a replica of their humble dwellings in London in the early 60s, a collection of musical instruments, notebooks, sheets of music, through fan memorabilia, costumes and a whole lot more. Expect to spend between 1 and 2 hours walking through this exhibit, admiring all the artifacts detailing a true rock 'n' roll lifestyle. You can also watch footage of band members and managers talking about their experiences, the music and the lifestyle. One part of the exhibit lets you mix your own Rolling Stones songs and the whole thing is concluded with a 3D movie from a 2014 concert, so you can imagine what it would be like to see the Stones live. The exhibit is open through March 12th during the following hours: Sunday - Thursday: 10 am - 6 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm) Friday - Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm (last entry at 7:30 pm) Address: Industria 356 W 12th St. (at Washington St.), New York, NY 10014 How to get there: Subway: L, A, C, 1, 2, 3 trains to 14th St., then a short walk down 12th st. The box office is located across the street from the exhibition space, which is adjacent to Barbuto, a staple West Village restaurant.
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Valentine’s Day Itinerary

February 5, 2020 Ah, Valentine’s Day. The holiday actually began as a Western Christian Feast Day in honor of two saints named Valentinus. It became associated with romantic love in the 14th century—although no one is really sure where that association came from, or why. Today, there's a lot of pressure surrounding the holiday. It needs to be perfect! Or at least, very, very good. It needs to be incredibly romantic! Yet, effortlessly casual. It needs to be quintessentially New York! Well, that part we can help with. We’ve got the Valentine’s Day itinerary that ticks all the boxes. The romance part of it is up to you. Tartine Start off your day with a lovely breakfast/brunch. The West Village has all the right vibes, and many places there actually serve breakfast, as opposed to brunch, where patrons often can't actually eat until around the time the rest of would call lunch.. You might consider heading to Tartine (their website says they thrive on love, so there you go.) Go traditional, with Eggs Benedict, or maybe French toast with homemade brioche and smoked bacon. The more adventurous might want to try the Tunisian breakfast, with poached eggs, wilted spinach, chickpeas and Sriracha, or perhaps just a latte and croissant. Mais oui! Top of the Rock After that, why not a stroll uptown? (OK, it’s February, so perhaps a very brisk stroll.) The Top of the Rock Observation Deck is the perfect place to take in New York from on high. They have indoor and outdoor viewing decks and unbelievable views of the city. On a clear day, you can see, you know. It's quintessntially New York, and a perfect part of your Valentine's Day itinerary. The Rink at Brookfield Place From there, take advantage of one of New York’s great outdoor winter activities--ice skating! (It is winter, after all.) Head to the Rink at Brookfield Place, with plenty of public skating sessions and spectacular city (and Jersey) views. Plus it’s small-ish (and thus cozy.) You can also dip inside Brookfield Place itself for refueling. Maybe Blue Ribbon Sushi? Or the For Five Café—the coffee is from a micro-roasting facility in Queens. Yes, Queens. For more of a scene, check out the rink at the Winter Village at Bryant Park. It’s louder, more crowded, and quite fun, plus you can always run into the glorious main branch of the Public Library on Fifth Avenue if you get cold. Photo courtesy The Rink at Brookfield Place Museum of Sex If you’re feeling frisky, perhaps head to the Museum of Sex as part of your Valentine's Day itinerary? The museum actually presents a wide array of exhibitions designed to look at the history, evolution, and culture of human sexuality, such as a current interactive exhibit that charts the history of the carnival. Courtesy of Museum of Sex Central Park Zoo If it’s not too cold, you can head to the Central Park Zoo. There’s nothing more romantic that gazing at a red panda. (No, seriously, there’s a high aww factor.) Make sure to watch one of the animal feedings, and pose for some pics with your faves. It’s a beautiful spot in its own right, with more than six acres and a panorama of the city spread out around it. Did you know that the zoo's precursor was first open in 1864, and was the first public zoo in New York City? It’s also appeared in countless books and films, like Madagascar. Just some trivia in case a quiet moment stretches on too long. Central Park Carousel As long as you’re in the park, why not head to the carousel? No matter your age, it’s hard not to be charmed by this iconic landmark, which has been around for almost 150 years. Four carousels have been on the site since 1871; this one was built by a Brooklyn firm in 1908. It too has appeared in literature and films, like the classic Catcher in the Rye. And at $3 (yes, $3) a ride, it’s arguably one of the city’s best deals. Romantic and thrifty—a winning combination. One if by Land, Two if By Sea If you’re lagging, and the day is waning, it’s time to briefly part and reunite for dinner. You can go old school at One if By Land, Two if By Sea, a beautiful restaurant as well known for proposals as it is for the food and the ambience. It’s got the ambience and the candlelight and the classic white tablecloths, and it's supposedly haunted by the ghost of former owner Aaron Burr. (Yes, that Aaron Burr.) They have a special Valentine’s Day menu (both lunch and dinner), with such choices as lobster gnocchi, pan-seared scallops, and Beef Wellington. We told you it was old school. Looking for something less traditional? Try the incredibly cool Llama San, known for its mix of Peruvian and Japanese food known as Nikkei. (The menu is so minimalist that it basically contains no information at all.) The food combinations are often unusual and unexpected—think aged duck over cilantro rice, with a banana slice and nasturtium leaf. Yes, that is an actual dish. And finally, wind down your evening with a nightcap. Depending on where you are, you might check out the underground speakeasy-style Little Branch in the West Village. It's too cool for a website, but you can’t go wrong with the classics, or you can try a winter-perfect Penicillin, with scotch, ginger, honey, and lemon. It’s a drink and a cough drop! Photo courtesy One if by Land, Two if by Sea With this array of choices, your Valentine’s Day itinerary has a lot going for it. And if it doesn’t work out the way you planned, well, as the ballplayers say, there’s always next year.
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