Things to do in Queens New York

At nearly 900 acres, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park outguns even the mighty Central Park for sheer size. It’s no shrinking violet when it comes to world-class attractions either. Stroll its leafy avenues in search of the iconic Unisphere sculpture, a 12-story steel globe that dates from the 1964 World's Fair. Set sail on the old-fashioned boating lake, say ‘hey’ to the spectacled bears at Queens Zoo, take the kids for a fun day out at the New York Hall of Science, and check out the extraordinary room-sized scale model of NYC at the Queens Museum. There’s enough here to occupy even the most jaded of sightseers for a day or more: botanical gardens, fishing lakes, sports grounds (anyone for tennis?) and 1964 World’s Fair mosaics by the likes of Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí are just the beginning of your adventure here. Dive in!

Art enthusiasts are in clover in NYC, where MoMA, The Met and the Guggenheim are considered some of the finest galleries on the planet. For those who like their culture a little more cutting edge, MoMA PS1 makes a worthy addition. Head to this hip Queens art museum for mind-bending audio-visual installations, contemporary photography, avant-garde performance and more from some of the most interesting artists working today, from NYC and beyond.

Entry to MoMA PS1 (plus over 100 more activities, tours and attractions) is included with the New York Pass. Get yours now!

Back in Flushing Meadows – the beating heart of Queens – the epic Queens Night Market takes place on Saturdays from April through October (with a break in September to accommodate the small matter of the US tennis Open). Pitch up any time between 4PM and midnight to be greeted with an absolute feast for the senses – thanks, not least, to the dozens of sizzling street-food stalls hawking everything from zingy Peruvian ceviche and flaming hot Korean noodles to jerk chicken, tasty tacos and… fried ice cream. Plate prices are capped at a bargain $6, so no need to restrict yourself to just one! But do bring cash, as not all stallholders are able to take card payments. You can also stock up on retro apparel, artisan jewelry, local art and ceramics and many other souvenirs at this fab, friendly market. 

Nothing quite matches the atmosphere of a Major Leagues Baseball game. Join in the fun over at Citi Park, where New York Mets home games are guaranteed to get the pulse racing. Grab yourself a beer and a hot dog and meet mascots Mr and Mrs Met. But don’t forget to kit yourself out with that most essential of game-night accessories: the giant Mets foam finger.

Though the Bronx is widely considered the birthplace of hip hop, Queens can claim an equally rich pedigree. Hip hop culture looms large in the borough that launched some of the biggest names in the biz. We’re talking no less than Run DMC, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, A Tribe Called Quest, Nas and Nicki Minaj, to name just a few. And there are plenty of places where these titans of the scene have left their mark. Hit up 203rd Street in Hollis, famous former hangout of Run DMC and their contemporaries, get togged up like your hip hop idols at Jamaica Colosseum Mall (as featured in music videos by LL Cool J and Wu-Tang Clan), and check out huge murals of Jam Master Jay and A Tribe Called Quest in Hollis and St Albans, respectively.

The Unisphere isn’t the only sculpture you should check out while you’re in Queens. The Noguchi Museum on Vernon Boulevard contains the world’s largest collection of pieces by Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, including mindful and thought-provoking sculptures, plus drawings, designs, models and more. Just around the corner, the Socrates Sculpture Park, built atop a former landfill site, is the largest open-air sculpture space in New York, and showcases eye-popping works by contemporary artists.

Only the largest urban park in the United States, the epic Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk spans some 5.5 miles of prime Queens coastline. Such a length of seaside boardwalk is of course manna for joggers, dog-walkers and roller-skaters, while the 170-acre beach attracts surfers, sun-seekers, and birdwatchers hoping to catch a glimpse of the local piping plover population. Other public facilities along the length of the boardwalk include basketball courts, skate parks, playgrounds, food kiosks and innumerable benches for resting weary feet and catching the sunset.

Part pioneering jazz musician, part popular entertainer, Louis Armstrong’s complex character and public persona is explored at length in the Louis Armstrong Museum. Set in Satchmo’s former home in Corona, Queens, where the influential musician spent the last three decades of his life, the museum gives fans a chance to enter Armstrong’s interior world. There’s an exhibition and tour, as well as several artifacts including photographs, trumpets, and other personal effects. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.