35 million people travel to New York City every year, visiting famous attractions, shows, festivals, hotels and restaurants.
The city offers something for everyone - romance, culture, historical attractions and family activities. Central Park is known for its unique statues, playgrounds, views and free events during the summer. Several New York City museums, such as the Guggenheim, the Whitney and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are famous around the world.
Below is a collection of things to do based on your area of interest. Visit also our main New York City page.
Romantic New York City
 Tavern on the Green
Plan a romantic dinner at this restaurant which features a beautiful garden and six distinct rooms decorated with crystal and mirrors. More about the Tavern on the Green. Tavern on the Green, located in Central Park at West 67th Street across from Sheep Meadow, is a popular dining venue in New York City. Open 365 days a year, the restaurant features a beautiful garden and six distinct rooms decorated with crystal and mirrors.
The restaurant serves contemporary American and seasonal fare. On summer weekends, Tavern on the Green hosts music events, including salsa nights, Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance and other parties.
During the winter holidays, Tavern on the Green offers a special Thanksgiving and Christmas Menus. You can also plan a romantic Valentine's Day dinner, Easter meal or a Mother's Day celebration at the restaurant.
There is no dress code and prices are moderate to moderately-expensive. A la carte brunch, lunch and dinner appetizers start from $6.50 to $14.75, entrees from $13.75 to $33.75. A three-course fixed price lunch menu and a pre-theatre dinner menu are also available. For reservations and more information, call 212-873-3200.
Belvedere Castle
Belvedere Castle is like a place out of a fairytale offering beautiful views of New York City and Central Park. More about the Belvedere Castle.
Belvedere Castle offers some of the best views of the Park, including the Delacorte Theater, Great Lawn, Turtle Pond and the New York City skyline. Belvedere Castle is located at mid-Park at 79th Street and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the Castle was meant to be a fantasy building with open window frames and doorways. Today Belvedere Castle is home to the Henry Luce Nature Observatory, run by the Central Park Conservancy, which features telescopes, microscopes and other tools used by naturalists. Kids will enjoy reproductions of birds that can be found on the second floor of Belvedere Castle.
New York City Museums
 Metropolitan Museum of Art
This famous museum houses more than two million works of art ranging from ancient to modern. More about the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, located at Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street in Manhattan, houses more than two million works of art ranging from ancient to modern.
Departments include: the American Decorative Arts, American Paintings and Sculpture, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Arms and Armor, Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, Asian Art, The Cloisters, The Costume Institute, Drawings and Prints, Egyptian Art, European Paintings, European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, Greek and Roman Art, Islamic Art, The Robert Lehman Collection, The Libraries, Medieval Art, Modern Art, Musical Instruments, Photographs, and Antonio Ratti Textile Center.
In addition to the Metropolitan Museum's collection, visitors can enjoy special exhibitions, gallery talks, lectures, and other educational programs offered daily at the museum.
Suggested admission for adults is $12, and $7 for students and senior citizens. Admission is free for Members and children under twelve with an adult. There is no additional charge for special exhibitions and educational programs. Tickets can be purchased on site or in advance. Guest Passes grant priority entrance to the Museum during public hours so that you will not have to stand in line. To order a Guest Pass, call 212-570-3711, Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm Tuesday-Thursday, from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm Friday-Saturday, and from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm on Sundays. The museum is closed Mondays, except on certain holidays.
Additional information about the museum can be found on their web site at www.metmuseum.org, including photos of the collection and the special exhibits calendar.
Guggenheim Museum
Belvedere Castle is like a place out of a fairytale offering beautiful views of New York City and Central Park. More about the Guggenheim Museum.
The Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan is famous not only because of its extraordinary collection of modern and contemporary art. The building, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is in itself a masterpiece and a famous New York City landmark.
Works on display at the museum include art by Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Paul Klee, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cezanne and other famous artists dating from the late 19th-century to the present. In addition to the museum collection, special exhibits are offered on a regular basis.
The Guggenheim Museum is located at 5th Avenue and 89th street. The museum is open Saturday–Wednesday from 10 am to 5:45 pm, and Fridays from 10 am to 8 pm. The museum is closed Thursdays and Christmas Day.
Adult tickets cost $15, and $10 for students and seniors. Children under 12 and members enjoy free admission. On Friday evenings from 6 to 8 pm the museum has a suggested admissions policy.
To bypass the admissions line, you can order your tickets in advance online at www.guggenheim.org. Alternatively, is you are a museum member, CityPass holder or a visitor with a Guest Pass, you receive expedited ticketing at the Membership Desk. For additional information, visit the museum web site or contact Visitor Services at 212-423-3618, Monday–Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
New York City for Families
Marionette Theater
The cottage is home to the only public marionette theater company left in the US. More about the Marionette Theater.
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater houses a small children's theater and design workshops. Located in Central Park at West Side and 79th Street, the cottage features Scandinavian details inside the theater which seats 100 children.
The cottage is home to the only public marionette theater company left in the US. The company writes and produces their own shows and designs its own costumes for the puppets. Some of the productions have included Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Hansel and Gretel.
The cottage was placed in the park in 1876. It was originally a schoolhouse sponsored by the Swedish government for the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. The best way to reach the Swedish Cottage is to follow the path from the Central Park entrance near the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. For current performance information, call 212-988-9093. Admission is $5 for children, $6 for adults, and $4.50 for schools or not for profit groups. Reservations are required.
Central Park Carousel
The vintage carousel features 58 hand-carved painted horses that can accommodate adults as well as kids. More about the Central Park Carousel.
The Central Park Carousel, located at mid-Park at 64th Street, is a popular stop for young visitors, attracting 250,000 riders every year. The vintage carousel features 58 hand-carved painted horses and is one of the largest in the United States.
The horses are nearly life-size in the outer ring and can accommodate adults as well as children. There are four horses in each row, beginning with two larger ones on the outside and two child-sized horses in the inside. The horses move up and down as the carousel goes around in a circle. Those who do not like to ride on horses can ride in two comfortable carriages.
The first carousel in New York City's Central Park was built in 1870s, powered by animals. A steam-powered carousel arrived at the turn of the century, replacing the original. The present carousel is the fourth one and has been in the park since 1951.
Each ride on the Central Park Carousel costs $1.25. The Carousel is open daily from April to November, 10 am - 6 pm, weather permitting. During the colder months, from November to April, the Carousel is open on weekends, 10 am - 4:30 pm, weather permitting. For more information, call 212-879-0244 | 
