10 Fun Things to Do in Midtown Manhattan (New York City)

Midtown Manhattan is probably the image that first comes to mind when people think of New York City. This is because it is home to many iconic New York attractions such as the vibrant Times Square, the famous Rockefeller Center, the majestic Empire State Building, and many more! We were happy that we finally got the chance to see these famous attractions. However, other than the usual tourist spots, there are various other attractions here too. Below is a list of our ten favourite things to do in Midtown Manhattan.

1. Times Square

Being in New York City, we were really excited to visit Times Square, arguably the most iconic attraction of New York City. It was dazzling to see so many bright billboards and neon lights, and we loved the bustling vibe here. We even managed to see the famous Times Square Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve!

2. New York Buildings

30 Rockefeller Plaza

Standing outside NBC Studios (30 Rockefeller Plaza)

Many of the Manhattan buildings were built during the late 19th century, which was known as the “Gilded Age”. This is because it was a period where social issues were masked by a layer of “gold gilding” – a metaphor for the period’s excesses. Therefore, we saw many buildings that were built in opulent Neoclassical and Neo-Gothic architectural styles. Below is a list of famous buildings that you should check out in Midtown Manhattan. For more details on the buildings, you can see our article on the 11 Most Beautiful Buildings in Manhattan.

• Chrysler Building
• Empire State Building
• Flatiron Building
• Grand Central Station
• Rockefeller Center
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• New York Public Library

3. Broadway Musical

Times Square is also famous for its Theater District, which is where most of the famous Broadway theaters are located! We managed to get tickets for The Phantom of the Opera Broadway musical. I’ve always wanted to watch this classic musical since young, and it was surreal to finally experience the musical inside a world-renowned Broadway theater. We bought tickets for the Rear Mezzanine (Row B) seats from Telecharge. The seats gave us decent aerial views.

4. Top of The Rock (TOTR)

We bought tickets to visit Top of The Rock (TOTR), an observatory on top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. From here, we got amazing views of the NYC skyline, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. Empire State Building also has an observatory but I had read that TOTR offers better views. I would recommend visiting in the day to get the best views. You can visit the Top of The Rock website for more details.

5. Chelsea Neighbourhood

Back in the late 19th century, Chelsea was an industrial area and the US’s first elevated railroad was built here. This fell into disuse in 1980, and the famous High Line park was built over the abandoned railroad tracks in 2009. We enjoyed strolling along this elevated linear park. Today, Chelsea is a neighbourhood known for its thriving pop art scene, and is home to famous pop art artist Andy Warhol. The area also has a large LGBT population and many of its residents are gay couples. Therefore, you will find many good gay bars here. And of course, we had to visit the famous Chelsea Market, which is a huge indoor food hall with an amazing variety of delicious food! Check out our list of five great places to eat in Chelsea Market.

6. Bryant Park

One of my favourite parks in Manhattan is Bryant Park. When we visited during Spring, the small park had a very nice serene vibe to it. We saw many people chatting and reading books in the cool Spring weather. There were also various food kiosks around.

We also had the chance to visit Bryant Park during winter, when it transforms into a pretty ice-skating rink! It was nice to see so many people having fun skating. There was also an open-air winter market with many vendors selling food and artisan items. Raevian and I had a romantic winter night here looking at the ice-skaters while eating hot food bought from one of the vendors.

7. United Nations Headquarter Tour

We gained a good understanding of the United Stations (UN) through our UN Headquarters Tour. It was surreal to visit the four UN chambers, where important world affairs are debated and decided. We also saw many beautiful works of art inside the UN compound. You can check out our full review of the United Nations Headquarters Tour here.

8. Shop at 34th Street and 5th Avenue!

Raevian had a great time shopping in New York. 34th Street is a super popular shopping street in New York. The area has over 175 shops selling clothes, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, and more. Macy’s flagship store is located here at Herald’s Square – this is the largest department store in the United States! The Victoria’s Secret branch here is huge with a fantastic selection, though it was very crowded. There are also many other popular shops here, such as Uniqlo, Forever 21, Zara, Target, Foot Locker and more. My memories of this place mostly revolves around scrolling through my Facebook feed while waiting for Raevian to finish her shopping.

5th Avenue is a famous shopping district that has something for everyone. We saw mass brands like H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Gap, as well as high fashion brands such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co and more.

9. Visit the Awesome Eateries!

There is so much good food in Midtown Manhattan! Our favourite restaurant is probably Burger & Lobster, because we simply loved the delicious lobster here. We had several sumptuous Korean BBQ meals in the bustling Koreatown, and also enjoyed dining at Sarabeth, a posh restaurant near Central Park. You can check out our complete list of places to eat in Midtown Manhattan.

10. The Roosevelt Island Tramway

The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tramway that connects Manhattan and Roosevelt Island. The ticket costs just $2.50, and you get to enjoy great aerial views! There are many attractions on the small island, which can be explored in a few hours or less. From the island, you will get fantastic views of the East River and beautiful Manhattan skyline.

This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Ultimate New York Travel Guide for First Timers. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?