10 Fun Things to Do in Downtown Manhattan (New York)

Other than visiting Wall Street, we found out that there are many other things to do in Downtown Manhattan. There are various interesting neighbourhoods here, each with their own unique characteristics. The area is home to SoHo as well, one of the most popular shopping districts in New York. Below is a list of our 10 favourite things to do in Downtown Manhattan!

1. Wall Street

It was a surreal experience to finally visit Wall Street, the fabled financial district where financial power brokers determine the fate of our global economy. However, the significance of Wall Street is more than just finance. I was in awe with the beautiful architecture in Wall Street, most of which were built during the opulent Gilded Age. Therefore, we saw many charming neoclassical buildings and grand Neo-Gothic structures. Wall Street has a rich history as well – we came across many monuments and memorials commemorating New York / USA’s history. To find out more, you can check out my list of things to do in Wall Street.

2. Staten Island Ferry

We got great views from the lower deck!

One of our most enjoyable experience in New York was taking the Staten Island Ferry. This round ferry ride is completely free and gave us great views of the Statue of Liberty as well as the downtown Manhattan Skyline. It is about 25 minutes one way.

This free ferry service operates between the Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island. During our ride, we found out that we could get better views on the lower deck at the boarding area. This was because most people rushed to the upper deck, making it very crowded and difficult to get a good viewing position.

3. SoHo

SoHo (short for “South of Houston Street”) was once an artistic neighbourhood filled with aspiring artists, but has since evolved to become a super popular shopping district. There are over 300 stores here, with lots of mid and high end brands such as Aesop, Coach, Kate Spade, Miu Miu, Nike, Topshop, Under Armour, and many more! You can refer to this list of shops in SoHo. Not surprisingly, this was one of Raevian’s favourite areas in New York. My memories of this area mostly consists of surfing Facebook and playing online poker while the wife indulged in retail therapy.

4. Greenwich Village

Chilling at Washington Square Park

The West Village exudes a unique Bohemian vibe

Standing in front of the famous Friends Apartment!

Greenwich Village, commonly known as “the Village” by the locals, is famous for its unique bohemian and artistic vibe. It is the place where legendary musician Bob Dylan started his career! It is also well-known as a gay village.

Attractions-wise, we found that there were plenty of great restaurants, bars, and comedy clubs in the Village. It is also home to the famous Washington Square Park, where we saw the iconic Washington Square Arch and the pretty water fountain. We enjoyed strolling around the West Village, which is the western portion of Greenwich Village. The West Village exudes a strong bohemian vibe with its cobblestone streets, 19th century townhouses and quirky shops. And of course, I had to visit the famous Friends Apartment! This was my favourite sitcom growing up, and I was glad I finally managed to pay homage to this iconic building.

5. Chinatown

Manhattan’s Chinatown is the second oldest Chinatown in USA, dating back to the early 19th century. We had fun exploring this vibrant neighbourhood, which has lots of delicious Chinese food. We also came across cuisines from many other Asian countries like Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand and more.

6. Little Italy / Nolita

While exploring Chinatown, we suddenly found ourselves strolling into the adjacent Little Italy. Even though there are relatively few Italians staying in this area now, we could definitely sense the obvious Italian culture. Walking along the streets, we saw many restaurants serving Italian food on tables covered with classic red-and-white checkered tablecloths. As we walked further uptown, we reached Nolita ( “North Of Little Italy”). This is a small shopping district with many quaint shops selling clothing, jewelry, accessories, shoes, and more.

7. Hudson River Park

Other than Central Park, New York is also known for its beautiful Hudson River Park. This 550-acre riverside park along Hudson River stretches for 7.2km, and is the second largest park in Manhattan (the biggest being Central Park). At the park, you will find basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts, ice skating rinks, bicycle rentals, water sports facilities, and many other features!

8. New York Helicopter Tour

We were lucky enough to take a New York helicopter tour and it was a surreal experience. We boarded our helicopter from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. We got fantastic aerial views of Manhattan during the 20-minutes ride! It was definitely a different experience to see famous landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, etc from high above. You can read my full article on our New York Helicopter tour experience!

9. East Village

The East Village was once famous for its counterculture scene, serving as an enclave for punk rockers, artists and skaters. In fact, this was where the famous Punk Rock band Ramones played their first gig! Today, it is known for its vibrant nightlife, gay bars, vintage shops, hip restaurants, and casual cafes. You will also find several old-school book and record stores here.

10. Explore the Food Scene!

While exploring the various attractions in Downtown Manhattan, we found that there were plenty of great food here too! We had breakfast at the cozy 12 Chairs Cafe, which offers delicious fusion European / Middle Eastern dishes. We loved the luscious ice cream at Big Gay Ice Cream, and had heavenly blueberry pancakes at Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant. You can check out our list of places to eat in Downtown Manhattan!

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?