Looking for fun things to do in Midtown NYC? Of course, the bustling entertainment district is most known for the iconic Times Square and Theater District, but there’s so much more than that! This is the ultimate guide to the most fun 25 things to do in Midtown NYC, including hidden gems off the beaten path like live game shows and speakeasies.
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Fun Things To Do in Midtown NYC
Since Midtown is in a touristy area of New York City, many activities listed can be bundled together in a city pass. Consider purchasing a New York: Explorer Pass to save money on the admissions if you’re visiting multiple museums and attractions on this things to do in Midtown NYC guide.
Times Square
First on the best things to do in Midtown NYC guide is an obvious one – Times Square! The infamous plaza is known for its many ads plastered on billboards, bright flashing lights, and endless I <3 NYC souvenir shops. It’s also the hub for many famous NYC events, including the ball drop on New Year’s Eve, live performances from big musicians, and art installations via TSQ Live. Times Square is certainly a tourist destination you must visit at least once.
Further Reading: The Ultimate 3 Day NYC Itinerary
See a Broadway Show
Times Square is just steps away from New York City’s well-renowned Broadway, with plenty of venues to experience all the best theater. The zoning of this neighborhood is between 40th and 57th Street and 5th and 8th Avenue. It’s the hub to see all the top hits as well up-and-coming, newly released musicals. Some of my favorite shows in the Theater District are Hamilton, Lion King, and Aladdin.
Broadway tickets tend to be expensive, especially the closer your seat is to the stage. You can reserve cheaper tickets online or through the Red TKTS booth in Times Square.
Carnegie Music Hall
Carnegie Music Hall is a historic venue to see a concert, listen to an orchestra, and other events at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue. It’s been around since 1891 and has 3 venues: the Zankel Hall, Stern Auditorium and Perelman stage, and the Weill Recital Hall. While you can see an orchestra or concert, they also host guided tours throughout the week.
Empire State Building
One of the most defining features of the New York City skyline is the Empire State Building in Midtown South. The skyscraper spans 102 stories and has a beautiful Art Deco architectural style. It’s primarily used for office space but you can ride to the top. Interestingly, it brings in 4 million visitors a year! They have tickets to the top of the 102nd-story 360-degree observation deck with access to the 86th (main floor). You can also just get tickets to the 86th floor, which is cheaper. From high up you’re able to see up to 80 miles into the distance!
Other fun facts is that it has 73 Otis elevators and is featured in major movies including King Kong and Superman II.
Further Reading: Best 1 Day in NYC Itinerary (& Travel Tips!)
Koreatown
Next on the best things to do in Midtown NYC is located just under the Empire State Building. Koreatown, known as K-Town, is a small pocket of the best Korean eats, bars, clubs, and other establishments. It spans from 31st to 33rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway. I love that there are a wide variety of Korean restaurants ranging from authentic Korean BBQs, pochas (AKA Korean bars), and a food court with cheaper bites. The neighborhood also has a bustling nightlife with popular clubs including Den Social and karaoke bars like Space Karaoke.
Listed are some of my favorite spots in Koreatown:
- Her Name is Han → Fantastic authentic Korean restaurant.
- Turntable Chicken Jazz → Korean fried chicken in a cozy, vibey environment.
- Grace Street → One of the most popular dessert spots in the city. I HIGHLY recommend their shaved snow, mochi waffles, and churro waffles.
- COTE Korean Steakhouse → A High-end Korean BBQ spot with excellent meat quality.
- BCD Tofu House → Korean restaurant specializing in soon tofu restaurant, which is a Korean spicy soup with silken tofu and other toppings. I love that they open LATE on weekends at 5 AM, making it the perfect late-night meal.
- Izakaya Mew → While it’s not necessarily Korean, Izakaya Mew is one of my FAVORITE restaurants in New York City! The basement-level Japanese bar has plenty of sushi, small bites, and beers, making it the perfect bar experience to drink with friends.
Check Out A Speakeasy
Enjoy the best of New York City’s nightlife at a speakeasy. There are plenty of hidden bars throughout the city, including some excellent ones in Midtown if you know where to look. An especially cool speakeasy is Nothing Really Matters, located in the New York City subway!
See a Game or Concert at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden is the primary destination to watch an NBA basketball game or hockey game. It’s also the main venue for concerts from major musicians like Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo.
Madame Tussauds
This is a pretty touristy option of things to do in Midtown NYC, but a popular and fun activity nonetheless. Madame Tussauds is a famous wax museum with a rotating selection of over 200 realistic celebrity wax figures. They also have other activities like the recent MARVEL Superheroes 4D cinema experience, their Clown Chaos 7D game where you shoot at evil clowns, and the opportunity to make a wax figure of your hand to take home as a souvenir.
Museum of Modern Art
Another famous New York City museum worth checking out is the Museum of Modern Art on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue.
Even if you don’t visit the actual museum, I LOVE the MoMA Design store! There are so many unique items like home goods, office and tech accessories, books, prints, and more. I typically don’t end up buying anything when I visit but I still love seeing the creativity in their products.
Spyscape
The last of the museums on these things to do in Midtown NYC guide is SpyScape. There are two experiences you can partake in — one is SpyGames ranging from 2-5 people, and includes 50 minutes of physiodigital games that test both your mental and physical capabilities. SpyScape is another experience where you can try authentic spy challenges with lasers, code-making and code-breaking, and learn more about the history and gadgets spies use. You get a detailed personal debrief of your spy profile at the end.
Bryant Park
Next on the things to do in Midtown NYC list is to visit Bryant Park. The park spans a little over 9 acres and is between 40th Street and 42nd Street and between Fifth Avenue and the Mall of Americas. With plenty of outdoor tables and seating, it’s the perfect spot to sit and people-watch. The park also has a large lawn area, ping pong tables (it’s always fun to watch people play!), and special seasonal events like the Winter Village and community movie nights during the summer.
On the other side of the park is the main branch of the New York Public Library. It’s completely free to enter and the inside is a beautiful Beaux-Arts architecture style with marble finishings and high ceilings.
Dave & Busters
For an immersive arcade gaming experience, right off Times Square is Dave & Busters. It includes classic, state-of-the-art arcade game machines, virtual reality experiences, and games like air hockey and skeeball.
Besides the arcade, Dave and Buster’s has a full sit-down restaurant and sports bar with plenty of TVs to watch whatever game happening. You can also host a party or a corporate event here.
The Escape Game
Next on the list is to gather your friends, colleagues, or family and try your luck at an escape room. The premise of an escape room is this: you’re locked in an enclosed space with 2-8 others for a certain amount of time and need to find your way out before time runs out. Around the space are often themes, puzzles to figure out, and other clues to help you get out. Some themes at The Escape Room in Midtown NYC include Prison Break, The Depths, and Gold Rush, all with varying difficulty levels. It’s both a unique and exhilarating activity for things to do in Midtown NYC.
Further Reading: 33 Best Indoor Things To Do in NYC
Break Bar NYC
A unique, fun, and GREAT way to get any pent-up stress or anger out is the throwing range at the Break Bar. While their rage room is unfortunately unavailable, the throwing range is still open. After you finish your drink at the onsite bar, you can smash your drinks at a target on the wall.
Attend a Live Gameshow
Another immersive experience in Midtown NYC is the Game of 1000 Boxes. It’s a real-time game show guided by a live host and can include up to 40 players at once. Here, you test your teamwork skills in groups of up to 4 and take on challenges from trivia to team coordination games. It’s one of the most unique activities on this things to do in Midtown NYC guide, and I honestly haven’t seen anything like it before!
Grand Central Terminal
The Grand Station Terminal is a major transit hub including the NYC subways, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, transit to and from nearby airports, and more. The terminal has been featured across plenty of media outlets including movies like The French Connection and even animated versions of it exist in Madagascar and Wreck-It Ralph!
Interestingly, Grand Central Terminal’s significance and unique architecture make it a major tourist landmark worth seeing, even if just for a few minutes. The high concourse ceiling, for instance, is covered in zodiac constellations and 2500 stars! There’s also a Whispering Gallery where you can hear even the smallest sounds across the station.
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a popular tourist hub with a significant impact on New York City’s history. The cultural landmark has 19 commercial buildings with stores including Nintendo World, FAO Schwartz, and The Shop at NBC Studios. Also located here is the Top of The Rock Building. Their observation deck goes to the 70th floor and has a 360-degree, panoramic view of the city. I actually recommend getting tickets to this observation deck over the Empire State Building because you can get a shot of the Empire State Building in the background of your pictures here! (and it’s cheaper!)
During the colder seasons, add ice skating at The Rink and visiting the giant Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to your fun things to do in Midtown NYC bucket list.
See the Tonight Show Live
Many of us have seen “The Tonight Show: Starring Jimmy Fallon” on our TV screens, but did you know you can join the audience for free while they film live in-studio? The studio location is in Rockefeller Center and You can reserve your free tickets on the NBC website. Tickets are not guaranteed, but worth a shot!
Radio City Music Hall
An iconic theater and music venue in Midtown NYC is the Radio City Music Hall on 6th Avenue. You can view comedy shows, concerts, and, of course, The Rockettes! It’s the home base for The Rockettes, an American dance company known for their iconic high kick line dance move. Check their event calendar for upcoming shows.
Fifth Avenue
Quite possibly one of the most famous shopping destinations in New York City is Fifth Avenue. What’s impressive is it is one of the most expensive shopping streets in the entire world. It spans the entirety of Manhattan, but you’ll find much of the shopping in Midtown. Famous luxury stores include Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany and Co, and Cartier. They also have more affordable stores including the iconic American Girl Doll store, Muji, and more.
Catch a Movie
Another option for fun things to do in Midtown NYC is to see a movie! There are two major theaters located in Midtown — the Regal E-Walk Stadium and RPX, as well as AMC Empire 25. Or, for a more unique film viewing experience, the Rooftop Cinema Club Midtown is literally located on a rooftop on West 37th Street.
Have a Spa Day
Sometimes to rest and recover, it’s worth it to splurge on a spa day! ZZ Day Spa is a top-rated wellness experience with a variety of spa experiences including mani-pedis, facials, and massages. They also have curated packages for specific needs such as couples‘ treatments, bachelorette celebrations, and engagements.
Foodie Best Things To Do in Midtown NYC
Ellen’s Stardust Diner
For both a restaurant and a free show, add Ellen’s Stardust Diner on Broadway to your things to do in Midtown NYC list. While you eat, the waitstaff, also known as the Stardusters, start to sing live! Many of the waitstaff have critical acclaim and even have gone on to successful careers on both Broadway and American Idol.
They serve typical American diner food — think pancakes, french toast, and eggs for breakfast. They also have lunch and dinner food items like sandwiches and burgers. It’s both a unique experience and a wonderful meal!
Sip Coffee at a Cafe
One thing that I absolutely love about New York City is its wide variety of cafes and amazing coffee culture. Remi Flower & Coffee is a part-florist, part-coffee shop where you can enjoy a latte surrounded by lush greenery. You can also take home floral arrangements!
Wrapping Up: Best Things To Do in Midtown NYC
That concludes my guide to the best things to do in Midtown NYC right now! Hopefully, this guide has provided insight into the wide range of activities, from must-do tourist attractions to local hot spots. Once you’ve gone through the best things to do in Midtown NYC, check out my other guides for NYC and other U.S cities:
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