Hidden Gems in NYC (My Top Picks!)
Are you looking for hidden gems in NYC? This guide will show you my favorite hidden gems around the city, as a native New Yorker! And I consider these to be actual hidden gems in New York City.
Some other articles I’ve seen on this topic list things like walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, eating at Chelsea Market, or visiting Bryant Park as “hidden gems” in NYC… Those are about as hidden as the Empire State Building, and you’ll be sharing the experience with thousands of other tourists, guaranteed.
So I decided to create my own list of places I truly consider to be hidden gems. That’s not to say that no one has ever heard of these places before or that you’ll find them totally empty when you go. This is New York, a city of 8.5 million people and 65 million annual visitors — nothing is truly hidden.
But these are places that many tourists have never heard of, and none of the spots below will make it onto a “Top 10 Things to Do in NYC” list for first-time visitors. So in that sense, they are under-the-radar.
If it’s your first trip to New York, I recommend checking out my NYC bucket list, which has a ton of recommendations for the best places to go in the city — it’s great for first-timers!
But if you’ve been to NYC a couple of times before and now you’re looking to get a little off the beaten path on your upcoming trip, this list is for you. Or if you live in New York and you want to do something unique this weekend and maybe explore a new corner of the city, this list is also for you.
I have personally visited every single place on this list, and I would highly recommend them all!
Without further ado, here are my favorite hidden gems in NYC.
1. The Met Cloisters
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most visited places in New York, and the most famous institution on Museum Mile. But many people have no idea that way far uptown, at the very top of Manhattan, there’s another museum called the Met Cloisters that feels like stepping into a different world.
This museum in the far reaches of Upper Manhattan is situated right on the Hudson River, amidst the sprawling Fort Tryon Park. Pieces of European monasteries and abbeys were moved across the Atlantic and painstakingly rebuilt in New York, creating this museum that focuses on medieval art and architecture.
It’s an extremely tranquil place where you can easily spend a couple of hours roaming through the collection and enjoying the museum’s outdoor spaces. Although it’s a bit of a trek by subway or bus to get here, it’s worth the journey, and this remains one of my favorite places to get away from it all in NYC!
2. Morgan Library & Museum
The Morgan Library & Museum is another underrated place to visit in NYC. This museum features in my guide to New York City for book lovers, so check that out for some more literary-inspired places.
This library in Midtown Manhattan opened in 1906 as the private collection of banker J. P. Morgan. It’s now been turned into a museum, which is definitely worth a visit! I should also note that this museum is one that offers free admission on select days. Be sure to check the dates for that before your trip.
3. Grant’s Tomb
Growing up, my dad always told an inexplicable riddle that went, “Who is buried in Grant’s Tomb?” The answer, of course, is… Grant. Well, it was only recently that I learned Grant’s Tomb is indeed a real place, and it’s located right in Manhattan! So naturally, I had to visit this historic landmark for myself.
Grant’s Tomb, also known as the General Grant National Memorial, is the final resting place of the 18th President of the United States, General Ulysses S. Grant, and his wife, Julia Grant. Located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, the site is operated by the National Park Service.
It’s free to visit the interior of the tomb. There is also a small visitor center to the left, right above the Hudson River, where you can learn more about the life of Ulysses S. Grant. A must for history buffs!
4. Wave Hill Public Garden & Cultural Center
Wave Hill is one of the most hidden places in NYC that hardly anyone knows about! It’s a beautiful garden and cultural center that will make you feel like you’ve been transported out of the city.
Located in the tranquil Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, Wave Hill is situated right along the Hudson River. Built in the mid-19th century, it was once a fancy private estate. Now the grounds have been turned into a lovely garden and cultural center. It’s the perfect place to spend a peaceful afternoon in NYC.
It’s definitely a bit of a journey to get here (you can either take an express bus or the Metro-North train), but this is another hidden gem where it’s definitely worth the time it takes to arrive.
5. Manhattan Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is always packed with pedestrians walking the 1.2-mile span of the iconic structure that links Manhattan to Brooklyn. But nearby, the Manhattan Bridge remains under the radar.
You can also walk the Manhattan Bridge, although it’s a very different experience from the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s the same length, but it’s louder because there is a subway line running across the bridge next to the pedestrian path. It also offers a different view and perspective, including of the nearby Brooklyn Bridge.
6. Ukrainian Institute
Located on the Upper East Side at East 79th Street, the Ukrainian Institute occupies one of the most impressive Gilded Age mansions on Fifth Avenue. Once a stately private residence, the historic home was in danger of demolition in the 1950s when it was purchased by the Ukrainian Institute of America.
Now, many people walk right past this building, which is located across from Central Park and a block down from the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art, without even realizing what is inside.
The Ukrainian Institute is usually open to the public. You can walk through three floors of historic architecture and furnishings. There are often art exhibits and seasonal events happening here too.
7. Albertine
Right after you visit the Ukrainian Institute, you can walk one more block down to East 78th Street and visit Albertine, which is on the list of my favorite bookstores in NYC. This bookstore, located inside the Cultural Services of the French Embassy building, has a variety of books in French and English.
The highlight is the starry constellation mural painted on the ceiling of the second floor. Most people walk right past Albertine without realizing what’s inside, and it’s definitely worth a visit.
8. Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island is a narrow island in the East River between Manhattan and Queens. You can get there by subway or ferry, but the most unique method of transportation is the Roosevelt Island Tramway. This cable car offers a spectacular view as it glides above the Queensboro Bridge to Roosevelt Island.
The tram is the same cost as the subway ($3), and you can simply tap to pay. Once upon a time, the tram was a hidden gem. But I’ve noticed that lately, it’s become a lot more popular with tourists.
I recommend riding it at an off-peak hour (avoiding morning and evening rush hour when locals use it to commute) and then spending some time walking around Roosevelt Island. The Red Bus is a free bus service that takes you around the whole island, which is about 2 miles long and 800 feet wide.
9. Museum of the City of New York
There are so many amazing museums in New York, but one that doesn’t get enough recognition is the Museum of the City of New York. This is a fascinating museum that is all about the history of NYC. You will find it on the furthest north end of Museum Mile, at Fifth Avenue and East 103rd Street.
This is a great museum to visit if you’re a history buff and want to learn more about New York over the centuries. It’s also a museum that offers free admission days, so check the schedule before you go!
10. Conservatory Garden
Before or after you visit the Museum of the City of New York, you can take a stroll through Central Park’s Conservatory Garden. This end of the park is much quieter than the more touristy southern end.
The Conservatory Garden is a beautiful, tranquil space. It’s a large formal garden that is beautiful in every season. There are many different flowers, fountains, and manicured hedges. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a picnic lunch, and a respite away from the hustle and bustle of the city just beyond.
11. NYC Ferry
The NYC Ferry is such a fun experience, and a great alternative to a pricey sightseeing cruise. Tickets are only $4.50 and can be purchased in the NYC Ferry app or at machines at the ferry stops. Living on the Upper East Side, my nearest ferry stop was East 90th Street, which is a great place to board.
From here, you can cruise all the way down the East River, passing under four bridges (Queensboro, Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn), before reaching the final stop at Wall Street Pier 11.
This is a great route that takes about 45 minutes. You can also take the ferry all the way to Rockaway Beach in Queens, which is an even longer journey, but perfect for a summer beach day.
12. Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Staten Island is often called the forgotten borough of New York. And sadly, that’s often true. It’s the most geographically isolated borough, and hardly any tourists go here. But my top recommendation if you want to go to Staten Island would be to visit the Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
To get here, you can take the free Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan. You’ll arrive at St. George Terminal, then need to take a 15-minute bus ride to reach Snug Harbor.
Here, you’ll find a complex of free museums, including the Staten Island Museum, the Newhouse Center, and the Noble Maritime Collection, as well as gardens like the lovely Chinese Scholar’s Garden.
13. New York Transit Museum
A quirky yet extremely interesting museum that’s something of a hidden gem is the New York Transit Museum. Located in the decommissioned Court Street subway station in Downtown Brooklyn, this museum is dedicated to the history of mass transportation in NYC, including subways, buses, and commuter rail.
It’s a very interactive museum, with many old subway cars that you can step right into. The historic signage and other artifacts offer an intriguing glimpse into the past. Overall, a must-visit museum!
14. MoMA PS1
The Museum of Modern Art is one of NYC’s most popular museums, located in Midtown Manhattan. But many people have no idea that there is another branch of the museum, MoMA PS1, in Queens. This contemporary art museum is housed in a former public school in the Long Island City neighborhood.
Unlike the regular MoMA, admission to the MoMA PS1 is completely free. If you’ve already been to the MoMA before, I highly recommend making a visit to the MoMA PS1 next. The exhibits here are always very interesting, featuring a diverse array of experimental, boundary-breaking contemporary artists.
15. Governors Island
I’ve already talked about Roosevelt Island, but another cool island you can visit in NYC is Governors Island. You can get here by ferry from Lower Manhattan, and tickets are free on weekends before 11 AM.
On the island, there are a number of things to do. There is a historic fort maintained by the National Park Service. There are many walking and biking paths, and scenic areas like lavender fields and gardens. There’s even a fancy spa, the QC NY Spa, which offers amazing views of the Lower Manhattan skyline.
There are also food trucks and other eateries on the island, where you can grab a bite to eat and something to drink. Or you could pack a picnic and enjoy relaxing in one of the island’s many green spaces.
16. New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx is a lovely place to enjoy a peaceful day out in NYC. It can be a trek to get here from Manhattan (you can take the subway or the Metro-North train), but it’s so worth it! This massive botanical garden covers an expanse of 250 acres, so there’s a lot of ground to cover.
There’s a tram that’s included with your admission ticket that makes a loop around the whole garden. It’s a beautiful place to visit year-round, and there are often seasonal exhibitions happening. I do recommend visiting on a weekday if you can, because weekends tend to be a lot more crowded here.
17. Carl Schurz Park
New York is full of great public parks, but one of my favorites is Carl Schurz Park on the Upper East Side. This park sees very few tourists because of its far-east location, right along the East River. I mentioned the East 90th Street stop for the NYC Ferry earlier, which can be found at one end of Carl Schurz Park.
Also of note at this park is Gracie Mansion, a charming yellow house built in 1799. It serves as the official residence for the mayor of New York City, and tours are available to the public with an advance booking.
18. St. John the Divine Cathedral
Did you know that NYC is home to the largest cathedral in the US, and the sixth-largest in the world? St. John the Divine is a stunning Gothic cathedral located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Construction on the cathedral began in 1892, and was eventually completed in 1941.
Tours of the interior are available, both guided and self-guided. Admission to the cathedral is free for those who would like to engage in prayer or worship. There is also a lovely garden to the right of the cathedral, featuring a striking sculpture called the Peace Fountain, which is definitely worth a visit.
While you’re in the area, I also recommend walking through nearby Morningside Park, or visiting Book Culture just a block away, which is another entry on my list of the best independent bookstores in NYC.
19. Coney Island
For the last two places on this list, I have seasonal recommendations to make. The first is Coney Island, a beach in Brooklyn that is a great place to visit in the summer months. New York City is home to a number of beaches, but Coney Island is my favorite because it has an old-school, kitschy, Americana vibe.
To get here, you can take the subway — the D, F, N, and Q trains all end in Coney Island. The original Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs is in Coney Island, and thousands of spectators gather every year on the Fourth of July for the iconic Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest (it’s crazy busy, but really fun to attend!)
During the summer, Coney Island is a popular beach destination, but there are also a lot of other things to do here. Luna Park is an amusement park with many rides and attractions, and there’s a long beach boardwalk with plenty of shops and eateries. It’s a great place to spend a summer day in NYC.
20. Dyker Heights
Finally, Dyker Heights is a place I recommend visiting if you’re in NYC around Christmas. This is another neighborhood in the far reaches of Brooklyn, but it’s worth the long subway journey to get here. Many streets in Dyker Heights go all out with elaborate Christmas light displays and decorations.
Although many tourists stick to the Christmas festivities in Midtown Manhattan, it’s worth getting out to Brooklyn to visit Dyker Beights. But it’s definitely still a popular place to go at Christmas, so I do recommend visiting on a weeknight if you can, because weekends tend to be extremely busy with visitors.
Best Hidden Gems in NYC
This guide showed you some of my favorite hidden gems in NYC.
Like I said at the beginning, there’s no such thing as a true “hidden gem” in New York. I don’t want to mislead you and pretend like no one except a few locals has discovered these places before. But overall, these are the spots that I think fly under the radar a bit, and that many tourists in NYC don’t know about.
So if you’re looking to do something a little different and discover a new corner of New York, I hope you found the suggestions on this list helpful. As a native New Yorker, I personally love all of these places.
And if you decide to visit any of them, I hope they will become favorites for you too.
Enjoy your visit to NYC!
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