Real Best Things to Do in NYC

farmers market union square new york — The farmers' market in Union Square. Flickr/Wally Gobetz

2016-09-13T16:09:00.000Z

Visiting New York City can be overwhelming.

There are thousands of things to do in this massive city — whether it's your first or 15th time visiting.

To help narrow down the long to-do list for every trip, we asked locals for insider tips on the truly best things to do in the city.

Spend an afternoon searching for treasures at the Brooklyn Flea. Locals love shopping for one-of-a-kind vintage finds from the 100-plus vendors who gather at the market, which takes place in a few neighborhoods around Brooklyn.

For more information, click here.

Sip a cocktail at Raines Law Room, one of New York's most infamous speakeasies, in the Flatiron. The bar is hidden behind an unmarked stairwell and you must ring a bell to be let in.

See more of the best speakeasy bars in New York City here.

Picnic in Sheep Meadow in Central Park.

Learn more about Sheep Meadow »

Eat dim sum in Flushing, Queens.

dim sum asian jewels seafood restaurant in flushing

Stroll through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which has more than 200 cherry trees, a rose garden, and a Japanese hill-and-pond garden. Admission is free on Saturday mornings and Tuesdays.

Learn more about the Brooklyn Botanic Garden »

Try the cookies from Levain Bakery, among the best in the city.

Learn more about Levain Bakery »

Shop for local produce at the Greenmarket in Union Square.

Learn more about the Greenmarket »

Spend an afternoon wandering around the Brooklyn Museum.

Learn more about the Brooklyn Museum »

See a live performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center and take in the amazing views over Central Park and Columbus Circle.

Learn more about Jazz at Lincoln Center »

Get a late-night snack at Berg'n Food Hall in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. It's open from 10 a.m. till late.

Learn more about Berg'n »

Ride a bike along the Hudson River Park.

Learn more about the Hudson River Park »

Go gallery hopping in Chelsea.

Check out the Chelsea gallery map here »

Take a tour of the Mast Brothers Chocolate factory in Williamsburg. The artisanal chocolate factory offers daily tours that let visitors see how the chocolate is made and taste some delicious samples.

Learn more about Mast Brothers »

Relax in the Aire Ancient Baths in TriBeCa.

For more information, click here.

Get gelato on the High Line.

Learn more about the High Line »

Eat at the Burger Joint, hidden inside the upscale Le Parker Meridien hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Learn more about the Burger Joint »

Stroll through the West Village.

Get a doughnut from Dun-Well in Williamsburg or Dough, which has locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. We promise you won't regret it.

Learn more about Dun-Well »

Learn more about Dough »

See the lions at the Bronx Zoo.

Learn more about the Bronx Zoo »

Walk around the cobbled streets of DUMBO and enjoy the amazing views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, from underneath.

While in DUMBO, eat at Juliana’s pizza instead of the overhyped Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. The chefs who started Grimaldi’s, Patsy and Carol Grimaldi, ended their association with that restaurant more than a decade ago to start Juliana’s.

Learn more about Juliana's »

Go see a show at the Comedy Cellar. Famous comics like Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle are known to drop by unannounced.

Learn more about the Comedy Cellar »

Sign up to do a 5K, 10K, a half, or full marathon somewhere in New York. There's usually at least one every weekend, and it's a great way to see the city on foot.

For more information about New York marathons, click here.

Explore the 172-acre Governors Island.

Learn more about Governors Island »

Check out the Frick Collection on the Upper East Side. Located in the former residence of Henry Clay Frick, the museum has only six galleries, but they are all filled with a high-quality collection of fine art and furniture.

Learn more about the Frick »

Go to an experimental theater performance. Sleep No More is an interactive performance of Macbeth that takes place in the 5-story 'McKittrick Hotel' in Chelsea, and all participants must wear a mask while walking around the venue and interacting with the actors.

Learn more about Sleep No More »

See what the subway looked like 110 years ago at the Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn.

For more information on the transit museum, click here.

Skip Broadway and see an off-Broadway show, which is often less crowded and less expensive but still features A-list cast members. Raunchy puppet musical "Avenue Q" is currently playing, and David Hyde Pierce is starring in "A Life."

Avenue Q; A Life

Check out the outdoor art at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, Queens.

Learn more about the Socrates Sculpture Park »

Go craft-brewery hopping in Long Island City — Transmitter, Rockaway, and Big Alice are all within walking distance of each other and the subways.

Learn more about Transmitter »

Learn more about Rockaway »

Learn more about Big Alice »

Take a long walk through Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

Learn more about Prospect Park »

Check out the Medieval European art and architecture at the Cloisters museum in Washington Heights. It's most famous for its Unicorn Tapestries.

Click here for directions and hours >

Admire the ancient Temple of Dendur in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Learn more about the Met »

Walk across the Brooklyn bridge.

And spend some time in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Kids will love riding the vintage glass-enclosed carousel.

Learn more about the Brooklyn Bridge Park »

Check out the collections at the Guggenheim Museum on the Upper East Side.

Learn more about what's happening at the Guggenheim »

Take in the gorgeous views of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

Learn more about the Brooklyn Heights Promenade »

The REAL best things to do in New York City, according to locals

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

The REAL best things to do in New York City, according to locals

Spend an afternoon searching for treasures at the Brooklyn Flea. Locals love shopping for one-of-a-kind vintage finds from the 100-plus vendors who gather at the market, which takes place in a few neighborhoods around Brooklyn.

Sip a cocktail at Raines Law Room, one of New York's most infamous speakeasies, in the Flatiron. The bar is hidden behind an unmarked stairwell and you must ring a bell to be let in.

Picnic in Sheep Meadow in Central Park.

Eat dim sum in Flushing, Queens.

Stroll through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which has more than 200 cherry trees, a rose garden, and a Japanese hill-and-pond garden. Admission is free on Saturday mornings and Tuesdays.

Try the cookies from Levain Bakery, among the best in the city.

Shop for local produce at the Greenmarket in Union Square.

Spend an afternoon wandering around the Brooklyn Museum.

See a live performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center and take in the amazing views over Central Park and Columbus Circle.

Get a late-night snack at Berg'n Food Hall in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. It's open from 10 a.m. till late.

Ride a bike along the Hudson River Park.

Go gallery hopping in Chelsea.

Take a tour of the Mast Brothers Chocolate factory in Williamsburg. The artisanal chocolate factory offers daily tours that let visitors see how the chocolate is made and taste some delicious samples.

Relax in the Aire Ancient Baths in TriBeCa.

Get gelato on the High Line.

Eat at the Burger Joint, hidden inside the upscale Le Parker Meridien hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Stroll through the West Village.

Get a doughnut from Dun-Well in Williamsburg or Dough, which has locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. We promise you won't regret it.

See the lions at the Bronx Zoo.

Walk around the cobbled streets of DUMBO and enjoy the amazing views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, from underneath.

While in DUMBO, eat at Juliana’s pizza instead of the overhyped Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. The chefs who started Grimaldi’s, Patsy and Carol Grimaldi, ended their association with that restaurant more than a decade ago to start Juliana’s.

Go see a show at the Comedy Cellar. Famous comics like Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle are known to drop by unannounced.

Sign up to do a 5K, 10K, a half, or full marathon somewhere in New York. There's usually at least one every weekend, and it's a great way to see the city on foot.

Explore the 172-acre Governors Island.

Check out the Frick Collection on the Upper East Side. Located in the former residence of Henry Clay Frick, the museum has only six galleries, but they are all filled with a high-quality collection of fine art and furniture.

Go to an experimental theater performance. Sleep No More is an interactive performance of Macbeth that takes place in the 5-story 'McKittrick Hotel' in Chelsea, and all participants must wear a mask while walking around the venue and interacting with the actors.

See what the subway looked like 110 years ago at the Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn.

Skip Broadway and see an off-Broadway show, which is often less crowded and less expensive but still features A-list cast members. Raunchy puppet musical "Avenue Q" is currently playing, and David Hyde Pierce is starring in "A Life."

Check out the outdoor art at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, Queens.

Go craft-brewery hopping in Long Island City — Transmitter, Rockaway, and Big Alice are all within walking distance of each other and the subways.

Take a long walk through Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

Check out the Medieval European art and architecture at the Cloisters museum in Washington Heights. It's most famous for its Unicorn Tapestries.

Admire the ancient Temple of Dendur in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Walk across the Brooklyn bridge.

And spend some time in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Kids will love riding the vintage glass-enclosed carousel.

Check out the collections at the Guggenheim Museum on the Upper East Side.

Take in the gorgeous views of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know