Things to do in New York City in Summer

Summer in the Big Apple is a very hot season but don't let the heat wave get you down. During this time of the year the city presents many events and outdoor activities to cool off and enjoy the sunny days. Check out the 10 ideas of things to do in New York in summer that I propose you!

If you are traveling to New York in summer, whether as a couple, with friends or with children, one of the best things to do in Brooklyn is to go to Coney Island, the neighborhood where New Yorkers go to enjoy the beach in good weather and relax outdoors.

Visit the boardwalk

Walking along the boardwalk feeling the Atlantic breeze on your face and the scent of the ocean is one of my favorite things to do in Coney Island, it's an incredible feeling! The other is Luna Park, a mix between amusement park and old fair that retains that special vintage charm and many of its original attractions such as the Cyclone roller coaster or the Wonder Wheel.

See the Coney Island rides and attractions

Nearby there is a show that attracts a lot of attention from visitors, it is a freak show that in the 20s and 30s became very popular by presenting the public with amazing numbers or exhibiting oddities of nature.

This freak show is different every season and, although some tricks are repeated, you will have the sensation of reliving past times among giants, bearded women, dwarfs and other typical characters.

Another fun attraction to see at Coney Island, especially with the family, is the New York Aquarium, the only aquarium in New York located on the boardwalk. Its purpose is to show the public the importance of preserving aquatic ecosystems.

Here you can see sharks, penguins and sea otters, among many other species. When you enter the New York Aquarium check the feeding schedule and don't miss it if it coincides with your visit - the kids will love it!

Isabel's Traveller Tip

Combine a stroll on the boardwalk, a visit to the New York Aquarium and the Luna Park Fair at Coney Island with one of Nathan's famous hot dogs. You'll want to come back!

The best way to combat the high summer temperatures in New York is to cool off by taking a dip in cold water in one of the public pools scattered throughout the city. Cool idea, right?

From late June through September, New York's public pools open their doors for New Yorkers and tourists alike to spend a great summer day sunbathing, relaxing and splashing in the water without paying a dime.

Mark your calendars for these three public pools because you won't want to miss this summer experience:

Other ways to cool off in New York

If you feel like a dip after leaving the pool, you can also visit one of the beaches in Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn or the Bronx. You can even ride a jet ski along the coast of New York on the Hudson River out of New Jersey.

In summer the heat in New York can be sweltering but fortunately there are plenty of activities to cool off outdoors - one of my favorites is kayaking the Hudson River!

If you want to do something different during your summer trip to New York, from late May to October you can kayak and enjoy the Manhattan skyline aboard one of these boats without spending a penny. Just like you read! The company offering this free activity is Manhattan Community Boathouse.

How to get your place in a kayak?

Participating in this activity is very simple. There is no need to make any kind of reservation, you just have to go to Pier 96 on the Hudson River near the Intrepid Air and Space Museum where the company operates and sign a waiver stating that you know how to swim. After storing your belongings in a locker, all you have to do is wait for a kayak and paddle to be assigned to you before you can dive into the water and start sailing.

Don't worry if it's your first time doing this sport because at each dock there are monitors who will teach you how to get in and paddle. In addition, for your safety, you will be given a life jacket.

The kayak tours on the Hudson River last 20 minutes but you will enjoy them very much because you will end up soaked and very cool. The area where you can navigate is delimited by buoys and you are not allowed to leave the area.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

Wear summer clothes, even a swimsuit if you have one. Swimming is not allowed but during the kayak ride you will end up soaking wet. If you want to bring a change of clothes, there are usually changing rooms in the area.

Manhattan is a very tempting island full of great tourist attractions for travelers. It's hard to get away from it, but it's worth it to get away from the epicenter of New York to explore its small satellite islands that are a hive of activity during the summer and a real oasis of tranquility in the asphalt jungle.

What to do on this island?

One of the best known is Governors Island, which opens only in summer with a great gastronomic offer and an interesting catalog of festivals. It also has a new attraction called The Hills, an elevated park that offers a new perspective of the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn and Jersey City.

Another attraction to visit Governors Islands is to have the opportunity to spend a quiet day in nature taking advantage of the good weather for hiking or biking routes. These can be rented at the Blazing Saddles stand in the Colonels Row area. However, thanks to Bike and Roll on Fridays in summer you can ride a bike for free for an hour to visit the island.

Free kayaking is also available here from June through mid-September. The Downtown Boathouse organizes kayaking sessions for both adults and children, a plan that is sure to excite them. Come to Pier 101, strap on your life jacket and get paddling!

Speaking of kids, if you go to Governors Island with your family, you have to take them to Slide Hill, the largest slide in New York City on a large hill with a length of 17 meters. They will be amazed!

Culturally, there is also a lot to do on Governors Island. There are often workshops as well as festivals and concerts. For example the famous Jazz Age Lawn Party inspired by the 1920s during Prohibition where you can sip cocktails and dance Charleston in a very original evening.

Many of them are easily reached by subway, ferry or cable car and are a true oasis in a city of skyscrapers.

• City Island: Less known than Governors Island, this is a place with a taste of the sea with dozens of restaurants specializing in seafood, ideal for a good meal and a pleasant stroll.

• Randall's Island: Located in the East River, during the summer months important outdoor music and film festivals are held here. It also has waterfront trails for biking and walking as well as several sports centers for golf, tennis and more.

• Roosevelt Island: A very quiet island to go for a walk to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. Here there are several parks and viewpoints along the water perfect for taking some nice pictures of the trip and to let the kids play outdoors for a while. It can be reached by cable car. In my article How to ride the Roosevelt Island cable car I tell you more about this excursion.

• Liberty Island and Ellis Island: Take advantage of the summer to take a ferry tour to both islands and learn about the history behind the Statue of Liberty, along with the Liberty Island Museum and a guided tour of the Liberty Island grounds.

When the good weather arrives, it's time to spend more time outdoors doing outdoor activities. When summer temperatures rise, the city's parks and gardens become a refuge for New Yorkers to withstand the intense heat.

What better plan than relaxing under the shade of lush trees and enjoying a summer movie night? It is one of the experiences I had the most fun with during my stay in New York.

If you love movies, you will have a great time because during the summer there are several festivals organized in the Big Apple every week and you will have many to choose from. Here are some of the highlights:

One of the most exciting experiences you can have in New York in the summer is going to an MLB game. Either because you love baseball or because you want to enjoy the atmosphere that this sport awakens in the city. In addition, MLB is a very family-friendly show, so it is common to see parents bringing their children to the games.

If you want to include a baseball game during your summer vacation,the regular season runs from April to early October and during those months you can watch the New York Yankees or the New York Mets play in their respective stadiums.

What is a baseball game like?

The atmosphere is lively and even if you don't know the rules of the sport in detail, it's easy to get into the swing of things. The matches are long, they can last from 3 to 4 hours and most of the game is calm, although suddenly there are some thrilling plays that make the fans vibrate. So stay tuned!

In the meantime you can take selfies in the stadium, take videos of yourself at the event, and comment on the plays while you scarf down some tacos or hot dogs. In my experience, going to the baseball is entertaining and you will spend a day doing something different during your trip. It's worth it!

Don't hesitate, get your hat and your hot dog ready and experience one of the most fun moments of your trip to the Big Apple.

How to buy MLB tickets in New York?

In the MLB there are many games, in fact teams play every few days and even every day for a few weeks. So baseball tickets are usually easy to get, especially when compared to NBA tickets.

To buy baseball tickets you have two options: at the stadium box office or through the internet. In my experience, I recommend buying tickets online before traveling.

The demand to go to a baseball game in New York is high so it is normal that tickets sell out quickly. The key is to buy them as soon as possible to get the best place at a cheaper price. In my opinion, this is the easiest, safest and fastest option.

If you want to know more about this sport, in my article How to see a baseball game in New York I tell you everything you need to know to get your baseball tickets at the best price, which place to choose in the stadium, how the league works and much more. Don't miss it!

During the summer, the heat in New York can be oppressive at times. To escape the heat wave, a good idea is to take refuge in places where there is air conditioning.

For example, in the museums of the Big Apple where there is also a lot of culture to soak up. There are many different museums: history, art, photography, espionage, wax figures...

New York is a city that has become one of the great cultural centers of the planet thanks to its museums, many of which have great international relevance. Here are some of the most outstanding:

If you want to know more about New York museums, don't miss the article The 10 best museums in New York where I explain why they are the best and tell you in detail everything you can see in them.

While you were planning the agenda for your trip to New York at first you may not have thought of adding an excursion outside the city to get to know other parts of the United States, as there is so much to see and do in the Big Apple.

However, dedicating a day of your vacation to take a trip to Niagara Falls is a great idea in my opinion because you will have the opportunity to see this wonder of nature and feel the mist of the falls on your face, which is a very refreshing experience in the intense summer heat.

In addition, during this season temperatures rarely exceed 30º C and do not usually drop below 20ºC so the weather is ideal for hiking and enjoying all the attractions at full capacity getting wet in those places that almost allow you to touch the water.

What is the Niagara Falls day trip like?

The great thing about this organized tour to Niagara Falls is that it gets you to and from downtown New York in the same day, so you won't have to worry about how to get there, something that can be an odyssey considering that summer is the peak season to see these waterfalls.

Onceat the falls, you will be sure not to miss a single detail with a professional bilingual guide. Seeing the beautiful rainbow and listening to the roar of the water is an unforgettable experience - I was speechless! Also, since this tour explores the New York side of the falls, no visa is required.

Get up close to the Niagara Wine Festival

On the other hand, at the end of June, Niagara's New Vintage Festival is held, where winemakers present the new wines of the season and present the wineries in the area as well as tastings of their wines. If you like the world of wine, make a note of this event in your agenda.

From experience I know that summer is also a good time to attend a Broadway musical, the famous theater-lined boulevard that runs through downtown Manhattan including Times Square.

Escape the scorching sun and immerse yourself for a few hours in the magic of Broadway. Make yourself comfortable in the seats and get ready for a unique experience you won't find anywhere else. Its musical numbers are legendary and its majestic staging and the talent of its actors transport you to a dream world where anything is possible.

With hundreds of annual performances, Broadway is the mecca of New York theater. Here you can see works of great prestige and popularity such as The Lion King, Moulin Rouge, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Aladdin or Frozen, among many others.

Dare to let your imagination fly into a world of fantasy and daydream about Broadway musicals!

How to get your Broadway tickets?

Broadway musicals are one of the most popular shows in New York, so tickets sell out very quickly.

If you want to know how to buy tickets for a Broadway musical, I recommend you to read the article The 10 best Broadway musicals in New York where I tell you how to get your tickets and what are the best musicals that are playing this season.

What other cultural events are there in New York in the summer?

If you want to make more cultural plans in the Big Apple during your stay, take a look at these suggestions!