566 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in New York City - Atlas Obscura
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The Atlas Obscura Guide To

New York City

566 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in New York City

Boroughs

Unusual Attractions in New York City

New York, New York

City Hall Station

A beautiful and abandoned New York subway station from 1904, complete with chandelier.
M Rebekah Otto Added by M Rebekah Otto
New York, New York

Evolution Nature Store

A terrific purveyor of natural history objects and curios.
Added by mbison
New York, New York

Dream House

La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela's "Dream House" will immerse you in an ever changing world of sound and light.
seanmattison Added by seanmattison
New York, New York

Mmuseumm

A tiny museum housed in a New York freight elevator specializes in the "overlooked, dismissed, or ignored."
Sponsored by NYCgo

Atlas Obscura Trips

Only in Queens: Tasting Our Way Through New York’s Most Diverse Borough

May 17—May 20, 2019

Manhattan may have name-brand recognition and Brooklyn a certain cache, but Queens is the city’s largest and most diverse borough. Join us, May 17–20, to dig into Queens’ rich neighborhood life.

Learn More

Unique Food & Drink in New York City

Explore New York City

Launch Map

Upcoming New York City Events

Explorer's Club.
Mar
1 - 2
New York, New York

Excursion to the Explorers Club

Behind the closed doors of this legendary clubhouse awaits a treasure trove of artifacts collected over a century of expeditions to the far corners of the earth (and beyond).
American Psychic.
Mar 8
New York, New York

'American Psychic' at the Illustrious Players

Witness a mind-bending performance from renowned mentalist Matt Cooper in the historic dining hall of New York's oldest and most theatrical private club.
Ryan Matthew Cohn and Regina Maria Cohn
Apr
6 - 7
Brooklyn, New York

Portrait Sitting With Karen Jerzyk at The Oddities Flea Market

Step inside a transformative custom scene created by artist Karen Jerzyk for your very own stunning photo shoot.
Ryan and Regina Cohn
Apr
6 - 7
Brooklyn, New York

Oddities Flea Market's Rites of Spring: Exclusive VIP Presale Tickets

This spring, Atlas Obscura has your ticket to skip the line and get in early in this extended shopping session!

Recent New York City Activity

deniseyuzuik wants to go to Mount Loretto Beach Rock Garden
deniseyuzuik wants to go to Phone Booth Graveyard
deniseyuzuik wants to go to RMS Titanic Memorial
deniseyuzuik wants to go to Elevator Historical Society
deniseyuzuik wants to go to The Lab (Electric Warehouse)

Stories About New York City

The Fat Man's Baseball Association, circa 1910.

The Fat Men's Clubs That Revelled in Excess

In 19th-century America, cultural anxieties led to groups where fat was fun.
by Rohini Chaki
January 17, 2019
Rice keeps her confetti on kitchen shelves.

Ringing in the New Year With a Confetti Collector

3, 2, 1, little bits of paper!
by Jessica Leigh Hester
December 27, 2018

Lists Featuring New York City

11 Surprisingly Romantic Places in New York City
The ceiling was modeled after the one in the music room of Munich's Villa Stuck.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Valentino Park

11 Surprisingly Romantic Places in New York City

We heart New York on Valentine’s Day.

11

Including Albertine, Deno’s Wonder Wheel, and Brooklyn Botanic Garden