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The Atlas Obscura Guide To New York City

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

Updated September 19, 2023

From the Times Square Hum to George Washingtonʼs dentures, the Big Apple is full of wonders big and small. It was the home of Atlas Obscura for many years, so weʼve scoured the city for hidden wonders, and itʼs possible to see many of them in a single afternoon.

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Unusual Attractions in New York City

See All 749 Things To Do in New York City

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in New York City

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Resilience of New York in 10 Remarkable Sites

New York has been described as a playground for the rich and powerful, but the state's history is full of ordinary people who have overcome extraordinary struggles. What if Seneca Falls, the village that launched the fight for women's suffrage, were as famous as Niagara Falls? What if Weeksville, the historic free Black community in Brooklyn, were as well-known as Williamsburg? From immigrant sanctuaries to the Survivor Tree, here are sites where New York has shown its resilience.

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Explore New York City

Architectural Oddities 72
Art 65
Shops 64
History 52
Museums And Collections 45
Cemeteries 40
Unique Restaurants & Bars 38
Sacred Spaces 37

Recent New York City Activity

Stories About New York City

Kebaya is the first restaurant in New York to focus on Peranakan food.

A Secretive Food Culture Enters the Spotlight

Peranakan cuisine is a feast of complexity.
by Samantha Chong
Designed by English sculptor Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, models of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals were destined for Central Park's never-realized Paleozoic Museum.

The Bizarre True Story of Central Park’s Doomed Victorian Dinosaur Museum

For centuries, the infamous Boss Tweed was blamed for destroying its dino-models—but what really happened is even weirder.
by Sarah Durn

Podcast: Spaces for Spies

Where real-world American espionage comes to life.
by The Podcast Team
Amadou Ly at ALF Bakery.

Meet the West African Baker Reshaping French Pastry

Amadou Ly is working wonders in laminated dough.
by Diana Hubbell
Left to right: Tahirah Baksh, Jiniya Azad, and Sameen Choudhry hope to drive business to halal restaurants with their blog and social media accounts.

Meet the Women Mapping New York City’s Halal Food

It's a constellation of birria, noodles, and fried chicken sandwiches.
by Sam Lin-Sommer
The Gocta Waterfalls in northwestern Peru are the subject of one of our favorite recent Atlas Obscura Podcast episodes.

7 Recent Atlas Obscura Podcast Episodes You Just Have to Hear

For our two-year pod-iversary we're headed back to some of the coolest places we've taken you recently.
by April White
A rainbow of pelmeni.

Meet the Women Behind the Heritage Food Revival

From Ukrainian pelmeni to Appalachian fried fish, these innovators are drawing on generations of culinary wisdom.
by Diana Hubbell

Podcast: NYC’s Most Beautiful Public Bathroom

You've gotta go.
by The Podcast Team

Lists Featuring New York City

Book Corner.
The Final Cross
Edward Dean Adams Power Station
Clifton Hill

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Niagara Falls for Curious Travelers

11

Including Book Corner, Prophet Isaiah's Second Coming House, and Edward Dean Adams Power Plant

Conjurer Jason England teaches a card trick.
Keen's Steakhouse
The New York Herald Monument.

The 11 Best Things to do Near the Empire State Building for Curious Travelers

11

Including Tannen's Magic Shop, The Conjuring Arts Research Center, and Keen's Steakhouse

The crostata, with the storefront in the background.

7 Extraordinary Jewish Restaurants Around the World

A global map of diverse delights.

7

Including Pasticceria Boccione, Gottlieb's Restaurant, and Nahoum and Sons

The Geographic Center of NYC is located on a traffic meridian on Queens Boulevard.
Vale of Cashmere.
Underneath the entrance to the nature walk is a small separate garden (Michelle Enemark CC Attribution Share Alike)

30 Unexpected Places to Have a Joyful Adventure in New York City

Sponsored by Volkswagen
30

Including Geographic Center of New York City, Vale of Cashmere, and Marie's Crisis

Phyllis Diller
Detail of the Texaco map terrazzo mosaic tile floor of the New York State Pavilion (Tent of Tomorrow), 2009

18 Places to Discover Innovation in Roosevelt Island and NYC

Sponsored by Graduate Hotels
18

Including Holographic Studios Inc., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and Patent Pending

Blockhouse No. 1
Manhattan schist
Barrow Street Garden

The Quietest Spots in America’s Loudest City

Keep calm and immerse yourself in New York's urban arcadia.

10

Including The Elevated Acre, Blockhouse No. 1, and Hallett Nature Sanctuary

The Nostalgia Train.
REACH: New York
The secret entrance to the Knickerbocker Hotel (detail)
Track 61

10 Secrets of the New York City Subway

Stand clear of the closing doors, please.

10

Including Holiday Nostalgia Train, REACH: New York, and The Secret Entrance to the Knickerbocker Hotel

Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
View from the pier

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

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