The 52 Best Things To Do in New York in July 2025

At SummerStage Festival, you can visit over 100 concerts & shows for free in many parks all over the city. It’s one of the most popular summer events in New York and not only a MUST DO for locals. If you’re in New York this summer, be sure to check out one of the shows!

My tip: These are all summer festivals in NYC you can visit this year.

The sailing cruises are back to the rivers of New York City. Sailing in New York City is one of my favorite things to do in NYC in July. There’s nothing better than watching the sunset and enjoying a glass of wine onboard. Here are some amazing options that are taking place right now, with safety measures of course:

My tip: these are the best cruises to enjoy the sunset in NYC.

Attention food enthusiasts: NYC Restaurant Week will be back in July, meaning you can look forward to enjoying cheap meals all over the city. Thousands of travelers and locals look forward to this event every year because it’s a great opportunity to try new cuisines or simply enjoy top-notch meals at decent prices.

What is NYC Restaurant Week?

NYC Restaurant Week is a bi-annual event that takes place every summer and winter since 1982. Back then only a few restaurants participated in the promotion, whereas this year’s event counts over 380 participating restaurants. Over time, the length of the promotion has been extended, so that now we can enjoy almost a full month of great, affordable food instead of just one week.

When? tba

For another 4th of July New York event that’s just as iconic as the fireworks show, come by Coney Island’s 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. Taking place at noon on July 4th, 2022, Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest pits the world’s greatest competitive eaters against each other in one of the most well-known contests.

Officially sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating, this event is often witnessed by thousands of people. The current record for the event is 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, held by Joey Chestnut. Will you be there to see the record get broken?

This free event is open to the public and takes place at Maimonides Park, at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

This summer, there are also free live outdoor concerts at Hudson Yards! Every Wednesday from June through August, the events take place at Public Square & Gardens on the Wells Fargo Stage (by The Bowery Presents).

Following each concert, you’ll find various after-hour events at a few select bars and restaurants in The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards. There will be special food & drinks and live DJs will provide you with cool music.

For more information and the full line-up, check out the official website.

When? TBA

Hudson River Park invites you to dance! Sunset Salsa at Hudson River Park takes place every Thursday this summer. Talía Castro-Pozo, dubbed the „Woman of Salsa“ by Latina Magazine, is a professional dancer and is skilled in all dances from Ballroom to Jazz.

At Sunset Salsa, beginners and advanced dancers can dance under the stars and enjoy themselves. This event is free, donations are welcome!

When? tba
Where? Hudson River Park, Pier 76

Join Broadway by the Boardwalk on Mondays in July at Hudson River Park’s Clinton Cove to witness performances by the theater’s finest. Broadway by the Boardwalk showcases stars of the stage in free performances on the water.

When? tba

New York City’s largest festival of cuisine, culture, and community is back for the third time! This year, the Uptown Night Market will take place every Thursday from April to October in West Harlem. Celebrating diverse cultures from around the world, the festival will feature a variety of performances and activities for the whole family.

Unique and tasty foods from around the globe are offered by numerous food vendors. This festival is a MUST for all food lovers!

Who doesn’t know the story of Aladdin and his magic lamp? On Broadway, the stage show by Casey Nicholaw enchants hundreds of spectators daily. Jasmine, the genie in the bottle, and the flying carpet make this musical a favorite of many kids and adults alike.

You should also check out my article with the best Broadway shows in NYC.

The Rooftop Cinema Club in Midtown features TOP movies every year! Starting in May, you can watch different movies on a rooftop every day.

Important: You have to buy tickets for the Rooftop Cinema Club in advance! You can find the complete list of films as well as tickets on the Rooftop Cinema Club website.

The exact dates and movies are yet to be announced.

This is a really cool event that can be booked several times a month: discover New York from the water – and even better: from a kayak! You can start at the Manhattan Community Boathouse (Pier 96 at the Hudson River) or at the Brooklyn Bridge Park between Pier 1 and Pier 2 (every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday until the end of August). 

Seats are limited, so be quick to secure your preferred date – here for the Manhattan Community Boathouse and here for the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse.

On a roof of the Brooklyn Navy Yards you can sit in a real winery: Rooftop Reds grows wine here, which you can taste and enjoy at their Rooftop Red Tours & Tastings!

In July you can watch movies with a view of the skyline and a glass of wine in your hand. Tickets are available here.

This year marks the 25th year of the Movie With A View and is part of the Free Summer Movies that take place throughout New York. It’s a free event organized by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy with a new theme each year.

Thursday evenings in July and August

We have already tested many dinner cruises in New York for you. One that we have liked the best of all so far is the Bateaux Dinner Cruise. With a glass roof, the ship heads towards the Brooklyn Bridge. Especially when the weather is nice in the summer month of July, the wine or prosecco tastes especially good on the outdoor area of the boat.

You can find more unique dinner cruises in NYC. fantastic brunch cruises, lunch cruises and jazz cruises in this overview.

Films on the Green is a free outdoor French film festival, that takes place from May 31 to September 6 in the parks in Manhattan and Brooklyn. This year, the festival features 11 captivating films celebrating the excitement, competition, and triumphs of sports.

The lineup includes diverse sports films, from adrenaline-pumping boxing matches to the graceful strokes of artistic swimming, appealing to audiences of all ages. Discover the resilience of real-life soccer legends, or immerse yourself in the high-stakes world of championship tournaments like the Tour de France.

The exact dates for 2025 will be announced soon.

West Side Fest is an all-day, free event taking place in NYC for the second time this year. The festival is hosted by the West Side Cultural Network, a collaboration of more than 19 museums, parks, and performing arts & cultural facilities centers, all located within a mile of historic New York.

Visitors can explore participating museums and cultural institutions with free admission and participate in numerous free activities.

Participating Organizations

Center for Art Research and Alliances
Chelsea Factory
Dia Chelsea
Hill Art Foundation
High Line
Hudson Guild
Hudson River Park
Joyce Theater
The Kitchen
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
Little Island
NYC AIDS Memorial
Poster House
Print Center New York
Rubin Museum of Art
The Shed
Westbeth
West Village Rehearsal Co-Op
White Columns
Whitney Museum of American Art

Picnicking in Central Park is always a must-do activity during the summer. Countless large and small lawns invite you to relax, making for quite a few spots that are suitable for picnicking in the park, not just the popular Sheep Meadow.

Bring a blanket and some snacks and then enjoy your picnic on one of the beautiful lawns. The largest one is the Great Lawn which is also used for summer concerts. Another nice spot for a picnic is Cherry Hill by the Bow Bridge, which has been the backdrop for several movies.

Between May and October, major international sporting events are shown on a big screen at The Backyard at Hudson Yards. You can watch Formula 1, tennis tournaments, golf, baseball playoffs, men’s & women’s soccer, and more on the approximately 30-foot screen.

more information coming soon

Baseball is a typical New York sport. Whether you’re a fan of the New York Yankees or the Mets, both baseball teams are absolutely worth checking out.

Find the best New York Yankees Tickets and New York Mets Tickets here!

The view of the city from one of the observation decks is just incredible! With the Top of the Rock, The Edge Hudson Yards, and the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt you have three observation decks from which you can see the beautiful Central Park. And then there’s the One World Observatory and the Empire State Building that give you another amazing point of view. You will love it!

July in New York can get really hot and humid. Want to escape the heat of the city? There are many destinations near New York City that you can reach perfectly with a day trip from New York in the summer. What do the perfect weekend getaways look like for me this summer? Being by the water, enjoying nature and taking advantage of the good weather to explore major cities like Boston and Philadelphia.

Here you find the Best Summer Weekend Getaways from NYC

One of the best things to do in July in New York? Visit the free Bryant Park Film Festival! In the heart of Manhattan, people gather during the summer months with blankets and chairs they’ve brought themselves to relax at the outdoor movie theater and concerts by the New York Philharmonics. Bryant Park is less than 5 minutes from Times Square, surrounded by tall trees.

My tip: This is the complete guide to free summer movies in NYC.

If you’re in New York this summer, be sure to add the Bryant Park Picnic Performances to your itinerary! These free concerts bring together many of the things I love about New York: great surroundings, cool events, and you’ll be among locals.

The Bryant Park Picnic Performances are part of the free concert series that happens every summer in New York.

Line-Up for July 2025 will be announced soon.

Every second Wednesday in July, the concert series “Jazz at Pier 84” takes place – New York and jazz are a combination that I like a lot. You sit at the Hudson River and the best part? It’s even free because it’s a project of Hudson River Park and the Jazz Foundation of America.

To get more details check out the event calendar.

Gantry Plaza State Park is a beautiful escape right on the East River in Long Island City. The park is very beautifully laid out, with many wooden benches (also with ergonomic design) and dunes with sand and a small green space. There are apartments and small restaurants and cafes lined up on the back of the park. The piers also add a nice touch to the park as well.

It’s the perfect place to take a stroll while enjoying the Manhattan skyline across the river. Also in sight is the beautiful 59th street bridge that connects Manhattan and Queens.

The New York Philharmonic is the oldest symphony orchestra in the US, founded back in 1842. When I first saw them at the Free Concerts in the Park I was very impressed! If you love art & culture, you should definitely visit the New York Philharmonic!

Photo: Diamond Schmitt Architects

The Honorable William Wall, also called „Willy Wall“, is the floating clubhouse of the Manhattan Yacht Club. You can find the clubhouse in New York Harbor north of Ellis Island between May and October. You may wonder what makes it so special. Well, this is definitely an insider’s spot, which gives you amazing views of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty – you can also see nice sunsets from here.

One of the most sought-after boat tours during New York’s summer is the exhilarating ride aboard “The Beast” speedboat. This custom-built vessel, reaching speeds of 45 mph, offers a thrilling journey toward the Statue of Liberty. Brace yourself for an adrenaline-pumping experience and prepare to get splashed as you embark on this unforgettable adventure—an absolute must for thrill-seekers!

Located near the Meatpacking District and the High Line, Little Island stands as one of New York’s latest and most unique attractions. Situated on 132 stunning tulip-shaped concrete stilts in the Hudson River, the park offers not only breathtaking views but also hosts a variety of events and art exhibitions throughout the warmer months.

The Seaport Cinema is back! Usually between June and September, you can watch exciting movies once a month in a great location. You can enjoy snacks and drinks while watching the movie on a big screen. Choose between popcorn, pretzel,s and sweets, or have some tater tots and chicken fingers to satisfy your appetite. Beer and cocktails will quench your thirst.

You should arrive early to get the best seats. The motto is: first come, first served! The best thing about this event? It is FREE of charge!

When? tba
Where? The Rooftop at Pier 17, 89 South Street

Celebrate National Tequila Day in one of the tequila bars of the city. My personal best-of list you find small and inconspicuous Mexican bars to hip rooftop bars where you can drink high-class and especially authentic tequila and mezcals.

My tip: These are the Best Tequila and Mezcal Bars in NYC Right Now

The Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum is special since it’s the only floating museum in NYC. Not only historically significant military and maritime vehicles can be found here but also a collection of museum ships. This aircraft carrier is docked on the Hudson River in Hell’s Kitchen (between 45th and 47th Street). Kids and adults alike will like this museum as it shows many interesting artifacts regarding the US military and maritime history.

Tip: Free Summer Movie at the Intrepid is back! You can watch a free movie in this great location.

When? July 25, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Start at the Hudson Yards and then walk down the High Line towards the Meatpacking District. Along the way, you can find many nice photo spots as well as cafés and restaurants. One of my favorite rooftop bars, the Gallow Green, can also be found near the High Line.

My tip: These are the best spots along the High Line for me.

On July 14, New York celebrates the French Independence Day. There are many events all over the city that revolve around the theme of France. Most events are free and many are family friendly as well. Enjoy French food (our tip: The Little Prince in SoHo), live music, and many different street festivals spread throughout the city.

Smorgasburg Food Market is one of the hottest open air food markets in New York City. People come here to meet, eat, drink and enjoy the view of the Manhattan skyline on the East River Waterfront during the warmer months. Smorgasburg means “a mixture of food” and offers a huge selection of small stalls. It takes place in Central Park during all of the Summer Stage Events from May to September.

Explore the neighborhoods of Chinatown, SoHo, and Little Italy on your own or with a tour guide. No matter which way you decide to go, you will discover many things and will surely find one or two really good restaurants and shops here.

My tip: Find out more about SoHo in my SoHo Insider Guide here.

The bar Dear Irving on Hudson is a real insider tip. Located very close to Times Square, you can look down on Manhattan’s „urban canyons“ from here and be relatively undisturbed. The bar is small and cozy and not yet as crowded as many others in the neighborhood. The cocktail menu is not that big, but the cocktails are really good.

My tip: These are the best rooftop bars in Manhattan.

The Bronx Night Market is one of the best places to find foods that celebrate New York City’s most northern borough. Each spring, this event supports the Bronx’s food scene by offering world-class events that are affordable. Be ready to celebrate cuisine and culture, as it represents NYC’s diverse offerings and encourages people from all around the city to experience this borough.

You’ll find just about every type of food, from ice cream, latkes, and pastries, to tamales, soul food, and vegan options. There are also other types of local merchants and live entertainment.

Twice a year, the sun sets at a specific angle. The streets and avenues of New York are set up as a grid. During this time, the sun will align perfectly in between the skyscrapers. This phenomenon is called Manhattanhenge and can be observed in May and July. Do not miss out on this one. What’s even just as astonishing is how many people show up and take pictures of this special occasion.

According to the American Museum of Natural History these are the dates:

Saturday, July 12, 2025: 8:20 pm (full sun)
Sunday, July 13, 2025: 8:21 pm (half sun)

Governors Island is a top destination to visit in July in NYC. The island provides a serene escape from the city’s hustle and bustle, featuring expansive green areas, historical landmarks, and breathtaking waterfront vistas. With a plethora of outdoor concerts, art exhibits, and recreational options such as biking and picnicking, Governors Island offers abundant opportunities for leisure and exploration during the summer season. Plus: it’s car-free!

Visit this celebrated oyster bar aboard the historic wooden schooner, Sherman Zwicker right on the Hudson River. Hudson River Park was able to set up a pretty sweet deal for the Grand Banks, which now has a row of tables for two running along the south side of the pier. By doing so, they are now able to serve drinks within that space.

This is my favorite spot in New York City!

Read more about Grand Banks – or check out Pilot Brooklyn!

First off, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is an architectural masterpiece. Second, but most importantly, it is the permanent home of a large collection of art named after its founder. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright the bizarrely shaped building is one of the most famous in NYC. Not only is the outside spectacular, but it is constantly expanding its permanent collection. Also, many special exhibitions have been showcased here throughout the years.

My tip: These are the Best Museums in NYC

Bleecker Street is a pleasant change from the turbulent Herald Square or 5th Avenue. It is considered one of the best shopping streets in the world. Why? There are many small and hip designer stores, record stores and second hand stores and lesser known retail brands.

Anyone who’s a fan of New York City’s contemporary art scene knows the name, Jeffrey Deitch. He’s an esteemed curator and art dealer who’s best known for his gallery that operated from 1996 until 2010 called Deitch Projects, where he curated projects such as Post Human and Lives. After shuttering his art gallery, Deitch moved to Los Angeles, where he served as the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) director until 2013.

My tip: These are the best art exhibitions in NYC and here you find my complete (!) guide to Contemporary Art in New York.

July can get really hot in NYC! Escape the heat of the city and spend a relaxing day at the beach! Brighton Beach in Coney Island is only one example. If you don’t want to be in Coney Island, you can also check out some of our favorite beaches in New York here.

Summer on the Hudson is a yearly outdoor arts and culture festival held at Riverside Park & West Harlem Piers Park. Taking place between 59th and 153rd Streets along the Hudson River, the event features live DJs, exhibitions, special performances for children, and outdoor movie screenings. Best of all, admission to all activities is completely free!

South Beach Staten Island is a gorgeous beach that invites you to relax and take a walk. Why fly all the way to Miami when you can find a South Beach on Staten Island? The wooden beach promenade is about 1.5 miles long and is the fourth longest in the world. From here, there is a beautiful view of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. On the boardwalk, there are bocce and picnic areas, as well as other sports facilities. The beach area is really beautiful and absolutely worthwhile.

One of our favorite things to do in Chinatown NYC is grabbing an ice cream from here and stroll through the busy streets. With amazing flavors and many unique ones at that, this is a must-try! The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory offers some of the most unique ice cream flavors in New York City!

My tip: check out our 30+ best ice cream shops in New York.

Every Sunday during the summer months of July and August, the Harlem Meer Performance Festival is held. It is a free event held at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (elevation 110th Street and 5th Avenue). The Harlem Meer Performance Festival was founded in 1993 to celebrate the restoration of the Harlem Meer and the surrounding 225 acres above 96th Street.

This year, you can experience the Harlem Meer Performance Festival from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm every Sunday from July 13 to August 17, 2025.

If you take a jet ski tour, you will be guided along many of New York’s famous landmarks. A guide is always there and brings you to the spots where you have the best view. The jet skis can go really fast (up to 55 mph) and you just cruise through the water. It’s fun, and action is definitely guaranteed. Just make sure to be careful. There are several providers of these tours, take a look at Sea the City Jet Ski,  Jetty Jumpers or Rockaway Jetski!

4th of July is one of the most important holidays in the USA and is a big deal here in New York City. Independence Day is the celebration of the United States as a free and independent nation. This day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It is a great day to have a BBQ and celebrate America’s Birthday.

If there’s one fireworks show to see when you visit New York City, it’s the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show. One of the most iconic fireworks displays in the United States, this is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip.

Want to read more? This is our ultimate Guide to 4th of July in New York.

In collaboration with Carnegie Hall, Music on the Green is a free concert series inspired by Maya Lin’s Ghost Forest that brings artists from the Hall’s Ensemble Connect to reflect on the themes of the exhibition. The concerts are usually held every Wednesday from beginning of July through August on the Oval Lawn.

Here you can find more details.

Info: Not confirmed, yet!