21 Things To Do Alone In NYC Don’t Miss!

Looking for the greatest things to do in New York City on your own?

Then you’ve come to the correct place!

With its vibrant and hyper-social image, New York may not appear to be the finest location to be alone; nonetheless, nothing could be farther from the reality.

Actually, New York City is ideal for solitary travels, maybe due to the sheer quantity of things to do.

There are several museums to visit, shops to browse, parks to visit, and shows to watch around the city, and you don’t need a large party to really enjoy them. In other circumstances, they may be best enjoyed alone; there is no need to quarrel with others about what to do and when to do it; simply take your luggage and go!

You’ll never feel totally alone in New York City. There will be lots of folks on their own at any of these locations who are eager to begin up a chat. Who can say? You could come away with a new buddy or two!

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to schedule a solo vacation to New York — or just to go out and do more things on your own — this is it! Continue reading to find out about some of our favorite activities to do in NYC by yourself.

At the Schwarzman Building, get lost among the stacks.

There are few places in New York that are as quiet as the Schwarzman Building. Much of the area is off-limits unless you’re on a guided tour, so it’s best to go with a guide. You’ll be able to browse through old publications archives, rows of wise study carrels, and, most of all, the magnificent Rose Main Reading Room. Because the room is so quiet, you should probably go alone (social whispering is heavily frowned upon).

Drink coffee with local experts.

Rather of sipping Keurig coffee in your closet-sized apartment, attend a coffee-cupping session at one of New York’s neighborhood roasteries. Sessions are often held a few times each month and are guided by resident specialists from suppliers such as Blue Bottle, Birch, and Toby’s Estate. They’ll guide you through their procedures for roasting, grinding, and making coffee and espresso beverages, all while providing lots of free samples.

Chess at Washington Square Park

In Washington Square Park, whether you’re a newbie or a grand master, you’ll find a ready opponent. Every day, rain or shine, the city’s most devoted (undeclared) chess players congregate at the park’s chess-board tables to await eager challenges.They’ll have everything ready for you; all you have to do is show up.

Ride your bike across one of the city’s bridges.

Biking with other people on bike lanes as wide as most walk-up halls is inconvenient. Take a solo trip across one of the city’s many bridges instead than hollering directions over your shoulder while rushing single-file through a taxi-choked crossroads. The Brooklyn Bridge should be avoided at all costs (the bike lane is equally as packed as most Midtown sidewalks), but a trip across the Williamsburg or Manhattan Bridge should be OK.

Attend a screening at an “alternative” theater.

Rather than going to an AMC theater, go to one of the city’s many independent theaters. If you want to order a burger and an Old Fashioned right to your seat, go to Nitehawk or The Alamo, or go to Metrograph for an extensive film collection. Visit Film Forum for revivals; the French Institute for French films; and Anthology for a bare-bones popcorn-free cinema experience (which is typically populated with solo cinephiles).

Work in an urban farm as a volunteer

If you dislike dining alone, you might feel better at ease gathering food on your own. While New York does not have an abundance of farmland, it does have a significant number of rooftop gardens, greenhouses, and urban farms, the most of which are available to volunteers. The Brooklyn Grange, located atop a warehouse building in the Navy Yard, is the city’s biggest and provides classes ranging from pickling to beekeeping. On a lesser scale, Red Hook Community Farm, Eagle Street Rooftop Farm, and Hell’s Kitchen Farm Project allow you to volunteer or simply purchase fresh vegetables.

Williamsburg thrift store

Sure, having friends around for a second perspective while shopping for clothes is good, but hovering in changing rooms and delivering “helpful” feedback on hideous second-hand overalls is more stressful than entertaining. If you don’t want to spend your whole month’s rent on socks from Opening Ceremony, head to Williamsburg, where you’ll find an astounding amount of secondhand stores. Some of the greatest finds can be found at Beacon’s Closet, Buffalo Exchange, and Awoke Vintage (at the lowest price point). And if you’re shopping for records, Rough Trade is by far the finest place to go — as you buy, you can listen to as much vinyl as you want on the store’s headphones.

The Elizabeth Street Garden

Trees are a great way to get away from the city. But green settings like Central Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens are sometimes so crowded with visitors and hard-working Instagram celebrities that it’s difficult to feel like you’re getting away from the city. Spend a day walking around the Elizabeth Street Garden, located just off Spring Street in SoHo, for some true refuge (without actually leaving Manhattan). There are vintage statues, old park seats, and plenty of longtime New Yorkers who don’t want their refuge to be overrun (sorry).

Visit the Hayden Planetarium to look at the stars.

While lying in a recliner that can only be characterized as the La-Z-Boy of the future and listening closely to Neil deGrasse Tyson narrate a riveting speculative space adventure, you’re unlikely to want company. The whole theatre, which is located in the Natural History Museum, is designed to provide spectators with an immersive experience, so towards the end of the play, you may need a few minutes to re-adjust to Earth’s gravitational pull.

Look through the books at an independent bookstore.

Despite Amazon, New York still has a plethora of privately owned bookshops. The Strand boasts by far the most extensive selection, but smaller stores like McNally Jackson and Blue Stockings include café seating for people seeking to acquire a new book and bunker down for a while. If you want to spend some time getting lost in the stacks, go visit Three Lives in the West Village, where the books are organized in no particular order to allow readers to come upon titles by chance.

Take a stroll in Central Park.

A leisurely stroll in Central Park can’t be topped, so it had to make my list of activities to do alone in NYC. The park is also rather large, so you could easily split this into two days if you wanted to!

Don’t worry, you may wander across the park on your own throughout the day without fear of being attacked. Locals, visitors, event tour groups, and bikers frequent the park.

It’s the city’s hub, and many people love spending time there, making it an excellent pick for things to do alone in NYC.

Pay a visit to the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty is next on my list of things to do alone in New York City.

There are other ways to visit the Statue of Liberty (I’ve written about many of them here), but the classic option is undoubtedly the boat journey, which includes entrance to Liberty Island.

If you’re visiting New York, this is a must-see; it’s one of the city’s primary attractions, and it’s simply one of those really iconic sites.

Take a walking tour to see the street art.

Another fantastic walking tour, this time through some of the city’s top street art and graffiti locations.

When you’re traveling alone in NYC, I recommend joining a tour group (particularly a walking tour), because it’s a great way to meet new people.

This trip is terrific, and there are so many fantastic sites where you can shoot some great images. This tour is fantastic, so it had to make my list of things to do alone in NYC.

Ice Cream Museum

The Museum of Ice Cream is next on my list of things to do alone in NYC. This is a completely odd, amusing, little strange, but quite intriguing museum that is well worth a visit.

It’s one of those museums that you’d only find in a city like New York, so add it to your list of things to do alone in NYC.

Visit the High Line.

The High Line park is next on my list of things to do alone in NYC. The High Line is a public park built on top of ancient abandoned train lines in New York City’s Soho neighborhood.

It’s a very unique location that changes with the seasons and has some lovely spots to sit and relax while taking in the city views.

On a clear day, it’ll be crowded, so get there early to escape the crowds. Oh, and it’s completely free! This is a fantastic option for things to do alone in NYC!

Go to the Color Factory.

Color Factory is one of the more unusual things on this list of activities to do alone in NYC. This is a new immersive art installation/museum that will change your perception of color and art.

It’s incredibly unusual, a lot of fun, and you can easily spend a few hours there (since there’s so much to see and do).

I recommend making a reservation online ahead of time because it can become rather crowded, especially now that people are realizing how fantastic it is! This is without a doubt one of the coolest things to do in NYC by yourself!

Have a sloppy dinner.

Slurping ramen and splashing broth everywhere is best done in happy, unapologetically anonymous surroundings, notably at Mu Ramen. Even better, if you arrive as a single at the LIC sensation, you have a far higher chance of avoiding the regular two-hour wait.

Make it more interesting

Seeing a live performance may be a thrilling experience. But what about waiting between sets with no one to chat to? Less amazing. Smalls, a tight but stylish West Village basement bar where musicians jam for up to three hours at a time, means you won’t have to pretend to text while another band sets up.

At the Metrograph see a movie.

The Metrograph is not your typical theater. Their film catalog is otherworldly, bringing an independent fan’s ideal to life.

You should check out their website to see what’s on when you’re in town and then arrange your plans accordingly. Typically, you may see a movie in the afternoon or evening.

When you’ve picked unusual titles from the Library Hotel’s shelves and viewed an obscure independent film, you’ve officially become the ruler of solo travel.

Explore the shelves of Three Lives.

Why not pick up a new novel for some companionship before your evening meal? This final destination is also on the West Side, so it’s a great way to end your High Line trip.

Three Lives is not your typical Barnes & Noble (though there’s nothing wrong with a gleaming Barnes & Noble). Three Lives has taken on a life of its own. Their shelves are stocked with carefully selected books that aren’t always on the New York Times Best Seller list.

That is what makes these books so enchanting. Each shelf has a pirate’s treasure filled with gold money. Three Lives is truly an experience in and of itself.

Visit the Shakespeare Garden in Central Park (from SGD 42)

Are you wondering what to do in New York City by yourself? Then Garden tours in New York are a great option. It’s fantastic because you won’t be able to get over the fact that you’re in a peaceful paradise. All of this as the world’s busiest metropolis erupts with bustle around you.

Central Park, like the Brooklyn Bridge, is frequently photographed. So much so that the park is worth a stroll around when in New York. On Fifth Avenue, I prefer to enter through The Plaza Hotel. While you’re there, you’ll notice several horse-drawn carriages and fascinating street art.

The Shakespeare Garden is a hidden gem within this internationally renowned masterpiece. Rosemaries and pansies swing in the air here, an homage to the Shakespearean figure Ophelia. You can see how certain thistles come to life, much like they did in Much Ado About Nothing. The best part is that you’ll be able to see a white mulberry tree that was grafted from a tree Shakespeare planted in 1602! Check out some of Central Park’s greatest fountains while you’re there.