Summer’s fast approaching, and while it personally feels like being boiled alive, students are looking forward to having time off to enjoy being outside. It is even more amplified by being in New York City with its crowded streets, beautiful sunsets, green spaces available to everyone, and so much more. For many, summer in the city is about making memories: hanging out with friends, discovering new places, trying new foods, and finding spots that make New York feel exciting again.

But sometimes that’s also a problem. There are so many endless places people can go that it feels overwhelming to choose where to go or where to even start looking. Every “must-visit” cafe on TikTok has a line wrapping around the block, every highly rated restaurant is way out of a student’s budget, and places have become much too crowded to enjoy.

Many students agree that the best parts of summer in New York City are not always the viral places online but rather the experiences that come from simply being out in the city with friends.

“My favorite thing to do in the summer in the city is going out and being with my friends,” said Nafisa Nawshin. “Recently, in the summer I have been going out with my friends a lot, finding specific cafes to eat at, to go sightseeing, or even something simple as visiting stores for the AC. It made my summers more fun and is what I do now.”

For many students, the atmosphere of a place matters just as much as the destination itself.

“I always look for cafes,” Nawshin said. “Cafes are usually the place to go for me since I enjoy the coffee/drinks, and the atmosphere is usually very nice as I like doing projects and other kinds of work with my friends.”

Even with New York City’s high prices, students still believe the city can be enjoyed if you know where to look.

“If you can successfully navigate through the subway system and find cheap places, I’m sure you can enjoy it,” Mowree said.

At the end of the day, summer in New York City is really about finding places that make the city feel fun again.

So… Where Are These Places?!

Luckily for us, New York City still has plenty of places worth exploring this summer. Some are classics that everybody already knows and loves, while others are places not very widespread that deserve way more attention.

The Classics (We’ve all heard about these.)

1. Governor’s Island

This one’s a given. Are you kidding? A $2.75 ferry ride away and being able to have picnics or walk around green space while checking out vendors and shops that pop up during the summer? Sounds like a dream. 

If you’re going there by yourself, put on your perfect playlist and walk around the island or even bike around! Have a day to yourself, and just relax your mind. 

There are countless events happening on Governor’s Island over the summer, but the most notable would be the New York City Poetry Festival on July 18 + 19 in Nolan Park, where more than 100 collectives and organizations bring their voices to outdoor stages. They offer food and drinks from many different food trucks and vendors while being able to enjoy local art, books, music, theater, and nature. For no price at all!

Check out other events happening on Governor’s Island this summer!

2. Staten Island Ferry

This is also such a classic; you have to do this at least once! Yes, it does get crowded during rush hour, but the scenery is absolutely worth it. You get a completely free ferry ride while watching the Statue of Liberty, enjoying the Manhattan skyline, and the water reflecting the sunset if you time it right. 

3. New York Public Library

People often underestimate the value of libraries during the summer. The NYPL hosts countless summer events ranging from book discussions and movie screenings to workshops and cultural events. Even outside of scheduled programming, the library is one of the best places to escape the heat, read quietly, or even just explore the place. 

The New York Public Library is known for its intricate structure and beautiful designs, so take pictures and get lost in the art and culture that you will be able to absorb just by walking around. 

And, it’s just convenient that Bryant Park is around the corner with its own food and vendors and workshops to do. 

4. Bryant Park

It’s only appropriate that we talk about this park after mentioning it just previously. 

Bryant Park during the summer genuinely feels like a movie set; there is always something happening. Movie nights, live performances, people playing chess, having picnics, or just walking around the park and having a moment to themselves. 

The lawn fills up quickly during movie nights, so showing up early is practically a survival skill at this point. Bring your own snacks, a blanket, and friends willing to put up with the heat and crowd for several hours. It’s actually a lot of fun!

Despite being directly in Midtown Manhattan, it somehow feels a lot calmer than the streets surrounding it. 

5. Central Park

Of course there is no way I can write a summer article without mentioning THE Central Park. It just can’t happen.

It is the place to have a picnic, take aesthetic pictures, listen to music, or lie in the grass doing absolutely nothing. The park somehow always manages to feel different every single time you go. There are always street performers, random events, people roller skating, and tourists trying to figure out the complicated maps. 

The best thing about Central Park is that everyone experiences it differently. You can do quite literally anything you want in the huge park; take walks, get lost, and find the hidden spots and waterfalls. 

Highly recommend waiting for sunset. It’s breathtaking.

6. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)

Don’t even get me started on this museum. This place has genuinely taken my heart each and every time I have visited. There is just so much to see and so much to do that you won’t even get bored. 

Even if you’re not someone who regularly visits museums, there is genuinely something for everyone there. One minute you are walking through an ancient Chinese showcase, and the next you are staring at beautiful stained glass windows hand-painted and carefully curated. The museum is so massive that every visit feels completely different depending on where you decide to wander. 

Due to The Met being pay-what-you-can (for New York City residents), it’s the perfect place to hang out with friends and escape the heat for a few hours. The rooftop garden is also one of the biggest highlights during the summer. You get incredible skyline views overlooking Central Park while surrounded by exhibits and perfect for people-watching.

Give this museum a try; there is something for everyone! Grab a drink or your sketchbook, and just walk around.

7. The Museum of the City of New York

The Museum of the City of New York focuses entirely on the culture, history, fashion, music, activism, and how the city came to be. It’s perfectly curated to show big milestones and stories of all those who have lived here before us and made New York what it is today.

You are able to learn about neighborhoods, movements, artists, immigration, street culture, and moments in history that shaped the city and continue to do so to this day. The best part is how much quieter it is; it feels like a step back from the crowded streets of Manhattan and the idyllic space to take your time looking around. 

Check out the floor about the evolution of dance throughout history; there are so many interactive dances you are able to do. All the way from ballroom to hip-hop and even vogue—it’s so much fun!

8. Brooklyn Bridge

Alright, enough about museums! Although New York City’s summer is notorious for its humidity, walking this bridge is a must—especially during sunset and nighttime. The bridge gives you views of Lower Manhattan, the East River, and nearby buildings and boats moving underneath while the entire city lights up. 

Yes, it gets insanely crowded, and yes, tourists will stop suddenly in front of you to take pictures. And yes, there will be street photographers hoping to make a quick buck off you. But, trust me, it’s still just as magical every single time. 

One of the best ways to experience it is by simply taking your time walking across the bridge. Bring headphones, walk with friends or alone, take plenty of pictures, and just enjoy the slight wind. Once you make it across, consider exploring DUMBO, getting food from nearby carts, and eating by the waterfront!

The Hidden Gems

While the classic NYC summer spots deserve all the love they get, some of the best places in the city are the ones people accidentally stumble upon. These places are often overlooked for places that are much more trendy and flashy. Though, that’s not to say no one knows these places; they are just a little bit harder to find, hidden in neighborhoods or between subway stations. 

Check these places out during the summer; you won’t be disappointed!

1. Café Habibti

Café Habibti feels warm and welcoming the second you walk in.

The café has a cozy atmosphere with its beautifully decorated (feels almost like royalty) interior that makes it perfect for long conversations, studying, journaling, or really anything you might have in mind. It is one of those places that somehow feels both trendy and comforting at the same time without trying too hard.

The drinks and desserts are genuinely worth the hype, and the space itself feels calm enough to spend hours in without realizing how much time has passed. Highly recommend ordering a Caramel Latte with Date Foam and a mango soft serve—it’s the perfect treat after a hot summer day out. The prices can be on the higher side, but it truly is worth it!

2. Book Club Bar

Book Club Bar is basically every book lover’s dream.

Half bookstore and half café/bar, the space is cozy, creative, and quietly buzzing with a gentle hum from the patrons at all hours. During the daytime, people sit reading near the shelves while others work, study, or catch up with friends over drinks and pastries. At night, the atmosphere becomes more lively with events, conversations, and people wandering around the bookstore.

The outside area is a perfect spot to have long chats about everything and nothing with friends or even get some work done without being interrupted or distracted. The service is amazing, and it doesn’t take hours for your drink to be done—they make it in front of you!

Even if you are not someone who reads constantly, it is still worth visiting just for the atmosphere alone. It feels like one of those places that captures the downtown New York vibe perfectly.

3. Greenacre Park

Finding a hidden waterfall in New York City sounds fake, but somehow Greenacre Park exists.

Tucked away in between buildings and the hustle of the city, the park feels surprisingly peaceful, considering it is still in Manhattan. The sound of the waterfall alone makes the entire area feel calmer, almost like stepping into a completely different city for a few minutes.

It is the perfect place to sit quietly, cool down after walking around all day, and just sit with your own thoughts or journal it out while sipping on your perfect drink. 

4. Generation Records

Generation Records feels like stepping into a completely different era of New York music culture.

The store is packed, floor-to-ceiling, with vinyl records, CDs, posters, band merchandise, and shelves so crowded it feels impossible to fully explore everything in one visit. Music lovers (like me!) could easily spend hours flipping through albums and discovering artists they have never heard before or getting excited about seeing ones they know deeply about.

There is something really nostalgic about the space, even for people who did not grow up buying physical music. Every corner feels chaotic in the best possible way, but it feels great being surrounded by people who share the same passion.

5. Urban Glass

UrbanGlass is probably one of the coolest hidden creative spaces in the city.

The studio focuses on glass art and hosts workshops, exhibitions, and live demonstrations where visitors can watch artists create detailed glass pieces right in front of them. Seeing molten glass being shaped into art in real time honestly feels unreal.

Even if you are not an artist yourself, the space is incredibly interesting to walk through because there is always something new happening. Although the pieces are expensive, it is still an amazing place to visit to see the ingenuity and creativity of artists. It is one of those places that reminds you how much creativity exists throughout New York City if you are willing to look for it.

All Set?

So, we all have plans this summer, right? We better. Go out and explore these places with your friends, family, or even by yourself. Make memories in the greatest city this country has to offer (yes, biased).

New York City during the summer can feel overwhelming, loud, and unbearably humid, but it is also one of the few places where you can stumble into something unforgettable on a random day. 

That is the best part about summer in the city: there is always something waiting to be discovered. You just have to go out there and have fun while doing it! Make this summer unforgettable and discover places you have never been to—that’s the fun of New York City after all.