The place is a different world in New York City at night. It is hectic and rushed during the day, but after sunset, the city turns into a manner that can almost be described as magic. The lights are reflected in the buildings, the music is leaking out of the restaurants, and the streets are vivid with life. I have spent numerous evenings in NYC, some of them in a fancy outfit, attending a concert, and some evenings, I just walk around with a piece of pizza in my hands, and I must admit that the city is pretty at night.
Fun Things to Do in NYC at Night
1. Watch a Broadway Show in Times Square
2. Take in the Skyline from the Top of the Rock or Empire State Building
3. Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge at Night
4. Visit a Rooftop Restaurant or Lounge
5. Explore a Night Cruise Around Manhattan
5 Fun Things to Do in NYC at Night
The following are five of the fun things to do in NYC at night, their budgets, addresses, and their child-friendly status.
1. Watch a Broadway Show in Times Square
Watching a Broadway performance at night is one of the iconic experiences in NYC that cannot be tired of. The initial experience when I entered a Broadway theater, I recall that I felt the air was electric. All people were dressed well, with Playbills, and were about to be taken into another world.
Several dozens of shows are performed during the year, both old musicals and new ones. If you are coming with children (mostly those above 6 years old), then family-friendly options such as The Lion King or Aladdin are the best choice. In the case of adults, it is dramatic plays and edgy musicals that provide something less forgettable and deeper.
Seats in the balcony will be sold at approximately 50 dollars, and premium orchestra seats will be sold at 200 dollars and above. On a tight budget, visit the TKTS booth in Times Square and see what same-day tickets are on sale at a discount.
The fun does not end with the show, and it includes walking through Times Square at night. One feels that he or she is at the centre of the world with the giant LED screens and flashing lights.
Address: Broadway Theater District, Times Square, New York, NY 10036
Average Cost: $50–$200+ per ticket
2. Take in the Skyline from the Top of the Rock or Empire State Building
It is not something you forget when you see NYC at night with its top view. The first time that I had visited the Top of the Rock observation deck, I literally caught my breath. The horizon was infinite, the Empire State Building was shining, and Central Park was a black and serene square in the sea of lights.
The Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building have breathtaking views at night. The average cost of tickets is between 40 and 60 dollars per adult. It does not cost the least, yet it is so worth doing.
It’s very child-friendly too. Children like it when they can see the sights of the city from a new height, and how the city glows like a huge playground of lights. All you have to remember is that it is windy at the top, so carry a jacket.
To have fewer people, you need to come later at night, around 9 or 10 PM, when tour groups are exhausted.
Top of the Rock Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Empire State Building Address: 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001
Average Cost: $40–$60 per person
3. Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge at Night
In case you feel like having fun and being fully free, one of the best things that you can do is to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at night. I have done this on more than one occasion, and it does not get tiresome. The fact that your skyline is behind, the Statue of Liberty glowing in the distance, and the silence of the city underneath all form a peaceful, but sure atmosphere.
The bridge is very well-lit up during the night, and the wooden walkway is romantic and film-like. It is ideal for couples, with friends, or even with families that have older children.
The walk is estimated to last 30-45 minutes based on your pace and frequency of specific stops to take pictures. Remember to keep in the walking path, though, they are fast!
Once you are in Brooklyn, you can visit DUMBO to have some dessert or pizza at night. The Brooklyn Bridge Park offers unbelievable views that are entirely complimentary at night.
Address (Manhattan Entrance): Centre Street & Brooklyn Bridge Promenade, New York, NY 10038
Average Cost: Free
4. Visit a Rooftop Restaurant or Lounge
The rooftops of NYC are unique. It is unreal to be above the noise of the city and have the skyline glowing around you. I have an understanding of one of my best rooftop spots, 230 Fifth. The Empire State Building is towering directly at you and forms one of the best backdrops for your photo in the whole of Manhattan.
Rooftop bars tend to be 21 and above at night, hence adult-friendly. Nevertheless, there are rooftop restaurants that allow children earlier in the evening, where you are having dinner.
Beverages are usually between 15 and 25 dollars, and a meal will be between 20 and 40 dollars each. It is not the most affordable of nights, but it is worth it with its atmosphere.
During colder seasons, when you are going there, most of the rooftops have areas that are heated or even blankets to keep cozy. During the summer, the wind is cool when one has had a hectic day in the city.
230 Fifth Rooftop Address: 230 5th Ave, New York, NY 10001
Average Cost: $15–$25 for drinks; $20–$40 for meals
5. Explore a Night Cruise Around Manhattan
A cruise on the harbor was one of the most memorable moments that I experienced in NYC. It was hard to forget seeing the Statue of Liberty illuminated on the dark sky with soft music playing in the background.
Several companies have nighttime cruises around Manhattan. The boat usually goes around the island, and you can see the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, One World Trade Center, and Lady Liberty all shining in the night, enclosed in the sky.
The price of the tickets is normally between 35 and 60 dollars, according to the cruise. Given that some of them are mere sightseeing tours, others start with dinner or live shows.
This is a highly family-friendly activity, and children usually enjoy spending the night on the water. You just need to carry a jacket as it gets cold on the deck, even in summer. Plus, the sensation of being blanketed by water with the skyline shining around is relaxing as well as exhilarating.
Departure Point Example: Pier 83, W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
Average Cost: $35–$60 per person
Conclusion
NYC is a lively city that is dramatic and full of possibilities, especially at night. And whether you are in a Broadway show, on roof top, passing by the Statue of Liberty, or just strolling on the Brooklyn Bridge, you remember something that cannot be forgotten at night.
In case you are tight on money, free visits, such as the Brooklyn Bridge walk or visiting Times Square at night, are still an amazing experience. When you feel like paying a bit more, you can certainly pay for observation decks and cruises.
Ideal activities, such as the cruises and views of the skyline, are ideal, and others, such as rooftop lounges, are ideal among adults. Whatever you want, NYC at night is a buzz.
The air seems to have some vitality after the sun has set, as though the city is only beginning. And when you get to do it yourself, you will know why some people say that New York never sleeps.
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