New Yorkers lead busy lives — and that goes double for those fortunate enough to call this city home on a permanent basis. With so much to do and see, you’d think there wouldn’t be many spare moments left over in the average New Yorker’s week — but it turns out that isn’t exactly the case. In fact, with everything from museums to sports events and everything in between now on offer, it can feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day to see and do everything we want to here in this great city. That being said, there are still plenty of opportunities to get out and about on a Sunday in NYC if you know where to look. Whether you have family visiting or simply want an excuse to leave the house after a long and exhausting week at work, here are our top things to do on a Sunday in NYC:
The New York Times: Culture and Art
First and foremost, if you’re staying in New York on a Sunday purely for the culture, we’d recommend checking out what’s on at one of the city’s many museums. There are dozens to choose from, but if the art and culture bug really bites you, we’d recommend checking out one of the following: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, The Whitney Museum of American Art, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Jewish Museum, The New Museum, The New York Public Library, The New-York Historical Society and The New-York Historical Society. All of these are open to the public every Sunday, and you can find out more about what’s on and when by visiting their websites. Alternatively, if you are visiting New York on a Sunday, but don’t quite know what to do, you could visit one of the city’s many rooftop bars or rooftops that have stunning views of the city and are open to the public. Or, if you fancy bringing the whole family along, there are plenty of free museums that welcome visitors every weekend.
Sports Events
If you’re a sports fan visiting New York on a Sunday, we have some good news for you — you don’t have to miss a single game. Whether you’re a tennis or baseball fan, or just fancy watching two of New York’s most famous teams battle it out on the pitch, there are plenty of sporting events to choose from in New York on a Sunday. If you’re a tennis fan, you may want to head to the Arthur Ashe Stadium, home to both the U.S. Open and the New York Open — two of the biggest tennis events in the world. Baseball fans can catch the New York Yankees or the New York Mets at their stadiums in the Bronx or Queens respectively. Alternatively, if you fancy something a little less competitive, you can head to Madison Square Garden to catch one of the city’s famous basketball teams in action.
Free Exhibitions
If culture is what you’re after, but you’re not particularly interested in visiting a museum, we have some good news for you. There are a number of free exhibitions and other events taking place in New York on a Sunday that are well worth checking out. If you’re interested in the history of New York City and its connection to Broadway, you’ll definitely want to head over to the New-York Historical Society. Here, you’ll find an exhibition entitled “New York and Broadway: The Intersection of Theater, Culture and Society.” If you’re more interested in art, the New Museum has a free exhibition called “Johannes H. Jensen: The Other Story,” which explores Jensen’s artistic practice through sculpture, collage, and photography.
Food Events and Festivals
If you’re a foodie visiting New York on a Sunday, you have a vast array of options open to you — you can head to one of the city’s many food festivals or check out one of the many open-air markets found throughout the five boroughs. If you like to eat as you stroll, you’re in luck — some of New York’s best markets and food events take place on Sundays. If you want to sample some authentic New York-style pizza and don’t fancy waiting in line for hours, we recommend heading to the Greenwich Village Pizza Festival. Held annually in the second week of August, this is one of New York’s biggest and best food festivals — and it usually takes place on a Sunday. Alternatively, if you’re a fan of bagels, we recommend checking out the New York Bagel Festival, which also takes place in August. If you’d rather do some shopping while you eat, we recommend heading to one of these open-air markets: The Abor Gardens Flea Market, The Brooklyn Flea, The Smorgasburg, The Greenmarket and The Union Square Greenmarket.
Stroll Through Central Park
Finally, if you’re looking for something a little more relaxing to do on a Sunday in NYC, we recommend heading to Central Park — one of Manhattan’s most famous landmarks. Whether you’d like to enjoy the peace and quiet of the gorgeous gardens and lakes, or stroll around the city’s most famous park and admire the skyline, there’s something for everyone at Central Park. And, best of all, this top thing to do on a Sunday in NYC is completely free! Whether you come to New York on a weekend or a weekday, there are plenty of activities for all ages and interests. From sports and culture to food and family fun, there is something for everyone in this amazing city. With all this to do, it is easy to understand why New York is one of the most visited places in the world. So what are you waiting for?
