There’s no shortage of fun things to do in New York City.
Whether you’re a born and bred New Yorker or just passing through, you’ll know that the city is filled with beautiful parks, innovative restaurants, art, music and thousands of people from different backgrounds coming together to make the city the wholly unique place that it is.
But with so much to see and do – from typical touristy things like the statue of liberty, to one-of-a-kind experiences – it’s difficult to know where to start.
That’s where Experience Gifts comes in. Below, we’ve rounded up our favorite things to see and do in New York City, whether you’re treating yourself or a loved one to a New York City experience gift.
We've updated this list for 2022, so read on to find out our up-to-date picks!
Pedicab Tour of New York City - $180
Travel through New York City by pedicab with this wholly unique 1 hour tour!
This tour will take you on a journey as singular as the city itself; during your pedicab tour, you'll see the different neighborhoods and people that make NYC the unique place it is, even stopping by famous bucket-list landmarks including Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square. Visitors and tourists alike will love this New York experience gift.
Brooklyn Street Art Walking Tour - $25
The Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn is famous for its vibrant graffiti and street art, but do you know the difference?
Hosted by an experienced street artist, this ninety-minute tour will teach you everything there is to know about graffiti, visiting some of the best murals in the neighborhood and learning about the artists behind them.
Discover a variety of techniques and explore the history of art in Brooklyn, and New York City as a whole. Whether you're a budding painter yourself or just want to see a different side to Brooklyn, this walking tour is a fantastic day out and a great experience gift for art lovers!
Ghost Tour of Greenwich Village - $25
Many notable writers, politicians, and misanthropes have called Greenwich Village home over the years, making for some wonderfully chilling ghost stories that only a theatrical NYC qualified tour guide can do justice!
If you're a fan of Edgar Allen Poe, Washington Irving, Alexander Hamilton and the like, you'll love this ninety minute haunted tour, learning about bloody vendettas and famous Manhattan urban legends.
Whether you're searching for a unique evening out to share with friends or a fun experience gift idea for horror fans, the Haunted Ghost Tour of Greenwich Village will be a night to remember!
Central Park Yoga Class NYC - $25
Mornings in New York are a magical time, and there's no better way to set your intentions for the day than with an outdoor yoga class - in Central Park of all places!
If you want to try something a little different, a little less touristy, but still full-on New York, then this morning yoga class is perfect for you.
Breathe in the sights and sounds of the city while moving through restorative flows and meditative poses, waking up your body and mind ready for the day ahead. Suitable for all abilities and attended by visitors and locals alike, the Central Park Yoga Class is a truly magical experience - book your space now!
Introduction To The Bronx Cultural Walking Tour - $33
There is so much to The Bronx that it’s impossible to know where to start; do you explore the neighborhood street art scene? The many restaurants of Little Italy? The rich history of the many Catholic churches?
If it all seems too much, we’d recommend the Introduction to The Bronx Cultural Walking Tour, an experience perfect for Bronx newbies that covers the best of the borough’s history, architecture, and culture. Walking tours make fantastic gift ideas for anyone planning a trip to New York!
South Bronx Inside Guide Walking Tour - $39
This walking tour of The South Bronx is ideal for locals as it dives deep beneath the surface of the borough, exploring the rich history of the region, as well as the social, environmental, political and economical impacts that have shaped the borough into what we know and love today. If you’re searching for an experience gift idea for Bronx residents, or anyone planning an exciting trip to New York, look no further than this entertaining and educational South Bronx walking tour!
New York City LGBTQ Pride Walking Tour - $33
Manhattan has long been a significant location to the LGBTQ movement, home to many of the most prominent gay bars, historic landmarks and cultural monuments.
Discover the history of Pride and the many events that have shaped New York's gay scene on this entertaining and enlightening 75 minute tour, hosted by a highly knowledgeable local guide.
You'll visit famous sites including the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, Julius Bar, the Gay Street sign, and of course The Stonewall Inn, plus many more locations that were key to the movement.
Whether you're part of the LGBTQ community yourself or are looking for a unique New York City sightseeing tour, the Pride Walking Tour is guaranteed to be a memorable day out!
Indie Rock Tour Of Alphabet City And The LES - $44
For fans of indie rock music before it was cool, this is the tour for you.
Located in Manhattan's Alphabet City and Lower East Side neighborhoods, a professional musician and enthusiastic music history expert will guide you round some of the most iconic New York venues, where such names as Beck, Jeff Buckley, The Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs started their careers.
Over the two hour walking tour, you'll visit recording studios, apartment buildings, clubs, open mic venues and loads more! Whether you're an indie rock lover yourself or are searching for a unique experience gift idea, this Manhattan music tour is sure to strike the right chord.
Theater District Tour Of Midtown Manhattan - $35
For fans of show business, musicals, glitz and glamor, this Broadway Theater District Tour in Manhattan will be an experience like no other!
Join a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide for a journey round the Big Apple's most famous theaters, plus iconic streets, restaurants, and landmarks that all played a part in making Broadway what it is today. You'll learn about theater history, scandals, notable characters, magnificent buildings, and loads more.
Whether you're visiting New York City for the first time or are searching for a unique gift for Broadway lovers, the Manhattan Theater District Tour is a sure winner!
Comic Book Superheroes Guided Tour Of New York - $39
Manhattan has been the backdrop of many epic superhero movies, and now you can get behind the scenes and learn the inside scoop on a two hour guided sightseeing tour!
With a comic mega-fan leading the way you'll visit such locations as the Daily News Building, Tudor City Apartments, Grand Central Station, and loads more while hearing stories of movie gossip and comic book trivia. Whether you're pro-DC or pro-Marvel or just love all things superhero, this New York tour will delight each and every film fan.
A great experience gift idea for movie buffs!
Black Hair Guided Tour Of Harlem - $33
For an utterly unique New York sightseeing experience, look no further than the Harlem Black Hair Tour. Hosted by a hugely knowledgeable and passionate guide, this culture tour is the first of its kind and features everything from iconic black hair salons to historical Harlem events and cultural impacts.
If you don’t know much about the significance of Black hair then this tour will be immensely eye-opening and wonderfully informative, perfect for New York locals and tourists alike! Whether you’re looking to experience a new side of Harlem or searching for a fun New York gift idea, you’ll find everything and more with the Harlem Black Hair Tour.
Parks and Bakeries Brunch Tour of NYC - $60
Take advantage of New York's incredible bakeries with this two and a half hour brunch tour.
Pairing the best bakeries in the Big Apple with visits to lush gardens, we can't think of a better way to spend a weekend afternoon in New York! This NYC Food Tour is designed to satisfy your appetite for finding the best bakeries in the city as well as a your next outdoor urban retreat. From savoring gourmet pop-tarts to a strolling through lush private gardens, this culinary tour is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and makes a great gift for locals on the hunt for the best brunch.
Lower Manhattan Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown Walking Tour - $49
Because sometimes Lower Manhattan can get a little overwhelming, and having a knowledgeable NYC qualified tour guide show you round is exactly what you need!
On this entertaining and informative walking tour you'll explore three of New York's most popular neighborhoods; Soho, Little Italy, and Chinatown.
The guide will regale you with stories of Manhattan history, architecture, famous faces, culture and immigration, painting a picture over 2-3 hours of how the city became what we know today. Suitable for tourists and locals alike, the Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown Tour is fun for all ages and a great experience gift for New Yorkers!
Brooklyn Beer Making 101 Brewing Workshop – from $65
“Ah, good ol’ trustworthy beer. My love for you will never die.” - Homer J Simpson.
This brewery workshop in Brooklyn is ideal for anyone who knows their pilsners from their porters, and makes a fun experience gift for beer lovers, like Homer, that will teach them how to craft the suds they love.
Plus, everyone wants to have a friend who knows how to make beer! So whether you are looking to start a new hobby or fun things to do in Brooklyn, this Beer Making Experience is the tastiest ticket in town!
Frozen Treats Tour Of Manhattan - $248
Celebrate the summer sun in true New York City style with this ice cream tour of Downtown Manhattan.
With a qualified and enthusiastic guide leading the way, guests will meander through Union Square to East Village tasting the best ice cream-based desserts imaginable, while learning about the history, people, and architecture of the region. A unique Manhattan culinary tour that's almost too good to be true, book the frozen desserts tour for your next get-together!
New York City Theatrical Storytelling Tour Noir - $60
Bored of the same old Manhattan sightseeing tour? Want to experience the Big Apple with a touch of flair and drama?
Then look no further, the New York City Theatrical Storytelling Tour is for you. Hosted by a team of enthusiastic performers, the experience combines sightseeing with a theatrical story of love, revenge, and scandal.
We promise you'll have never seen anything like this before in New York! Whether you're looking for a unique Manhattan walking tour or a fun experience gift idea for New Yorkers, the Theatrical Storytelling Tour is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
Statue Of Liberty and Ellis Island Walking Tour - $64
Learn the fascinating story behind the Statue of Liberty and visit Ellis Island during this NYC walking tour.
This fully guided half day tour invites you to experience two of New York's most famous landmarks with an expert host leading the way, regaling you with history, trivia, and stories about the people behind the monuments.
The trip includes the ferry ticket, statue pedestal access, museum entry, and skip-the-line privileges, so you can make the most of your day and pack a lot in!
Guided Walking Tour Of Central Park - $75
Everyone's heard of it, but there's so much more to Central Park than movie scenes and boating lakes. Do the park justice and book a two hour guided walking tour with a local expert, exploring such highlights as the Checkers and Chess House, Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields and loads more!
Group sizes are kept to a maximum of eight guests to ensure a personal, detailed experience with plenty of opportunity to ask questions, so by the end of the tour you'll be clued up on everything the guidebooks don't tell you. Treat a New Yorker to a fun experience gift or book a Central Park tour on your next trip to the Big Apple!
Ten Mile Bike Tour Of Harlem - $68
Harlem is one of the most fascinating neighborhoods of New York, and what better way to explore this area of Manhattan than on a relaxed eco-friendly bike tour?
This entertaining and information sightseeing tour is ideal for tourists, but also makes a thoughtful experience gift for Manhattanites.
Highlights along the ten mile route include City College, Strivers Row, 125th Street, the Apollo Theater, Abyssinian Church, Sugar Hill, Jumal Mansion, the National Jazz Museum, St. John the Devine, Marcus Garvey Park and more!
New York City Journalism and Media History Tour - $35
New York City is a well-known hub for journalism, and with a story to tell on every corner, is it any surprise?
With this journalism and media history tour of New York City, you'll be led on a journey through time and history, learning all about NYC's cultural impact on the media industry.
Your experience begins when you arrive at the meeting point, the breath-taking Maine Monument at Columbus Circle. Your knowledgeable guide will greet you there, and lead you on the tour. You will get to spend 2 hours touring The Big Apple whilst your guide fills you in on 300 years of history, all relating to the media companies that supply New Yorkers with their news, culture and entertainment. You'll pass iconic sights, such as MTV studios and Radio City Music Hall, where some of the nation's favourite shows are filmed. Your trusty guide will be there every step of the way to answer your burning questions and will never be short of fun facts!
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading our guide to experience gifts in New York City.
We hope you’ve found something perfect for yourself or a loved one to make the most of The Big Apple, but if you’re still looking, you can browse our full range of New York experience gifts here.
