14 Top Things to See and Do in Midtown
Fifth Avenue. Photo: Joe Buglewicz
Midtown Manhattan brings together New York City’s corporate center, seen in the many tall buildings that comprise the skyline, and its entertainment hub, symbolized by Times Square and the Theatre District. Both sides come together in gathering places such as Rockefeller Center. Look through our gallery for some of the area’s highlights— architectural, shopping, outdoors and more—viewed from street-level and sky-high vantage points.
Broadway marquees. Photo: Lucía Vázquez
Catch a Broadway Show
Across 40-plus Broadway stages in the Theatre District, stars and up-and-comers perform every night. You’ll find long-running hits, revivals, adaptations and inventive debuts among the plays and musicals.
Rink at Rockefeller Center. Photo: Matthew Papa
Visit Rockefeller Center
This sunken area under the statue of Prometheus is the centerpiece of Rockefeller Plaza. It’s a staple of winter activities—skaters on the rink, the famous Christmas tree and curious onlookers above—but during all seasons people are buzzing around the complex, there to visit its shops and restaurants, go on a tour of NBC Studios or admire the deco architecture.
Photo: Julienne Schaer
St. Patrick's Cathedral
The sanctuary of the largest Gothic Catholic cathedral in the States can seat nearly 2,500 congregants. Its altars, stained-glass windows, pipe organ and giant bronze doors are undeniably impressive. Visit for services (multiple masses are held daily) or a self-guided tour.
Photo: Brittany Petronella
Bryant Park
This patch of landscaped greenery is surrounded by monuments, a carousel, coffee stands and plenty of seating to take it all in. Movie nights and performances occur regularly in summer; in winter, an ice rink and holiday shops take over.
Photo: Julienne Schaer
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is one of the world’s most famous buildings, easily identifiable from numerous movies and well-known photographs of the Midtown skyline. Rising 1,454 feet from ground to the antenna, it has two observation decks and, on its lower floors, an immersive display about its history.
Courtesy, MSG Photo Svcs
Radio City Music Hall
The art deco design of Radio City is eye catching, from its sign to its stage. See a show—the Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes is the most famous perennial event—or take a tour of the 1930s venue.
Photo: Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet
Times Square
This is the colorful commercial heart of New York City, where everything is massive and high voltage. The blocks are full of big-name shops, Broadway theaters, bustling restaurants and, on New Year's Eve, thousands of visitors watching one very big ball drop.
Main concourse, Grand Central Terminal. Photo: Brittany Petronella
Grand Central Terminal
Much more than a transit hub, Grand Central Terminal is a vibrant attraction, full of history, awe-inspiring architecture, restaurants and shops. The Guastavino-tiled arches, the celestial ceiling and the Grand Central clock are testament to a time when rail stations were just as much form as they were function.
Photo: Lucía Vázquez
Summit One Vanderbilt
One of the newest observatories in Midtown is located in Midtown’s tallest commercial skyscraper. The glassy area has immersive art installations that will play with your sensory perception.
Photo: Lucía Vázquez
Shopping on Fifth Avenue
Among the most luxurious stretches of retail in the country, Fifth Avenue is the main artery of the Midtown shopping scene, home to esteemed brand names such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and Bergdorf Goodman.
Courtesy, Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
Some of the most famous pieces of modern art can be found at MoMA, including Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Dali’s Persistence of Memory. There’s a lot more contemporary art to explore on the museum's six floors, plus film series, a sculpture garden and a renowned restaurant.
Photo: Julienne Schaer
New York Public Library, Main Branch
The New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a landmark Beaux-Arts building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. The Rose Main Reading Room is a highlight, as are the regular exhibitions, the Map Room, the Periodicals Room and the two sculpted lions that guard the exterior.
Photo: Matthew Papa
Hudson Yards
On Midtown's far west side, Hudson Yards is home to shops, restaurants, public art, sustainably designed architecture and Edge, the tallest observation deck in the western hemisphere.
Photo: Lucía Vázquez
Grand Army Plaza
At the southeast entrance to Central Park, Manhattan’s Grand Army Plaza is a public square with twin centers of attention: a gold equestrian statue of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman in its northern section and a fountain by sculptor Karl Bitter to the south.