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The Atlas Obscura Guide To New York City

778 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in New York City

Updated August 16, 2025

From the Times Square Hum to George Washingtonʼs dentures, the Big Apple is full of wonders big and small. It was the home of Atlas Obscura for many years, so weʼve scoured the city for hidden wonders, and itʼs possible to see many of them in a single afternoon.

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Unusual Attractions in New York City

See All 778 Things To Do in New York City

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in New York City

See all 110 Places to Eat in New York City
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Founded By NYC

Explore the rich legacy and ongoing evolution of the city that’s always making history.

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Resilience of New York in 10 Remarkable Sites

New York has been described as a playground for the rich and powerful, but the state's history is full of ordinary people who have overcome extraordinary struggles. What if Seneca Falls, the village that launched the fight for women's suffrage, were as famous as Niagara Falls? What if Weeksville, the historic free Black community in Brooklyn, were as well-known as Williamsburg? From immigrant sanctuaries to the Survivor Tree, here are sites where New York has shown its resilience.

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Explore New York City

Architecture 110
Architectural Oddities 73
Art 67
Shops 64
Museums 56
History 52
Cemeteries 40
Unique Restaurants & Bars 39

Recent New York City Activity

Stories About New York City

The Earth Room

The New York Earth Room Contains 280,000 Pounds of Dirt

This art installation has been lovingly looked after for decades by a single caretaker.
by The Podcast Team
Abu’s proprietor Idris Conroy, also known as Abu.

Obscura Day Summer 2025: Abu’s Homestyle Bakery

This Brooklyn bakery is best known for its bean pie.
by Ariel Azoff
Central Park.

Obscura Day Summer 2025: Panorama of the City of New York

See the whole city from above ... sort of.
by Allegra Rosenberg
Edward Payson Weston

How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession

In the 1860s and ’70s, people would gather, listen to live music, eat delicious food, and ... watch people walk in circles?
by The Podcast Team
Manhattan Well

The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery

In 1800, Elma Sands was found murdered at the bottom of the Manhattan Well. What followed was America’s first recorded trial.
by The Podcast Team
No thanks.

AO Mailbag: Which Places Just Aren’t Worth Visiting?

We look for wonder everywhere we go. But today, let’s talk about the trips that aren’t worth it.
by The Podcast Team
Green-Wood Cemetery, overlooking New York Harbor.

Where Our Team Looked for Joy During Pandemic Lockdowns

Five years after the initial COVID-19 lockdown, the AO team reflects on the places that brought them joy, comfort, and connection during a difficult time.
by The Podcast Team
Rats didn’t take over the city by being foolhardy.

Do New York City Rats Deserve Their Bad Rap?

In collaboration with Radiolab’s Terrestrials podcast, we fall down the rat hole.
by The Podcast Team

Lists Featuring New York City

Book Corner.
Edward Dean Adams Power Station
Clifton Hill

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Niagara Falls for Curious Travelers

11

Including Book Corner, Prophet Isaiah's Second Coming House, and Edward Dean Adams Power Plant

The rare book reading room.
Keen’s Steakhouse
The New York Herald Monument.

The 11 Best Things to do Near the Empire State Building for Curious Travelers

11

Including Tannen's Magic Shop, The Conjuring Arts Research Center, and Keen's Steakhouse

The crostata, with the storefront in the background.

12 Extraordinary Jewish Restaurants Around the World

A global map of diverse delights.

12

Including Pasticceria Boccione, Gottlieb's Restaurant, and Nahoum and Sons

The Geographic Center of NYC is located on a traffic meridian on Queens Boulevard.
Vale of Cashmere.
Underneath the entrance to the nature walk is a small separate garden (Michelle Enemark CC Attribution Share Alike)

30 Unexpected Places to Have a Joyful Adventure in New York City

Sponsored by Volkswagen
30

Including Geographic Center of New York City, Vale of Cashmere, and Marie's Crisis

Phyllis Diller
Detail of the Texaco map terrazzo mosaic tile floor of the New York State Pavilion (Tent of Tomorrow), 2009

18 Places to Discover Innovation in Roosevelt Island and NYC

Sponsored by Graduate Hotels
18

Including Holographic Studios Inc., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and Patent Pending

Blockhouse No. 1
Manhattan schist
Barrow Street Garden

The Quietest Spots in America’s Loudest City

Keep calm and immerse yourself in New York's urban arcadia.

10

Including The Elevated Acre, Blockhouse No. 1, and Hallett Nature Sanctuary

REACH: New York
The secret entrance to the Knickerbocker Hotel (detail)
Track 61

10 Secrets of the New York City Subway

Stand clear of the closing doors, please.

10

Including Holiday Nostalgia Train, REACH: New York, and The Secret Entrance to the Knickerbocker Hotel

Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
View from the pier

11 Surprisingly Romantic Places in New York City

We heart New York on Valentine's Day.

11

Including Albertine, Deno's Wonder Wheel, and Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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