New York City never does anything halfway, and summer is no exception. From free outdoor concerts to rooftop bars with skyline views, the city transforms into an open-air playground once the warm weather arrives. If you're visiting NYC in summer, you're in for one of the most electric urban experiences in the world. Here's how to make the most of the best things to do in NYC in summer.
Spend a Morning in Central Park
No NYC summer itinerary is complete without time in Central Park. Start near Bethesda Terrace, stroll The Mall, rent a rowboat on the lake, or simply spread out on Sheep Meadow with a good book.
The park comes alive in summer with free SummerStage concerts, outdoor fitness classes, and weekend festivals. From The Concorde Hotel, Central Park's southeastern entrance at 59th Street is just a 10-minute walk, a perfect way to start the day before the heat peaks.
Explore MoMA and the Museum Mile
When temperatures climb, NYC's world-class museums offer cool relief alongside cultural riches. The Museum of Modern Art sits just ten minutes on foot from The Concorde, making it one of the most accessible big-ticket attractions on your itinerary.
Set aside at least two to three hours to move through MoMA's permanent collection and rotating summer exhibitions. The crowds here tend to thin out on weekday mornings, making it an ideal time to visit. After you finish there, take a stroll down Fifth Avenue's Museum Mile.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a great spot to start, just a 10-minute rideshare from The Concorde Hotel; thereafter, take a leisurely stroll to the Guggenheim and the many smaller institutions around.
Catch a Free Concert or Outdoor Movie
NYC summer activities don't have to drain your wallet..Throughout the season, many NYC parks host free outdoor movies and concerts. Rockefeller Center's free Citi Concert Series draws in some major artists to the TODAY Plaza, which is only a 12-minute walk from the hotel.
Bryant Park hosts its beloved outdoor movie nights on Monday evenings all summer long, about a 20-minute walk from The Concorde, or a quick rideshare if you'd rather save the energy for dancing.
Walk the High Line
The High Line, a reimagined elevated rail trail on Manhattan's West Side, ranks among the best summer attractions in NYC for good reason. The 1.45-mile park delivers rotating art installations, sweeping Hudson River views, and some of the most interesting urban landscaping in any American city.
Grab a coffee from one of the vendors along the route and take your time moving from the Meatpacking District end all the way up to Hudson Yards. It's about a 12-minute rideshare from The Concorde Hotel, making it an easy half-day excursion you can combine with lunch at Chelsea Market or a browse through the neighborhood's independent galleries.
Watch a Yankees or Mets Game
Baseball and summer in New York are inseparable. Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and Citi Field in Queens both offer full summer schedules, and catching a game ranks as one of the most authentic things to do in NYC in summer.
Arrive early to explore the stadium, grab a classic ballpark meal, and soak in the atmosphere before the first pitch. A rideshare from The Concorde Hotel gets you to either stadium in under 30 minutes, depending on traffic, making a spontaneous game day entirely doable.
Hit the Waterfront
In summer, New York’s waterfront comes alive. Governors Island opens for the season with art installations, outdoor hammocks, and stunning views of lower Manhattan, accessible via a short ferry from Lower Manhattan, about a 25-minute rideshare from the hotel.
Closer to Midtown, the East River Esplanade offers a breezy half-hour afternoon walk right from The Concorde Hotel. While there, waterfront bars like Watermark at Pier 15 serve cocktails with unobstructed river views. On a clear evening, the light on the water is simply breathtaking
Soak Up Times Square and Beyond
No first-time visit to NYC is complete without experiencing Times Square, and summer nights here take on a special kind of energy. The neon-lit plaza buzzes with street performers, pop-up events, and the unmistakable pulse of New York at its most alive.
From The Concorde Hotel, Times Square is about a 20-minute walk that lets you truly take in the Midtown streetscape. After you've taken it all in, keep heading west to explore Hell's Kitchen, where some of the city's best pre-theater dining and casual neighborhood restaurants pack the side streets
Plan Your NYC Summer Itinerary from the Right Base
Visiting NYC in summer rewards visitors who stay in the right location, and Midtown East puts you steps away from the subway, walkable to iconic landmarks, and perfectly centered between the city's top neighborhoods. Whether you're museum-hopping, concert-going, or just wandering with nowhere particular to be, every summer day in New York has the potential to become a story worth telling.
Book your stay at The Concorde Hotel and give yourself the ideal Midtown base for everything the city's most vibrant season has to offer.