New York guide

Hidden Gems in New York

Skip the tourist traps. These are the secret spots, hidden corners, and local favourites that most visitors never find in New York.

Off the beaten path

Secret spots in New York

The Cloisters

A medieval monastery reconstructed in Fort Tryon Park with Unicorn Tapestries and herb gardens. Most tourists never leave Midtown, making this Met branch blissfully peaceful. The Hudson views are magnificent.

City Hall Station (Old)

The abandoned 1904 subway station with Guastavino tile vaults is visible from the 6 train — stay on past Brooklyn Bridge and look out the window as the train loops through the ghostly lit station.

Green-Wood Cemetery

A 478-acre Victorian cemetery in Brooklyn with stunning views, elaborate mausoleums, and famous graves (Basquiat, Bernstein). It's an accredited arboretum and one of the most peaceful places in the city.

Roosevelt Island Tramway

A cable car over the East River for the price of a subway swipe. The views of Manhattan's east side from above are stunning. Few tourists know about it — most New Yorkers haven't done it either.

Tenement Museum

A restored Lower East Side tenement building showing how immigrant families lived in the 1860s-1980s. The guided tours through actual apartments are immersive and moving. Book specific tour times.

Wave Hill

A public garden in the Bronx with Hudson River views and curated gardens. The greenhouses and the pergola overlook the Palisades. It's free on Tuesday mornings and Saturday mornings.

Governors Island

A car-free island in the harbour with views of the Statue of Liberty, bike paths, and art installations. The free ferry from Manhattan runs in summer. The Hills offer 360-degree panoramic views.

Poet's House

A free poetry library in Battery Park City with floor-to-ceiling shelves and river views. Reading rooms are open to the public and the events programme includes readings by major poets.

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Photo credits

Hero — Michael Discenza / Unsplash · The Cloisters — GK tramrunner RU / CC BY-SA 4.0 · City Hall Station (Old) — Phelan, A. B., photographer / Public domain · Green-Wood Cemetery — Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Roosevelt Island Tramway — Superbass / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tenement Museum — JJonahJackalope / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wave Hill — Anthony22 / Public domain · Governors Island — Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Poet's House — The Library of Congress / No restrictions