New York City’s famous spots—Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park—are known worldwide. But there’s another side to the city, packed with weird wonders most visitors skip. Think secret speakeasies behind phone booths, tiny museums dedicated to niche obsessions, or eerie abandoned subway stations repurposed as art spaces.
For those hunting unusual things to do in New York, options go beyond typical tours. Ever tried eating dinner in complete darkness? Or explored a floating ghost ship docked near Brooklyn? Maybe you’d prefer hunting for cryptic street art in forgotten alleys. These strange spots don’t make postcards, but they’re what give the city its edge.
Whether you’ve lived here for years or just arrived, chasing down these hidden oddities flips the script on predictable itineraries. Skip crowded selfie zones. Instead, follow curiosity down dimly lit staircases or into unmarked buildings. As is the case with Midwest, you’ll find stories no guidebook bothers to tell—and maybe even a few you’ll hesitate to believe later.
Why Explore the Unusual Side of New York?
Typical New York trips mean fighting crowds at famous spots. But if you hunt down unusual things to do in New York, you’ll find perks most travelers overlook.
Why bother?
- You’ll get a real feel for the city’s vibe instead of just ticking off landmarks;
- Quiet spots with fewer tourists mean more chances to chat with people who actually live here;
- Photos you snap will tell stories friends haven’t seen a million times before;
- Plus, you might learn about history and culture most visitors miss—think hidden alley murals or century-old neighborhood diners still run by families;
Skip the obvious, and suddenly the city feels less like a postcard and more like a place you actually get.
Bizarre Museums and Collections
New York’s not just about skyscrapers and pizza slices. Hidden in its corners are some of the weirdest, most offbeat collections on the planet—exactly what you want if unusual things to do in New York are your jam.
Think oddball artifacts, quirky exhibits, or displays that make you go, “Huh?” These spots aren’t your typical tourist traps. They’re for folks who’d trade a crowded museum tour for stumbling on something that’s equal parts baffling and fascinating.
Mmuseumm
Mmuseumm showcases everyday items with surprising stories. It’s as small as a closet, but packs a punch with rotating exhibits of stuff you might walk past—until their hidden meaning hits. Think plastic grocery bags, expired coupons, or fast-food toys arranged like relics.
- Location: 4 Cortlandt Alley, Manhattan;
- Why it’s unusual: Perhaps the smallest museum in New York, focusing on overlooked, dismissed, or ignored modern artifacts;
The Museum of Interesting Things
Step back in time at this roving exhibit, where old-school gadgets and quirky inventions take center stage. Founder Denny Daniel gathered a bunch of these historical tech treasures to show how people have innovated over time.
- Location: Secret speakeasy locations around the city (check their website for pop-up events);
- Why it’s unusual: Hands-on interaction with antique technologies in speakeasy settings;
City Reliquary
Forget grand exhibits—this spot shelves subway tokens, chunks of old buildings, and retro seltzer bottles. Each item whispers stories about New York’s past, things most museums might overlook.
- Location: 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn;
- Why it’s unusual: Houses obscure NYC artifacts like chunks of buildings and vintage seltzer bottles;
Hidden Natural Wonders
New York’s concrete jungle still has wild surprises up its sleeve. If you’re after unusual things to do in New York, skip crowded spots and explore hidden pockets where nature sneaks in. Think quiet gardens tucked between skyscrapers or flocks of parrots nesting near subway lines—proof that urban grit and green life can coexist.
You’ll find rooftop beehives humming above traffic, tide pools hiding sea stars in the Bronx, or community plots bursting with veggies in Brooklyn. It’s all there, quietly defying sidewalks and steel.
Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Terminal
While Grand Central itself is a popular destination, many visitors miss the acoustic marvel near the Oyster Bar restaurant. Stand in opposite corners of this archway and whisper into the wall—your companion across the way will hear you perfectly.
- Location: Grand Central Terminal, near the Oyster Bar;
- Why it’s unusual: A fascinating acoustic phenomenon in one of NYC’s busiest buildings;
Hallett Nature Sanctuary
Hidden in plain sight within Central Park, this 4-acre woodland was closed to the public for decades. Now open during limited hours, it offers a rare glimpse of what Manhattan might have looked like before urbanization.
- Location: Central Park, near 6th Avenue and Central Park South;
- Why it’s unusual: A wild forest in the middle of Manhattan that was closed to the public for 70 years
The Earth Room
Walter De Maria’s art installation consists of 250 cubic yards of earth spread across 3,600 square feet of a SoHo loft. Maintained since 1977, this peculiar space offers a meditative experience and the unmistakable scent of soil in the middle of the city.
- Location: 141 Wooster Street, Manhattan;
- Why it’s unusual: An entire New York apartment filled with dirt, maintained as art for over 40 years;
Bizarre Architecture and Spaces
New York’s cityscape hides architectural oddities that count among the most visually striking unusual things to do in New York.
The Elevated Acre
This hidden urban park sits atop a parking garage in the Financial District. With stunning views of the East River and Brooklyn, it’s a peaceful escape that most New Yorkers don’t even know exists.
- Location: 55 Water Street, Manhattan;
- Why it’s unusual: A secret park floating above the city streets with amphitheater and gardens;
Smallpox Hospital Ruins
On Roosevelt Island stands the haunting ruins of a 19th-century smallpox hospital. This Gothic structure, designed by James Renwick Jr. (who also designed St. Patrick’s Cathedral), is the only landmarked ruin in New York City.
- Location: Roosevelt Island;
- Why it’s unusual: Crumbling, haunting Gothic ruins in the middle of the East River;
The Narrowest House in New York
At just 9.5 feet wide, the house at 75½ Bedford Street holds the record for narrowest house in the city. Once home to notable residents including poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and anthropologist Margaret Mead, this architectural oddity is a testament to New York’s creative use of space.
- Location: 75½ Bedford Street, West Village;
- Why it’s unusual: A fully-functional home narrower than many hallways, with a rich literary history;
Underground and Secret Spaces
Beneath the streets and behind unmarked doors lie some of the most unusual things to do in New York for urban explorers.
The Underbelly Project
In an abandoned subway station, street artists from around the world created a secret gallery of works. While accessing the actual location is illegal (and dangerous), documentaries and books about the project offer a glimpse into this hidden art world.
- Location: Undisclosed abandoned subway station;
- Why it’s unusual: A secret, illegal art gallery beneath the city streets;
Track 61
This secret railway platform beneath the Waldorf Astoria Hotel was famously used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to conceal his polio from the public. His armored train car reportedly still remains on the track.
- Location: Beneath the Waldorf Astoria Hotel;
- Why it’s unusual: A presidential secret hidden beneath one of New York’s most famous hotels;
The Pneumatic Tube Mail Network
Though mostly sealed off today, New York once had an elaborate underground system of pneumatic tubes for delivering mail. Some sections of this network can still be glimpsed in certain post office basements.
- Location: Various locations, including the Old City Hall Post Office;
- Why it’s unusual: Remnants of a steampunk-like mail delivery system beneath the streets;
Quirky Shops and Markets
For those who love to browse and collect, these unusual things to do in New York offer shopping experiences unlike any other.
Evolution Store
This natural history-themed shop sells ethically-sourced taxidermy, skulls, insects, and scientific curiosities. It’s a museum-quality collection where everything is for sale.
- Location: 687 Broadway, Manhattan;
- Why it’s unusual: Shop for everything from bat skeletons to medical antiques;
Obscura Antiques & Oddities
Made famous by the TV show “Oddities,” this East Village shop specializes in the weird and macabre. From Victorian medical devices to taxidermy and funeral memorabilia, Obscura is a cabinet of curiosities for the modern age.
- Location: 207 Avenue A, Manhattan;
- Why it’s unusual: A commercial collection of the bizarre, macabre, and historically strange;
The Mysterious Bookshop
America’s oldest mystery fiction specialty shop houses new, used, and rare detective fiction. The atmospheric space includes first editions and signed copies from mystery legends.
- Location: 58 Warren Street, Manhattan;
- Why it’s unusual: Specializes exclusively in mystery, crime, and espionage fiction in a noir-like setting;
Unusual Dining Experiences
The city’s culinary scene includes some deliciously unusual things to do in New York for adventurous eaters.
Dinner in Complete Darkness
At Abigail’s Kitchen, diners experience “Dinners in the Dark,” where meals are served in complete darkness. Without vision, your other senses—particularly taste and smell—become heightened, transforming the dining experience.
- Location: 85 MacDougal Street, Manhattan;
- Why it’s unusual: Eating gourmet food while completely blind to your surroundings;
Beetle House
This year-round Tim Burton-themed restaurant celebrates the macabre with dishes inspired by films like “Beetlejuice” and “Edward Scissorhands.” The gothic atmosphere and costumed staff create an immersive experience.
- Location: 308 E 6th Street, Manhattan;
- Why it’s unusual: Dining with “Beetlejuice” and other Burton characters in a horror-themed setting;
The Burp Castle
This “Temple of Beer Worship” enforces a unique rule—patrons must speak in whispers. If conversations get too loud, the monk-robed bartenders will “shush” the crowd, creating one of the most unusually quiet bars in the city.
- Location: 41 East 7th Street, Manhattan;
- Why it’s unusual: A bar where whispering is mandatory and bartenders dress as monks;
Tips for Exploring Unusual Things in New York
Alright, so you want to find unusual things to do in New York?
Here’s how to do it right:
- Before heading out, always check when places open or close. Some quirky spots might only pop up at odd times or certain days;
- Be mindful of where you wander. Not all cool spots are public, so stick to sidewalks and avoid trespassing;
- Grab your phone or camera. You’ll want to snap some pics of these one-of-a-kind finds;
- Wear comfy shoes. Some best-kept secrets are tucked down alleys, subway tunnels, or behind unmarked doors;
- Chat up with people who live here. Locals often have intel on weird, wonderful places you won’t find in guides;
Final Thoughts on Unusual Things to Do in New York
New York’s real vibe isn’t in postcard-perfect spots—it’s tucked into weird, offbeat corners most overlook. Hunt down unusual things to do in New York, and you’ll uncover sides of the city tourists rarely glimpse. Think dimly lit speakeasies behind unmarked doors, abandoned island hospitals, or tiny museums dedicated to niche obsessions. These places crack open NYC’s personality: raw, inventive, and definitely uncensored.
Maybe you’re drawn to creepy history, spaces hiding in plain sight, or just want a break from packed sidewalks. Whatever pulls you, options here flip typical NYC tropes. Skip crowded observation decks next trip. Wander subway tunnels turned art galleries, or neighborhoods where faded vaudeville theaters still host avant-garde acts. That’s how you see the city locals know—untamed, unpolished, and endlessly surprising.
About the Author
