21 Things to do in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is just enough to spend a long weekend. In fact, it is just enough to spend many long weekends. We have a list of 21 things to do in Lower Manhattan that is a quick guide for you. While you set out to explore Lower Manhattan, check out our Luggage Storage in New York City for all your luggage storage needs. You just might need one.
Happy exploring!
1 Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge is the iconic structure of NYC. Visiting here is a must when you are in Lower Manhattan. The bridge spans over the East River connecting between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. You can reach here early in the morning to catch a glimpse of the sunrise. Your heart brims with pride as you see the rays of the sun touch New York City.
As the sun rises further above, you will witness the rows of skyscrapers unveiling before your eyes. Stay there for a while to enjoy the spectacular skyline of New York City. After you have absorbed the beauty of New York City, take a picture with friends and family.
You can then proceed towards your morning dose of walking on the Brooklyn Bridge. The entire length of the bridge is around 1 mile. You can touch Brooklyn and come back to Lower Manhattan’s side. If you want to explore a bit of Brooklyn, you can do that too.
If you do not wish to walk on the Brooklyn Bridge, you can just get to the park beneath it. You will still get amazing views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York city skyscrapers.
2 Wall Street
Did you feel like visiting Wall Street after watching the movie ‘The Wolf of Wall Street?’ If yes, then we agree with you. Wall Street is iconic as the financial district. You must visit the place while in Lower Manhattan.
When you are here, you can get a guided tour. You can walk around listening to your guide and explore Wall Street. You will be amazed to know how many million-dollar transactions happen here every day!
After you have completed your guided tour, you must stop to wish the Charging Bull. The bronze sculpture is a symbol of the American spirit and especially the New Yorkers. After wishing the Charging Bull, walk further to meet the Fearless Girl.
The Fearless Girl stands opposite the Charging Bull. She represents the strength of women and gender equality. Make sure you take a selfie with her.
3 One World Trade Center Observatory
In your list of things to do in Lower Manhattan, the One World Trade Center Observatory is a must. Before you head there, leave your bags with Vertoe New York City and collect them back when needed. The One World Trade Center or the Freedom Tower is built on the site of the previous World Trade Center Twin Towers, which represents the strength of women and gender equality. Make sure you take a selfie with her. The Observatory is on the 100-102 floors.
You must book your tickets well in advance to go to the Observatory. Once you are in the Freedom Tower, you will hop on to an elevator to go to the Observatory. The elevator is super-fast and takes you to the 100th floor in just 47 seconds.
While you are on the elevator, you will watch a slideshow of the evolution of New York City. By the time you are engrossed in the history of New York City, you will reach the Observatory. This is that moment when you are in great awe.
All the skyscrapers and landmark structures are before your eyes. You can slowly pinpoint all of them from above. The best part is, you can view New York City in 360 degrees. You can truly spend an awesome time with your family or friends being on top of the tallest building in the Western hemisphere of the world.
4 9/11 Memorial and Museum
After having spent time in the Observatory, you can visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. This is located at the Western corner of the former Twin Towers site. The memorial was inaugurated on 11th September 2011 to honor the 2977 people who lost lives in the terror attack.
The museum tells the story of 9/11 through artifacts, imageries, personal experiences, and interactive technology. There are different sections in the museum that take you through different aspects of the tragic day.
There is also an audio guide which you can listen to and take a tour of the museum. In the end, you can visit the museum store to buy yourself a memorable souvenir of the Twin Towers.
5 The Battery
The Battery is in the southern tip of Lower Manhattan. It was earlier known as Battery Park. The Battery got its name from the artillery batteries that were built to protect the settlements behind them. This place can be an interesting visit if you are a history buff.
The Battery has several attractions inside it. Castle Clinton is the former fort that has frequent visitors. This is the first immigration center of the US where more than 8 million people arrived between the years 1855 to 1890.
There are also various historical monuments inside the park. Korean Memorial, 9/11 Memorial, World War II Coast Guard Memorial to name a few. On the Southwestern corner is the Sea Carousel that is known for its bioluminescent design.
For a hassle-free time in the park, store your unwanted baggage at any one of the convenient locations at New York City luggage storage with Vertoe.
6 The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is another good reason to visit Lower Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty is situated in the Liberal Island of New York harbor. There are only two ways to get here. One is from the Battery and another is from Ellis Island of New Jersey.
Statue Cruises is the only company that operates the ferries from both the islands. Every day the ferries fetch thousands of tourists to the Statue of Liberty. There are three ways to be near the Statue of Liberty. One is the general access, where you can see the Statue of Liberty from the ground beneath.
The next access is to the pedestal. You have to book your tickets from the Statue Cruises to climb up the pedestal of Lady Liberty. This ticket shall include your visit to the pedestal, Ellis Island Museum, and Statue of Liberty Museum. You can also get till the crown of the Statue with the same procedure.
If you decide to go to the crown, make sure you are ready to climb the stairs from the pedestal point. There are about 393 steps to get there. Do not expect an elevator to help you. Once you have reached the crown point of Lady Liberty, there is nothing that can stop you from feeling proud of the United States!
7 Hudson River
If you want relaxing things to do in Lower Manhattan, you can spend a lot of time in the Hudson River. You can go for a walk or a jog on the walkway above the river. If you want to catch a river activity, the Hudson River is a great place for some fishing.
After fishing a bit, you can go for a smooth boat ride and enjoy the river surroundings. There are also many river tours which take you around. You can learn about many historical monuments that are built within the river area.
If you want to do more water activities, there are some safe swimming areas. You can swim for a while and head out for riverside dining for a hearty meal.
8 South Street Seaport
The South Street Seaport is a designated historic district in Lower Manhattan. There are a lot of things to do in this place. If you want to try delicious seafood, there are awesome restaurants that serve mouth-watering sea dishes.
South Street Seaport is known for its South Street Seaport Museum. The museum is a place to learn about the growth of New York City as a world port. It also includes a collection of ship models, navigational instruments, and many similar things.
The other highlight of the museum is the historic lightship Ambrose. Ambrose was the first vessel to take its place in the Seaport Museum. It is also the first lightship that guarded the shipping channel in and out of New York and New Jersey ports.
Visit here to know about storing luggage in NYC.
9 Staten Island
This island can be one of the interesting things to do in Lower Manhattan. One can reach here from Manhattan by Staten Island ferry. The Staten Island ferry runs between Staten Island terminal and Whitehall Ferry terminal (or the South terminal) in Manhattan.
Once you have reached here by ferry, you can do a bunch of things. If you like to know about lighthouses, The National Lighthouse Museum is a wonderful choice. There are about 180 lighthouse models on the display. The museum also has boat tours to showcase nearby lighthouses and ship graveyards.
Apart from this National Lighthouse Museum, you can visit the local zoo to meet animals like kangaroos and peacocks.
10 New York City Hall
While doing things in Lower Manhattan, you can surely visit the New York City Hall. The New York City Hall is one of the oldest City Halls in the United States. It is well-known for its marvelous architecture that comprises arched windows and Corinthian columns.
The Governor’s room is the main attraction. This room was visited by former President Abraham Lincoln and the world’s renowned scientist Albert Einstein. The tour inside the New York City Hall is free with prior reservation. It can be taken as an individual or in a group.
If you want to visit the city hall without reservation, then you can do it during the non-reservation lunch hours. And if unnecessary bags are a bother then find the most convenient luggage storage options at NYC luggage storage.
11 Trinity Church
If you are fond of American history, visiting Trinity Church can be worthwhile in Lower Manhattan. The church holds a significant part during the American Revolution and the founding years of the United States of America.
The church was founded during the 17th Century under the charter of King William III when New York City was still under Dutch rule and known as New Amsterdam. After this, the church underwent several changes due to New York City’s Great Fire in the 18th Century and structural problems in the 19th century.
Today’s Trinity Church is the third building designed by the architect Richard Upjohn in the Gothic revival style of architecture. Trinity’s churchyard is open to visitors who wish to see the graveyard of Alexander Hamilton and other historical monuments within the church complex.
12 Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park is one of the popular parks in Lower Manhattan. It is the famous Washington Square Arch on the Northern side that opens visitors to the park. The Arch is a historical landmark that was built to commemorate the inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the USA.
Today Washington Square Park is a known place for meetings of residents and tourists. While you are here, you can notice the chess boards on the southwestern corner of the park. Store unnecessary baggage with Vertoe NYC and play a round of chess. If you are a good chess player, you can have a great time playing chess tournaments here.
13 Fifth Avenue
When you are in Lower Manhattan, it is mandatory that you go to fifth avenue for shopping. The most famous shopping destination in New York City and around the world. Walking through the streets, you will find top-notch fashion brand stores.
It is here that you will surely fall in love with shopping. You will find all your dream brands like Gucci, Armani, Prada, and many more that are often endorsed by your favorite celebrities. You can get into one of the stores and buy whatever you like.
If you do not want to do the actual shopping, you can definitely enjoy the experience of window-shopping here.
14 The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral
The history buff in you will certainly like the Basilica in Lower Manhattan. This was built in the early 19th century in the Gothic Revival Style of architecture. There are two entrances to the Basilica – the Mulberry Street Entrance and the Mott Street Entrance.
The Basilica was designated as a historical landmark in 1966. The Cathedral complex was added to the National Register of historical places after a decade in 1977. It was also declared as a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI on St. Patrick’s Day in the year 2010.
You can visit here to admire the beautiful architecture and spend time knowing its history.
15 Visit a variety of Museums
Lower Manhattan has a variety of interesting museums. You can plan to go to the museums according to what interests you for the day.
New York City Fire Museum – In this museum, you can find arts and artifacts related to the fire preserved from the last century. It also has a dedicated gallery for the brave firemen who sacrificed their lives in the 9/11 terror attack. The museum regularly conducts programs on fire safety for children.
The Skyscraper Museum – This museum celebrates New York City’s rich architectural heritage. It is also known to be the World’s first vertical metropolis. Inside the museum, you can see and learn a lot about skyscraper technology and design.
Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art – This museum displays a collection of arts created by the LGBTQ community.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A memorial to the departed souls in the Holocaust.
Museum of Ice Cream – An interactive and fun museum to learn the art of ice cream making.
Museum of Illusions – Get some thrilling experiences with the illusions around.
Book your luggage storage with Vertoe Baggage Storage New York City and enjoy your museum tours hands-free.
16 Strand Bookstore
If you feel like grabbing a few books from Lower Manhattan, Strand Bookstore is where you must visit. The bookstore is almost a century old and is a landmark for book lovers in Lower Manhattan. It has a great collection of new, rare, and used books.
The specialty of the Strand Bookstore is that it has a unique way to grab the attention of book readers. You can observe a yellow tag on the books that are cheaper and lesser-known. This way, the bookstore promotes readership for all kinds of books.
Strand is also known for having interesting book-related gifts. So, when you are here, you can buy awesome bookmakers, postcards, or some really cool stationery along with great books.
Click here to know where you can find luggage storage in NYC
17 Russ and Daughters
Russ and Daughters is a century-old appetizing store in the Lower Manhattan area. If you are wondering the meaning of an appetizing store, here it is. In Jewish terms, anything eaten with a bagel is known to be appetizing.
Talk of Russ and Daughters, the entire Lower Manhattan queues up to collect their Bagel with Salmon. The variety of their sandwich is also very tempting. One must try their ‘Everything Bagel with Gaspe Nova Smoked Salmon’ or the Bagel with Norwegian Smoked Salmon.
If you want to buy the bagels for your friends, you must be early to grab your order.
18 Big Bus Hop on Hop off
The best way to explore Lower Manhattan is to buy tickets for the Big Bus. Leave your bags with Vertoe and you can go to any of your favorite landmarks just by hopping on and hopping off the Big Bus.
Decide where you want to go. Be at the Big Bus stop and hop on. Hop off when your landmark has arrived. Explore the place at your own pace and come back to the Big Bus stop when you are done. Repeat the procedure to explore more places in Lower Manhattan.
You can also choose to be on the open-top city tour with the Big Bus. All in all, roaming around Manhattan on the Big Bus will be great fun.
19 Comedy Cellar
If you are a fan of stand-up comedy, then Lower Manhattan has a gem in Comedy Cellar. It is very popular for its stand-up comedy shows. The shows are usually performed by the top comedians of New York City.
Whether you are alone or with friends, Comedy Cellar is a fun place to spend your time. You might find yourself laughing out loud at the shows. What else will you need to de-stress yourself from a mundane routine?
There is only one rule that is applicable to make your reservations. Your request for a reservation is not honored if there are more than 8 people in your group.
20 Relax in the Parks
Lower Manhattan is filled with beautiful parks. If you do not feel like roaming around Manhattan, you can just hang out in one of these parks.
Rockefeller Park – the park has sprawling green lawns, great landscapes, and walkways alongside the Hudson River.
Elevated Acre – Located on top of a parking garage, this park is about an acre filled with lawns and gardens. Being at an elevated position, the park offers views of Brooklyn Bridge and the skyline of downtown Manhattan.
Teardrop Park – Just the right place to be quiet observing the greenery.
21 Ride a Bike
If you are in love with Lower Manhattan, you must ride a bike on the streets to enjoy its beauty in your own way. There are apps that can show you where the bikes are located. You can go to the nearest spot and rent a bike.
When you are on your own, you never know what you might discover in Lower Manhattan. Sometimes, Google might be unaware of the hidden gems of Lower Manhattan.
We hope our list of things to do in Lower Manhattan was helpful to you. Store your bags with us at New York City baggage storage and have fun exploring without the hassles of carrying your bags around.
Happy Planning Peeps!