Post Overview: Best things to do in Queens
Rounding up the best things to do in Queens is no easy feat because the borough is brimming with options. In fact, Queens is the biggest borough in New York City, so there’s (literally) a lot of ground to cover.
But don’t worry, I won’t drown you with a dozen pizza places to visit or cliché recommendations that you can do everywhere else (like going to the movies).
This article is meant to be unique and helpful, assembled with a little research and a whole lot of personal experience. As a local, I’m here to lend a helping hand to any newcomer coming to visit my beloved borough.
Of all of NYC’s boroughs Queens is the most diverse, and we already mentioned its size, so we better get started. Let’s skip the small talk and start chatting about the best things to do in Queens.
Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (The best neighborhoods for first timers +2 to avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s our favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
Things to Do in Queens
#23. Stretch Your Legs at Astoria Park
Sandwiched under the shadows of the Robert F. Kennedy and Hell Gate Bridges, Astoria Park serves as reminder to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
It stands at an impressive 60 acres (roughly 15 city blocks) and is littered with sprawling lawns and benches. If you’d rather go for a stroll, the half mile promenade along the East River is as idyllic as it gets.
The park is home to a soccer field, a running track, skate park, basketball & tennis courts and one of the best public pools in New York City.
As such it’s never void of cheery locals, giving the park a youthful magnetism. Visiting is one of the best things to do in Queens, especially if you end your day at the park enjoying the dazzling cotton-candy sunset.
Address: 19 19th St, Astoria, NY 11105
#22. Test Your Skills at Area 53 Adventure Park
A mixture between Chuck E. Cheese and the County Fair, Area 53 Adventure Park will bring out your inner child in a jiffy.
It’s an indoor, year round park where you can test your skills through obstacle courses and arcade games.
The friends you bring will make or break the experience, since you don’t want any judgemental looks as you giggle across the zip line or challenge them to a rock climbing competition.
Entry costs range anywhere between $45 to $60 for a three hour window. Once inside the arcade games, food and drink are charged separately.
There’s adult nights, family nights and double fun nights (for access to paintball which is down the block, and the Adventure Park) so pay attention while booking online.
And lastly, yes I know Area 53 Adventure Park is technically in Brooklyn, but it’s only a block from the border with Queens. I thought I’d be doing you a disservice if I left off the list of the best things to do in Queens.
Address: 616 Scholes St, Brooklyn, NY 11237
#21. See the Happenings at the Queens County Farm & Museum
Indeed, the concrete jungle is still home to a fully operational farm: the Queens County Farm & Museum.
Even more shockingly, the farm has been operational for more than 325 years! It was first owned by a Dutch family starting in 1697. It has changed hands multiple times over the centuries, but since 1975 it’s been owned and operated by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation.
The farm and museum hosts events year round giving you ample opportunity to visit.
Every weekend there are free guided tours of the quiant farmhouse, during the fall they open a pumpkin patch, every July they host more than 40 Native American nations for a powwow and there’s a farm store where you can buy fresh eggs, honey and produce.
Best of all, entrance to the museum is free 354 days of the year! Check the calendar on the Queens County Farm & Museum website to double check with your dates and see what’s available on the day of your visit.
Address: 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens, NY 11004
#20. Peruse MoMA PS1
If you love the Museum of Modern Art but want a more intimate experience you need to hop on the subway and head towards Long Island City, Queens ASAP.
Here you’ll find MoMA PS1, a part of the Museum of Modern Art that has a fraction of its visitors. In fact, the flagship campus receives 3.2 million visitors a year versus only 200,000 a year at MoMA PS1.
The PS1 part of the name comes from the fact that museum is inside the first public school founded on Long Island City. The former classrooms are fun settings to learn all about art. 😉
Plus MoMA PS1 has a rotating selection of events enticing you to visit. My favorite event is the summer Warm Ups where a DJ and food vendor set up shop in the former playground and there’s a mini outdoor party.
Address: 22-25 Jackson Ave, Queens, NY 11101
#19. Practice Your Swing at Flushing Meadows Pitch & Putt Course
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is a gem, but we’ll touch on the park a little later. In the meantime I’ll give you the rundown on the Flushing Meadows Pitch & Putt one of the best things to do in Queens.
For those unfamiliar, pitch and putt is similar to golf but scaled down. The holes are not as far and there aren’t as many clubs in rotation. Think of it like mini-golf but without the obstacles and twists.
You’ll find the course on the north side of the park next to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The course is open year round, and from mid-May to October is open as late as 11PM (did someone say date night?).
Unfortunately reservations aren’t available, but you can always call ahead to get an idea of the wait time. Or you can just arrive and hang out at the snack bar (that serves burgers, hot-dogs & beer) until it’s your time to shine.
Address: North end of Flushings Meadow, in-between David Dinkins Circle and World Ice Arena
#18. Soak a Little at the Spa Castle
If New York living has you stressed out and wound a little too tight let me introduce you to one of the best things to do in Queens, Spa Castle.
Made up of three floors that are brimming with pools, hot-tubs, saunas and steam rooms, the spa castle will make you feel like royalty when you walk in and as new as a baby when you walk out.
In order to make sure you experience everything your heart desires, general admission ticket has no time limit! Prices start at $50 Monday through Friday and $60 on the weekends.
The Spa Castle is family friendly and open year round, so treat yourself to one of the best things to do in Queens.
Address: 131-10 11th Ave, Queens, NY 11356
#17. Catch some Sun Rays at Rockaway Beach
Summer in New York City can be unbearable. Luckily one of the best things to do in Queens is to take the A train all the way to the last stop and spend the day at Rockaway Beach.
You can use the unrelenting rays to sunkiss your skin, tanning on the beach or if you rather get your heart rate pumping jump in the water for a swim. Surfers (yes, we have those in NY) are often out catching waves.
But the neighborhood’s popularity isn’t limited to the summer months. Rockaway Beach has that unique, coastal town charm and sometimes a foggy morning stroll on the boardwalk is just what the doctor ordered.
Afterwards you can stop by for a hot cup of coffee at one of their numerous cafes and agree that visiting Rockaway Beach is one of the best things to do in Queens.
#16. Browse the Queens Night Market
Night markets are a staple of summer in New York, and one of the best is in Queens.
Every Saturday between April and October you’ll find as many as 100 vendors setting up shop in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (just behind the New York Hall of Sciences).
The Queens Night Market is a foodie’s paradise, cuisine from Peru to Pakistan will have you addicted. Not to mention by offering small portions the vendors make it easy to try a handful of spots before getting full.
Besides food there’s also art vendors and musical performances – it’s like a community block party. The market is open from 5PM to 12AM, I wasn’t joking when I called it a party.
Address: 4701 111th St, Queens, NY 11368
#15. Peruse the Socrates Sculpture Park
Along the East River in Astoria is the Socrates Sculpture Park, a charming five-acre promenade that doubles as an outdoor art gallery.
Featuring both prominent and up and coming artists, the sculpture park frequently rotates its collection. Visiting is one of the best things to do in Queens time and time again because odds are you’ll come across something new.
And as an added incentive to visit, Socrates Sculpture Park has a calendar brimming with fun community events.
Yoga, a market pop-up with Hell Gate Farm and field workshops teaching you about plants and nature are all reasons visiting Socrates Sculpture Park is one of the best things to do in Queens.
Address: 32-01 Vernon Blvd, Queens, NY 11106
#14. Feast Your Eyes at the Museum of the Moving Image
One of the best things to do in Queens is to drop in the Museum of the Moving Image for a lesson into how your favorite films and TV shows are made.
We live in a world dominated by screens, and learning how the convey a message will interest even non-museum people. From stop-motion to special effects, the Museum of the Moving Image is engaging and fun.
There’s a screening room, the ability to create your own stop-motion book, computers where you can toy with animation and puppets you can use to make your own show.
And the Museum of the Moving Image uses popular shows to teach too, not just random subjects. Coraline, The Walking Dead and the Muppets have all been part of exhibits at the museum.
Needless to say this is one of the best things to do in Queens with kids, but don’t write it off if you don’t have any either. The Museum of the Moving Image can be a fun solo-day destination or a date night, too.
Address: 36-01 35th Ave, Queens, NY 11106
#13. Be Awestruck at the Queens Museum
The Queens Museum is an underrated gem that every New Yorker should take the time to visit at least once.
It’s housed in a building originally built for the 1939 World’s Fair, that also hosted the 1964 World’s Fair and was the temporary home of the United Nations for four years.
The museum’s magnum opus is the Panorama of the City of New York, a scaled-model of New York City’s five boroughs that takes up an entire room. Built for the 1964 World Fair, it features every building built before 1992.
Other popular exhibits include a robust selection of Tiffany glass (stained glass made by Tiffany & Co. a century ago) and memoribilia from the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fair.
Visiting the museum is also one of the best budget-friendly things to do in Queens since admission is free. You’ll need to reserve your tickets in advance (and they’ll ask for a donation, which you should).
Address: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY 11368
#12. Get Lost in Forest Park
With an aptly fitting name, Forest Park is one of the only parks in New York City that can insulate you from the noise of city life. Taking the time to meander the trails is one of the best things to do in Queens.
Minus the area around Woodhaven Boulevard (which splits the park in two) it’s a dense assortment of trees and pathways.
If you do want attractions though the middle of the park near Woodhaven Boulevard is where you want to be.
There are food vendors, a carousel, tennis and basketball courts, a baseball field, running track, a pond, a bandshell, restrooms and a visitor center.
Address:
#11. Take a Tour of the Queens Zoo
If you have kids with curious minds visiting the Queens Zoo is one of the best things to do in Queens.
At 18 acres it’s not huge, so you can be in and out in less than an hour and a half, but during that time you’ll stumble upon alligators, bison, pumas and more.
And fortunately the prices aren’t steep either. Visiting the Queens Zoo is one of the most affordable things to do in Queens because a full price ticket is still under $10.
You’ll find the zoo in Flushings Meadow-Corona Park near the 55th Street Street parking lot.
Address: 53-51 111th St, Queens, NY 11368
#10. Savor Each Bite of the Best Bagel in NYC
Utopia Bagels consistently ranks among the best bagels in New York City and one of the best things to do in Queens. Trust me, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t take the time to try them out for yourself.
Opened in 1981 in Whitestone, the world has been a better place with these airy bites of dough and schmear.
And thanks to the lines out the door the bagels are practically guaranteed to be fresh, the demand keeps them coming hot out the oven. What I wouldn’t do for a bite right now.
Address: 1909 Utopia Pkwy, Queens, NY 11357
#9. Saunter through the Noguchi Museum
Not many artists create collections so robust they can single-handedly fill a museum, but Isamu Noguchi is no ordinary artist.
The Japanese-American artists was as talented as they come, creating striking sculptures, feats of architecture, furniture and stage design.
Anybody with an appreciation for design will agree visiting is one of the best things to do in Queens. Heck, you might even recognize some of his designs, including the Noguchi table which is still popular to this day.
He purchased the building that houses the museum in 1974, opening it on a seasonal basis to display his own work.
It’s only a block away from the Socrates Sculpture Park, meaning you can hit two of the best things to do in Queens in one day. And fun fact: Noguchi bought the museum’s building in 1974, across the street from his former studio.
Tickets are available for purchase online.
Address: 9-01 33rd Rd, Queens, NY 11106
#8. Cheer on the New York Mets
Most folks assume all New Yorkers are Yankee fans, but Queens is Mets country through and through.
Game day at Citi Field is a sea of orange and blue and the passion is exhilarating. Even my husband (who isn’t a Mets fan) can’t help but root for the home team, it’s like a drug
And if I’m being honest, the Mets aren’t doing too hot in 2023 meaning tickets can be had for as little as $15.
So if you’re looking for an inexpensive but memorable thing to do in Queens, going to a Mets game is a blast. For these prices you can take a date or even your whole family!
Address: 41 Seaver Wy, Queens, NY 11368
#7. Wander the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
A scenic place to view wildlife and nature (so long as an airplane isn’t landing at neighboring JFK), visiting the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is one of the most serene things to do in Queens.
The refuge is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, which aims to provide the urban populations of New York and New Jersey with outdoor recreational opportunities.
As the name suggests you’ll find it in Jamaica Bay, which is shared by both Brooklyn and Queens. There are public transit options as well as a parking lot if you’d rather drive yourself.
The main loop is about a mile and a half long, a trip that will introduce you to as many as 330 bird species. With that said, bring binoculars or a telephoto zoom lens if you have one.
Address: 175-10 Cross Bay Blvd, Queens, NY 11693
#6. Take a Tour of the Cemetery Belt
The Cemetery Belt is a term given to the border between Brooklyn and Queens, which is home to more than a dozen cemeteries.
Taking a tour of the strip isn’t meant to be a macabre suggestion, rather it’s a way to appreciate life. With more than five million people buried in Queens, its dead population outnumbers those alive 2-to-1.
The Calvary Cemetery is especially of note, being the cemetery with the most burials in it in the country. Across its 365 acres more than three million people are buried there (including some celebrities, like Tony Bennett).
Other cemeteries along the belt include Zion Cemetery, Mount Olivet Cemetery and St. Michael’s Cemetery. All of them provide a place for tranquil contemplation and one of the best things to do in Queens.
#5. Eat Your Fill at the New World Mall Food Court
The New World Mall Food Court is Disneyland for foodies, especially those with an affinity for Asian cuisine.
All you have to do is enter the mall and head downstairs where more than 30 different vendors lie in wait. The cuisines include Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean and more.
I’ll be the first to admit the food court won’t be the highlight of your Instagram story, but it delivers where it matters: the food. Most joints are inexpensive too, the only thing to bear in mind is that tables fill quickly.
The rest of the mall is worth checking out too. There’s a market full of authentic and hard to get ingredients, retail stores selling jewelery, clothing & more and even a karaoke lounge.
Address: 136-20 Roosevelt Ave, Queens, NY 11354
#4. Cherish the Sunset at Gantry Plaza State Park
Gantry Plaza State Park is one of the crown jewels of Long Island City. Standing at a mere 12 acres but providing some of the best views of the Manhattan skyline, the park is modern, simple and inviting.
You’ll find the park along the East River, directly across from Midtown. The Chrysler, Empire State and Copper buildings all stand out like beacons and demand to be looked at.
In fact there are few places I’d rather be watching the cotton-candy sky sunsets. At the risk of sounding trite, it’s magical! The park serves as reminder that the best things to do in Queens don’t have to break the bank.
Address: 4-44 47th Rd, Queens, NY 11101
#3. Wander the Queens Botanical Garden
The 39 acres of the Queens Botanical Garden are filled with unique and beautiful plants, and stopping by to smell the roses is one of the best things to do in Queens.
The Queens Botanical Garden was born out of an exhibit for the 1939 World’s Fair, growing like the plants it was home to over the last 80 years. Attendance has flourished too, more than 300,000 people visit annually!
Admission is only $6 from April through December, and December through March it’s free! So visiting is one of the best budget-friendly things to do in Queens. You’ll find the garden neighboring Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
Local’s note: the botanical garden is free Wednesdays from 3 to 6PM and Sundays from 9 to 11AM, even during the spring and summer.
Address: 43-50 Main St, Queens, NY 11355
#2. Stop by the Real Chinatown
Now I’m not slandering the Chinatown in Manhattan, it’s the original and is full of fun things to do.
Having said that, locals know the Chinatown in Flushing is massive and brimming with authentic shops and restaurants. In fact, it’s home to the largest Chinese population in New York City.
Cheap and savory restaurants makes it a destination for foodies so bring your appetite. Food crawls are one of the best things to do in Queens and Flushing’s Chinatown just might be the mecca.
Besides the restaurants, Chinatown is also a popular pit-stop thanks to its markets, massage parlors and retail stores. Even if it’s just to feel like you’ve left America for the day, visiting is one of the best things to do in Queens.
Word to the wise: Chinatown has more than a few establishments that function on a cash-only basis. Stop by an ATM before heading to the neighborhood, just in case.
#1. Saunter Your Way through Flushing Meadows Corona Park
The crown-jewel of Queens, if you can visit only one place in the borough make it Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
To be fair, a vast majority of the best things to do in Queens are in and near the park. It’s like a nucleus full of greenery and attractions that epitomizes urban living.
Standing at 898 acres, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is the fourth-biggest park in NYC (even bigger than the mighty Central Park).
Among the top landmarks in the park is the iconic Unisphere. It’s the biggest globe in the world and one of the most popular filming locations in New York City.
But even more so than all the events and attractions, at the end of the day it’s a park providing a valuable green-space to the Concrete Jungle. Going for a jog or sitting under a tree with a book holds no dollar value.
And regardless of whether you live in the borough or are just passing by, paying a visit to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is one of the best things to do in Queens.
Address: Grand Central Parkway and, Van Wyck Expy, Queens, 11354
Quick recap of the best things to do in Queens NYC
- Saunter Your Way through Flushing Meadows Corona Park
- Stop by the Real Chinatown
- Wander the Queens Botanical Garden
- Cherish the Sunset at Gantry Plaza State Park
- Eat Your Fill at the New World Mall Food Court
- Take a Tour of the Cemetery Belt
- Wander the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
- Cheer on the New York Mets
- Saunter through the Noguchi Museum
- Savor Each Bite of the Best Bagel in NYC
- Take a Tour of the Queens Zoo
- Get Lost in Forest Park
- Be Awestruck at the Queens Museum
- Feast Your Eyes at the Museum of the Moving Image
- Peruse the Socrates Sculpture Park
- Browse the Queens Night Market
- Catch some Sun Rays at Rockaway Beach
- Soak a Little at the Spa Castle
- Practice Your Swing at Flushing Meadows Pitch & Putt Course
- Peruse MoMA PS1
- See the Happenings at the Queens County Farm & Museum
- Test Your Skills at Area 53 Adventure Park
- Stretch Your Legs at Astoria Park
Things to do Queens (Helpful Map)
And there you have it, my friends. My list of the best things to do in Queens!
As always, don’t hesitate to let us know if we missed anything.
Until next time, cheers.
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