Trending 18th June 2026 by Stellar Magazine

The NYC Places I’d Actually Recommend After Living There 

Food, fun, and an infinite amount of things to do

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In May 2025, I moved to New York City and it has become a defining personality trait ever since. All jokes aside, there is a reason why the city is so special and famous, but you have got to be there to feel it.

Lucky for you, I’m writing a little guide to places that are definitely worth visiting in New York. Some you may have already heard of and some you probably haven’t.

Much like the average NYC blow-in, I was completely broke, so this guide will be cost-effective too. I won’t be recommending any expensive tourist traps because sometimes the best activities in the city are completely free.

Central Park

 

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It’s a basic one, but Central Park is a classic for a reason. It’s a breathtakingly beautiful park that you could spend the whole day walking through. From renting a row boat or bike to visiting the zoo, you won’t be bored here. But you don’t have to spend money here; the sheer beauty alone, alongside all the street entertainment will keep you mesmerised.

There are also plenty of vendors selling drinks and fruit so you can refuel after hours of wandering. This is an amazing place to get lost. Even as a solo traveller, coming here to leisurely walk around and people-watch is heaven.

The Bronx Zoo

@explorenycfree Bronx Zoo: How to Visit for FREE 🐅 The Bronx Zoo is the largest zoo in NYC with so much to see & do! Here’s how you can visit for FREE: 1- Wednesday is FREE admission. Must reserve ticket online starting that Monday at 5pm. 2 – Free admission for active US Military & Veterans, advanced ticket reservation is required. Use promo codes MILITARYBZ or VETERANVZ 3 – Free admission for NYC undergraduate college students 4 – Get a FREE one year membership with @idnyc. Must go in person to receive membership. Membership is valid for Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and/or the NY Aquarium. Have you been to the Bronx Zoo yet? #explorenycfree #bronxzoo #thingstodoinnyc #nyckids ♬ Safari/Wildlife/African Video Background_”Kids in the Jungle”_Animals/Zoo/Rainforest/National Park/Playful/Fun/Cheerful(1327305) – Ney

If you want the true New York style zoo experience, visit the zoo in the Bronx. Get here early because just like Central Park, you will spend all day here. This zoo can cost you around $100 for two people so don’t get caught out, and go on a Wednesday for free.

Aside from all the animals, just the greenery alone makes this place super special to walk through, especially on a summer’s day. As someone who insists on visiting a zoo in every city I travel to, this one is easily one of my favourites.

Sylvia’s, Harlem

There’s a weird backstory behind this one. Sylvia’s restaurant is a highly recommended soul-food venue in Harlem. A year before I moved to New York, I was watching an episode of World’s Strictest Parents. The parents in this episode happened to own Sylvia’s, and I promised myself I would visit for a meal if I ever made the move. I expected great things as some of their previous diners included Beyonce and Barack Obama.

I wasn’t disappointed. The staff had an old-school Southern charm and the food was delectable. I got cornbread, barbecue ribs, fried chicken, mac and cheese and mashed potato. To this day, I still think about my meal here.

Tibbetts Brook Park

@miralba.rod Took the boys to Tibbetts Brook Park 💦 perfect little water spot for the kids! You gotta be a Westchester resident (or come in with one) they check ID at the door. Bring your own chairs & towels, food was decent too! 🌭🍟 #TibbettsBrookPark #WestchesterMom #ToddlerDays #WaterparkVibes #NYCSummer #MomLife #WestchesterCounty #SummerWithKids #KidFriendlyFun #ParkDayVibes #FamilyOuting ♬ Summer Too Hot – OJ The DJ

Easily accessible by public transport, this one is a bit out of the city but great for a hot summer’s day. If you want to get out of the city and cool off in nature, Tibbetts Brook Park is the way to go. New York had far more parks and wildlife than I originally expected, and this had to be one of my favourites. If you go to Tibbetts Brook for one thing alone, it has to be its water features.

What looks like an old manor building in the middle of the park has a huge lazy river with multiple different features as well as water slides. This costs around $15 per person for the day. There are also food vendors there for after you’ve gone down the water slides five times over (though this will cost a mini mortgage). Located in Yonkers, the second biggest city in the state of New York, this one is not to be missed on a hot summer’s day.

Exploring Brooklyn on a Sunday

 

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Basic I know, but hear me out. Walking the Brooklyn Bridge is free and a must-do in NYC. You will get the best views and it is absolutely breathtaking. Once you reach Brooklyn and you’re exhausted after surpassing yet another day of 20,000+ steps, you can chill out, get something to eat and then explore all the vintage markets and what they have to offer.

From clothes, cameras and jewellery, there’s no doubt you’ll find the best souvenir for your trip. Brooklyn is one of my favourite boroughs in the city. It has an authentic, artistic feel that sets it apart from the rest of New York. It is definitely worth a visit on your trip.

Irish Hunger Famine Memorial

@herebebarr New York Hidden Gem the Irish 🇮🇪 Hunger Memorial! Have you visited? . . . #nyc #newyork #newyork #ireland #hiddengem ♬ Joy – Instrumental – ICOY Beats

I got a ferry from Pier 83 Midtown in Manhattan for $4, which brought me to the Wall Street area, where I stumbled across the Famine Memorial. This is half an acre of a park that contains native trees, stones and soil from the west of Ireland, with stones from every county.

It features an authentic 19th century cottage from Mayo, and you really feel like you’re in a rural Irish field when you’re there. Paired with a glowing sunset and with the water and towering skyscrapers in the background, this one is yet another free must-see.

Dave’s Hot Chicken

Another food recommendation, not far from Times Square. Now, personally, I didn’t enjoy much of the food in America. That was one of its only faults. It felt like everything either tasted like cardboard or gave me a stomach ache (could be my unfavourable stomach issues though).

However, Dave’s Hot Chicken was a genuinely great meal. Not only is it tasty, but also so cheap, considering its location, a win-win (and the drinks are refillable too). This was easily some of the best fast food I had in America.

Coney Island

@itsmlot a summer sunset at coney island 🎡 sony a6700 @Sony Alpha || #cinematic #film #videography #filmtok #nyc #brooklyn #sombr #fair #amusementpark ♬ original sound – M!

This is the perfect trek to make on a summer’s day, and the only transport involved is the subway from Times Square. Located in Brooklyn, at Coney Island you will spend a lot of money. But depending on what you are into, it could be the best day of your trip. The beach itself is fine.

Compared to other beaches I’ve been to, it wasn’t particularly aesthetically pleasing, but it made up for it with surprisingly warm water. The real attraction is the theme park. The rides, albeit pricey enough, were some of the best I’ve been on and the park was huge. Once you get hungry, there are plenty of restaurants along the strip to choose from. You could really spend a whole day here. Coney Island has to be one of my core memories from living in the city.

Free Ferry to Staten Island

The Staten Island Ferry is a 24/7 completely free transport service from Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. I went on the ferry with a few cans as the sun set, with the skyline glowing behind the Statue of Liberty.

Watching the skyline glow in the background is still one of my favourite memories from New York. Once you dock, of course you can visit Staten Island, but I decided to head back to Manhattan instead. Overall, a really cost-effective way to see the best views of NYC without walking 30,000 steps.

Lucky Tiger

 

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Another food recommendation, this Asian-fusion restaurant is not one to miss. It is super vibrant and trendy, perfect for a cheeky aesthetic-pleasing Instagram story. Best of all, it is owned by the kindest man from Dún Laoghaire, who even got me and my friend free drinks just because we were Irish (what a guy).

Overall, the food was amazing too. It was hard to get nice food in NYC without spending an arm and a leg, but the food here was reasonably priced and delicious, especially the chicken skewers.

What they say about New York is true, it’s a place where anything can happen. As cringe as it sounds, they do love Irish people and that has its benefits. You couldn’t go a day without talking to a stranger, whether it was a compliment on your outfit or a comment on the weather. Although it irritated me at times, I miss it now. There is a real sense of community there that I had never really experienced before.

It’s been almost a year since I left New York and I still think about it every day. It was so different from what I expected. The weather and the people made it so special. Most days were warm and sunny without being unbearably hot, and the people were some of the friendliest I’ve ever met.

Every single day was completely different from the last, and always so much fun. If you were thinking about making that trip this year, please do. It’s definitely one to add to the bucket list. The only thing you’ll regret is not staying for longer.

Words by Katie Walsh