Even if you’ve previously visited NYC, experiencing it alongside a loved one can help viewing the city in a novel light, and here are some entertaining notions for New York City dating to motivate you.
This lively metropolis offers numerous attractions and experiences possible with your partner. You might want to tour some of New York’s most iconic landmarks and museums, or perhaps you favor a relaxed outdoor date in NYC at one of the parks.
If you wish to lavishly dine in NYC for a romantic evening, there are many delicious restaurants to choose from, as well as fun rooftop bars where you can enjoy live music and after-dinner drinks. The large city is also a wonderful place for shows and entertainment, so if you`ve always wanted to see a Broadway production, now`s the time!
In this guide, I’ll share the most notable activities for couples to engage in in NYC, ranging from helicopter tours viewing the city from above and sunset boat rides to relaxing spa days and free experiences.
Table of Contents
1. Go to Central Park, a fun thing to do in NYC as a couple
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Central Park provides an ideal location for visitors to the city to spend a significant period exploring both natural scenery and notable metropolitan attractions in close proximity, allowing one to experience a balance of serenity surrounded by greenery along with engaging urban sights. New York City`s prominent park offers ample diversions blended with escapism from the busy metropolis, creating an enjoyable means for couples especially unfamiliar with the locale to pass time together in Manhattan.
Be sure to explore Belvedere Castle, a beautiful illustration of Gothic and Romanesque architecture. The castle is one of the highest points in the park and has an observation deck furnishing views of Turtle Pond and the Great Lawn. It’s also worth visiting The Lake, where you can admire the scenic views and rent a boat from the Loeb Boathouse.
To help make your daytime date more exciting, you could take a ride on the very popular Central Park Carousel or, if you’re visiting NYC during winter, partake in ice skating at the renowned Wollman Rink. That said, the park is lovely in the spring and summer when you can enjoy the weather conditions and have a picnic on the Great Lawn or in the North Meadow.
Given the abundance to behold here, take into account doing this cycling route through Central Park (which is covered by the New York Pass), or renting a cycle and exploring independently.
2. Take a sunset cruise, the most romantic thing to do in NYC
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This 2-hour boat cruise provides a quality way to bond while gaining a different vantage point of the city from the water. As you float down the Hudson River into New York Harbor, iconic landmarks such as the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center come into view.
Then, as your journey continues, you’ll see the Statue of Liberty bathed in the warm golden and orange hues of sunset. Marvel at the romantic glow over Ellis Island, Governors Island, and the Lower West Side while sipping elegant cocktails with your sweetheart. This will surely be one of the most memorable NYC dates you ever have!
While this sunset cruise is among the most scenic boat excursions in New York City for couples, you can find other boat tours in our guide.
3. Walk the High Line, one of the top couples things to do in NYC
If you’re seeking an inexpensive date idea in NYC, think about a relaxing stroll along the High Line. This elevated greenway is one of the more interesting parks in the city and stretches from the Meatpacking District in Chelsea all the way to Harlem.
The High Line is in fact a set of refurbished train tracks, but through a meticulous design process, it became a lovely park and elevated walkway. In addition to the landscaping and public art, there are several scenic viewpoints where you can get nice vistas of the neighborhood. Take your time doing some sightseeing of Chelsea, Hudson Yards, the Standard Hotel, the IAC building, and other landmarks.
The greenway also passes near The Structure, an experimental observation tower made up of meandering staircases. The Structure`s various platforms provide differing perspectives of the city, so if you want to experience it, I recommend reserving a complimentary admission here.
It’s accurate that paying a visit to the High Line is among the top free activities to participate in in NYC, but if you’re willing to spend some money, you can embark on this walking tour through the High Line and Chelsea Market. Over the course of two hours, you’ll browse the food stalls at Chelsea Market and traverse along the High Line while gaining more knowledge about the park and the surrounding neighborhood. Plus, you’ll get attractive views of Manhattan’s West Side and the Hudson River, so it’s a fun NYC date plan.
4. See the Brooklyn Bridge, a cheap date spot in NYC
The Brooklyn Bridge is another free attraction and can create an entertaining date activity in NYC. At over 130 years of age, the Brooklyn Bridge is among the most renowned bridges in NYCand also an important landmark. Also, it provides pedestrians with some of the most incredible views of the East River.
Crossing over the bridge provides quite an experience, as you’ll obtain a wide-ranging perspective of Brooklyn borough’s urban landscape and green spaces. Below the bridge is Brooklyn Bridge Park, a popular waterside park with concessions, scenic outlooks, and plenty of greenery where you can spread out and have a picnic. It’s also one of the prime destinations in NYC with youngsters if you happen to be traveling with family.
Crossing the famous Brooklyn Bridge is undoubtedly worthwhile, but for a novel perspective, check out the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. This walkway runs alongside the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, so you’ll be able to see the bridge, New York Harbor, and the skyline of Lower Manhattan. For myself, it’s one of the most notable activities to participate in while in Brooklyn.
One alternative is this walking circuit over the Brooklyn Bridge and through DUMBO, one of the coolest areas in Brooklyn. The 2.5-hour guided trip includes many photo opportunities of DUMBO’s cobblestone streets, old trolley tracks, and historic architecture.
5. Have a romantic dinner in NYC at a Michelin Star restaurant
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To begin, if you and your loved one aren’t too adventurous when it comes to cuisine, the Gramercy Tavern has some of the best contemporary American food in NYC. Dine on tavern burgers and pot pie or branch out and try a new take on an old classic. For a mouth-watering steak, Peter Luger Steakhouse in Williamsburg is the location to go. They also serve the best burgers in NYC.
For refined French cuisine, you have numerous alternatives, such as Le Bernardin and The Modern. Enjoy an elegant dinner featuring foie gras, Montauk sea bass, lobster, and black truffle taglioni paired with a signature wine. If you have a preference for Italian food, Marea serves homemade pasta and risotto along with delectable desserts like gelato and tiramisu.
Splurging on a romantic dinner is a superb date idea in NYC since you can unwind, eat magnificent cuisine, and converse over beverages. Furthermore, you can find any type of food in the Big Apple, whether fried squid and Korean bibimbap at Jungsik or traditional Gujarati cooking at Dhamaka.
6. Visit the Cloisters at The Met, another nice thing to do as a couple in NYC
Another excellent NYC activity for couples is visiting a museum or exhibit, and The Met Cloisters is one of the top museums in Manhattan. The Cloisters are part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, although they’re at the institute’s secondary location in Washington Heights.
There are four primary cloisters here, and the covered outdoor walkways, gardens, and French-inspired courtyards create a stunning scene. The medieval architecture transports you back to the Middle Ages, so you may forget that you’re in one of the busiest metropolises in the country.
You will instantly sense a feeling of tranquility as you wander through the monastery`s Gothic chapel and Fuentidueña apse and admire the works honoring former monks and saints. The church`s Boppard Room is surrounded by exquisite stained-glass windows, while the castle portion of the Cloisters contains fine tapestries, most notably The Unicorn Tapestries.
There are over 5,000 works at the Cloisters, including medieval paintings and sculptures. Plus, the museum is in Fort Tryon Park, a beautiful area with landscaped lawns, a large garden, and walking paths along the Hudson River. Spending a few hours at the Cloisters and Fort Tryon Park makes for a lovely outdoor date in NYC, especially in the spring or fall.
7. See a Broadway show, another fun date idea in New York City
Attending a Broadway performance stands among the top activities in NYC at night and creates an exceptional evening experience in Manhattan`s theater district.
Situated in Midtown, one of the most popular neighborhoods in Manhattan, Broadway has dozens of theaters where acclaimed plays or musicals can be seen, such asMoulin Rouge,Chicago,Hamilton, orThe Book of Mormon. If theater is not a major interest, other shows like Blue Man Group, Stomp, and celebrity-inspired productions for exampleMJ and TINA can be found.
Visiting the Broadway theaters in New York City is an experience that many enjoy, as the top talent in the industry bring outstanding productions to the stage. We`ve had the privilege of watching Aladdin,The Lion King,The Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked, and each show left us in awe of the talent on display.
Additionally, the Theater District is an exciting region full of movie theaters, recording and TV studios, and restaurants, so there is a lot to do there. You can find tickets to other performances here, or go to the TKTS Pavilion in Times Square to get discounted Broadway tickets (although you can’t choose which show you’ll see).
Undoubtedly, taking in a polished Broadway performance is ideal enjoyment for an occupied day inside New York City amid rain. The Lincoln Center near Central Park warrants mention as well, hosting less widely known productions yet of equal high quality.
8. Take a helicopter tour, an amazing thing to do in NYC as a couple
For couples who are commemorating an anniversary or some other special occasion, this couple`s flight is one of the most distinctive NYC date ideas.
This private flight over New York City provides an opportunity for just two passengers (plus the pilot) to see the expansive metropolis lit up at night from the air. Lasting 30-45 minutes, the flight allows glimpses of the iconic landmarks from a unique vantage point, ideal for a romantic date. We`ve covered the best helicopter excursions around NYC if you want options, but this couples package seems perfectly suited to enjoy scenic night views together from above the bustling city.
Your pilot will point out famous locations like the Empire State Building, Central Park, and the bridges along the East River, so be sure to bring your camera! This is one of the best activities to do as a couple in NYC, especially for a special occasion, so if you’re unsure about it, don’t overthink it!
9. Go to the top of the Empire State Building
If your objective is to capture the most beautiful images in NYC but you prefer not to take a helicopter tour, then I suggest checking out one of the top observation locations in NYC. Specifically, the observatories at the Empire State Buildingoffer some of the most stunning perspectives of New York City.
This Art Deco architectural style skyscraper is already an striking NYC landmark and one of the most famed examples of human engineering and artistic design. It rises 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan, and its highest observatory is 1,250 feet above the ground level.
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The 102nd-floor observatory affords a more personal indoor platform that you can access for an additional charge. Situated 1,250 feet high, it has floor-to-ceiling windows providing 360-degree views for miles. Alternatively, you may also want to investigate One World Observatory at One World Trade Center. Occupying the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floors and measuring 1,268 feet tall, this deck boasts views equally as spectacular.
10. Have drinks at a rooftop bar or speakeasy
New York City offers an excellent nightlife, so for late-night date ideas in NYC, visit one of the top rooftops in New York City.
Our favorite NYC rooftop venue is 230 Fifth, which hosts one of the largest outdoor event spaces in the city. The restaurant/bar facilitates incredible dance parties with live DJs, an igloo bar, and sweeping views from 20 floors up. It also offers one of the most memorable perspectives of the Empire State Building.
Another great rooftop locale is Mr. Purple at Hotel Indigo on the Lower East Side, which features a rooftop pool and a fresh menu featuring locally sourced ingredients and craft cocktails. Nearby, JIMMY at Modernhaus SoHo is an artistic, intimate venue with a full bar, a fireplace, and a pool deck overlooking the Hudson River and Midtown Manhattan.
Over in Brooklyn, Westlight is an upscale rooftop at the William Vale that serves distinctive cocktails and small dishes. If you’ll be in Chelsea, check out Somewhere Nowhere at the Renaissance NY Chelsea Hotel, a multi-level lounge with a magical garden inspired theme.
Another fun date concept is locating the hidden speakeasies in NYC.Please Don`t Share is a dimly-lit bar with a James Beard Award, whose entrance is through the phone booth in Crif Dogs hot dog shop. The Back Room has a distinct Prohibition-era atmosphere and serves cocktails in teacups and beer in paper bags.
Angel’s Share serves exotic Japanese-influenced beverages, whereas Blue Quarter can be discovered behind a blue key-molded entrance at Local 92 Mediterranean Restaurant. Sunshine Laundromat & Pinball is concealed in Brooklyn, masquerading as the storage room of the laundromat.
11. Indulge at a spa, a relaxing couples activity in NYC
With all the walking, sightseeing, and social activities you’ll do in NYC, treating you and your partner to a spa day for couples is not a bad suggestion. There are several outstanding day spas in the city where you can indulge in massage, facial treatments, or couples packages, leaving you feeling refreshed and re-energized.
For instance, the AIRE Ancient Baths facility in TriBeCa, located inside a repurposed textile mill dating back to 1883, offers a distinctive spa getaway replicating the relaxed atmosphere of traditional Greek and Roman bathing. Visitors can indulge in one of the thermal water activities, a wine bath, or a Himalayan salt therapy session.
Haven Spa in SoHo maintains pristine amenities and includes a hammam area allowing guests to fully pamper themselves, providing couple packages as well. Unwind through deep tissue, hot stone, or Swedish massage styles, or try a body scrub or wrap treatment. Haven Spa also carries out hand, foot massages, manicures, pedicures, and other body therapies.
Finally, the Oasis Day Spa is near the Empire State Building at One Park Avenue and provides services ranging from facial treatments and massages to body therapies and reiki energy work. You can book a package for couples including side-by-side massages and signature facials or opt for one of the organic salt and sugar scrubs. The spa can also relieve sore muscles through specialized massage or a reinvigorating Vichy shower.
Whichever spa you choose, treating yourself and your companion to some relaxation is the perfect way to end a romantic weekend visiting New York City.
12. Visit Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a lovely outdoor date spot in NYC
Last but not least, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of the most romantic places to visit in New YorkCity. It is actually comprised of several gardens covering 52 acres, as well as the Steinhardt Conservatory, which contains a bonsai museum, themed plant pavilions, a glass aquatic plant house, and an art gallery.
This botanical garden contains over twelve thousand types of flora including tropical plants, cacti, and cherry trees. Indeed, it has one of the most frequented sites for viewing cherry blossoms outside of Japan, so plan a visit in spring. The scenery is also splendid when touring NYC in autumn and special exhibitions are presented during that season.
Regarding the specialty gardens, one of the most visited ones is the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden, which features a Shinto shrine, atorii gateway, wooden bridges, stone lanterns, and pavilions. It’s also worthwhile visiting the Cranford Rose Garden, the Native Flora Garden, the Shakespeare Garden, and the Water Garden.
This place is perfect for an outdoor date in NYC, and it’s a tranquil venue where you can get away from the noise and traffic. Enjoy the aromatic Herb Garden, the scenic Rock Garden, and the peaceful Lily Pool Terrace overlooking a koi pond. As you can imagine, visiting this place is a lovely experience, and it’s even better with a loved one. Plus, it’s incorporated in the New York Pass, so don’t miss it!
Best hotels in NYC for couples
To nicely wrap up your romantic getaway in the big city, I recommend staying at one of the superior couples hotels in NYC:
- The Dominick Hotel in SoHo boasts a full-service spa and rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, Italian marble bathrooms, and a stocked mini-bar. Plus, it’s conveniently located near Washington Square Park.
- The Ludlow Hotel is a beautifully decorated hotel on the Lower East Side, so it’s one of the premier hotels in Lower Manhattan. The rooms feature Moroccan lights and handcrafted silk rugs as well as private marble baths with soaking tubs and rain showers. It’s one of the top-rated hotels in New York City.
- Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown is situated in TriBeCa, just minutes from the Brooklyn Bridge. Among the amenities and facilities are an indoor pool, gymnasium, spa, and restaurant operated by acclaimed chef Wolfgang Puck. It is considered one of the most luxurious hotels located in Manhattan.
For other romantic lodging in NYC, check our guide to the top places to reside in New York City. And with that, I hope you found some couples’ activities in NYC that you’d like to participate in the next time you’re here. You can download this traveler map of NYCto plan your outing and see how far each attraction is from your hotel.
If you have any inquiries or something you’d like to add to this list, feel free to leave a comment below. I’d be pleased to hear from you. Have a wonderful evening out in NYC!
