24 things to do in 24 hours near NYU

When you attend college in the big apple, the city becomes your campus. Manhattan can be divided up into three big chunks; downtown, midtown, and uptown. Each region of the city is known for different things. New York University sits in the center of downtown Manhattan, where there’s arguably the most amount of places you could visit. There’s always something to do and see, regardless of the time of day.

Here’s 24 things you could do as an NYU student in under 24 hours:

6:00 am Take a stroll around Tompkins Square Park

Let’s start our day at Tompkins Square, where you can see the trees on one side, and the calm rivers on the other. The warm sunlight embraces the chilly leaves to create dewdrops, and the ray glistens off the water to brighten the atmosphere. Tompkins Square is known for its popularity among skaters, but it’s an amazing place to enjoy an early walk in the morning. The Temperance Fountain, located in the center of the park, is the heart of the park itself. People gather around the monument to share conversations, or watch boarders jump a nice ollie.

7:00 am Grab breakfast at Tompkins Square Bagels

Tompkins Square Bagels is a must-go whenever anyone’s around the neighborhood. The toasted bagels here are to die for, and at a pretty reasonable price too. My go-to order’s the toasted sesame bagels with bacon and scallion cream cheese. The interior’s warm and homely. The chill music, the blackboard chalk menu, and the staff always writing down orders on a small notebook somehow makes me feel like I’m away from the busy city. The local restaurant is also known as Timothée Chalamet’s favorite bagel place; perhaps you’ll bump into him one day while you grab your breakfast.

8:00 am Wake yourself up with some coffee at La Colombe Coffee Roasters

A nice toasted bagel may be filling, but it won’t be enough to keep you awake for the day. Conveniently located a street away from NYU’s main campus, La Colombe Coffee Roasters is an excellent place to grab a cup of coffee. The windows are designed to let in the morning sunlight into the corners of the interior, which is always nice if you’re trying to sit and enjoy your drink. The price is a lot lower than the New York average, so it’s the perfect place for any college student.

9:00 am Go to class

Yes. It’s class time. Depending on what you’re majoring in, you may be visiting the Silver Center and the Cantor Film Center, where most core classes are held, or any other major department building. Most classrooms will be located around Washington Square Park, but there are some exceptions; you might need to take the subway to attend certain classes, so always keep your phone in one hand if you’re not the greatest with directions.

11:00 am Grab lunch at Upstein

NYU has 14 dining halls, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. My personal favorite, however, is Upstein. Located on the first floor of the Weinstein student hall, Upstein is designed like a typical food court; you can choose between Japanese, Mexican, or Cluckstein (NYU’s version of Chick-fil-A). Salads and smoothies are also available, for anyone who isn’t hungry enough to eat a full meal.

11:30 am Eat at Washington Square, and enjoy random performances

While NYU doesn’t have a defined campus, it’s safe to say that the school’s unofficial campus circles around Washington Square Park. Excluding a few, most buildings are within 5 minutes walking distance from the park, which is convenient when you have back-to-back classes in different buildings. Acting as the symbol for NYU, you can frequently spot students sitting on the bench, chewing on a sandwich, or sipping a cup of coffee. The park is also home to many street performers around the area, meaning that there’s a high chance that you’ll be pleasantly surprised with a jazz duo or a magic show.

12:00 pm Visit the NYU Bookstore

Since you’re around the school, it only makes sense to buy some merch. The NYU Bookstore is located only a minute walk away from Washington Square Park; it won’t be hard to find, as the entrance has a big, bright purple sign. There are hoodies, pens, and even scrunchies with the NYU logo on them. True to its name, the store also has an arsenal of books and stationery that you may need for class. It also offers discounts for NYU students, so don’t forget to bring your ID card if you’re trying to buy yourself a hoodie.

1:00 pm Work out at 404 Fitness

NYU has 2 fitness centers; the 404 Fitness and Palladium. There aren’t many differences between the two, other than 404 being slightly larger than Palladium. There are 2 floors to this center. Both floors have cardio and weight machines, so you don’t have to go up and down to alternate between the two. These machines are rather new, so no need to worry about them malfunctioning and getting hurt.

“404 is honestly better than private gyms nearby. It’s definitely a great choice especially since it’s free for NYU people,” NYU sophomore Aaron Roh said.

Since the place is so huge, you (usually) won’t have much issue in trying to use the machine you want, unless you visit mid-afternoon, in which case you’ll see both floors flooded with people. Located just 5 minutes away from the classrooms, students get quick access to 404 before or after their lectures. They also have lockers and a shower room, so if you want to work out before your 2pm class, but you don’t want to show up smelling like an armpit, they have a solution for it.

2:00 pm Visit the Public Theater

Created 60 years ago, the Public Theater stands as one of the most prestigious theater halls for performances in New York City. Some of its famous creations include Hamilton, Hair, and A Chorus Line. The great thing about this theater is that it has lots of promotions for its tickets. If you’re a student, then you get sales for ticket prices, or sometimes they offer admissions for free. Just remember to bring your student ID to the theater.

3:00 pm Explore Soho

Southern Houston is perhaps the most crowded, and the trendiest area of downtown Manhattan. The borders of Soho are a block away from NYU, so it’s quite accessible if you’re dorming around the school. The best part about Soho is that the streets are home to so many festivals. The Japanese culture festival, the Dumpling fest, the Feast of San Gennaro, and many more; it’s harder to find a month where the area doesn’t host a festival. This is a great way to experience Soho, especially if you were hesitant to visit because of the pricing of their regular stores.

4:00 pm Visit the Museum of Ice Cream

This place is literally my childhood dream come true. Ice creams are everywhere. Popsicles hanging on the ceiling, ice cream cones standing on the side, and a POPSICLE BALL PIT. If a 7-year-old me visited this museum, I would have lost my mind. Not to say that the museum isn’t for adults; it has many creative exhibits that would entertain your eyes along the way, and even has a make-your-own ice cream booth. Besides, who says that adults can’t enjoy themselves in a ball pit?

5:00 pm Swim at the Paulson Center!

The Paulson Center was built less than 2 years ago, meaning that its facilities are all brand new. Their swimming pool is HUGE, with six wide lanes. The locker rooms are nice and clean, and don’t smell like someone mistook the ground for the bathroom. The best part about this pool is that admissions are free to all NYU students, meaning that you can go swimming with your friends whenever you want. Be sure to check their open pool hours, as it might change throughout the year. 

“It’s so not fair that we didn’t get to use the place more,” NYU graduate Sam Choi said.

The building also has lots of studying space; most of their classrooms are empty after 5pm, so you can use them for group studies, or for some quiet time for yourself. The highlight of this building is their dining hall, Crave. Unlike NYU’s other dining halls, this location has a variety of menus to choose from. You could go for a filling banh mi or bibimbap, or stick to the classic hamburger with fries.

6:00 pm Raku

Ask any NYU student what their favorite restaurants are. If you ask 100 students, I guarantee at least 30 students will mention Raku. Raku is a Japanese Udon restaurant located minutes away from Washington Square Park. What makes this restaurant special is their noodles; chewy but when broken down, releasing the broth it absorbed. It makes perfect harmony with the warm, filling broth. The interior is also very homely, which enhances the experience!

7:00 pm An after-meal snack at Chihiro Tea

There are a LOT of boba stores in New York. With at least 10 different stores to choose from in downtown Manhattan alone, Chihiro Tea stands as one of my favorite places. Close to the Bobst library, it’s the perfect place to visit when you’re feeling a strong crave for sweets while you’re studying. Not too sweet though, but just sweet enough to satiate that craving. The bubbles always taste fresh and chewy, instead of breaking down as soon as it enters your mouth.

“Certified from a boba expert. I live off these things and I say this place is THE place,” NYU freshman Hyewon Jung said.

With a wide variety of menus to choose from, there should be at least one drink that meets your palate. The price may be a little high, however, ranging from $8 to $9 for a drink. BUT I’d like to say that the drinks are more than worth paying that much. Additionally, if you show your NYU student ID to the cashier, they offer a 10% discount on all menus, so be sure to bring it along.

7:30 pm Review stuff, wrap day up at Bobst Library

The Bobst Library is where NYU students spend most of their time, whether that be studying for a midterm, using the facilities to write research papers, or simply to hang out with friends. Consisting of over 10 floors, it has space for quiet study, collaborative rooms, and a lounge like section where everyone can socialize. It’s near where most classes are held, which makes it convenient to stop by to review your materials before you head out to your next class.

“I basically live there. Their couches are comfy enough to sleep on,” NYU sophomore Tony Kim said.

The first floor was remodeled recently, and the library brought in a lot of new furniture. According to a recent viral video on TikTok, these new furniture range from $4,000 chairs to $40,000 couches. So if you’re a student at NYU, then it’s best that you utilize these as much as you can! Thanks to the first and lower floors staying open 24/7, you really could sleep in the library if you really wanted to.

9:00 pm An after-meal dessert at Spot Dessert Bar

Spot Dessert Bar is located in the center of Saint Mark’s Place, NYU’s Asian cultural hub. The desserts are not like the typical sweets you would have experienced; there’s earl gray cakes in the shape of flower pots, and chocolate cakes that explode when cut in half. The store’s always crowded with people, so I highly recommend that you make a reservation, or join the waitlist while you’re on the way.

10:00 pm Hit the Library at the Public

What’s a night without a nice drink? The Library at the Public is a nice, classy cocktail bar/restaurant, located in Lafayette Street. The food menu takes inspiration from theater, and each category of food (appetizer, main dish, dessert) is named ans Acts. Aside from the regular table seats, there are also couch seats available, which make your experience extra comfy.

11:00 pm McSorley’s Old Ale House

Being around since Franklin Pierce was president, McSorley’s Old Ale House is the oldest bar in New York. Its 170 years of history is displayed in its interior; the ground is covered with sand, reminiscent of what we see in a typical wild west movie. The walls are covered with photos of historical figures. And of course, their draft beers are always amazing. The vintage design gives a homely feel to the bar, and it’s a great place to visit around midnight!

12:00 am Some live music at Blue Note Jazz

Blue Note is one of the most prestigious live jazz stages in the nation. Legendary jazz performers, such as Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans have performed, and modern jazz celebrities like Hiromi still visit the stage. Ticket prices vary depending on the performer, but college students can purchase evening tickets at $20, so if you’re a student living around the area, this place is a must-visit And don’t worry if you’re under 21, there’s still general seating available where the club sells no alcohol.

1:00 am Midnight snack at 7th Street Burger

Staying up late is a lot of work. It’s a lot harder if you’ve been studying all night, or drinking and partying hard. 7th Street Burger is the perfect place for anyone hungry from a busy night. The menu is rather straightforward (four types of burgers and four different flavored fries), which makes it that much easier to choose what to order. The burgers feel warm and homely, and are enough to fuel a hungry stomach to go back into their crazy night.

2:00 am Ms Kim’s Karaoke

A night out is never complete without karaoke. Ms Kim’s Karaoke is located on 28th Street and Northern Madison Avenue, better known as New York’s famous 5th Avenue. The place has two sections; private karaoke rooms and an open bar. The private rooms are quite spacious, much so that each room is able to fit 10 people in and each person would have enough personal space. The open bar is where everyone can socialize, and usually people from different private rooms get together to have a group sing-along. 

“Great vibes, I’d visit again soon,” Local resident and bartender Julia Kim said.

It’s also perfect for a date night. The interior has warm, dim lighting, and the flowers on the wall act as the cherry on top to conjure the romantic atmosphere. The staff play requested playlists depending on the day of your visit, so you can coordinate your own for you and your partner. And depending on the day you visit, you may be greeted with a singing performance from the bartenders themselves.

3:00 am Chill at Arlo

One perk of living in New York is that you never run out of things to do, even at night. But sometimes, you want to take a break from the city that never sleeps, away from the crowd. Arlo Nomad, located on 31st Street, provides a reservoir for you to escape from the stress. Although the place is primarily a hotel, it also has a public lounge, where anyone can sit around for as long as they want. While public, thanks to it being a hotel lounge, it’s never crowded. Plus, it’s open 24/7, so you can really visit whenever you want.

4:00 am Walk up 10th Avenue

The most well-known avenue from Manhattan would unarguably be 5th Avenue, also known as the fashion street. However, 10th Avenue is also great for walks, especially if you’re taking a nighttime stroll. A mix of modern skyscrapers and vintage buildings create an interesting atmosphere, and it’s pleasurable to look at. Thanks to it being close to the Hudson River, you could also enjoy the riverside view, and peek over the other side to see New Jersey.

5:00 am Watch the sunrise at Little Island

Designed by the famous Thomas Heatherwick, Little Island has received praise for its avant-garde design. It’s located on top of the Hudson River, on the edges of Chelsea. The entire structure is essentially a floating mini island, with multiple pillars underneath it. The highest point of the construct leads to an amazing viewpoint, where you can see the rest of Manhattan and New Jersey at once. Thanks to it being away from the skyscrapers of the rest of the city, you would be able to enjoy the beautiful sunrise along the river.