22 Things To Do On A Rainy Day In NYC - Best Indoor Activities

Last Updated on 24th April 2024

This post about the best things to do on a rainy day in NYC contains affiliate links.

Are you planning a trip to New York but you’ve realised that it’s going to be raining while you’re there? This huge guide includes recommendations for the best things to do in New York City in the rain!

Visiting a new city in the rain is never much fun, especially if you had lots of fun outdoor activities planned that were dependent on good weather, but sometimes the rain just cannot be helped, so it’s a good idea to have some backup activities in mind, especially when it comes to spending a rainy day in New York!

This guide includes all the best things to do in the rain in NYC, including the best indoor museums, the best food markets to enjoy on a rainy day in NYC, as well as the best bars, restaurants, sports games and more that can be enjoyed during those rainy days in New York City!

Still need help planning your trip? Grab a copy of my Ultimate New York City Travel Guide ebook or join my New York Facebook Group for more travel tips, advice and inspiration!

New York City rainy day activities

New York is a city that can be enjoyed all year round, no matter the weather, but it’s arguably least enjoyed when it’s pouring with rain, especially when you’ve made plans to visit a lot of the city’s outdoor sights and attractions!

The city’s observation decks such as the Empire State Building, the Top of the Rock and One World Observatory can naturally be experienced in New York in the rain, as a large part of the observation decks are indoors, but if you want to enjoy the best views of the city, it’s better to go up them on a clear day.

Of course, you can still see and do all of the outdoor attractions in the city, but if you’re looking for some inspiration for the best rainy day activities in New York City, you’ve come to the right place!

1. Eat your way around Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market is one of my favourite food spots to explore come rain or shine, but if you’re looking for somewhere to shelter from the rain that also gives you the chance to indulge in some of the best food stalls in NYC, this is the place to be!

Located on the west side of Manhattan, just a few hundred metres from The High Line, Chelsea Market is a giant indoor food, clothing and craft marketplace where you’ll find some of my favourite eateries in the city such as Los Tacos No.1, Berlin Currywurst and Doughnuttery!

2. Spend the afternoon at a museum

Many people choose to enjoy New York’s many museums even when the weather is pleasant, but this activity is definitely a good idea when it comes to things to do in NYC on a rainy day.

There are so many incredible museums to choose from, with my personal favourite being the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. It’s undoubtedly one of the most harrowing museums I’ve ever been to, but it’s also one of the best in terms of the information provided and the experience itself is sure to stay with you forever.

The best museums to explore during rainy days in NYC:

3. Watch a Broadway show – rainy day in NYC ideas

Watching a Broadway show is another quintessential New York experience, and it’s definitely a great activity to consider if you’re wondering what to do in the rain in NYC as you can spend a few hours indoors keeping dry and watching worldwide theatre performers put on an incredible show!

There are so many remarkable Broadway performances to choose from, so you won’t have too much trouble finding a show that suits your preferences, although you might have a hard time narrowing it down to just one show during your trip!

Here are some of the best and most popular Broadway shows to watch in NYC on a rainy day:

4. Check out the Friends Experience

If you’re a fan of one of my own personal favourite TV shows, then look no further than the Friends Experience which is undoubtedly one of the best things to do on a rainy day in NYC if you want to step into the world of one of the biggest sitcoms in history!

At the Friends Experience, you can spend hours admiring props and costumes that were used during filming of the hit television series, and you can also enjoy many photo opportunities throughout the experience where you can recreate your favourite scenes!

The entire experience usually takes between 60 and 90 minutes to enjoy, but you can also spend longer at the Central Perk cafe and at the on-site gift shop where you can pick up some “friendly” souvenirs!

Book tickets to the Friends Experience here!

5. Explore Grand Central Station

Grand Central Terminal is one of the most iconic locations in New York City. Covering an area of 48 acres and encompassing 44 platforms and 67 tracks, Grand Central is one of the biggest and busiest train stations in the world!

If you’re looking for one of the best rainy day NYC activities that is also one of the biggest, best and most beautiful attractions in the city, then you’re sure to enjoy spending some time at Grand Central. It’s a great place to people-watch, but there are also some wonderful places to eat inside the terminal as well, including the world-famous Oyster Bar and a branch of Shake Shack.

6. Watch an indoor sports game – how to spend a rainy day in NYC

Watching the New York Knicks basketball team or the New York Rangers ice hockey team at Madison Square Garden is one of the best things to do in NYC on a rainy day as these sports are played indoors, so you don’t have to worry about sitting outside in the pouring rain!

If tickets to watch a basketball or ice hockey game at MSG are too expensive for your budget, head to the Barclays Center to watch the Brooklyn Nets play basketball instead as these tickets are often much cheaper than games at the world-renowned Madison Square Garden!

7. Visit the New York Public Library

If you’re looking for one of the best free things to do in NYC on a rainy day, head to the New York Public Library flagship on Fifth Avenue. Conveniently located adjacent to Bryant Park and just a few blocks from the Empire State Building, Summit One Vanderbilt and Grand Central Station, the New York Public Library is a great place to go when it’s raining in NYC as it’s such a stunning part of the city.

You can even take a tour to see highlights such as the Rose Main Reading Room, as well as other historic and architecturally significant areas of this world-famous library!

8. Go shopping at the many department stores

It’s no secret that New York City is one of the best cities in the world when it comes to shopping and if you’re planning to visit some of NYC’s iconic department stores during your trip, there’s no better time than on a rainy day!

Macy’s, Saks, Bloomingdales and Brookfield Place are just some of the main department stores that you’ll find in Manhattan, but if you want to venture further afield for your shopping habits, you can also head to Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets, The Mills at Jersey Gardens and Empire Outlets.

9. Enjoy a delicious dining experience – rainy day in NYC activities

Of course, you’ll need to find somewhere to eat in New York even when the weather is absolutely glorious outside, but one of the best things to do when it’s raining in NYC is dedicating an entire evening to a dining experience.

This could mean finding a great restaurant to eat at and spending a few hours sampling as many delightful dishes as possible or it could mean booking a full dining experience at a Michelin star restaurant or somewhere with a theatrical flair to really make the most out of a rainy evening in NYC!

If you’re looking for some great places to eat in New York, check out my brief list below!

Carbone
Peter Luger Steak House
Balthazar
230 Fifth Rooftop Bar
Ellen’s Stardust Diner (for a fun Broadway-themed mea)
Carmine’s Italian Restaurant
STK Steakhouse

10. Browse the books at Strand Bookstore

If you’re looking for the perfect cosy activity on a rainy day in New York, look no further than the Strand bookstore.

Compromising more than 18 miles of books, Strand is one of the biggest book shops in the world that was originally opened in 1927 on Fourth Avenue. Today, this iconic bookstore resides at 828 Broadway at East 12th Street, just a few blocks from Union Square and the 3rd Ave/East 14th Street branch of Joe’s Pizza, so it’s in a pretty good location for exploring other highlights of the city if the rain eventually stops!

You could easily spend hours exploring the many rows of books; from the timeless classics to the newest releases, Strand boasts more than 2.5 million books of all genres!

11. Watch a comedy show – what to do on a rainy day in NYC

A comedy show is a great way to spend a rainy evening in New York City as not only will it keep you warm and cosy out of the rain, but it’ll also brighten up your evening with plenty of laughter!

There are lots of places to enjoy a comedy show in New York, including the Comedy Cellar and The Grisly Pear in Greenwich Village and the New York Comedy Club in the East Village or Midtown!

12. Go on a bar crawl

A New York bar crawl is another one of the best indoor activities in NYC for couples, friends or even solo travellers. Of course, an actual bar crawl will involve venturing outside as you move from one bar to another, but if you find a few bars in close proximity to one another, hopefully you won’t have to venture too far!

The East Village or Greenwich/West Village are the best places to enjoy a rainy pub crawl in NYC as there are so many great little spots super close together.

13. Hang out at Time Out Market New York

Time Out Market New York is one of my favourite food and drink spots in the city as it also boasts epic views of the Manhattan skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge from its rooftop bar.

While the outdoor rooftop area might not be too much fun in the rain, I’d still recommend adding Time Out Market to your rainy day activities in Brooklyn itinerary as it’s the perfect chance to try out some of the many food stalls inside the market hall.

Some of my personal favourite spots include Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, Felice Pasta Bar and Fornino.

14. Play indoor mini golf

Indoor mini golf is one of the best rainy day activities you can enjoy in many cities across the world and the Swingers Crazy Golf establishment located in NoMad, Manhattan is one of the top spots in the city for a fun-filled rainy day date as a couple, with friends or as a family.

Swingers Crazy Golf is even open to midnight/1 AM on most days, so it’s a great activity to enjoy at night in New York as well!

Find out more about Swingers NoMad here!

15. Attempt an escape room

An escape room is another great option if you’re wondering what to do in NYC in the rain as there are a fair few different ones to choose from in the city.

This is a great rainy day activity in New York for families travelling with kids, but it’s also a fun thing to do as a couple or with friends in the city if your outdoor plans get scuppered by the rain!

The best escape rooms to experience on a rainy day in New York:

16. Have a spa day – how to spend a rainy day in NYC

Indulging in a spa day is one of the best indoor activities in NYC for couples when it’s pouring with rain outside as it makes everything feel just a bit more cosy!

There are several great places to enjoy a spa day in New York City, including Aire Ancient Baths and The Couple Spa.

17. Experience afternoon tea at The Plaza

Having afternoon tea at The Plaza is one of my favourite luxury activities to enjoy in NYC, and even though it’s certainly not a cheap thing to do (with prices starting at around $155 per person!), it is one of the best and most indulgent experiences in New York City, especially on a rainy day!

The Plaza Hotel itself is an absolutely stunning establishment, so even if you can’t justify the hefty price tag of having afternoon tea inside The Palm Court, I would still highly recommend visiting the hotel to admire its impressive grandeur.

18. Watch a live TV recording

Some of the most famous and popular TV shows in America are filmed in NYC and if you’re looking for a fun and unique thing to do in the city in the rain, you can reserve a spot to watch a live TV taping right in New York City!

It can be tricky to get tickets for many of the TV show tapings as most of the shows are completely free to watch and they usually operate on a ticket reserve basis where you need to request tickets weeks or months in advance. However, if you do manage to get tickets to a live TV show recording on a rainy day, you’ll have hit the jackpot!

Some of the best TV show tapings to watch live in NYC include:

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Saturday Night Live
Late Night with Seth Meyers
The Today Show
Good Morning America

19. Attend a cooking class – rainy day in NYC activities

New York is undoubtedly one of the best foodie cities in the world and while it might be a bit of a cliche to suggest taking a cooking class on a rainy day, in a city as culturally and culinary diverse as New York City, I really think it would be a missed opportunity to not take advantage of a rainy day cooking class in NYC!

Whether you’re looking to learn how to make the perfect bagel or you’d rather learn how to make traditional Italian cuisine from scratch, there are so many different cooking classes available throughout the city.

20. Spend the evening at a jazz club or speakeasy

As well as its epic culinary scene, New York is also famous for its mightily impressive roster of jazz clubs and speakeasy bars.

While I’ve already included a bar crawl on this list of the best things to do in New York on a rainy day, I think it’s also worth noting a few of the city’s top jazz clubs and speakeasies that make for a perfect date night activity on a rainy New York evening.

Some of the best jazz clubs in New York include:

Blue Note
The Jazz Club at Aman New York
Smoke Jazz Club
Smalls Jazz Club
The Iridium

Some of the best speakeasies in NYC include:

Attaboy
Please Don’t Tell
Nothing Really Matters
Apotheke
Employees Only

21. Watch a performance at the Lincoln Center

Located on the Upper West Side, just a few blocks from the entrance of Central Park West, the Lincoln Center is one of the top spots in the city to enjoy a theatrical, musical, operatic or dance performance.

Arguably best known for being the home of the New York Philharmonic, as well as the New York City Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera, the Lincoln Center is one of the best places to visit on a rainy day in NYC if you’ve got a particular penchant for the performing arts.

You can find the full list of upcoming performances on the Lincoln Center website.

22. Take a tour of Radio City Music Hall – things to do on a rainy day in NYC

Another fun and exciting rainy day activity in New York if you’re a fan of musical theatre/performing arts is a tour of the world-renowned Radio City Music Hall.

This epic entertainment centre is arguably best known for being the host of the Radio City Rockettes who put on a fantastic Christmas show for several weeks over the festive period, but it’s also possible to tour the music hall to enjoy behind the scenes snippets of the epic performance venue.

Book a tour of Radio City Music Hall here!

Rainy day in NYC – conclusion

I really hope that your trip to New York isn’t too affected by the rain, but if you do happen to experience poor weather conditions while you’re there, I really hope this guide of the best rainy day indoor activities in NYC has given you plenty of inspiration!

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