What To Do On A Rainy Day In New York City, USA - Updated 2024

Victor
Victor 
Updated
| 5 min read

New York City got it all, so the adage goes! Unfortunately, this includes occasional spells of severe weather that can ruin an otherwise great vacation experience. However, wet and snowy weather outside is not a condemnation that you should stick to the confines of the walls of your hotel room all day long. There are plenty of ways through which you can exploit the rainy days in New York by immersing yourself in the culture, recreation, and food without being derailed by the lousy weather. Here is a look at some of the exciting things you can opt for on a rainy day in New York City, USA.

1. Shopping tour from Manhattan (from USD 42.0)

A trip to New York will never be complete without indulging yourself in some serious shopping, and it is one of the best things you can do when the weather outside is not ideal for outdoor explorations. Woodbury happens to be the largest outlet center in the state, and it houses renowned retailers such as Diesel, Nike, Puma, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Timberland and many more. The tour is relatively cheap, and there are several departures throughout the day.

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Woodbury Common Premium Outlets Shopping Tour from Manhattan

Duration: 5 to 9 hours

486 reviews

2. Visit Legoland with kids (from USD 35.0)

If you are in New York with the kids and the weather suddenly becomes bad, you can still treat your kids to loads of fun by visiting Legoland Discovery Center Westchester. In this place, you will not notice time flying by as you get engrossed in building fun at the various attractions with the kids. Whether it is testing the fastest vehicles at LEGO racers or building cities from LEGO bricks, your kids will be delighted that you did not stay in the hotel rooms. Once done with putting your kids’ imaginations to the test, you can head over to view the city’s landmarks at Miniland before heading to the 4D cinema for a LEGO movie.

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Westchester New York LEGOLAND Discovery Center Admission

Duration: 3 hours

36 reviews

3. Visit 9/11 Memorial Museum (from USD 33.0)

The 9/11 Memorial Museum is in lower Manhattan and one of the best places you can visit when the weather is terrible outside. In this museum, you will learn more about the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, including first-person accounts of the events of the fateful day, exhibits on history, multimedia displays and other artifacts that commemorate the thousands of lives lost during the heinous act of terror.

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Lower Manhattan New York City 9/11 Memorial Museum Admission

Duration: 2 hours

4824 reviews

4. Experience the live holiday jazz cruise in New York harbor (from USD 118.0)

Whether or not you are a fan of music, you will appreciate breaking the holiday stress by attending a classy and relaxing jazz cruise in the city. It is a chance to soak up in live jazz performances as you glide past the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and other iconic attractions in the city. All the time, you will be enjoying a variety of snacks and entertainment served from the onboard bar. This tour is highly recommended for coworkers, couples, and families.

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Manhattan Holiday Jazz Cruise

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

16 reviews

New York Tour Guide

Annie Leguennec

Annie Leguennec

My name is Annie. I am a local Tour guide based in Philadelphia enjoying fully what the city has to offer with its deep history, street arts, murals, architecture, traditional food, black history, Farmer Markets, green space, a melting pot of neighborhoods and its great locals. I am looking for to welcome you and show you this incredible city where you will gain a better understanding of the city's rich heritage and its continuing legacy as the birthplace of the United States of America. Book my tour. Explore and learn about this unique city where you will walk on the footsteps of our America's founding Fathers. My tours are conducted in English, French and Italian.

Tours by Annie

5. Go skating at the Rockefeller Center (from USD 109.0)

go skating at the rockefeller center
Source: www.viator.com

Discover what it feels like a real New York insider by going for the VIP skating experience at Rockefeller Center and then heading to Top of the Rock for more sightseeing. This tour lasts for about 1.5 hours, and it is nothing but a pure Viator VIP experience. As such, you won’t have to deal with the crowds since you will have a priority access to the center’s iconic skating rinks. You will also be treated to complimentary hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies, and once you are done with the skating, you will pass by the Top of the Rock observation deck for some exciting panoramic views of the Big Apple. From this vantage position, you will have a 360-degree view of the city from an equivalent of more than 70 stories above.

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Viator VIP: Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Experience and Top of the Rock Observation Deck

33 reviews

6. Take a yoga class (from USD 14.0)

take a yoga class
Source: www.viator.com

Every time is yoga time, including when visiting New York and the weather misbehaves. Keep yourself fit by taking a vinyasa yoga class in New York’s Soho District. In this place, you will be treated to a well-rounded experience as the instructor takes you through a series of seated and standing yoga postures. The yoga studios are well equipped with yoga props and mats so you won’t have to carry any of your own. Hot tea is also available, and whether you are a beginner or an expert, these sessions will make a lot of sense when the weather outside is not friendly for outdoor activities.

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Vinyasa Yoga Class

7. Go out for lunch or dinner (from USD 65.0)

go out for lunch or dinner
Source: www.viator.com

The Russian Tea Room is another experience worth contemplating on rainy days in New York. The elegant establishment gives you a chance to immerse yourself in the 1920s St Petersburgh experience with a meal right in the heart of New York. What you find in this place is not just the sumptuous three-course lunch or dinner, but also the joy enjoying your meals in dining rooms boasting Russian-inspired décor. The menu has a lot of classic Russian dishes as well as a variety of modern continental cuisines with Russian flare.

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The Russian Tea Room Dining Experience

93 reviews

8. Grab a few drinks (from USD 35.0)

That it is raining outside is not a justification for you to keep indoors when you can get limousine transportation to some of the best night spots in New York. The city is chock full of pubs and bars, and for visitors, it can sometimes be confusing to know where to start and where to end. With this tour, you venture on a bar crawl to some of the hot spots where you will be treated to the full spectrum of the city’s nightlife. You will be in the company of a host as well as other group members who will be equally eager to sample the city’s nightlife. You will visit a total of three different clubs, with some including entry and drinks.

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New York City Bar Crawl

Duration: 5 hours

1 review

9. Experience VR in New York City (from USD 48.0)

If you anticipate rainy weather or you visit New York during the poor weather, you can always spend your time indoors and experience virtual reality in the city. You will be surprised to know that there are more than 50 virtual reality experiences in New York, including multi-player games, 360-degree art movies, and lots of simulations. You are, however, advised that you should get your tickets ahead of time so that you don’t waste any time on the actual day. If you can manage to be in a group of at least 10 people, then you will be guaranteed a more intimate experience during the VR sessions.

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New York City Virtual Reality Experience

Duration: 2 to 4 hours

10. Enjoy a show at the theatre (from USD 66.0)

You could choose to watch a movie alone in your hotel room because it is raining outside, or you could head over to the Legendary St. James Theatre in New York City and discover the timeless tales of Anna and Elsa. It is the story of two sisters who got pulled away by a mysterious secret. You can choose between the two available show times of 2 pm or 8 pm, featuring a 2.5-hour musical performance by Oscar winners such as Robert Lopez.

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Disney's Frozen The Broadway Musical

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

3 reviews

Enjoy your visit to New York City

So many things are always out of your control when traveling, and one of them is the weather. However, as demonstrated above, you don’t have to cuddle up indoors simply because it is raining outside. There are so many things you can do alone, as a couple or a family, despite the rains so that you get the most of your visit. Therefore, don’t allow the rain to deprive you of the joy of enjoying your New York vacation.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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