Things To Do For Seniors in New York City
Guide of great “things to do” for senior citizens in New York City
As people get older, sometimes it seems as though opportunities for entertainment, enrichment, and all around fun disappear. But in New York City, opportunities for senior citizens abound. Many NYC attractions, museums, and events even make a point of offering special discounts for seniors in order to encourage them to buy tickets.
We have a selection of excellent New York attractions that may have particular appeal to seniors. Whether you want some ideas for fun outdoor activities, places to go antique and food shopping, historical sites worth seeing, educational opportunities, unique museums, or beautiful city sights, we’ve got the cream of the crop on our Things To Do For Seniors list.
The beauty of nature is on hand at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and in the city’s many parks. Lesser known attractions like Historic Richmond Town and the Queens County Farm Museum showcase New York City’s rich past, while a Classic Harbor Line cruise or a walk through the South Street Seaport will show you why it continues to be one of the greatest cities in the world.
THINGS TO DO AROUND TOWN
Classic Harbor Line Cruise
At Chelsea Piers
646-336-5270
This company offers creative ways to experience the beauty of New York City with sunset sails on swift schooners, afternoon tea cruises on a 1920s-style yacht, holiday-themed cruises, and other tours that combine ambiance, comfort, and spectacular views.
Get on the Bus! All over Manhattan
See the city like the locals do on two scenic city bus rides: the M5 from Greenwich Village to Riverside Drive, passing Chelsea, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center and Central Park South; and the M4 from Madison Avenue through Harlem to the Cloisters.
Harlem Meer East side of Central Park
106th to 110th Streets
212-860-1370
Catch a fish in the newly stocked Harlem Meer (pond) at the north end of Central Park (fishing poles and bait are provided free of charge by the Dana Discover Center on 110th between Lenox and 5th).
Wildlife Conservation Society Zoos and Parks
All over New York City
Experience animal attraction at Wildlife Conservation Society zoos in Central Park ($12 adults, $9 seniors, $7 children, 212-439-6500), the Bronx ($16 adults, $14 seniors, and $12 children, 718-367-1010), Prospect Park in Brooklyn ($8 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children, 718-399-7339).
ATTRACTIONS FOR SENIORS
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
1000 Washington Avenue
718-623-7200
Stop and smell the roses (and the orchids and the violets and the tulips and at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and learn about botany and gardening at special exhibitions in the conservatory.
Historic Richmond Town
441 Clarke Avenue
718-351-1611
Go back in time at Staten Island’s Historic Richmond Town Restoration ($5 adults, $4 seniors, $3.50 children 5-17).
South Street Seaport
Fulton & South Streets, Pier 17
212-SEA-PORT
Experience New York’s maritime past at the South Street Seaport, a living history museum that also boasts upscale shops and restaurants (browsing is free, museum admission $15 adults, $12 seniors/students, children under 2 free).
Wave Hill
West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, 718.549.3200
Explore the greenhouses and gardens of Wave Hill, a 28-acre former estate overlooking the Hudson River in the Bronx (free on Tuesdays and Saturdays before noon, otherwise $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6+, free for children under the age of 6).
MARKETS FOR SENIORS
Sixth Avenue Antiques Market
Sixth Avenue, from West 24th to 27th Streets
Browse for bargains at the famous Sixth Avenue Antiques Market, between 24th and 27th Streets (weekends only). Other markets include the famous fleas at Columbus Avenue and West 76th Street (Sundays only) and the weekend market on Houston Street between Sullivan and Thompson.
Union Square Greenmarket
14th to 17th Streets
Between Union Square West and Union Square East
Taste the Big Apple at its sweetest at the Union Square Greenmarket, where you can sample fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods, cider, and much more.
MUSEUMS FOR SENIORS
The Morgan Library and Museum
225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street
212-685-0008
See exquisite collections housed in a jewel of historic architecture at the Pierpont Morgan Library ($15 adults, $10 students/children/seniors).
Queens County Farm Museum
7350 Little Neck Pkwy, Floral Park, NY
718-347-3276
Go back to a simpler time at the Queens Country Farm Museum, a historic homestead and farm where you can take hay rides, feed the farm’s sheep and goats, and participate in special holiday events like wreath-making workshops and Easter egg hunts.
Rubin Museum of Art
150 West 17th Street
212-620-5000
Discover the art and cultural heritage of the Himalayas in this wonderful museum ($10 adults, $5 students/seniors, children under 12 free). The first Monday of each month is Free Seniors Day, where visitors age 65 and older get free gallery admission, guided visits, and tickets to film screenings.
Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences
75 Stuyvesant Place
718-727-1135
Enjoy workshops, lectures, and exhibitions on natural and cultural history at the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, also known as the Staten Island Museum, located just two blocks from the Staten Island Ferry terminal ($3 adults, $2 students/seniors, free for children under 12).