Without the crowds and high prices: the best non-tourist activities in New York

There is nothing wrong with tourist attractions - some of their attractions are simply must-see. But the impressions can be indelible for other reasons: the mass of people, standing in lines, lack of time to fully enjoy this or that object. Whether you're a regular visitor or a local looking to get off the beaten track, the edition Time-out collected non-tourist entertainment in New York.

New York City visitors flock from everywhere to famous landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Central Park, Chelsea and Times Square. You can find equally impressive views, natural beauty, art galleries and colorful photo ops in other lesser-known places. These alternative activities in the Big Apple are just as memorable and much less crowded.

View of Manhattan

Tourist Spot: Empire State Building

It's an iconic landmark, though not the best city view in the area. Such an honor belongs to Top of the Rock. However, there is something about this place

Alternative: Sunset Park

It's all about the wonderful skyline of Manhattan and the fact that you can't really appreciate it from Manhattan. For a truly memorable glimpse of the cityscape, head to the highest point of this South Brooklyn park.

Museum

Tourist place: Metropolitan Museum of Art

There are many prestigious educational institutions in New York, but the Met simply surpasses them all. Crowds of people are constantly here and, it is worth saying, not in vain - there really is something to see here.

Alternative: Cloisters

The Cloisters, tucked away in the picturesque Fort Tryon Park, is an extension of the Met. It showcases the art and architecture of medieval Europe. Numerous artefacts, illuminated manuscripts and ephemera fill the halls. Even the building itself, built from European monasteries donated by the US, looks like something out of Game of Thrones.

Park

Tourist place: Central Park

This is where people run away from the concrete jungle, and therefore this is not exactly the place where you can hide from the crowd.

On the subject: See all the major sights in one go: the perfect NYC walking itinerary

Alternative: Fort Tryon Park

This Washington Heights green space was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., the son of one of the men behind Central Park. And in some ways, this guy's work overshadows his father's. Fort Tryon Park provides a far more secluded outdoor experience than Central Park, Prospect Park, or most other parks in the city. For breathtaking views, head to Linden Terrace or stroll through the two main gardens.

Chinatown

Tourist Spot: Midtown Manhattan

We all love to love Nom Wah Tea Parlor, but the area sometimes gets chaotic due to the crowds.

Alternative: Flushing, Queens

Queens has been the go-to area for non-American cuisine for some time now, and truth be told, its Asian restaurants offer more variety than those found in Manhattan. Overall, it's hard to go wrong here, so choose between Zhu Ji Dumpling Stall, Pho Hoang, or the original Xi'an Famous Foods.

Arts District

Tourist place: Chelsea

Between the galleries of Gagosian, Andrea Rosen, Anton Kern and dozens of others, this area remains the site of huge museum exhibitions and art discoveries. But he's not the only one.

Alternative: Long Island City

LIC may be missing Chelsea's galleries, but in terms of quality, it more than holds its own. There is MoMA PS1, where the most modern shows take place. During the summer, the museum hosts the weekly outdoor music series Warm Up. And if you still dream of aesthetic pleasure, visit nearby attractions such as the Noguchi Museum, the Flux Factory, or the Sculpture Center.

Photozone

Tourist spot: Times Square

Everyone wants to see the "center of the world," but New Yorkers tend to scoff at this destination with many tourists. There always comes a time when you get tired of the bustling sidewalks, horns, dizzying billboards and chain restaurants.

Alternative: Bushwick Street Art

Thanks to The Bushwick Collective and other local muralists, the area's lanes and warehouses have become examples of some of the finest local street art. Wander the open-air galleries of Morgan Avenue, Siegel Street, East Moore Street, and other local streets for some really Instagram-worthy photos.

Architecture

Tourist place: Central Station

With its majestic Beaux Arts architecture, beloved brass clocks, and azure blue ceiling dotted with constellations, Grand Central Station is certainly an architectural marvel. But most people probably don't need anything more than a quick walk through the station on their way to the train to appreciate it all.

Alternative: New York Public Library, Steven A. Schwartzman Building

This iconic site, proudly guarded by regal marble lions, is one of the city's most ornate public spaces. The main attraction, of course, is the Rosa Reading Room - who wouldn't be inspired by all those crystal chandeliers? But if you came for books, you won't be disappointed either: there are about 50 million of them here.

View of the Brooklyn Bridge

Tourist Spot: Brooklyn Bridge

About 100 vehicles cross the free Brooklyn Bridge every day, and we're willing to bet that daily pedestrian traffic is in the thousands too. In fact, on a clear sunny day, there is hardly any space on the upper pedestrian deck for walking, let alone cycling. Yes, the gothic granite and limestone towers and the views of Lower Manhattan are quite impressive.

Alternative: Brooklyn Bridge Park

For the exact same Manhattan views and an even better look at the Brooklyn Bridge, take a walk along the walking paths in Brooklyn Bridge Park. It never seems to be as crowded as the bridge itself, thanks to its 85 acres (35 ha) of waterfront. Once you've taken the mandatory photos, take a ride on the carousel or go for ice cream in Ample Hills.

food market

Tourist place: Chelsea Market

With its scenic location within the former National Biscuit Company factory and collection of iconic eateries, Chelsea Market has become the city's most popular food hall. This fact is especially obvious to those who come here on the weekend: the many tourists roaming the building make it almost impossible to enjoy the street tacos from Los Tacos No. 1 or halva ice cream from Seed+Mill.

Alternative: Smorgasburg

While just as many hungry visitors flock to Smorgasburg, the outdoor setting at least makes the crowd a little more manageable. The beloved gastronomic festival attracts as many locals as tourists. A wider choice of vendors cuts down on long lines, although the hottest trends of the year, like 2013's ramen burger or 2016's raindrop pie, are likely to create huge queues.

Garden

Tourist Spot: New York Botanical Garden

Alas, it is difficult to appreciate the flora and fauna when you make your way through the crowd of visitors. True, it is worth paying tribute to their annual Orchid Show - it's really spectacular!

Alternative: Snug Harbor Cultural Center

Once a nursing home for sailors, Snug Harbor became an arts center and botanical garden in the 1970s. Explore the hotel's nine distinctive gardens, including the bamboo forest and carp ponds at the Chinese Scholar's Garden, and the intricate boxwood maze at Connie Graetz's Secret Garden. Because it's on the north shore of Staten Island, you'll see far fewer tourists than any other area.

classic objects

Tourist place: Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall hosted everything from Lady Gaga concerts to Rockettes Christmas performance. Sure, the Art Deco decor is lovely, but most tourists come to see the massive marquee. Take a few sidewalk photos if you need to, but don't waste your hard-earned money on a show just to cross it off your list.

Alternative: Lincoln Center

You will be amazed by the architecture of the main square of Lincoln Center: the babbling fountain is framed on three sides by the magnificent glass facades of the Metropolitan Opera, the David Geffen Hall and the David Koch Theater. And because it's home to the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, the New York Philharmonic, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and plenty of Broadway and off-Broadway shows, you have a much wider choice of performances.

Movie locations

Tourist place: Apartment "Friends"

On any given day, there are a few Friends fans on the corner of Bedford Street and Grove Street. Why? They are trying to find the right angle for their photo in front of an apartment at 90 Bedford Street, which you can recognize as the exterior of Monica and Rachel's house. Not only will the crowds annoy you, but it's not even worth the visit: you can't enter the apartment, there's no Central Perk on the ground floor, and the show wasn't even filmed in New York.

Alternative: Royal House of Tenenbaums

Hamilton Heights is known for its stunning architecture, and the house on the corner of 144th Street and Convention Avenue is no exception. Wes Anderson was so enamored with its red brick facade and intricate tiling that he used it as the family home at The Tenenbaum Family. Today the house is a private residence, but visitors can admire its magnificent exterior from the sidewalk.

Confection

Tourist place: Dominique Ansel's bakery

Dominique Ansel is one of the best French bakeries in New York, but the line at Soho can be agonizing. Travelers who don't have hours to wait in line should skip this bakery.

Alternative: L'Appartement 4F

There will probably be a queue, even a long queue if you go here on the weekend, but it's worth it. Croissants seem to take you to Paris. In addition to Parisian pastries, L'Appartement 4F is also known for its best-selling au sel de mer chocolate tahine cookie.

Activities for Children

Tourist Spot: American Museum of Natural History

There is something about walking under a blue whale or standing next to a cast of a T-Rex footprint, but alas, the queues ruin everything again.

Alternative: Museum of Mathematics

MoMath is pushing the reset button on a deep-rooted hatred of computing and is committed to making the art of numbers more accessible.