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New York City is one of America’s most iconic locations. With landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, the energy of Broadway, and the allure of world-class museums and shopping, there’s plenty to experience. Whether you’re planning to visit for a few days or a few weeks, you probably want to make sure you see as many cool things as possible when in town.

That’s where this list can help. You’ll find 10 cool things to do in New York City, plus smart advice on making your trip as affordable and enjoyable as possible. This list, culled from travelers’ reviews, guides, and native New Yorkers, will help you have a magical time in this exciting town.

Best Times to Go to New York City

Many people feel that spring and fall are the best times to go to New York City. The weather is mild, so you can easily toggle between indoor and outdoor activities. November through December time is also a popular time to visit New York. There are many holiday events and decorations to see, like the giant Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center or the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes, as well as winter markets at various parks where you can find great gift items while drinking hot cocoa.

Bad Times to Go to New York City

Summer travel to New York City is popular, so you’re more likely to find crowds. Factor in the possibility of high heat and humidity, and perhaps you may want to think twice if that doesn’t appeal and your schedule allows for flexibility.

Winter (after the holidays, that is) is a time that many people avoid New York City. Yes, it can be cold, but there’s a silver lining. If you’re looking for how to save money on hotels while in NYC, the best time to go would be between January through March. There will be fewer people vying for hotel rooms, so rates are likely to be lower. You can still get your fill of great restaurants, shopping, shows, and museums.

Average Cost of a New York City Vacation

If you’re visiting New York City for the first time, you’ll probably want to stay in Manhattan versus in one of the other boroughs, to be closer to most of the celebrated attractions. However, Manhattan can be expensive, so if you’re looking to save money, you could also look at staying in another borough, like Brooklyn, which is becoming a destination in its own right.

Hotel prices will also vary a lot within Manhattan based on your location, date of visit, and quality of hotel. You can find hotels for anywhere from $150 to $550 per night in Manhattan.

When budgeting for a trip to New York City, don’t forget to include things like:
Food, whether that’s an omakase menu at a Japanese place or a pretzel from a street vendor, plus drinks
Entertainment. Perhaps you’ll see a Broadway show, visit museums, or stop by a comedy club. Factor those in.
Transportation. New York City is a very walkable town, but distances can be significant. Make sure you have funds for taxis, Ubers, and bus and subway rides. Don’t overlook the city’s ferry system either; you can get great skyline views traveling by boat.

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A Few Notes on Financing Your Trip

A New York trip can be pricey, so heed this advice:

•   When planning your New York City vacation, be wary of “book now, pay later” travel options. Those can lead you to rack up significant debt. To save money on interest, you should try to save up for at least some of your expenses ahead of time.

•   Make sure to do your research on where to keep a travel fund. An interest-bearing savings account can earn you some extra cash towards your trip.

•   If you’re thinking about booking a trip to New York City (or anywhere, actually), look into travel insurance. You could get sick right before your departure, your luggage could get lost, and other unforeseen circumstances could crop up. If you pay for your trip with certain credit cards, they may provide travel insurance for certain situations. You should understand how credit card travel insurance works when deciding whether to purchase private travel insurance.

10 Fun Must-Dos in New York City

If you’re planning a trip, it can be difficult to narrow the list down to only 10 top things to do in New York. Here are cool highlights mostly for a tourist who is new to New York City, but there are some things on the list that you may not have been to before even if it’s not your first visit. Most attractions and events are in Manhattan, since that’s where most tourists stay. However, you will see a few options in other boroughs. Also, New York City can be expensive, so note the free activities and sites included in the list.

A couple of quick notes:

•   New York City is one of the most pedestrian-friendly cities in the United States, so you likely won’t need to think about renting a car. You can visit most sites and attractions by walking or taking the subway or a taxi.

•   You’ll find that NYC can also be a great city if you’re traveling with pets. You can walk your dog in Central Park or down any sidewalk without issues.

The following are recommendations for the top 10 fun things to do while visiting New York City.

1. Explore Central Park

Central Park is one of the most famous parks in America. It offers much-needed green space to the city, with a zoo, playgrounds, fountains, monuments, bridges, sculptures, walking/running paths, a boat pond and boathouse, an ice-skating/roller-skating rink, and more. Plus, there are many events, concerts, and activities that happen year-round in Central Park. Central Park is free, and is open from 6 am to 1 am.

2. See the Skyscrapers

Skyscrapers are part of what makes New York City so famous. The Empire State Building was considered the world’s tallest building when it opened in 1932. It’s no longer the tallest, but it’s still a world-famous attraction. Located in midtown Manhattan, it’s been seen in countless movies and TV shows. And from that high up, you get an incredible view of this iconic city.

Ticket prices for this attraction can be pricey. Visiting the main 86th-floor open-air observatory cost $38 to $44. You can also get a ticket that will also allow you to go all the way up to the 102nd floor observation deck for $73 to $79. One way to make the price feel a bit less steep: Get cash back when you charge your tickets thanks to credit card rewards. esbnyc.com/

Other places to take in a great view: The Edge NYC (edgenyc.com/en) at Hudson Yards, Summit One Vanderbilt (summitov.com/) in Midtown, and One World Observatory (oneworldobservatory.com/) downtown.

3. Scoot over to the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty, all 305 feet of it, is a copper-clad neoclassical statue that is perhaps one of the most iconic symbols of freedom and welcome in the world. You can visit the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island by taking a ferry from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. Plan on devoting several hours to exploring this celebrated artwork.

Tickets cost $19 to $31.50 and include a round-trip ferry ride, access to the grounds of the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, the Statue of Liberty Museum, and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum on Ellis Island. If you want to go inside the monument, you’ll have to purchase a ticket that includes “Pedestal Access.” These tickets cost $25.30 to $31.80. nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit/fees.htm

You can also view the Statue of Liberty for free from The Battery.

4. Discover the Heart of Midtown Manhattan

Architecture fans will delight in Rockefeller Center, a fantastic collection of Art Deco buildings in Midtown Manhattan with a plaza, a skating rink, sculptures, NBC Studios, stores, and restaurants. If you ever watched 30 Rock or the tree get lit during the holiday season, you are probably familiar with it. It can be a fun place to explore or simply grab some coffee and do some window-shopping.

You can get tickets for a tour of Rockefeller Center ($27) or to go to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck ($34 to $40). Nearby is the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Saks Fifth Avenue’s original store, and Bryant Park. rockefellercenter.com/

5. Visit the National September 11 Memorial and Museum

The National September 11 Memorial and Museum honors the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The memorial features twin reflecting pools where the World Trade Center’s twin towers once stood. The museum includes poignant multimedia displays, artifacts, and real recordings from the day, giving visitors a chance to contemplate the tragic events and remember the losses endured.

The museum is open Wednesdays through Mondays from 9 am to 7 pm. Tickets to the museum cost $17 to $29, and tours are available. 911memorial.org/

6. Stroll Along the High Line

Here’s another of the best things to do in New York: Walk the High Line, a 1.5-mile pedestrian walkway and park that’s been constructed along an abandoned elevated rail track. It’s now beautifully landscaped with lush, naturalistic plantings, and you’ll also see artworks on display as you stroll along. In addition, you’ll pass through several Manhattan neighborhoods, winding from Hudson Yards through Chelsea to the Meatpacking District, above the traffic. The High Line, which is open from 7am to 10pm, is free to enter, which can help be a way for families to afford to travel. thehighline.org/visit/

It can be a fun detour to descend from the High Line in Chelsea and visit some of the art galleries that the neighborhood is known for. Or, at the southern end of the High Line, take a brief walk to Little Island, a new public park that’s actually in the Hudson River (littleisland.org/).

7. Be Amazed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (also known as “the Met”) is a vast trove of masterpieces from around the world. Whether you’d like to see some Tiffany stained glass, Dutch landscapes, Medieval armor, or ancient sculptures, you’ll find it at the Met. You may not be able to see everything in one day, but even if you only have a couple of hours free, it’s worth a visit. It’s located on the Upper East Side, at the edge of Central Park, and its grand front steps are where many locals and tourists alike enjoy sitting in good weather.

Tickets to the Met cost $17 to $30; kids under age 12 are free. If you’re a resident of New York State or are a student in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, you have the option to “pay what you wish” for your tickets. The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm, except for Wednesdays and a few holidays. metmuseum.org/

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8. See a Broadway Show

Some would say a trip to New York City is not complete without seeing a Broadway show. Whether that means a long-running hit, like The Lion King, Hamilton, or Chicago, or something brand new, the excitement of live theater makes for a signature NYC experience. Broadway is located near Times Square and houses theaters with many plays and musicals. Shows rotate, and ticket prices vary drastically depending on the show, day, and seat. broadway.com/

There are dozens of great restaurants nearby that cater to the pre-theater crowds and will get you in and out on time for your curtain. Picking where you want to eat can be a fun challenge, and a great way to enjoy dinner and a show.

9. Get Acquainted with a Big City Garden

Although not located in Manhattan, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an expansive and beautiful park with unique plants, conservatories, and events. There are 13 gardens within the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, including the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden with cherry blossoms that peak during April of each year, as well as a Shakespeare Garden.

Tickets cost $12 to $18. The Garden is closed on Mondays, and hours vary depending on the time of year, so check the website before going. bbg.org/visit

Or head to the Bronx and visit the New York Botanical Garden. It has a magnificent Victorian-style conservatory, forests, a gorge, and flowers (including an award-winning rose garden) on 250 acres, making it America’s largest city garden. Admission for adults is $35 for an all-garden pass, including a tram tour; the garden is typically open from 10 am to 6 pm, except on Mondays. nybg.org/visit/admission/

10. Find a Food Hall

Of course, you’ll eat well while in NYC. One fun way to get a taste of city life is to visit one of Manhattan’s fun spaces full of food stalls. These range from the Tin Building (everything from egg sandwiches to caviar) downtown by South Street Seaport, Essex Market (bagels, kebabs, Peruvian fare, and more) on the Lower East Side, Chelsea Market (from crepes to tacos) in the Chelsea neighborhood, UrbanSpace NYC (multiple locations with dumplings, pizza, ramen, among other delights), and Midtown’s Urban Hawker, with Singaporean food.

The Takeaway

New York City is a travel destination that few people can resist. This high-energy city has something to offer almost anyone, whether you’re interested in shows, shopping, food, art, or (surprise!) parks and gardens. If it’s your first visit or your seventh, you’ll find dozens of fun things to do in New York City that can make for an incredibly memorable trip.

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FAQ

What free things can I do in New York?

There are plenty of free things to do in New York. In addition to special free events, you can walk on the High Line, check out Times Square, or take a walk through Central Park.

What should I do on my first trip to New York?

If you have never been to New York City before, seeing such iconic sites as Central Park, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty can be worthwhile.

What are some things to do in New York when you’ve been before?

If you have been to New York City before, you may have visited the major tourist sites already. Some lesser-known things to do in New York include visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or New York Botanical Garden, taking a food tour, riding the Roosevelt Island Aerial Tram, and checking out Queens Museum. You might also explore Williamsburg, a popular Brooklyn neighborhood, or walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Photo credit: iStock/bloodua

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When you use your SoFi Credit Card to make a purchase on the SoFi Travel Portal, you will earn a number of SoFi Member Rewards points equal to 3% of the total amount you spend on the SoFi Travel Portal. Members can save up to 10% or more on eligible bookings.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported losing close to $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, a 30% jump over the previous year. Many of people’s losses were the result of various types of bank account fraud.

Crooks are getting ever more sophisticated in the ways they steal money from financial institutions or their account holders. There are few things as upsetting as seeing your bank account emptied or your credit card used for thousands of dollars in purchases by a scammer.

So if you have a financial life, you’ll want to be on alert and do what you can to protect yourself and your hard-earned money. Here, we’ll help you by sharing:

•   What bank fraud is

•   Types of bank fraud

•   How banks respond to fraud

•   Penalties for bank fraud

•   How to avoid bank fraud

What Is Bank Fraud?

Bank fraud is the use of deceptive, often illegal means to steal money, assets, or other property owned or held by a financial institution. It also entails stealing money from people just like you, who keep money on deposit or use other financial products at banks.

Bank fraud also includes being defrauded of money by criminals who pose as employees of a financial institution.

Bank fraud is different from bank robbery; with fraud, thieves use schemes or deception to snag funds illegally, versus perpetrating outright theft.

Types of Bank Fraud

Unfortunately, bank fraud comes in many varieties, all the better to fool financial institutions and consumers. The law provides a broad definition of bank fraud, and several of these actions can be considered for federal prosecution.

Let’s take a look at the six most common types of fraud in banks. Money scams are all too common today; knowledge can help protect you and your funds.

1. Forgery

Forgery includes all forms of using a false signature or other details on financial documents. This includes when a person changes the name, signature, or other information on a check, including the amount (think adding a zero — or two or three). Forgery is also the term used for filling out a blank check or printing fraudulent checks with another person’s account number or a number for a non-existent account.

2. Fraudulent Loans

It is a crime when someone uses a false identity to obtain a loan. This can happen when, say, identity thieves take out loans using victims’ personal and financial information. Another type of fraudulent loan: When a person takes out a loan with the intention of filing for bankruptcy soon thereafter. This can happen when a dishonest business person works with a complicit bank officer to get a loan. The borrower then declares bankruptcy, often leaving the bank on the hook for the money borrowed.

Fraudulent loans also occur when someone falsifies answers on a personal or business loan application, usually in an effort to improve their chances of qualifying for the loan. An individual may try to hide a blemished credit history, for example, or a business may use accounting fraud to paint a more positive financial picture. As you might guess, this is criminal activity and can leave the lending bank in a bad situation.

3. Bank Impersonation and Internet Bank Fraud

When a person or group of people set up a fake financial institution, that’s known as bank impersonation. When such thieves hack into your account and steal money, whether by impersonation or otherwise, that’s internet bank fraud. Typically, this kind of crime is usually committed by creating a website designed to lure people into depositing funds.

Fake websites like this can also trick you into downloading computer viruses that can steal your personal information. These details are then used to rob you of your hard-earned money

Many phishing schemes also come under the umbrella of bank impersonation or internet bank fraud. In these crimes, consumers receive forged emails impersonating an online bank; they then direct the unwitting recipient to a forged website that looks like a legitimate bank site. From there, the bogus site will ask the user to update personal information. That information can be used for identity theft and other crimes.

4. Stolen Checks

Stealing checks is a crime that plays out just as it sounds. Someone at, say, the post office, a company’s payroll department, or anybody else with access to checks may steal those checks. From there, they can open a false bank account, write checks (depleting the account holder’s cash), and deposit them. The cash is then available for them to use as they desire.

5. Money Laundering

This term is used to describe the process criminals use to hide an illegal (or “dirty”) source of income — say from illegal drug smuggling or gambling operations — through a complex series of transfers. These transactions are designed to make the “dirty” money look legitimate, or “clean,” hence the term money laundering. A bit of trivia: Many people believe the term money laundering comes from gangster Al Capone’s habit of using his chain of laundromats to “launder” his illegal cash. This tale however probably isn’t true.

Now, here’s how the crime of money laundering can work: Often the “dirty” money is first deposited into a bank through a restaurant or other legitimate business. Let’s say that business actually did $1,000 worth of sales in a single day but they say they did $2,000. They then deposit the “real” $1,000 they earned plus the same amount of “dirty” money.

Next, to avoid taxes and detection, the money is distributed to other legitimate businesses or complicit companies, or is otherwise subjected to bookkeeping trickery. Multiple transactions can make the money hard to trace, and so it becomes “clean” enough to be used as the fraudster likes.

Banks may unwittingly or possibly complicitly play a role in many stages of money laundering, which is a severe form of fraud.

6. Credit Card Fraud

This term covers a slew of crimes; it refers to all fraudulent payments made with a credit or debit card. The bogus payments may be used to purchase goods and services, to withdraw funds from the account, or to make payments to another account controlled by a criminal. Fraud may happen by stealing the actual credit or debit card or by illegally obtaining the cardholder’s account and personal information.

The latter has become more common as online shopping and bill paying has soared, since there is no longer a need to have a physical card to make purchases. This is why you can still be in possession of your plastic, but be having all sorts of false charges turn up on your statement. As long as criminals can obtain enough personal information about an individual, they can use that information to open new credit card accounts or tamper with existing accounts.

Fortunately, thanks to the Fair Credit Billing Act, your liability should be capped at $50.

How Do Banks Recover Money That Was Fraudulently Taken?

When bank security personnel notice unusual transactions or a customer reports suspicious account activity, banks will typically conduct an investigation. Their goal: To confirm whether fraud exists and, if so, to uncover its details and take legal action against the perpetrators. Once a bank has determined fraud has taken place, most banks will refund stolen funds to customers. This happens as long as it is clear the customer is not an accessory to the crime or was not negligent with account security. In addition, you may want to report the crime to the authorities so they can work on finding and prosecuting those who stole your money. Some banks may require this, in fact, as a step towards catching the criminals.

What to do if you, the consumer, is defrauded of funds? Contact your financial institution’s fraud department and share what has happened. The representative will walk you through the steps required. Remember, the more quickly you alert your bank to any issues or report identity theft, the more likely you are not to lose any money.

Prosecuting fraud is complicated, time-consuming, and unfortunately sometimes impossible. As a result, many banks put extensive efforts into technological security solutions. These card fraud protection measures can help identify fraud quickly to avoid large losses as well as ward off many types of criminal activity in the first place.

Penalties for Bank Fraud

Bank fraud is a serious crime with serious penalties. How serious depends on how much money was stolen and what type of illegal activity was used to steal the money. It must also be proven that a person charged with bank fraud willfully and knowingly committed the crime. A money laundering conviction could result in:

•   A fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever amount is greater.

•   A sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

When bank fraud of other sorts is involved, the penalties can be worse still, according to the FDIC :

•   A fine up to one million dollars

•   A prison sentence of as long as 30 years

How to Avoid Bank Fraud

There are several steps you can take to avoid having money stolen from your accounts in a bank fraud scheme. Here are some of the most important.

•   Check your account activity regularly. With online banking, this is easy to do. It’s a good idea to log in at least once a week so you evaluate your bank accounts and your debit card and credit card histories. Report any unexpected or suspicious transactions. While you’re at it, why not make sure your bank offers debit card fraud protection, too? It’s important to secure that aspect of your banking.

•   Keep your PIN and passwords secret. Do not give them to anyone and never write them down in an email or text message that could be easily intercepted. Avoid using public wifi networks for any banking, from checking your balance to paying bills. You could be leaving yourself vulnerable.

•   Use a strong password for online banking. And everything else for that matter. Remember to use numbers, capital letters and symbols. Change passwords regularly, and please: Don’t reuse passwords.

•   Beware phishing schemes. Do not give out your account information over the phone or through email. Anyone legitimate would not be asking for account information by either means. Don’t click links embedded in emails either; they could lead to a fraudulent website posing as your bank. If you receive an email that looks as if it is legitimately from your bank, it’s still better to visit your bank’s website and proceed from any message you receive there.

•   Keep your computer protected. Use anti-virus protection software, firewalls, and spyware blockers to protect your electronic information. Make sure you keep your computer updated with the most recent security upgrades.

The Takeaway

Bank fraud is a criminal activity that can leave you with a big mess to clean up: It can put you at risk for losing money and facing identity theft. Understanding the different types of bank fraud is one important step; knowing how to secure your personal financial information is another one. These moves can help protect you from being a victim.

When you open a bank account with SoFi, we work overtime to protect your money. Sign up for our Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, and you’ll earn a competitive APY. What’s more, you won’t pay any of the usual charges like account, monthly, and minimum balance fees.

FAQ

How does bank fraud happen?

Bank fraud happens when criminals use deceptive means to steal money, assets, or property owned or held by a financial institution, including banks. It is also considered bank fraud when thieves steal money from customer accounts by posing as a bank or other financial institution or by using personal financial information obtained through identity theft.

How do banks recover money from a scammer?

It is challenging for banks to recover money from a scammer. They can seek to unravel who committed the crime and, with the help of law enforcement, prosecute those individuals. Because this is often so difficult, though, banks also are implementing new, technologically advanced ways of preventing and detecting fraud. This allows them to better protect their account holders.

Photo credit: iStock/Damir Khabirov

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SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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