As the largest borough in New York (and a county, to boot), there is tons of exciting stuff to do in Queens.
You can plan for relaxing outings at the parks and gardens or have lots of fun in stadiums and breweries.
History buffs, tech nerds, and film fans will also love going around the museums in this New York town.
Indeed, boredom is something you won’t experience while you’re vacationing here.
So get started on your vacation plans with this list of the best things to do in Queens, NY.
1. Museum of the Moving Image — Astoria
36-01 35th Avenue
Astoria, NY 11106
(718) 777-6888
The Museum of the Moving Image is a museum dedicated to television and film arts founded in 1988.
It is housed in the former Astoria Studios.
Why You Should Go
Film enthusiasts are sure to enjoy going around the film-related exhibits found indoors in the former building of a historic local film studio.
It houses over 130,000 artifacts related to film, including vintage technical apparatus and old movie theater furnishings.
What to Do
Explore the exhibits and visit back from time to time as exhibitions in the museum often change.
Some of the past displays were about Jim Henson and Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Williamsburg Hotel
2. Socrates Sculpture Park & Noguchi Museum — Long Island City
32-01 Vernon Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11106
(718) 956-1819
The Socrates Sculpture Park is a 5-acre public park filled with large-scale sculptures.
It is located a block away from the simple yet serene Noguchi Museum.
Why You Should Go
Art and nature lovers will adore the vast, open space in this park that showcases beautiful Queens and incredibly massive works of art.
Many of the top free things to do in Queens can be done here, such as relaxing on the green grass or completing a round to see all the sculptures in the park.
What to Do
After walking around and taking your fill of the sculptures in Socrates, head on over to the garden museum that houses sculptures made by Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: 1 Hotel Central Park
Related: Best Restaurants in Queens
Related: Best Restaurants in Long Island City
3. Flushing Meadows Corona Park — Flushing
Grand Central Parkway & Van Wyck Expressway
Flushing, NY 11368
(718) 760-6565
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is an 897-acre public park located in northern Queens.
It was opened in 1939.
Why You Should Go
This park is considered the most iconic park in the city because it hosted two World Fairs and continues to delight visitors with the many cheap and enjoyable things to do here.
The park has historical walks, spaces for sports, and even scenic trails that will keep you entertained for the whole day.
What to Do
Play a round of basketball or volleyball while you’re here.
Or you can even go kayaking on the park’s lake this weekend.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott
Also See:
Long Island: Things to Do
4. MoMA PS1 — Long Island City
22-25 Jackson Avenue
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 784-2084
MoMA PS1 is an art institution dedicated to showcasing contemporary art.
It was founded by Alanna Heiss in 1971.
Why You Should Go
This non-profit art museum is one of the attractions in Queens because it’s among the largest contemporary art museums in the country.
It showcases over 200,000 thought-provoking and experimental works of art.
What to Do
Explore the different floors of the museum to discover its temporary and permanent installations.
Some of the works you’ll see are Richard Artschwager’s Blips and Sol Lewitt’s Crayola Square.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Evelyn
5. Gantry Plaza State Park — Long Island City
4-09 47th Road
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 786-6385
Gantry Plaza State Park is a 12-acre park along the East River near Hunters Point in Long Island City.
Why You Should Go
Mixing industrial with natural, this park has incredibly unique vibes with its use of abandoned steel structures as park designs while being surrounded by manicured, green spaces.
What to Do
Go to the edge of this waterfront park to enjoy fabulous panoramic views of the midtown Manhattan skyline.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: SIXTY SoHo
6. Queens Botanical Garden — Flushing
43-50 Main Street
Flushing, NY 11355
(718) 886-3800
Queens Botanical Garden is a 39-acre urban oasis located at the heart of Flushing, Queens.
It was established in 1939.
Why You Should Go
This botanical park has several gardens that plant lovers and people looking for a place to relax will adore.
Some of the gardens to visit are the Arboretum, Bee Garden, Cherry Circle, and Garden Roof.
What to Do
Stroll along the grounds as part of your list of romantic things to do in Queens for couples.
The Floral Border, specifically, is a well-known garden for beautiful couple photos.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hyatt Place Flushing/LGA Airport
7. The Rockaways — Far Rockaway
8601 Shore Front Parkway
Far Rockaway, NY 11693
(718) 318-4000
The Rockaways is a long peninsula with sandy beaches located on Long Island.
It became a popular summer destination starting in the 1830s.
Why You Should Go
For places to visit in Queens for a proper sun and sand day outing, this peninsula is the one to go to because of its lengthy shores.
Its waves are consistent which makes it a top surfing spot in New York.
What to Do
Get the most out of your trip playing on the sand.
Novice swimmers are not advised to wade in the waters along this beach as they can be rough but seasoned surfers will totally enjoy this spot.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The William Vale
8. Queens Museum — Corona
Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Meridian Road
Corona, NY 11368
(718) 592-9700
Queens Museum is an art museum located inside Flushing Meadows.
It was founded in 1972.
Why You Should Go
The museum’s art collection is vast and fascinating as it showcases both local and contemporary works.
A trip around the exhibits like the Neustadt Collection and the 1939-40 World’s Fair collection, especially when it’s raining or cold, will show you interesting artifacts that will keep you entertained.
What to Do
See the miniature version of downtown and the entire city of New York when you check out this museum’s colossal diorama.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hampton Inn New York – LaGuardia Airport
9. New York Hall of Science — Corona
47-01 111th Street
Corona, New York 11368
(718) 699-0005
The New York Hall of Science is an interactive science museum located inside Flushing Meadows.
It was established in 1964.
Why You Should Go
Learning becomes more fun when participating in one of the 450+ interactive exhibits about biology, chemistry, and physics in this museum.
The hands-on nature of the activities makes a visit to this place a sure-win for the top things to do in Queens with kids.
What to Do
Immerse yourself today in the animated display of Connected Worlds or create your own works of art in Design Lab.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Courtyard by Marriott New York Queens/Fresh Meadows
Also See:
NYC Things to Do
Times Square, NY Things to Do
What to Do in The Adirondacks
10. Alley Pond Park — Oakland Gardens
Union Turnpike
Oakland Gardens, NY 11364
(212) 639-9675
Alley Pond Park is a 655-acre public park located near Douglaston and Bayside.
It was acquired by the city in 1939.
Why You Should Go
This large park is the perfect place for many outdoor activities that you want to do during your daycation because of its sprawling nature trails, lake, and massive grounds.
From fishing to simply running around, you can do it all here.
What to Do
Ready for something more exciting?
Try out the park’s Adventure Course, which has rope courses, a zipline, climbing walls, swings, and nets.
Visitors ages 8 and above can participate.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Inn at Great Neck; BW Premier Collection
11. Citi Field — Flushing
41 Seaver Way
Flushing, NY 11368
(718) 507-8499
Citi Field is a baseball stadium located inside Flushing Meadows, known as the home field of the New York Mets.
It was opened in 1964.
Why You Should Go
This stadium isn’t just for baseball games.
They also have public tours that will take you around the New York Mets’ home, making it an instant hit with die-hard baseball fans.
What to Do
Catch a Mets game in this ballpark as it is a must-have for your list of things to do in Queens tonight.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Asiatic Hotel – Flushing
Also See:
Things to Do in Brooklyn
Things to See in The Catskills
Stuff to Do in Montauk
12. Finback Brewery — Glendale
78-01 77th Avenue
Glendale, NY 11385
(718) 628-8600
Finback Brewery is a local brewery known for its freshly-made craft beers.It was founded in 2011.
Why You Should Go
Already considered a staple in New York culture, the complex flavors of this brewery’s craft beer is something that a visitor to the city must experience at least once.
From roasty and smoky to bright and fresh, these beers are definitely a one-of-a-kind New York special.
What to Do
The brewery is known for serving fresh beer in its tasting room, so go over and discover which blends you get to taste.
Some of their past brews are the Crescent Fresh, Starchild, and Buddy System.
Drinking a pint or two of their unique blends is definitely one of the fun things to do in Queens, New York.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards New York City
13. Astoria Park — Astoria
19 19th Street
Astoria, NY 11105
(212) 639-9675
Astoria Park is a 60-acre public park along Hell Gate, a part of the East River.
Why You Should Go
Besides the view of the sprawling New York metropolis, the spot just below Triborough Bridge offers lovely views of the park itself.
The massive bridge makes for a great backdrop in photos as well.
What to Do
Enjoy panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline when you have a picnic on the lush green spaces of this park.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York
14. Long Island Rail Road — Jamaica
146-41 94th Avenue
Jamaica, NY 11435
(718) 217-5477
Long Island Railroad is the busiest commuter metro system in the country.
It was founded in 1834.
Why You Should Go
This metro system is a great way to feel like a New Yorker as more than 300,000 people use it for their daily commutes.
Besides using it as transport, the jam-packed and rushed experience will give you the illusion that you live in the Concrete Jungle.
What to Do
Experience the unique (and excitingly stressful) rush hour commute when you ride on this metro.
You’ll feel like a real local when you travel to any of the stations on this rail system.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott New York Queens/Fresh Meadows
Also See:
Top Nyack Activities
Fun Things to Do in Port Chester, New York
Huntington, New York Things to Do
15. Fort Totten — Bayside
Totten Avenue & 15th Road
Bayside, NY 11359
(718) 352-4793
Fort Totten is a former army installation turned park located on Willets Point, a peninsula in Long Island.
Why You Should Go
Besides being a lovely spot for learning a few facts on army history, this park is also a well-known spot for bird-watching, swimming, and canoeing.
What to Do
Visit the well-preserved historic buildings in the area like the castle-looking Officers’ Club and the Civil War fortress.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Adria Hotel and Conference Center
16. TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport — Jamaica
JFK Airport, One Idlewild Drive
Jamaica, NY 11430
(212) 806-9000
The TWA Flight Center was an airport terminal turned luxury hotel.
It was opened in 1962 and became a designated New York City Landmark in 1994.
Why You Should Go
Fans of architecture will go gaga over this impressive Neo-futurist building designed by world-renowned architect Eero Saarinen.
What to Do
Stay the night in this historic hotel, or make a stop to take pictures with the retro-futuristic vibes of its exterior.
A stop or stay here is among the unique best things to do in Queens, NY.
17. Surreal Elevator — Long Island City
The Factory, 30-30 47th Avenue
Long Island City, NY 11101
The Surreal Elevator is an art installation in Long Island City housed in a nondescript office building.
Why You Should Go
Lovers of art and anything avant-garde will have the time of their lives riding this elevator that seemingly opens to a different, whimsical world.
It is the only installation left from the former building-wide art space.
What to Do
Unfortunately, the elevator is now housed in a working office building, so access is not always guaranteed.
Try your luck and still check out this weird elevator when you’re in the area as it is one of the most unique things to see in Queens.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Marmara Park Avenue
Related: Best Hotels in Queens
Map of Things to Do in Queens, NY
Queens Things to Do: The 17 Best Activities for 2024
- Museum of the Moving Image — Astoria
- Socrates Sculpture Park & Noguchi Museum — Long Island City
- Flushing Meadows Corona Park — Flushing
- MoMA PS1 — Long Island City
- Gantry Plaza State Park — Long Island City
- Queens Botanical Garden — Flushing
- The Rockaways — Far Rockaway
- Queens Museum — Corona
- New York Hall of Science — Corona
- Alley Pond Park — Oakland Gardens
- Citi Field — Flushing
- Finback Brewery — Glendale
- Astoria Park — Astoria
- Long Island Rail Road — Jamaica
- Fort Totten — Bayside
- TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport — Jamaica
- Surreal Elevator — Long Island City
