COVID-19 Summer: 10 Best Places to Visit in New York City This Summer

Places to visit in the Big Apple

Summer is still in full swing. Despite the pandemic, NYC is still bustling with activities and things to do to make the most of this summer season. Read on for our guide to the best things to do in the big apple this summer.

Visit a NYC Park

NYC parks, including Central Park, Bryant Park and Astoria park, are open for visitors. Pick up your favorite takeout, grab a blanket and head on down to a park for a picnic.

Note: While the parks are open, park amenities such as playgrounds and grilling areas are closed. Be sure to to maintain social distancing, and wear a mark around crowds.

Outdoor Pools

Due to the pandemic, only 15 outdoor pools are open this summer, each operating with limited capacity. The pools include:

Manhattan: Wagner Pool; Jackie Robinson Pool, Marcus Garvey Pool; Hamilton Fish Pool
Bronx: Mullaly Pool; Brooklyn: Kosciuszko Pool, Sunset Pool; Crotona Pool, Haffen Pool
Brooklyn: Betsy Head Pool; Manhattan: Jackie Robinson Pool, Marcus Garvey Pool
Queens: Liberty Pool, Fisher Pool; Astoria Pool
Staten Island: Lyons Pool, Tottenville Pool

All pool visitors are required to wear a face covering to enter the pool facility and in locker rooms, bathrooms and on the pool deck. They can take it off when entering the pool.

Learn more about how you can prepare to visit a local outdoor pool, click here.

Skyline Drive-in NYC

If you’re missing going to the movies, head on down to Broojklyn for a Drive-In movie experience. Best of all, this is the only drive-in theatre with a view of Manhattan’s skyline!

The drive in theatre is located on the East River at 1 Oak Street. To learn more about showtimes and purchase tickets, click here.

The Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is re-opened July 24th with new safety guideline. With more than 8,000 animals and 265 acres to explore, the Bronx Zoo is a perfect day trip.

All visitors must purchase date-specific tickets, wear masks and maintain social distancing.

Click here to purchase tickets in advance.

The Queens Zoo

The Queens Zoo also reopened to the public on July 24th. The zoo is enforcing one-way paths, contact-less interactions and hand sanitization.

All visitors must purchase date-specific tickets, wear masks and maintain social distancing.

Click here to purchase tickets in advance.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met Fifth Avenue is planning to reopen on August 29, pending approval from the state and city.

Once open, the Met will require face covering for all visitors over the age of 2 and 6ft social distancing. Printed materials (including maps) will be temporarily unavailable.

The hours will be as follows:

Thursday and Friday: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday–Monday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday

Learn more at www.metmuseum.org

Other museums have also announced plans to open on the following dates:

The American Museum of Natural History – September 9th

Bronx Museum of the Arts – September 9th

Museum of Jewish Heritage – September (Date TBA)

Empire State Building

An iconic NYC landmark, the Empire State Building reopened for visitors in July.

All visitors will be screened for temperature and face coverings are required to enter the building. The building has also implemented state-of-the-art air purification to improve air quality and reduce the risk of virus transmission. Admissions are by appointment only – click here to make your reservation.