16 best things to do in Lower Manhattan NYC

Lower Manhattan — from 14th Street down to The Battery — is Manhattan’s oldest area. At its core, the Financial District, south of Chambers Street, is where the first Dutch settlement was formed in the 17th century. It became known as New Amsterdam before it was taken over by the English and renamed New York.

With so many things to do in NYC, you will need a few days to see everything. From popular NYC tourist attractions like the One World Observatory and the Brooklyn Bridge to lesser-known places like the National Museum of the American Indian, this list of the best things to do in Lower Manhattan has you covered.

Best attractions in Lower Manhattan

1. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Price

From $17.20

Location

180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007

Insider tip:

Don’t skip the museum — it’s a must to truly put the memorial in context. However, there are important things to know before visiting the 9/11 memorial and museum, such as being emotionally prepared.

Exploring the 9/11 Memorial is one of the most visited Lower Manhattan attractions — and is an essential activity for anyone visiting New York. There’s so much symbolism within the landscape and design of the Memorial Grounds and Reflecting Pools. The grounds mark the location of Ground Zero, where the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001. Today, the 9/11 memorial honors the almost 3,000 people who passed away on that fateful day.

2. The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

Price

From $30

Location

Liberty Island, New York, NY 10004

Insider tip

A boat tour is one of the best ways to take in both. Advance booking is required.

When it comes to things to do in Lower Manhattan and in New York in general, the Statue of Liberty is one of the must-see places in NYC, especially for first-time visitors. Perched on Liberty Island, the world-famous figure was a gift to the United States from France in 1885. It was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the engineer behind the Eiffel Tower. During the influx of immigration in the 20th century, the Statue of Liberty welcomed people into the United States.

Once it was established, the adjacent Ellis Island was the processing centre for the immigrant wave coming into New York City from Europe. Most Americans whose ancestors immigrated from Europe in the 20th century can date back to a boat arriving here.

Note that if you want to stand on the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal, you can only buy tickets directly from Statue City Cruises, and these are extremely limited. If you only want to get a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, take the free Staten Island ferry, which will pass Lady Liberty on the way to Staten Island.

3. City Hall

Price

Free

Location

City Hall Park, New York, NY 10007

Insider tip

Only a handful of tours are available every week, and must be booked in advance. You can make a reservation on the New York City Hall website.

New York’s City Hall is one of the United States’ oldest city halls still in use today. Finished in 1812, City Hall is New York City’s political center and where the mayor of New York City’s offices are located. Not only is the building itself one of the most impressive architectural achievements of its time, but a visit is an amazing opportunity to get under the skin of New York’s significant political history. There’s no shortage of things to do in Lower Manhattan, but this is one of the city's hidden attractions.

4. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Price

Free

Location

33 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10045

Insider tip

The tour explores both financial history and the heritage of the neighborhood.

This Federal Reserve Bank is located right in the middle of the Financial District in Lower Manhattan. It’s responsible for maintaining the U.S. dollar and other currencies and serves as a depository institution for government securities. That’s a lot of money talk, but a guided tour of the Italian Renaissance-revival-style building makes for an extraordinary experience. Not only does this eye-catching architectural gem hold the largest depository gold reserve in the world, buried five stories below street level. Tours are hosted daily, but tickets are released on a 30-day cycle on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York website.

5. The Oculus and Brookfield Place

Price

Free to enter but shopping will cost you.

Location

185 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10006

Insider tip

A tunnel takes you between the two, making this a great rainy activity in NYC. But keep in mind that the Oculus is also a train station, so avoid commuting hours.

Indulge in retail therapy while getting an eyeful of New York’s awesome architecture at the Oculus, a beautiful dove-shaped, Westfield-branded shopping mall and transport hub in the new World Trade Center complex. And the fun doesn’t stop there, because you can walk through a tunnel running underneath the 9/11 Memorial to Brookfield Place, another retail center that sits right next to the waters of the Hudson River.

Together, these enclosed shopping malls are a brilliant way to spend a rainy day in Lower Manhattan – while still giving you the chance to see world-leading design and experience New York’s legendary shops and restaurants.

6. One World Trade Center and Observatory

Price

From $46.82

Location

117 West Street, New York, NY 10006

Insider tip

Go at sunset on a semi-clear or sunny day for the best views.

After you’ve explored the 9/11 Memorial, visit the One World Observatory at the top of One World Trade Center. Also known as the Freedom Tower, it’s the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, and like the 9/11 Memorial, it is designed with a lot of symbolism.

The tallest observation deck in New York City offers stunning views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Governors Island, and New Jersey. It’s one of the best viewpoints in New York City, and an anchor point for exploring Lower Manhattan.

Best things to see in Lower Manhattan

7. The Battery

Price

Free

Location

State Street and Battery Place, New York, NY 10004

Insider tip

Don't go just to catch the ferry, as there's a lot to explore.

Formerly and still commonly called Battery Park, The Battery occupies the southern tip of the island — the lowest part of Lower Manhattan. Within the park, you can see the Statue of Liberty from far, the Seaglass Carousel, which pays homage to the former home of the New York Aquarium, and Castle Clinton (where the Aquarium was first established.)

Castle Clinton was never used in battle, and it served as the processing center for immigrants coming into Manhattan before an immigration center was established on Ellis Island. Nowadays, it serves as an outdoor museum with a small exhibit room inside the fort with historic documents and maps. The Battery is also where you catch the boat to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Not only does this spot offer incredible views over the harbor, but it’s also home to perennial gardens and an urban farm maintained by students from local schools to teach them about sustainable farming.

8. The African Burial Ground National Monument

Price

Free

Location

290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007

Insider tip

Book a tour on the website to make the most of it.

Just two blocks north of City Hall Park, you can find a memorial dedicated to the more than 15,000 freed and enslaved Africans buried on this ground. The African Burial Ground National Monument was an active graveyard from the mid-1630s up until 1795. It’s the oldest and largest archeological excavation of its kind rediscovered in the United States and was established as a National Historic Landmark in 1993, paying tribute to the role slavery played in building modern New York. You don’t need to book a tour to explore, but they’re available (and recommended) — head to the website to enlist the knowledge of a ranger and pay tribute to this powerful space.

9. Trinity Church

Price

Free

Location

89 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, New York, NY 10282

Insider tip

Look out for the graves of important figures such as the Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. A tour such as The Story of Hamilton walking tour will give insights on where he lived, passed away, and his contributions to early New York City.

Trinity Church was where wealthy early New Yorkers would come for worship in Lower Manhattan until the Revolutionary War when it was destroyed in the Great New York City Fire of 1776. The current church — the third incarnation — was designed in the Neo-Gothic style, characterized by pointed arches, steep gables, and a 281-foot high spire. Completed in 1846, it was the tallest building in the US for 23 years.

Trinity Church’s cemetery is the final resting place for several famous colonial New Yorkers, but none as famous as Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

10. The Brooklyn Bridge

Price

Free

Location

Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard, New York, NY 10038

Insider tip

Walk from Brooklyn into Lower Manhattan for the best views, And go in the early morning or at dusk for the glowy sunlight.

Of all the bridges that pass from Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge is the most famous. When it opened, businessman PT Barnum led a troop of 21 elephants across the bridge to prove to the public that it was safe and stable.

If you want to follow in the footpaths of the elephants, stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge. Take a tour to learn about how the bridge was built, the incredible female engineer that took over the project after her husband’s death, and a little bit more about DUMBO, the neighborhood across the river from Lower Manhattan.

11. South Street Seaport

Price

Free to explore

Location

Fulton and Water Streets New York, NY, 10038

Insider tip

This is far more than a historic site: it’s been turned into a dynamic destination for food and shopping.

South Street Seaport is located on the east side of Lower Manhattan. This is where most ships docked during the prime years of the New York City shipping industry when the city was home to the most significant maritime trading enterprise in the country. Today, it’s home to the largest concentration of preserved 19th-century commercial buildings in the city and a clutch of shops, restaurants, and other entertainment. The Tin Building by Jean-Georges is a ‘culinary destination’ well worth the trip, with a selection of places to eat, bars, and marketplaces that’ll keep your fridge stocked for months to come.

12. The Financial District

Price

Free

Location

2-26 Broad St, New York, NY 10005, United States

Insider tip

Take a few hours to explore Wall Street. Celebrate the fearless females making their mark in the US financial system with a visit to the Fearless Girl statue, then visit the Charging Bull sculpture, the Federal Hall, which is the first federal building in the United States, and the US Customs House, now the free-to-visit National Museum of the American Indian.

Wall Street was established by Dutch settlers who first landed in Manhattan. It takes its name from the double wall at the outskirts of their settlement, erected to protect it from attack. Today, you can find a few significant landmarks on Wall Street and its neighboring Broad Street, home to the New York Stock Exchange.

The ‘Fearless Girl’ sculpture stands looking up at the New York Stock Exchange — moved from her original location facing the famous ‘Charging Bull’ on nearby Broadway — symbolizing the determination and progress of women to become a critical part of the United States financial system.

If you’re interested in learning more about this area of New York City and its history, including what happens when finances go sideways, take a Wall Street Insider tour. You’ll walk around the Financial District with a real Wall Street insider to learn the ins and outs of the New York Stock Exchange and more.

13. The Irish Hunger Memorial

Price

Free

Location

North End Ave &, Vesey St, New York, NY 10280

Insider tip

Add this on to an afternoon shopping at Brookfield Place.

Next to Brookfield Place along the Hudson River, the Irish Hunger Memorial honors over one million lives impacted by the Great Irish Hunger. Known as An Gorta Mór in Irish, the years between 1845 and 1852 were devastating due to a type of water mold found on infected potato crops, leading to famine and massive migration of people leaving Ireland for better opportunities elsewhere.

The Irish Hunger Memorial shows an authentic 19th-century cottage from the Irish countryside, and features stones, soil, and plants from all over Ireland.

Best museums in Lower Manhattan

14. Fraunces Tavern and Museum

Price

From $10 for the entry ticket

Location

54 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10004

Insider tip

You can’t buy tickets in advance, so go a bit earlier than your regular lunch or dinner time to secure a spot.

Take a literal bite of history at the Fraunces Tavern Museum. The tavern opened in 1762, was significant during the American War of Independence — not least because it played host to George Washington and his officers (not to mention several bottles of port), and was the site of Washington’s famed speech about the Revolutionary War. The tavern went on to partially become office space for the Confederation Congress some 250 years later, and the Fraunces Tavern is still a restaurant and bar serving Lower Manhattan a wide selection of craft beer, raw oysters, banging burgers and sandwiches, and perennial pub classics like lobster mac and cheese.

15. The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

Price

From $18

Location

36 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10280

Insider tip

There's free entry for everyone on Thursdays after 4 PM.

On one end of Battery Park, you’ll find the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. The museum aims to commemorate the lives of Jewish individuals who were killed during the Holocaust by displaying permanent and temporary exhibits about their lives before, during, and afterward the tragic events.

It’s the third largest Holocaust museum in the world, with more than 30,000 artifacts, photographs, films, testimonies, and more devoted to promoting the understanding of Jewish heritage. It's a valuable stop during a day exploring Lower Manhattan. The museum is open on Sundays and Wednesdays through Fridays.

16. The National Museum of the American Indian

Price

Free

Location

1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004

Insider tip

With links to Washington DC’s Smithsonian, you know it’s going to be good.

Built in 1907, the former Alexander Hamilton US Custom House now houses the National Museum of the American Indian. It’s associated with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.

Here you’ll find a permanent collection of Native American artifacts and art dedicated to history from tribes all over the region and temporary exhibitions, some of which date back more than 12,000 years. The New York branch of the National Archives is also located on the top floor of the building. There are plenty of rotating temporary exhibitions, too, focusing on contemporary subjects like the history of Native American photography and the Native history of New York.