new york vr tour

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Ground zero | 9/11 memorial, vintage store, times square, the red schoolhouse | dinning, brooklyn heights promenade, brooklyn bridge, i love harlem, empire fulton ferry, mr brainwash | life is beautiful, new york times, mexican store, apple store, empire state building | 102th floor, barber shop, jenny’s garden, top of the rock observation deck, coney island | luna parc, bah spot | hat shop, nathan’s hot dog eating contest, manhattan skyline, 4th of july, convenience store, 230 fifth | rooftop bar, times square | naked cowboy.

VR World® NYC

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

• 33rd St • 4 min walk
• 34th St – Herald Square • 5 min walk

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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VR World® NYC - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Experience VR, AR and digital art in NYC

These mind-blowing high-tech activities might just change the way you look at New York City

It’s easier than ever to lose yourself in a virtual world. But do all of those experiences have to be through a video game played from your couch? No! These of-the-moment VR, AR, digital-art activities, which span from Brooklyn to Central Park , will get you out of the house and exploring NYC. —Dan Morgridge

An email you’ll actually love

VR, AR and digital-art experiences in NYC

Take an architectural tour—on a quantum level

Tucked away in an industrial basement under Chelsea Market, Turkish artist Refik Anadol’s large-format installation Machine Hallucination transforms more than 300 million open-source images of New York City’s past and present into a powerful algorithm. At its most basic, this marvel at Artechouse uncovers the buried connections between the city’s contemporary and historical architecture; at its most extreme, it uses our iconic skyline and landmarks to create new, shifting worlds that defy recognition. The result is a forward-thinking retrospective that renders a 16K-resolution, 150-megapixel version of NYC.

Chelsea ( artechouse.com/nyc ). $24.

Peruse virtual works of art

The High Line is getting high tech, people. That’s thanks to Art Has No Limits , which features a guided augmented-reality tour through Richard Humann’s and Shuli Sadé’s impressive virtual works that are scattered throughout the famed elevated park. The pieces were curated by AERY, an AR app for fine art that creates experiences for galleries.

Chelsea ( highlinenine.com ); free.

Pilot a plane through the sky

Hubneo has some pretty impressive technology on deck: The MSI VR One backpack boasts VR sans the cumbersome cord, plus oodles of thrills: The homemade flight simulator can pitch and roll up to 27 degrees. But its most intriguing offer may be the most mundane: The Virtual Reality Driving School delivers a stronger dose of adrenaline than maneuvering a tank or manning a spaceship: steering a car through Manhattan during rush hour.

Lower East Side ( hubneo.com ). One hour $50.

See poetry float through the air above Central Park

Want Nick Cave, Cao Fei, Carsten Höller, Pipilotti Rist, Nathalie Djurberg, Hans Berg or the late John Giorno to talk you through the city’s most beloved green space? Enter [AR]T Walk , a collaboration between the New Museum and Apple that offers curated tours of New York’s backyard. Read musings as they crawl past you in the sky or switch paths to follow musical beings who are being drawn upward by a King Kong–esque beast atop a skyscraper.

Central Park . Sign up at  apple.com . Free.

Teleport to an archaeological dig

Preteen you and current you agree: T. rexes are awesome. The American Museum of Natural History ’s exhibit “ T. rex: The Ultimate Predator ” is an immersive ode to the king of dinosaurs, complete with a virtual twist that will make your childhood dreams come true. Guests can don a VR headset, virtually assemble the bones of a T. rex and—in a marked improvement on reality—watch it come to life and strut about in imagined Mesozoic environs. You can even get hands-on with bones and fossilized dino droppings.

Upper West Side ( amnh.org ). $28 (includes general admission). Through Aug.

Dig into a surrealist feast

The James Beard Foundation has partnered VR artist Mattia Casalegno with Adda Indian Canteen chefs Roni Mazumdar and Chintan Pandya to whip up a mesmerizing meal in which audiovisual elements bring new meaning to the phrase playing with your food . At Aerobanquets RMX , courses of real (and fake) grub become so strange, you’ll feel like Alice taking tea in Wonderland—one bite, and the room fills with milky waves.

Chelsea ( jamesbeard.org ). $125.  Through Dec 29.  

Live out all your Ready Player One gaming fantasies

Claiming to be the largest VR destination in North America, VR World boasts 15,000 square feet that comprise a dizzying array of games for solo exploration and team madness. Dodgeball with homing missiles? Sure. Want to understand the history of film from behind the camera? Here, you can zoom through it in 10 minutes. There’s some local flavor, too, like a trippy ode to mac and cheese via Bushwick rapper Kassa Overall’s virtual music video.

Midtown ( vrworldnyc.com ). One day $64.

Visit a digital underground

You don’t need virtual reality to blur your perceptions. Like a haunted house hoping to inspire awe instead of fear, ZeroSpace fuses actors, special effects and digital-art installations to craft for each guest a world to get lost inside.

Midtown ( zerospace.co ). $50. Through Dec 29.

Enter a gallery tailored to your brain

“We believe VR can be used for so much more than just shooting zombies,” says David Askaryan, founder of the Museum of Future Experiences . Trained facilitators will use individual analysis to take you through a mix of immersive theater and “virtual-reality dreams prescribed” just for them. The next exhibit should debut in winter 2020, but check the institution’s website for updates and details.

Various locations ( themofe.com )

Jet to Paris (without leaving Dumbo)

For the series “Brooklyn Falls for France,” VRBAR is hosting a festival of French-produced experiences that use virtual reality as their medium of choice. Trip out and feel your heart swell during screenings of the cute zombie love story “Gloomy Eyes” or the touching and illuminating “Notes on Blindness,” among other thrilling titles.

Dumbo ( vrbar.nyc ). VR for one person $56/hour. Through Jan.

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Visiting Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion?

You must join the virtual exhibition queue when you arrive. If capacity has been reached for the day, the queue will close early.

The Met 360° Project

This award-winning series of six short videos invites viewers around the world to virtually visit The Met's art and architecture in a fresh, immersive way. Created using spherical 360° technology, it allows viewers to explore some of the Museum's iconic spaces as never before.

Viewed more than 11 million times, this series affords an access and a perspective typically unavailable to the public. Viewers can experience the magic of standing in an empty gallery after-hours, witnessing a bustling space in time-lapse, or floating high above The Met Cloisters for a bird's-eye view. We strung cables, removed protective covers from works of art, and rigged cameras up high, all to allow viewers to explore The Met as never before.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at how we created the videos in a Digital Underground article written by Director/Producer Nina Diamond.

You may view these videos on YouTube on multiple devices:

• On your smartphone: Move your phone up, down, and behind you to see all directions.
• On your desktop computer: Use the mouse to scroll in all directions. (Note: For an optimal user experience, use Chrome or Firefox as your browser.)
• On Google Cardboard or a VR headset

Be sure to turn up the volume to hear the music, too.

Architect Richard Morris Hunt designed this majestic space in 1902. He never could have imagined that today the Museum's main entry greets more than six million visitors a year. Now you can experience its Neoclassical grandeur in a way no one ever has before.

Come explore not just behind the scenes, but everywhere in 360°. This video lets you soar past the colonnades, up toward the oculus in the ceiling, and cast a look down over the Grand Staircase and balcony. Aren't you curious who creates those colossal flower arrangements when you're still asleep?

The Met Cloisters

Take to the sky to explore the majestic vistas of The Met Cloisters. This branch of the Museum in northern Manhattan’s Fort Tryon Park is dedicated to the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe.

Explore 360° views over the city, across the Hudson River, and high above two richly landscaped gardens. Inside, spin around to admire the medieval cloisters that form the core of the historic building, and listen to the resonant chimes from the bell tower, more than 100 feet above ground.

The Temple of Dendur

Immerse yourself in this 360° video capturing dawn to dusk in the Temple of Dendur. Built around 15 B.C. when the Roman Emperor Augustus ruled Egypt, the temple was a 1968 gift from Egypt to the United States in recognition of support given to save its monuments threatened by the Nile.

The temple's setting in The Sackler Wing was designed to approximate the light and surroundings of its original location in Nubia, including a reflecting pool that evokes the Nile.

The Met Breuer

On March 18, 2016, The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened The Met Breuer, its new space was dedicated to modern and contemporary art.

Whether you're a recent or longtime fan of the building's classic modernist design, or have just been struck by its bold form at Madison Avenue and 75th Street–here's your chance to enjoy a 360° perspective on architect Marcel Breuer's landmark 1966 creation. Scan up the jagged facade to the trapezoidal window with clouds above, or hover inside the entrance lobby over the sunken garden courtyard.

After four years, the Museum has now permanently closed its Breuer location. The Frick Collection will take over the building during the upgrade and renovation of its museum space at 1 East 70th Street.

The Charles Engelhard Court

Come explore the crown jewel of The Met's American Wing in spherical 360° video. Float in mid-air among the sculptures, including cheek-to-cheek with the gilded sculpture of Diana on its tall pedestal. Try tipping your view over the upper balcony's edge to witness the crowd below in time-lapse—all using your mouse, track pad, or smartphone. You can even peek at the easels of two artists at work.

Flanked by stunning Tiffany stained-glass windows, The Charles Engelhard Court in The American Wing houses some of the Museum's most iconic sculptures, mosaics, and architectural elements.

Arms and Armor Galleries

Visit The Met's distinguished collection of arms and armor from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and America. Experience the galleries from above and take a closer look at some of the key objects of sculptural and ornamental beauty—all in 360. This may be the only time you’ll ever get to stand in the middle of a parade of armored soldiers on horseback. No matter where you turn—from the flags overhead to the weapons gleaming below—you'll find unprecedented access to these masterpieces of original design and traditional craftsmanship.

Production Credits

Director/Producer Nina Diamond

Production Total Cinema 360 | Koncept VR (The Temple of Dendur in 360°, The Great Hall in 360°, The Met Breuer in 360°)

Koncept VR (The Charles Engelhard Court in 360°, The Met Cloisters in 360°, The Arms and Armor Galleries in 360°)

Composers Simon Fisher Turner (The Temple of Dendur in 360°, The Great Hall in 360°, The Met Breuer in 360°)

Austin Fisher (The Charles Engelhard Court in 360°, The Met Cloisters in 360°, The Arms and Armor Galleries in 360°)

Sound Engineer James Aparicio (The Charles Engelhard Court in 360°, The Met Cloisters in 360°, The Arms and Armor Galleries in 360°)

Graphics Natasha Mileshina

Special Thanks

Christina Alphonso, Massomeh Ansari, Seal Belair, Stephen Bluto, Olivia Boudet, Elaine Bradson, João Henrique Brandão, Libby Bressler, Kaelan Burkett, John Byck, Narsayah Chabilall, Marco Castro Cosio, Richard Carroll, Catherine Chesney, Jennie Choi, Skyla Choi, Jennifer Ciarleglio, Michael Cirigliano, Saul Cohen, Sheryl de la Pena, Cristina Del Valle, Michael Dominick, Tim Dowse, Kimberly Drew, Anne Dunleavy, Ariel Estrada, Kate Farrell, Sean Farrell, Dia Felix, Elizabeth Fiorentino, Jenny Foley, Alice Cooney Frelinghuysen, Scott Geffert, Christopher Gorman, Sarah Higby, Staci Hou, Edward Hunter, Alexandra Kozlakowski, Donald LaRocca, Caleb Leech, Chad Lemke, Griffith Mann, Theo Margelony , Heather Masciandaro, William Necker, Lauren Nemroff, Taylor Newby, Christopher Noey, Leila Osmany, Michael Ostergren, Barbara Padolsky, Kevin Park, Diana Patch, Matt Pezzolo, Josh Phagoo, Stuart Pyhrr, Luisa Ricardo-Herrera, Lisa Rifkind, Jose Rivero, Maruf Rizaev, Catharine Roehrig, Amy Romero, Tom Scally, Rebecca Schear, George Sferra, Sean Simpson, Bradley Strauchen-Scherer, Sree Sreenivasan, Pari Stave, Emily Sutter, Loic Tallon, Pierre Terjanian, Phil Tharel, Thayer Tolles, Nick Torres, Elyse Topalian, Maya Valladares, Van Vliet & Trap - Event Design, Elena Villaespesa Cantalapiedra, Sheena Wagstaff, Andrew Winslow, Sheralyn Younge, Sylvia Yount, Julie Zeftel, Seth Zimiles

2017 Webby Award, Best Culture & Lifestyle Video (Juried Award and People's Voice Award)

2017 Shorty Award, Best Cultural Institution

VR World NYC

The fun is real.

Add this and other places to your personal travel plan. We will then help you with further suitable suggestions: free of charge and straightaway!

Virtual Reality is still relatively new and only a few people have been exposed to it. VR World in NYC is far ahead of the VR game, offering the largest range of experiences in the Western Hemisphere.

Many people have already asked me what VR World is. To answer the question in one sentence: VR World is one of the most fun things to do in New York ! No, seriously, VR World dedicates its space entirely to Virtual Reality experiences, making it the first and only one of its kind in New York. It is currently the largest VR center in the Northern Hemisphere. Nevertheless, they already have plans to move to a larger location in order to step their game up a notch more.

VR World in NYC offers more than 50 different experiences across three floors . There are 1-player and multiplayer experiences (for 2 to 4 players) to choose from. Most of the experiences are similar to video games. However, VR World is not limited only to video games. The experiences go way beyond fun games.

Each experience lasts about 5-10 minutes and you can repeat them as many times as you like. During your visit, you can move freely through the venue and choose your next adventure. If someone else is already playing, you can simply use your RFID-wrist band to join the “wait line” by scanning it at the terminals.

Where is VR World in New York?

VR World is located on 34th St in Midtown right by the Empire State Building , making it super easy to get to. If you’re not already in the area, you can hop on subway line 6 to 33 Street Station which is the closest stop. If you’re not close to that line, try to get to Penn Station. The walk is not bad and only takes about 7 minutes.

VR World NYC tickets

You have two VR World ticket options to select from:

• 2-hour pass: from $47
• 1-day pass: from $69

From my experience, I can say that 2 hours fly extremely fast. If your group plans on spending more than three hours, it is already worth it to purchase a day pass.

Book tickets

My personal VR World review

My visit to VR World in NYC was my second ever Virtual Reality experience. I was truly shocked at how real everything feels and I still cannot quite believe it. Only the newest technologies come together at VR World, making you forget everything around you. With everyone immersed in their own experiences, you won’t even worry about looking silly when you are scanning supermarket items while fighting ferocious fruits at the same time!

Needless to say, after a visit to VR World,  I’ve become a huge VR fan. As the largest VR center in the Western Hemisphere , VR World offers more variety than its competitors. It’s a lot of fun to be able to choose from so many different adventures.

You don’t need to be a video game enthusiast to have fun at VR World!

My friends still can’t stop talking about the great time we’ve had . The fact that they are video game enthusiasts surely came in handy in the games, but you don’t need to even like video games to have fun here. I am not a gamer at all and I had a blast. It’s suited for everyone who wants to have a good time!

The staff at VR World was very friendly and always there to assist. Before starting your first adventure, you’ll be given an introduction and some tips to get started. After a few minutes, you’ll get the hang of it.

Is VR World worth a visit?

Yes! Coming here is one of the most fun things to do in Manhattan and also a great activity for those looking for a break from sightseeing. We’ll be back!

VR World can get crowded throughout the day , so be sure to book your tickets in advance. We visited around 5 pm on a weeknight which seemed to be the sweet spot as a time to visit. There was barely a wait for any of the experiences and if there was, we played a different game while waiting.

VR World’s Future in NYC

VR World in NYC is already working on a larger space to accommodate its growing number of visitors. They will be moving to the building next door to create an even more immersive experience. I was lucky to get a peek into what the new location will look like and all I can say is that it was impressive! Already upon entering the building, you’ll step into a different world. I cannot wait for it to open and try more VR experiences there.

Is Virtual Reality dangerous?

Not normally! You are not supposed to run around even if it’s tempting. Remember that you will be connected to a cable at all times. There is a specific area for you to stand and move in throughout your experience and the staff will make sure you don’t leave that designated area. Should you experience motion sickness at any given time, my advice would be to close your eyes for a few seconds. After all, what you see isn’t real. You may also stop your experience at any time by taking off the headset.

Is there a minimum age for visiting VR World in NYC?

Kids need to be at least 7 years old to participate. Unfortunately, kids who are younger than that won’t be able to enter the facility at all. Any kids from 7 to 14 can visit VR World but need to be accompanied by an adult chaperone.

Are there lockers at VR World?

No. It’s best to come lightly packed. If you do carry some stuff with you, you could place your bag or other belongings on the floor next to you while you play.

Can I buy drinks at VR World?

VR World prepared for your visit! You can buy soft drinks and water at the bar on the ground level if you’re getting thirsty from moving around so much.

I'm a true New York fan! Not only have I visited the city over 25 times but also have I spent several months here at a time. On my blog I show you the best and most beautiful spots of the city, so that you have a really good time! You can also find lots of insider tips in our New York travel guide . Also check out my hotel finder for New York !

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Experience a unique bird’s eye view of NYC

Try one of NYC’s newest attractions with our soaring flight simulator ride! See one year of New York all in one day with our new immersive experience.  ‍ Rise takes you flying above the New York skyline. Ride with us in 4D with wind, mist and scents to transport you into the atmosphere above New York! Taking you from Times Square to soaring 30 feet above the skyscrapers, our NYC flight simulator will be a hit with the entire family - especially if you’re visiting our city on a rainy day! Wondering what to do near Times Square? Wonder no more! Take a flying trip across the city’s skyline and enjoy NYC’s best new immersive experience. 

The Ride - New York Sightseeing From Above

A Brilliant Virtual Reality Experience near NYC’s Times Square

The first of its kind in Manhattan, our virtual reality NYC experience Rise is a ride to remember! If you’re looking to go sightseeing in NYC but want to see as much as possible, try our amazing VR experience of NYC.  Take a seat on our fantastic immersive VR ride set in a 180-degree, 40-foot projection dome. Go soaring over 1950s New York and see 8K aerial footage of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park and more iconic landmarks in NYC! With mist, wind and scents, you’ll get a 4D experience of New York from a whole new angle. Try the newest immersive exhibit in NYC and see famous New York buildings from a truly unique perspective!

A New Hidden Gem in Times Square

Our new tourist attraction in Times Square brings the best experiences of New York City to you! Travel through time and space with our amazing 4D ride Rise , covering a year of celebrations in our glorious town! Our flying VR ride gives you a taste of some of the classic NYC experiences, such as the 4th of July Fireworks on the East River and the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square, from a bird’s eye view. See the Grand Central Terminal from above and float across the Yankee Stadium, the New York Harbor and more! This new attraction in NYC is perfect for those rainy-weather days if you’re looking for things to do near Times Square. Get the New York experience without having to explore the whole of Manhattan. Visit us now and enjoy an unforgettable journey through our wonderful city.

What's Included in your Rise NY Ticket

Learn about NYC’s history through our immersive film , narrated by Jeff Goldblum and projected in our replica City Hall subway station. 

Explore 7 museum-style galleries covering NYC’s important history, including Finance, Skyline, TV/Radio, Fashion, Music, Broadway and Film.

Soar 30 feet above New York’s skyline in a simulated VR ride, complete with 4D effects for a “real” flying experience.

Rise at RiseNY is an immersive experience. It’s set in a 180-degree, 40-foot projection dome, with visitors seated securely before being lifted 30 feet. The ride uses 8K aerial footage of New York, mists, scent and “wind” to help you feel as though you’re really flying over the New York skyline! Please note: there are no VR headsets on this ride.

You and the other visitors enter into a 180-degree, 40-foot projection dome, with visitors seated securely before being lifted 30 feet. You’ll then see 8k aerial footage of New York projected onto this dome, with mists, “wind” and scents to help you feel immersed in the projection.

The ride at RiseNY is not scary, though if you have a fear of heights or vertigo, be advised that the ride does involve being securely lifted 30 feet into the air. The projection will also give the appearance of being above skyscraper level, which may be uncomfortable for those with a fear of heights.  You do not have to do the ride at RiseNy if you feel uncomfortable on the day - just let one of our staff know.

Yes, the ride at RiseNY is suitable and safe for children! You’re safely strapped into our ride at all times. However, little ones who are afraid of heights might find this ride scary.

If you’re from New York, you won’t have seen the city from this angle before! Float at cloud level and get a bird’s eye view of NYC on our ride. 

This new attraction in Times Square gives you a virtual reality experience in New York like no other! Soar above the NYC skyline in our 180 degree, 40 foot projection dome and see a year in New York from above the skyscrapers!

New York Virtual Tour

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$15 / person

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Sam Rohn 360° Photography

360° VR Panoramic Photography & Virtual Tours

Museum of Natural History :: 360° Virtual Tour

The building that houses the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda is New York State’s official memorial to the 26th president of the United States, who not only led expeditions for the American Museum of Natural History and augmented its collections with new species, but also strengthened the cause for national conservation. Designed by John Russell Pope, the Rotunda was dedicated in 1936 and declared a New York City landmark in 1967. It serves as the Museum’s main entrance lobby, and is home to the  Barosaurus  exhibit, the world’s tallest freestanding mount of a dinosaur

Since its opening in 1936, the Akeley Hall of African Mammals at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City has been considered one of the world’s greatest museum displays. The hall is named after Carl Akeley (1864-1926), the explorer, conservationist, taxidermist, sculptor, and photographer who conceived of, designed, and collected for the hall. All the mammal dioramas in the Museum were created using his highly refined taxidermy and mounting techniques. The animals have been reconstructed with such scientific accuracy and detail that they appear astoundingly lifelike. Akeley’s meticulous attention to veracity, which was applied to the plants, the painted backgrounds, and even the lighting in the dioramas, resulted in faithful and vivid reproductions of the worlds that he wanted to preserve.

The 28 dioramas in this hall, true works of art, depict some of the many animals and habitats of Africa, from the bongo and mandrill of the dense rain forests to the impala and elephant of the savannah. Carl Akeley had a lifelong devotion to the continent of Africa and the conservation of its beautiful wilderness areas. He traveled there many times, embarking on three expeditions for the Museum. During his final expedition, he fell ill and died. He was buried in Albert National Park (now Virunga National Park), the first wildlife sanctuary in central Africa, which he had helped to establish. The mountain location of his grave is near the scene depicted in the gorilla diorama in this hall.

Hall of Ocean Life

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Brooklyn's beachside attraction holds the Cyclone roller coaster, the Wonder Wheel, the New York Aquarium, the original Nathan’s Famous and a boardwalk.

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Stuck at home experience new york city in virtual reality, travel to the big apple, the city that never sleeps—without leaving your house, kaydee dela buena.

While known as the ‘city that never sleeps,’ New York has unfortunately quieted down, with many of its previously busy streets now in slumber because of the lockdown. The pandemic has caused the once crowded tourist attractions, bustling streets, and commuter hubs to empty out, devoid of their usual crowds.

Luckily, virtual experiences have been made available to allow us to stay entertained and connected to the outside world. Explore the sights and sounds of the Big Apple through these virtual tours:

1. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge

A true piece of architectural innovation, the famed bridge crosses the East Rive, providing stunning views of Lower Manhattan and other city landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and Governors Island.

Since its opening in 1883, locals and tourists alike have flocked to this iconic site which has been the features in multiple films and TV shows.

Allow yourself to be immersed in the experience by way of a virtual walking tour across different parts of the Brooklyn Bridge.

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A dumbo itinerary: things to do and see down under the manhattan bridge.

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2. Have a ‘Gossip Girl’ moment at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Founded in 1929, this Manhattan-based museum flaunts one of the finest collections of contemporary art in the world. Filling six floors of at least 150,000 works from artists who require no first name: Picasso, Matisse, Dali, Van Gogh, Warhol, and Kahlo, to name a few. With an estimated number of three million visitors per year, MoMA is a top New York attraction. Must-sees: The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh and Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond by Claude Monet.

You can in fact view the entire collection of over 88,000 of the 200,000 works of modern and contemporary art on the the MoMA website —most of which are cross-referenced with the artists' other works, portfolios, as well as the available prints online. 

3. Wander through the Grand Central Terminal

This iconic train terminal’s appeal goes way beyond its stated purpose. Grand Central covers three city blocks where a commuter railroad and five subway lines converge. Scores of shops, dining options, a gourmet market place, a fancy bar, among others also dot the area. But more than that, stepping inside the terminal is already an experience in itself. Marvel at the celestial ceiling mural, famed four-faced clock worth millions, and “whispering” Guastavino-tile arches.

EXCLUSIVE: Celebs & Personalities We Spotted At NYFW: Carolina Herrera Spring/Summer 2020 Show

4. Be one with nature at Central Park

Covering an 843-acre green space, Central Park is a delight for all senses. Walk through various landmarks such as the Imagine Mosaic at Strawberry Fields, Wagner Cove, and the Alice in Wonderland Statue.

At the heart of the park lies The Lake where you can spend an afternoon riding boats for a bonus experience. Pretend you’re a musical star at the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, because you’ll instantly feel like breaking into a song ( Enchanted , anyone?). Cap off the day with a picnic at Sheep Meadow, and get a front row seat of the sunset that disappears into the midtown skyline.

5. Take all in the city’s sights and sounds on top of the Empire State Building

There is no building more recognizable in the Big Apple’s skyline than the Empire State Building. More than just another tourist attraction, it is a ‘right of passage’ for any visitor.

At 102 stories tall, you get the most amazing view of the city. And on a clear day, you may even catch a glimpse of the five states. But of course, the cherry on top is its 86th floor observatory, the highest open-air observatory deck, which embraces the whole building. Tour the whole 360.

6. Soak in art and culture at Times Square

From commuters and camera-toting tourists to Disney characters and street performers - these are all just part of the fabric that makes Times Square such a beloved ‘crossroad of the world.’ Apart from being one of the world’s busiest pedestrian intersections, it is also where you’ll find Broadway Theater District. Check out the New Amsterdam Theater, Lyric Theater, and AMP Empire Cinemas. In addition, drop by Madame Tussauds (celebrity wax figures), Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (interactive exhibits), and One Times Square (iconic midnight ball drop).

While we may not have access to these experiences at the moment, check out this walking tour of the district for some nostalgia. 

7. Take a city breather at Ellis Island

Located in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island is a former federal immigration center, but it now serves as a national museum of immigration. While it’s often overshadowed by its neighboring colossal statue, the island is a true piece of New York history. Learn more about the history of American immigration before and after the Ellis Island era at the Peopling of America Center and American Family Immigration History Center.

For your virtual tour, check out this Interactive Tour of Ellis Island , by way of a virtual field trip that also shares maps, immigration data, and more. 

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New York City

Overview and History

New York was invented by time-traveling punks from across the galaxy so they could show up there in 1977 , smash some guitars and then overdose on heroin to die in the East Village, according to prophecy.

The historic origins of the city go back to long before the American Revolution. Let's take a quick look at what it is before we look at what it looks like in panoramas.

New York City sits on the island of Manhattan. Manhattan, you will notice, is not only an island situated between two rivers perfect for easy transportation to the Atlantic Ocean -- it's also an Indian word!

Like lots of New England states and towns, its lineage comes from the "Indians" who lived there first. White people learned those names and kept them, for example Massachusetts, Connecticut, Manhattan, Chesapeake. Go out to the small towns in the greater New York or Tri-State area and you'll find even more names like Massapequa, Hammonasset, Ronkonkoma, Montauk, Quinnipiac, etc. And of course Mohawk, which comes into play later around 1977.

So, let's keep it sanitized for posterity. The white people came and the Indians left. How do you like that? Legend has it that white settlers bought the island of Manhattan for $26; obviously the contracting party on the other end had no idea what real estate connections were all about. Early pilgrims cited the Bible as their mandate for taking over what lands they found in "the new world". (They decided that, since "the Indians" had not subdued the land, it was free for the taking. File this away in the "karmic repurcussions" folder.)

The point is, New York City sits on a bunch of islands. An archipelago, if you will. An island just off the coast of Europe, if you want to comment on how different NYC is from the rest of the United States. Bird's eye view: you've got Manhattan, Staten Island and Long Island, which hosts both Brooklyn and Queens.

The south end of Manhattan is where New York City started. Once upon a time there were deer, owls, hawks and trees covering the entire island. Gradually it filled in with farms and, much later, low-income apartment buildings. Manhattan is now bridged to the western end of Long Island by the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the Williamsburg bridge and the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. Take the Williamsburg bridge across from the east village to find where the artists went after the East Village got to be too. friggin. expensive. for. anybody. to. really. live. here. dammit. Go ahead!, check out the cost of living in New York yourself if you want.

Anyway, as European settlers filled in the space, New York City grew up and took over the entire Hudson Bay area including Connecticut and New Jersey (Tri-State area).

Contrary to intuitive belief, NYC is not the capital of New York State. Albany is the capital but nobody ever goes there except to do realllly big deals, so don't worry about it. New York's nickname is "The Empire State" and for all purposes, NYC is the jewel in the Empire's crown.

Back to downtown in Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal Street) -- you will find two distinctly different layouts. One side of this southern tip of the island was built by the Dutch, the other half by the English.

The Dutch side has twisting streets with lots of triangular central, um, squares that are hell on the novice bike messenger to find. The English side sports long avenues connecting evenly spaced parallel streets, a grid like what you see in midtown among the "number streets." What does that say about the worldview of these two groups at the time? See, already New York is intriguing. What else is going on there?

Here are the essential neighborhoods to cover, if you want to have even the most awkwardly cursory view of the city. This is going from south to north. For scale, it's about five miles from the southern tip to the south edge of Central Park at 59th street.

The financial district ( Wall Street , etc), Tribeca , Chinatown .

SoHo , Greenwich Village , East Village , Meat Packing District .

Flatiron and Murray Hill merge upwards into Hell's Kitchen (best food in midtown), and Times Square and then Central Park .

From there it's all Upper East Side and Upper West Side until you get to Spanish Harlem , Harlem , and The Bronx .

Off to the East of Manhattan there's Brooklyn and Queens, both of which could take up a thousand pictures, and to the west side there's New Jersey. The East River and Hudson River border Manhattan to either side and if you can't figure out which side the Hudson is on, I can't help you.

If you just go to New York City and eat one meal in each of the above neighborhoods, you will have done an excellent job of seeing what this megalopolis has to offer. Many people make the mistake of going to NYC for a week and spending five days in Times Square. Don't let this be you. You can find food from anywhere in the world in New York and it's a crime against modern civilization not to do so.

Getting There

Oh boy. Three airports, which are all connected to a greater or lesser degree by taxi drivers who are completely cool and professional on the inside, and you can't tell that by looking. It's a yellow river of taxis but you are not at their mercy if you can afford a helicopter ride to where you're going! Ha ha! You can't! And get used to it!!!

Everything about NYC is either a celebration of your wealth, or a celebration of not having any. Not to worry, there's an equal amount of fun to be had regardless of which end of the spectrum you're on. (That amount=MORE THAN YOU HAVE TIME FOR...)

Okay, the airports are JFK ( John F. Kennedy International ), LaGuardia and Newark International . Getting between Manhattan and JFK airport usually means a private limousine or a taxi , because the public transportation is not so hot there. There is the Airtrain on the subway line that goes there, just make sure you get on the right train.

LaGuardia airport is closer to the city center and you can get there on a bus without much trouble, if you have learned how to move around on the subway system and you don't mind standing on the street up in Harlem with all your stuff.

Newark International Airport is the easiest to get to because you can take a train right from the subway system at 34th Street in Manhattan and get off inside the airport at your departure terminal, and it looks high-tech the whole way. Check here for prices and schedules.

Transportation

The subway ( MTA ) is a great way to get around New York when you're on foot for day trips, commuting, whatever.

The only caution is to remember that you can walk ten blocks a lot more easily than waiting underground. One ride costs $2 with the mandatory Metrocard. Tokens are in the museum now, next to the dinosaur teeth. No more tokens. Here's a subway map , have fun!

People and Culture

Are you kidding? People and Culture in New York might as well be "People and Culture of Planet Earth". Somebody from everywhere lives here and they all keep their native languages and recipes, then learn English so they can open a restaurant, all to YOUR benefit as soon as you figure out which neighborhood you want to go explore tonight.

There are a few sayings about people in NYC. First, "people in new york are either 100% real or 100% fake." This might be true, depending who you ask.

Second, "New Yorkers are the nicest people in the world.. you just have to force them to be nice." (because they're always in a hurry). This is definitely true.

Culture here? You've got film, fashion, music, food, fine art, dance, theater, you name it. Every art form you can think of, including the art of making lots of money, is flaunted on the city streets. Also fun stuff like sex, drugs, arson, murder and stealing are thriving here at the apex of their popularity. Think class division and you'll be standing tip-toe on the ice berg's lurking point.

Things to do & Recommendations

No swimming buddy, not in the rivers. Check out the beaches on Long Island for that, get there by train LIRR. Robert Moses State Park is my recommendation.

A great "new yorky" thing to do is to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and get an amazing view of the Statue of Liberty, Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn.

There's really no way to encapsulate the life of this city in a few recommendations but I'll try.

Grimaldi's Pizza in Brooklyn's DUMBO neighborhood: Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Go there. Eat pizza. Die happy.

3rd Ward Art Space for Brooklyn wareouse type parties and also studio space.

In Times Square, take a bicycle taxi to get around, see things and hear a real insider's report on where to go not to get ripped off.

Meat Packing District for nightlife, start here.

Curry In A Hurry

Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too

It's abominable how much I am leaving out. Please forgive me, New York!!!

Text by Steve Smith.

• Recent Images

SummerStage 360° VR Tour

Take a virtual walk through the beautiful new SummerStage Venue in Central Park.  The iconic park venue has been updated with a new stage, new sound system, increased lighting, upgraded backstage areas, raised seating, and an improved concert-going experience for all guests. What hasn’t changed is SummerStage’s mission to present iconic and emerging artists from a wide range of international genres that reflect the diverse population of our amazing city. 

By Signe Brewster

Signe Brewster is an editor focused on technology. She also writes about virtual reality and has tested everything from robots to 3D printers.

At their best, virtual reality games let you interact directly with a simulated world in a way that traditional video games can never match. But it can be intimidating to choose virtual reality games to buy. Over nearly a decade of playing VR games, we’ve come across some true gems that showcase the best aspects of VR.

Before you start, be aware that not every VR headset can play every game. Our favorite VR headsets are a mix of standalone models, which means they can run on battery or plug into a computer, and tethered models, which means they must be attached to a PC or PlayStation console. Cord-free VR headsets are easier to use, but plugging into a computer or console lets you play more graphically intensive games. We’ve noted below each game which brands’ headsets are compatible (note that the PlayStation VR and VR2 headsets are incompatible with each other’s games), and whether you need to plug a standalone Meta Quest headset into a PC.

Beats that work up a sweat

An active game for everyone

There’s no bigger crowd-pleaser than Beat Saber, which pumps music while you swing lightsabers through blocks.

Buying Options

Available for Meta VR, Steam VR, PlayStation VR and VR2

If there’s a single reason to buy a VR headset, it’s Beat Saber . There’s almost no learning curve—you simply swing your arms to slice through blocks with virtual lightsabers to the beat of a catalog of addictive dance songs. Oh, and don’t forget to duck down or hop to the side so that the blocks don’t smash you in the face. The ease of the gameplay and the invitation to move your body capture what VR is all about, so this title is always one of the first games we show newcomers to VR. It’s also one of the first games we dive into ourselves, even six years after its release.

As a bonus, Beat Saber is a bona fide way to exercise —the experience is so engrossing that you might not even realize it’s a workout until you wake up the next day with sore arms. Just don’t forget to clean out your sweaty headset padding afterward.

A relaxing round of mini golf

Walkabout Mini Golf

Putt-putt for vr.

A VR twist on mini golf transports the green into imaginative landscapes such as a haunted house and underwater.

You save $4 (27%)

Available for Meta VR, Steam VR, PlayStation VR2

Sometimes it’s nice to play a game where the worst possible consequence is shooting over par instead of zombies eating your brains, you know? Walkabout Mini Golf is a peaceful putt-putt-palooza that pairs the simple physics of swinging a golf club with imaginative VR landscapes. You can stick to the green on the eight included 18-hole courses or wander off to find lost balls or follow little clues called “foxhunts” to earn yourself some new golf gear.

We recommend starting on the island-themed Tourist Trap level (one of our favorite game spots for riding out the coldest, darkest months of winter) before moving on to levels themed to ice cream, a haunted house, and other fun things. You can buy bundles of new levels, too, though for us the magic of Walkabout Mini Golf lies in escape rather than completion.

Challenging, interactive puzzles

I Expect You To Die

For escape-room fans.

Puzzle solvers will love poking around interactive rooms to complete secret missions.

Available for Meta VR, Steam VR, PlayStation VR

One part escape room, one part Groundhog Day, I Expect You To Die challenges you, a secret agent, to puzzle your way through secret missions. You have levers to pull, messages to decode, and wires to snip. Mess up, and you die, usually in some dramatic fashion, like in an explosion or due to poisoning. Then you have to start the mission again. On challenging levels, you’ll die over and over and over. It’s just enough to cause you to rip the headset off in frustration—before coming back to try again a few hours later.

All of that dying, plus situations where you have to solve puzzles quickly, make I Expect You To Die far from relaxing. But it’s a notably excellent game to play while sitting or standing in one place because you play as a character with telekinesis; it’s designed so that you use your controllers to grab objects across the room instead of walking over to them. If you live in a small place or just want to take a quick break at your desk, I Expect You To Die is a nice option. All three games in the series are worth playing, so the bundle is worth a look.

A classic arcade game, reinvented for VR

Tetris Effect: Connected

Tetris, but better.

Whether you’re taking a quick break at your desk or you just love Tetris, this is a surprisingly great game to play in VR.

Studies suggest that Tetris is useful for trauma therapy and to reduce cravings. There’s also evidence that the game tickles the part of the human brain that loves to make sense of putting objects together. So when you play Tetris Effect: Connected for the first time—and then play it more and more and more until you lie down at night and see Tetris pieces falling behind your eyelids—know that there’s some neat sciencey thing happening alongside your new (or renewed) addiction to rotating and stacking blocks.

Tetris Effect: Connected lets you play by yourself or with other people, so it’s a nice option for a game night. It’s also a great stationary game if you don’t have much room. Could you instead play Tetris the old-fashioned way, without a VR headset? Yes. But you can’t understand the straight shot of brain candy that is Tetris Effect: Connected until you try it.

A perfect first download, where time stops

Superhot VR

A matrix-like shooter for vr.

Dodge bullets and punch bad guys in the head—with the twist that if you stop moving, the game stops moving, too.

We love to introduce people to their first VR headset with Superhot VR because if the action gets too intense, it has a clever little feature built into the gameplay: Stop moving, and the game stops moving with you. It creates a Matrix -like effect where you can move your body as slowly as possible to dodge sprays of bullets or speed things up while you land a punch on your enemy’s head action-hero style. The game feels stylish, too, with the bad guys rendered as faceted, faceless red bodies that shatter like glass when you defeat them. It’s the rare action game that’s approachable for just about anyone.

Adventure among the gods

Asgard’s Wrath 2

An expansive action game.

This action-RPG offers satisfying fighting mechanics and is better suited to experienced players.

Available for Meta VR

If you’re eager to spend dozens of hours fighting and exploring in a vast VR landscape, the action-RPG Asgard’s Wrath 2 is a strong choice. (The fact that it’s free if you buy a Meta Quest 3 doesn’t hurt, either.) Gods and monsters take you on an Egyptian adventure as you continue your search for Loki, in a story that picks up where the previous games in the series left off.

If you grabbed a VR headset because you wanted to swing a sword by moving your arms instead of mashing buttons on a controller, Asgard’s Wrath 2 is one of the finest examples of how natural fighting can feel in VR. The game is even more impressive when you consider that it’s built for standalone Meta Quest headsets; there’s no PC or console required to play through its detailed world. But that also means it feels a few generations behind what a modern Xbox or PlayStation can do.

A visually rich first-person shooter

Half-Life: Alyx

Immersive action for vr.

This beautifully detailed title immerses you in an action-packed series of puzzles and combat—if you own a PC that supports VR.

Available for Meta VR (with PC), Steam VR

If you’re willing to plug your VR headset into a PC, you’ll find a whole new array of graphically demanding games opened up to you. Half-Life: Alyx still reigns as our favorite among these thanks to its intricately detailed visuals. Although the game is particular about the route you take through the action—no open world here—it’s filled with exciting views of the futuristic City 17 and interesting ways to interact with your surroundings. It nails scale; even after a decade of playing VR games, I’ve found that no game world has made me feel so small and awestruck as I’ve felt in City 17 underneath the enormous floating Vault structure.

Half-Life: Alyx fills in a bit of the story between 1998’s revolutionary Half-Life and 2004’s Half-Life 2 . You play as Alyx Vance, who goes up against an oppressive alien empire and its soldiers as she fights to find her father, track down a superweapon, and free Earth. But it’s the setting, more than the story, that is likely to draw you into the gameplay.

Fight enemies and solve puzzles as a mouse

Moss and Moss: Book II

A sweet action-adventure game.

Light action and interesting puzzles make this pair of games an accessible first download.

As someone who grew up playing titles in action-adventure game franchises such as Spyro and The Legend of Zelda, diving into Moss and Moss: Book II (the two are sold as a set or individually) feels a bit like coming home. Both games invite you to go on a grand adventure as a humble mouse named Quill, who finds herself mixed up with magic while solving puzzles, fighting enemies, and exploring ruins, icy landscapes, and the lush forest floor.

Moss: Book II ’s gameplay and graphics benefit from the strides that VR has made in the past few years, and it has a few additions such as the ability to climb, but its story begins right where the original Moss ends. Both are worth playing through if you’re ready to make Quill your next best friend through delightful puzzles and stunning imagery.

This article was edited by Arthur Gies and Jason Chen.

Meet your guide

Signe Brewster

Signe Brewster is an editor on Wirecutter's PC team. She also writes about virtual reality. She previously reported on emerging technology and science for publications like Wirecutter, MIT Technology Review, Wired, Science, and Symmetry Magazine. She spends her free time quilting and pursuing an MFA in creative writing.

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• Winter isn’t done yet, but there’s good news: These video games are ready to hang out with you inside until it warms up out there. Video Games to Ride Out the End of Winter  

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13 Spooky Video Games We Love for Halloween

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