Forget Broadway and pizza, if you want to see the quirky side of the Big Apple, then this list of unusual attractions in New York should be on your radar…
Start With a Great Place to Stay
Amid all the quirk you’re about to see, you’ll need a comfy spot to rest your head (or at least stash your newly acquired oddities). With so many lodging options, it’s worth checking out Midtown East hotels if you want to stay central and still have easy subway access to these offbeat gems. After all, convenience matters when you’re hauling around a creepy antique doll at 2 a.m.
1. The Dream House: Sound and Light Show for Your Brain
Tucked away in a nondescript SoHo loft is a trippy, multi-sensory experience known as the Dream House. Picture neon lights merging with cosmic-sounding drones that vibrate through your bones. It’s like stepping into a Pink Floyd album cover—minus the actual band. Leave your skepticism at the door, because once you stand in that mesmerizing wash of color and sound, you’ll either achieve enlightenment or question everything you’ve ever known.
2. City Reliquary: Random Artifacts Galore
Want to see old subway tokens, a chunk of the Statue of Liberty’s nose, and a collection of vintage seltzer bottles all in one place? The City Reliquary in Williamsburg is a tiny museum dedicated to the random odds and ends that piece together New York’s history. Part cabinet of curiosities, part love letter to the city, it’ll make you realize there’s more to NYC than tourist traps and chain coffee shops. Plus, you’ll leave with conversation starters for the next awkward dinner party.
3. The Elevated Acre: A Hidden Park in the Sky
Skyscrapers aren’t the only towering structures downtown. If you wander around the Financial District, you might stumble upon the Elevated Acre—a secret rooftop park that sits above street level. It’s not huge, but it offers a bit of greenery and killer views of the East River. Grab lunch, lounge on the grass, and wonder how something so peaceful could exist mere steps away from Wall Street’s cutthroat chaos.
4. Abandoned City Hall Subway Station (If You Can Sneak a Peek)
For history buffs, there’s an underground gem beneath City Hall: a long-abandoned subway station that looks like a medieval chamber with vaulted ceilings and ornate chandeliers. Officially, you can only see it by booking a special tour through the Transit Museum—but hey, if you happen to stay on the 6 train past its final stop (not that we’re advocating rule-breaking or anything…), you might just catch a glimpse of this architectural masterpiece through the train windows.
5. Mmuseumm: Closet-Sized Curiosities
Located in a converted elevator shaft in Tribeca, Mmuseumm is quite possibly the tiniest museum you’ll ever encounter. Exhibits include everything from bootleg action figures to fast-food chain mistakes (like misprinted cups or oddly shaped french fries). This place takes the term “micro-museum” to a whole new level, proving that the weirdest exhibits sometimes come in the smallest packages.
Photo by Murillo Molissani
6. Obscura Antiques and Oddities
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a two-headed taxidermy duck or a Victorian death mask, look no further than Obscura Antiques and Oddities in the East Village. It’s a treasure trove of medical curios, vintage circus memorabilia, and other random artifacts you didn’t know you needed. Browsing here feels like stepping into a Tim Burton movie set—just try not to let your imagination run too wild.
New York’s most unusual attractions are like a hidden, twisted carnival waiting to be explored. So ditch the ordinary, open your mind to the strange, and remember—sometimes it’s the weird experiences that make for the best travel stories. Enjoy the ride, and just try not to question your sanity too much along the way!
