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The World Cup runs through July 19, which puts you in New York during one of its best stretches — long evenings, everything open late, and the waterfront fully in use. Here’s how to spend the time between matches.

  • The waterfront. Hudson River Park runs nearly the full length of Manhattan’s west side, from Battery Park up to 59th Street — about five miles of paths, lawns, piers, and water views, and the easiest place to just walk or bike for an hour. Little Island, at Pier 55 in the West Village, is a floating park built on tulip-shaped concrete columns over the Hudson. Admission is free, the elevated paths wind through planted gardens, and there’s a small amphitheater with regular performances — some free, some ticketed. Go around golden hour for the best light on the river and the High Line above Chelsea. At the southern tip of Manhattan, Battery Park faces the harbor directly, with views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governors Island, and the Staten Island Ferry terminal, plus food vendors and open lawn space in summer.
  • Governors Island. A seven-minute ferry from Lower Manhattan or Brooklyn Bridge Park gets you to 172 acres with no cars and wide-open harbor views. The 2026 season includes the Jazz Age Lawn Party, the NYC Poetry Festival, a tall ships celebration, and the Mubadala Sail Grand Prix, with food from Island Oyster and Six Coasts by Smorgasburg. Ferry tickets run $5 round-trip from the Battery Maritime Building, and the island itself is free. Rent a bike to cover it quickly, or take it slow — the Hills section rises 70 feet and gives you a full 360-degree view of the harbor, Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey.
  • On the water. NYC Ferry connects Manhattan piers to Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Rockaways for $4.50 a ride — practical transit that doubles as a scenic trip, especially the East River route between Pier 11 and Brooklyn Bridge Park. The Staten Island Ferry is still free, runs 24 hours between Whitehall Terminal and St. George, takes about 50 minutes round trip, and passes close to the Statue of Liberty. Circle Line runs sightseeing cruises from Pier 83 on the Hudson at 42nd Street — the Harbor Lights cruise is a good evening pick. NYC Water Cruises offers sunset cruises with live music and dinner cruise options from the West Side. For something smaller, boat tours leaving from Chelsea Piers at Pier 59 run about 90 minutes past the Statue of Liberty, under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, and along the East River. And for dinner on the water without leaving the dock, the North River Lobster Company is a floating seafood restaurant at Pier 81 with outdoor deck seating and a raw bar.
  • Hudson River dining. Pier 57 at 15th Street is home to Market 57, a food hall curated by Jose Andres, with a public rooftop park above it and a direct connection to the High Line. Down at the Battery, the park is surrounded by restaurants facing the harbor, and a few blocks inland, Stone Street — one of Manhattan’s oldest streets — fills with outdoor seating in summer. For something further north, Hudson River Cafe in Washington Heights sits above the river with a view of the George Washington Bridge and a much quieter scene than Midtown or Downtown.
  • Central Park. At 843 acres, it’s the center of everything. SummerStage runs free and low-cost concerts and performances at Rumsey Playfield from June through September. Sheep Meadow is the spot to lie in the grass with the Midtown skyline behind you, and Belvedere Castle, the Conservatory Garden, and the Reservoir are worth the walk if you have time beyond the main loop. Bikes are available throughout the park, the full loop is 6.1 miles, and before 10 AM and in the evenings the main road closes to cars.
    Pools. NYC’s outdoor public pools open for the season on June 27, free for everyone. In Manhattan, the best bets are Lasker Pool in Central Park at 110th Street, Hamilton Fish Pool on the Lower East Side, and Thomas Jefferson Pool on the Upper East Side at 112th and First. They fill up fast on hot days, so get there early. For something more upscale, hotels in Williamsburg and Midtown offer rooftop pool day passes — 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and McCarren Hotel in Williamsburg both take advance bookings from non-guests, and several Midtown hotels run day passes from $50 to $150. Book ahead, especially on weekends.
  • Other parks worth a stop. The High Line runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District up to 34th Street on a converted elevated rail line — free, landscaped, and connected directly to Hudson Yards, The Shed, and The Edge observation deck. Bryant Park, behind the New York Public Library on 42nd Street, is small but reliably good in summer with movies, lawn bowling, and free events. Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village is busier but worth an hour, and Tompkins Square Park on the Lower East Side has a real neighborhood feel.

Would you like to read our full guide for the 2026 World Cup? Click here!