There are many things to do in the Financial District, NYC, and you can easily spend several days in the neighborhood without getting bored.
From getting an amazing view of NYC to seeing iconic streets and buildings to visiting interesting museums, FiDi has so much to offer! As there’s so much to do and see, you definitely shouldn’t miss out on this neighborhood when visiting New York City.
If you’re wondering what to do in the Financial District, I got you covered! I made this guide with the best activities, attractions, and sights that you should definitely check out.
Best Things To Do in the Financial District, NYC
Get a View at One World Observatory
One World Observatory, located at One World Trade Center, in the Financial District of New York City is one of the best sights that you can go to when exploring the neighborhood.
This is an observation deck that you can find on floors 100, 101, and 102, and from here you can enjoy a panoramic view from the highest point in New York City.
Taking in this view is amazing, and what’s great is that you can also find a restaurant here where you can dine with amazing food while seeing NYC from above. Or you can go to the bar that is located here and enjoy a drink with a view.
Address: 117 West St, New York, NY 10007
Go to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a must-see sight in the Financial District as well. This is a museum where you can learn about the story of 9/11, and you can find it in New York City’s World Trade Center.
The memorial commemorates the attacks of 9/11 during which close to 3,000 people were killed and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
You can find the memorial at the former location of the destroyed Twin Towers.
At the museum, you can find all kinds of artifacts, photographs, and personal stories, through which you can learn about what happened on 9/11 and about the people that were involved. Furthermore, you can learn about the events of February 26, 1993.
Address: 180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007
See the Charging Bull
Charging Bull is one of the most iconic sculptures in New York City and you can find it in Manhattan’s Financial District.
It is a bronze sculpture that can be found on Broadway and it is situated very close to Bowling Green.
Charging Bull was created in 1989 by the Italian sculptor Arturo Di Modica and symbolizes Wall Street and the Financial District of New York City. The artist was inspired by the sculptures that are located in front of the German Stock Exchange in the German city of Frankfurt.
The sculpture has a weight of 7,100 pounds, is about 11 feet tall, and has a length of 16 feet.
Go to Bowling Green
You can find Bowling Green in the center of the Financial District and next to Charging Bull. This is a small public park that is very old, it was opened as a park in 1733, but Bowling Green was in use before that as a public area. This makes it the oldest park in New York City, and the park is on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the past, a large statue of King George III was present here before the American Revolutionary War.
Bowling Green is a space with beautiful flowers, a fountain, and trees. Going there for a relaxing stroll is one of the best things to do in the Financial District.
In addition to that, what’s great is that many historic buildings surround the park.
Check Out Wall Street
Wall Street, one of the most famous streets in NYC, is a street that can be found in the Financial District.
This street runs from Broadway to the East River.
The street is very old and was already part of New Amsterdam in the 17th century when the Dutch ruled the city. The street gets its name from a wall that existed on the street in the 17th century.
Wall Street is known for being the center of the financial industry of the United States, and the name “Wall Street” has become synonymous with America’s financial industry.
You can find several important buildings on Wall Street, such as the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as well as many commercial banks.
Learn New Things at the National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian is an interesting museum that makes for one of the best activities in the Financial District.
This museum is dedicated to the culture of the native peoples of the Americas.
The National Museum of the American Indian has two locations, with one of the locations being located in the Financial District. The other location is in Washington DC.
At the museum, you can find a large collection of historic objects, such as ceremonial objects, clothing, jewelry, baskets, and many other items. The museum covers a large variety of cultures.
In addition to that, many temporary exhibitions take place at the museum that are focused on a specific theme related to the indigenous people of the Americas.
Address: 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004
See the New York Stock Exchange
When you are in the Financial District, you can check out the New York Stock Exchange, which is located on Wall Street.
This is the largest stock exchange in the world and it is located inside the New York Stock Exchange Building, which is a historic building that is also a National Historic Landmark.
The New York Stock Exchange is a very old organization that was founded in 1792 and it has played an important role in the city’s history.
Address: 11 Wall St, New York, NY 10005
See the West Street Building
The West Street Building, located at 90 West Street is a residential building of 23 stories that you can find in the Financial District.
The building has an interesting Gothic Revival architectural style that combines elements from various other styles. The building was opened in the year 1907 and was designated a New York City Landmark in 1998. In addition to that, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
When you are exploring the Financial District, you should definitely also check out this building and enjoy its beauty. It is also a great place to take a photo, especially if you like architecture a lot.
Address: 90 West St, New York, NY 10006
See the New York City Hall
The New York City Hall is also one of the best landmarks in the Financial District. that you can go to.
This is the building where the government of New York City can be found.
The building is one of the oldest city halls in the United States that is still in use and it was built at the start of the 19th century.
The building’s exterior has a French Renaissance Revival style and the building is designed as a National Historic Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
When you are in the Financial District, you can consider doing a free tour of the City Hall, but keep in mind that you need to make a reservation for this.
Explore Pier 16
Pier 16, located on the eastern section of the Financial District is a pier that extends into the East River.
This pier is part of the South Street Seaport Museum and you can go here to see a free outdoor exhibition.
At his place, there are displays with historic photographs, paintings, prints, and other objects. Also, you can see various old ships at Pier 16 that are interesting, including ships from the beginning of the 20th century.
In addition to that, the pier is perfect if you want to enjoy a view of the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Address: 167 John St, New York, NY 10038
See Trinity Church
The Trinity Church is a historic church that is located at 89 Broadway, which is close to Wall Street.
The first church building was constructed in 1698, but it was destroyed in the Great Fire of New York in 1776. The current building dates back to the year 1846, and was the tallest building in the city when it was built.
The building is a designated New York City Landmark and a National Historic Landmark, and visiting it when you are exploring the Financial District is definitely one of the best things that you can do.
Address: 89 Broadway, New York, NY 10006
Go to Fulton Street
A great activity in the Financial District is checking out Fulton Street, which is a street that runs from West Sreet to South Street.
What’s great about this street is ha you can see beautiful Beaux-Arts architecture can be seen here, which looks beautiful. It is a great street for a stroll.
Moreover, the street is very historic and its history goes back to the end of the 18th century. In the past, there was a ferry that connected Fulton Street in Manhattan with Fulton Street in Brooklyn.
You can find some interesting sights on Fulton Street, such as the South Street Seaport.
See the Woolworth Building
The Woolworth Building is a historic building that dates back to the year 1913. The skyscraper is a designated New York City landmark and is one of the most iconic buildings in NYC.
The building has a beautiful Gothic architectural style and was designed by Cass Gilbert for Frank W. Woolworth.
The building was the tallest building in the world for 17 years after its construction and for the construction, some of the newest construction techniques were used.
When you are in the Financial District and exploring the neighborhood on foot, this is a building that you definitely have to see!
Go to an Event at Pier 17
You can find one of the most iconic music venues in New York City in the Financial District. You can go to The Rooftop at Pier 17.
This is an outdoor music venue that is located on top of Pier 17, and from the venue you can enjoy an amazing panoramic view of the skyline of Manhattan while you can listen to great live music. Some of the world’s most famous musicians have performed here in the past and continue to do so.
In addition to that, going to Pier 17 is also one of the best things to do in the Financial District if you want to have dinner with a view. You can find several restaurants at Pier 17, such as The Greens and Malibu Farm New York.
Address: 89 South St, New York, NY 10038
Explore Stone Street
Stone Street is a pedestrian street that is located in the Financial District.
The street is one of the oldest streets in the city and has a history that goes back to the middle of the 17th century.
The street features a lot of historic buildings, but many of the early structures in the street were destroyed in a fire in 1835. For example, you can find 1 Hanover Square here.
Moreover, the street is home to many restaurants and bars and is a great location for outdoor dining and for nightlife.
Stone Street and the surrounding area are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Stone Street Historic District.
Get Great Coffee at La Colombe Coffee Roasters
This is one of the best activities in the Financial District for lovers of great coffee. You can go to La Colombe Coffee Roasters.
This is a chain of coffee shops with various locations in the United States, including 9 in New York City. You can find this coffee shop at 67 Wall Street in the neighborhood.
At the coffee shop, you can get many different types of amazing coffee drinks, including coffee drinks made with unique beans from all around the world.
Also, you can get created iced drinks and there are a lot of plant-based milks to choose from.
In addition to that, the coffee shop has a cozy atmosphere.
Address: 67 Wall St, New York, NY 10005
Enjoy an Event at the Schimmel Center
Another great activity is going to an event at the Schimmel Center. The Schimmel Center is a performing arts venue of Pace University.
You can find this venue close to the New York City Hall and Brooklyn Bridge.
The Schimmel Center is a theater with 647 seats that was opened in 1970. Lots of events take place here that can be seen by the general public.
For example, there are often performances of music, comedy, dance, and live theater, and some of the best artists perform at these events.
Address: 3 Spruce St, New York, NY 10038
Go to St. Paul’s Chapel
St. Paul’s Chapel, which is also part of the Parish of Trinity Church, like Trinity Church itself, is a church that was built in 1766.
The chapel is still in use and more than a million people visit the St. Paul’s Chapel each year.
The church is a great example of the Late Georgian architectural style and is great to see when you are in the Financial District and go for a stroll. The building is an official New York City Landmark and is one on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lots of events also take place at St. Paul’s Church, including regular concerts.
Also, many famous people have visited the church in the past, including George Washington, the first president of the United States.
Address: 209 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Get Pizza at Joe’s Pizza
Joe’s Pizza, which is a New York City pizza restaurant with several locations, can also be found in the Financial District.
This restaurant, which was founded in 1975, is a restaurant that serves delicious authentic New York slice pizza.
The pizza that you can get here is very fresh and delicious, and the restaurant has a friendly and casual atmosphere. The pizza has a delicious crust and great toppings.
Address: 124 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038
See Federal Hall
One of the most iconic landmarks in the Financial District, Federal Hall, is a historic building that is located at 26 Wall Street.
This is a Greek Revival building with a beautiful exterior that was completed in the year 1842 as the Custom House for the city, and after served as the Subreasury building for more than 59 years.
Also, before this building was built there was another building here, which served as the first City Hall of New York City.
You should definitely check out this beautiful building when you are exploring the neighborhood. The building is an official New York City Landmark and is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Address: 26 Wall St, New York, NY 10005
Get Amazing Bagels at Leo’s Bagels
Getting a bagel is also a great thing to do in the Financial District. There are many good bagel shops in the Financial District, and one of the best places for this is Leo’s Bagels.
You can get amazing hand-rolled bagels at this place, including gluten-free ones.
You can choose from artisan breads and delicious spreads here.
What’s great is that the bagels that you can get here are very diverse, so there’s a great bagel for everyone’s liking.
In addition to that, Leo’s Bagels serves amazing coffee drinks, fresh cold drinks, specialty sandwiches, pastries, soups, and much more.
Furthermore, Leo’s Bagels has a cozy atmosphere and the service is very good.
Address: 3 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10004
Check Out the Fearless Girl Statue
Another one of New York City’s most amazing statues is Fearless Girl. This is a bronze sculpture that can be found in front of the New York Stock Exchange, and it was first found opposite the famous Charging Bull statue.
The statue promotes the “power of women in leadership” and aims to promote gender diversity in the top management of companies.
At first, the statue was allowed to be in the city for one week, but this was extended for a longer period.
The Fearless Girl statue has a height of 4 feet and a weight of 250 pounds and is very interesting to see if you are in the Financial District.
Visit the South Street Seaport Museum
Another must-see sight is the South Street Seaport Museum.
This is a museum that you can find in the historic Seaport District and is dedicated to the history of New York as a port city.
At the Seaport Museum, you can find a large collection of all kinds of maritime artifacts, maritime art, and various historic vessels.
What’s great too is that the Seaport Museum organizes sails on historic vessels during which you can see the city from the water while being onboard a beautiful historic vessel. For example, sometimes, you can do a 75-minute ride on the W.O. Decker, which is a historic wooden tugboat.
Address: 12 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038
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What To Do in the Financial District Tips
When you are visiting Financial District, keep in mind that some places such as restaurants in the neighborhood can be quiet or closed outside of business houses and on the weekends.
Also, the area is great to explore on foot because there is a lot of beautiful modern and historic architecture besides the great examples that I listed in this article. When you walk from one of the Financial District things to do on this list to the next, you will definitely discover gorgeous buildings.
Financial District Things To Do Map
As you see, the neighborhood has a lot to offer. Thanks for reading my guide to the best things to do in the Financial District, NYC!