Summer in New York City is magical—until you’re sweating through your shirt while waiting for the subway. Sure, you could visit Times Square or line up for an overpriced rooftop, but if you’re spending more than a weekend in the city, you’ll probably want activities you can do all summer long without melting.
Here are five underrated ideas that are fun, affordable, and easy to turn into a summer routine. Whether you’re looking to meet new people, start a new hobby, or simply beat the heat, these experiences offer a different side of New York.
1. Get a Rock Climbing Membership
If you’ve never tried rock climbing, summer might be the perfect time to start.
One of the biggest perks? Most climbing gyms are fully indoors, air-conditioned, and designed for people to spend hours there. Many locations offer cafés, Wi-Fi, study areas, and lounges, so you can work, study, climb, and hang out all in one place without worrying about the heat outside.
Even better, climbing gyms are everywhere across NYC. Once you purchase a membership, you can visit regularly throughout the summer without constantly having to plan new activities.
And don’t worry if you’ve never considered yourself “athletic.” Climbing isn’t just for experienced athletes. Every gym offers routes from beginner to advanced, making it one of the most accessible sports to pick up, regardless of your fitness level.
2. Volunteer at Performance Centers
Love music, dance, theater, or simply being around creative people?
Many of New York’s performing arts organizations recruit volunteers throughout the summer. One of the best examples is Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City, where volunteers help welcome audiences, assist with events, and attend performances by artists from around the world.
Beyond adding meaningful volunteer experience to your résumé, you’ll become part of one of the world’s most celebrated arts communities. You’ll meet performers, staff, fellow volunteers, and audiences from around the world—all while enjoying incredible concerts, dance performances, film screenings, and cultural events.
It’s one of those opportunities that feels both productive and genuinely enjoyable.
3. Go on a Blind Date with a Book
Looking for something quieter?
Instead of choosing your next read by its cover, let someone else surprise you.
Bookstores such as Strand Book Store (828 Broadway) and Book Culture (with locations on the Upper West Side and in Long Island City) regularly feature “Blind Date with a Book” displays, in which books are wrapped in paper with only a few clues written on the outside.
You never know exactly what you’re getting, which makes reading feel a bit like unwrapping a mystery gift. Pair it with a nearby café or a shady park, and you’ve got an inexpensive afternoon that feels surprisingly adventurous.
4. Experience the World Cup Without Buying a Ticket
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is bringing an incredible atmosphere to the New York–New Jersey area—but you don’t need a stadium ticket to be part of it.
Throughout the tournament, the city will host free Official NYNJ Fan Events in all five boroughs, featuring giant outdoor screens, live match broadcasts, cultural performances, food vendors, local businesses, and interactive activities.
Imagine standing among thousands of fans as everyone erupts after a last-minute goal. It’s one of those moments when strangers suddenly become teammates.
Even outside of World Cup years, New York regularly hosts public watch parties for major sporting events. Whether it’s soccer, basketball, baseball, or tennis, there’s almost always a community gathering somewhere in the city waiting to be discovered.
5. Do Something Completely Random with Strangers
Here’s the hottest take on this list:
Buy a cheap digital camera—or even a disposable film camera—and spend a day talking with strangers.
Ask someone if you can take their portrait. Listen to a five-minute story about their life. Write down one memorable thing they share. Photograph the people, places, and tiny moments that often go unnoticed.
Later, share the photos and stories online, turn them into a journal, or keep them for yourself.
New York is one of the few cities where almost everyone has an interesting story. The retired subway musician. The student who just moved across the world. The grandmother feeding pigeons in Washington Square Park. The street vendor who’s been on the same corner for twenty years.
You don’t have to create viral content. Sometimes the best souvenir from a summer in New York isn’t something you bought—it’s the conversations you never expected to have.
The best part of summer in New York isn’t checking off famous landmarks from a bucket list. It’s finding activities that make the city feel a little more like your own. So this summer, try something different. You might discover a new hobby, make unexpected friends, or simply find a much cooler way to spend the season.
Featured image via Ramaz Bluashvili on Pexels
