stuff to do

The best things to see at Open House New York 2025

It's your annual chance to gain access to the city's coolest, usually-off-limits sites

Slip away from the Midtown crowds and soak in these rooftop gardens and views hidden away at Rockefeller Center. (Photo courtesy of Open House New York)

Autumn in New York is beloved for many reasons, but for some of us, the fall crisp in the air means a very specific thing: it’s time for Open House New York.

For the uninitiated, the beloved annual event — running this year from Oct. 17-19 — opens up access to buildings and sites across the city that normally charge more for entry or simply aren’t open to the public, offering glimpses into the city’s history, architecture, environment, infrastructure, and more.

This year’s will be the biggest ever, with more than 340 sites in the lineup, 149 of which have never been included before. (If you missed our tips last year on how to strategize your own OHNY itinerary, brush up on them here.)

“People can find anything that fits their interest and explore that,” Kristin LaBuz, executive director of Open House New York, told The Groove. “I’m always a sucker for a good view.” For those in search of a proper skyline vista, LaBuz recommends the rooftop gardens at 610 and 620 Loft & Garden at Rockefeller Center, which have an elevated view of Midtown, as well as Brooklyn Grange, which has views of the East River and Manhattan.

“It’s very much choose your own adventure,” LaBuz said. “We know people who plan around infrastructure, or green spaces, or historic houses, or go to a neighborhood or borough and do whatever there is to do within three subway stops.” (For the parents out there, OHNY has also curated a list of specifically family-friendly options throughout the weekend.)

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While the majority of sites are open for drop-ins, some require booking tickets in advance, which are either free or $7, depending on the location. Ticketing opens Friday, Oct. 3 — that’s tomorrow! — at noon, and popular options tend to get snapped up quickly, so we’d recommend hopping on it sooner rather than later. See the full schedule of options and create your own itinerary at their website here.

To help narrow it all down, we combed through the full list of 342 sites for the weekend, and have pulled a handful of a highlights that aren’t to be missed:

The life aquatic

While “wandering around beautiful old buildings” will always be the bread and butter of Open House New York, one of the most exciting developments in this year’s OHNY lineup is the large number of aquatic options including opportunities to get out there onto our city’s waterways — Open Seas New York, if you will.

For the hardcore early birds (or night owls), the 203-year-old Fulton Fish Market is offering 3am and 4am tours on Friday the 17th, offering “a sneak peak into the world of seafood sales” and the opportunity “to become a part of the overnight hustle that works to feed New York City.”

Our personal picks include East River Ferry audio guides covering the boat’s Astoria Route and South Brooklyn route, as well as opportunities to row and kayak in the waters off Long Island City, take a kayak tour of Staten Island’s North Shore or canoe on the Gowanus Canal with the Gowanus Dredgers.

“It’s a nice reminder that we’re surrounded by water,” La Buz said.

If you’re more interested in marine life than the water itself, the Billion Oyster Project is hosting a “meet the oysters” event on Governors Island, as well as a walking tour (the tour is ticketed).

Historic Homes

Hamilton Grange Candlelight Tour (Harlem): Another perennial favorite and hot ticket, even the non-Hamilton fans among us can appreciate the opportunity to meander through Alexander Hamilton’s Harlem estate by vibey evening candlelight.

The Frick Collection (Upper East Side): The recently revamped Frick Collection has been packed with visitors since it reopened to the public in April and normally costs $30, why not reserve a spot with OHNY and see the place for free? You’ll get a tour with tons of detail on the painstaking recent upgrades to the 1914 building that was once the private mansion of Henry Clay Frick, and can bask in the museum's extensive collection of European paintings and decorative art while you do it.

Alice Austen House & Park (Staten Island): A chance to explore the house itself as well as the 15-acre park that surrounds it, a visit to this LGBTQ+ site that was once the home of pioneering queer photographer Alice Austen also comes with a limited-edition custom zine that was created just for this weekend.

Turning Freshkills from a massive landfill into a massive green space? Peak 'better things are possible.' (Photo by Mona Miri/Sustainable Photography)

The Great Outdoors

Historic Cottage at Fort Tryon Park (Upper Manhattan): Get a rare look inside this cottage that dates back to when the park was a private estate, then perhaps use this as a launching pad for a tip-to-toe Manhattan walk? (Technically that starts a little further up in Inwood Hill Park, but we’d still give it to you on this one.)

Freshkills Park: Trash to Treasure (Staten Island): Not only is Freshkills a sustainability marvel — it marks the conversion of a 2,200-acre landfill into honest-to-god greenspace — it’s also the largest park to be built in the city in more than a century and a half. Get an up close and personal tour of the grasslands, wetlands, and wildlife.

The Hall of Records was designed this way to 'visually transform NYC, uplift the city’s communities, and inspire moral and civic virtue.' (Photo by Ola Wilk)

For the History Buffs

Hall of Records (Lower Manhattan): The ludicrously opulent Beaux-Arts home of the NYC Department of Records and Information Services is a staple of Open House New York, and a ticketed event that fills up fast. Get it while the getting is good.

The Original Map of Manhattan at the Manhattan Borough President’s Office (Lower Manhattan): Don’t tell me some of you map nerds and history sickos aren’t absolutely salivating to go see this original document from 1820.

Woodlawn Cemeteries: Gilded Age Mausoleums (Woodlawn, the Bronx): Imagine being so rich you could bury yourself surrounded by Tiffany’s stained glass! Whether you’re a fellow “Gilded Age” head (hello) or just love a scenic cemetery tour, this is a prime chance to get a peek inside opulent mausoleums that are normally closed to the public.

Joan Didon’s New York: Her Life and Work on Manhattan’s Upper East Side: She may have written the canonical “leaving New York” essay, but Joan Didion still spent much of her life living on the Upper East Side. This year, you can take a walking tour of Didion-associated landmarks including the Knickerbocker Club, the Carlyle Hotel, the Park Avenue Armory and the famous Barbizon Hotel, whose famous residents (other than Didion) included the likes of Candace Bergen and Sylvia Plath.

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