How to Spend Your Summer Vacation in New York City

Watching a film under the stars on a summer night, sounds magical right? From classic movies to new releases, Rooftop Cinema Club gives you the experience to enjoy outdoor movies in a relaxed atmosphere once the sun goes down. This place has a comfortable ambiance with deckchairs, pillows, and plenty of legroom, so you can lean back and relax. Bonus feature is that the Club offers refreshing cocktails, beer, and wine, as well as a food menu to make your evening perfect.

Where: Rooftop Cinema Club; 60 W 37th St, Midtown Manhattan (15 min drive from The Lombardy Hotel)

When: Daily: 8:30 pm in Summer season (open seasonally)

Madison Square Park, situated by the well-known flatiron building, is a compact park in the middle of Manhattan’s high rise buildings. It’s a popular stop for photographers, tourists, and performers from all over. Here you’ll discover green public space surrounded by trees – the perfect spot for a picnic under the shade.

The park also hosts special events, check out the website to see what’s happening!

Where: Madison Square Park; Madison Square, 11 Madison Ave, Midtown Manhattan (20 min drive from The Lombardy Hotel)

When: Daily: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm (lawn area)

Hop on the Big Bus to enjoy the best of the sights of NYC avoiding the expense of getting a taxi or walking in the summer heat. Big Bus takes you through all the main tourist attractions; Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown, the Upper West Side, Lower Manhattan, Central Park, and Times Square. This 2-hour tour is great for when you want to sit back and relax, learn facts about New York, and have the chance to take some epic shots of New York in the summer light.

Where: Big Bus New York; 5 routes: Find a Stop, Manhattan, NYC

(nearest Big Bus stop 10 min drive or 20 min by foot from The Lombardy Hotel)

When: Daily: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm

For more than a century the Botanical Garden of New York has been a haven for city dwellers looking to escape urban life, and finding refuge in the tranquility of nature. Journey into one of the largest and most stunning collections of plants in the world, with specialized gardens, sweeping landscapes, and the ancient forest. This is a great oasis to experience summer in bloom! The Botanical Garden also has restaurants on-site and a tram for guided tours of the grounds. If you’re someone who appreciates the beauty of nature and loves plant life, this is a must-see.

Where: New York Botanical Garden; 2900 Southern Boulevard

Bronx (30 min drive from The Lombardy Hotel)

When: Tuesday – Sunday: 10 am – 6:00 pm; Monday: Closed

Summer sunsets can’t be beaten and we’ve got the perfect way to take it all in. A short ferry ride (30 minutes each way) on the Staten Island Ferry will guide you through views of New York on the water. The ferry runs 24 hours a day, but we highly recommend you take the sunset boarding. Picture The Statue of Liberty or the Manhattan skyline illuminated at golden hour. Grab a friend and board the ferry (for free!) to enjoy summer in NYC on the water.

Where: Staten Island Ferry; travels between Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and Saint George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island (20 min drive from The Lombardy Hotel to Whitehall Terminal)

When: Daily: 24 hours a day (every 15 or 20 minutes)

From a Peruvian-style ceviche to Hawaiian sushi, Mexican huaraches or Vietnamese banh mi, explore the gastronomic journey that is the Queens Night Market. Every Saturday of the year the market showcases dishes from cuisines around the world – all at a great price ranging from $5 to $6 a plate. This is the perfect scene to picnic in the summer sun and taste good eats in NYC. There’s also a shaded beer tent where you can cool off with a refreshing drink and listen to live bands. Bonus: admission to this place is free!

Where: Queens Night Market, Corona Park, Queens, NY (30 min drive from The Lombardy Hotel)

When: Saturdays: 5:00 pm – 12:00 am

The perfect starting point for your New York summer vacation. The Lombardy Hotel is ideally located in Midtown Manhattan to explore the City in the summer. Our uniquely designed rooms are the perfect way to relax after touring around these summer vacation spots. We look forward to hosting you during the beautiful summer season!