The Best Things to Do in the Civic Center NYC
The Civic Center neighborhood is part of Downtown Manhattan and is known for four things in particular, all of which often appear in movies and series: it starts right at the Brooklyn Bridge, the mayor is headquartered in this neighborhood, as are the New York City Police Department and the New York County Supreme Court.
Therefore, it is fair to say that the institutional heart of the city beats right here. The district itself is quite small and many of the buildings are not open to visitors. Still, you get the feeling of standing in the middle of a movie scene surrounded by a gorgeous skyline!
Everything you should have seen and done in the Civic Center of New York City, we tell you here in our guide!
By the way: you’ll find many more New York City spots in our Loving New York travel guides!
My TOP 5 in the Civic Center
- Stroll over Brooklyn Bridge
- Feel like a movie star in front of the Supreme Court
- Enjoy the scenery at City Hall Park
- Discover the secret subway station below City Hall
- Relax at Foley Square
Where is the Civic Center located?
The Civic Center is located in the southern tip of Manhattan and is bounded by four neighborhoods: Financial District, Two Bridges, Chinatown and Tribeca.
How to Get to the Civic Center NYC
- Metro: Subway lines to “Chambers St.”, to “City Hall Station” or to “Brooklyn Bridge – City Call”
- Hop on Hop Off Bus: Stop 10 of the downtown loop of BIG BUS or stop 12 of the downtown loop of Gray Line Sightseeing. Here you find more about Hop on Hop off in NYC
My tip: the tickets for the buses are included in many of the New York City passes – which one is the best for you, you can see in my Pass Comparison for New York!
The 11 Best Things to Do in Civic Center NYC
What’s exciting about Civic Center’s location is that each of the adjacent neighborhoods is completely different: Tribeca is classy and stylish, the Financial District offers a brilliant mix of historic sites and new attractions, the Lower East Side has a vibrant food scene, and Chinatown is simply Chinatown.
Our favorite things to see, taste and do are revealed here.
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01
Sit back and relax at City Hall Park
Park in Civic Center
New York, New York, USA at City Hall Park Fountain.The City Hall Park in Manhattan New York is one of those parks that you don’t immediately notice. The names of the other parks are too big. But there is a lot to see and to discover in its area. As the name suggests, it is located at the foot of the New York City Hall. It is the oldest of its kind in the USA (already over 200 years old) and is the seat of government of the mayor of NYC.
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02
Experience the highlights on a hop on hop off bus tour (really!)
Bus Tour in Midtown Manhattan
The tour in an open double-decker is one of the best and most convenient ways to explore New York! As part of the tour, you will see well-known landmarks such as the famous Empire State Building and the One World Trade Center.
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03
Visit the Mmuseumm
Museum in Tribeca
The Mmuseumm is New York’s smallest museum and an absolute insider tip: Here a freight elevator was converted into a museum! The exhibits are treasures from all over the world that present their view of life. In short: Small miracles – more really doesn’t fit in the elevator. A view through the window is possible at any time of the day or night – but this museum is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 6 pm.
It is part of our list of the Best Museums in NYC – so don’t miss visiting it!
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04
The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building
Building in Civic Center
The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building is one of the most eye-catching buildings around City Hall Park, along with the Gehry Tower and the Woolworth Building. It is the home of the Manhattan Borough President and although it was built around 1900, it is still one of the tallest government buildings in the US.
I find it particularly beautiful as a photo motive in the evening, when the golden statue on the top is illuminated.
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05
Learn more about Brooklyn Bridge
Walking Tour in Civic CenterOur Highlight
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and learn about the exciting and dramatic history of this world-famous New York City neighborhood, all while enjoying breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline. On the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge you will discover DUMBO, a newly popular and up and coming part of Brooklyn.
Meeting point is 52 Chambers Street in front of the Tweed Courthouse.
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06
Head over to the 9/11 Memorial – it is just 2 blocks away
Building in Financial District
Ground Zero has now become a place for quiet reflection. With two huge pools to commemorate the lives lost during 9/11 the beautiful memorial attracts people from far and wide. NYC will never forget 9/11 and the memorial is the perfect embodyment of this spirit.
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07
Go Shopping at the Oculus-Westfield Mall that is close by
Mall in Financial District
The list of shops is already a pleasure to read through. Besides an Apple Store, countless shoe shops like Aldo & Co, Kiels, H&M, Forever21, you will also find Dior, Lacoste and Kate Spade. Also concerning the restaurants, one is at first speechless: in summary, one can say that everything that is currently hip in New York and should definitely be tried out can be found here.
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08
See Lower Manhattan from above
Building in Financial DistrictOur Highlight
The One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere meaning that is the ultimate place for an observation deck. The One World Observatory offers amazing views over the whole of Manhattan, the Hudson and East Rivers and of course the Statue of Liberty. As one of NYC’s newest attractions the modern building and its observation deck have many amazing features that make this well worth the visit!
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09
Take photos of the Gehry Tower (we love the architecture!)
Building in Financial District
The skyscraper “New York by Gehry” can not be missed by you: its facade is definitely unique! If you are at the City Hall Park directly at the Brooklyn Bridge you have the best view of this residential building.
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10
Meet your Guide of the NYC Lower East Side Food and Culture Small-Group Tour here
Walking Tour in Civic CenterOur Highlight
This is a really unique walking tour in NYC that will introduce you to the wonderful Lower East Side. The Lower East Side Food and Culture Tour shows you the many lovely little delis, Jewish specialties, bakeries and everything that makes up the soul of the city.
You’ll visit places that are an important part of the community, having operated in the same spot for generations. You’ll get a glimpse of authentic life and become part of the real New York.
With nearly 300 positive reviews, it’s the most popular walking tour in New York of them all!
Attractions in the Civic Center
The major New York attractions are all within easy reach from here, as you are right in the border of Lower and Downtown Manhattan.
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New York, New York, USA at City Hall Park Fountain.
01 City Hall Park
The City Hall Park in Manhattan New York is one of those parks that you don’t immediately notice. The names of the other parks are too big. But there is a lot to see and to discover in its area. As the name suggests, it is located at the foot of the New York City Hall. It is the oldest of its kind in the USA (already over 200 years old) and is the seat of government of the mayor of NYC.
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02 Destination Cosmos: The Immersive Experience
Destination Cosmos: The Immersive Experience is a digital exhibition that takes its guests on an exciting journey into the universe. On this unique exploration, you can marvel at planets and supernovae and you will be whisked away into a maze of stars. This digital journey into space will show you the canyons of Mars and the rings of Saturn, allowing you to experience the vastness of the universe in a whole new way.
The Immersive Experience exhibition will run until June 4, 2023 at the Hall des Lumières.
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03 Foley Square
Foley Square is quite small, but from here you have a great view of the various beautiful buildings of the Civic Center district. The view of the United States Courthouse and the New York County Supreme Court is unique in NYC and really impressive.
Sit on a park bench with a coffee in hand – preferably the one from Think Coffee (350 Broadway) – and watch the action. There is always something interesting to see!
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04 Hall des Lumieres
Atelier des Lumieres opened his first digital fine art display in Paris in 2018. And since its inception, almost 3 million visitors have viewed digitized works from legendary artists such as Gustav Klimt, Vincent van Gogh, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Officially the first North American gallery, Hall des Lumieres, is a permanent center that’s custom-designed to provide guests with an immersive digital art experience. This installment opens on September 14, 2022, in New York City’s Civic Center neighborhood (very close to Tribeca) and will follow in the footsteps of other digital art centers that Culturespaces created and produced around the world.
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05 New York City Hall
New York City Hall is a famous landmark that has served as the seat of NYC’s government since 1812. This remarkable neoclassical building, found in the heart of Lower Manhattan, features a striking front with large columns and intricate details, encompassing the history and culture that have made the city.
While guided tours are available for exploring the interior, we suggest admiring it from the outside for the best experience. Are you surprised? The reason for this is that New York City Hall’s impressive design and architectural beauty are best enjoyed from the exterior, where you can appreciate the stunning details at your leisure. And while you’re close, don’t forget to visit City Hall Park and take in the incredible views of the NYC skyline!
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06 The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building
The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building is one of the most eye-catching buildings around City Hall Park, along with the Gehry Tower and the Woolworth Building. It is the home of the Manhattan Borough President and although it was built around 1900, it is still one of the tallest government buildings in the US.
I find it particularly beautiful as a photo motive in the evening, when the golden statue on the top is illuminated.
Budget Tip
Many of the attractions and tours are included in one of the New York City passes. So you can easily and quickly save up to 70% – how does it work?
You can see that in my ultimate 👉 New York Pass comparison, here you can see my personal 👉 New York Pass Reviews after more than 20 visits to New York and our free New York Pass Advisor answers the question: “Which New York Pass is the best?”
The Best Guided Tours
There are quite a few tours where New York guides show you the neighborhoods. These are our personal recommendations – even if their main focus are other neighborhoods. They all start here at Civic Center and you will get a brief introduction of this part of the city.
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01 Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Walking Tour
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and learn about the exciting and dramatic history of this world-famous New York City neighborhood, all while enjoying breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline. On the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge you will discover DUMBO, a newly popular and up and coming part of Brooklyn.
Meeting point is 52 Chambers Street in front of the Tweed Courthouse.
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02 NYC Lower East Side Food and Culture Small-Group Tour
This is a really unique walking tour in NYC that will introduce you to the wonderful Lower East Side. The Lower East Side Food and Culture Tour shows you the many lovely little delis, Jewish specialties, bakeries and everything that makes up the soul of the city.
You’ll visit places that are an important part of the community, having operated in the same spot for generations. You’ll get a glimpse of authentic life and become part of the real New York.
With nearly 300 positive reviews, it’s the most popular walking tour in New York of them all!
If you want to learn more about the history and the most important places and sites of the Financial District check out our recommendation in this article or the Best Walking Tours NYC.
Get personal tips & tricks, specifically tailored to your trip!
We will provide you with individual tips & tricks as you prepare for your trip. How to plan, save money and make sure you experience the most of NYC are only some of the topics covered!
Civic Center NYC Hotels
There are not many good hotels in the district itself (sorry!), but you have a wide choice of accommodations in the adjacent neighborhoods of the Financial District NYC, Tribeca and Chinatown. Below are our favorite places to stay:
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01 Andaz Wall Street Hotel
4 Stars | The Andaz Wall Street belongs to the Hyatt Group and was completely renovated in 2012. The rooms are very clean, modernly furnished, have a rain shower and a very comfortable bed. It’s just a few minutes’ walk to the South Street Seaport and the Brooklyn Bridge.
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02 Artezen Hotel
4 stars | The Artezen Hotel is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Manhattan, offering an intimate and luxurious experience. From the moment you step onto your private balcony, you’ll be captivated by the stunning views of the city’s iconic skyline, including the towering One World Trade Center and the majestic Brooklyn Bridge.
Situated in the vibrant Financial District, the Artezen Hotel provides easy access to renowned attractions such as Wall Street and the historic South Street Seaport. Indulge in a tranquil moment as you sip your free coffee while overlooking the bustling streets below, or unwind with a glass of wine as the city lights twinkle in the distance.
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03 Courtyard by Marriott New York Downtown Manhattan
3 stars | Another recommendation of the best hotels overlooking the One World Observatory is the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel. The very trendy Courtyard by Marriott New York has a restaurant, a bar, and also free Wi-Fi in all areas. Only exactly 1,000 feet from the World Trade Center, you couldn’t stay any closer to the tallest building in the city, could you? Each room at this hotel is air-conditioned and equipped with a flat-screen cable TV.
You can even enjoy breakfast with a view of One World Trade Center. This hotel at One World Trade Center also has a gym that you can use during your trip.
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04 Aloft Manhattan Downtown - Financial District
3 Stars | The Aloft Manhattan Downtown hotel is located in the Financial District and thus in the immediate vicinity of numerous attractions. In addition to the 9/11 Memorial and the World Trade Center, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Wall Street can be reached in approximately 10 minutes. A subway station is also just a few steps away.
Rooms feature modern furnishings, and the comfortable beds promise a restful sleep. There’s also a bar, as well as a lounge with a terrace and a fitness center.
Amenities
- 24-hour front desk
- Free WiFi
- Air-conditioning
- Fitness center
- Bar
- Snack bar
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05 Club Quarters Hotel, World Trade Center
4 stars | The Club Quarters Hotel, World Trade Center, is a modern and stylish hotel that offers families a comfortable and convenient stay in Lower Manhattan. Each room features modern amenities, including flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and ergonomic workspaces.
The hotel also offers a range of amenities for families, including a fitness center and on-site dining options. And with attractions like the 9/11 Memorial and Museum just steps away, as well as the Oculus and Brookfield Place nearby, it’s a good choice for families who want to explore Lower Manhattan and experience the city’s vibrant culture and history.
Neighborhoods Nearby
The Civic Center is bordered by The Battery NYC to the south, the Hudson River to the west – and the Financial District to the east. The Tribeca neighborhood begins at the northeast corner of Battery Park City.
TOP 17 Things to Do in the Financial District NYC
Things To Do in Tribeca
The 13 Best Things to Do in Chinatown NYC
Things to Do in Two Bridges NYC
Neighborhoods that are Similar to the Civic Center NYC
If you enjoyed Civic Center, then here are neighborhoods that have a similar feel:
The 20 Best Things to Do in Chelsea NYC
The 19 Best Things to Do in Greenwich Village NYC
Things to do in Battery Park City NYC
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