For many people first stepping out the cab from the airport, New York City can be overwhelming. It is filled with bright lights, people, history and more tourist attractions than most visitors know what to do with. The 10 best things to do in New York should take you off the beaten path while showing you what the city is all about.

Don’t worry though, you can always get back on that beaten path if you pick up a map of New York City attractions in Central Park. Speaking of which, that’s the first place on our list:

10. Walk through Central Park.

With so many things to do, it can be difficult to figure out where to start. Taking a walk in iconic Central Park is one of the 10 best things to do in New York because it gives you a chance to breathe and relax, so that you can decide what to do next.

9. Take the subway.

It may be dirty and humid, but no trip to New York City would be complete without a ride on the subway. With most trains arriving every 10-20 minutes, the subway is the cheapest and most reliable way to get around the city.

8. Go Shopping in SoHo

While the main street of Manhattan’s famous shopping district may mostly be covered with fashion chains that can be found in any major city, the side streets are lined with small boutiques and sample sales.

7. See a show at the Cotton Club.

This historic Harlem club still features some of the best jazz musicians in the city. It is a bit of a distance from Midtown to Harlem, but one of New York’s famous yellow cabs will get you there in a flash.

6. Admire the architecture.

Whether you take a walking tour with an expert guide, find a book that explains the buildings, or simply look up and admire the design, you will see everything from 19th century tenement buildings to cutting edge modern offices.

5. Eat dinner in Greenwich Village.

No place in the city captures that fairy tale New York quality quite like Greenwich Village at night. With tree-lined streets, and glowing street lamps, the Village offers dozens of world class restaurants, nestled amongst the brownstones.

4. Go to the Brooklyn Flea.

It may not be in Manhattan, but the Brooklyn Flea is still one of the 10 best things to do in New York. This enormous flea market gives local artists, antique dealers and vintage sellers a place to sell their unique wares.

3. Visit MOMA and the Met.

The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) features extensive galleries of the best painting, drawing, sculpture and installation art that the 20th century had to offer. The Metropolitan Museum of Art features collections that go all the way back to ancient times and classical art.

2. See an Off-Broadway show.

New York Theater has a lot more to offer than just the commercial lights of Broadway. Seeing one of the many Off-Broadway or Off Off-Broadway plays, musicals or comedy acts can introduce you to some of the best cutting-edge theater in the world, without the high-ticket prices and long lines of the Midtown tourist theaters.

1. Climb to the top of the Empire State Building.

Of the 10 best things to do in New York, this may give you the most interesting perspective on the city. It is best to go in the evening, when the air is not so humid and you can see the entire city spread out below you in a sea of glittering lights.

The number of activities you can do will depend on your budget and the length of your stay. Whether you stick to these suggestions, however, or make your own list of the 10 best things to do in New York, you are sure to find things to do that will fit your budget and your interests, and show you the city the way it was meant to be see