New York in the summer rewards anyone willing to leave the air conditioning behind. The city trades its winter hustle for rooftop sunsets, free outdoor theater, and harbor breezes, and the things to do in NYC this summer go far beyond the obvious tourist checklist. This guide curates the experiences that actually capture the season, and the Upper West Side is an excellent home base for them all. Staying at The Lucerne Hotel puts every stop on this list within easy reach, whether on foot, by subway, or by a quick rideshare.

Culture: Free Shakespeare and Open-Air Performance

New York is nothing if not a hub of cultural experiences unlike anything else in the world. At the top of these is Shakespeare in the Park.

Shakespeare in the Park remains one of the most quintessential free things to do in NYC this summer. The Public Theater stages The Winter's Tale at the newly renovated Delacorte Theater in Central Park from July 25 through August 23, with performances Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets are free, distributed via an in-person line at sunrise, a digital lottery, or a Public Theater membership.

From The Lucerne Hotel, guests can walk about 0.7 miles through Central Park's western edge, roughly a 15-minute stroll. The B or C train to 81st Street–Museum of Natural History drops riders three blocks from the Delacorte queue entrance, and that station sits a short walk from the hotel. A rideshare or taxi gets there in under 10 minutes, traffic permitting.

Outdoors: Governors Island and the Hudson Waterfront

No matter what else you like to do in the summer, getting outdoors is mandatory, particularly in NYC.

Governors Island offers 172 car-free acres of harbor views, hammock groves, and skyline panoramas, and the Trust for Governors Island has extended summer hours through Labor Day, with the island staying open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on weekends. Ferries depart from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan, with weekend morning rides free before 11 a.m.

From The Lucerne Hotel, the most efficient route takes the 1 train directly from 79th Street to South Ferry, a roughly 25-minute ride that drops travelers a two-minute walk from the ferry terminal. Walking the full distance isn't practical, but a taxi or rideshare covers it in about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Riverside Park's waterfront delivers a quintessential Upper West Side summer experience without leaving the neighborhood. Summer on the Hudson brings free concerts, sunset yoga, and outdoor movie nights to the park between 59th and 181st Streets all season long.

From The Lucerne Hotel, Riverside Park sits about four blocks west of the hotel, an easy 5-minute walk down 79th Street straight to the water.

Evening Activities: Outdoor Movies and Lakeside Bars

When the sun goes down in NYC, the fun is just beginning. Here are some things you shouldn’t miss.

Pier I Picture Show screens classic films on Wednesday evenings throughout July and August right on the Upper West Side's own waterfront at Pier I in Riverside Park. The park opens at 7 p.m. for seating, with movies starting at 8:30 p.m., making this one of the easiest, fun things to do in NYC this summer for anyone staying nearby.

From The Lucerne Hotel, this one barely counts as a commute. The walk to Pier I covers about half a mile, roughly 10 minutes down to the river, with no subway or rideshare necessary.

The Central Park Boathouse offers one of the most romantic open-air settings in the city for an evening drink, with lakeside dockside seating, overhead heating for cooler nights, and a full bar serving classic cocktails. Watching the sun set behind the trees while gondolas drift across the lake makes this a quintessential NYC summer experience.

From The Lucerne Hotel, walking through the park covers just over a mile, about a 20-minute stroll that takes in some of Central Park's prettiest scenery along the way.

Food: Smorgasburg and Neighborhood Markets

No NYC summer is complete without Smorgasburg, the sprawling outdoor food market featuring dozens of vendors slinging everything from ramen burgers to Filipino skewers. This season, the closest outpost to The Lucerne Hotel is the brand-new Columbus Circle location at the southwest corner of Central Park, a 20-minute walk down Broadway or a quick 1 train ride to Columbus Circle. The market runs every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday through the season.

If you'd rather make a full Brooklyn day of it, from The Lucerne Hotel, reaching the Williamsburg location requires a subway transfer, taking the 1 train to Times Square, then transferring to the L train toward Brooklyn, a trip of roughly 45 minutes total. A rideshare covers the distance in 25 to 35 minutes, depending on bridge traffic, making it the more time-efficient choice for this particular stop.

Build Your Own Quintessential Summer

New York in the summer rewards a mix of the iconic and the local. The Upper West Side puts every one of these experiences within a short walk, train ride, or rideshare, making it the ideal launchpad for checking off this entire list.

Book a stay at The Lucerne Hotel and turn this summer's NYC bucket list into a reality.