An intersection with businesses in the South Street Seaport

The Seaport District is east of the Financial District along the river, but a whole world away. This neighborhood of cobblestone and heritage buildings proudly carries on the traditions of its nautical past, which stretches back to the early-17th-century Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. Bars and restaurants have a funky, carefree vibe, there's a farmers market on Sunday (11am to 5pm) in the warmer months, and continuing developments at Pier 17 are returning cuisine, commerce and culture to the area.

Find out more about the district's long and vibrant history at the South Street Seaport Museum.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. South Street Seaport Museum

0.15 MILES

Opened in 1967, this museum dispersed amid the cobblestone streets of the seaport district consists of fascinating exhibitions relating to the city's…

2. Pier 17

0.16 MILES

Formerly a shopping center, this large pier off South Street Seaport has been redeveloped for dining and entertainment, with several upmarket restaurants…

3. Pier 15

0.24 MILES

For respite from the FiDi hustle, retreat to this striking, breezy, two-level pier, an inviting combo of greenery, deckchairs and spectacular city and…

4. Federal Reserve Bank of New York

0.38 MILES

The best reason to visit the Federal Reserve Bank is the chance to (briefly) gawp at its high-security vault – more than 10,000 tons of gold reserves…

5. Brooklyn Bridge

0.39 MILES

A New York icon, the Brooklyn Bridge was the world’s first steel suspension bridge, and, at almost 1596ft, the longest when it opened in 1883…

6. Museum of American Finance

0.41 MILES

Money makes this interactive museum go round. It focuses on historic moments in American financial history, and its permanent collections include rare…

7. City Hall

0.42 MILES

This Federal-style beauty has been home to NYC's government since 1812, and free guided tours of the building run twice weekly (you'll need to book a few…

8. St Paul's Chapel

0.46 MILES

After his inauguration in 1789, George Washington worshipped at this Classical Revival brownstone chapel, built in 1766 and narrowly avoiding destruction…