What are the best things to do on Long Island?

The best things to do on Long Island include spending a day at the beach, visiting Montauk Point, exploring the Gold Coast estates, touring museums and historic sites, experiencing the North Fork and Hamptons, visiting waterfront villages, and enjoying the island’s parks, wineries, family attractions, lighthouses, boating, fishing, and live entertainment. For visitors trying to decide where to begin, the experiences below represent some of the most memorable ways to see Long Island. For a much broader directory organized by activity, see our complete Things to Do on Long Island guide.

12 Best Things to Do on Long Island

Experience	Where to Go	Why It’s Worth Doing
1. Spend a Day at the Beach	Jones Beach, Robert Moses, Fire Island, Coopers Beach	Long Island’s ocean beaches are among its defining attractions, offering swimming, surfing, fishing, boardwalks, recreation, and miles of shoreline.
2. Visit Montauk Point	Montauk Point Lighthouse, Camp Hero, Montauk	The eastern tip of Long Island combines dramatic Atlantic scenery, lighthouse history, hiking, fishing, beaches, and a distinctive seaside community.
3. Explore the Gold Coast	Old Westbury Gardens, Sagamore Hill, Planting Fields, Oheka Castle	Historic estates, elaborate gardens, architecture, presidential history, and Gilded Age stories reveal a very different side of Long Island.
4. Visit the North Fork	North Fork, Wine Country, Greenport, Mattituck	Vineyards, farms, waterfront restaurants, small towns, farm stands, and scenic roads make the North Fork ideal for a day trip or weekend.
5. Explore the Hamptons	The Hamptons, Southampton, East Hampton, Sag Harbor	Ocean beaches, historic villages, restaurants, shopping, art, architecture, and coastal scenery make the South Fork one of Long Island’s best-known destinations.
6. Visit Jones Beach	Jones Beach State Park, Jones Beach Theater	The famous oceanfront park combines miles of beach, boardwalks, recreation, distinctive architecture, and major summer concerts.
7. Discover Long Island’s Museums	Cradle of Aviation, Vanderbilt Museum, Nassau County Museum of Art	Aviation, science, art, maritime history, local heritage, and interactive exhibits provide plenty to explore away from the beach.
8. Explore Fire Island	Fire Island National Seashore, Fire Island Lighthouse	Protected beaches, dunes, maritime landscapes, car-free communities, ferry rides, and lighthouse views create one of Long Island’s most distinctive coastal experiences.
9. Visit a Waterfront Village	Port Jefferson, Northport, Greenport, Freeport’s Nautical Mile	Walkable downtowns, marinas, restaurants, shops, harbor views, and historic streets provide an easy way to experience Long Island’s maritime character.
10. Enjoy a Family Attraction	Adventureland, Splish Splash, Long Island Aquarium, White Post Farms	Amusement rides, water attractions, marine exhibits, animals, and seasonal activities provide options for families with children of different ages.
11. Get Out on the Water	Boat Tours & Cruises, Fishing Charters, Kayaking	With the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound and numerous bays and harbors surrounding the island, boating provides an entirely different perspective of Long Island.
12. See a Concert or Live Performance	Jones Beach Theater, The Paramount, Patchogue Theatre, Performing Arts & Theaters	Major touring acts, outdoor concerts, theater, comedy, music, and local productions make live entertainment a year-round option.

Spend a Day at a Long Island Beach

For many visitors, a trip to Long Island should include at least one day along the water. The South Shore faces the Atlantic Ocean, where long barrier beaches provide swimming, surfing, fishing, boardwalks, and classic summer scenery. Jones Beach State Park is the best-known choice, while nearby Robert Moses State Park offers miles of oceanfront recreation.

Farther east, Fire Island National Seashore protects beaches, dunes, maritime forests, and coastal communities, while the South Fork offers celebrated beaches from Southampton to Montauk. On the North Shore, the coastline along Long Island Sound is different, with calmer water, rocky shores, bluffs, harbors, and waterfront parks. See our guide to the best beaches on Long Island for more choices.

Experience Montauk and the East End

Few Long Island trips are as memorable as following the island all the way east to Montauk. The historic Montauk Point Lighthouse overlooks the waters at the eastern end of the South Fork, while nearby Camp Hero State Park combines hiking trails, ocean views, military history, and access to rugged coastline.

The broader East End gives visitors two very different experiences. The North Fork is known for vineyards, farms, roadside stands, small towns, and Greenport’s waterfront, while the South Fork includes the Hamptons, ocean beaches, historic communities, and Montauk. Travelers with a full day or weekend available should consider exploring one fork rather than attempting to rush through both.

Tour Long Island’s Historic Estates and Museums

Long Island’s history extends far beyond its beaches. The estates of the Gold Coast preserve some of the island’s most impressive architecture and landscapes. Old Westbury Gardens combines a grand country estate with formal gardens, while Planting Fields Arboretum features historic buildings and extensive landscaped grounds. Sagamore Hill, Theodore Roosevelt’s former home, provides another important look at Long Island’s place in American history.

Museums provide equally varied experiences. Visitors interested in aviation can explore Long Island’s aerospace legacy at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, while the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium combines history, science, architecture, and astronomy. Art lovers can visit the Nassau County Museum of Art. More choices can be found in our Long Island museums guide.

Explore the North Fork and Long Island Wine Country

The North Fork is one of the best choices for visitors who want a slower-paced Long Island day trip. Vineyards and farms stretch through communities including Aquebogue, Mattituck, Cutchogue, and Southold, eventually reaching the waterfront village of Greenport.

A North Fork outing can combine a winery visit with farm stands, local food, waterfront dining, shopping, and a walk through Greenport. The region is especially popular during summer and fall, although wineries, restaurants, shops, and waterfront destinations make it worth visiting at other times of the year as well. Travelers interested specifically in vineyards can start with our guide to North Fork Wine Country.

Visit the Hamptons

The Hamptons are more than a summer destination. Southampton and East Hampton combine historic village centers, shops, restaurants, galleries, architecture, and access to some of the South Fork’s best-known beaches. Sag Harbor offers a different experience centered around its historic waterfront, marina, walkable downtown, restaurants, and maritime character.

Visitors can easily make the Hamptons part of a larger South Fork trip, continuing east toward Montauk or spending a day exploring individual villages and nearby beaches. Spring and fall can be particularly appealing for travelers interested in sightseeing without the peak summer crowds.

Explore Fire Island

Fire Island National Seashore offers an experience unlike most other places on Long Island. The narrow barrier island features protected ocean beaches, dunes, wildlife habitat, maritime landscapes, small communities, and areas where cars are absent or highly restricted. Ferries connect several mainland communities with destinations across Fire Island, making the trip itself part of the experience.

One of its best-known landmarks is the Fire Island Lighthouse, which has long served as a symbol of Long Island’s maritime history. Depending on the destination, visitors can spend their time swimming, walking the beach, exploring nature, visiting communities, dining by the water, or simply enjoying an environment that feels surprisingly removed from suburban Long Island.

Spend Time Outdoors

Long Island’s outdoor attractions extend well beyond its beaches. State parks, county parks, wetlands, wildlife refuges, pine barrens, preserves, and coastal trails provide opportunities for hiking, biking, birdwatching, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, and nature photography.

Among the standout destinations are Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve on the North Shore, Sunken Meadow State Park, Long Island Pine Barrens, and Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island. Visitors looking primarily for outdoor recreation can browse the Long Island parks guide for additional destinations.

Experience Long Island from the Water

Long Island is surrounded by water, and some of its best experiences take place offshore. Visitors can take sightseeing and sunset cruises, go fishing, paddle through protected bays, sail from historic harbors, or simply ride a ferry and enjoy the coastline from a different perspective. The island’s waters include the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound, the Great South Bay, Peconic Bay, and dozens of smaller bays, harbors, rivers, and inlets.

Our Long Island Boat Tours & Cruises guide covers sightseeing cruises and other ticketed excursions, while visitors interested in fishing can explore local fishing charters and fishing piers.

Enjoy Family Attractions

Families have plenty of choices beyond beaches and parks. Adventureland in Farmingdale offers amusement rides and games, while Splish Splash Water Park in Calverton is a major summer attraction. The Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead features marine exhibits and interactive experiences, and White Post Farms provides animal encounters and activities geared toward younger children.

Seasonal farm visits are another popular family activity, particularly during strawberry season, apple picking, and the fall pumpkin season. Museums, nature centers, miniature golf, bowling, skating, escape rooms, and other indoor attractions provide additional choices when the weather does not cooperate. These and many more categories are organized in our main Things to Do on Long Island directory.

See Long Island’s Lighthouses and Maritime History

Long Island’s location between New York Harbor, Long Island Sound, and the Atlantic Ocean has given it a long maritime history. The Montauk Point Lighthouse is the island’s most famous lighthouse, while the Fire Island Lighthouse and Horton Point Lighthouse provide additional opportunities to combine history with coastal scenery.

Some Long Island lighthouses can be visited directly, while others are best viewed from the shoreline or by boat. Travelers specifically interested in these landmarks can use our Long Island lighthouses guide to explore locations across the island.

Enjoy Food, Waterfront Dining, and Local Wine

Eating and drinking can be part of the destination on Long Island. Seafood and waterfront restaurants are found along both shores and throughout the East End, while the island is also known for pizza, bagels, lobster rolls, duck, locally grown produce, bakeries, and farm markets. Visitors curious about regional specialties can read our guide to foods Long Island is famous for.

The North Fork adds vineyards and wineries to the experience, while communities such as Greenport, Port Jefferson, Freeport, Patchogue, Northport, and Montauk provide opportunities to combine sightseeing with waterfront dining. Browse the Long Island restaurants guide for more dining ideas.

See a Concert, Show, or Live Performance

Live entertainment is another reason to explore Long Island, particularly during the summer concert season. Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater hosts major touring artists in an outdoor waterfront setting, while The Paramount in Huntington brings concerts, comedy, and other performances to the North Shore.

The island also has community theaters, performing arts centers, historic theaters, music venues, and smaller stages presenting productions throughout the year. Browse our Performing Arts & Theaters guide to find venues across Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Best Things to Do by Season

The best Long Island experience changes with the season. Summer is dominated by beaches, boating, waterfront dining, outdoor concerts, and family attractions. Fall brings farm visits, apple picking, pumpkin picking, vineyards, foliage, hiking, and Halloween attractions. Spring is an excellent time for gardens, parks, hiking, birdwatching, fishing, and uncrowded coastal trips, while winter shifts the focus toward museums, restaurants, historic sites, live entertainment, holiday events, and seasonal wildlife viewing.

How to Find More Things to Do on Long Island

The recommendations on this page are intended as a starting point rather than a complete directory. Long Island has hundreds of attractions and recreational options covering everything from beaches, boating, hiking, fishing, and golf to museums, theaters, amusement centers, farms, wineries, shopping, dining, nightlife, and seasonal activities. Browse the complete Things to Do on Long Island guide to explore activities by category, or use the Long Island points of interest guide when you are looking specifically for places and attractions to visit.

Check What’s Happening During Your Visit

Festivals, concerts, fairs, farmers markets, community celebrations, sporting events, art exhibits, and seasonal attractions can add another experience to a Long Island trip. Because these change throughout the year, check the Long Island events calendar to see what is happening during the dates you plan to visit.

Key Facts & Details

Question	Answer
What are the best things to do on Long Island?	Top experiences include Long Island’s beaches, Montauk Point, the Gold Coast estates, North Fork wine country, the Hamptons, Fire Island, museums, waterfront villages, parks, boating, family attractions, and live entertainment.
What should a first-time visitor do?	For a first trip, consider combining a major beach, a historic attraction or museum, a waterfront village, and one part of the East End.
What are the best areas to explore?	The North Shore, South Shore, North Fork, South Fork, Hamptons, and Montauk each offer a different Long Island experience.
What are the best things to do with children?	Popular family choices include beaches, Adventureland, Splish Splash, Long Island Aquarium, farms, parks, museums, nature preserves, and seasonal festivals.
What are the best outdoor activities?	Beachgoing, hiking, boating, fishing, kayaking, biking, birdwatching, surfing, and exploring parks and nature preserves.
Where can I find a complete list of activities?	Use the Things to Do on Long Island guide to browse activities and attractions by category.
Where can I find individual places to visit?	Browse the Long Island points of interest guide for individual destinations across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Where can I find current events?	Check the Long Island events calendar for concerts, festivals, fairs, community events, and seasonal activities.
Is Long Island worth visiting year-round?	Yes. Summer is the peak season for beaches and outdoor recreation, but museums, historic sites, restaurants, parks, entertainment, seasonal events, and many coastal destinations can be enjoyed throughout the year.

There is no single attraction that defines Long Island. Its appeal comes from combining the coast, history, communities, outdoor recreation, food, and East End scenery into the same trip. Whether that means spending the morning at the beach, visiting a historic estate, walking through a waterfront village, or heading east toward the North Fork, Hamptons, or Montauk, the best Long Island experiences are often found by exploring more than one part of the island. For additional ideas, browse the complete Things to Do on Long Island guide.