NYC has a constant buzz of activity, thriving nightlife, and 24/7 dining options, and there’s no shortage of fun to be had! So, what better way to explore the city than a scavenger hunt?
In this article, we’ve listed 15 of the best corporate scavenger hunt locations in NYC. We’ll take you to historic museums, music halls, and iconic photo ops, and give you ideas to make each stop a fun team-building experience.
1. Central Park – Metropolitan Museum of Art
Commonly known as the MET, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world’s most renowned and comprehensive art museums. It’s the third-largest museum in the world and the largest in the Americas.
The MET is located on the eastern edge of Central Park, along Fifth Avenue between 80th and 84th Streets. The building features a grand staircase leading up to a massive neoclassical facade.
It houses upwards of 2 million works, ranging from rare artifacts from ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt, to paintings and sculptures from well-known artists like Picasso, Pollock, and Van Dyck.
You’ll also find a large selection of African, Asian, Oceanian, Byzantine, and Islamic art, as well as musical instruments, costumes, textiles, armor, and weapons from various eras and cultures.
Admission tickets are only $30 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $17 for students. If one of your team members’ children decides to come along for the scavenger hunt, kids under 12 go for free.
The museum is 2.2 million square feet, so you could easily spend a full day or even multiple days exploring its vast collection.
For a scavenger hunt, it’s best to focus on one area at a time so the team doesn’t get lost or overwhelmed during the tour. Think of riddles, puzzles, or trivia related to the location, or of activities you can do (e.g., take a photo with a painting that includes a dog, find a statue missing a limb, locate an artifact that’s over 2,000 years old, etc.).
2. Theodore Roosevelt Park – American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is a 15-minute walk away from the MET, located directly across the street from Central Park.
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the biggest and most influential museums in the world, occupying more than 2.5 million square feet of space and housing over 34 million specimens and artifacts. You can spend the full day exploring this museum.
As with the scavenger hunt in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, divide your activities into sections of the museum. For example, one hunt can take place at the Dinosaur Hall, while another at the Hall of Ocean Life. This way, your team can focus on one area at a time.
Alternatively, you could book a guided tour and think of follow-up challenges based on what you learn. The team can answer trivia questions, find hidden details in exhibitions, or recreate a pose with a specific exhibit.
Cost for admission is $25 for adults, $20 for students with ID, $20 for seniors. Special exhibitions cost extra. You’ll find all the current and upcoming exhibitions on the museum’s official website.
3. Rockefeller Center – Atlas Statue
Located across Fifth Avenue from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Atlas Statue is a 45-foot-tall marble sculpture of Atlas holding up a celestial globe.
The Atlas Statue is a great backdrop for a group photo. The team can imitate Atlas’s pose underneath the statue, or look up with an awed look on their faces.
You could also ask the team to answer questions related to the Atlas. For example, what ancient Greek myth is Atlas from? What object is Atlas holding? Or, how many rings form the celestial sphere?
4. Central Park – New York Marathon
The New York Marathon is the largest marathon in the world, with over 90,000 participants annually. It takes place in the five boroughs of New York City, starting on Staten Island and ending in Central Park, near Tavern on the Green (West 67th Street).
The New York Marathon is held once a year, usually on the first Sunday of November. Unless your team is planning to participate, don’t use that day for a scavenger hunt because you’ll be met with massive crowds.
You can instead do your scavenger hunt before or after race weekend and pretend it’s “race day.” Ask your team to mimic a runner’s stride or strike a victory pose at the Marathon Gate. You can also challenge them to take a group photo in front of a nearby smoothie shop, pizza place, or park bench, pretending to be exhausted after a race.
5. Rockefeller Center – Radio City Music Hall
The Radio City Music Hall is the world’s largest indoor theater with a seating capacity of nearly 6,000. Dubbed as The Showplace of the Nation, it’s the only Art Deco theater in the United States and serves as the headquarters for the Rockettes, a well-known precision dance troupe.
The music hall has hosted a number of events over the years, including the Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards. It has also staged famous musicians like Lady Gaga, The Rolling Stones, and Stevie Wonder.
The Radio City Music Hall hosts events nearly every day with various artists. Ask the team what performance they’d like to see and book a ticket to that event from the official website. Or, you could pick one at random from a draw. Who knows, they might enjoy a performance they’ve never seen before!
After the performance, ask the team to discuss the show with trivia questions about the acts. You can also ask the team to hunt for a random celebrity name on nearby plaques or in store displays near Rockefeller Center.
6. Central Park – Central Park Zoo
Just a few yards from 5th Avenue is the Central Park Zoo, housing over 1,400 animals across 130 species. Some are considered critically endangered, like snow monkeys (Japanese macaques), red pandas, and snow leopards, while others are common but equally fascinating, like alpacas, sea lions, emus, and baboons.
With so many animals to discover and things to see, the Central Park Zoo offers plenty of scavenger hunt opportunities.
You can ask your team to take a picture with a specific animal or challenge them to capture a picture of them doing something cute or funny. You can also create animal-themed riddles that guide them from one exhibit to the next. The first one to reach the finish line wins!
The best thing about Central Park Zoo is that there are dozens of activities beyond watching animals. You can feed penguins and sea lions, watch a 4-D show, or learn about wildlife and conservation via the interactive Quest Stations.
Afterwards, feel free to take your team to the Dancing Crane Cafe for snacks and beverages, or the Tavern on the Green for a hearty, rustic meal. There are concession carts throughout the zoo so they can grab a quick bite to eat when taking a break from the scavenger hunt.
7. Times Square – Madame Tussauds
The New York location, situated on 42nd Street in Times Square, features over 200 wax figures, including famous actors such as Angelina Jolie, Chris Hemsworth, and Harry Styles, historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, and Martin Luther King Jr., and music icons like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. You also have Marvel superheroes like Spider-Man and the Hulk!
The museum likewise features themed rooms like a Horror Chamber, a Fashion Zone, and even a fully immersive Oval Office with presidents past and present.
For your scavenger hunt, challenge themes to find a specific figure (either through a riddle or fact), recreate a famous scene using props, costumes, and backdrops, or take a selfie with a celebrity look-alike.
8. Washington Square Park – Washington Square Arch
Washington Square Arch is a 77-foot marble arch located in Washington Square Park, Manhattan. It was built in 1891 by architect Stanford White to commemorate the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration as the first President of the United States in 1789.
The arch is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and is a popular spot for group photos and selfies. Challenge your team to take a fun group photo with the Washington Square Arch as the backdrop. The group with the best photo wins!
9. Grand Central Terminal – Backwards Constellations
For this scavenger hunt, we’ll be looking at the backwards constellations in the Grand Central Terminal.
The Grand Central Terminal is a commuter rail terminal in Midtown Manhattan, located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue. It’s one of the largest train stations in the world, and is one of the most-visited locations in NYC thanks to the station’s architecture, history, and shopping and dining options.
On the ceiling of the Grand Central Terminal’s Main Concourse, you’ll notice a celestial mural depicting zodiac signs and constellations. What’s interesting is that the entire thing is painted in reverse order. East is shown as west and west as east, except for Orion, which is oriented correctly but reversed compared to the rest.
No one really knows whether the celestial mural was intentionally painted that way or an error on the artist’s part. It’s still a gorgeous sight and makes for an interesting photo op with the team looking upwards. If any of your team is knowledgeable about constellations, they can try to identify as many zodiac signs and star patterns as they can.
Afterwards, feel free to explore the many stops in the Grand Central Terminal. Locate Track 61 (Franklin D. Roosevelt’s private escape route), take a picture with the iconic Four-Faced Clock, or find the corner-to-corner whispering gallery located near the Oyster Bar.
To get the full experience, consider getting a guided tour of the Terminal.
10. Central Park – Belvedere Castle
The Belvedere Castle is an ornamental castle situated atop Vista Rock. It features a Romanesque and Gothic facade and offers stunning panoramic views of Central Park. The castle features several exhibits about the park’s history, wildlife, and geology.
Occasionally, the castle would host seasonal events like astronomy nights, birdwatching walks, and foliage tours. Check out the conservatory’s official website for a list of upcoming events.
The Belvedere is a great place for photo challenges, not only for the scenic backdrop but also because the area has lots of hidden gems like small sculptures and plaques.
11. Central Park – Bethesda Terrace
Bethesda Terrace, often dubbed the “heart” of Central Park, is a two-level terrace with ornate staircases that overlook the park’s lake.
At the center of the terrace stands the famous Bethesda Fountain featuring an eight-foot bronze angel called the “Angel of Waters.”
The Terrace regularly hosts live performances, making it an excellent venue to relax, hang out with team members, and take memorable photos.
For a scavenger hunt, you can ask your team to identify specific carvings on the Terrace’s stonework, or take creative team photos with the fountain, the grand staircases, or the colorful medieval-style banners that decorate the Terrace.
12. Pat Hoffman Friedman Playground – Group of Bears Statue
The Group of Bears statue is located at the Pat Hoffman Friedman Playground in Central Park, depicting three bears on a pedestal. The statue is about 7 feet 4 inches tall.
Challenge your team to take a photo mimicking the poses of the bears: one standing with paws in front of them, one sitting, and one walking on all fours. You can also take a picture of your team with the bears.
13. Nearby Cafes and Restaurants
Needless to say, there’s no shortage of food options in NYC.
If your scavenger hunt takes you near the Metropolitan Museum of Art, make sure to visit the Brooklyn Chop House Steakhouse for a classic, American-style dinner, Sistina if you’re looking for something more Italian, or Cafe Sabarsky for its famous Austrian pastries.
If you want a quick, on-the-go bite, visit LOS TACOS No.1 for street-style tacos, quesadillas, and pollo asado (grilled chicken).
To incorporate a scavenger hunt into your food breaks, challenge your team to order something they wouldn’t normally order. Then, ask them to record a video of their first impressions. Another idea is for teams to draw a country at random, then visit a restaurant in the city that serves authentic cuisine from that country.
14. Fifth Avenue – New York Public Library
With over 53 million books in its collection, the New York Public Library (NYPL) is the second-largest public library in the United States. It’s located at 476 Fifth Avenue, between 40th and 42nd Streets, directly east of Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan.
The library’s main reading room is vast, with high ceilings, chandeliers, and long oak tables where visitors can read and study.
For a scavenger hunt, task teams complete book-related challenges within a certain amount. Ideas include finding the oldest book in the library, a book with characters sharing the same name as individual team members, or a book with specific colors, illustrations, or animals.
You can also create some riddles or puzzles that lead to one book. The team that figures out the book you’ve chosen wins.
The New York Public Library also offers year-round exhibitions and free guided tours discussing the museum’s architecture, history, and collection. Take this opportunity to create trivia questions based on the facts shared.
15. Fifth and Sixth Avenues – Bryant Park
If you’re looking to spend a relaxing time with your team while enjoying views, Bryant Park is a good place to be. Bryant Park is a free public park that hosts numerous events and activities year-round. It has a tennis court, an ice skating rink (free admission!), and outdoor movie theaters.
You and your team can plan a picnic at the park and spend quality time with each other. It’s a great opportunity to play get-to-know-you games, share fun stories, and enjoy light snacks from various food stands and concessions.
If you want to watch a show while spending time with your team, lay your picnic blanket at a picnic performance and enjoy live music or a theater performance under the open sky.
For scavenger hunt ideas, ask your team to take creative photos at statues, with musicians, or plaques around the park. Or, you can challenge them to interact with street musicians or pop-up events.
