Over 300 hidden and normally off-limits New York City sites will open to the public during the annual Open House New York festival from October 17-19.

New Yorkers, brace yourselves — the city that never sleeps is about to reveal its deepest, darkest secrets!

For one weekend only, over 300 hidden and usually off-limits spots across the five boroughs are throwing open their doors in a once-a-year event that promises to blow your mind.

From abandoned post offices with hauntingly beautiful murals to rooftop gardens offering jaw-dropping skyline views, the annual Open House New York festival is back — and it’s bigger and bolder than ever.

Kristin LaBuz, the executive director of the festival, says, “New York never feels more generous than during Open House New York Weekend, when 1,400 volunteers open up their secret corners to tens of thousands of visitors.”

She isn’t kidding. This isn’t your typical sightseeing tour — it’s a chance to step into the city’s off-the-record history, architecture, and hidden gems.

Imagine stepping inside the Bronx General Post Office, a long-abandoned 1937 building adorned with New Deal-era murals depicting the sweat and spirit of working-class New Yorkers, inspired by Walt Whitman’s poetry.

It’s like flipping through a time capsule in the middle of the city’s chaos.

And it gets weirder — and cooler. The festival offers a canoe trip along the notoriously murky Gowanus Canal, giving visitors a chance to paddle through a waterway that’s as infamous as it is fascinating.

Meanwhile, nature lovers can bask in three secluded rooftop gardens tucked away in Midtown Manhattan — including the famed 620 Loft &

Garden at Rockefeller Plaza — where lush greenery, sculptural plants, and a shimmering reflective pool overlook the soaring neo-Gothic spires of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, set against the towering backdrop of Manhattan’s skyscrapers.

“The view from these gardens is one of the most iconic urban juxtapositions in the world,” festival organizers say, and it’s easy to see why. It’s the perfect mix of nature, architecture, and history, all crammed into one breathtaking moment.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The festival will take you behind the scenes at the MTA’s Maspeth sign shop in Queens, where every subway sign in the city is meticulously crafted — a place few have ever seen.

For the urban explorers, the Advance Masonic Temple in Astoria and Con Edison’s East River Generating Station in the East Village offer rare glimpses into secretive parts of the city’s infrastructure, though tickets for these hot spots sold out fast.

Still, there’s plenty left to explore, with 160 “drop-in” sites across the city welcoming spontaneous visitors eager for adventure.

Art and history buffs won’t want to miss the New York Sign Museum, a treasure trove of vintage business signs that tell stories of the city’s evolving neighborhoods and commercial spirit.

Meanwhile, at the Manhattan Borough President’s office, visitors can marvel at the city’s first grid map — a foundational piece of NYC history that shaped the city’s very structure.

And for those drawn to environmental efforts, Governor’s Island plays host to the Billion Oysters Project, an ambitious initiative aiming to restore the city’s waterways by repopulating oysters.

Festivalgoers can get hands-on with interactive displays, a live oyster touch tank, and kid-friendly activities that make learning about ecology fun and unforgettable.

The festival’s roots go deep. Born from a desire to bring New Yorkers together after the tragedy of 9/11, Open House New York has blossomed over two decades into a beloved tradition, drawing more than 50,000 visitors last year alone.

It’s a reminder that beneath the city’s fast-paced surface lies a vibrant mosaic of stories, spaces, and people eager to be discovered.

LaBuz sums it up best: “Open House New York Weekend is rooted in the simple but radical act of sharing the city. This festival gives curious New Yorkers a hall pass to explore the people, projects, and places that make this the greatest city in the world.”

Whether you’re a lifelong local or a curious visitor, this weekend offers a rare invitation to explore the unseen — to walk where few have tread, to hear stories that rarely make headlines, and to experience the Big Apple in a way you never imagined.

Tickets and detailed schedules for the tours are available online, with most events free to attend. So grab your walking shoes, bring your curiosity, and get ready to unlock the secrets of New York City like never before.