35 Best Team Building Activities in NYC, NY

You found our list of the best team building activities in NYC, New York.

Team building activities in NYC are events that help employees improve their communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities. Examples include Manhattan walking tours, interactive spy museums, and pizza-making workshops. These activities are excellent for large and small groups looking to have memorable experiences while bonding in The Big Apple. These events are also known as “team building activities in New York City,” “team bonding activities in NYC,” and are sometimes shortened to “team building NYC.”

These activities are similar to NYC company outing ideas, fun New York City group activities, and NYC corporate events.

This list includes:

• Fun NYC team events
• NYC team building activities
• Team building events in NYC
• Corporate activities in NYC
• Team building activities in the NYC suburbs

In categories like:

• Indoor activities
• Outdoor activities
• Unique activities
• Cooking classes and food tours
• Free team building ideas

Let’s get started!

Indoor activities

Here are activities teams can do together indoors in New York City.

1. The Great Guac Off™

Location: Anywhere, Travels to You
Price: $$

The Great Guac Off, a wildly social and competitive guacamole-making competition, is one of the most fun NYC team events. The experience has a 4.96/5.0 star rating with 1,323+ reviews and testimonials from teams at Amazon, HelloFresh, YouTube, and more.

The Great Guac Off includes everything you need for a successful team building event:

• 90 minutes with an expert teambuilding.com host
• co-host(s) to help with clean-up and make sure the event runs smoothly
• a set of mini-games and competitions proven to maximize team engagement
• guacamole ingredients (including special add-ins) and chips for dipping
• fun and memorable group photos
• an entire team to help with planning your perfect event
• 100% happiness guarantee

Learn more about The Great Guac Off.

2. Area 53

Location: Dumbo or Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Price: $$

Area 53 is a team building venue with multiple options to choose from. There are three locations in Brooklyn, including one in Dumbo and two in Williamsburg.

The facilities feature activities like an adventure park, laser tag, paintball, and bowling. At the adventure park, participants can enjoy activities like ropes courses, rock climbing, and zip lines. Teams can also go head-to-head in the 20,000-square-foot paintball arena.

The sites even have special events like karaoke nights and live DJs. Whether hosting employee-only events or inviting family and friends, Area 53 provides plenty of entertainment.

Learn more about Area 53.

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3. Drunk Shakespeare

Location: Midtown Manhattan
Price: $$

The Drunk Shakespeare Company gives classic theater a hilarious modern twist. Before the performance, one of the actors takes five shots of whiskey. Then, the drunk actor performs a lead role in a Shakespearean play while four sober performers attempt to keep the script on track. The show lasts for 90 minutes, and actors occasionally interact directly with the audience, for example, by naming a king and queen of the evening.

Groups may qualify for a discount, and large teams can buy out the show for a private performance.

Learn more about Drunk Shakespeare.

4. Gagopa Karaoke

Location: Koreatown, Manhattan
Price: $

Gagopa Karaoke offers private karaoke rooms for groups. Whether you are searching for a budget team building activity or an opportunity to uncover hidden talents, this setup is an excellent option.

The biggest room that the venue offers can accommodate up to 30 singers. Gagopa Karaoke has a long list of songs available, with a collection of over 20,000 English songs, 10,000 Spanish songs, plus options in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.

Learn more about Gagopa Karaoke.

5. 90’s Murder Mystery Party

Location: Anywhere, Travels to You
Price: $$

This ’90s-themed murder mystery party brings a fun, interactive challenge straight to your office or event space.

Led by a professional improv actor, participants receive roles and must work together to solve puzzles, uncover clues, and identify the killer among them.

The experience lasts about two hours and works best for groups of at least six people. Participants are encouraged to dress in their best ’90s attire for added fun.

Check out the 90’s Murder Mystery Party.

6. Paint Nite

Location: Anywhere, Travels to You
Price: $$

Paint Nite offers painting parties for groups. During the evening, a professional artist shows participants how to create a painting, and guests get to take that canvas home as a souvenir. Throughout the activity, participants can drink and socialize with their peers, and the mood is light and fun.

Parties typically last two hours. The cost of the event includes the use of canvases, brushes, and paints. Paint Nite also offers alternative crafting options like candle-making and planting.

Check out Paint Nite.

7. Gotham Archery

Location: Gowanus, Brooklyn or Chinatown, Manhattan
Price: $$

Archery is typically a solo sport, but Gotham Archery provides a fun group experience. The company has offices in both Brooklyn and Manhattan. Each of these locations features a minimum of two rooms and at least three dozen lanes.

The session starts with a lesson on safety and technique, followed by forty minutes of shooting. Since archery is a new experience for many visitors, teams can bond by learning the sport together.

The venue also offers tournaments for competitive teams, as well as blacklight archery, knife-throwing, and hatchet-throwing.

Check out Gotham Archery.

8. StageCoach Improv

Location: Anywhere, Travels to You
Price: $$

Improv is a fun way to get your team laughing and working together and can improve coworker communication, teamwork, and adaptability.

StageCoach Improv offers improv-based corporate activities in NYC, Albany, and Saratoga NY. These workshops use acting and storytelling exercises to help professionals develop important skills, which they can then apply to their work.

These sessions are also excellent for building trust among teams.

Learn more about StageCoach Improv.

Outdoor activities

Here are activities teams can do together outdoors in New York City.

9. High Line Scavenger Hunt

Location: West Side, Manhattan
Price: $$

The High Line is a unique attraction in NYC that holds some of the city’s best kept secrets. When visiting this park built on an abandoned rail line, your team will race against the clock to find clues and solve puzzles in an unconventional and highly engaging scavenger hunt.

Your hunt includes:

• 90 minutes with a teambuilding.com host who will ignite your team’s curiosity, foster connections, and share stories about the nearby neighborhoods of NYC
• all game materials and instructions
• fantastic city views and fun group photo ops
• 100% happiness guarantee

Check out the High Line Scavenger Hunt.

10. Manhattan Walking Tour

Location: Several Neighborhoods in Manhattan
Price: $$ – $$$

There are many walking tours in midtown, but Manhattan Walking Tour prides itself on being “fun, friendly, flexible, informative, and tailor-made.” This company offers several curated history and food tours and can also customize a fully personalized, unique experience.

Examples include an architecture tour of Midtown Manhattan’s classic landmarks and a seasonal “Sweets and Screams” ghost walk and dessert tour of Greenwich Village.

Private tours can accommodate corporate groups of up to 40 guests, with options to add drinks to the agenda. Most tours range from one and a half to two hours and cover one or two miles.

Check out Manhattan Walking Tour.

11. Big Onion History Walking Tours

Location: Various Locations
Price: $

Big Onion Walking Tours offers engaging and informative tours through New York’s historic neighborhoods. Many of the expert guides are history graduate students, and their studies inform the stories they tell visitors. Most tours revolve around the immigrant experience and explore the ways ethnic groups shaped their neighborhoods and NYC culture at large.

The company offers around three dozen in-depth tours through areas like Greenwich Village and Harlem, and all public tours are also available as private tours. As few as 1 or as many as 500 participants can enjoy the experience.

Check out Big Onion Walking Tours.

12. Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm

Location: Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Navy Yard, and Long Island City, Queens
Price: $$$

The Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm brings the beauty of farm life to the big city. This urban farm has three locations available for private events and team retreats.

From May to October, the farm hosts private half-day retreats with workshops that teach teams skills like beekeeping, watercolor, and urban farming. These events include a catered lunch from the farm and a guided tour. Indoor workshops are available during the colder months.

Learn more about Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm.

13. Kayak Tours with Hudson River Recreation

Location: Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Croton, Rye, NYC Suburbs
Price: $$

Hudson River Recreation offers an escape from the busy city to leaders looking for team building activities in the NYC suburbs.

The company provides guided kayaking tours throughout scenic Hudson Valley spots like Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow. Groups can book private trips where an instructor tailors a tour for the team and guides the way.

This experience is ideal for teams who want to learn a new skill, enjoy the scenery, and relax.

Kayaking the river allows your team to take in the New York City cityscape, which is especially stunning at sunset.

Check out Hudson River Recreation.

14. NYC Cycleboats

Location: Financial District, Manhattan
Price: $$

This unique boat tour offers a fun and active way for teams to take in the NYC skyline. The one-and-a-half-hour cruise allows participants to either pedal at communal tables or relax in lounge seats, enjoying beautiful views.

Private trips can accommodate up to 26 team members, with up to 12 people pedaling at once. However, pedaling is optional, and the boat will still move if your coworkers would rather relax.

The tour is BYOB, and snacks and drinks are welcome, with the exception of hard alcohol.

This experience is only available during spring and summer.

Check out NYC Cycle Boats.

Unique Activities

For teams who want to shake up their routine, here are some of the most unique team building activities in New York City.

15. Museum Hack

Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan
Price: $$

Museum Hack runs wildly fun and engaging tours of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. An expert guide will lead your team through this incredible institution, sharing the hidden secrets, juicy gossip, and often-untold stories of the art and artists.

Teams at Google, Johnson & Johnson, Chipotle, and hundreds of other companies have enjoyed this innovative take on museum visits.

Your Museum Hack experience includes:

• a 90-minute renegade tour led by an engaging guide
• stories about the objects and artists
• mini-games and icebreakers to help your team connect
• museum admission ($30/pp value)
• fun group photos
• full support team to plan your experience
• 100% happiness guarantee

Here is what the dragon lady from Game of Thrones had to say about her Museum Hack experience:

Learn more about Museum Hack.

16. HeliNY

Location: Battery Park, Manhattan
Price: $$$$

With HeliNY, you can explore New York City from the sky. You can choose from three tours to fit your needs.

Here are the tours to check out:

• The New Yorker Tour: This ride lasts 12 to 15 minutes and showcases 17 major landmarks
• The Ultimate Tour: Teams can spend 17 to 20 minutes in the air checking out 23 landmarks
• The Deluxe Tour: This ultimate tour lasts 25 to 30 minutes and shows off a whopping 25 landmarks

Teams will get to see sights like the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Little Island.

Each helicopter seats up to six passengers, making this experience ideal for small groups.

Learn more about HeliNY.

17. BubbleBall Soccer

Location: Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Travels to You
Price: $$$

Bubble soccer combines the thrill of sports with the fun of childhood games. Each player will wear a giant inflatable bubble to enjoy this friendly competition with their teammates.
BubbleBall Soccer NYC will lend all the equipment you need to play the game, and can also help you source a venue for your matches. The company also offers fun upgrade options like inflatable sumo suits and a package with five team building games you can play in the bubbles.

Learn more about BubbleBall Soccer NYC.

18. SPYSCAPE

Location: Midtown West, Manhattan
Price: $$

SPYSCAPE is an immersive spy-themed museum with two interactive experiences.

In Spygames, groups of two to five players will spend 50 minutes solving puzzles that consist of flashing lights, buttons, and climbing holds. CIA and Special Ops experts designed these games, and each exercise targets different skills like teamwork, focus, or strategy.

THE SPYSCAPE experience is a 90-minute adventure that offers participants a chance to tackle authentic spy challenges such as lasers, lie detection, code-breaking, and surveillance. Players will also receive a detailed personal profile that highlights their spy strengths.

Learn more about Spyscape.

19. Beat the Bomb

Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn
Price: $$

Beat The Bomb is a high stakes team challenge. Teams put on hazmat suits, enter a room, and have one hour to complete a mission. If time runs out before the group succeeds, then the “bomb” explodes and sprays teams with paint, foam, or slime.

Four to six players can compete in each room. The venue also has an arcade battle that can accommodate up to twelve players. This option is best for small teams, and groups larger than six can rotate between activities.

Learn more about Beat The Bomb.

20. Unarthodox

Location: Chelsea, Manhattan
Price: $$

If you are on the hunt for creative team building events in NYC, then consider Unarthodox. Upon arriving at the studio, participants will receive a lesson on fundamental clay handling techniques before trying to sculpt while blindfolded. The instructors guide groups through an immersive sculpting experience using only the sense of touch and memory. Groups can book private experiences, and each class includes photos from the event.

Learn more about Unarthodox.

21. Flight Simulation at The Squadron

Location: Financial District, Manhattan
Price: $$$

The Squadron sends teams on an F-35 simulated flight that challenges participants to make quick decisions and work together to complete the mission. These experiences provide a controlled environment where teammates can practice leadership and teamwork skills under pressure and are a favorite among executive teams.

The Squadron also offers corporate workshops on topics like “succeeding from failure” and “teamwork and communication.”

Learn more about The Squadron.

22. Oyster Shucking Class

Location: East Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Price: $$

This interactive Brooklyn masterclass brings teams together to sharpen their culinary skills while sharing a one-of-a-kind experience. The instructor teaches participants about oysters, how to open them, and how to best enjoy them. Teachers will provide gloves, knives, and shucking towels, and students have the option to purchase tools to take home should they fall in love with the art of oyster shucking. Wine and caviar add-ons are also available.

Learn more about this Oyster Shucking Class.

23. Song Recording at FreeFlo

Location: Midtown Manhattan
Price: $$$

FreeFlo offers a unique team building experience where music producers help groups create an original song in a professional studio. During the event, teams collaborate creatively while building trust and communication.

Participants do not need any musical experience, as FreeFlo’s team leads them through the entire song-making process. The experience includes food, drinks, and a professionally mixed and mastered track for teams to keep as a memorable memento.

Check out FreeFlo.

Cooking classes and food tours

Here are team building ideas for foodies and group dining ideas in NYC. Many of these activities can double as team dinners, lunches, snacks, or happy hours.

24. NYC Flatiron Food Tour

Location: Flatiron, Manhattan
Price: $$$

Food tours are popular NYC team building activities because they combine dinner, sightseeing, and the city’s famous culinary culture.

Avital Experiences runs interactive food and drink experiences designed to connect teams. This particular tour leads teams around the trendy and historic Flatiron District of NYC. Participants travel to highly rated restaurants and try food while also learning about the area’s history and enjoying quality social time.

The Flatiron Food Tour includes four courses, with two appetizers, one entree, and one dessert.

Learn more about the NYC Flatiron Food Tour.

25. Brooklyn Crab’s Reed Park

Location: Red Hook, Brooklyn
Price: $$

Reed Park is Brooklyn Crab’s beer garden. At this exciting outdoor venue, visitors can enjoy drinks, snacks, games, and a small selection of Brooklyn Crab’s seafood. In between rounds of drinks, you and your team can play mini-golf and cornhole. The space is typically first come, first serve, however, you can reserve a spot for your party in the pavilion.

The beer garden closes during the winter.

Learn more about Brooklyn Crab’s Reed Park.

26. Great Jones Distilling Company

Location: NoHo, Manhattan
Price: $$

Great Jones is the first whiskey distillery in New York City since Prohibition. The distillery proudly uses NYC-sourced ingredients to produce four whiskeys:

• Empire Rye
• Four Grain
• Straight Bourbon
• Peated Scotch Cask Bourbon

Teams interested in a tasting can choose between the three-spirit and four-spirit tasting options. The distillery can also guide tours, cocktail-making lessons, and drink and snack pairings.

Learn more about the Great Jones Distilling Company.

27. Abigail’s Kitchen

Location: Lower East Side, Manhattan
Price: $$$

Abigail’s Kitchen offers private cooking classes and blindfolded “dinner in the dark” experiences for teams.

The cooking classes teach participants how to make dishes from all around the world, like sushi, pasta, or dumplings. You can choose a pre-set menu or work with the chef to create your own. Each class starts with welcome drinks and ends with a communal meal.

For private dinners in the dark, diners gather and wear comfortable blindfolds so that they can enjoy their meals with heightened senses. Menus are secret, and guessing the dishes is part of the fun. The experience lasts around two and a half hours.

The venue can accommodate up to 24 guests for private classes or dark dinners, and its sister restaurant, Betty, can host these events for groups of up to 50 people.

Learn more about Abigail’s Kitchen.

28. Pizza School NYC

Location: Downtown Manhattan
Price: $$$

Pizza School NYC runs private workshops that teach teams how to make NY-style pizza. This hands-on experience gets teams mixing dough, crafting gourmet pizzas, and bonding over a shared meal. The workshops last three to four hours and can accommodate up to 24 guests. The package includes pizza sampling at the start of class, a lesson from a professional pizza maker, and a beverage tab for the group.

Learn more about Pizza School NYC.

29. My Cooking Party

Location: Chelsea, Manhattan
Price: $$$

My Cooking Party runs cooking classes out of a loft in Midtown Manhattan that can accommodate large groups of up to 125 guests.

Classes have fun names like “Battle of the Bites” and “Shop, Drop, & Roll.” Each event also has a fun interactive element, such as scavenger hunts or cooking “duels.” The experiences last three hours.

Organizers also have the option of adding party extras like additional food and drinks or gifts for team members.

Learn more about My Cooking Party.

30. Chelsea Market

Location: Chelsea, Manhattan
Price: $ – $$

Chelsea Market is a fun lunch spot for teams. The food hall boasts dozens of stands and cuisines, making it an ideal spot for groups with different tastes and dietary needs. This historic building is conveniently near other NYC landmarks like the High Line. We suggest doing an impromptu picnic with your team, with each member scouting a different dish to sample and share with the rest of the group.

Learn more about Chelsea Market.

Free team building ideas

Here are some free team building activities you and your team can enjoy on a tight budget in New York City.

31. Socrates Sculpture Park

Location: Astoria, Queens
Price: Free

The Socrates Sculpture Park brings free art to NYC visitors and residents. Artists use unique materials and techniques to create playful and interesting pieces that sit on display in the park. The mission of this waterfront park is to showcase local artists and create a home for public art. Socrates also offers plenty of free events, such as yoga and markets.

Learn more about Socrates Sculpture Park.

32. Central Park Concerts

Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan
Price: Free

Attending a free concert is a great way to spend time with your team. Central Park is home to several free concert series.

For instance, Good Morning America has a summer concert series and has previously featured artists like Jung Kook of BTS and Tim McGraw. The SummerStage performances offer several free shows as well, with former shows like Sammy Rae & The Friends.

Other free performances include the New York Philharmonic, The Met Opera Summer Recital Series, and Great Jazz on the Great Hill.

Learn more about Central Park Concerts.

33. Downtown Boathouse

Location: Tribeca, Manhattan
Price: Free

Downtown Boathouse brings the fun of kayaking to as many visitors as possible. This venue has the world’s largest free kayaking program. Teams can rent free sit-on-top kayaks to enjoy at select Hudson River locations. Participants must know how to swim and wear the provided life vests. Kayaking sessions last for 20 minutes, and teams can enjoy this experience throughout the summer.

Learn more about Downtown Boathouse.

34. Conservatory Garden

Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan
Price: Free

The Conservatory Garden is a special spot in Central Park where teams can spend time in nature. Opened in 1937, the garden has six acres of gorgeous plants. Guests can enjoy beautiful trees like magnolia, lilac, and crabapple. This space is the only formal garden within Central Park. Visitors can enter through the Vanderbilt Gate, which used to be the entrance to the Vanderbilt Mansion. Open daily, Conservatory Garden is a tranquil spot in the busy city.

Learn more about Conservatory Garden.

35. Union Square Park

Location: Union Square, Manhattan
Price: Free

Union Square Park is one of the most well-known NYC parks. This nine-acre space is home to markets, restaurants, and events. The Union Square Greenmarket offers fresh fruits, veggies, and artisanal goods at over 140 stalls. The square is also home to many restaurants and hosts events like concerts and runs. Plus, the park is a great place for a simple picnic with your team.

Learn more about Union Square Park.

Conclusion

With so much to see and do in New York City, arranging a corporate team building activity may seem overwhelming. This list of top activities will help make the process easier. Choosing the right events captures the group’s attention, curiosity, and enthusiasm. Picking an engaging, interesting activity can help your group make lasting memories and deepen the bonds between coworkers.

We also have a list of the best team retreat ideas in NYC.

How We Pick Activities

At teambuilding.com, we use a research-based approach to identify the top team-building activities in major U.S. cities. Our selections are independent and not influenced by affiliate links or sponsored placements. While we may include teambuilding.com events or those from our partners, we only do so if they truly add value to the list. Our content team evaluates customer feedback, team engagement trends, and key factors such as variety, cost, location, and group size. We focus on both well-known favorites and hidden gems, prioritizing small businesses with fewer than 30 locations for a more personalized and high-quality experience.

With a decade of experience organizing team-building events for over 45,000 teams and 1,000,000+ participants, we understand what makes an activity impactful. The best activities promote teamwork, encourage meaningful conversations, and provide structured yet flexible formats. Whether it’s an interactive challenge, a cooking class, or a creative workshop, we aim to recommend experiences that leave teams feeling more connected and inspired.

Price Guide

We’ve included price points for every entry on this list so that readers can easily find activities within their team building budgets.

Here is a breakdown of our pricing tiers in these lists:

$ – $1-25
$$ – $25-100
$$$ – $101-200
$$$$ – $200+