Live NYC Cams for Touring the City from Your Couch

You’ve probably seen all the museums around the world you can visit right from your living room, but have you checked out all of the webcams in NYC that will help you take a virtual tour of the city? Via live streaming, you can check in on famous tourist spots like Times Square, familiar landmarks (Statue of Liberty) and take in literal bird’s eye views of the city. The main resource for live webcam views worldwide is Earthcam.com; and in some cases, you can use the site’s interface to move the camera, zoom in, or hear what’s happening by unmuting a mic. (Find those options in the lower left hand corner of the window.) Gather round and soak up what is currently an admittedly quieter NYC with the kids via these live NYC cams.

photo: Earthcam.com

Times Square

You can take your pick of views of the Crossroads of the World: Broadway, Duffy Square, the Pedestrian Plaza, etc. Of course, this is Times Square as you've likely never seen it—without a lot of people. Still, when we dropped in virtually we spotted one of NYC's beloved characters: The Naked Cowboy himself, strolling with his guitar and cheering on fellow New Yorkers from a safe distance. Yee-haw! (And yes, come back here on New Year's Eve to catch all the action in the comfort of your own home!)

Online: earthcam.com

photo: Earthcam.com

Brooklyn Bridge

Check out a nice view of the Brooklyn Bridge as well as the Manhattan Bridge and the East River from an elevated downtown Manhattan perspective. There's also this one, from the viewpoint of Brooklyn, with Brooklyn Bridge Park in the foreground and the bridges to the right. (Here's one at the entrance to the bridge on the Brooklyn side.)

Online: earthcam.com

photo: Maria Eklind via Flickr

Columbus Circle

Check out the roundabout and what's happening at the southern tip of Central Park.

Online: earthcam.com

photo: Earthcam.com

Fifth Avenue

Fifth Avenue looks peaceful and patriotic these days—American flags flap in the wind, kind of reminding us of this 100-year-old painting, which you can go see at the New-York Historical Society one day. There's a nice view of St. Patrick's Cathedral as well.

Online: earthcam.com

photo: Giulia S. via Yelp

NYC Skyline From a Rooftop Bar

Here's the NYC skyline from the Flatiron District, with a nice shot of the Empire State Building. It's hosted by rooftop bar 230 Fifth, and yes, they have some igloo domes up there.

Online: skylinewebcams.com

photo: Earthcam.com

NYC Skyline, Downtown

Another great spot to see the NYC skyline is from Jersey! This webcam is perched atop the Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson. Especially impressive at night!

Online: earthcam.com

photo: Jason via Flickr

New York Harbor

See—and hear!—New York Harbor from roughly Lady Liberty's perspective. (Wind! Birds...we think!)

Online: earthcam.com

photo: Sue Waters via Flickr

Statue of Liberty

You can visit the Statue of Liberty a couple of ways.

Get a nice view straight-on here.

Or check out the "Torch Cam" here! (Who knew?)

photo: Tomislav Medak

The High Line

The Highline is closed, but you can see it from above. We expect it to get much greener in the near future! (We love this kids' book about an urban garden very much like The High Line!)

Online: earthcam.com

photo: Rufus via Flickr

Coney Island Boardwalk

Another place that's usually pretty packed, here's the beach at Coney Island and the boardwalk. There's a nice view of the ocean as well. Consider it a moment of Zen.

Online: webcamtaxi.com

—Mimi O’Connor