New York Trivia Questions (With Answers!)

From world-famous landmarks and pizza slices to historic revolutions and Broadway lights, New York is packed with stories, icons, and unforgettable moments. Whether you’re a lifelong New Yorker, a trivia fan, or just curious about the Empire State, these 50 questions will test your knowledge of the city that never sleeps—and the state that shaped American history.


Answers are provided below, so get ready to explore New York like never before!

🗽 New York Trivia Questions

Geography & General Facts

  1. What is the capital of New York State?
  2. What river flows through New York City?
  3. What is the largest lake entirely within New York State?
  4. What major waterfall lies on the border of New York and Canada?
  5. What mountain range is located in upstate New York?
  6. How many boroughs are in New York City?
  7. What is the largest borough in NYC by land area?
  8. What is the smallest borough in NYC by land area?
  9. What is the official nickname of New York State?
  10. What island is the Statue of Liberty located on?

History

  1. In what year did New York become a state?
  2. Which U.S. President was born in New York City?
  3. What was the original name of New York City?
  4. Who was the British colony of New York named after?
  5. What major historical event happened on September 11, 2001, in New York City?
  6. What famous purchase in 1626 led to the founding of New Amsterdam?
  7. What canal, completed in 1825, connected the Hudson River to the Great Lakes?
  8. Where was the first U.S. presidential inauguration held?
  9. What building was the tallest in the world when it was completed in 1931?
  10. What historic island processed over 12 million immigrants?

Culture, Food & Tourism

  1. What park in Manhattan is one of the most visited urban parks in the U.S.?
  2. What annual event in NYC features giant balloons and marching bands?
  3. What famous NYC building has a spire lit up in different colors?
  4. What is a classic New York-style pizza known for?
  5. What pastry, boiled then baked, is a breakfast staple in NYC?
  6. What iconic yellow vehicle is associated with NYC transportation?
  7. What street is known as the center of Broadway theater?
  8. What museum houses the famous painting Starry Night?
  9. Which NYC neighborhood is known for its artists, cobblestone streets, and cast-iron buildings?
  10. What famous toy store was featured in the movie Big?

Sports & Entertainment

  1. What two Major League Baseball teams are based in New York City?
  2. What New York football team plays in New Jersey?
  3. Which famous tennis tournament is held annually in New York?
  4. What is the name of the basketball team based in Brooklyn?
  5. What famous boxer was born in Brooklyn and known as “Iron” Mike?
  6. What famous New York arena is nicknamed “The World’s Most Famous Arena”?
  7. What NHL hockey team plays at Madison Square Garden?
  8. What marathon is run through all five NYC boroughs?
  9. What TV show opens with a shot of the Manhattan skyline and a fountain scene?
  10. What popular sitcom was set mostly in an NYC apartment building on the Upper West Side?

✅ New York Trivia Answers

Geography & General Facts – Answers:

  1. Albany
  2. Hudson River
  3. Oneida Lake
  4. Niagara Falls
  5. Adirondack Mountains
  6. Five
  7. Queens
  8. Manhattan
  9. The Empire State
  10. Liberty Island

History – Answers:

  1. 1788
  2. Theodore Roosevelt
  3. New Amsterdam
  4. The Duke of York
  5. 9/11 Terrorist Attacks
  6. The purchase of Manhattan from the Lenape people
  7. Erie Canal
  8. Federal Hall
  9. Empire State Building
  10. Ellis Island

Culture, Food & Tourism – Answers:

  1. Central Park
  2. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
  3. Empire State Building
  4. Thin crust, large slices, foldable
  5. Bagel
  6. Yellow taxi cab
  7. Broadway
  8. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
  9. SoHo
  10. FAO Schwarz

Sports & Entertainment – Answers:

  1. New York Yankees and New York Mets
  2. New York Giants (and Jets)
  3. U.S. Open (Tennis)
  4. Brooklyn Nets
  5. Mike Tyson
  6. Madison Square Garden
  7. New York Rangers
  8. New York City Marathon
  9. Friends
  10. Seinfeld