how many days to visit new york

How Many Days in New York is Enough? Itinerary & Tips

How many days in New York will be enough?

If you’re planning a trip to New York, keep on reading to discover the answer to this question. I will be proposing New York itineraries that you can adapt, as well as the best tips for enjoying the best of the Big Apple.

So, let’s get started!

Table of Contents

How many days in New York?

How long should you spend in New York? With 5 days , you will have enough time to visit New York’s main attractions such as Times Square, the Empire State Building, Central Park, and way beyond that.

When’s the best time to visit New York?

The best time to visit New York is during the spring months when the weather is pleasant and there are fewer tourists. The month of December (especially right before the holidays) is a good time to visit too, as the city doubles in charm for the Christmas season.

Giant Christmas ornaments on 6th Avenue, New York City

New York in 1 day

In need of a 24-hour NYC itinerary? Well, if your schedule only allows for one day in New York, the obvious answer would be to stick to Manhattan.

You might want to start with a visit to Rockefeller Center , a huge building complex that is commonly featured in films and TV shows. On its 70th floor is the Top of the Rock Observation Deck , undoubtedly one of the best spots for panoramic city views.

If you’re a fan of art, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) isn’t too far away. Considered the best modern art museum in the world, MoMA houses some of the most significant masterpieces. This includes Van Gogh’s “ Starry Night “, Salvador Dalí’s “ The Persistence of Memory ” and Andy Warhol’s “ Campbell’s Soup Cans “.

Head uptown to Central Park , New York’s largest urban park, and also one of the local’s favorite places for sightseeing, sunbathing, or sports.

Besthesday Fountain, Central Park, New York City

Next to Central Park is the notorious American Museum of Natural History , with a collection of over 35 million objects, the largest in the world. Due to a lack of space, not all objects are showcased at the same time.

Avoid queues and buy your ticket online, as you’ll surely want to enjoy the view atop the Empire State Building at sunset when the whole city starts lighting up like a Christmas tree.

The legendary Times Square is, of course, meant to be visited at night, when the heart of New York city flashes its hundreds of glowing posters and signs. Located at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue, this is the liveliest part of Manhattan and a great place to grab a slice of NY-style pizza.

New York in 2-3 days

If you’re planning a New York itinerary for 2 or 3 days, then straying a little further away from the island of Manhattan might be a good idea.

On your second day, I advise you to start your morning by seeing the grand Statue of Liberty , NYC’s symbol of political freedom and independence. It’s located on Liberty Island and to get there you must take the ferry from the Battery Park pier, in downtown Manhattan. If time allows, also consider stopping by Ellis Island (the ferry’s following stop after Liberty) and visiting the Immigration Museum.

Whilst in the area, you can visit the World Trade Center , rebuilt after the terrorist attacks of September 11. The main building’s observatory (One World Trade Center) allows you to contemplate a spectacular yet historical and emotionally heavy landscape of its surroundings. There’s also the 9/11 Museum , which pays tribute to all who lost their lives in the attacks, and a remarkable Memorial , where two stunning waterfalls fill the spaces of the missing Twin Towers.

As you’re headed into the Brooklyn district, make sure to walk around Brooklyn Heights where illustrious figures like Truman Capote once lived. A great place to grab a good cup of coffee and take sensational pictures is the DUMBO neighborhood. The epicenter of NYC’s art scene, it’s known for its cobbled streets and converted warehouse buildings.

Experience a shopping spree like no other on New York’s popular 5th Avenue , also known as Millionaire’s Row . The most important commercial area on this street is located near Central Park, where you’ll find high-end stores like Tiffany’s or Cartier.

Besides the luxury stores and boutiques, you’ll also find major landmarks on 5th Avenue, such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral , New York’s Public Library , and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (or just the Met), which is home to classical treasures by the hands of legendary artists Monet, Cézanne and Rembrandt.

New York in 4-5 days

When planning an itinerary for 4 days in New York (or the recommended 5 days), it is wise to move away from touristic places and visit places where locals hang instead. You’ll also have time to check out some unusual activities in New York .

Grand Central Terminal is a great place to start! Opened in February 1913 and renovated in 1998, the Grand Central Terminal is one of New York’s architectural gems. It managed to survive for almost a century while preserving its original style. It’s a mandatory stop; it’s not only one of the most famous train stations in the country but also in the world.

Estimated to be worth as much as $20 million, the Grand Central Information Booth Clock is the protagonist of the terminal

A few streets up is Madison Square Garden , NYC’s most important stadium. With a capacity for over 20,000 people, the Garden was once the mecca for box aficionados. Nowadays, the most important sporting events here are basketball and ice hockey. There are three professional teams that have this stadium as their base of operations: New York Knicks (basketball), New York Liberty (women’s basketball), and New York Rangers (ice hockey), so it’s not unusual to see swarms of people wandering around sporting their team’s jersey on a match day.

Manhattan is subdivided into several distinct neighborhoods, each with its very own charms and personality. Let’s take a look at the 4 most influential!

Chinatown is home to many of the Asians residing in New York. It’s where Chinese immigrants came together to defend their rights and protect themselves from racism. The vast majority of the original settlers arrived from Guangdong and Hong Kong. The origin of the neighborhood and its most important street is Mott Street , where you can taste delightful authentic Chinese food.

North of Chinatown and separated from it by Canal Street, Little Italy is the small neighborhood where the first Italian immigrants began to settle. The most important street in Little Italy is Mulberry Street , once the epicenter of the Italian mafia, but now home to the best Italian restaurants and cafes.

Soho (South of Houston) is one of the nicest neighborhoods in New York, located west of Little Italy and known for its trendy boutiques and restaurants. With the prohibition of the 20s and 30s, Soho was full of seemingly normal establishments (such as restaurants, barbershops, restaurants, grocery shops) that actually gave way to secret rooms – the speakeasies . Nowadays, these hidden bars have retained their essence and are a great attraction of New York’s Soho.

In Lower Manhattan, there’s Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal Street), one of the most bohemian and expensive neighborhoods in New York City. It originated when Soho’s popularity and (consequently) rents began to rise, causing artists and young talents to move. Today, Tribeca is considered a trendy neighborhood, filled with shops, art galleries, bars, and restaurants.

New York in 6-7 days

If your stay in New York amounts to one week, then it might be a good idea to explore all five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island) and even go beyond those.

Perhaps embark on a New York road trip to see the Niagara Falls , said to be one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world, or try your luck at Atlantic City , also known as the Las Vegas of the East Coast.

Here are a few other options for great day trips:

Washington DC
Philadelphia
Long Island

Getting around New York

New York’s public transport network is very efficient and allows you to move around the city quickly, economically, and comfortably.

The New York subway is one of the most famous in the world and is certainly the best means of transport in the Big Apple. It has nearly 500 stations in its 26 lines, named with numbers and letters.

Bus lines are composed of a number and a letter. The letter indicates the district where it circulates: Manhattan (M), Brooklyn (B), Queens (Q), Bronx (Bx), and Staten Island (S). They are a very practical option if you do not wish to take the subway.

The famed NYC yellow taxi cabs are spacious, comfortable, and clean. Some even have screens for your entertainment, including a GPS feature so you can make sure your driver is not taking you through the long route.

Although buses still allow cash payments (only the exact amount), to use the subway you’ll need a Metrocard . There are two purchase options: the Pay-Per-Ride or Unlimited Ride Metrocard.

Travel tips for New York

Catch a Broadway show : Make sure to get some tickets in advance as prices get really hiked up and some shows get completely sold out.

Shop at Macy’s : The Herald Square location covers an entire block and it’s a great department store for international tourists to shop at as you can easily get a tax refund just by showing your passport.

Look into free activities : If you’re on a tight budget, don’t worry. There are plenty of free things to do in New York , from walking on the Highline to hunting down murals in Soho.

Get some street food : Hot dogs, bagels, and pizza are commonly seen on street stalls. They’re a tasty and economical alternative to the overpriced restaurants near the main attractions.

Don’t forget to tip : In the United States, tips aren’t really optional but considered mandatory. It’s customary to tip around 10%-20%, and some restaurants even include the tip on the bill! – the so-called “ gratuity “.

Get the New York Pass : As most attractions in this city are paid, getting the New York Pass will definitely help you save some big bucks and avoid long, annoying waiting lines.

Other NYC FAQ

Is 3 days enough in New York? It’s possible to see the major attractions of New York in just three days. However, you’ll end up doing a fast-paced tour of Manhattan and you’ll miss loads of exciting sights.

Can you do New York in 4 days? 4 days is nearly perfect. You can visit sights around Manhattan and Brooklyn. You can also discover interesting neighborhoods like Chinatown and Tribeca.

Is 10 days too long in New York? It’s more than enough to visit pretty much everything worth visiting in New York, while still allowing yourself some downtime to enjoy the views.

Also Read: 25 Things New York Is Famous For

How many days in New York is enough? – Pin it!

The Ultimate 5 to 7 Days in New York Itinerary

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Building the perfect New York City itinerary is no easy task. The Big Apple is loaded with things to do and landmarks to explore—choosing the ones to fill your 5 to 7 days in New York City might seem near impossible. That’s where we can help.

Here, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about your visit to NYC, from logistics to cannot-miss landmarks to lesser-known sites. Keep reading to get in the inside scoop on what to do in NYC and how to do it.

Table of Contents

How Many Days in New York City?

When asked how many days to spend in New York City, most people would say that no time is ever enough. The city is always on the move, introducing new landmarks and things to so all the time.

However, visitors experiencing the city for the first time should try to spend a minimum of 5 days in New York City. This will give you enough time to hit the highlights and see some of the best parts of the city, albeit with a very packed itinerary.

If you have 7 days in New York City, you’ll have plenty of time to check out the key neighborhoods of Manhattan as well as venture into the other boroughs. WIth a week in New York, you could head to Coney Island or spend a full afternoon lounging in Central Park.

No matter how you choose to spend your time, your New York City itinerary can be as full or relaxed as you want.

Getting To & Around New York City

As the largest city in the country, you have several convenient options for how to get to the city. There are three airports nearby: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark. Both JFK and LaGuardia are located in Queens.

Newark is located across the Hudson River from Manhattan in New Jersey. You can take public transportation to and from the airports, but several transfers will be required. Taxis and rideshares are also available. Plan a minimum of one hour of travel time and always check the traffic conditions.

New York is also accessible via train from a number of cities on the east coast within a few hours, including Boston , Philadelphia and Washington DC – so you don’t have to fly to reach NYC. You can view train schedules here.

Once you’ve made it into the heart of the city, by far the best way to get around is the subway. NYC’s thorough subway system will easily get you anywhere you need to go.

When choosing where you stay, try to pick an accommodation within walking distance of a major station. This will make getting around far more convenient. You can purchase a one-week unlimited subway card or pay per ride. In a pinch, taxis and rideshare services are readily available.

5 to 7 Days in New York City Itinerary

Most of the landmarks on a New York City itinerary are located in Manhattan. We recommend spending a day in Brooklyn and one day venturing beyond NYC.

Mix and match items from this itinerary to create the one that’s perfect for your visit—these are the highlights as well as a few lesser-known sites. If you plan to visit a lot of attractions, consider purchasing the New York City Pass for combined entry into many tourist attractions.

Day 1 – Downtown NYC

Statue of liberty.

Spend your first day in New York City by paying a visit to one of the city’s most iconic landmarks: the Statue of Liberty.

The statue was a gift from France after the American Civil War ended. It became a National Monument in 1924. Lady Liberty, as she’s colloquially called, sits on Liberty Island just off the tip of Manhattan.

As a visitor, you must reserve a ticket to hop on the ferry that will take you to the island. Once there, you can walk around the island, listen to an audio tour, and even climb up into the statue’s torch.

It’s usually pretty busy as it’s one of the most popular sites to see in New York, so try to visit first thing in the morning to beat the crowds.

Ellis Island

Most visitors will visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island in one go. The two are located fairly close to each other and are reached by the same ferry. Ellis Island is the famous immigration station that welcomed over 12 million immigrants to the country.

Today, the island serves as a museum and historical landmark that’s been expertly preserved. Ellis Island opened in 1892 and ceased operation in 1954. It was left untouched for 30 years before being turned into a museum in 1990.

We highly recommend you reserve an audio tour. It provides excellent contextual information and skillfully guides you through the buildings on the island. You can even look up ancestors of yours who might’ve passed through Ellis Island in the archives.

You can book tickets here to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in conjunction.

Battery Park

Battery Park, or the Battery, is the slice of green space that sits on the very tip of Manhattan. Here is the jumping-off point to take the ferry to Ellis Island and Liberty Island. It’s a nice place to stroll or relax after spending a morning visiting some of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

If you visit during lunchtime, prepare to see many New Yorkers dressed in official business attire having lunch and walking through the park. It’s located right next to Wall Street, which is where you’re headed next.

Wall Street and the Charging Bull

The New York Stock Exchange is located just off Battery Park and is worth a visit as you walk by. Tours of the stock exchange are no longer permitted, but you can walk up to the building and take a photo of the iconic pillared marble building.

Don’t leave the area without first visiting the Charging Bull of Wall Street. This bronze statue was built in 1989 and depicts a bull preparing to charge. It was meant to represent the country’s financial optimism and growth.

Governor’s Island

You’ve done a lot on your first day in New York City, but there is one more place to visit that is located near Lower Manhattan. If you’re not tired of taking boat rides, head over to Governor’s Island. This former coast guard base closed to save money in the mid-90s.

However, the buildings and green spaces have been preserved for visitors to enjoy. Few tourists make their way to Governor’s Island. From the dock, you can walk a short paved path to the top of a small hill to get excellent views of Lower Manhattan.

Due to how few people visit, you can certainly grab a picnic spot with a great view. It’s a great stop before or after dinner.

Day 2 – Ground Zero, Times Square & Broadway

National september 11 memorial & museum.

You’re kicking off day 2 in New York City with a visit to Ground Zero. The National September 11 Memorial consists of two fountains located where the original Twin Towers stood before the 9/11 attacks. The memorial is free and open to the public every day of the week.

Take your time walking around the fountains. The 9/11 museum opened a few years after the memorials. It’s located right next to the memorial and you can purchase tickets in advance or onsite.

In the museum, you’ll walk through the events leading up to, during, and after the attack as well as pay homage to everyone who lost their lives on that day.

One World Observatory

Located right next to the 9/11 memorial is the One World Trade Center. At its top, you can find the One World Observatory.

Here, you’ll find excellent views of Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. Try to purchase your tickets in advance to save you some time on site.

Upon arrival, head to the Sky Pod Elevator. It’ll take you to the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floors that provide exceptional 360-degree views. On a clear day, visitors can see up to 45 miles in every direction.

Make sure to check the weather the day that you’re planning to visit to ensure it’ll be clear enough for a good view.

Times Square

Once you’ve wrapped up in Lower Manhattan, hop on the subway and head straight to the iconic Times Square. Among all the top things to do in New York City, Times Square is consistently listed among the top.

Here, you’ll walk through one of the world’s busiest pedestrian areas surrounded by towering screens that light up the area. At the tip, look closely to see the famous ball that drops every year on New Year’s Eve to ring in the new year.

You can find several options for shopping and talented street performers. Walk around and see the iconic sites, but don’t leave without seeing a show on Broadway.

The Broadway Theater District sits right next to Times Square. It’s the heart of American commercial theatre. Here is where some of the most famous musicals like The Lion King , Chicago , Wicked , and more began and are still performed today.

If you have time it’s well worth it to see a show. You can opt for a matinee or evening performance. Tickets range widely in price but generally tend to be more expensive during the weekend and evening.

It’s very important that you reserve a ticket as far in advance as possible for your New York City itinerary.

Day 3 – Midtown Manhattan Highlights

Empire state building.

The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic skyscrapers in NYC’s skyline and a must-see during your 5 days in New York City. This 102-story Art Deco building was built in Midtown between 1930 and 1931.

The view from the observation deck on the 102nd floor is a popular attraction for tourists. Visitors will get exceptional views of lower Manhattan, including One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty.

Even if you don’t want to go all the way to the top, take a peek into the lobby to admire its interior design made famous by countless movies and television shows. You can purchase tickets here.

Bryant Park

Take a midday break to relax in Bryant Park. On a warm summer day, the park is filled with locals and visitors. Street markets and fairs are a common sight here. During the winter, the park is transformed into a winter market with a large ice skating rink.

Grab a bite nearby and head to the park to relax. Bryant Park is located about a ten-minute walk from the Empire State Building and directly in front of the New York Public Library if you want to pop inside.

Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock

You might be familiar with Rockefeller Center from its many references in popular culture. It’s near the Radio City Music Hall, showcases the gold Prometheus statue, and is home to the famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree during the holidays.

Visitors can reserve a tour of Rockefeller Center or purchase tickets to visit the Top of the Rock.

The Top of the Rock is the observation deck at the top of Rockefeller Center. It’s heralded as one of the best views of New York City. Plan to spend about an hour at the site and take in the view.

Grand Central Station

Walk about ten minutes toward the East River and you’ll shortly arrive at Grand Central Station. This is the largest train station in the world, spread over 49 acres with 44 platforms and 67 tracks across two levels.

Construction began in 1903 and took ten years to complete before officially opening its doors to the public. The main hall is one of the most impressive parts of the station. This massive concourse sports a giant four-sided brass clock and a ceiling covered with constellations.

During your visit, find the Whisper Gallery. Because of how the arches here were built, two people can stand on opposite sides of the hall and whisper into the corners. The sound carries and the two people can speak even when the terminal is at its busiest.

Day 4 – Central Park & NYC Museums

Central park.

New York City’s Central Park was one of the earliest urban parks built and influenced other cities nationwide to do the same. It’s a lovely collection of fields, forested spaces, ponds, and museums.

Here, you can comfortably spend a few hours watching baseball games, lounging in the grass, or walking through the countless trails and paved paths. If you want to see more than one area of the park, the best way to get around is on a bike.

You can rent a bike nearby or take a bike tour . Don’t forget to stop by Bethesda Terrace with the famous fountain and square that you’ve most likely seen in movies. There are also walking tours if you prefer.

American Museum of Natural History

As the largest national history museum in the world, a visit to the American Museum of Natural History should be added to your NYC itinerary. The museum is spread across four city blocks with about 25 connected buildings.

Here you’ll wander through several exhibits ranging from fossils to marine life. The museum is located on the west side of Central Park.

Some highlights during your visit might include a visit to the Hayden Planetarium, seeing the giant blue whale hanging from the ceiling, the butterfly conservatory, and much more.

You can buy tickets in advance here or organise a guided tour.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Take a lunch break before making your way to the other side of Central Park to visit another iconic NYC museum: the Met. The Metropolitan Museum of Art contains art from some of the world’s most famous artists.

It’s the largest art museum in the Americas and it’s home to over two million pieces of art throughout 17 different departments, ranging from classic art to musical instruments. It’s located along the Museum Mile, the stretch of museums along the eastern side of Central Park.

You can easily spend a few hours wandering this museum. It’s highly recommended that you purchase a ticket in advance as the entrance line can be long. Don’t forget to visit the rooftop bar and restaurant before leaving for excellent views of Central Park. It is also possible to take a guided tour of the museum.

Day 5 – Explore Brooklyn

Brooklyn bridge.

Kick off your fifth day in New York City by heading toward Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Bridge is your first stop. It’s perhaps the most famous bridge in the city, connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn over the East River.

It was the first suspension bridge to use steel for its cable wire and was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time that it was built.

The walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is just over one mile and worth it for the unique views one gets of the bridge by walking across it. It’s a perfect way to start your day heading over to Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Once you walk across the entirety of the Brooklyn Bridge, you’ll find yourself in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Here is one of the best parks for locals and visitors alike. It can get busy, but you’re rewarded with exceptional views of Manhattan.

From here you can also explore famous neighbourhoods in Brooklyn like Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights. Walk along the riverfront promenade to take in the great views, grab a bite to eat at a restaurant along the river, or do some shopping. You can also take a walking tour of the area.

Depending on the time of year, markets and events might be happening in the park.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Continue venturing into Brooklyn by paying a visit to the botanical garden. By far the best time to visit the garden is in the spring. During this time of year, the cherry trees are blooming, along with the garden’s 52 other species of plants and flowers.

There are both indoor and outdoor gardens and greenhouses that are open year-round.

After visiting the garden, go for a walk in Prospect Park and visit the boathouse. There are forested trails, giant fields, and a path that takes you around the entire park.

Day 6 – Chelsea & the Flatiron District

Walk the high line.

If you’re looking for a break from the more touristy activities in New York City, head over to Chelsea to walk along the High Line. Built on a former New York Central Railroad spur, this 1.5-mile-long elevated trail is filled with lush greenery and places to relax to enjoy the sites.

Along the walk, you’ll run into several outdoor art installations in between great views of the New York skyline. It takes most visitors 30 minutes to one hour to walk the entire High Line. Once you’re done, hopefully, you’ve worked up an appetite, so you can head to Chelsea Market.

Chelsea Market and Little Island

Seated squarely in the heart of the Meatpacking District is Chelsea Market. This shopping mall and food hall is an excellent stop if you’re looking for some tasty food and souvenirs. You’ll find everything from gelato to Thai food.

The market opened in 1997 and has gradually evolved into its current iteration over the years. We recommend you stop in for lunch or an afternoon snack before heading to Little Island. If you want to explore with a guide, you can organise a tour of the area.

Little Island is a relatively new addition to Manhattan’s list of attractions. This public park protrudes into the Hudson River. Flowers, greenery, and walking paths fill the area. Maybe take your food from Chelsea Market and have a picnic on Little Island. It’s about a ten-minute walk from the market.

Take some time to slow down in the city that never sleeps and relax in one of the city’s newest features.

Union Square and Flatiron Building

7 days in New York City wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Flatiron Building. This building is unique in its shape–it stands at 22 stories and it is shaped like a triangle.

Over the years, the Flatiron has been used as a hotel, offices, and apartment buildings. It’s had many owners and has been put up for auction more than once. Visitors can’t go inside the building, but admiring it from outside is the best view.

A short walk from the Flatiron Building brings you to Union Square. It’s one of the most lively squares in all of NYC. Here you’ll find a major train station that will get you wherever you need to go. But first, you should take a walk around the square.

Depending on the time of year, this square is filled with vendors selling holiday crafts or fresh produce. Street performers and people playing chess are also everywhere. The Strand, NYC’s famous bookstore, is also a few blocks away.

Day 7 – Coney Island or Rockaway Beach

Coney island.

You’ve probably heard of Coney Island and those seeing New York in 7 days will likely have the time to pay it a visit. This amusement park and beach combination is located in the southwestern part of Brooklyn. You can easily reach it by subway from Manhattan.

Between 1880 and World War II, Coney Island was the largest amusement park in the country. Over the years, it has expanded to become a popular weekend destination for both locals and visitors to New York.

During your visit, you can grab a hot dog at Nathan’s Famous, ride the towering Ferris wheel, or visit the New York Aquarium. You can also just spend an afternoon lounging on the beach.

Rockaway Beach

If you’re looking to spend a day trip out of Manhattan and away from the crowds and long lines, heading to Rockaway Beach is a great option if you’re spending 7 days in NYC.

You’ll never entirely escape large sums of people in New York, but Rockaway Beach is less popular for tourists. It’s located on a narrow peninsula on the southeastern end of Queens that you can easily reach by taking the subway.

You have the option of relaxing on the beach, swimming in select parts of the beach where lifeguards are present, or walking along the boardwalk.

Where to Stay in New York

Broadway Plaza Hotel – Located in midtown close to the iconic Flatiron building, this 3-star hotel makes for an excellent base when visiting New York. They have a number of great rooms available, an excellent location for exploring the top tourist attractions and plenty of amenities on offer for guests. Click here to check availability

Archer Hotel – Those looking for luxury in NYC are going to love this sophisticated midtown hotel. There are a number of modern rooms on offer, a location perfect for exploring all that New York has to offer and a rooftop bar with incredible views of the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings. Click here to check availability

The Wallace Hotel – If you’re looking for a 5-star experience when you visit New York then you’re sure to love this opulent hotel on the Upper West Side. They have a number of plush rooms to choose from and it’s within a stone’s throw of Central Park. Click here to check availability

American Dream Hostel – Travelers visiting NYC on a budget will love this highly-rated hostel in midtown Manhattan. Located within easy reach of attractions like the Empire State Building and the Flatiron Building, they have dorms and private rooms available along with good common spaces. Click here to check availability

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more New York hotels!

The perfect New York City itinerary is a blend of historic landmarks and sites unique to NYC. In this ever-changing and vibrant city, you’ll have plenty of amazing ways to spend your time.

Are you planning a trip to New York? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

10 Best Stops on a Portland to San Francisco Road Trip

The Perfect Santa Barbara Day Trip Itinerary

Arches vs Canyonlands: Which National Park to Visit?

About Audrey Webster

Audrey Webster is a writer for The World Was Here First. She is an Oregon native who has visited countries across the globe and currently spends her weekends exploring the Pacific Northwest and surrounding states. Her approach to traveling combines exploring famous tourist sites and wandering off the beaten path to discover new destinations.

The Ultimate 3 Days in New York City Itinerary (2024 Guide)

Last Updated: May 6, 2024

If you’re looking for the perfect 3 days in New York City itinerary to make the most of your first time in the Big Apple, then this is the one for you!

The Big Apple, the city that never sleeps, the capital of the world – No matter how you’ve heard it called, there’s no denying that New York City is one of the most vibrant and fascinating cities on the planet.

Visiting this cosmopolitan metropolis has been a lifetime goal for millions of people around the world. With the bright lights of Times Square, the freedom the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island represent and the human element of everybody trying to make it big here on Hollywood movies and TV screens for decades.

There’s something incredible about exploring New York City’s many neighbourhoods, districts, and attractions that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States, or in most cities around the world.

Table of Contents

One World Observatory

9/11 memorial museum, battery park, statue of liberty and ellis island, wall street, cross the brooklyn bridge, brooklyn bridge park, get dinner in dumbo, take a walk on the high line, empire state building, american museum of natural history, metropolitan museum of art, central park, fifth avenue, see a broadway show, times square, little italy, new york city hall, greenwich village, washington square park, madame tussauds, bryant park, st. patrick’s cathedral, rockefeller center, top of the rock, buy a new york citypass, purchase a metrocard, start your days early, walk between places on short distances, best hostel in manhattan – jazz on columbus circle, best mid-range hotel – pod 51 hotel, best luxury hotel in manhattan – hotel giraffe by library collection, the property, what we liked, what we didn’t like, overall impression, how to spend a perfect 3 days in new york city.

Three days in New York City might not be enough to see the entirety of the city – after all, it is enormous – but those 3 days would be just enough to see a lot of its most popular attractions.

Check out our best tips for travel photography to help you capture some amazing pictures of New York City on your trip.

The best way to experience the city on your first trip to New York is to explore its attractions in sections, breaking it up area by area. Manhattan is massive with a lot of things to do, so by dedicating your time to particular locations you will end up with the most efficient use of your limited time here.

If you’ve never been to the Big Apple before and are feeling a bit lost on what to see in New York City in 3 days, we recommend buying the New York CityPASS , as it will give you access to some of the most popular things to see in town at heavily discounted rates.

So without further ado, here is our perfect 3 days in New York City itinerary and travel tips to help you get the most out of your first trip to the city that never sleeps.

Day 1 – Morning

After enjoying a delicious New York City breakfast (go either as big or as small as you like), it’s time to jump on the famous New York Subway and head to WTC Cortland Station.

It’s from here that you’ll begin the first activity of your 3-day New York itinerary.

The One World Observatory was officially opened in 2015 as the replacement to the Twin Towers that made up the World Trade Centre, and since then it receives thousands of visitors every single day.

It’s one of the best ways to start your three days in New York because you’ll be observing the city in all its majesty from the 100th, 101st and 102nd stories of the tallest building in the western hemisphere (a dizzying 1776 feet, or 541 metres, high).

Make sure to arrive as early as possible, since this is a very popular attraction and the lines can get pretty long. The wait is worth it though, and on a clear day you’ll have amazing views of the entire city (and beyond).

We recommend purchasing your tickets ahead of time though , so you can get the priority express lane and avoid any queues. Buy them for a discounted price here .

Once you’re done with the One World Observatory, you should head on immediately to the 9/11 Memorial Museum, which is just around the corner.

This is one of those museums that’s regularly packed with people, so get as early as possible to try and beat the crowds that will undoubtedly form.

The 911 Memorial is a very memorable site, and it feels quite distressing to learn more about the event that completely shook the world. No matter your views, it’s a tragic part of history.

Despite the confronting imagery and stories, you can easily spend hours there, so be sure to take that into account when planning your New York City itinerary.

If you have a personal connection to the tragedy of 9/11, or just want to pay your respects, you might want to set aside an entire morning just for this place.

We’ve been to a lot of museums and memorials around the world, and the 911 Memorial was honestly one of the most well thought out and moving museums we have been to.

Once you’re finished, be sure to check out the 9/11 Memorial Site outside, as it’s also a fascinating attraction in its own right.

The 9/11 Museum is included in your New York CityPASS.

Spending 3 days in New York City without seeing the stunning architectural wonder of The Oculus would be a shame.

It’s a beautiful reimagining and replacement of the previous PATH train station that was destroyed during 9/11, and is only a few steps away from the 911 Memorial and museum site.

This futuristic train station also serves as a shopping mall and plaza, so you’ll surely spend a lot of time looking around.

It’s a great way to wind down before going out to grab a bite to eat and continue on with your exploration of New York City.

Day 1 – Afternoon

After you grab some lunch from one of the many diners around the area (or you can grab a hot dog or something quick on the go from the street vendors), it’s time to continue the sightseeing.

You’re sure to love the afternoon, as you’re going to visit one of the most famous places in the entire city.

Take a short walk to the southernmost part of Manhattan and the famous Battery Park, which is where tour ferries operate to take you to visit Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Battery Park has some amazing views of the waterfront and is a great place to stroll through.

Although it’s a generally relaxing place where many people simply walk around or chill out on the grass, you can also find a few attractions to visit.

There’s the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Skyscraper Museum, which are great places to see in New York City if they pique your interest.

There are some unique artistic installations in Battery Park too, such as the beautiful sculpture called The Sphere.

Battery Park itself is free to enter, but some of the attractions have entrance fees.

If you’re just walking through Battery Park it will only take you a few minutes, then head down to the ferry dock and get ready to cruise over to the Statue of Liberty.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island will take most of your afternoon, but it’s one of the most satisfying places to see in the city.

The Statue of Liberty is one of those true New York City icons, with the famous ‘Lady Liberty’ representing freedom and opportunity for millions of overseas immigrants throughout the years.

Sent over as a gift to the US from France in the 19th century, the State of Liberty was dedicated on October 28th, 1886 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is a must-do during your New York City itinerary. So get in line and use your New York CityPASS to grab your included ticket.

Everyone that embarks on the ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands will have to pass through security, which as you can imagine is a very important deal here.

Once you’re on the boat it’s a quick trip over to Liberty Island, where you can jump off to walk around the famous statue, and even climb up to the viewing platform if you’d like.

The next stop is Ellis Island, home to a fascinating museum dedicated to the city’s history of immigration.

Even if you have no intention of going to Liberty Island, you’ll still have to stop there before going to Ellis Island.

This is one of the most popular and must see attractions in the city so be prepared for large crowds. Both Liberty Island and Ellis Island are great experiences, so make sure to give yourself adequate time to explore both of them.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is included in your CityPASS!

Statue Of Liberty 3 Days In New York City

Once you’re back from your great tour to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island it’s time to hit up another major New York City attraction – Wall Street!

You have no doubt heard of Wall Street, as it is the financial hub of the entire US and features in hundreds of Hollywood movies and TV shows.

So what is there to do on Wall Street?

First up spots like the statue of George Washington and the Federal Hall National Monument are pretty interesting sights to check out.

The New York Stock Exchange is another fascinating place to see on Wall Street, so you definitely shouldn’t skip out on it in your 3 days in New York City.

Unfortunately, you can’t enter the Stock Exchange (unless you are a registered stockbroker!), but the building itself is pretty impressive from the outside too.

But the number one thing to do on Wall Street is to get your photo with the famous Charging Bull!

This must see bronze sculpture is extremely popular (arguably one of the most iconic sculptures in the entire city), and you’ll find dozens of excited tourists crowded around trying to get their snap with the bull that represents market optimism.

If you’re feeling peckish at this point there are tonnes of other eateries around Wall Street, so grab a snack to take you into the evening.

Keen to learn more while you’re here? Definitely check out this fantastic tour with a Wall Street insider !

Day 1 – Evening

By now the sun should be getting low on the horizon, and it’s time to go check out New York’s funkier, hipster town away from the island of Manhattan – Brooklyn.

Starting from Wall Street it’s only a short walk to get to the Brooklyn Bridge on the east side of Lower Manhattan. And no NYC itinerary would be complete without walking it.

The pedestrian walkway is a little over a mile long and is kept separate from the zipping cars on your side, so you can wander across safely.

Once you start the walk over the Brooklyn Bridge you’ll probably want to take your time though for two reasons.

First, the crossing is something you’ll probably want to savour for the views. And second, the crowds on the Brooklyn Bridge are likely hectic (plus you’ll have to watch out for cyclists).

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge is a perfect way to ease into the evening at the end of your first day in New York City.

Once you’ve made it over the Brooklyn Bridge, head to the west and start your exploration of the amazing borough of Brooklyn, which is one of the best places you must see when you visit New York in 3 days.

We’re going to start with walking around Brooklyn Bridge Park, which has been revitalised in recent times and is now one of the trendiest spots in town.

It stretches 85 acres along the Hudson River, on the west side of Brooklyn, and there are constant events happening there.

However as you’re there at night, the best thing to do is simply sit down and enjoy the view, which has some of the best vistas of the New York City skyline.

When you’ve finished taking pictures of the NYC skyline walk back to the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge and check out the cool area of DUMBO.

DUMBO (which stands for Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is a great neighbourhood to check out, and from here, you’ll have some of the finest views of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.

The best thing to do when you are down here is simply walking around and soak in the atmosphere.

This is also the best spot to grab dinner before ending the first awesome day of your 3-day New York City itinerary.

Jump on the Subway to head back to your hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Day 2 – Morning

Make sure you set the alarm early today so you can have a nice breakfast, then continue your adventures in New York City.

We’re going to start the day with a pleasant walk through one of New York’s most surprising and chilled out places – The High Line. To get there take the Subway to 34th Street-Penn Station or 23rd Street Station and walk west.

The High Line is an attraction you wouldn’t want to miss, especially if your goal is to get away from the hustle and bustle New York City is known for a brief while.

This elevated pedestrian walkway is a public park built on what used to be an old freight rail line, and with its high platforms twisting around a small part of Manhattan it’s delightfully peaceful compared to the traffic below.

During the summer months, the High Line turns into a garden oasis of sorts, lined with plenty of gardens and flowers that are maintained by volunteers.

It’s a brilliant way to see a different side of New York City that is loved by locals and tourists alike. The walk won’t take you too long, and 30 minutes should be plenty of time to see most of it.

You can start your walk from a number of different entry points, but we began ours from the Hudson Yards railway area.

Grab a taxi or walk the 1 mile to the Empire State Building for a step back into New York history from atop one of the most famous buildings in the world.

The Empire State Building opens up at 8 am, and we recommend you arrive right around then to beat the crowds, as it’s one of the most popular attractions in New York.

A single hour can mean the entire difference between waiting in a long line or breezing right on in.

The Empire State Building is like the Statue of Liberty, in that it is an emblem that most people instantly associate with New York City, and it features in plenty of postcards and movies of Manhattan.

Use your New York CityPASS to skip the ticket line and head straight through the photo and story gallery, before jumping in an elevator to take you to the observation deck on the 102nd floor.

Gazing at the city under you from atop the Empire State Building observation deck is one of best things to do in New York City in 3 days.

As crazy, hectic and loud as New York City is, there’s a certain feeling of calmness as you’re looking at the sprawling city from way up in the sky.

Besides the views, you’ll also have the chance to learn all about the construction of what was the tallest building in the world when completed in 1931.

The whole experience should take you about an hour if you read all of the information dotted around the place. Don’t forget to climb to the very top of the observation deck for your photos.

Visiting the Empire State Building is included in your CityPASS!

Jump back on the Subway (B Line) and take a ride to the American Museum of Natural History – one of the most important museums in New York City.

This museum is one enormous complex comprised of over two dozen interconnected buildings.

It’s such a giant house of knowledge that even if you dedicate an entire year of your life, you still won’t have time to see everything in it.

The museum holds tens of millions of different items on display, and you’ll find some of the most fascinating bits of human and natural history here.

You’ll learn about Lucy, one of our ancestors from millions of years ago, as well as the Great Blue Whale, the rainforests, and so much more.

This museum is so massive and enthralling, you’ll want to stay for days. Our best recommendation to tackle it is to just pick a handful of exhibits that really interest you and focus on those, as you won’t be able to see everything in just a few hours.

Visiting the American Museum of Natural History is included in your CityPASS!

Day 2 – Afternoon

You can choose to grab lunch in the American Museum of Natural History, from one of the many street vendors scattered around the place, or wait until you wander over to The Met on the east side of Central Park, which is your next stop.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (commonly referred to as ‘The Met’) is one of the most visited art galleries in the world and housed in a stunning building constructed in 1874.

The Met has over 250,000 works of art on display and it showcases over 5,000 years of art.

Here you’ll find works from Ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages, and even Japan, but also American Art from the 17 th century to the present day.

This museum is a place you can get lost in for hours and you’ll definitely want to go back again in the future to explore it a bit more.

This was honestly one of the best art galleries we have ever visited.

Visiting the Met is included in your CityPASS!

Considered as New York’s backyard, Central Park is absolutely one of the most iconic spots in the entire city.

After spending several hours in the nearby museums, you’ll definitely want to get out into nature and wander around this sprawling, scenic park.

Located right in the centre of Manhattan, in what is obviously prime and expensive real estate, it’s amazing to see that New York has prioritised keeping the city’s loveliest scenery.

From the Strawberry Fields, the Belvedere Castle, to the Zoo, there’s no shortage of things to see in Central Park.

No matter your plans for a trip to the Big Apple, you must see Central Park during your 3 days in New York City.

If you’re into shopping and fashion, then you absolutely need to visit the legendary Fifth Avenue, just across the road from the east side of Central Park.

You’ll find every kind of high-end fashion brand here, from Chanel to Luis Vuitton, and if your budget allows then you’ll probably end up walking away with something that will set you back way more money than you’ll want to think about.

Most tourists spend a lot of time just window-shopping this upper east side destination, as you’ll find some of the finest items in the entirety of New York City without having to spend a dime.

Day 2 – Evening

You’re probably tired after a massive day of sightseeing, but it’s not time to head to bed just yet, because there’s still plenty of amazing things to do on this New York City 3-day itinerary.

Visiting Broadway should be a must for any trip to NYC, and no matter how tired you are, always make sure to check a show if possible.

Here you’ll have some of the most memorable moments from your New York itinerary for 3 days.

However, if you do plan to catch a show, make sure you are well prepared because the best shows sometimes book out months in advance.

If you haven’t had a chance to grab tickets beforehand, or if you don’t have the budget to spend USD$200 for a show, check out the website Broadway for Broke People , where they have ticket lotteries every day.

After your Broadway show, you should definitely head on to Times Square, as it’s the place where New York’s energy truly comes to life.

It is not actually a square, but rather a spot where 7 th Avenue and Broadway intersect and create the surrounding four quarters.

No trip to NYC is complete without visiting Times Square, making it one of the most touristy spots in New York, and the bright lights are the main appeal for people who have constantly seen this place plastered all over TV screens.

You’ll find a lot of street performers working off tips, churches performing gospels, expensive but amazing restaurants, and so much more.

Even if you don’t want to take part in the current of people and energy, you can always sit down and watch the crowds of people.

To be completely honest we really disliked Times Square, as we felt it was just bright commercial lights with far too many advertisements and people around.

However we did a survey on our Instagram to see if anybody else liked the place and almost 50% said they loved Times Square, so head there for yourself and make your own judgment call.

Day 3 – Morning

Today is your last day in New York City and we’re going to spend exploring some of the best neighbourhoods in Manhattan to get a taste of what the city is really like.

If you don’t have breakfast already organised at your hotel we recommend holding off until you get to your first stop of the morning.

Jump on the Subway and make your way to Canal Street to check out Little Italy.

One of the most common misconceptions people have about Little Italy is that the only thing that’s worth visiting in the place is the amazing food.

In fact, there are plenty of things to see and do in Little Italy that are just as great as anywhere else.

Here, you will also find some of trendiest clothing stores in New York, as well as some of the best bars in the city.

If you’re lucky to catch the annual Feast of San Gennaro held during September, visiting Little Italy will definitely become one of your favourite things to do in New York.

No long weekend in New York is complete without visiting the famous Chinatown, and luckily it is just across Canal Street from Little Italy.

This is a popular spot for everyone as it includes history and community, as well as delicious food.

The entirety of this district feels like one giant attraction, which is very interesting to think about as it’s also the place where the largest Chinese community lives outside of Asia.

Here you’ll find a large number of genuine restaurants, quirky little shops, and street markets with a general sense of community.

Don’t forget to check out some of its many pharmacies to grab unique herbal remedies.

A short 15-minute walk from Chinatown is the City Hall of New York, which happens to be one of the oldest ones in the entire US.

It’s a stunning piece of architecture, and its style is one of the most iconic places in New York City. It’s appeared in a lot of movies and TV shows and is just as famous as many other landmarks in the city.

You can also enter the City Hall for a tour if you’d like, and learn more about its fascinating history.

You’ll find out about the inner workings of New York City’s government as well as the Mayor’s Office and the City Council’s office.

Day 3 – Afternoon

Jump back on the Subway and check out the West Village neighbourhood at the 9th Street Station, and legendary Greenwich Village.

Just like plenty of other locations in New York City, Greenwich Village has appeared in a lot of movies. So if you’re on a mission to visit all of the most famous spots in town, you’ll have to stop by.

The entire village used to be the rundown home of artists and bohemians in the 60’s, and it still counts as one of the trendiest spots in the city.

Today many of the ramshackle units have been replaced with trendy bars, cafes, and restaurants, and lots of amazing music venues, like at Bleecker Street, as well as plenty of unique architecture.

It’s only a 5-minute walk to get to Washington Square Park, where you’ll be greeted by the beautiful marble arch, impressive fountain and lots of lovely, shady trees.

This is a spot where many of New York City’s avant-garde artists gather, a place for people to enjoy games of chess, and you’ll find plenty of joyful children running around.

The famous district of SoHo is quite close too if you didn’t get your shopping fix over on 5th Avenue yesterday.

Jump back on your favourite public transport system, the Subway, and make your way to Times Square to see the surprisingly realistic wax figures of Madame Tussauds (HOT TIP – pre-purchase your entrance ticket for a cheaper price here ).

There is something eerie about standing next to a lifelike sculpture of someone you’re used to reading about or maybe seeing on TV.

However, it’s not only merely about taking selfies with the wax figures as much as it’s about atmosphere and presentation.

Unlike most other types of museums, Madame Tussauds in fact encourages interactivity.

Don’t forget, instead of simply standing idly and looking at the figures from afar, you’re encouraged to touch them, take pictures and do all kinds of funny poses.

Day 3 – Evening

You’ll find no shortage of places to eat around Times Square, so grab your favourite dish before continuing with the exploring.

Your final evening in New York City is going to take you to some beautiful places to see at night, especially if you have to see the bright lights that make the city so unique.

Bryant Park, only a short distance from Times Square, is a relatively calm place considering it’s practically in the centre of Manhattan.

Here you’ll enjoy the huge lawn surrounded by lovely gardens, and it’ll almost feel like you’re in an oasis between the chaos of the city.

While it’s not as green and lush in the colder months, it’s one of the spots in New York City with the best Christmas decorations.

An ice-skating rink is a place you wouldn’t want to miss if you are planning your 3-day trip to New York City in winter.

If you’re trying to figure out what to do in New York City in 3 days and St. Patrick’s Cathedral is not on that list, then you’re missing out on something special.

The cathedral was originally constructed in the second half of the 19 th century in a beautiful (and striking) style. However, due to years of wear and tear, pollution, and acid rain the exterior started to crumble.

The city decided to renovate the gorgeous building, both on the inside and out, and the renovation itself cost around $200 million.

That might seem like a crazy amount of money, but once you step foot inside you’ll know that it was entirely worth it.

It’s a must-see spot that has a lot of intricacies in its design, but it’s also incredibly important, both spiritually and historically.

You absolutely must see it as the sun starts to set and the lights turn on.

Rockefeller Center, just south of Central Park on the east side of Manhattan, is one of the most well-known spots in all of New York City as it houses different and important studios for various networks and programs.

From the NBC building to the Radio City Music Hall and even the American Girls Doll Store, the Rockefeller Center is a place to easily get lost in.

This is also the place where the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon is filmed, and you might be able to join the audience if you’re a fan for a live show.

However, the real reason to visit the Rockefeller Centre is to head to the top…

Use your New York CityPASS to grab a ticket to take you to the very top of the Rockefeller Center, a spot that has been cleverly dubbed the ‘Top of the Rock’ Observation Deck.

Enjoying a nice evening view of Manhattan from the Top of the Rock observation deck is the best way to end your 3 days in New York City itinerary.

It’s truly lovely to see more and more lights in Manhattan come to life just as the night starts to settle in. However make sure you give yourself lots of time to head up, as it’s quite popular in the evenings.

Overall, viewing New York from so high atop is one of the best ways to experience the city. We think the view from here is actually better than others because you can look at the iconic Empire State Building all lit up just across the way.

Visiting the Top of the Rock Observation Deck is included in your CityPASS!

Tips for Making the Most of Your New York City Itinerary

Now that we’ve shared with you the perfect 3 days in New York City itinerary, we also want to let you know some of our best travel tips to help you make the most of your holiday.

Buyinga New York CityPASS is by far our number one travel tip for any NYC itinerary. We’ve talked about it a lot in this article, and that’s because the New York CityPASS is just great value. For only USD$136 you’ll get access to some of the most popular attractions in the city.

This includes the Empire State Building, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Rockefeller Center Top of the Rock, a Statue of Liberty or Circle Line cruise, entrance to the Met as well as the American Museum of Natural History.

If you did all of these independently it would cost you $92 more, giving you a saving of 42%. Well worth it if you’re planning on seeing all the best things in this NYC itinerary.

Another great NYC itinerary travel tip is rather than buying single tickets for every single Subway journey, which will cost you $3 each time, grab yourself a MetroCard from the stations and save money in the long run.

You have to pay $5.50 for the card itself, but it is reusable and brings the cost of each fare down to $2.75. Plus for you get a 5% bonus each time you top it up.

So by adding $20 to the card, you actually get $21.

If you think you’ll be riding the Subway even more, or want to take buses too, you can get yourself a 7-day unlimited pass for $32. Great if you don’t feel like walking between sights, or are staying in New York City longer.

As you can tell from this NYC itinerary, your days are jam-packed, so make sure you start every day as early as possible to make the most of your 3 days in New York City.

This can of course be hard if you’re planning on hitting up some of the hundreds of awesome bars, clubs and speakeasies that the city is known for. But it’s worth laying off the expensive drinks if you have a limited time in town.

Walking around New York City can be crazy, and a couple of blocks may take a lot longer than you’d ever think because of all the people and traffic around.

But if you’re feeling fit and love to explore a city on foot, then New York is a great place to do it.

There are tonnes of excellent little shops, galleries, churches, bars and restaurants to be found if you simply wander around and keep your eyes open.

Another good resource for all things New York City is the NYC & Co website .

Where to Stay in New York City

There’s absolutely no shortage of accommodation in New York City, and the first thing you’ll need to do when deciding where to stay is to pick a Manhattan neighbourhood to use as a base.

It all depends on your budget and what you want to see when you’re in town, and there’s plenty of great articles online to help you decide which one suits you.

Best Accommodations in Town

We personally stayed in two different neighbourhoods – TriBeCa and Midtown West – and both are great options. TriBeCa feels a little more local, and has good access to the southern tip of Manhattan, while Midtown West is more central located on the west side of the island.

Staying downtown in Manhattan is always going to be expensive, but if you’re in a budget and still want to be in the heart of everything, then the absolute best hostel in town is Jazz on Columbus Circle .

It’s a small, boutique hostel and has been renovated to have modern amenities throughout. It has a funky vibe with some awesome decor, and the dorms are small with between 3-6 beds.

High-quality accommodation in New York City is not cheap, but the closest balance you can get between affordability and quality is at Pod 51 Hotel .

The rooms are no-frills, but clean, bright and more spacious than you might expect. The location is great, there’s fast wifi and an amazing rooftop garden to enjoy.

This is it – the top of the cream for hotels in New York that you can still get for well under $1000 a night.

The Library Collection has some of the best hotels all around the city, but our favourite is Hotel Giraffe. You’ll be treated like a king or queen here!

The rooms are enormous, breakfast is lovely, the hotel boasts some fantastic relaxing areas and lounges, but the best part is the 3-hour long wine & cheese receptions held every evening.

If it’s a special occasion in the city, splurge out and stay here for your 3 days in New York itinerary!

Hotel Review – YOTEL New York

We spent a couple of nights in the funky, futuristic YOTEL New York hotel in Midtown West, and it was one of the most interesting and unique places we’ve stayed in for a long time.

The YOTEL chain has been taking off around the world with its 21st-century approach to how hotels should be, introducing all kinds of elements such as computer check-ins, high tech rooms and even a robot to store your bags to make your stay pretty awesome.

If you also work online or need to conduct business while you’re travelling then you’ll love the co-working focus that YOTEL has.

Located a short walk from Times Square in one direction and the High Line in another, YOTEL New York is in a great spot and the building itself has some great hangout areas.

Once you check-in on the computers downstairs you head up the elevator to the 4th floor, which is the main hub of the property.

Here you’ll find a reception desk with staff ready to help you with any questions you might have and a large chill-out area with couches.

There’s also a couple of places to eat, drink and hang on this floor – The Green Fig for all your Middle Eastern fare, KOMYUNITI, the co-working space with a full cafe waiting to serve up coffee, and Green Room 42 for late-night parties and gigs.

This is also where you’ll be able to access The Terrace – one of the biggest rooftop terraces in all of New York City, with huge green spaces, lots of places to sit and even some games to entertain you such as mini-golf.

During the night it comes alive with guests mingling, sipping on cocktails and making the most of the beautiful New York evenings.

The rooms at YOTEL are known as Cabins and are the core of the futuristic side of things in this accommodation.

It starts with the bed, which is a super comfortable ‘SmartBed’, which you can adjust with a push of a button. It can go from upright positioning like a couch, flat for sleep mode and everything in between if you just want to lay down and read a book.

This is actually a great feature because the rooms in New York can be quite small, so by being able to turn the bed into a couch (without being a futon or fold-out) during the day gives you a lot of extra room.

The Smart TV connects to your phone and laptop so you can stream anything you want, and there’s plenty of charging hubs around the cabin.

The bathroom also makes the most of limited space, and the huge rain shower head is a great feature.

We really liked how bright the cabins were, and how they made use of limited space in really intelligent ways. The bed was amazingly comfortable and perfect for relaxing at the end of a big day exploring.

The chill-out spaces downstairs were also brilliant, and when we had to get some work done in between outings we’d much rather hang out there than in our rooms.

The wifi was also free and quite fast, which is great for us needing to work online and for anyone that likes to stay connected with their friends and family.

As great as YOTEL New York was, it wasn’t perfect, and there are a few things that we didn’t love about the place.

First up was the YOBOT, the futuristic robot that was used to store luggage. We arrived at the hotel before check-in and decided to use the YOBOT to store our luggage.

It was quite slow and there was a long line up of people doing the same thing. In the end, we stood in line for over 20 minutes, then when it finally came time for our turn the storage was full, so one of the helpers downstairs just took our bags and placed them out the back for a fee.

We felt like it was a huge waste of time, and even though the YOBOT was cool, it did seem kind of gimmicky. And we weren’t impressed that even though we were staying there we had to pay for luggage storage.

There’s also a ‘facility fee’ of USD$35 plus tax, which supposedly gives you some special features. These include access to the FOUR level, where the Terrace, bars and restaurants are, free wifi (not really ‘free’ then) and the use of the gym and co-working spaces.

Our issue with this is that anybody can access the FOUR level, even if they aren’t staying there, by just going up the elevator. The entire area is completely open to the public and you don’t need a room key to go up there. So essentially guests pay USD$35 for the same thing that anybody not staying there gets for free.

That being said we did talk to one of the managers there and they said they were planning on bringing in a bunch of extra features like free bike rental and other benefits to make the $35 worth the money.

At the end of the day, we did like YOTEL New York and would stay there again. The futuristic style was unlike anything we had seen before, and we can see many of these elements being brought into hotels around the world.

It is also pretty affordable for a hotel of this quality in what is a very popular area in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

If you want to stay in central Manhattan, be within walking distance of many great attractions and would like a funky, cool and comfortable place to rest your head at night, YOTEL is a great spot to stay for your 3 days in New York City.

Our trip to New York City was made in collaboration with ‘NYC and Company’. All thoughts, opinions and hours spent wandering the streets are, as always, our own.

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

Love Travel?

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

25 best things to do in northern california (2024 guide), 13 best things to do in lake charles, louisiana (2024 guide), motorcycle adventure through glacier national park, xebec tri screen 2 review – is it worth buying in 2024, 35 thoughts on “the ultimate 3 days in new york city itinerary (2024 guide)”.

Kudos, for the incredible NYC insights! Following your advice, we savored the diverse cuisines in Hell’s Kitchen and marveled at the city lights from the Brooklyn Bridge. What a ride!

Nice Post. Thanks for writing the right information.

Thank you so much. Happy to help 🙂

Thanks for the information you shared about Romantic Places in New York City. I appreciate your efforts and taking the time and sharing this content.

The itinerary strikes a good balance between seeing the classic must-see sights and experiencing some of the lesser-known hidden gems of the city. However, as with any city as vast and dynamic as New York, it’s impossible to see everything in just three days. Visitors may need to prioritize based on their own interests and time constraints. Still, this is a valuable resource for anyone looking to make the most of their trip to New York City. Thanks!

Great information! Using it as a guide for my upcoming 3 days trip to NYC.

Happy the article could help. Have a great trip. 🙂

Thank you for taking your time and provide us with this helpful post.

Soon we will travel to New York and we already know a lot of things.

Glad the article was helpful. Have a great time in New York. 🙂

We have just returned from four days in New York and I just want to thank you so much for your itinerary. We followed it pretty much all the way and covered so much in ground and saw so many things. It was amazing. Thank you so much again!

Thanks for sharing this. I find it so help you.

Thank you SO much for such a great breakdown – I was worried 3 days would be impossible, but seeing how much you’ve fit in I’m feeling confident with some comfy shoes and a few coffees I can do this 😀

Hi Claire, NY is definitely overwhelming. We fitted a lot in when we were there. They were long days and a lot of walking but we thought “when are we going to be in NY again”. There is so much fun things to do. Have a wonderful time. Happy travels

Hi, thanks for the guide. We are planning our trip for April, so this will be really helpful. It sounds like a City Pass is the way to go! Jan

Hi Jan, that is exciting you are heading to NYC. It is such an incredible city with so much to do. When we were there, we had the city pass and it was so convenient. If you want to go to the locations that the city pass offers, then it is definitely worth it. As it was our first time visiting, it saved us money. Have a great time. Happy travels.

Hello and thanks for all the tips! We are going in April and I was trying to book a Crown visit for the Statue of Liberty. I saw somewhere you need to purchase tickets 4 months in advance but now I can’t find the site to do so. Plus I read a lot of scam sites. Do you recommend how to do this?

Hi Dannie, that is great you are heading to NYC. We never got book the crown visit for the Statue of Liberty. We only saw it from a cruise on the water. I went to the NYC Tourism Website ( https://www.nycgo.com/ ) and they link to the State of Liberty website here https://www.statueofliberty.org/statue-of-liberty/ . Maybe you could contact the State of Liberty and they may be able to help with your booking. Sorry we can not help. It would be an amazing view from the top. All the best and have a great trip.

Can you recommend any alterations to this itenirary if we choose to go around Christmas time?

Dawn, that is so exciting you are going there for Christmas. We would love to see NYC during the festive season one time. We only visited outside of the this time. We are not too sure about the Christmas activities that will be going on. This itinerary on our article would be good to follow and add in Christmas activities when you can. Have a great time.

Thanks on your marvelous posting! I seriously enjoyed reading it, you’re a great author. I will ensure that I bookmark your blog aand definitely will come back aat some point. I want to encourage yourself to continue your great job, have a nice weekend!

whoah this weblog is wonderful i really like studying your articles. Keeep up the good work! You already know, a lot of persons are lopoking round for this info, you can aiid them greatly.

Thanks for finally writing about > 3 Days in New York City – The PERFECT Itinerary (2020 Guide) < Liked it!

what an amazing city! now it is one of my favorite ones! i’ve been to different places but no city has impressed me as much as New York! I really like travelling and as the person who does it really often i can reccomend to everyone to use some car rental service to make the process much more comfortable!

So glad you enjoyed the city Michael. What was your favourite part of the city?

Hi, this is not a comment, just asking for advice which is the best time to visit New York? i suffer from arthritis so cant do winter, looking for inexpensive but comfortable accommodation in Manhattan for 4 people with a strict budget. Kind regards Pam from South Africa

Hi Pam, summer or spring sounds like a great time for you. Do give booking. com a look for the best budget rooms for the 4 of you. Here is the link – https://www.booking.com/district/us/new-york/manhattan.en-gb.html?aid=899664 Have a great tip. Happy travels.

your 3 day plan is great, however, if you could include the pricing of the attractions, will enable people to budget for the visit!!

Hi Pani, we purchased City Pass cards so all the attractions are included on this card. We feel it is the best way to see them all. You can even skip the lines sometimes if you have the card. Check out the card for yourself. 🙂 https://bit.ly/2ya654E

I am going with a group of 6 and we want to fast track the attractions with skip the lines access, etc. Does the City Pass allow this? Also, want to go to the crown of the statue of liberty. Is it worth that? And does City pass allow that?

Yes. You get to go in another line. I don’t know if it is the fast track line but we got in way faster than all the other people in the other line as we had a ticket all ready.

Just got back from nyc with my family (3 kids). I stumbled upon this blog when I started stressing about not having an itinerary of sorts. We followed it almost completely. Moved a few things around based off that we were there 3.5 days and our hotel location. But this was a lifesaver and helped us make the most of our time. I also like how it was a plan that used the city pass which we had already planned to use. Thanks!

Hi, Thank you for the information, this is really useful, but do think it would be still possible with 2 kids (2 & 5)? we will be there in Jul 24, booked in Staybridge hotel

Great article guys! I would also suggest a helicopter ride over the spectacular New York skyline, which is a sight to behold. These rides are absolutely safe for children as well; could be something of a mind-blowing experience for them.

Great information, thank you so much! I am going to New York this summer for a conference and hoping to use many of these tips during my free time, as it is the first time I am actually staying overnight in New York. I have the list of things I want to see while there, and this helped me to map the sights in my mind. Perfect timing with this detailed information!

Hi Anu – Riikka, we hope you have a great time. It is a big city and so much to do. Work out what you really want to do and concentrate on them. Happy travels

First Time Guide to New York City 5 Day Itinerary by a native New Yorker

January 7, 2020 by Karen Turner 83 Comments

I’m so proud to be a native New Yorker and I love to help first timers plan their first trip to New York City. I’ve made a five day itinerary for NYC with advice on what to see and eat mostly in Manhattan for all budgets.

This is a local guide, so although I cover the famous sites, I encourage you to see the smaller neighborhoods/places that make New York special. The Big Apple has so much to offer year-round, so most of these tips can be also used over the holidays. There’s a FREE downloadable map with all the best places to see in New York City in 5 days.

FYI: This is a suggested itinerary for five days, so not everything may be your cup of tea. Feel free to pick from the days (and activities), but keep in mind that New York City is BIG , so you change up this itinerary, you might have a lengthy train or taxi ride between places.

How long to spend in NYC? 5 days in NYC is actually the perfect amount if it’s your first visit. You can spend 3 days in New York City, but it’s cutting it close–and you’ll need to come back again. If you have only one day in New York City, you can still see Manhattan!

Before you visit New York City: Download Google Maps & the FREE map at the bottom with all mentioned places as well as Yelp for food. Google has recently really improved their offers for food recommendations.

1 How to get to NYC from its airports
2 Where to Stay in New York City & How Much Spending Money You’ll Need
3 What to see in NYC in 5 days!
4 Day 1: The Must-Sees with a Twist
5 Day 2: The Intellectual / The Partier
6 Day 3: Iconic New York
7 Day 5: The Culture Lover (Queens)
8 Last thoughts: Plan Ahead.
9 Have you been to NYC? How many days felt right? What was your favorite place?

How to get to NYC from its airports

If you’re on the East Coast, you can take Megabus directly to Manhattan. Otherwise, you will fly into JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark. JFK is easily accessible via the Airtrain & A train and/or LIRR. You can also book your own shuttle in between Downtown Manhattan and JFK/any other airport if you don’t want to worry about it. Uber is now also an option.

LaGuardia requires a bus and a train, but it’s a quick hop to Manhattan. Newark International Airport is in New Jersey, so plan on 30+ minutes on NJ transit. This is separate from New York’s subway system. You can click here for tips on how to use the NYC subway .

Where to Stay in New York City & How Much Spending Money You’ll Need

View of New York City. Read tips for visiting New York City for the first time!

New York is expensive. If you’re not on a tight budget, you’re best off staying off in Midtown or the Village if you can afford it since both locations make sightseeing easiest. Click for my insider guide to affordable hotels in New York City.

However, for those seeking a more alternative experience and/or lower price tag with a short train ride to the sites, stay in Astoria or Long Island City in Queens. In Brooklyn, look in Williamsburg, Dumbo, or Clinton Hill.

You might also find some affordable picks along the Lower East Side . You might also want to look into the Pod hotel chain for affordable rooms in central locations . Click for my picks for affordable hotels in New York City

For budgeting tips, read my master NYC on a budget post where all of the activities are FREE . Plan on spending at minimum $50+ per person on food, $20 per person on activities minimum, $100+ on the hotel (for one room), and extra if you plan on going out (cocktails are usually $10-15). Be sure to master happy hour as it will save you a lot of money. Please be sure to account for tips at restaurants as tipping is standard in New York City.

I did not include this on the list: I highly recommend stopping to see a Broadway show, if that’s your thing. Book your tickets early and try first through the theatre itself to get the best prices in advance. In place of going out, see a show. Budget about $70-$300+ per ticket depending on the show and your sets. A friend of mine was able to get tickets to a major Broadway show for just $70 per seat. Off-Broadway is a great option for those on a tighter budget.

What to see in NYC in 5 days!

Day 1: the must-sees with a twist.

This day is all about experiencing New York City at it’s best: pizza, history, and iconic views.

Visit the 9/11 Memorial ($2 Reservation Fee; otherwise free to visit). Note: Please be respectful of those who passed away here and don’t remove the flowers or take smiling selfies. Walk a few streets over to see the Woolworth Building , one of New York’s prettiest early skyscrapers dating back to the 1910s.

Walk up towards Chinatown . Be sure to bring cash and trust me when I tell you that the bags offered to you on the street are not real Chanel bags. You can click for this insider’s guide to Chinatown written by a friend who is from Chinatown. Annie includes a bit of history as well as her favorite restaurants in Chinatown. I personally love to always stop off for bubble tea!

Photo of old tenement buildings on the Lower East Side, a historic part of Manhattan, one of the things that you need to see during your five day trip to New York City. #travel #NYC

After you eat, consider visiting the Tenement Museum to learn about New York’s immigrant past–and what living in Chinatown was like barely 100 years ago. You need to reserve ahead for tickets. Click to read more about the Lower East Side.

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. No matter how many times I walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, I never ceased to be amazed by its impressive building.

Stop in for a coffee at Brooklyn Roasting Compan y for some Brooklyn vibes and a good cup of coffee before walking to the Brooklyn Promenade for a panoramic view of Manhattan. Click for a complete guide to downtown Brooklyn!

Pizza pie during a pizza tour of New York City, an unusual thing to do in New York City for foodies!

Have Juliana’s Pizza for dinner. Grimaldi’s is not as good as it once was. This famous pizzeria has delicious, affordable thin crust pizza cooked to perfection. Its location under the Bridge makes it even better around sunset.

Get drinks in trendy Williamsburg at Union Pool or Night of Joy to enjoy the view of Manhattan from the roof, especially in summer. Not into the hipster scene? Head back to Manhattan via the Brooklyn Bridge to enjoy the view of the lit-up skyline before walking down to Battery Park to catch the free Staten Island ferry for amazing views of the Statue of Liberty . You can click for my favorite free viewpoints in New York City here!

Photo of the Statue of Liberty and Staten Island Ferry, one of the best things to do in New York City in five days. #travel #NYC #NewYork

Day 2: The Intellectual / The Partier

Walk the Highline for an amazing view of Manhattan’s skyline from above in a modern green space that used to be train tracks. The Highline is a public park that spans quite a few blocks, so give yourself at least an hour if you come here to enjoy the views!

Stop in Chelsea for a delicious brunch in any of the stalls before walking around chic Chelsea . This area, which used to be the meatpacking district, has great boutique shopping and antique shopping. Click for your Chelsea brunch guide!

Walk down Greenwich Avenue or West 4th Avenue for scenic houses and interesting shops in Greenwich Village . Pass the Stonewall , the birthplace of the gay rights movement. There are many great cafes and coffee shops in this area.

Walk towards the iconic Washington Square Park (next to New York University). People watch & play a chess game before walking up to Union Square , which has a great weekend farmer’s market in addition to normal shopping. Stop in the Strand, one of New York’s best independent bookstores. For dinner, you have so many great options from Japanese to vegan to pizza. Enjoy!

Don't miss seeing the Empire State Building lit up at night on your New York City itinerary! #NYC #NewYorkCIty #travel

Note: It shouldn’t take long to walk (maybe 1 hour from Chelsea market down to the Union Square), so you should have plenty of time left for museum-going or must-sees (e.g. Top of the Rock) if you set out early. Personally, I’d skip the Top of the Rock if you go to a rooftop bar.

At night, head back to the Village to visit one of New York’s many (pricey) speakeasy bars, including Employees Only or Please Don’t Tell. Reserve ahead and dress well as you might not get in otherwise. Chelsea/the Meatpacking District is one of the main areas for going out in New York (if that’s your thing). The Standard is famous for its rooftop bar although it’s difficult to get into.

If chic cocktail bars aren’t your thing, New York has a lot to offer in terms of alternative culture. Check out the IFC movie theatre for rare indie movies or Comedy Cellar for late-night laughs (beware of the drink minimum).

Need a late-night snack? Veselka has delicious 24-hour Ukrainian borscht and perogies. (Yes, that restaurant out of Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist.)

Day 3: Iconic New York

Grand Central Terminal, one of the best free attractions to visit in New York City that you must include on your first time New York itinerary! #NewYork #NYC #travel

Start your day off in the beautiful Grand Central Terminal. This historic train station is one of the most famous filming locations in New York City. I love people watching here although try to stay out of the way. For something off the beaten path, find the whispering gallery where your voice echoes!

Head to the New York Public Library and pass the landmarks (the Chrysler & Empire State Building ) to take in the architecture. My favorite is the Chrysler building, which was known as the ugliest building in New York when it was built.

For lunch, eat at Shake Shack with the rest of Manhattan in Bryant Park . (Dress warmly in winter since there’s no seating!). In Bryant Park, you can watch people ice skate in winter while you eat! Nearby, I have a soft spot for browsing the giant Macy’s in Herald Square.

If you’re an art lover, visit the Museum of Modern Art . MoMa is a world-class museum for a reason and I strongly recommend checking the recent exhibitions to see what is on.

If not, enjoy shopping along Fifth Avenue . The Christmas windows here during November and December are spectacular and free . My personal favorite is Bloomingdale’s! Read more tips about New York over the holidays .

Woman in Times Square, one of the highlights of visiting New York City that can't be left off your New York plans! #travel #NYC

Dinner doesn’t need to be expensive to be good. Go to Halal Guys for cheap/delicious take-out chicken and rice, Pio Pio for fantastic Peruvian food, or Empanada Mama for empanadas. After dinner, watch the sunset and take in the incredible skyline (with a cocktail in hand) at the Pod 39 Rooftop .

Enjoy the bright lights of Times Square at night . (Trust me, it’s like daytime.) If you’re on a budget, I like to head to Hell’s Kitchen for more budget drinks and late-night snacks.

Day 4: The Perfect Classic NYC Itinerary

Pick up a bagel with lox from Zabar’s or get a boozy brunch at Calle Ocho. To be honest, anywhere with a good bagel and a coffee should work as long as it’s not Dunkin Donuts.

Head to the American Museum of Natural History if you’re with kids OR the Met for a few hours! In the Met, I love the Egyptian temple , Musical Instruments , Armor , and pre-20th century art . Don’t miss the rooftop garden for amazing views. Bring your own yogurt for a Gossip Girl photo . (XOXO)

In good weather, you could spend the whole day in Central park lounging, but the Met is one of my favorite museums in the world with a world-class collection. The Met doesn’t have suggested admission anymore, but it’s still a great museum. The American Museum of National History is also a fantastic museum and better suited to families as well as science lovers. Click for a guide to the Upper East Side!

Head to Central Park. I recommend finding the Belvedere Castle , the Bethesda Terrace , Sheep Meadow for lazy picnics, and the Boathouse . If you’re a runner, I strongly recommend trying to run the Reservoir one morning.

In summer, check the Summerstage program ahead for free music shows! This yearly music festival in New York brings in well-known as well as upcoming artists for free shows in Central Park. It’s great to make a day out of it.

Strawberry Cheesecake at Junior's Restaurant & Cheesecake in Brooklyn, a famous restaurant in New York City!

For a nicer modern meal, visit the Thalia or the Russian Tea Room . For a casual, very New York meal, try a (famous) NYC hot dog ? Don’t buy it from a cart; Only buy from Gray’s Papaya with a smoothie like a local. Have the real New York famous cheesecake at Junior’s for dessert.

Day 5: The Culture Lover (Queens)

Queens is where I grew up. (Yes, not everyone lives in Manhattan.) It was named Lonely Planet’s #1 destination in the world in 2015 due to its amazing food and culture. Really.

Take the train to Astoria to visit the Museum of Moving Image in the morning. For anyone who is a movie buff or has kids, this museum will be heavenly. They have old prop sets from classics, such as Seinfeld, interactive exhibitions, and a lot of movie props (even from Star Wars).

Astoria itself is a neighborhood in Queens that has historically been Greek and you can still find great Greek food here. That said, it’s rapidly changing as more millennials move in. Click for a guide to Astoria.

Lunch: visit nearby Jackson Heights for the best Latin American food in NYC or Indian food. (Yelp!) Jackson Heights is a diverse neighborhood with incredible food from so many countries. (I highly recommend checking out the Queens Night Market if you’re lucky enough to be in town later that evening!)

The rest of the Day gives you lots of options. Stop off at F l ushing Meadow Park (especially in summer!) to see the iconic Unisphere and check out the NYC Panorama , which is a miniature version of New York City in the modern Queens Museum of Art.

Into art/sculptures ? Visit the Noguchi museum for beautiful Japanese sculptures and a zen garden, PS1 for avantgarde exhibits, or the free Socrates Sculpture Park for free sculptures.

Man admiring sculptures at Socrates Sculpture Park, one of the best places to visit in Queens, New York City. #Queens #Art #NYC

Into beer ? Head to the Bohemian Beer Garden to relax or one of the many microbreweries popping up all around NYC (Singlecut Beersmiths / Rockaway Brewing company).

For shopping , catch the LIC flea market on the weekend. Don’t miss the gorgeous retro-chic Sweetleaf coffee shop if you’re in the area, which turns into a bar a night.

For dinner, head to Flushing (Stop on 7 Subway: Main St). Decide what kind of Asian food you’re seeking and check on yelp . (It’s going to be a hard decision.) After dinner, stop for bubble tea or Chinese pastries . You can even do private room karaoke if you look for KTV signs. You can click to read more about Flushing, including my favorite picks for dinner.

Last thoughts: Plan Ahead.

View of the Chrysler building, one of the stunning pieces of architecture that you'll see in New York. Read your perfect New York City itinerary written by a New Yorker! #NYC #travel

New York is so large. I sometimes joke that you need about two weeks to just cover the major sights, which is true since I didn’t even include Coney Island (Brooklyn). I didn’t even cover every borough here!

However, five full days in New York City is a perfect start to feel at home in New York. At a minimum, you should have the hang of the subway by the time that you’re done. Below, you’ll find a free offline map with all the places mentioned here that you can download for offline use!

Helpful tips on how to take the NYC subway and subway hacks here.
Click here for my guide to NYC over Thanksgiving, Christmas, the holiday season, & New Year’s Eve !
New York For Christmas
Where to shop in New York City
30+ Free things to do in New York City
50+ Unusual things to do in New York City

Click for your free downloadable map with highlights of what to do in New York City during five days!

Have you been to NYC? How many days felt right? What was your favorite place?

A complete guide on what to do for a 5 day trip to New York City by a New Yorker with a suggested itinerary for five days in NYC and budget.

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

January 28, 2017 at 8:56 am

Love this itinerary! I am long overdue a trip back to New York. (Daren’t say how long it’s been!!) Really nice balance of big sites and locals-only secrets.

January 28, 2017 at 10:07 am

For a long time I wanted to visit NYC. It’s because I wanted (don’t laugh) to do a shopping session just like those girls in the movies. I wanted to walk around and buy everything fancy. Pretty awesome guide, thank you for taking the time to write it and make it so comprehensive for us, beginners!

January 28, 2017 at 3:31 pm

Hi Cory, Thanks so much for reading. I won’t laugh: NYC is great for shopping. I haven’t written anything about the shopping but it IS a great for a girl’s weekend for sure. Glad you enjoyed it and hope you get to do your shopping trip!

January 28, 2017 at 2:44 pm

Top notch itinerary!! And YAY QUEENS! Really nice to see an itinerary focusing on my favorite borough 🙂 This post makes me miss NYC something awful. Reading this had me reflecting on how NYC really has something for everyone! It was overwhelming when I lived there, but now that I’m traveling I definitely miss it.

January 28, 2017 at 3:36 pm

Hi Eva, thanks for reading. I know the feeling about NYC… It really does have something for everyone although it CAN seen overwhelming. I definitely struggle with coming up with concise recommendations–and deciding what to include here was TOUGH, however this is what I’ve been sending to friends for years. (They’ve loved where I’ve sent them with this itinerary!) Everyone else forgets Queens, so I figured I needed to fix this. 🙂

January 28, 2017 at 7:21 pm

This made me miss New York so much! I lived there for most of my 20s and miss so much of my life there. I didn’t know that there was a shake shack in Bryant Park. I always went to the one in Madison Square Park especially when it was winter and there are flurries of snow. (No line) It also looked magical.

January 28, 2017 at 10:48 pm

This is a perfect guide and I used to live in NY so I know! There are many things on this list I haven’t done. I haven’t spent much time in Queens and totally want to . Walking the Brooklyn Bridge to Grimaldi’s is my fave!!! Love this.

January 29, 2017 at 4:48 am

What a really great and thorough post! I love New York, although I haven’t been back there in almost 9 years so a return trip is definitely overdue! I fell in love with all the quirky boutique coffee shops and stores in Greenwich Village. I’m bookmarking this so that I have some inspiration of where else to check out next time. Thanks! 🙂

January 29, 2017 at 5:29 am

Oh gosh to have 5 days in New York right now would be the dream! I visited for 4 days about 5 years ago and it was just not enough time. Spent each day walking for miles to take in as much as we could including the 9/11 memorial, Wall Street, Empire State Building, Public Library, Central Station and more. But I did really feel I’d need longer to really get a feel for the place. A chance to chill out in a few of those speakeasy bars for example would be lovely!

January 29, 2017 at 6:12 am

Nothing beats the good advice that only a local can give – so happy I found this blog thank you for the great tips!

January 29, 2017 at 9:25 am

Shake Shack was my absolute favourite meal in NYC best burger I’ve ever had haha! Hoping to get back to NYC later this year and really need to do the highlife properly as didn’t get chance last time. Great itinerary!

January 29, 2017 at 4:25 pm

THIS IS AN AMAZING GUIDE! I loved that you broke it down and gave each day a little “travel label” for different places, food, etc. I’ve visited New York so many times, but I noticed I’ve only hung around the extreme tourist spots and never really ventured out into other areas. I am definitely referring back to this guide when I head up to NYC the next time! (: Hopefully we could meet up while I’m there and chat!

Also pinned to share with everyone else!

September 6, 2022 at 6:55 am

Me and my daughters will be vowing NYC Are there any name brand consignment stores?

December 1, 2022 at 8:42 pm

I have a whole shopping guide to NYC!

January 29, 2017 at 8:15 pm

I love this guide! NYC is a dream destination of mine as for many others, and it’s always great to receive tips about what you should do there. Especially from a native New Yorker. I think I love Day 5 in particular. Getting to see the FRIENDS’ set at Museum of Moving Image and exploring the LIC flea market (with markets being my favourite thing to do), would be such a huge highlight of my trip. When I come to NYC, I’ll probably visit for longer than 5 days though. There’s just so much to see and do haha. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

April 3, 2017 at 10:25 pm

Hi! Thanks for a great post. I am going to New York City soon and will definitely use all your wonderful tips. Very inspiring blog you have.

I have a question though – when I’ve downloaded the map for Google is it automatically available offline, or is there something I have to do in order to be able to access it without having internet?

Thanks in advance 🙂

April 4, 2017 at 1:41 am

Hi Nanna, Thanks so much for reading. I’m glad that this has been helpful to you and you find the blog inspiring!

It depends on whether you have an android OR an iphone, but I’ve included a link by my name that should help you figure it out. You just need to download a google map of NYC and if you’ve added my locations to your main google maps, this should work. Otherwise, you’ll need to download the map under “My Maps”.

If you go to Menu -> Offline areas, you’ll be able to see if it worked! I hope that this answers your question. 🙂

Thanks, Karen

April 24, 2017 at 5:11 am

Thanks girl! Super helpful!!

July 10, 2017 at 10:02 pm

I’m so happy I found this! It’s everything I wanted to do in NYC – simplified – plus Bubble Tea!!

How is NYC in late July – early August? We’re going to visit for 5 days and attend a wedding, does it really get hot? Would you recommend renting a car or just uber everywhere?

July 11, 2017 at 12:22 am

Hi Jenna, Thanks so much for reading and I’m so glad to hear that.

NYC is super humid and a bit nasty around that time. I usually stay indoors a lot…until night. I usually just bring an extra layer since some places overdo the AC.

Don’t rent a car. Take public transit or a taxi. The buses have great AC btw.

I hope you have a great time, so please get in touch if you have any further questions!

July 28, 2017 at 1:24 am

We are off to USA on Saturday and visiting New York for 5 days this is fantastic. Thank you!

August 28, 2017 at 3:13 pm

Thanks for the useful information. Printed and ready to explore NYC.

October 13, 2017 at 8:27 pm

This is great! I spent 7 days about 5 year ago just walking and discovering things. My favorite thing I did was the oyster bar in Grand Central. China town was an adventure and I found some great eats in little italy! I wish smart phones were what they are now back then so I could have actually found some of the things I was looking for but i’m bookmarking this for next time I visit NYC. Thanks!

November 6, 2017 at 5:09 pm

Hi! We will be traveling to the city over thanksgiving. (4 adults and 3 children 4 and under). How does the subway pass work? Should the adults all purchase a weekly pass? We are also taking 2 strollers because our kids cannot manage without them. I know this is annoying to locals, but they will just have to deal. Any further advice on traveling with kids? TIA!

November 6, 2017 at 5:30 pm

Hi Natalie, Thanks for commenting and reading! Up to 3 kids are actually free with the metrocard (for whatever duration; including the week pass), so you just need two metrocards for the adults. It’s best to just ask the person in the booth when you’re swiping in to let you all in through the gate (which can fit a stroller). For buses, the driver will see. 🙂

I’d just keep the strollers folded up when possible as they might be annoying on a crowded subway, so maybe avoid rush hour. Honestly, people are used to strollers, so don’t worry too much about it. Just try avoid really crowded places with them and know that most museums won’t allow the strollers in.

I’ve been meaning to ask my dad to help me with more tips for kids as I’ve never been a parent in New York. I think the Queens Museum of Science is fantastic for young kids and it was one of my favorites as kid. Similarly, the Bronx Zoo has a great light show (I don’t know the dates) 🙂

Hope that helps!

Best, Karen

January 16, 2018 at 2:46 am

Hi I found your itinerary really useful on my trip. However Grey’s Papaya was a mistake. First time experience of eating a bit dog next to a homeless guy on his crack pipe, and that was inside!

January 17, 2018 at 8:13 pm

I’m so sorry to hear that. I’ve never had that happen while going to Grey’s Papaya, but yeah that’s really awful and I’d be really bothered by that too. Please contact the management at the restaurant about what happened, so hopefully nobody else has that experience. 🙁

I hope your trip to NYC was great otherwise and I’m glad that you found the itinerary good otherwise. Hope that didn’t spoil your trip!

February 8, 2018 at 3:50 am

Hi! im from toronto planning to visit in march. how cold is it there around the first week of march?

February 9, 2018 at 2:14 pm

Depends on the year. Have you seen my NYC Packing list Ianne? I have link by my name where you can read what I recommend bringing for March!

February 18, 2018 at 5:55 am

Hi Karen, Great guidance – thank you! I am travelling over on my own from Australia and just wondering if there are any guided tours you recommend or know of as I would feel more comfortable in a group as I have never visited NYC or the US. I’m looking for a tour that I can join to see NYC and potentially other places for example Niagra Falls etc. I have approx 10 days. Thanks in advance. Louise

February 19, 2018 at 11:42 pm

Hi Louise, I apologize, however I never did a guided tour as I never really had a need for it. It’s easy to visit Niagara Falls on your own and you can check my New York category for my guide to Niagara Falls. I’d say that you only need one day there, however it takes at least a day to get there if you fly (or one full day if you take the bus/train). I’d recommend maybe checking out DC if you’re on your first trip to the US. DC is an easy trip from NYC by Amtrak. Maybe G Adventures or Contiki are good options as a friend of mine used Contiki for her US trip for the same reason!

February 20, 2018 at 9:35 am

where do i download the app

February 20, 2018 at 3:18 pm

Apologies, the map went missing in the migration. It’s up now.

February 22, 2018 at 3:14 am

Love this post! I’m traveling in two weenie, I need your opinion about buying the tickets to the attractions directly or use the New York Pass.

February 22, 2018 at 2:36 pm

Hi Marjorie, I’d recommend buying the tickets yourself. It will probably be cheaper unless you’re going to the most expensive attractions included in the pass. 🙂

March 5, 2018 at 3:39 pm

Hi Karen, This blog is very informative. I am visiting NY this march 8th to match 10th with my parents. I have some questions for you.

1) How is the flood now? resided? 2) To visit all these places, is it cheap to rent a car or use public transport? 4) I initially booked flights tkts for 4 days and found maid of the mist was not open until mid of may and got disappointed. So now all my 4 days will be spent in NY.

March 5, 2018 at 4:42 pm

1. The damage is mostly fixed. 2. Use public transit. I have a helpful post about using the NYC subway, which should help. 3. Sorry to hear that, but you can still visit the falls. I have a guide to Niagara Falls, but I think also spending all four days in NYC will be best as there’s so much to do.

March 5, 2018 at 3:46 pm

And if I take amtrak to DC, can I still visit places in public transport in dc without renting a car?

March 5, 2018 at 4:44 pm

DC has a great metro system and all the major museums in DC are free. Very easy to get around without a car! 🙂

March 28, 2018 at 8:23 pm

Hi and many thanks for these tips. Great! We look forward to visiting NY next week. Coming from The Hague and Amsterdam, I am sure we have much in common – so we rely heavily on your guidance. If we arrive on a Saturday, is there one of the above mentioned day-profiles, you would recommend us to start with? By the way, do you know Gallagher’s stake house? Is it good? Thanks!

March 28, 2018 at 10:07 pm

Hi Willem, Small world. I’ll be publishing about the Hague very soon. 😉 If you’re arriving on a Saturday, you might want to avoid the crowds, so maybe start with Day 2. Day 1 might be fine too, however you might encounter some lines at the 9/11 memorial if you don’t make reservations in advance.

I don’t know Gallagher’s as I’m not really a big steak person to be honest.

I hope that you have a fantastic trip otherwise and let me know if you have other questions. 🙂

April 19, 2018 at 8:04 pm

Great post! We are coming in June and want to find a “locals” beach area….any suggestions?

April 19, 2018 at 8:05 pm

Hi Sandi, you can go to Coney Island within NYC. If you’re looking for a better beach, head to Jones Beach or Fire Island. 🙂

April 19, 2018 at 8:42 pm

That’s exactly where we were looking! Seems easy enough by train! Thank you!

May 7, 2018 at 2:35 am

Where can i download your map?

May 7, 2018 at 2:40 am

Export the data to a KML format. Then, email it to your phone. Google Maps usually opens it for me, otherwise I use an app called Maps.Me.

May 8, 2018 at 3:58 pm

Thank you so much for this information. Taking my dtr in early summer for a mom dtr trip. Any good recs for what to do/see in Central Park?

May 8, 2018 at 8:36 pm

I recommend Belvedere Castle, the boathouse, Sheep meadow, and the Alice in Wonderland statue. 🙂

May 27, 2018 at 1:24 pm

Hi Karen Im coming to New york city for 7-8 days to experience the Christmas! Very panicky and stressed up now as it seems overwhelming to plan the itinerary, and people are telling me to avoid New York during winter as it is at its coldest… this write up of yours is a great help! 🙂

July 10, 2018 at 3:07 am

Than You!! Love how the days are divided and all the details,, incredible! I’m a 1st time SF visiting mid week, mid Oct. For only 3 days before taking the train to Philly to see friends. I’m using all your tips for packing,$$, transportation, etc. Any suggestions on a centrally located area for Hotels that’s not in the heart of Time Square? $150-200. Any tips for traveling solo?

July 10, 2018 at 11:56 am

Hi Milehilady, So glad to hear that! I’m writing more about NYC soon as wel! I love Adventurous Kate’s tips for traveling solo in NYC. I mostly recommend using caution and I discuss it a bit in my “20 Things Nobody Tells You About Visiting New York by a New Yorker” post.

I’ll be posting a list of 10-15 hotels that are in that range today/tomorrow if you can check back this week. 🙂

Kind regards, Karen

July 27, 2018 at 7:13 am

This is good stuff. I cant see the downloadable map. Is it located anywhere else. We could really use it for our trip.

July 27, 2018 at 11:45 am

It’s in the post if you just look towards the bottom. Have a great trip!

July 29, 2018 at 10:39 pm

A brilliant read we travelling from the UK 30th August. we were advised to purchase a pass for the five days, which is supposed to get us into many of the expensive transactions for free. We are staying in Brooklyn as we believe its just a ride away from the main attractions. Where do we go to see where movies are filmed. Also, a strange question, but are there any genuine ghost tours or haunted places we coukd visit

Thank you in advance

July 29, 2018 at 11:36 pm

Hi Alison, You can look up my post about Astoria to read about the Museum of Moving Image, a great museum for this, although there’s many filming locations in NYC. I also have a post about Downtown Brooklyn with some insider tips. I haven’t done a ghost tour, but I’ve read a lot about Mulberry Street! I hope that you have a great trip.

February 24, 2019 at 1:51 am

Really great guide!! We are going to NYC inApril for 6 days and I’m so excited about it! Our list for for sure places right now consist of The Moma, The Met, and Cloisters, The Guggenheim, Little Italy and China Town, Brooklyn, Chelsea, SoHo and Greenwich Village, and I’ve booked tickets to see a band play “The Church,” in Jersey City. Plus, we want to eat at iconic restaurants, go to The Strand, and look at everything! Your guide is awesome and now how to pick through which places to eat at etc. thanks for taking the time to do this, so much to see and do and my husband and I want to do it all!

May 4, 2019 at 8:13 pm

Hi great guide thanks. We’re visiting NYC at the end of this month (May) for a wedding in Central Park. It’s me and my kids aged 13 and 15. Now to decide on the things that well all enjoy! Do you have any suggestions about wedding outfits for weather at that time of year in the park? At the moment thinking about Times Square at night, Central Park, walking Brooklyn bridge and stopping to eat at Grimaldi’s, Statue of Liberty, The High Line and Ground Zero. Would we need to book a table at Grimaldi or the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty? How about the Empire State? Thanks

May 6, 2019 at 11:28 am

Hi Karen, you should book your Statue of Liberty tickets in advance for sure. It’s best to buy tickets for the Empire State building to avoid lines. For wedding outfits, it depends on how formal the wedding is. For a general wedding (non-black tie), a tasteful A-line dress that goes to the knee with heels should be good! It’s a bit colder in NYC right now, so maybe a sweater with it. Hope that helps! Grimaldi doesn’t accept reservations as far as I know.

May 18, 2019 at 9:08 pm

Thankyou so much for your reply. That’s really useful!

May 25, 2019 at 1:22 pm

Such a great itinerary, covering all things fun in a not too rushed way !! Thanks for the insider tips, heading to NYC next week. Will keep in mind all your suggestions

May 29, 2019 at 10:45 pm

Hi, Loving all the tips on here! I have booked a surprise trip for my husband and our children aged 15 and 12 for end of October and I am struggling to work out the best way to get tickets to the top attractions, if I buy one of the passes does this mean I can’t book a specific time at the attractions and just have to turn up and hope we can get in? I know some have queue jumps with the but am I better off booking my tickets individually and directly with the attractions themselves?

May 30, 2019 at 3:19 am

Hi Clare, I personally prefer booking directly tickets directly myself so that I can just stroll in without the line. If you know where you want to go, it might end up being cheaper unless you intend to go to several of the really pricey ones (top of the rock, empire state building).

June 9, 2019 at 4:04 pm

I went to NYC last summer for the first time. Did all the “famous sights” and had an amazing time! This summer i am going back (again for a week) and cant wait to see the “lesser known” sights. This article was very helpful, i learned about a few new sights.

June 28, 2019 at 10:35 am

Hi Karen… loved reading your articles on NYC. My teen girls and I are coming for a week on July 2nd. We want to see some main attractions, but also want to experience some lesser known places the locals enjoy. Our hotel is in Chelsea, which seems to be a central location to see many things, I have a few of questions I can’t find answers to, and I hope you can help. 1. How can we enjoy a spectacular night view of the city when there are minors in our group and a rooftop bar isn’t an option? Are there alternatives for us? 2. We will be there during the 4th of July. Is there anything special we should know about? Are most attractions closed? Is there a good place to take my teens to get a good view of fireworks? 3. I am a disabled veteran (not wheelchair bound). Many times disabled veterans are able to visit attractions at a discount or free. Do you have any info on that or can point me in the right direction? Any money saved is a big help.

Thanks in advance, and I hope I hear back from you… Jean

July 11, 2019 at 10:27 pm

There’s some great ideas here that you don’t normally see in standard New York itineraries. I will definitely be using this, and your post on Brooklyn, as a base for my trip. Thanks!

July 30, 2019 at 6:59 am

Thank you so much, this post is a life saver and a great way to discover the city!

August 28, 2019 at 9:31 pm

My first search in looking at tips for visiting New York, reading all the comments this looks like a good start? Do you have an more detailed suggestions for Sports Food and Beer enthusiasts? Want to mix in what you have already stated with the aforementioned. Taking my wife for our yearly travel…..Oct 31st-Nov4th.

September 9, 2019 at 5:15 am

We are looking to stay in Manhattan for 7 days (in April mid/late 2020) and after seeing family in upstate NY were going to return for 7 days in Brooklyn (in early May 2020). Does this sound too long to you? And if not what would you add to the list? I really liked what you included but if you have any extra suggestions please feel free to add them. Especially if there are any markets, annual festivals, food tours, etc that you would recommend. Regards and thanks Tina

September 9, 2019 at 1:08 pm

Hi Tina, Definitely not too long! Look at my more recent posts that focus more on NY off the beaten path. I’ll be adding more content on Brooklyn soon. 🙂

September 15, 2019 at 12:21 pm

Hi, thanks for your great articles.. I find them really useful.. we’re planning on traveling to New York from the UK and will be there over Thanks Giving.. we know about the Macy’s parade, but I’m wondering how busy the rest of the city will be that day and will we need to make a reservation at a restaurant to guarantee a table Thanks

September 24, 2019 at 4:42 pm

Please search on my website for my guide for NYC for the Holidays!

October 23, 2019 at 6:12 pm

We are going to NY (1st time!) in a few weeks and I was trying quite desperately to prepare the trip. There is just too much to do, to see and to eat. But then … I found your blog! Many, many thanks! I got it all sorted out now 🙂 Just one question; Do you have a suggestion for a indian restaurant in Jackson Heights?

Thanks again for taking the time to write all of this! It’s very much appreciated 🙂

October 24, 2019 at 11:35 am

Glad to hear that Christine! It depends what kind of Indian food you’re looking for. I love dosas, so Dosa Delight might be a good pick. Definitely go for sweets after at Rajbhog

January 31, 2020 at 10:44 am

Hi, very well put together itinerary. I just wanted to know if there is a city pass that allow one to bypass queues and allow access to major sightseeing sights in NYC?

February 2, 2020 at 11:40 am

There is, but it’s not necessarily worth it depending on what attractions you plan on visiting. I recommend calculating if it’s worth it for you.

November 6, 2021 at 11:32 pm

Hi , thanks for the fab itinerary. We are planning to visit New York in February. Is it a good time and how cold is it in February. Is there anything that is closed in February?

March 17, 2022 at 9:59 pm

Christmas things will be closed, but most things should be open!

October 29, 2022 at 8:29 pm

Thanks for such a nice itinerary… SO, I have always said I can’t really celebrate my bday anywhere because its mid Jan 🙂 But I did decide to book a trip for 5 days in the Winter (OMG) – Bay Area Folks like myself have not experienced cold weather, that alone, need to figure out places to visit in NYC in the winter. Never been to NYC but hope that my 39th bday will be fun regardless of the cold

May 2, 2023 at 5:27 pm

Got 6 nights booked for new year’s and plan on doing a fair bit. We’re booking stuff already as there’s so much we want to do and visit. We also want to go up most of the iconic buildings purely to say been there because we don’t know when or if ever we’ll get a chance to go again. We’re in the UK so it’ll be like walking into a film set. We’re staying in midtown Manhattan and also want to go to Brooklyn. I’d like to pop across to Queensbridge because of the rappers from the 80’s and MC Shan’s ‘The Bridge’. Also the South Bronx because of Beat street. Not sure how safe a quick daytime visit would be to South Bronx?? Nervous and excited.

June 5, 2023 at 5:08 pm

You can do a tour of the South Bronx related to the rap history. That might be the safest option if you are nervous about it!

June 25, 2023 at 3:53 pm

i will like to go next year on July .i want to know if will be expensive ? on that time off the year many thanks

July 6, 2023 at 10:20 pm

It is always expensive

New York Itinerary: What to Do and See in 5 Days in NYC

New York City viewed from the Manhattan bridge, with tenement buildings in the foreground and modern skyscrapers in the background

Home to around 9 million people, NYC has tons of things to see and do. It’s a massive city that’s impossible to “see” in a single visit. It’s home to thousands of restaurants, hundreds of museums, attractions, plays, and countless other quirky things to do. As a traveler visiting for a few days, you just have to resign yourself to that fact that you’re only going to see a fraction of what you hope to see.

With that in mind, what are the best things to see and do here? What is the best itinerary for NYC?

Since I’ve written a guidebook to this city , lived here for years, have run tours here, and explored as much as I could in pursuit of knowing the best things to do in NYC, I want to share what I think is the best itinerary for New York City. This suggested itinerary can help you organize your trip and ensure you make the most of your visit — all while saving you money in the process.

So, without further ado, here is my suggested New York itinerary:

Table of Contents

New York City Itinerary: Day 1

New york city itinerary: day 2, new york city itinerary: day 3, new york city itinerary: day 4, new york city itinerary: day 5, other options for your itinerary, how to get around new york city, where to stay in new york city, get the in-depth budget guide to new york city.

Winding street lined with red brick buildings in Greenwich Village in New York City

Some of my favorite walking tours and walking tour companies include:

Free Tours by Foot
Bowery Boys Walks
Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour
Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour
Graffiti and Street Art Walking Tour

And for more suggestions, check out this list of my favorite NYC walking tours .

The iconic Statue of Liberty with NYC in the background on a sunny day with blue skies

Here’s a review of my experience taking a tour of the Statue and Ellis Island .

Tip: If the line’s too long and you don’t want to wait, take the free Staten Island ferry for photos of the statue and harbor instead. You won’t get up close but it’s faster and cheaper.

Battery Park, +1 212 363-3200, nps.gov/stli/index.htm. Open daily 9am-5pm. There is no admission fee for the island but the ferry ticket costs $24 USD .

Explore Battery Park Located on the southern tip of Manhattan, this park is where the Dutch built Fort Amsterdam in 1625 to defend their settlement. The British took the area over in 1664 and eventually renamed it Fort George. While the fort was mostly destroyed during the American Revolution (1775-1783), the battery was expanded after the war’s end. You can wander around the fort and then stroll through the surrounding park to take in the beautiful waterfront views of the harbor, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island.

There are also over 20 monuments and plaques in the park, covering everything from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 to immigration and much more.

Close up of bronze bull statue on Wall Street in NYC

If you want to learn about historic market crashes and take a deep dive into what makes a financial crisis occur, check out the Financial Crisis Tour . Recommended by the BBC and the New York Times, it’s led by Wall Street insiders and will give you first-hand knowledge of what it’s like working on Wall Street.

See Federal Hall One of the most overlooked museums in the city sits across the street from the NY Stock Exchange (NYSE). Federal Hall, built in 1700, is where George Washington took his oath of office (you can see the Bible he was sworn in on). It was the site of the US Customs House in the late 1700s and the first capitol building of the US.

Though the original façade was rebuilt, it’s one of my favorite attractions in the area. I especially love the old vaults. I highly recommend you visit!

26 Wall Street, Financial District, Lower Manhattan, +1 212 825 6990, nps.gov/feha. Admission is free. Open Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm.

Close up of traffic light and Wall Street street sign

Financial District, Lower Manhattan, +1 212 908 4110, moaf.org. Currently closed for relocation.

Trinity Church on a sunny day in New York City, USA

The original church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1776, a massive blaze that wiped out upwards of 25% of the city (the Americans blamed the British for starting the fire, while the British blamed the revolutionaries). The new building, facing Wall Street, was consecrated in 1790.

After the Revolutionary War, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton regularly worshiped here. The graveyard dates back to the 1700s and has many famous Americans there, including Hamilton and his wife Elizabeth, Francis Lewis (signatory on the Declaration of Independence), John Alsop (Continental Congress delegate), Albert Gallatin (founder of NYU), and Horatio Gates (Continental Army general). The church was expanded in 1839 into its current form.

74 Trinity Place, Financial District, Lower Manhattan, +1 212 602 0800, trinitywallstreet.org. Open daily from 8:30am–6pm.

The water feature of the 9/11 Memorial surrounded by trees in New York City

To get a deeper understanding of 9/11 and the events that unfolded, visit the museum. It’s home to moving exhibits that illuminate the scope and significance of the tragedy.

180 Greenwich Street, Financial District, Lower Manhattan, +1 212 266 5211, 911memorial.org. Memorial open daily from 8am-8pm. The museum is open Wednesday-Monday, 9am-7pm. The memorial is free to visit; skip-the-line museum entry is $19.40 USD . Free entry Mondays from 3:30pm-5pm (tickets must be booked online).

DINNER OPTION: Eat at Ellen’s Stardust Diner Since 1987, this diner is home to an incredible waitstaff of singers and dancers. Between tours and musical performances, actors and actresses wait tables at Ellen’s, where they belt out songs as they serve you slightly pricey, very American diner food (think shakes, burgers, and lasagna) in uniforms from the 1950s. It’s incredibly cheesy, which makes it incredibly fun!

1650 Broadway, Times Square, +1 212 956 5151, ellensstardustdiner.com. Open daily, 7am-midnight. There’s usually a line so be sure to plan ahead!

The historic City Hall at sunset in New York City, USA

City Hall Park. nyc.gov/site/designcommission/public-programs/tours/city-hall.page. Pre-reserved tours are typically offered for groups (10–20 people) on Tuesdays at 10:30am and for individuals on Thursdays at 10am. There are also first-come, first-served tours on Wednesdays at 12pm and Thursdays at 10am.

Full span of the Brooklyn Bridge in front of the Manhattan skyline lit up at night in New York City, USA.

I enjoy doing this walk at night when downtown Manhattan is all lit up. Otherwise, come early to beat the crowds.

The calm waters in Prospect Park reflecting one of the old buildings in Brooklyn, NYC, USA

While you’re here, don’t miss the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens (especially known for its magnificent cherry blossoms in the spring) and the Brooklyn Museum. Spend the afternoon discovering its vast collection of both historical and contemporary art and artifacts (there are over 1.5 million items in its collection). It has art exhibitions highlighting ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, colonial USA, and more.

200 Eastern Pkwy, +1 718 638 5000, brooklynmuseum.org. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-6pm. Tickets are $16 USD.

Wander Rockefeller Center This area is always filled with hustle and bustle. Wander around Rockefeller Center to see where they film The Today Show , shop, snack, and take the elevator to the Top of the Rock for another bird’s-eye view of the city, which I personally think is better than the Empire State Building, since from the top of here you can get that building in your picture too.

30 Rockefeller Plaza, +1 212 698 2000, topoftherocknyc.com. Open daily from 9am-11pm. Admission is $40 USD to visit the Top of the Rock observation deck.

Radio City Music Hall lit up at night in NYC

1260 6th Avenue, +1 212 465 6080, msg.com/venue-tours/radio-city-music-hall. Open and giving one-hour tours daily from 10:30am-2pm. Admission is $33 USD.

During the summer months, there are often free concerts and theater productions (line up early for tickets to Shakespeare in the Park). From the late spring to the early fall, there are free guided walks run by the parks service on Saturdays at 11am. I’m a big fan of laying out in Sheep’s Meadow on a hot, sunny day with a book, some food, and a bottle of wine.

Several excellent museums can be found in or on the edges of Central Park too (see below).

Yellow taxis in front of the sprawling staircase at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, USA

If you’re short on time, Take Walks offers a Met Express Tour where an expert guide will take you to the absolute highlights and give you deeper insights into the pieces you’re seeing so you can make the most of your experience. It’s just two-hours long too.

1000 5th Avenue, Central Park, Upper East Side, +1 212 535 7710, metmuseum.org. Open Sunday–Tuesday from 10am–5pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-9pm. Admission is $30 USD (includes same-day entrance to the Cloisters).

The American Museum of Natural History building surrounded by trees in NYC

Central Park W. at 79th Street, Upper West Side, +1 212 769 5100, amnh.org. Open daily from 10am-5:30pm. Admission is $28 USD (special exhibitions not included).

Take in the Museum of the City of New York This museum can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about New York City. Architecture, parks, streets, as well as its people, and culture — it’s all covered! There are multiple rooms that highlight various time periods in NYC history featuring interviews, maps, interactive exhibits, profiles of historical figures, and various artifacts. It’s the best history museum in the city. There’s a cool exhibit here where you can create the future NYC, Sim City style. It’s great for kids!

1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St., +1 212-534-1672, mcny.org. Open Thursdays from 10am-9pm and Friday-Monday from 10am-5pm. Admission is $20 USD.

The TKTS Booth surrounded by signs for Broadway shows in Times Square, NYC

The Lion King

Ticket prices vary greatly by show. However, you can find discounted tickets at the TKTS offices around the city (Times Square, South Street Seaport, and downtown Brooklyn) for shows that day. They also have an app where you can see what they offer too.

A grassy courtyard surrounded by columns at the Met Cloisters in New York City, USA

The building and its stunning cloistered garden are very, very peaceful and beautiful. It’s one of the best things to do in the city. There are free tours each day that explain the history of the museum and the paintings and exhibits.

99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park, +1 212 923 3700, metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters. Open Thursday-Tuesday from 10am-5pm. Closed Wednesday. Admission is $30 USD and includes same-day entry to The Met.

Visit the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Head over to the MoMA for lots of beautiful (and weird) modern art and some vivid impressionist art. Personally, I don’t “get” modern art. I mean, how is a shovel on a wall art?

While I’m not a fan, this museum does have Van Gogh’s Starry Night as well as other post-impressionist art so I can’t hate it completely. If you love modern and contemporary art, this (I’m told) is one of the best in the world.

18 W. 54th Street, Midtown, +1 212 708 9400, moma.org. Open daily from 10:30am-5:30pm (7pm on Saturdays). Admission including skip-the-line access is $25 USD . The MoMA’s Sculpture Garden is free of charge to the public daily from 9:30am–10:15am.

Modern, round exterior of the Guggenheim Museum with taxis going by in NYC.

1071 5th Avenue, Upper East Side, +1 212 423 3500, guggenheim.org. Open Sunday-Monday, Wednesday-Friday from 11am-6pm (Saturdays until 8pm). Admission is $25 USD. Pay what-you-wish is available on Saturdays from 6pm-8pm.

See the Frick Collection This collection features paintings by major European artists (lots of Dutch masters here) as well as 18th-century French furniture and Oriental rugs. You have to really love Dutch artists to want to spend time here (I do) but be sure to visit their website in advance because they host a lot of wonderful temporary exhibits featuring famous works of art.

1 East 70th Street, +1 212-288-0700, frick.org. Open Thursday-Sunday from 10am-6pm. Admission is $22 USD. Thursdays from 4pm-6pm is pay-what-you-wish admission.

People walking on a pathway surrounded by greenery and tall skyscrapers on The High Line Park in the Meatpacking District in NYC

Next to it, in the Meatpacking District, there’s the new building for the Whitney Museum of American Art (a museum that collaborates with the Met). Even if you don’t go inside, the building is worth seeing, as it is a work of art in itself. But I would recommend going inside as there is a wonderful exhibit of American art.

99 Gansevoort Street, Chelsea, +1 212 570 3600, whitney.org. Open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:30am-6pm, Fridays from 10:30am-10pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-6pm. Admission is $25 USD and pay-what-you-can on Fridays from 7pm-10pm ( advance tickets strongly recommended ). Enjoy the view from the Empire State Building After you finish up with lower Manhattan, jet up to this historic landmark. Standing 1,453-feet (443 meters) tall and completed in 1931, the 1930s art deco interior of this building is absolutely beautiful and the view from the top is breathtaking. It’s one of the most iconic buildings in the city and you can get a real feel for how densely populated New York is as you take in the view. Get here early or during lunchtime to avoid the lines and tour groups.

350 5th Avenue, Midtown, +1 212 736 3100, esbnyc.com. The observation deck hours vary greatly by season (with week-to-week differences). Check the website for updated hours. Admission is $44 USD to the 86th-floor observatory and $79 to the 102nd & 86th-floor observation decks. Get your skip-the-line tickets here.

Main concourse filled with people in Grand Central Station in NYC

89 E. 42nd Street, Midtown, grandcentralterminal.com. Open daily from 5:30am–2am. Book the only official Grand Central Terminal Tour with Walks here ($30 USD).

See the Lower East Side Tenement Museum This museum highlights how immigrants from around the world lived during the late 1800s and early 1900s as they tried to make it in America. It’s a good follow-up to what you see on Ellis Island. You can only visit this museum via guided tours, and they need to be booked in advance. I like that live actors are used to portray and share the stories of newly arrived immigrants as it makes the experience much more memorable.

103 Orchard Street, Lower East Side, +1 877 975 3786, tenement.org. Open daily from 10am-6pm. Admission is $30 USD.

A hand holding up a slice of pizza on a NYC street

1. See a TV Show – NYC is home to tons of TV shows that film here regularly. TV shows like Saturday Night Live, The View, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon all offer free tickets to their tapings. Tickets need to be reserved long in advance so you’ll need to plan ahead.

2. Explore the Bronx Zoo – Opened in 1899, the zoo spans almost 300 acres and sees over 2 million visitors each year. Home to over 650 different species, it’s a great place to visit with kids. Gorillas, birds of prey, bison — there is a huge assortment of animals here and you’ll definitely learn a lot during your visit!

3. See a Yankees/Mets/Rangers/Knicks Game – Like sports? NYC has some world-class sports teams. I’m not a big sports fan (the Yankees play soccer, right?), but games are fun when you have friends to share the experience with. If you have a chance and the desire, don’t miss a sporting event, because New Yorkers are serious about their local teams!

4. Take a Food Tour – NYC is a foodie city and there are tons of amazing tours that can introduce you to the best food the city has to offer. Devour Food Tours is my go-to choice as their tours are amazing and their guides are super knowledgable.

A few tours worth checking out if you want to eat your way around the Big Apple are:

Scott’s Pizza Tours
Foods of NY
Famous Fat Dave’s Five Borough Eating Tour
Secret Food Tours
Beyond the Plate

5. See Live Stand-Up at Comedy Cellar – Some of the biggest names in comedy either started here or have done gigs here, including greats like Jon Stewart, Robin Williams, Kevin Hart, and Chris Rock. They have different shows depending on the day of the week although the weekend shows fill up so reserve in advance online. Some shows have up to 5 or 6 different comedians.

Tickets range between $14-25 USD but they often have a two-item minimum per person (food or drinks). For NYC, it’s a very reasonable super fun night out.

a view over the towering NYC skyline during sunset

Public transportation – New York is well-connected by subway. You can get to wherever you need to go, or close to it, via the subway. You can use the contactless payment system OMNY to pay for fares. For this, you’ll need to use a contactless credit/debit card, smart phone, or wearable device. If you don’t have any of those, you can buy a Metrocard.

Metrocards require a minimum of $5.80 USD to be added to the card. Fares for each journey then cost $2.90 USD. The best deal is buying a 7-day unlimited transit pass for $34 USD. That means you just need to use the subway 12 times to get your money’s worth, which will be very easy to do.

If you don’t get a Metrocard or use OMNY, single-ticket fares cost $3.25 USD.

If you can’t get to where you’re going by subway, the bus will get you there. Fares and payment options are the same as above.

Taxi – Taxis are not cheap in NYC. The minimum fare starts at $3 USD but rises sharply from there. Skip them if you can. They are expensive and traffic is a nightmare.

Ridesharing – Uber, Lyft, and Via are way cheaper than taxis and are the best way to get around a city if you don’t want to take a bus or pay for a taxi. The shared/pool option (where you share a ride with other people) offers the best prices. Just expect much higher rates during rush hour.

Bike rental – You can bike just about anywhere in New York City, especially if you want to explore big parks like Central and Prospect. Citi Bike is a bike-sharing system, starting from $4.79 USD per 30-minute ride, or $19 USD for 24 hours. There are about 10,000 bikes all over the city, so one is always within reach. They have ebikes too.

A busy skyline and street view of Manhattan, NYC on a sunny summer day

BUDGET: HI New York City – One of the biggest and most popular hostels in the city with a ton of space, an outdoor patio, free Wi-Fi, events, activities, and a huge kitchen. If you’re on a budget, stay here. It’s the best hostel in the city.

BUDGET: The Jane – This historic hotel was actually where the survivors of the Titanic were put up when they landed in NYC in 1912. Today, it’s one of the best budget hotels in the city. It has compact single rooms, comfy beds, and shared bathrooms. It’s clean and well kept and the best choice if you want to stay in the West Village on a budget.

BUDGET: Chelsea International Hostel – This is one of the largest hostels in the city and has an outdoor courtyard, a dining area, and two kitchens. It’s in a great location too, with both the High Line and Times Square within a short walk.

MID-RANGE: Pod Brooklyn – While the rooms are small (it’s a pod hotel), the location here is excellent. There’s a laid-back lounge area where you can hang out, and a restaurant on-site for when you just want to relax in your room. Everything is clean and fresh and the staff here are super helpful.

MID-RANGE: YOTEL – A modern, high-tech hotel that even has a luggage storage robot (seriously). The rooms are on the small side but they are clean and comfortable. I love the large outdoor terrace; it has a great view of the city!

LUXURY: W Hotel Times Square – You’re literally on Times Square at the W Hotel. There’s onsite dining, free Wi-Fi, and a W MixBar in every room. You can’t get closer to the action than this. For me, it’s the nicest hotel in the area. If you’re gonna stay at a big name brand hotel, this is your best choice!

New York City is a big place with a lot to do and this list barely scratches the surface. Five days is barely enough to squeeze these activities in, let alone find time to visit boroughs like Queens and Brooklyn.

Get the In-Depth Budget Guide to New York City!

For more in-depth tips on NYC, check out my 100+ page guidebook written for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel in the city that never sleeps. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on- and off-the-beaten-path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, safety tips, and much more! Click here to learn more and get your copy today.

Book Your Trip to New York City: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite places to stay in the city are:

HI NYC Hostel
Jazz on Columbus Circle
Pod Times Square

If you’re looking for more places to stay, here my complete list of favorite hostels the city. Additionally, if you’re wondering what part of town to stay in, here’s my neighborhood guide to NYC!

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Safety Wing (best for everyone)
Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Need a Guide? New York has some really interesting tours. My favorite company is Take Walks . They have expert guides and can get you behind the scenes at the city’s best attractions. They’re my go-to walking tour company!

Want More Information on NYC? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on New York City for even more planning tips!

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

areal shot of New York City taken from the lower east side facing north

Get my best stuff sent straight to you!

Pin it on pinterest.

4 Days In New York Itinerary: How To Plan The Perfect NYC Trip

by Mark and Kristen Morgan

Published: May 20, 2021

The Perfect 4 days in New York City itinerary Central Park Midtown Manhattan Lower Manhattan Brooklyn Yellow Taxi Grand Central NYC

Planning the perfect first time trip to NYC begins with one very important question: Should you map out a New York City itinerary for 3, 4 or 5 days? Well, we’re here to show you why 4 days is the magic number. We have condensed the very best things to do in New York City into an action packed, fun filled and unforgettable 4 day NYC itinerary.

After heavily exploring New York City for 3 non-stop months in early 2021, we have crafted the perfect 4 days itinerary blueprint for first time visitors to one of the world’s greatest cities.

If you follow this itinerary exactly, you will see all of the top rated paid attractions, walk around the cool and edgy neighborhoods and of course hit the best free things to do in NYC.

Remember, you can always use this example itinerary as a starting point and tailor it to suit your travel style and preferences.

Let’s break the iconic landmarks and neighborhoods of New York City up into 4 memorable days!

Why 4 Days?

We thought long and hard about 3, 4 and 5 days for the perfect amount of time for a first time visitor to explore NYC.

New York City is one of the best places to visit in the USA but it is not a cheap place to take a vacation. Hotels, food, attractions and transport add up quickly.

However, there are so many awesome things to do in the city, so it’s important to get the balance right.

With just 3 days, you will be seriously cramming things in and you will have to cut one or two ‘big’ attractions or neighborhoods from your itinerary.
If you stay in the city for 5 days, you might find you have unexpected ‘dead’ time. Plus it starts to get really expensive.
Therefore, 4 days strikes the perfect balance between cost, time and making the most of your trip to NYC.

Getting Into NYC

Let’s take a quick look into basic travel logistics and useful tips for getting into the city. All transport terminals can be found on the map located at the end of the NYC itinerary:

Remember if you drive to the city, you will have to pay additional fees for hotel parking. There are tolls to pay as you cross bridges and tunnels, plus traffic is going to cost you time.

We highly recommend leaving your car in the hotel parking lot and using subways to get around once in the city.

The major Amtrak station in New York City is newly built Moynihan Hall, opposite Penn Station (which serves as one combined entity).

Greyhound bus terminal in NYC is at Port Authority, 8th ave and 40th-42nd street. Times Square and Penn Station are within walking distance.

International visitors will land at JFK or Newark, but domestic US travelers could also land at La Guardia. Here’s how to get into the city from each airport:

JFK to Manhattan – Take the air train to Jamaica Station and then the LIRR to Penn Station. The LIRR is much easier than taking the subway, especially if you have larger suitcases.
Newark to Manhattan – The Newark Airport ‘AirTrain’ will transport you from airport terminal to airport train station. Take the NJ Transit train or Amtrak train directly from Newark Airport station to Penn Station. Easier and quicker than JFK.
La Guardia to Manhattan – No direct train links. Take a bus to a subway line or take a taxi, private bus, or private car into Manhattan.

Where to stay on a 4 days in new york city itinerary 1 hotel central park top choice

Where To Stay In NYC

The hotel you decide to book will play an important role in the success and enjoyment of your visit to the city.

Our top tip is to book a hotel near a subway station. If you can help it, you don’t want a 5 or 10 minute walk each time you want to go anywhere in the city and the same back again later that night.

We won’t get into hotels in a big way in this 4 days New York City itinerary. Instead we will list just a handful of the top rated hotels in the most popular centrally located areas for first time visitors.

Read our comprehensive Where to Stay in New York City guide to find the perfect hotel for your travel style and preferences. It is a very detailed roundup of the top rated hotels in each of the 6 most popular NYC areas.

Important : A high proportion of first time visitors to New York will book a hotel near Times Square. Therefore, for the purposes of this 4 days in New York City itinerary, we will use Times Square as our home base.

Each hotel listed below has a rating out of 10 as per Booking.com included for reference. We have included the popular areas of Central Park, Times Square and Midtown South.

Click on any hotel name to see the prices for your dates:

Central Park – M Social Hotel 8.5
Times Square – Riu Plaza 8.6
Midtown South – Cambria 8.8
Central Park – 1 Hotel Central Park 8.7
Times Square – CitizenM Times Square 9.1
Midtown South – Archer 9.0
Central Park – The Whitby Hotel 9.5
Times Square – The Chatwal 9.1
Midtown South – The Langham 9.1

NYC Itinerary Tips

Spend as much time as possible exploring each day and night. You can sleep after your trip!
Depending on season, you might have one or two days of bad weather forecast. If there’s going to be a rainy day, switch up the itinerary to make sure you spend as much time inside as possible.
Fuel up during the day with the best bagels in NYC , endless slices of the best NYC pizza and hotdogs from street vendors – you are in New York City after all!
Visiting New York City at Christmas? Read our detailed guide to visiting NYC in Winter .
Book every single attraction you want to do in advance, whether it’s a museum, observation deck, cruise and even lunch or dinner if it’s somewhere popular. With just 4 days you can’t afford to lose time standing in lines or being on a waiting list.
Purchase a NYC attraction pass to save money when visiting many of the top attractions in the city. We will cover everything you need to know towards the end of this guide after the itinerary.

Infographic summarizing the best things to do on a 4 days NYC itinerary

Day 1 New York City Itinerary – Central Park, North Midtown & Times Square

Let’s kick things off on Day 1 with an iconic park, world famous art museums, shopping and the first of many observation decks.

Remember, the summer months of June, July and August are peak season in NYC. If you want to avoid the crowds but still have comfortable weather, consider visiting New York in April or another shoulder season month.

Central Park and North Midtown are overflowing with must-visit sights. It will be a busy first day with a lot of walking.

Central Park Bow Bridge in snow and ice winter plan a trip to nyc

Morning – Central Park

There are two awesome NYC bagel joints near Penn Station on 35th street between 7th and 8th avenue: Liberty Bagels Midtown and Best Bagel & Coffee . Either will set up you perfectly for the day ahead.

After breakfast, walk up 7th avenue from Times Square to Central Park or take the Yellow subway line from Times Sq 42 St to 5 Avenue on the Southeast corner of Central Park.

One of our top tips for your 4 days in New York City itinerary is to walk through Times Square before (or during) sunrise. It’s almost as crazy to see it empty as it to see it buzzing at night.

Central Park is a stunning part of the city you just can’t miss on a first visit to NYC. Walking through the park is up there with the very best free things to do in New York.

It’s also a 4 season urban oasis:

Spring – Cherry blossom
Summer – Emerald green leaves
Fall – Burnt orange foliage
Winter – See Central Park in the snow

Once in Central Park, follow this exact path:

The Pond -> Gapstow Bridge -> Wollman Ice Rink -> The Mall -> Bethesda Terrace -> Bow Bridge (but don’t cross it) -> Cherry Hill -> Wagner Cove -> Strawberry Fields -> Ramble Stone Arch -> The Ramble -> Belvedere Castle and finish at The MET .

The MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art) is our top pick for the best NYC museums . If you are only going to do one, make it this one. We spent 5 hours inside and left feeling like we’d missed a few important exhibits.

It is huge!

Afternoon – North Midtown

Once you manage to tear yourself away from The MET, either walk back through Central Park sticking close to the boundary with 5th avenue or walk on 5th avenue itself.

The park is more attractive but the luxury buildings of Upper East Side are impressive and intriguing.

When you reach the corner of 59th street and 5th avenue – where the Plaza Hotel from Home Alone 2 is located – you will begin walking down the world’s most expensive shopping street: Upper Fifth Avenue.

If shopping isn’t your cup of tea, why not go for a ‘proper brew’ with afternoon tea at The Whitby Hotel ?

Sandwiches, scones and desserts at one of the top rated hotels in NYC is a luxurious and relaxing way to refuel after standing for hours.

Alternatively, if you love art and can’t wait to travel forward in time from The MET, spend the next few hours perusing New York’s premier Modern Art display inside MoMA .

However you decide to spend the afternoon in North Midtown, be sure to walk by St Patrick’s Cathedral, Atlas, Saks Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center.

Top of the Rock is one of the best things to do on a 4 days in new york city itinerary

Evening – Times Square

After looking up at the impressive Rockefeller Center, there’s only one thing to do – stand on its roof. Walk the red carpet entrance on W 50th street, check out the exhibits and take the elevator up to Top of the Rock .

Pre-book your time slot for Top of the Rock and go for the hour before sunset. That way you can watch as Midtown and Downtown turn a golden yellow and orange as the city buildings cast huge deep shadows from block to block.

From Top of the Rock you have awesome views over Central Park, Edge and particularly the Empire State Building, which lights up at night.

Once you’ve seen enough and day has transitioned into night, it’s time to immerse yourself into the eccentric chaos that is Times Square. Even if you know you’re not going to like Times Square, you should at least walk through it one time to experience the electric atmosphere.

Look for the red staircase and take a seat to soak up the sensory overload scenes unfolding in front of you.

The time will come when you can’t take it anymore. At that point, make your way to Refinery Rooftop for a late dinner and cocktail or beer.

Views of the Empire State Building are great but you will need to book in advance.

Day 1 NYC Attractions Summary

If you want to keep track of any attractions you will visit on this 4 days in New York City itinerary, we will list major and minor attractions at the end of each day.

Central Park
Fifth Avenue
Top of the Rock
Times Square
St Patrick’s Cathedral
Saks Department Store
Rockefeller Center
NYC Rooftop Bar

Do you need help planning your visit to New York City? Our popular 40 + page NYC Guidebook & Itinerary covers every aspect of planning a trip to New York including hotels, restaurants, getting around, things to do, example itineraries and so much more!

Day 2 New York City Itinerary – South Midtown, Chelsea & Central Midtown

Day 2 gets you stuck into the meat of Manhattan, New York. The route is a nice, easy to follow square shaped loop and is best achieved by walking.

There are fewer ‘top attractions’ but more chance to walk through some of the residential areas in Manhattan.

Empire State Building in the new york city skyline is unmissable on any NYC itinerary

Morning – South Midtown

Start the day with a visit to the 86th floor of New York’s most iconic building of all – the Empire State Building. There are 50 tickets per day for sunrise but they are expensive.

So if you’re on a lower budget, we’d suggest waiting until right after the sunrise time slot.

Views circling 360 degrees consist of enormous skyscrapers and concrete towers bursting high above the streets of NYC. The exhibits are interesting and you can also pay more to visit the 102nd floor but be aware that floor is indoors.

Take Broadway as far as the Flatiron Building to gaze upon the famous narrowly rounded front edge.

Continue down Broadway passing through Union Square until you reach the incredibly popular and independent Strand Book Store .

By now there are likely to be lines to get in but it’s worth waiting around a few minutes to get inside.

The High Line street view of an ornate bridge

Afternoon – Chelsea

Next up is a 6 block walk along W 14th street as far as Chelsea Market.

Spend a few hours exploring Chelsea Market, find a great spot (such as Los Tacos ) for a quick take out lunch and enjoy the atmosphere.

Walk around Chelsea and the Meatpacking District for another hour or so, there are dozens of trendy bars and restaurants here to grab lunch if nothing takes your fancy inside Chelsea Market.

You will find The High Line starts just a few blocks South of the market and that’s where you’ll be heading next, right on the corner of Gansevoort and Washington.

The High Line is a peaceful and relaxing escape from crosswalks and relentless traffic. An old railroad line transformed into a 1.5 mile long garden oasis elevated above street level is as awesome as it sounds.

This place does get busy in Summer and on warm Spring or Fall days. But by late afternoon it should be beginning to get quieter after the midday rush.

Sunset on the edge at Hudson yards perfect place to visit on a 4 days in new york city itinerary

Evening – Central Midtown

As you walk North, you will see an eye-catching glass building with strange triangular shaped platform jutting out at the top. That is Edge at Hudson Yards and you will be standing on that very platform shortly.

Undergoing significant redevelopment, Hudson Yards has become a modern and futuristic looking area to enjoy. The High Line ends right at the Hudson Yards complex.

Start with Vessel, one of the most unique and awesome pieces of architecture in the city. Next to it is The Shed, a cultural center with retractable shell.

Move inside the main shopping mall at Hudson Yards. It reminded us of a mall in Dubai or Singapore with its pristine finish and upmarket feel. On the 4th floor you will find the entrance to Edge.

Spend time walking around the cool exhibits, explaining how renewable energy, waste and air filtration works in conjunction with the building.

The elevator ride from floor 4 to 100 is our favorite elevator in New York City. You will know why when you’re floating upward.

Views over NYC from Edge at sunset are astounding. We highly recommend this one.

When you’re ready, head up 34th street, passing Penn Station as far as Macy’s. You simply can’t miss one of the world’s most popular department stores on your first trip to NYC.

If you bought a New York CityPASS , you will have a ‘free’ second visit to the Empire State Building after 7pm. So if you’re not observation-decked-out, head back up to floor 82 to see New York shimmering at night.

Day 2 NYC Attractions Summary

Here are the top NYC attractions you have ticked off on day 2:

Empire State Building
Chelsea Market
The High Line
Strand Book Store
Flatiron Building
Meatpacking District
Penn Station

Day 3 New York City Itinerary – Lower Manhattan & SoHo

Days 1 and 2 have been action packed but day 3 takes things up a notch. Lots of coffee in the morning is a must!

Lower Manhattan is home to an overwhelming amount of touristy things to do in New York. However, with just one day to see it all, we’re going to prioritize only the most unmissable.

Statue of liberty is unmissable on a 4 days in new york city itinerary for first time visitors lady liberty holding torch high into the blue sky

Morning – Lower Manhattan Part 1

Take the red subway line from Times Square 42 St to the South Ferry terminal in time to jump on the very first ferry of the day to Liberty Island.

Again, you will need to book this in advance and we highly recommend you do make the first ferry. That way you get a good start on a long day and you also get Liberty Island to just the one group.

The ferry leaves from behind Castle Clinton in The Battery on Manhattan’s Southern tip.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty is one of the top bucket list activities on your 4 days in New York, and this is the only way you can actually step foot on Liberty Island.

The ferry leaves Liberty Island and makes a stop at Ellis Island before heading back to Manhattan. We thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend getting off at Ellis Island to take the tour inside the National Museum of Immigration.

However, only do this if you either have a lot of interest in this museum or you are a quick explorer because there’s a lot more to get through today.

Once back in Manhattan, it’s time to explore the maze-like street of the Financial District. Start with Stone Street, Broad Street and William Street before reaching Wall Street.

Check out the Trump Building, Federal Hall, Trinity Church and NYSE with the Fearless Girl statue. Consider taking this popular walking tour of Wall Street and the Financial District.

Oculus is one of the most unique buildings in new york city and perfect to add to a 4 days itinerary for lovers of architecture or interior design

Afternoon – Lower Manhattan Part 2

Around 12pm – 1pm is the perfect time of day if you’re planning to take a luxury helicopter tour over NYC for a special occasion. We’d recommend waiting on lunch until after the flight!

If a helicopter ride isn’t on your radar, head straight up to Oculus at the World Trade Center complex. Oculus is one of our favorite buildings in New York.

It looks like a bright white winged dove from the outside and opens up into a vast and cavernous grand hall.

If you want to complete the set of observation decks, One World Observatory is the highest platform in the Western Hemisphere. It offers a unique city view, including Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge.

Otherwise, it’s time for a harrowing but unmissable part of your 4 days in New York itinerary – the 9/11 museum. Spend a few minutes walking around the memorial pools before heading inside.

Allow at least 2-3 hours the museum. It’s so sad but engaging and gripping. A timeline of events unfolding almost feels like a tense movie script, but it was a tragic reality.

The museum does a fantastic job of immersing you into the events.

SoHo is a great place to walk around with lovely shops and cobblestone streets

Evening – SoHo

Emotions will be running high but you’ll need to shake it off as you walk North up W Broadway through Tribeca and into SoHo.

SoHo is a ritzy residential / high end shopping area in which you can enjoy some of the best people watching in the city. Walk up and down the quaint grid-style cobblestoned streets, stopping to admire the rows of houses and shops.

If you fancy a sweet treat, don’t miss Dominique Ansel bakery and its legendary Cronut – a croissant / donut hybrid.

Still feeling like walking and exploring at this point? Continue on to Greenwich Village and West Village for more of the same picturesque residential rows.

If not, stick around in SoHo, find a posh place for dinner and relax.

Day 3 NYC Attractions Summary

Here are the top NYC attractions you have ticked off on day 3:

Statue of Liberty
Wall Street
One World Observatory
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Ellis Island
Trinity Church
Helicopter Ride

Day 4 New York City Itinerary – Brooklyn & Williamsburg

The last day of your 4 days in New York City itinerary is centered around crossing the East River into Brooklyn and back again into Manhattan. Maybe more than once!

One day is doing Brooklyn a disservice. But on a first visit to NYC, there are just so many places in Manhattan you can’t miss.

Let’s take a look at an efficient way to see some of the best bits in Brooklyn in one day.

Dumbo washington street manhattan bridge view is unique and gorgeous

Morning – Dumbo

If you don’t mind an early start, we highly recommend waking up before sunrise and making your way down to Brooklyn Bridge / City Hall on the green subway line.

Walking over the iconic Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise is one of the best free things you can do in New York. You will have the bridge almost entirely to yourself, perfect for snapping some selfies.

Serious photographers should try to be at Pier 17 during civil twilight. The sun rises behind Williamsburg and Pier 17 has one of the top places to watch sunrise in NYC.

Cross the bridge and once you reach Brooklyn, take the staircase and turn left. Walk 3 blocks straight down Washington Street and you’ll see the mighty Manhattan Bridge dominating the skyline through a tunnel of narrow buildings.

Early morning gives you a better chance of getting a selfie without dozens of others, plus the bridge will be glowing just after sunrise.

This unique spot in Dumbo is one of the best photography and instagram locations in NYC .

Bars and restaurants in Williamsburg Brooklyn

Afternoon – Williamsburg

You have so many options for places to explore in Brooklyn.

Prospect Park, Greenwood Cemetery, Red Hook, walk around downtown Brooklyn, pick any of the residential neighborhoods to see those typical Brooklyn houses with wide set steps at the entrance and the list goes on.

However, for the purpose of keeping things broader and to give you more of a complete visit to NYC, we recommend you jump on the light green line at Hoyt-Schermerhorn and get off at Metropolitan Ave in Williamsburg.

Trendy hipster Williamsburg is a cool residential neighborhood with tons of bars and restaurants spilling out into the streets centered around Bedford Avenue and Berry Street.

Start at Domino Park and walk all the way up Berry St / Bedford Av to really immerse yourself into Williamsburg around midday. Stop in for lunch and a beer at one of many awesome looking places.

If you’re into street art, make the extra effort to reach the Bushwick Collective. You can jump on the grey line at Bedford Av station and get off at Jefferson St to see entire streets covered in wall art.

Top tip : If you’re trying out pizza slices in each area of NYC, you can’t miss highly rated and always busy L’industrie pizzeria in Williamsburg.

Brooklyn Bridge lit up at night with nobody on the wooden pedestrian path

Evening – Brooklyn

Tear yourself away from the pubs in Williamsburg and head back to Hoyt-Schermerhorn St in Brooklyn.

Make your way over to Montague Street and walk as far as Brooklyn Heights promenade for your first of many Lower Manhattan skyline views. Turn right and follow this all the way around until you’re standing underneath Brooklyn Bridge.

Continue along Water Street and enter Time Out Market . On the river side of the market, you will be able to see the classic Brooklyn Bridge view. Take a ton of photographs from Jane’s Carousel, Pebble Beach and on top of Time Out Market.

Sunset is awesome from anywhere in this area. Grab dinner at a riverside restaurant in Time Out Market, then head back to the other side of Brooklyn Bridge again.

Follow the waterfront Pier 1 promenade until you reach Old Pier 1 for another unique but amazing view of Manhattan.

Finally, take one of the most unforgettable walks in New York City by crossing the Brooklyn Bridge at night when Manhattan begins to sparkle.

Day 4 NYC Attractions Summary

Here are the top NYC attractions you have ticked off on day 4:

Williamsburg
Brooklyn Bridge
Manhattan Bridge
Bushwick Collective
Domino Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park

4 Days In New York City Neighborhood Itinerary

Does the itinerary above sound a little too touristy for your taste?

If you’re visiting New York City to see the good, the bad and the gritty, spend your days walking around neighborhoods instead of attractions.

Here’s an example of how you could spend 4 days in New York City:

1 – West Village, Greenwich Village and Chelsea
2 – Tribeca, Chinatown, Little Italy, Nolita and SoHo
3 – Bowery, East Village and Lower East Side
4 – Brooklyn and Williamsburg

4 Days In New York Itinerary Map

We have created a 4 Days NYC Itinerary Map for you to use as a reference. Each day is numbered by attraction or activity as listed in the itinerary above.

Click or touch your screen to activate the map.

Scroll around, zoom in and out, get to know the area and click on each icon to see how the 4 days New York City itinerary will work.

Understanding the geography of NYC will significantly help you get around and save time once you arrive.

Red icons = Day 1
Green icons = Day 2
Purple icons = Day 3
Blue icons = Day 4
Orange icons = Transport Hubs

Four major nyc attraction passes displayed in iPhones

New York City Attraction Passes

If you are planning to visit the top attractions in New York, we recommend you purchase a New York City attraction pass .

The idea is simple with these attractions passes; the more attractions you visit, the more money you will save .

Having used the NYC attraction passes ourselves when we lived in New York, we recommend the New York Sightseeing Pass because its extremely easy to use while offering both flexibility and big savings.

Many of the attractions on this New York Itinerary are included with the NY Sightseeing Pass and we have an exclusive 10% discount just for our readers.

Want To Save Money In NYC?

Use the button below to claim 10% off any NY Sightseeing Pass.

You can also read our guides below to help decide which is the perfect pass for your visit to New York:

NY Sightseeing Pass – The most popular NYC attraction pass option for visitors who want to see as many attractions as possible.
New York CityPASS and C3 Pass Review – How to visit select attractions in New York City at a competitive price point.
New York Pass Comparison – Detailed comparison between each of the 4 New York Passes and which one you should buy for your visit.

Travel Tip : If you have a New York attractions pass, you will not have to pay the extra fee for a sunset time slot at the any of the NYC observation decks when you reserve your timed entry ticket online.

Need Help Planning Your Visit To New York City?

NYC is a vacation planning beast and it can be overwhelming trying to get every aspect right. Trust us, we know!

After living in New York City, we created a comprehensive NYC travel guidebook & itineraries that will answer every question you have about where to stay, what to do, where to eat and how to get around the city.

Click see details below to read more about how we can help you plan your dream trip to New York City!

Our Popular NYC Guides

Attractions – Here’s our complete roundup of the very best things to do in New York City for all visitors covering free, cheap and iconic attractions.
Photography – Our guide to the best photography spots in New York City includes over 60 famous photo locations around the city.
Hotels – Here’s our comprehensive guide on exactly where to stay in New York City based on the six popular NYC neighborhoods.
Winter – Are you planning a trip to New York in December, January or February? There are 10 important things you need to know about visiting New York City in Winter .

Best Of New York City

Pizza – Sampling famous New York pizza is unmissable on any trip to the big apple, here’s our popular guide to where you can find the very best pizza in NYC .
Bagels – Bagels are the only thing you should be eating for breakfast in New York! Here’s our roundup of where to find the best bagels in NYC .
Museums – With over 100 museums in NYC it can be hard to narrow down which ones you should visit, here’s our version of the 10 best museums in New York City .
New York Attraction Pass – With so many popular NYC attraction passes how do you choose? In this guide, we give you a detailed comparison for all New York passes .

Want more New York City content? Head to our New York Travel Guides to explore more from the Big Apple as well as beautiful upstate NY.

We hope this New York City itinerary helps with planning the most amazing 4 days NYC trip!

Please let us know if you have any questions about planning your 4 day itinerary or New York City on the comments below.

Happy Planning ,

Mark and Kristen

Enjoy This NYC Guide? Pin If For Your Visit!

Perfect first time visitor 4 days in new york city itinerary every major attraction

Note : This article contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.

Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us .

8 thoughts on “4 Days In New York Itinerary: How To Plan The Perfect NYC Trip”

Incredible!!! Thanks so much for this wonderful guide. It has really helped me.

Hi Elaine, glad to hear it! Let us know if you have any questions about your trip 🙂

Taking my teenage son during spring vacay and this was super helpful! thank you

You’re very welcome, Karine. We hope you have a fantastic time in NYC!

This is great!! How do we incorporate a broadway play or 2?

Hi Bonnie, if you’re planning to squeeze in a few broadway shows we would suggest doing one or two of the observation decks during the day instead of at night so you can do broadway on an evening instead. It might be worth considering staying close to Times Square so you don’t have to go far after your shows at night. We’d also recommend booking your tickets in advance, we are just leaving a few days in NYC and it is back to being extremely busy! Have a great time!

WOW. This was impressive. Your valuable effort and time does not go unnoticed with this post.

Thank you very much, Levi, we appreciate you taking the time to let us know you found our itinerary helpful. Have a great trip to NYC!

New York , North America , Travel , USA

The best nyc itinerary: 3-7 days in new york city.

If you’re visiting New York for the first time, this is the perfect NYC itinerary to get your first taste of the city! And if you’re lucky enough to stay longer, check out the 4 bonus days I’ve included.

An Exciting 3-Day NYC Itinerary + 4 Bonus Days (2024)

Welcome to my ultimate NYC itinerary for first-timers! This guide will answer all your questions and give you an itinerary that’s easy to customize for your big trip to New York City. We’ve visited NYC just about every year for the last 10 years. It’s one of our favorite places and each time we go, we find something new to love!

I’ve already created an extensive NYC itinerary for kids and Christmas in NYC , but I’ve also been plenty of times without my kids, so I wanted to give you a more adult first-timers itinerary. When you’re planning an NYC itinerary, 3 days is the perfect amount of time to get a feel for the Big Apple. You can wander through Central Park, enjoy the views from the top of the Empire State Building, and explore the Museum Mile.

Make sure to book a Broadway show and a guided tour or 2. Plus, there are all the amazing restaurants and food that the Big Apple is known for. And don’t miss the chance to walk the legendary Brooklyn Bridge or take a stroll along the High Line.

Below you’ll get a top-notch 3-day itinerary, plus even more suggestions for additional 4 days in New York City. Get ready for all the charm and energy that an NYC adventure has to offer!

What to Know about NYC Before You Go

When you start to plan a visit to New York City for the first time, a lot of questions will probably come to mind! Here are some FAQs that will help you have the best experience in The City That Never Sleeps.

What’s the best way to get around in New York City?

For first-time visitors to NYC, the subway is the best way to get around. The subway is made to be easy to navigate with easy-to-read signs and a color-coded system. The extensive network of train lines takes you to all the most popular attractions, neighborhoods, and landmarks. Plus, it’s affordable, offers 24/7 service, and allows you to avoid traffic congestion.

However, if you prefer rideshare services, Uber and Lyft are widely available options (just watch out for price spikes). And for shorter distances, consider using Citi Bike , the city’s bike-sharing program. You’ll find stations throughout Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx where you can pick up and drop off bikes.

What apps should I use in New York City?

When you’re navigating NYC for the first time and want to make the most of your trip, several apps can help:

Citymapper : This essential app provides real-time directions for public transportation, ensuring you can efficiently navigate the subway and buses.
MTA Subway Time : The official MTA app is another great option that offers live updates on train schedules and service changes.
Uber and Lyft: You probably already have these ones on your phone, and they’re a must in NYC if you prefer rideshares.
NYCTaxiMeter : When all else fails, there’s always a yellow cab around somewhere! This awesome app helps estimate fares and track expenses.
TodayTix : If you want to secure discounted tickets to Broadway shows and other performances, TodayTix is super helpful.
Go City Card: I’m a big fan of Go City Card, which provides access to popular attractions with bundled savings! Purchase Go City New York Card here.
OpenTable : Looking for last-minute dinner reservations? This app offers easy booking and allows you to search nearby, by neighborhood, reviews, and more.

What airport should I fly into?

When flying into New York City, the 2 primary airports to consider are John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). Each option has pros and cons you’ll have to consider.

JFK is the largest and accepts the most flights. You can also take AirTran to the subway, but it’s the longest train ride from Manhattan (often over an hour). LaGuardia accepts mainly domestic flights. It’s closer to Manhattan, but you’ll need to get a rideshare or taxi.

You could also fly into New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). It’s actually pretty convenient and affordable if you’re staying in Manhattan. You can take Amtrak or NJ Transit, and car services and taxis are pretty affordable from here as well.

Should I bring my car to New York City?

I don’t recommend bringing a car to NYC, especially if it’s your first time! First, parking in Manhattan can be expensive, scarce, and time-consuming. The streets are often congested, and navigating the city’s bustling traffic can be overwhelming. Plus, you have the subway and buses readily available. Public transit in NYC is efficient and cost-effective for getting around the city.

Manhattan is a pedestrian-friendly destination, with many attractions within walking distance or easily accessible by train. Public transit is the best way to have the most authentic experience and enjoy a stress-free exploration of all the iconic sights that New York City has to offer!

Are there neighborhoods I should visit outside of Manhattan?

Absolutely! Manhattan offers so many incredible attractions, but you’ll enjoy a more unique experience if you can plan even one afternoon to explore the other vibrant boroughs of NYC.

Brooklyn is a must-visit, with its vibrant arts scene, hipster havens like Williamsburg, and the picturesque Brooklyn Heights. Queens offers cultural diversity, with neighborhoods like Flushing, which is known for its vibrant food scene. And the Bronx boasts infamous attractions like the Bronx Zoo and Yankee Stadium.

Is NYC a safe place to visit? Where should I avoid?

New York City is generally a safe place to visit, with millions of tourists enjoying their time in the city each year. Overall, you can have an amazing visit to NYC by exercising some caution and staying aware of your surroundings.

The majority of neighborhoods in NYC are safe for visitors, including popular areas like Times Square, Central Park, and the Theater District. If you’re concerned about higher crime rates, you’ll want to avoid the South Bronx, East New York, and Brownsville in Brooklyn.

While the city is relatively safe, you should exercise more caution, especially at night. Stay in well-populated and well-lit areas, use only public transportation options, and avoid displaying expensive belongings.

Be sure to bring a travel safe bag, like this one, and always be aware of where your wallet and phone are, especially while riding in crowded trains.

What’s the weather like in New York City?

When you’re planning a trip to New York, it’s important to check the weather forecast in advance of your trip. NYC experiences 4 distinct seasons.

Summers (June to August) are generally warm and humid, with temperatures hovering between 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) bring milder temperatures, ranging from the 50s to 70s. Spring and fall also bring the most rain to New York City.

Winters (December to February) can be cold, with temperatures varying widely, from below 0 to well into the 40s Fahrenheit. Snowfall is common in winter, but it varies from year to year.

When should I plan a trip to New York City?

The best time to plan a trip to New York City depends on your preferences and what you would like to experience. And it’s a pedestrian city, so you should be prepared for the elements no matter when you visit!

Spring is a great time to explore parks, enjoy outdoor activities, and see cherry blossoms in bloom. Summers are hot, but they also bring festive energy to the city. This is peak season, with outdoor concerts, street festivals, and more!

Fall brings vibrant fall foliage and festive events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And winter in NYC can be cold, it’s also a magical time with holiday decorations, ice-skating rinks, and Christmas markets. Just keep in mind that winter is the city’s second peak season.

If you’re a Christmas fan, December is a really fun time for visiting NYC. The holiday decorations are amazing and plentiful and there are plenty of festive activities, restaurants, and bars to visit. Christmas in New York City is magical!

What should I pack?

There are some essentials I suggest packing for an NYC 3-day itinerary. However, if you forget something, don’t worry! You’re in one of the shopping capitals of the world! Packing will be a little different, depending on when you come to New York City, but here are some basics I recommend:

Comfortable walking shoes
Waterproof shoes for rainy days
Breathable separates for daytime exploring
A few nice outfits for dinners and shows
Rain jacket
Portable charger
Reusable water bottle
A good travel safe bag

What should I eat in NYC?

When visiting New York City, there are several iconic foods that every visitor should try. First and foremost, grab a classic New York slice of pizza from a neighborhood dollar pizzeria (skip Sbarros). Get a hot dog from a street cart at least once. And don’t forget to top it with mustard and sauerkraut!

If you’ve never tried a New York City bagel with cream cheese and lox, head to a bakery on the Lower East Side. A beef pastrami sandwich from Katz’s Deli is a must. We love it so much that we have the pastrami shipped to us in California on special occasions! It’s that good. And if you find yourself in Brooklyn, head to Juniors for a slice of their iconic cheesecake.

Black and white cookies are a New York tradition (and they make great food souvenirs!). And while you’re shopping in Little Italy, look for a pasticceria, where you can enjoy a cannoli and a cappuccino.

Book a Photoshoot

We always love to book a photoshoot when we’re traveling. As a mom, it’s tough to get in the photos since I’m always behind the camera. We love using Flytographer to capture our memories. You can get $25 off your shoot by booking with this link or using code WANDERLUST.

Are there tourist attractions I should avoid?

While Times Square is an iconic and bustling area, it can be overcrowded, especially during peak tourist seasons. If you prefer a quieter experience or get overwhelmed easily, you might opt out of this one.

And you might want to avoid Chinatown if you don’t want to get bombarded with vendors selling fake designer bags. And NEVER follow vendors into back buildings, no matter what they offer you! Instead, head to Little Italy for souvenirs and tourist-friendly dining.

This is your chance to lean into being a tourist! Just remember, it’s always a good idea to research specific attractions beforehand and decide which ones will be on your NYC itinerary.

How expensive is New York City?

New York City has a reputation for being an expensive destination. And it’s true that certain aspects, like hotels and upscale restaurants, can be costly. But with careful planning and research, it’s possible to enjoy New York City without breaking the bank!

The city offers a range of options to fit different budgets, including affordable dining options. You can stay in a vacation rental or a hotel outside of Manhattan to cut costs on accommodations. There are all kinds of free or low-cost attractions, like museums with suggested donations. And the subway is affordable and can help you save on transportation costs.

Are New Yorkers mean?

Not at all! If anything, I would say that New Yorkers are tough but very nice. Depending on where you’re from, NYCers are not afraid to get to the point, but it’s usually because they have somewhere they need to be. They’ll speak up if you’re slowing everyone down.

They’re from all over the world, and they’re used to dealing with large crowds of people, crowded trains, and long lines. But if you need anything, they’re helpful and very kind. So don’t be afraid to ask for directions if you’re lost!

Where’s the best place to stay in New York City?

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can stay in Queens and travel every day to do things in Manhattan! For your first visit to NYC, I suggest staying in a central location like Midtown or Chelsea.

If you’re looking for something a little outside the hustle and bustle of the city, Williamsburg, Brooklyn has a wide range of fabulous hotels. Or book an apart-hotel in Park Slope. Both stops are only 20 minutes from the Financial District. Here are a few recommendations:

$$$$$ Lotte New York Palace in Midtown East

$$$$ The William Vale in Williamsburg

$$$ The Maritime Hotel in Chelsea

$$$ Sonder The Industrialist in Park Slope

$$ Moxy NYC Times Square in Times Square

$$ The SoHotel in SoHo

If you drive into New York City or plan on renting a car, just double-check that your accommodations offer parking. Also, confirm whether it’s long-term parking or if you can take your vehicle in and out during your stay.

Plan the Best 3 Days in New York City

You’re on your way to planning an amazing 3 days in NYC! Below I’ll suggest how to break up each day so you can get the most out of your limited time in the big city.

If you’re working simply with a 3-day itinerary, NYC neighborhoods to focus on would be in Manhattan. We’ll start in Midtown and move out from there. And keep in mind that if you have more than 3 days or want to switch things up, you have 4 bonus days to play with below.

Day 1 – Midtown Manhattan

You’ve arrived at the center of the universe! Midtown Manhattan is a bustling hub of activity that captivates visitors with its unique charm. This is where you’ll find Penn Station and Grand Central Station, both major transit hubs in and out of the city. If you’re taking the train from the airport, this is probably where you’ll end up.

Known for its iconic skyline and bustling streets, Midtown is a mashup of cultures, cuisines, and commerce. The area is filled with towering skyscrapers, world-class museums, bustling business centers, and luxury shopping destinations. Midtown is also home to Times Square, with its bright lights, Broadway theaters, and waves of visitors.

You’ll probably end up in this neighborhood throughout your entire visit to New York City, so it’s a good area to get familiar with! After you arrive at your hotel, I recommend a hop-on-hop-off bus tour to get your bearings. Then check out more of the best things to do in Midtown Manhattan!

Things to Do in Midtown

Be dazzled by the iconic intersection at Times Square
See a variety of Broadway shows in the Theater District
Visit the 2 observation decks at the Empire State Building
Savor Korean BBQ and check out the karaoke lounges in Koreatown
Explore the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Enjoy shopping the flagship stores and designer boutiques on Fifth Avenue
Head to Rockefeller Center and the Top of the Rock observation deck
See the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
See the stunning architecture of Grand Central Terminal
Take a picture with the lions outside the New York Public Library
Enjoy all the seasonal events and outdoor space at Bryant Park
Go up into the newest observation deck at Summit at ONE Vanderbilt
Walk through the regal St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Check out the Flatiron Building on your way to Madison Square Park
Day 2 – Financial District + Lower East Side

This is your 1 full day on your New York City itinerary, so let’s make the most of it! Below Houston Street, there are so many historical sites and iconic NYC attractions in one place. With so much to do, today will be all about the Financial District, the Lower East Side, and perhaps a quick jaunt through Little Italy and Chinatown.

The Lower East Side, known for its rich immigrant history, has evolved into a trendy and eclectic neighborhood. Here you’ll find historical landmarks, old-school delis, trendy eateries, and boutique shops.

Then there’s the Financial District, the bustling center of commerce and finance. It is home to Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, and the One World Trade Center. With landmarks such as Trinity Church, the neighborhood is a blend of old and new, with narrow cobblestone streets juxtaposed against sleek modern skyscrapers.

Both Little Italy and Chinatown are distinct neighborhoods that present rich traditions, flavors, and colors of Italy and China. You might be seeking delicious food, cultural immersion, or just a captivating stroll through vibrant streets, Little Italy and Chinatown provide unforgettable experiences.

I suggest beginning your day with a visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island . Then head out on foot to explore more of Lower Manhattan!

Things to Do Financial District + Lower East Side

See Wall Street up close, the home to the New York Stock Exchange
Take a picture with the bronze Charging Bull sculpture
Go up in the One World Trade Center observation deck
Book a tour of the 9/11 Museum & Memorial
Walk through the 17th-century Trinity Church
Take in stunning views of New York Harbor from the waterfront Battery Park
Ride the Staten Island Ferry for free past the Empire State Building and Ellis Island
Take a stroll along Mulberry Street to see the best shops and eateries of Chinatown and Little Italy
Learn about the lives of early immigrants at the Tenement Museum
Tour the Museum at Eldridge Street to learn about NYC’s Jewish heritage
Order pastrami sandwiches for lunch at the iconic Katz’s Delicatessen
Day 3 – Museum Mile + Central Park

On the 3rd day of your NYC itinerary, you’re on to more iconic NYC landmarks. You’ll spend your day exploring Museum Mile, located along Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side. And if you have time, take a walk through Central Park!

Museum Mile is a stretch of road that spans approximately one mile and is home to renowned institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met), the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and more.

And when you’re visiting NYC, no trip is complete without a stop at Central Park! Situated in the heart of Manhattan, this massive urban oasis serves as a retreat from the bustling city. You can enjoy picturesque landscapes, special events, landmarks, and a variety of recreational activities.

Things to Do on the Upper East Side + Central Park

Visit the world-renown Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
Explore the iconic Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Head to the Museum of the City of New York
Tour El Museo del Barrio to experience Latinx and Caribbean art and culture
See the Jewish Museum’s collection of artifacts and artworks
Peruse exhibits at the Museum of African Art
Admire the beautiful Bethesda Terrace and take photos by the fountain
Take an hour to visit the infamous Central Park Zoo
Pay tribute to John Lennon at the Strawberry Fields Memorial
Cross the Bow Bridge, one of Central Park’s most scenic spots
Relax on the expansive Great Lawn with other locals and tourists
Head to the west side of the park to visit the American Museum of Natural History
Rent a rowboat at The Loeb Boathouse or enjoy a meal overlooking the lake
Go ice skating in the winter at Wollman Rink, or rollerblading in the summer
Explore Shakespeare Garden, featuring flowers mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare

If You Have More Time In Your New York City Trip

If you have an additional 4 days to explore New York City, here are some additional neighborhoods to consider visiting:

Day 4 – Greenwich Village

If you have 4 days in New York, take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of Greenwich Village. Make a great start to the day by grabbing a bagel and heading to people-watch at Washington Square Park!

Often called simply “The Village,” this Lower Manhattan neighborhood is made up of both Greenwich Village and the West Village. It’s been home to many influential artists, writers, and musicians throughout history. Today, it’s where you’ll find a diverse range of dining options, iconic entertainment venues, and historic landmarks.

Greenwich Village has been a hub for creativity and counterculture movements for decades. It became synonymous with the Beat Generation in the 1950s and the folk music scene of the 1960s. The neighborhood also played a significant role in LGBTQ+ history as the site of the Stonewall Riots, a pivotal event in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

When planning a New York itinerary, 4 days will give you a chance to add some of these exciting Greenwich Village stops to your list.

Things to Do in The Village

See the famous art and street performers of Washington Square Park
Explore the boutique shops and cafes lining charming Bleecker Street
Visit the historic Stonewall Inn, where the Stonewall Riots began
Pay homage at the Stonewall National Monument at Christopher Park
Enjoy stand-up comedy performances at the renowned Comedy Cellar
Experience Cafe Wha?, where Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix once performed
Check out the restaurants, bars, and live music venues along MacDougal Street
Order a drink and listen to world-class musicians at the Blue Note Jazz Club
Head to the IFC Center for a line-up of independent and foreign films
Indulge in Magnolia Bakery’s recognizable cupcakes
Peruse artisanal cheeses at the historic Murray’s Cheese Shop
Attend an Off-Broadway production at The Cherry Lane Theatre
Have a meal at the White Horse Tavern and sit where Jack Kerouac once sat
Find the iconic buildings used for the exterior shots of Monica’s apartment in the TV show “Friends”
Day 5 – Brooklyn

Brooklyn, one of New York City’s boroughs, is a massive place. But you’ll get a good feel for it on day 5! Start with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and pizza in DUMBO before you jump on a train to historic Coney Island! Or take a walking tour of Bushwick’s street art .

Brooklyn is known for its thriving arts scene, with galleries, music venues, and street art everywhere. The borough is also home to beautiful green spaces, and its food culture is picking up steam. Exploring Brooklyn is a great way to experience authentic New York City neighborhoods, each with its own atmosphere and architectural style.

Brooklyn offers so many things that you need more than 1 day on a New York 5-day itinerary. For now, pick and choose a few of the best things to do in Brooklyn!

Things to Do in Brooklyn

Take in the New York City skyline when you walk the Brooklyn Bridge
Explore Brooklyn Museum, one of the largest art museums in the country
Enjoy outdoor activities in the expansive Prospect Park
Discover the hip culinary scene and vintage shopping in Williamsburg
Wander the cobblestone streets of DUMBO and take in views of the Manhattan Bridge
Spend a beach day along iconic the Coney Island boardwalk
See the world-famous cherry blossoms bloom in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Indulge in trendy and unusual culinary delights at Smorgasburg
Take in the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Enjoy all the green spaces, playgrounds, and summer activities to be found at the massive Brooklyn Bridge Park
Take a stroll through historic Brooklyn Heights, with its beautiful brownstone houses
Visit the unique New York Transit Museum inside an old subway station
Ride Jane’s Carousel, located in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Day 6 – Chelsea + Hudson Yards

Heading back to Manhattan, you might need a low-key day with built-in views and casual things to do. This is a good time to enjoy some laid-back shopping, eating, and outdoor fun. So, head to the gorgeous neighborhoods of Chelsea and Hudson Yards on the Hudson River side of Manhattan.

This part of Manhattan was once the industrial part of town, and you can still see remnants of that time! Today, art galleries, boutiques, and hip restaurants fill old factories and warehouses. It’s also home to the High Line, an elevated park built on a historic railway line, offering unforgettable views and unique urban green spaces.

Hudson Yards, on the other hand, has been developed into a contemporary neighborhood of sleek luxury high-rise buildings. It’s become the newest area for tourists with great shopping, eateries, and landmark parks.

It’s worth planning half a day to visit these unique New York City neighborhoods. So, check out my suggestions for what to do in Chelsea and Hudson Yards.

Things to Do in Chelsea + Hudson Yards

Visit the fascinating Little Island, a park on stilts with views of the Hudson
Explore the High Line, with its scenic views and green spaces
Check out all the food vendors and trendy shops inside Chelsea Market
Enjoy a game of golf or go bowling at Chelsea Piers
Climb up into The Vessel for stunning views of the surrounding area
Enjoy an afternoon of shopping at The Shops at Hudson Yards
Peruse Mercado Little Spain, an authentic Spanish food hall and market
Day 7 – Bronx + Harlem + Upper West Side

Get the most out of the last day of your NYC itinerary by splitting your time between the Bronx, Harlem, and more iconic New York City attractions on the Upper West Side.

The Bronx, located north of Manhattan, is a diverse neighborhood known for its rich history, vibrant communities, and iconic landmarks such as the Bronx Zoo and Yankee Stadium. It also offers a range of outdoor spaces and parks.

Harlem, in northern Manhattan, played a central role in the Harlem Renaissance. The neighborhood fostered a thriving arts scene, becoming a hub for African-American intellectuals, musicians, and artists. Harlem is home to amazing cultural attractions and a vibrant culinary landscape.

The Upper West Side, located on the western side of Manhattan, exudes a residential charm and boasts iconic landmarks. There’s a relaxed atmosphere and a range of dining options, making it a popular area for visitors.

I suggest starting with an early visit to the Bronx Zoo and then getting lunch in Harlem before heading to the Upper West Side. Or take a walking tour of Harlem before a Yankee game that night! Check out more things to choose from in these iconic neighborhoods.

Things to Do in the Bronx + Harlem + the Upper West Side

Explore the Bronx Zoo
Visit the New York Botanical Garden
Catch a baseball game at Yankee Stadium
Enjoy a scenic hike at Pelham Bay Park
Experience the food scene on Arthur Avenue, Bronx’s Little Italy

Visit the historic Apollo Theater
Explore the Studio Museum in Harlem
Visit Abyssinian Baptist Church, known for its role in the civil rights movement
Indulge in soul food and Caribbean cuisine along Malcolm X Boulevard
Visit the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Upper West Side

Spend more time exploring Central Park and its many attractions
Visit the American Museum of Natural History
Take a walk in Riverside Park
Enjoy outdoor dining at a restaurant or cafe along Broadway
Attend a concert at Beacon Theatre
Explore the box stores, vintage shops, and boutiques along Columbus Avenue

In Conclusion, Here are My Recommendations for Planning a 3-Day NYC Itinerary

Take the subway and leave the car at home
Use apps like Citymapper and TodayTix to make last-minute planning easier
Both JFK and LGA are good options for flying into New York City
Check out attractions in Manhattan, but don’t forget about Brooklyn,the Bron, and Queens if you have time
For safety, stay aware of your surroundings, keep belongings close, and stay in well-lit areas
Each season offers a special experience, but be prepared to deal with the elements no matter when you visit
Think about the weather when packing, and don’t forget good walking shoes
Try all the food, but stay away from touristy pizza places
Embrace being a tourist, but be safe and avoid crowded attractions if you get overwhelmed easily
Plan on New York City is expensive, but look for all the great ways to save money
Don’t be afraid to ask New Yorkers for help
Stay in a central location, like Midtown Manhattan, and don’t go any further out than Park Slope or Williamsburg, Brooklyn
3 Days in New York is enough to see the main attractions, but 4 to 7 days will give you a more thorough experience

Wanderlust Crew

1 Week in New York: Itinerary for First Timers

Latest update: March 6, 2024

New York has so unbelievably much to offer and that’s a good thing. Unfortunately, it also makes travel preparation difficult. To make planning your trip to easier, we’ve written down our suggested itinerary for 1 week in New York.

A full week is a very typical time span for a trip to New York .

So in this article, we’ve shared our recommended itinerary for 1 week in New York with you.

We’ve put together the itinerary for each day so that the routes are as short as possible and the itinerary items are also all manageable.

Of course, we also know that not everyone has a week in New York at their disposal.

So if you’re only in New York for 3, 4 or 5 days, you can easily just pick out the sights and attractions that are most important for you from our itinerary.

How many days should you plan for a trip to New York?

Everyone has a different answer to this question. Every day in New York is a good day, that means our answer is this: as long as possible!

In our opinion, you should plan at least five days for a trip to New York though.

Each day more is of course a win, and you also wouldn’t get bored after a month in the city.

Because of the long flight times, less than 5 days isn’t really worth it. A shorter duration would only make sense if you’re planning a longer trip along the east coast.

But even in this scenario, you’d still need at least three full days to at least see the most important attractions.

The optimal preparation for 1 week in New York

Before we tell you about our itinerary for 1 week in New York, we want to give you another few helpful tips for the preparation.

#1 The best gear

The most important thing in your suitcase should be comfortable shoes, because you’ll really, really walk a lot.

New York is enormous. Even if you take the subway around, the paths are long and a big part of getting to know the city is simply exploring the individual neighborhoods on foot.

If you’re out and about in New York during the summer, the city is often very hot and muggy.

Even so, you should always have a thin sweater or a scarf to throw on because the air conditioning is often very cold.

New York is often bitterly cold in winter and the wind blows through the streets. Warm clothing is definitely necessary then.

For further tips read our article on what to pack for a city trip

#2 Buy tickets for attractions in advance

New York is always full of tourists that naturally all want to visit the same attractions.

Unfortunately, that often means long wait times in the ticket line and then again at the security check, elevators, etc.

It can’t be avoided entirely, but you can reduce the wait times by buying your tickets for most of the sights online in advance.

It’s often even a little cheaper to do that and you can at least save yourself the time waiting for the ticket counter.

In this article, we’ve included the links to the online advance tickets for all of the attractions where this is possible.

Also read our article on the top 22 attractions in New York

#3 Save time and money with the right New York city card

When you’ve chosen which sights you’d definitely like to visit in New York, you should take a look at the different New York discount passes.

Because with them you can save not only money, but also time.

Namely, with the right New York pass, you don’t have to stand in long lines at some of the attractions.

There are five different passes in total. Each one works differently and offers different rebates.

Understanding them all is honestly an art in itself.

We’ve taken a close look at each pass and sorted out the chaos in our detailed comparison.

Read our New York pass comparison

#4 Metro ticket for 1 week in New York

If you’re getting around New York for a week, the 7 day MetroCard for the New York subway is very likely worth it for you. Even if you’re there for only 4 or 5 days, the weekly ticket is still worth it in most cases.

You can of course also buy it at the ticket machines right after your arrival to the airport in New York.

Day 0: arrival in New York

On the day of arrival, you shouldn’t schedule too much and should instead take the day easy. A 6 hour time difference shouldn’t be underestimated.

So that the jet lag doesn’t completely consume you, it’s important that you don’t directly lie down in the hotel bed and sleep. Align your rhythm right away with the time of day in New York.

So if you arrive in the morning, midday or afternoon, you should really hold out until the evening and only then give in to your tiredness.

If you still haven’t chosen your hotel, then be sure to take a look at our article on this:

Where to stay in New York: the best areas and hotels

During our last visit, we stayed at CitizenM in Midtown , nearby Times Square. We’d go there again anytime and can only highly recommend the hotel to you.

Depending on how much time you have on the first day and where in New York your hotel is, you could even visit one of the sights that had actually been planned for another day.

Our tip : if you get accommodation at CitizenM or your hotel is in Midtown, you can see Times Square in the evening. You don’t have to prepare anything to visit this icon of the city or worry about getting any tickets. You can simply just take this place in.

Day 1: 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street, Statue of Liberty

For each day, we’ve first written out all itinerary items in brief bullet points.

If online tickets are available, you’ll find the link right alongside the item.

A quick overview of all day 1 sights:

9/11 Museum and Memorial – buy tickets
One World Observatory – buy tickets
St. Paul’s Chapel
Trinity Church
Wall Street/New York Stock Exchange & Charging Bull
Battery Park
Ferry to Staten Island with a view of the Statue of Liberty

#1: 9/11 Museum & Memorial

The first day brings us to the southern part of Manhattan and begins with the 9/11 Museum and Memorial.

There, where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center used to stand, you’ll now find the 9/11 Memorial: two deep pools from the edges of which water falls into the depths and on which the names of all 2,983 people who lost their lives on September 11th are engraved.

You should plan 30 to 60 minutes for the memorial. Right next to the memorial, you can find the absolutely worth seeing 9/11 Museum, which you should plan at least two hours for.

You can buy tickets for the museum on site or also in advance on the ticket booking platform getyourguide:

Buy tickets for the 9/11 Museum

The ticket for the museum is also included in all five of the New York discount passes .

#2: One World Trade Center

The new One World Trade Center stands directly next to the 9/11 Memorial.

You can admire it wonderfully from below at the 9/11 Memorial or visit the building’s observation platform.

We’d also suggest here that you buy your ticket in advance to save time standing in line.

If you ask us, a visit to the platform isn’t an absolute must, because we personally liked the views from Rockefeller Center and from the Empire State Building better.

If you still don’t want to miss the view, you can buy your ticket beforehand online:

Tickets for the One World Observatory

You can read more about our visit in our article The nicest viewpoints of New York.

Entrance to the One World Observatory is also included in the New York Sightseeing Pass and in the Explorer Pass . You can find out which of these is most worthwhile for you here: our New York pass comparison .

#3 Oculus (train station World Trade Center)

A real eye-catcher is the new train station of the World Trade Center, called the Oculus.

If you take the 1 train to the WTC Cortlandt station, you’ll arrive there and can then see the station directly as the first itinerary item.

Possible stops

Before you continue with the second half of the agenda, you can also make a few stops in between.

Shopping: Century 21 (Outlet with greatly reduced name brand clothing) Food: Eataly (market & restaurant), Shake Shack (burger chain, very tasty) & Le District (French food market) View: through Brookfield Place to the promenade on the Hudson River

#4: St. Paul’s Chapel

St. Paul’s Chapel lies east of the World Trade Center and is the oldest still standing and used church in Manhattan.

The special thing about the church is that it remained unscathed during the Great Fire of 1776 and also remained unharmed by the attacks in 2001, although it stood in close proximity to the twin towers.

George Washington has also prayed in the church, by the way.

You don’t absolutely have to visit the church from the inside, but you should definitely take a look at it from the outside.

#5: Trinity Church

If you simply walk from St. Paul’s Chapel south along Broadway, after five minutes you’ll get to the also famous Trinity Church, which lies directly across from the west end of Wall Street.

#6 Stop: Wall Street & Charging Bull

From Trinity Church, all you have to do is cross Broadway and you’re on Wall Street.

Due to security reasons, since 2001 you’re unfortunately no longer able to visit the famous New York Stock Exchange.

That leaves only a quick view of the stock exchange from outside, and then you can continue onwards to the famous Charging Bull in Bowling Green Park.

Wall Street New York Stock Exchange

#7 battery park.

From the Charging Bull, continue south to Battery Park. There you’ll find the southernmost point of Manhattan and you can take a first look at the Statue of Liberty.

#8 Staten Island Ferry Terminal

At the eastern end of Battery Park you’ll find the ferry terminal, which is where the Staten Island Ferry departs.

As the name already suggests, the ferry goes from Manhattan to Staten Island. During the journey, it goes relatively close to the Statue of Liberty.

The ferry goes in regular intervals, so you never have to wait long. The ride is free and lasts around 25 minutes. After arriving in Staten Island, you get off and change to the next ferry heading back to Manhattan.

The journey is definitely worth it because you get a great view not only of the Statue of Liberty, but of southern Manhattan as well.

The first day ends with the boat ride.

Day 2: MoMA, Empire State Building & High Line

A quick overview of all day 2 sights:.

MoMA & MoMA Design Store – buy tickets
Empire State Building – buy standard ticket
Chelsea Market
Artists & Fleas

#1 MoMA & MoMA Design Store

The Museum of Modern Art, or MoMA for short, is for us personally one of the best museums in New York .

Here you’ll find famous works by many great Modern artists, from Picasso to Andy Warhol to Matisse.

The museum is open daily from 10:30 am, admission costs 25 dollars and tickets are available online in advance. You should plan at least two hours for the visit.

Buy tickets for the MoMA

Except for the New York CityPass, entrance to the Museum of Modern Art is included in all New York passes .

Our tip : be sure to take a look in the MoMA Design Store. Browsing there is always a lot of fun for us. You can find the store on the opposite side of the street from the MoMA exit.

The Museum of Modern Arts (MoMA) in New York

#2 Empire State Building

A visit to the viewing platform of the Empire State Building of course also has to be on the agenda in New York.

If you like to get up early, you could also slide this itinerary item up before the visit to the MoMA, as you can visit the Empire State Building starting from 8:00 am.

Tickets cost 46 dollars and we recommend that you be sure to buy the tickets in advance.

You have two options:

#1 Standard ticket : with the standard ticket for 46 dollars, you can bypass the line at the ticket counter. To the standard ticket

#2 Express ticket : this ticket costs 85 dollars, but you can also jump the lines at the entrance and at the escalators as well. If you don’t have a lot of time, this is definitely a good option. To the express ticket

A visit to the Empire State Building is also included in all available New York passes .

Possible stop for lunch:

Food : Tonchin New York (Ramen restaurant with really delicious Japanese noodle soup)

#3 High Line Park

From the MoMA or from the Empire State Building (depending on which order you preferred) it’s onwards to the northern entrance of the High Line park. The High Line is an over two kilometer long park on a former elevated railway that runs alongside the streets of the city.

If you want to go easy on your feet, you can take a taxi for the journey from the Empire State Building to the High Line (we explain to you here how to take a New York taxi).

#4 Chelsea Market & Artists and Fleas

Not far from the southern end of the High Line, you’ll find Chelsea Market, a huge market hall with various food stalls and shops.

All the way at the end of the market hall you’ll also find Artists & Fleas, an art marketplace where artists, designers and tradesmen sell their crafts — you can really find everything there that is currently “hip.”

#5 The Standard Biergarten or the Brass Monkey Rooftop Bar

Also right around the corner is The Standard Biergarten and the Brass Monkey Rooftop Bar.

Depending on how you’re feeling after an exciting day, you can end the evening there.

There’s of course something to drink and eat at both places.

The rooftop bar is only on the 4th floor, but it’s still pleasant. The advantage: it doesn’t have the typical strict dress code like most rooftop bars in New York do.

Day 3: Museum Mile, Central Park & Times Square

A quick overview of all day 3 sights:.

Guggenheim – buy ticket
Metropolitan Museum of Art – book a guided tour
Central Park
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Times Square

#1 Guggenheim Museum

Museum Mile in New York is found east of Central Park. The third day begins there.

To get there you can take the green 4, 5 or 6 train to 86th Street / Lexington Avenue and walk to the Guggenheim Museum on the edge of Central Park.

Admission to the Guggenheim Museum costs 25 dollars. There are tickets online or on site. The museum is included in all New York passes as well.

Buy tickets for the Guggenheim

Our tip : the Guggenheim Museum has changing exhibits. It’s best to take a look in advance at whether the current exhibit is something for you. You don’t have to pay any entrance fee to take a quick look at the inside of the museum, as the foyer is freely accessible.

#2 Metropolitan Museum of Art

Our next stop is the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or Met for short. The museum is phenomenal — not only in the quality of the exhibits, but also in its size.

It’s among the most visited museums of the world and you could likely spend several days there.

You surely won’t have that much time, but you should still plan at least 2-3 hours.

Because of time constraints, we only saw the exhibition rooms with modern artworks and that alone was well worth the admission price of 25 dollars.

Book a guided tour for the Met

Admission to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is also included in all New York passes .

Stop for Lunch

Pastrami Queen

One of the best pastrami sandwiches of the city is at Pastrami Queen, a small deli with little seating about an eight minute walk from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Definitely try the World Famous Hot Pastrami, which is easily enough for two people, by the way. We each had one and almost burst afterwards.

#3 Central Park

Continue onwards to Central Park, where you can spend a relaxing afternoon.

The best thing to do is to take the entrance at 76th Street and follow the street to the Alice in Wonderland statue and the small lake lying beyond, where you can steer small rented sailboats across the water.

Then you can walk to the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain , known from many films, and from there continue to Strawberry Fields , the memorial for John Lennon designed by Yoko Ono.

From there, continue to the Umpire Rock , a rock where you have a gorgeous view of the city and that’s used by many tourists for a selfie.

Our last stop in Central Park is the Gapstow Bridge at the northern end of a small pond.

This part of Central Park is also known worldwide from innumerable film scenes.

#4 5th Avenue

From Central Park, walk along 5th Avenue towards the south, because there’s a lot to see and marvel at there.

Right at the beginning, you’ll walk past Pulitzer Fountain, the famous Plaza Hotel, many well known brand stores, from Gucci to Tiffany & Co., to the department store Saks, directly across from Rockefeller Center.

At 50th Street and the corner of 5th Avenue, you can also wonder at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest cathedral built in the neo-Gothic style in the USA.

#5 Times Square & Musical

Towards the end of the day, we’ll make our way towards Times Square.

If you still haven’t been here in the evening yet, you should take a little time to take in this tremendous scene.

For many visitors, a visit to a Broadway musical is a must on the agenda for a trip to New York. You can get cheap last minute tickets every day at the TKTS booth on the corner of Broadway / 47th Street at Times Square, or take a look online for tickets. You can find a really good selection, for example, on the website Hellotickets .

Day 4: boat tour, SoHo, Little Italy & Chinatown

A quick overview of all day 4 sights:.

Boat tour — buy a ticket for daytime / nighttime
Little Italy

#1 Boat tour or helicopter sightseeing flight

If you’re already taking a trip to the city of all cities, why not go all out and book a helicopter flight?

We did it and can only highly recommend it. We’ll never forget this experience.

Read our experience report on our helicopter ride and decide for yourself whether this thrilling experience will also come into question for you.

Alternatively, we can recommend a boat tour to you. It’s indeed a very touristy activity, but it offers you the chance to see New York’s skyline from the water.

We suggest either the Best of Manhattan Tour during the day or the cruise at night .

Then it continues with a tour exploring some of the most well known and exciting neighborhoods of the city. We’ll begin with SoHo.You can admire the cast-iron architecture typical of the district there.

The most interesting streets are probably Mercer Street, Spring Street, Broadway and Prince Street .

There’s also great shopping in SoHo and it’s usually more relaxed than in Midtown (especially during the week before the afternoon).

Take a look, for example, in the well known secondhand shop “What Goes Around Comes Around.”

If shopping isn’t your thing, you can alternatively visit the New York Fire Museum . There, you can learn all about the history of the New York fire department.

If you’re hungry, we can recommend Galli , at 45 Mercer Street.

#3 Little Italy & Nolita

The walking tour continues through Little Italy and Nolita. Unfortunately, there is not much left of Little Italy. The neighborhood used to exist as several blocks, but today only as a small area around Mulberry Street .

You should nevertheless pay a visit to Little Italy and maybe even eat a pizza at Lombardi’s . The first pizza of the USA was baked there in the year 1905. The pizza is really delicious, but the wait times are usually also very long.

So here are our two food tips in the neighborhood of Nolita:

At Rubirosa , you can also enjoy a really delicious pizza (you can share them wonderfully between two) and at Mo il Gelato you can find what for us is the tastiest ice cream of the city.

#4 Chinatown

Next up is Chinatown.

You’ll find the heart of Chinatown around Pell Street, Mott Street, Doyers Street and Columbus Park.

Chinatown was founded in New York on Mott Street in 1870. Doyers Street also used to be called Bloody Angle because there were so many murders there. Don’t worry, it’s no longer dangerous there today.

Pell Street is the street that you’re guaranteed to have already seen in a film or in a photo, as it’s probably the most photogenic street of the neighborhood.

For us personally, Columbus Park is the most authentic place in Chinatown.

There, Chinese seniors meet to play boardgames or to play music together — a very special style of Karaoke. Museum enthusiasts can make a detour to the Museum of Chinese in America (MoCA) and for food lovers, we suggest Joe’s Shanghai Restaurant on Pell Street.

In the Canal Street Market you’ll find a small food court with different delicacies and a small market of New York designers and artists.

And if you want to stock up on chopsticks, stop by the small store Yunhong Chopsticks .

Our tip for views of Chinatown : right around the corner, you’ll find the 50 Bowery Hotel including a rooftop bar. The hotel is already in the Bowery district, but it offers you a great view of Chinatown and the rest of Manhattan.

Day 5: Top of the Rock, New York Public Library, Grand Central Station, Flatiron Building, Greenwich Village

A quick overview of all day 5 sights:.

Top of the Rock – buy ticket
New York Public Library
Grand Central Station
Flatiron Building
Greenwich Village

#1 Top of the Rock

The Top of the Rock observation platform at the top of Rockefeller Center is definitely our personal favorite of the most famous viewing platforms in New York .

From it, you can see Central Park in the north, the Empire State Building in the south and you also don’t have any disruptive glass panes in your way.

You should plan around 1-2 hours for the visit and should definitely reserve your ticket online in advance. The admission costs 42 dollars per person.

Buy tickets for the Top of the Rock

Admission to the Top of the Rock is included in all available New York passes .

#2 New York Public Library

From Rockefeller Center we’ll go by foot to the New York Public Library on 42nd Street and 5th Avenue.

The library, which you probably also know from films, is located right at Bryant Park.

The main attraction for us is definitely the gorgeous Rose Main Reading Room on the third floor. You can take a look there for free.

#3 Grand Central Station

From the New York Public Library simply walk east along 42nd Street and you’ll meet our next stop at Park Avenue: Grand Central Station.

The train station is surely one of the most famous film settings of New York, and rightly so!

Besides the beautiful main hall (don’t forget to take a look up!), it’s also worth paying a visit to the Grand Central Market, the Oyster Bar and the Whispering Gallery.

What is the Whispering Gallery?

Right in front of the Oyster Bar you’ll find a passage with four archways and four corners.

If you stand in one of the four corners and say something in the direction of the wall, the person who’s standing at the opposite corner can hear you.

We tested it out naturally, and we promise you, it really works.

#4 Flatiron Building

Our path continues to the Flatiron Building. From Grand Central Station, you’ll need around 30 minutes on foot.

If your feet hurt, you can travel the distance with a taxi or take the 6 subway line at Grand Central Station and ride until 23rd Street.

From there it’s just a block away to the Flatiron Building. Behind it is located Madison Square Park, by the way, where you can find the first Shake Shack Restaurant of New York.

#5 Greenwich Village

From there, walk along Broadway towards the south for around 10 minutes, pass by Union Square Park and continue walking south along the street called University Place until you hit Washington Square Park .

By the way, all of the buildings around the park belong to New York University (NYU), so you’ve arrived here to the heart of New York’s student life.

You can also see the top of the Empire State Building through the arch in the park .

Greenwich Village is a perfect place to end the day.

You can choose one of the many restaurants here and mix with the locals.

We’d suggest walking from there in the direction of Bleecker Street or Christopher Street .

On Bleecker Street, we could recommend Kestè Pizza to you, for example.

It’s worth calling ahead quickly and reserving a table, or you can just try your luck, since there are also countless other great restaurants in the area.

If your feet hurt though and you’d like to eat something cheap in the area around the park, then go to Quantum Leap , a vegetarian restaurant with fair prices.

Day 6: Brooklyn

Now that you’ve thoroughly gotten to know Manhattan, it’s time to cross the East River. We’ll spend the whole day in the borough of Brooklyn.

If you don’t have time for a complete day in Brooklyn, you can also just do itinerary items #3 and #4 (Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo). You need around 3 hours for them and that way you’ll at least get a small glimpse of Brooklyn.

A quick overview of all day 6 sights:

Breakfast in Williamsburg
Bushwick Streetart
Brooklyn Bridge

#1 Breakfast in Williamsburg

Williamsburg is one of the hippest corners of New York. To get there from Manhattan, travel either with the L train subway to the Bedford Avenue station or with the J or M to the Marcy Avenue station.

If your hotel doesn’t include breakfast, we’d suggest that you enjoy your breakfast in one of the cafes in Brooklyn.

Our suggestion: we like Sundays in Brooklyn and if you’re a fan of crepes, we recommend the Little Choc Apothecary .

If you’re in Brooklyn on a weekend, we’d recommend dropping by the Smorgasburg , a huge street food market. Because the hours vary depending on the time of year, it’s best to take a look at its website for the exact opening hours.

All around Bedford Avenue you can also find some cool shops (many secondhand and vintage). Just let yourself wander through the neighborhood.

#2 Bushwick Streetart

From Williamsburg we continue to Bushwick.

What do we want there? To marvel at really cool street art, because since 2014, Bushwick has become an enormous, wonderful open air art gallery.

You’ll find most of the artwork around Flushing Avenue between Cyprus and Irving Avenue.

You can find a map here where most street art spots are mapped out: Bushwick street art map

Our tip : if you’d like to learn more about the background of the individual artworks, take a 2 hour street art tour, where you can learn exciting things about the outdoor street art gallery, ask questions to a real graffiti artist and, above all, also learn a lot about the development of the neighborhood!

The ticket for the English speaking tour costs around 20 dollars. You can reserve your ticket here .

To get from Williamsburg to Bushwick, take the L subway line to Jefferson Street station. Alternatively, you can also take the J or M from the Marcy Av. station to Flushing Avenue.

#3 Dumbo & Squibb Bridge

Our next destination is the neighborhood of Dumbo. That stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass and is found right on the East River.

Dumbo is a very small quarter that consists of only a few blocks. Just take a walk along the water. You’ll find many beautiful viewpoints of Manhattan’s skyline there. For example, you’ll find a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan at Pebble Beach and at Main Street Park .

Along the way you’ll go past Jane’s Carousel, a restored carousel from the year 1922.

From there, head to the corner of Main Street and Water Street, where you can photograph the likely most well known photo spot of Dumbo: the Manhattan Bridge between the canyon of buildings.

During good weather, you’ll see the top of the Empire State Building between the pillars of the bridge, by the way.

From there, continue back again towards the south — either along the water or along Front Street, at the end of which you’ll hit Grimaldi’s Pizza (a branch of the Grimaldi’s Restaurant in Little Italy).

If you’re hungry, you can order a pizza to go here (you don’t have to wait as long for this as for a table), which you can then eat on a bench along the water.

From Brooklyn Bridge Park , which runs right along the East Side River, you have a wonderful view of the southern tip of Manhattan.

Our next destination is Squibb Park Bridge , which brings you to Middagh Street. From here, you can easily get to the pedestrian path of the Brooklyn Bridge.

How to get from Bushwick to Dumbo:

You ride from Flushing Avenue station back to Marcy Avenue. From there it’s about a 10 minute walk to the South Williamsburg ferry terminal.

There, you board a ferry that takes you one station further south to the Dumbo terminal. The boat ride brings you along the East River and offers a great view of Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Attention : the ticket machines are not directly at the water, but instead further up on Kent Avenue.

#4 Brooklyn Bridge

A stroll from Brooklyn to Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge is the last itinerary item of our day.

The pedestrian path of the Brooklyn Bridge runs above the cars and is shared with bike riders.

Please be considerate and, above all, pay attention that you stay on the side for pedestrians in the narrow parts of the bridge and don’t get in the way of the bike riders.

You should give yourself around 30-45 minutes for the walk across the bridge.

Day 7: departure day

At some point every great trip must end. Unfortunately, this often happens too quickly.

Depending on when you have to head to the airport, you might still have a few hours left to explore the city on your last day.

You can perfectly use the last hours to score a few bargains at Century 21 or at Macy’s, for example. Then it’s off to pack your bags and back to the airport.

New York is enormous and so we could easily plan another week with great activities and sights. Unfortunately, most visitors don’t have that much time.

Our suggested itinerary for 1 week in New York is, above all, so that you can get an overview of the sights of the city.

That way, you can better assess what you can manage in a day in New York and which sights you can combine well with each other and which perhaps less well.

We hope that our plan helps you while trip planning and we wish you a lot of fun in this amazing city.

Do you still have questions about planning? What did your itinerary look like in the city? Are your favorite sights missing in our New York itinerary? We’re happy to see your comments.

Girl Eat World

A girl's adventure in food and travel around the world, new york itinerary: an efficient plan for first timers in new york city.

New York City – A city that is amazing, endearing yet overwhelming all at once. As a first-time visitor to this amazing place, I can understand how intimidating planning for your NYC trip can be with so many activities and places to check out.

So, I’ve put together an efficient NYC itinerary that is easy to follow for you, whether you’re spending just a weekend in NYC, or a whole week or even more.

Tips for visiting NYC for the first time

How to get to manhattan from the airport.

Taking public transportation in NYC

How much time should I spend in NYC?

When is the best time to visit nyc, where to stay in nyc.

Day 1: The New York Essentials
Day 2: Midtown

Day 3: Museums and Central Park

Day 4: Brooklyn, DUMBO, and Lower East Side

Other things you can do in NYC

Where to eat in NYC
Is getting the New York Pass worth it?

1. Get a travel pass to save money! There are many things to visit and do in NYC, which means you’ll spend money on those activities. Getting a travel pass could ease the pain! Here are a few travel passes you can consider:

New York Pass by Go City – This is an all-inclusive pass that allows you to visit as many attractions as possible during the duration of your pass. I’d recommend this if you’re an active traveler who wants to do everything
Go City New York Explorer Pass – On the other hand, if you want to take a slower approach and only want to visit select attractions, this is the pass for you. Explorer pass allows you to get discounts on selected attractions.

I will go over in detail whether it’s worth it to get these passes in the “ Is getting a travel pass worth it in New York? “ section below. Or, you can see attractions included in the passes to determine whether it’s something you want to do.

➡️ Book in advance for New York Pass holders: If you are going during the peak holiday season (such as the June-July summer holidays), an advanced booking is still required on top of buying the pass, because some attractions are popular and might sell out.

2. Get the 7-day unlimited Metro pass or pay with OMNY – The easiest and most cost-effective way to get around NYC is by using public transport, or more specifically the subway. Read more on this in the public transportation section below!

3. Download the CityMapper App – the subway will sometimes have route diversion, outage, or just simply not running on certain days. It helps to have CityMapper handy as the app will warn you of these disruptions.

4. Download the NYC Google Maps to your phone – by this, I don’t just mean download the Google Maps app. You can download the whole NYC map to your phone so you can peruse the map when you don’t have data connections (you’ll lose connections in certain spots while taking the subway). You’ll also use less mobile data when browsing the maps! Here is how to download Maps to your phone .

5. Wear comfortable shoes meant for walking – I averaged 22,000 steps a day for the entire week I was in NYC. If it sounds like a lot, that’s because it IS! So when I say comfortable shoes, I don’t mean any flat shoes, I mean REAL comfortable shoes made for walking. I stupidly wore my Superga sneakers thinking I’d be okay… but by day 3, my feet were so swollen and in pain that I had to buy emergency walking shoes – a pair of Puma trainers with proper cushions for my sore feet.

6. Learn about the local quirks – Jaywalking, neighborhood nicknames, why the city steams, how to pronounce “Houston” (it’s not like the city in Texas!)… I wrote an entire blog post with stories from my trip to NYC . Check it out!

7. Learn how to tip the American way – yes, I know, the tipping culture in the US baffles every visitor. It’s confusing! But, you don’t want to shortchange someone just because you disagree with this social norm. The most common instance where you’ll need to tip is when eating at a restaurant. The general rule of thumb is to tip 20% for average service, 25% for great service, and 30% for exceptional service. You don’t need to tip at establishments where the food is not served to you. Fast food, bakeries, bodega, or dessert places are examples of these establishments, but it certainly would be nice if you felt the staff did an exceptional job. You also don’t need to tip ride-sharing drivers (but again, it is always nice to), but you must tip taxi drivers.

8. Prices do not include sales tax – If you go to a store to buy something, be mindful that the price you see does not include tax. It will be added when you pay at the cashier. This applies to tours and tickets too! But you might be happy to know that clothing and shoes below US$100 are not subject to sales tax, so the price you see is what you’ll pay for those items.

9. Learn the Manhattan grid system and areas – Manhattan contains 214 numbered east-west streets ranging from 1st to 228th, ascending from south to north. Generally speaking, Manhattan is divided into three parts:

Uptown is anything north of 59th Street
Midtown is from 14th to 59th Street
Downtown is anything south of 14th Street.

Then, the areas are further divided into neighborhoods with funky abbreviations, as I’ve talked about in my stories from my trip to NYC . I recommend watching this Manhattan Grid youtube video by Bright Trip to understand Manhattan better.

10. “Downtown” and “Uptown” can also refer to the direction of travel. For example, you’ll say the train is going uptown if it’s going north, and downtown if it’s going south.

11. Wise Card worked super well in NYC – as well as the rest of the US, really. If you’re an international visitor like myself, definitely get yourself a Wise Debit Card . You’ll save the foreign transaction fee with it. I never had to use cash when I was in NYC and San Francisco !

Getting to Manhattan from the airport greatly depends on where you’re staying in Manhattan and which airport you’re coming from.

1. From Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

You could take public transport all the way to Manhattan, but I find it is easier to take Uber or Lyft from the EWR airport to Newark Penn Station . From Newark Penn Station, you can either:

If you’re staying in Midtown , take the NEC/NJCL train to Penn Station on 34th Street
If you’re staying in Lower Manhattan , take the PATH train to World Trade Center, or

Whichever is closest to your accommodation. Then you can resume via Metro to your accommodation. The last time I did this, it cost me US$ 21 for Uber and US$ 2.75 for the PATH train. Pretty affordable!

2. From John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

From the JFK Airport, you can either:

If you’re staying in Midtown , you’ll want to take the AirTrain Red (US$ 8.25) to Jamaica Station and switch to Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station or Grand Central.
If you’re staying in Lower Manhattan , you can take Airtrain Green and switch to A train at Howard Beach Station.

Whichever is closest to your accommodation. Then you can resume via Metro to your accommodation.

How to take Public Transportation in NYC

NYC is a city with amazing connectivity – their public transportation will take you places for an affordable price. The subway is the best way to get around NYC, but you could take the bus, Taxi, or Uber.

🚌 Tip: The Big Bus hop-on hop-off 1-day ticket (worth $60) is included in the New York Pass

Here are your options to pay for public transportation in NYC as a short-term tourist:

Single-fare ticket / Pay-per-ride ($2.75 per ride) – A subway ride in NYC costs $2.75 per ride, which I think is quite pricey. That’s why when my 7-day pass ran out, I mostly walked on foot in NYC unless I was going somewhere far that was worthwhile for a subway ride. You can simply tap any contactless credit card you have at the turnstile, or purchase a ticket at a ticket vending machine in any subway station.
7-day Unlimited ride using MetroCard ($33) – You can buy the MetroCard from the vending machine at any subway station, which you can then reload. A 7-day unlimited Metro pass ($33 per 7 days) costs $33.
Contactless payment with OMNY (capped to $33 from Mon-Sun) – With this method, you get to use your contactless debit or credit card using OMNY – No additional actions are required on your part, just tap the card at the turnstile! OMNY stands for One Metro New York, the MTA’s answer for contactless payment. You simply use whatever contactless payment method that you’re already using on the OMNY reader (be it ApplePay, Google Pay, etc). When you use this method, you will not pay more than $33 in total fares from Monday and Sunday – it’s capped at $33!

Unlimited MetroCard vs OMNY: Which one should I use for taking the subway in NYC?

If you think you’ll be taking less than 12 subway rides during your time in NYC, then any of the above methods work. You can buy a single-ride ticket or you can use OMNY.

But, if you have decided that you’ll be taking at least 12 subway rides during your stay in NYC, you might be wondering… which method should you use? The answer is: It depends. It depends on exactly how long you’ll be in NYC, the device you have, how much you plan to take public transportation, and your personal preference!

So here’s the deal – OMNY and the 7-day unlimited metro costs the same at $33, but look closer and you’ll notice that OMNY is capped only from Monday to Sunday, while the unlimited metro card is good for the next 7 days after activation.

The seven-day period for OMNY weekly cap begins at midnight on Monday and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. Unlimited MetroCards expire at midnight on the 7th (or 30th) day from the day you activated it, regardless of the time you activated the card on the first day. For example, whether you bought and activated the unlimited card by taking a subway ride at 3 pm or 11 pm on Monday, then your card will expire on Sunday at midnight.

Here are some tips to help you decide:

First of all, contactless payment with the OMNY method requires you to either have a card that can do a contactless payment or a smart device that is compatible with contactless pay, such as an iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android phone. If you do not have these devices, then you’ll be better off buying the unlimited MetroCard.
If you’re arriving in the latter half of the week (say Thursday or Friday), and you’re planning to do more than 12 rides within 7 days, then go with the 7-day Unlimited MetroCard. Given that each ride already costs $2.75, you just need to take the subway more than 12 times to make it worth it – that’s less than twice a day, and trust me, you’ll ride the subway more than that.
If you’re arriving earlier in the week (Monday – Wed) and plan to do more than 12 rides within 7 days, then go ahead and use OMNY!
OMNY method is more restrictive in terms of the weekly cap, but it’s way more convenient to use, as you do not need to fuss with yet another card – you can just use your phone or watch to tap into the subway.
The unlimited MetroCard is refillable. Don’t throw away your card after you’re done using it, because you can always reload the card! Otherwise, you’ll have to pay $1 for a new card.

If it’s your first time in NYC and you want to see everything possible, I recommend spending at least 4 days here. There are so many things to see and do in NYC! I stayed for a week and I still didn’t run out of things to do.

Generally, Spring and Fall are great times to be in NYC. Summer could get hot and humid and Winter can get very cold. I think April and May or September to November are all great times to visit NYC. I visited NYC in May and September and can vouch that the weather was great in those months.

However, if you’re a fan of the Christmas season then you’ll want to visit the city in December . The city would be decorated with beautiful lights and Christmas trees – it’s truly a magical time to be in NYC. My very first-ever visit to NYC was in December and I still fondly remember that trip, even though it was nearly 15 years ago.

Tip 💡: The holiday market tour (worth $45) and Christmas Lights walking tour ($25) are included in the New York Pass if you are visiting during the holiday season!

If it’s your first time in NYC, you’ll want to stay in Manhattan – just because… it will make your life so much easier. However, accommodations in Manhattan do tend to be more expensive.

If you want to save some money, you could stay off Manhattan and stay in Brooklyn, but you’ll probably spend more time and money commuting. It’s up to you which pro and con suits you better!

I stayed in Manhattan both times I visited NYC. Here are some hotel recommendations I’ve stayed at:

NoMo in SoHo – Located in SoHo, this hotel is within walking distance of many good restaurants and bars in NYC. It’s also conveniently within walking distance of many subway stations.
New York Hilton Midtown – I stayed here on my first-ever visit to NYC. It’s located within walking distance of Times Square, MoMA, Central Park, and best of all, right across from the OG Halal Guys!

The NYC Itinerary Overview

OK, so we’ve talked about all the important things about visiting NYC. Time to talk about what to do in NYC!

Below I’ve arranged daily itineraries you can do in NYC. Note that you don’t need to do the itinerary in the same order as I’ve outlined below, however, I’ve grouped the activities and attractions that are close to each other so that they can be visited together. That’s why I call this my efficient NYC itinerary!

My NYC itinerary can be divided as follows:

To visualize this NYC itinerary better, I’ve created a Google Maps link that marks all the routes and landmarks I’ll mention in this blog.

🗺 Save this map to your phone! If you are a Google user, click on the image of the map above. The map will then be saved to your “Recent” maps viewed. Click here for instructions on how to view the map later . It will work from your phone too.

Day 1: The New York Essentials in Lower Manhattan

As a first-timer in NYC, you’ll want to start your visit by seeing all the must-see attractions. Let’s do that today! Most of the attractions of today will be located in Lower Manhattan and within walking distance of each other.

➡️ PS: The 9/11 Memorial Museum is closed on Tuesday. It’s a place you must visit if you haven’t, so I recommend doing this itinerary on other days that are not Tuesday .

1. Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

What’s a first-time visit to NYC without visiting the Statue of Liberty? Of course, this is a must! Not only do you get to see the Lady Liberty up close, but you’ll also get to take a little trip on a ferry to Ellis Island . Ellis Island was the entry point for many immigrants in the mid-1800s to early 1900s who shaped NYC into the city it is today.

Make your way to Battery Park to board the ferry, which departs every 25 minutes from 9:25 am to 4:30 pm.

🗽 Tip: Round trip ferry ticket to Ellis Island, entry to the Statue of Liberty, and admission to the Immigration Museum (worth $24) are included in the New York Pass .

2. Charging Bull and Fearless Girl at Wall Street

Once you’re done with Ellis Island and back at Battery Park, make your way down to the edge of the Financial District to see the Charging Bull , a famous bronze statue that is an iconic symbol of Wall Street, depicting the “bull” period of the stock market which means optimism and prosperity.

This bull was first illegally dropped outside of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wall Street by its artist, Arturo Di Monica, as part of guerilla art in 1989. The bull was then moved to its current location later that year. There is a tradition to rub the bull’s… erm, scrotum when you visit, so you’ll notice that part of the bull is lighter in color compared to the rest of its body. It has also been subject to vandalism, being painted blue during the financial crisis of 2008.

After the bull, you can make your way to the Fearless Girl , a statue by Kirsten Visbal to promote female empowerment, which was installed in 2017 and was originally placed facing the Charging Bull. The placement of the girl caused some controversy and complaints from Di Monica as he feels that it changed the meaning and intention behind the Charging Bull. Since then, The Fearless Girl has been temporarily moved to face the NYSE building in 2018. As of 2022, the statue is still there, but it’s unclear how long it will remain.

Right next to the girl is none other than the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) , however, there is not much you can do here aside from observing from the outside. The building is not open to the public.

2. Ground Zero, 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Tip 💡: The 9/11 museum is closed on Tuesdays!

From the statues, you can walk over to Ground Zero – the site of the 9/11 terrorist attack. Here, you can see where pools where the two World Trade Center towers used to stand, as well as a memorial that lists the names of all the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack on NYC.

There is the 9/11 Museum on site and this is a MUST visit – the 9/11 incident has shaped NYC (and arguably the world) today. The museum did a great job collecting photos, personal stories, and even soundbites from that day. I didn’t expect to cry in a museum, but there I was, sobbing in the middle of the memorial. Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one crying.

It was difficult to go through but necessary and very highly recommended.

➡️ Tip: The 9/11 memorial, museum, and a tour are included in the New York Pass (worth $30)

3. The Oculus at One World Trade Center

Once you’re done with the museum, make your way to see The Oculus . Opened in 2016, you can’t miss this white structure from the outside as it is very eye-catching. It looks like large wings on the outside, and once inside it looks like gigantic rib cages and a spine.

The Oculus is a shopping center and a transport hub. You can go inside to take that iconic shot from the middle of the shopping center – it is truly something else.

NYC Itinerary - The Oculus at One World Trade Center

4. See the city from above

NYC is known for its iconic skyline, so as a first-time visitor, you must visit one of the skyscrapers to enjoy the view. I recommend doing this closer to sunset so that you get a nice light. Take note that you might have to reserve if you come during peak hours.

NYC Itinerary - NYC as seen from Empire State Building Observatory

There are many options if you want to see the city from above. Here are the options:

Empire State Building Observatory – This building needs no introduction, it’s the most iconic building in NYC. You have the option to go to the 86th floor or go even higher to the 102nd floor (though I think 86th is enough). Tickets cost $44-77 depending on which floor you want to go to.
Top of The Rock Observatory at Rockefeller Center – Tickets cost $40. I think this is the best option to see NYC from above!
One World Observatory – Tickets cost $53-63 depending on the package you choose. This observatory is the highest point in NYC, located on the 100-102nd floor of One World Trade Center.
Edge in Hudson Yards – Tickets start from $38-42. This is one of the newer buildings in NYC.
Summit One Vanderbilt – The only one on this list not covered by New York Pass . But you can still get your ticket ahead of time here for cheaper. Tickets for adults start at $39-45 via the online website, but they will add tax and processing fees and vary depending on the day and time of day. So it’s still a few dollars cheaper to book through my link .

For this itinerary, One World Observatory is the most convenient as you would already be in the area (It’s right on top of the World Trade Center). But I think Top of The Rock has the best view – you can see the Empire State Building and the entirety of Central Park from here!

Tip 💡: If you’re having issues choosing, you could consider getting New York Pass because ALL of the options above, except Summit One, are included in the New York Pass . You can visit even all of them if you want!

Day 2: New York Landmarks in Midtown

On this itinerary, you’ll get to explore Midtown, which as the name might have implied… is the middle part of Manhattan, between Downtown and Uptown.

Generally speaking, Midtown is from anywhere between 14th to 59th Street. And you bet there is a lot to do here! You’ll be walking plenty, so definitely put on your most comfortable shoes.

1. Best of NYC Cruise

The Best of NYC Cruise is a 2.5-hour cruise that loops around the entire Manhattan island, starting from Pier 83. They have 4 cruise times a day, at 10 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm, and 3:30 pm. During the cruise, you’ll see many of New York’s most famous landmarks, including a few that are out of the way and first-time visitors wouldn’t normally see, like the Yankee Stadium. It’s a great way to kick off a busy day!

💡 Tip: The cruise is included in New York Pass (worth $40-46)

2. The Vessel

After the tour, take a walk down to The Vessel – one of the newer attractions in NYC, built as part of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project. A few years ago, you would have seen The Vessel all over Instagram, with its unique architecture that resembles a honeycomb.

You can access the ground level of The Vessel for free on Monday through Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday 11am-7pm, with no reservation required ( check the opening time here ).

Unfortunately, the other levels of the Vessel are not open to the public due to suicide cases that have happened too frequently since its opening in 2019 and again after it tried to reopen in 2021.

If you want to see the city from above, this is another chance! Edge is an observatory with 360 views from the 100th floor, which also includes an outdoor sky deck. It is one of the newer observatories in the city.

💡 Tip: Admission to Edge (worth $38-42) is included in the New York Pass

4. High Line Park

The High Line Park is a scenic 2.3km elevated trail built on a former New York Central Railroad.

From Edge, you can take a walk to High Line Park. You can enter the High Line park from the very beginning near the W 34 St & 12 Ave corner , or if you don’t want to start from the very beginning, you can enter from the entrance next to the Bloomberg Building which would be very convenient from the Edge.

The elevated platform means it’s possible to have a nice peaceful walk through the city. For once, I was able to walk around in NYC without the anxiety that some biker is going to run me over or piss someone off for not knowing how to walk like a New Yorker .

Walking from one end of the High Line park to the other should take about 20 minutes.

🚶🏻‍♀️ Tip: Highline & Chelsea walking tour (worth $39) is included in the New York Pass

5. Chelsea Market

The High Line park goes under Chelsea Market, so as soon as you see signs for Chelsea Market you can simply follow it.

And it’s time for lunch! There are many options at Chelsea Market, but a crowd’s favorite is Los Tacos No. 1 . I can vouch that it’s worth a visit! You can read more about it in my food recommendations below.

6. Iconic buildings in Manhattan

After you’re done exploring Chelsea Market, walk over to the west side of Midtown, which should take about 20 minutes. Architecture buffs would be ecstatic about this part of the itinerary! I’ll highlight three of the most popular buildings in NYC if you want to check them out, and in this exact order, for more efficient use of your time:

Flatiron Building – You should already be familiar with this building. The name of this building gives away its shape – sharp triangular, like a flat iron.
Chrysler Building – One of NYC’s Art Deco skyscrapers with a distinctly pointed spire and arched crown. I was especially fond of this building as it is the location of one of my favorite video games – Parasite Eve.
Empire State Building – This 102-story Art Deco skyscraper is a cultural icon that has appeared in many classic movies, most notably in the 1930s King Kong movie where Kong climbed the building.

💡 Tip: If you’d like to go up to the Empire State Building, admission to the observatory (worth $44) is included in the New York Pass

7. Grand Central Terminal

From the Empire State Building, The Grand Central Terminal is a mere few blocks away. Grand Central Terminal is a recognized National Historic Landmark. There are tons of things to see here, but here are my favorites:

Main Concourse – Look up and you will see the 12 constellations painted in gold leaf on a Tiffany blue background. You can also check out the Apple store on the east balcony if you’re an Apple fan, it is one of their most unique store locations.
The Whispering Gallery – The ceramic arches next to Grand Central Oyster Bar are an acoustic phenomenon that will let you talk to other people on the opposite ends of the corner. Try it out with a friend!

After checking out the whispering gallery, you can go to Grand Central Oyster Bar for some Clam Chowder. It is the oldest restaurant in Grand Central. At the dining concourse, there are plenty of food options too! You can get a burger from Shake Shack or try Magnolia Bakery ‘s famous banana pudding.

Click here for more things to do at Grand Central Terminal.

Now that you’ve done all the New York City essentials and must-sees, I thought it would be fun to highlight yet another different side of the city. We’ll be visiting a few notable museums today. You’ll still be walking a lot, but at a more chilled-out pace than the other days. Most of these museums are located in the upper east side, in the vicinity of Central Park, on a stretch of fifth avenue called “Museum Mile”.

I’ll be recommending some museums to visit today, but of course, you can feel free to not visit all of them – only go to the ones that interest you! While visiting all of them is possible, it would be quite a rushed visit to do in one day. Also, take notes on the days the museums are closed. Museums in NYC are sometimes closed for one day in the middle of the week.

1. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (The Guggenheim)

If you appreciate modern, contemporary art and architecture, you’ll want to start your day at The Guggenheim. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, it has one of the most unique museum designs, spiraling upward in a cylindrical building, with artwork lining up the walls as you continue to walk up.

The Guggenheim isn’t a big museum and there aren’t many permanent collections, so be sure to check what’s on view to see if it interests you. I think the museum is worth checking out once for its unique architecture.

The Guggenheim is closed on Tuesdays

🏛 Tip: Admission to Guggenheim Museum (worth $25) is included in the New York Pass

2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)

Just down the street from The Guggenheim is a name you should already be familiar with. The Met is known around the world not just for its annual star-studded Met Gala, but also for housing over two million artworks.

I loved everything about this museum, especially the area that houses the Temple of Dendur . This area was formerly called the Sackler wing, but the name was removed after the Sackler family’s role in making OxyContin addiction widespread in the US came to light. But the fact remains that it is such a beautiful, photogenic, and serene space.

And if it’s a good day, don’t miss The Cantor Roof Garden Bar on the rooftop!

The Met is closed on Wednesdays

3. American Museum of Natural History

If you are interested in this museum and you’re coming from the Met, I recommend walking through Central Park from the Met and visiting Belvedere Castle on the way (see my map itinerary!)

Those of you who are interested in dinosaur fossils (real ones!), animals, and gems could spend all day here. Take note that the museum is open every day from 10 am to 5:30 pm .

🏛 Tip: Admission to the American Museum of Natural History (worth $23) is included in the New York Pass

4. New-York Historical Society

So I have a confession to make… I haven’t actually been to the Museum of Natural History, partially because of New-York Historical Society.

You see, on my last visit to NYC, I was well on my way to visit the Museum of Natural History. New-York Historical Society is located right next to the Museum of Natural History, and in my jetlagged state, I walked into the New-York Historical Society and paid for the ticket, thinking it was the Museum of Natural History (even though I knew there are supposed to be dinosaur bones at the lobby!). I realized my mistake way too late and went along with it anyway.

A Picasso Tapestry at NY Historical Society Museum

And I’m so glad about that mistake! New-York Historical Society exceeded my expectations in many ways. There were so many interesting arts and paintings related to New York City, but the standouts for me were the replica of the oval room of the White House, the Picasso Tapestry, and the large collection of breathtakingly beautiful and very priceless Tiffany lamps, made by Tiffany Studios (yes, THAT Tiffany).

Gorgeous Tiffany Lamps at NY Historical Society Museum

If you can, please make time for the museum tour at 2 PM . It greatly enhanced my experience visiting the museum.

The New-York Historical Society is closed on Mondays

🏛 Tip: Admission to the New-York Historical Society (worth $22) is included in the New York Pass

5. Central Park

The museums are already on the fringe of Central Park, so I don’t need to tell you how to get there. Central Park is a massive park in the middle of Manhattan. And allegedly, it is the most filmed location in the world!

There are tons of things to do here and the park is massive, but here are a few things I think are worth checking out at the park:

Sakura / Cherry Blossom Trees – If you’re visiting NYC in April or May, you will be interested in viewing the beautiful Cherry Blossom trees, because they will be in full bloom. Here is where to find the cherry blossom trees in Central Park .
Bethesda Terrace – One of the many architectural features in Central Park. I’m a huge fan of the ceramic tiles that form a pattern on the ceiling of the terrace.

NYC itinerary - Bethesda Terrace in Central Park

John Lennon tribute – In the eastern part of Central Park is a small tribute to John Lennon. You can start at the Dakota Apartments on 72nd Street, where he lived with Yoko Ono. It was at the entrance to the apartment that he was killed. In front of the Dakota on the Central Park side, you’ll find the Imagine Mozaic on the floor, a tribute to Lennon’s most popular song, and Strawberry Fields, a tribute to The Beatles’ song he wrote.
Sheep Meadow – excellent for a picnic with friends or a solo afternoon nap

🚲 Tip: If you have the New York Pass , a Central Park bike tour (worth $52), a walking tour (worth $27), TV & movies tour (worth $36), and a bike rental (worth $46) is already included.

6. Museum of Modern Arts (MoMA)

From Central Park, head towards the South end of the park and you’ll find MoMA just a few blocks down.

MoMA is the mother of all modern and contemporary art museums, and it’s a must-visit. MoMA houses some of the most recognized artworks of our lifetime, including The Starry Night by Van Gogh, The Dance by Henri Matisse, Water Lillies by Monet, The Persistence of Memory by Dali, Campbell Soup by Andy Warhol as well as works by Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jackson Pollock.

MoMA is open every day

🏛 Tip: Admission to MoMA (worth $25) is included in the New York Pass

NYC Itinerary - Starry Night at the MOMA

7. Times Square and Broadway

Finally, when you’re done with MoMA, it’s time to walk over to Times Square at Broadway and 42nd Street. Times Square is arguably the most touristy yet must-visit site in Manhattan. Just avoid going there during New Year’s Eve, it’s just not worth it when it’s that crowded.

Times Square is better to visit at night or as the sun is about to go down so that you can see all the billboards and LED signs lit up into the night. I recommend having some hot dogs straight from the street vendors at Times Square, not necessarily for their culinary value, but more for that quintessentially New York experience. Hot dogs were brought to NYC by German immigrants, in the form of push carts in the 1860s. In NYC, the sausages used are made from all beef.

Here is a cool photo I took at (almost) the same place in Times Square, a decade apart. Can you spot some differences?

Times Square is also in the Theater District. You must check out some Broadway shows while you’re in the city, such as Hamilton , Lion King , Phantom of the Opera , Wicked , and Book of Mormon are some of the most popular shows.

🏛 Tip: A Broadway and Times Square walking tour (worth $39) is included in the New York Pass

Day 4: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and Lower East Side

Congrats! you’re pretty much almost done with all the must-sees in Manhattan. But you’re not done with New York, no! So it’s time to leave Manhattan and cross over to the other side for a more chilled-out day of arts, food, and walks by the river.

💡 Note: This itinerary is best to do on a Saturday

NYC Itinerary - Manhattan view from Brooklyn

1. Explore Williamsburg

Williamsburg is a gentrified neighborhood in Brooklyn, filled with things to do and shops to check out. You can start your way from Metropolitan Av station. Here are some recommendations on what to see and visit here.

Quimby’s Bookstore – Indie bookstore providing curated titles
The City Reliquary – A small non-profit museum where you can see memorabilia of the city. They have both permanent and rotating exhibitions. See what’s on at City Reliquary here .
Joe’s Pizza Mohammad Ali Mural – PS: Joe’s Pizza is also not a bad place to grab a bite unless you’re here on a Saturday in which case you’ll want to check out Smorgasburg.
Artists & Fleas – A marketplace for craft makers, where you can shop goods from local small businesses. Only open on weekends.
Smorgasburg – If you’re here on a Saturday, you might want to check out Smorgasburg , a large open-air food market that started at Williamsburg but has now opened up in many other locations in NYC.
Domino Park – A nice park to chill by the east river
Mona Lisa of Williamsburg – One of the most famous murals in Williamsburg.
More street art – If you are interested in street art and murals, you can see more on my NYC map .

From Williamsburg, you can continue to walk down south for 1 hour. If that sounds crazy, you could take the East River (ER) ferry from South Williamsburg to DUMBO for $2.75 and 12 minutes of your time – click here for the ferry route info . I say, take the ferry.

DUMBO is an abbreviation of “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”. NYC is full of these amazing acronyms! You can read my NYC stories post for more NYC anecdotes like this.

In DUMBO, you must stop by to take one of these shots:

It’s the spot where you can see the Manhattan Bridge, along with the Empire state building perfectly framed in one of its lower arches. There will be tons of people here, but if you come early enough in the morning then I reckon you’ll get a pretty nice photo without anyone in it.

Aside from the viewpoint, there are also plenty of places to eat at DUMBO. My recommendation is Juliana’s which is a very popular pizzeria or Shake Shack if you have yet to give it a try by now.

3. Walk on the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan

Once you’re done exploring DUMBO, make your way to Brooklyn Bridge. If you have time, you can stroll along the river at Brooklyn Bridge Park first before going to the bridge itself. You’ll get this nice view of the Brooklyn Bridge set against Manhattan.

Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the US, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. Most visitors walk or bike through the Brooklyn Bridge. You can walk across the bridge, which will take you approximately an hour, or you can rent a bike. Either way, there will be a lot of people on the walking platform!

➡️ Tip: If you have the New York Pass , a Brooklyn Bridge, and DUMBO tour (worth $35), Brooklyn Bridge Bike Rental (worth $40), and Brooklyn Bridge Walking Tour (worth $27) are already included.

4. Explore the rest of Manhattan

Once you’ve crossed the bridge, you’ll find yourself in Lower Manhattan. You can explore the rest of Manhattan according to your interest. I’ve marked a bunch of restaurants, bars, and points of interest on my NYC map . Or, read on to find more things to do in NYC below!

Things to do in the Lower East Side

Lower East Side is one of Manhattan’s most happening neighborhoods. Take your time to enjoy Manhattan’s best food, art, and music scene.

Hester Street Fair – If you are here on a Saturday, you can check out this open-air street fair, where you can hunt for vintage goodies.
Katz Deli – A famous deli serving Jewish American cuisine. You can read more about it in my food recommendations below.
The Bowery Ballroom – Fans of indie music can catch a show at this intimate venue. See what’s on at Bowery Ballroom
Alphabet City – This area is a small portion of the east village where the streets are named Avenue A, B, C, and D. You can find restaurants and Bars here.

More things to do and places to visit in Manhattan

Comedy Cellar in West Village – A comedy club in West Village. You won’t know the lineup until you show up, but many famous comedians (such as Dave Chapelle) have been known to make a surprise appearance. It’s considered to be the best comedy club in the country. Make reservations here .
Sleep No More in Chelsea – The ultimate immersive theater experience, based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth , that I can’t describe with words. Even if I try, you’ll likely have a different experience than me, due to the flexible “choose your own adventure” format of Sleep No More. You just have to experience it yourself and go with the flow. As it is located near Chelsea in Midtown, I would suggest fitting this on the Day 2 itinerary above. Buy tickets here .

Amateur night at The Apollo in Harlem – This requires traveling uptown to Harlem and only happens on Wednesdays, but it was worthwhile to make the trip out there! Similar to Comedy Cellar, you just never know which future superstar is making their debut night here, which has included names like Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonders, Lauryn Hill, and Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five. Buy tickets here .

Bohemian in NoHo – An exclusive restaurant in NoHo, located in Andy Warhol’s former studio. You can only dine here if you know the name of someone who has been here before.
Strand Bookstore in Union Square – A large bookstore specializing in used and rare books.
The Django in Lower Manhattan – A Jazz Bar in Roxy hotel. Good for drinks and live acts.
The Back Room – One of the original speakeasies from the prohibition era still in operation today. They serve drinks in unassuming white tea cups, just like how people used to enjoy their poison of choice back in the prohibition days!

Other things to do in New York

Coney Island in Brooklyn – If you’re visiting New York during summer, you can check out Coney Island in the southwestern part of Brooklyn. It features a whimsical seaside amusement park close to the beach, with games, food, and fairs.
Brooklyn Bowl

Where and What to Eat in NYC

There are many good places to eat in NYC, and I enjoyed eating my way through NYC during my stay. Here are a few standouts that I truly enjoyed during my stay:

Los Tacos No.1 – Yes, I queued for this. Yes, it is located in the extremely touristy Chelsea Market. But YES, it was worth it. They only serve 4 types of tacos. I tried cactus (nopal) tacos for the first time here – while this was not my cup of tacos, I do recommend trying it at least once and highly recommend the other three tacos.

Levain Cookies – Worth. the. damn. hype. Just go get yourself their walnut chocolate chip cookie and you can thank me later. If there is a line, don’t fret because it moves super fast… so there is no reason why you shouldn’t go! I originally planned to buy the cookies and then walk over to Central Park to eat them, but let’s be honest – they only lasted a few steps outside the bakery *mouth waters from thinking about their cookies* . The original branch is on the Upper West Side, but you can find Levain in many parts of NYC now.

Kosher American Jewish Deli – Comprising approximately 13% of NYC’s population, the Jewish community in NYC is the largest in the world outside of Israel. The Jews immigrated to NYC from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, and these immigrants created what is now known as a Jewish delicatessen (or deli for short). At these delis, you can find the classic pastrami on rye and my new-found love: Matzo ball soup, among other dishes – some of which are unique to Jewish Americans.

Here are a few delis that I loved when I was in NYC:

Katz Deli (in Lower East Side) – This is the place that introduced me to Matzo ball soup, so they needed to be mentioned. The Harry Met Sally thing is pretty cool too, I guess.
Sarge’s Deli (in Midtown) – Out of all the Jewish delis I tried, their pastrami sandwich is the best! They also have the most homely ambiance, and their Matzo ball is pretty good.
2nd Ave Deli (in Upper East Side) – OK, by now you guys have probably caught on that I visited all the famous delis because of my Matzo ball soup obsession… and the one at 2nd ave deli was my favorite Matzo ball soup out of them all. It comes with carrots! and a choice of 3 types of carbs!

Babka – A type of bread swirled with chocolate and cinnamon, popular with the Jewish community in eastern European countries. Many have said babka is the best sweet to get in NYC. Breads Bakery is a popular place to get Babka from in NYC.

The Halal Guys on 53rd and 6th – Because you haven’t been to NYC without tasting that magical secret white sauce, made popular by none other than the New York cabbies themselves. They have carts all over the city now, but the OG one is this one on 53rd and 6th.

When I first came to New York, I stayed at the Hilton, which you can see in the background of the photo below.

Each time we pass by this corner around dinner time, this one food cart would have a long line snaking out. So one night just before flying back, I decided to join the line – and then I understood why. Their gyro platter with the white and red sauce is SO delicious and relatively affordable for New York’s price. I liked it so much that I hand-carried one on a flight back to LA for my family to try!

Is getting a travel pass worth it in New York?

(All currency in this calculation is in USD)

The New York Pass allows you to visit as many attractions as possible during the duration of your pass. Sounds good? Well, it depends. I would only recommend this if you’re the type of traveler who likes to move fast and want to see everything.

If you follow my itinerary above, your New York Pass utilization could look like this :

And if you decide to take the Big Bus Tour on one of the days, it would add even more to the total value of the pass to be $427. A 3-day pass costs $249 at the time of writing, so you could potentially be saving $118-178 with the New York Pass .

Of course, this is all dependent on your planning ability to use up the pass to its full potential. This is why even though the New York pass is available for up to 7 days, I can only advise getting the 3-day pass and doing as many things as possible during those days to make it truly worth it.

However, if you decide that you want to chill and only visit a few select attractions, you can consider Go City New York Explorer Pass instead. You’ll save money through this pass, provided you pick high-value attractions that cost $35 or more. The pass is good for 60 days after activation so that you can take your time!

My recommendations for such attractions:

Top of the Rock – $40
Central Park Bike Tour – $52
Best of NYC cruise – $47
The vessel – $39
Edge – $42
High Line Tour – $39

Okay, that was one long post on everything I know about NYC! I hope this post has been useful to you. And as usual, if you have any questions, please feel free to comment below.

10 Comments

January 2, 2024

Gratitude for the insider tips! Your advice led us to mouthwatering food and the breathtaking views from the Top of the Rock. NYC became a dream come true.

November 6, 2023

Great Itinerary! Found helpful. Thanks for sharing!

August 12, 2023

Hi Melissa! Thank you SO much for making this- it’s extremely helpful as it will be my sister and I’s first time in NY! I was wondering if you had a pdf or printable version of this?

Hey Jazmin, I don’t have a printable version but that’s a great idea – i should make one! I hope you have fun with your sister 🙂

May 20, 2023

Just wanted to drop a message here saying that your blog for first-time visitors of NYC has proven to be spot on. My family and I had a blast during our 4 days in The Big Apple. Many thanks!

Nico, thanks for taking the time to write this!

March 1, 2023

im travelling this summer and so excited to do this itinerary.. thanks a million

February 15, 2023

Hi! Your blog makes me want to book a flight to New York!

February 4, 2023

I just wanted to say this was incredibly helpful, and thank you so much for writing it! It’s been surprisingly difficult to find solid travel itineraries for NYC so I really appreciated how thorough and detailed this was. Thank you!

February 5, 2023

Thank you Aleesha for taking the time to write this comment. I appreciate it!

How Many Days Are Enough To Visit NYC

When planning your trip to the Big Apple, you are likely asking yourself “How many days in NYC are enough?”

Be prepared for this answer - there are never enough days.

This post covers how much you can realistically expect to see on trips lasting anywhere from one day up to a week or more.

We are local walking tour guides and we have a few good tips for thinking about this.

In addition to our personal experiences, we've also incorporated feedback from members of our Facebook group who've been to NYC before.

3 to 4 Days

5 to 7 Days

Practical Information

Previous Visitors Experiences
Things to Do in NYC

How Many Days Is Enough For NYC?

Below are summaries of what you can do in NYC on trips of varying lengths from one day up to a week (not including travel time to and from the city).

When planning your trip you may want to check out our post, How Much Does It Cost To Visit NYC .

If cost is an issue, you can also find some excellent tips in our article covering the cheapest time to travel to New York.

While there's never a bad time to see the Big Apple, it might also be a good idea to consider the best times to visit New York City .

We also have an article providing details about what kind of weather to expect in NYC throughout the year, making it easier to pick the best time to travel.

TIP: Our pay-what-you-wish guided walking tours are an excellent way to maximize your time in NYC.

We also have self-guided tours and GPS- enabled Audio Tours for you to use to discover New York at your own pace.

If you're looking for other activities, make sure to read our post about the most exciting things to do in New York and the best attractions in NYC .

It’s not possible to see all of NYC in one day. It’s not possible to see all of the city in a decade!

But if you plan your one-day trip to NYC carefully, you can see a lot more than you may have previously thought.

In 24 hours, you can get a feel for the city and its unique energy and see a few of New York’s iconic sites provided you keep moving!

And, in the video below, Katie, a tour guide with us, Free Tours by Foot, runs down her 1-day itinerary of NYC.

You might want to consider skipping museums which could take a big chunk of time from your day.

However, we highly recommend you make time to visit one of NYC's observation decks . Seeing the city from so high up is mesmerizing!

Here are our suggestions of what to do on one day:

Lower Central Park
Rockefeller Center
Grand Central Terminal
The Brooklyn Bridge
Wall Street and 9/11 Memorial
Go to an observation deck or check out Times Square

Your day will be jam-packed from the morning up until the late hours of the night. But you’ll leave NYC pleasantly surprised at just how much you were able to see in one day.

See our in-depth one-day NYC itinerary for details and more suggestions.

Two full days and one night will give you time to see all of the above sites, plus more of Lower Manhattan .

Take the free Staten Island Ferry for unbelievable views from the harbor. The ferry passes by the Statue of Liberty so get those cameras ready!

Get in a visit to a major attraction besides an observation deck.

Spend your night seeing a Broadway show. Find out how to save money from our post, How to Get Cheap Broadway Tickets .

For a more in-depth itinerary, check our post covering how to spend 2 days in New York City .

TIP: Look into taking a bus tour of Manhattan so you can cover more in less time.

If you can swing it, this is the minimum amount of time to visit as 3 to 4 days in NYC is enough to see a decent-sized chunk of both Lower Manhattan and Midtown Manhattan .

Do all things mentioned in the one and two-day itineraries, and add on a few more attractions and top NYC museums .

With these many days, you’ll be able to devote several hours to visiting the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum .

For a 3-day trip or more, consider getting an NYC tourist attraction reduced price pass to maximize your savings.

Within 3 to 4 days, you can also stroll through a few of these famous New York neighborhoods:

Greenwich Village
Harlem
Little Italy
Brooklyn Heights

As for your nights, see a Broadway show, go to an additional observation deck, and spend a casual evening dining out and walking off your dinner!

For more ideas, see our post, 50 Things to Do at Night in NYC .

Check out our detailed 3-Day New York City itinerary .

5 to 7 Days

A trip lasting 5 to 7 days is long enough to explore Manhattan from the very tip up to Harlem and see much more of Central Park.

Enjoy a relaxing sightseeing cruise and get fantastic views of the skyline from the water.

Ride the Roosevelt Island Tram to Queens for 360-degree views from a cable car for the same price as a subway ride!

Visit several museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art , the Museum of Modern Art , and the American Museum of Natural History .

Walk the High Line in Chelsea. Go to the Bronx Zoo . Get to know Brooklyn better.

With 5 to 7 days, you can take your time. Just because you have more days doesn’t mean you should cram as much as possible into that time.

Instead, live like a local and watch the world go by sitting at a cafe.

By the time your trip is over, you will have mastered the subway, eaten many of New York's famous foods , and know the city well enough that you can give others recommendations on where to go! Before you head home, start planning your next trip to New York City!

These posts include in-depth information to help you make the right choices for you when planning your trip.

Where to Stay in NYC
Best Time to Visit New York
NYC Weather
Cheap Flights to NYC

These posts will be useful once you arrive in New York City.

How to Use the NYC Subway
NYC on a Budget
Where to Find Free Wi-Fi in New York
How to Get to Manhattan from LaGuardia , JFK, and Newark airports

Experiences of Previous NYC Visitors

We also incorporated comments, suggestions, tips, and critiques from members of our NYC Travel Tips Facebook group, including posts like this one.

Join the conversation with locals, like our guides, expats, veteran visitors, as well as newbies to NYC.

Choose a Destination... I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Amsterdam Berlin Boston Charleston Chicago Dubai Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Nashville New York City New Orleans Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome San Francisco Washington DC

About The Author

Courtney Shapiro

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Plan, Ready, Go®

1 Day in NYC: Must-do’s for First-timers + Interactive Map

Only have one day in New York ? Maximize your visit with my itinerary created especially for NYC first-time visitors . I have visited New York City several times. During my last two trips, I was accompanied by people visiting for the first time.

I recommend spending at least four days in NYC . However, even one day can give you a taste of this top travel destination.

Key Things to Know: Top things to do in NYC for a day

Essential Stops: Don’t miss the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial, or Central Park for a mix of history and iconic landmarks.
Transportation Tip: Maximize your time by using the subway for faster travel between Manhattan’s attractions.
Customization: This itinerary is completely customizable to your particular interests and the exact amount of time you have in New York City.

Statue of Liberty in front of the New York City skyline

This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See disclaimer.

One day in New York itinerary

9/11 memorial (and museum).

9/11 Memorial | Closest subway stops: WTC–Cortland St (1) and Cortland Street (R, W)

Start your day by spending your morning in Lower Manhattan.

In my opinion, your one-day in NYC itinerary should absolutely include the 9/11 Memorial. It’s one of my favorite free things to do in New York City .

The terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, which destroyed the Twin Towers, forever changed the city and the United States. In fact, it’s one of the most moving and beautiful memorials that I have ever had the privilege of seeing.

The 9/11 Memorial typically is open to the public all day every day.

Optional: The 9/11 Memorial Museum is at the same location. Though I haven’t had the privilege of seeing it, I’ve heard great things. There is a charge for admission to the museum.

9/11 Memorial pool in New York City showing names engraved in bronze with buildings and trees in the background.

Statue of Liberty

Ferry from Manhattan departs from Battery Park | Subway stops: South Ferry Station (1), Whitehall Street (R), Bowling Green (4, 5) 

Your one-day New York City itinerary must include the Statue of Liberty, my absolute favorite place in the city

Buy your tickets ahead of time onlin e, especially if you want to climb up to the crown. When available, those tickets can sell out weeks or even months in advance.   

Even if you don’t want to go up onto the pedestal or the crown of the Statue of Liberty, you can purchase a ticket to enjoy the cruise over to Liberty Island (with great views of both Lady Liberty and Lower Manhattan). You can visit the new museum and walk around the monument’s exterior.

 If you only have a day in New York I recommend skipping a visit to Ellis Island even though it’s included in your ticket.

More things to do on a day trip to New York City

Explore NYC with a sightseeing helicopter tour over Manhattan .
Pay a visit to the top of One World Observatory with this skip-the-line ticket .
If you’re staying the night in New York, consider this sunset cruise in New York Harbor.

PRO TIP: If you have flexible travel dates you need to check out Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights). You get amazing flight deals sent straight to your inbox with instructions on how to book directly with the airlines. Check out Going here. Going is my favorite way to find great travel deals.

Lunch options: where to eat

By the time you finish your visit to the Statue of Liberty, you’ll likely be ready for a bite to eat. The Crown Café offers a wide variety of burgers, salads, and sandwiches. Their menu includes vegetarian options as well as several items that can be made gluten-free upon request.

Battery Park (where you’ll disembark from your cruise to Liberty Island) is a great picnic spot. You can grab a cheap lunch from a food truck or assemble a picnic from a nearby market.

If a restaurant is more what you’re looking for, wander into the Financial District where you’ll find a variety of popular eateries for all budgets.

Empire State Building

20 West 34 Street | Subway stop: 34 St–Herald Square (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W), 33 St (M) 

Many believe that visiting the Empire State Building is a must on their trip to New York City.

I will admit right now that in all my NYC trips, I’ve only ever admired this iconic structure from the ground.  I do not like heights, nor do I generally pay money to stand atop them. But you who are not afraid of heights can go as high as the 102nd floor. The main observation deck is on the 86th floor.  

Time-saving tip: Upgrade your Empire State Building ticket to get skip-the-line access.

As an alternative, save the Empire State Building for after dinner, or even enjoy dinner at the State Grill and Bar.

New York City skyline with the Empire State Building.

Times Square

Subway stop: Times Square–42 Street (N, Q, R, S, W, 1, 2, 3, 7)

You’ve seen it in movies and TV shows. Of all the places to visit in New York City, it’s hard to think of anything else that’s more New York than Times Square. Soak it in, take a few photos, and wander through so you can say you’ve been there (it’s great at night also). Maybe even buy a cheap souvenir T-shirt or stop in at M&M’s World.

Times Square is just a 15-minute walk from the Empire State Building.

tall building in New York City with a sculpture in front

Rockefeller Center

Between 49th and 51st Streets between Fifth and Sixth Avenues | Subway stop: 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center (B, D, F, M), 49 Street (N, R, W) 

A 10-minute walk from Times Square will take you to Rockefeller Center. It’s a New York City landmark that includes 30 Rockefeller Plaza (NBC Studios), Radio City Music Hall, and more.

In addition to some great shopping and dining, you can take a guided tour of Rockefeller Center, go to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck , skate at the Rink, and more.    

If you’re feeling snackish, I recommend stopping at Magnolia Bakery for something yummy. 

Grab your Top of the Rock ticket here.

Central Park

From North 110th Street to Central Park South (59th Street), and from Central Park West (8th Avenue) to 5th Ave | Subway stops: There are several subway stops around the perimeter of the park including 5th Ave/59 Street (N, R, W), 59 Street/Columbus Circle (A, B, C, D, 1), Central Park North (2, 3), and 6 stops on the west side of the park. 

Central Park is so quintessentially New York that you absolutely need to make time in your itinerary to see it even if only spending one day in New York.

Now, keep in mind that this park is huge. I mean it. Central Park covers 1.3 square miles (840 acres) of Manhattan. You could easily spend an entire day just exploring this place. 

To start I’d suggest looking at a map of the park and choosing a few things there you want to see. This might be the Central Park Zoo, the Alice in Wonderland Statue, Belvedere Castle, or the Conservatory Water (where you can rent a model boat to sail on the pond).  

The southeast corner of Central Park is just a 15-minute walk from Rockefeller Center. If you want to walk all the way to the Conservatory Water and the Alice in Wonderland Statue, expect a walk of closer to 30 minutes.

Time-saving Tip: Instead of walking to Central Park from Rockefeller Center, jump in a NYC cab.

Interactive map for your one day in New York City itinerary

Click on the yellow pins on the map below to see more information about each stop on your itinerary.

To see this map in your Google account just tap on the little star next to the map name.

Ways to modify this itinerary

With only one day in NYC, there are an incredible number of ways you could spend your time. Here are a few ways you could modify this one-day itinerary to fit your particular interests. It’s important that you get to see the things you want.

Take the subway to Brooklyn then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, enjoying your view of the Manhattan skyline.
Enjoy a tour of either or both of two of the premier art museums in the world, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and/or the Museum of Modern Art.
Explore Greenwich Village, Soho, and other iconic neighborhoods.
End your day with a Broadway show.

View of Washington Square arch from below.

Short half-day itinerary for NYC

Even if you don’t have a full day or 24 hours to spend in New York City, you can still see a few of the major highlights. Here are a few options:

Focus on one area such as Lower Manhattan, grabbing a view of Brooklyn Bridge, followed by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
Explore the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Rockefeller Center, and then stroll up to Central Park for some more exploring.
Get the best of New York’s top art museums at The Met, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim.

New York 1-day tours

Want to see the best of New York in a day, but rather leave the planning to someone else? Leave the planning to an expert tour guide.

Pack the very best of NYC into one day with this highly rate expert guided tour . See New York’s major landmarks in only 6 hours.
Go beyond Manhattan’s major tourist sites with this tour of Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Harlem, and Coney Island .

Where to stay in New York City

If you’re thinking about spending more than a day in New York, you might be overwhelmed by the many hotel options.

Here are my recommendations for where to stay in New York City:

Hyatt Place Midtown South (52 West 36th Street): We loved staying at this hotel. It’s just two blocks from the Empire State Building and just around the corner from the 34th Street – Herald Square subway stop. Book Now
For a more boutique-style accommodation try Archer Hotel New York (45 West 38th Street). Book Now

How to get around New York City

I say this so often, but I will continue to say it over and over: use your feet and the subway.

I’m serious about the subway. You’ll get where you want to go cheaper than Uber or taxis and of course much faster than walking especially when traveling from one area of Manhattan to another.  You can find subway maps on the MTA website .

Taxis are a fine option for getting around New York City especially if you are in a time crunch or are going someplace that just doesn’t have an easy subway route or a nearby stop.

Final thoughts on one day in New York

There are so many amazing things to do in NYC in a day of course that you can’t possibly see as much as you would like, BUT you can see the best of the best if you have 24 hours in the Big Apple.

From historical monuments to stunning views from the best observatories in the world, you almost can’t go wrong with how you spend your day here.

What do you think everyone should put on their 1-day NYC itinerary?

Privacy Overview

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

7 Key Things To Know Before Your First Trip To New York City

Destinations
New York City
United States

New York City is diverse, lively, dense, and home to iconic sights and symbols like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. Streets are filled with skyscrapers. It’s a mix of cultures and foods and world-class art. Theater is top quality here. You can shop till you drop. At Times Square, you will marvel at the oversized flashing lighted signs that surround the crowds below. And when you are tired of the bustle, escape to the wonders of Central Park with its lakes and trees and grassy hills.

With all New York City has to offer, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when planning a trip, especially if it’s your first time in NYC. Here are some major things to know that will help. Be flexible once you get to New York, but at least have a game plan ahead of time so you can best enjoy this wonderfully complex city.

View of Manhattan and the rest of New York City

1. New York City Is Manhattan And More

New York City is made up of five boroughs, with Manhattan at its core. While you can venture to Brooklyn , the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, you will want to center your first trip in Manhattan. This is where you’ll find the Empire State Building , Times Square, Broadway shows, and Central Park . If you have time, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or take the subway to the Bronx. If you have only a few days, plan to spend most of your time in Manhattan.

Hyatt Grand Central in Manhattan, New York City, at night

2. Sleep In Manhattan But Not In Times Square

Staying in Manhattan on your first trip allows you to fit in the most sightseeing. That doesn’t narrow it down a lot, though, as Manhattan is large and there are hundreds of hotels. Many people book a hotel in Times Square because they’ve heard of it and seen the ball drop on TV on New Year’s Eve. But I recommend staying at least a few blocks away from the chaos and noise and giant neon signs of Times Square. Choose a place in your budget and preferences at least a few blocks away.

I like staying near Grand Central Station on East 42nd Street. This puts you at a transportation hub within walking distance of Rockefeller Plaza, Bryant Park, Times Square, and Central Park. I can recommend the Hyatt Grand Central as a mid-priced, clean, attractive option.

If you’re after lower prices, you can opt to stay in New Jersey or Brooklyn, or anywhere outside the middle of Manhattan. The trade-off is more time spent on the train or subway. I like to pack my sightseeing days full of sights, walking out the door of my hotel and being right in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Figure out what’s best for you.

3. Decide On The Iconic Attractions You Want To See

While your interests will determine how you fill your time in New York City, there are three iconic sights that will top your list on your first trip.

The Statue of Liberty National Monument . Lady Liberty, recognized around the world as a symbol of freedom, stands waiting to welcome you to New York. Before you go, think about whether you want to take the boat out to the island and see the statue from her pedestal. Or are you fine with taking the free Staten Island Ferry and getting a close-up view from the water? Do you also want to go to nearby Ellis Island, where immigrants were brought and processed into the U.S. for years? You can get tickets to see both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Allow basically a morning or afternoon to do the joint tour.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Built where the Twin Towers once stood, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum honors those lost in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. Be prepared for an emotional experience .

If you are short on time, you can visit just the memorial pools outside the museum. Allow at least 2 hours for the museum.

Central Park

This famous green oasis covering more than 800 acres calls to visitors and locals alike. Stroll along the tree-lined paths or relax on the grassy lawns of North Meadow and Sheep’s Meadow. Marvel at the lovely curves of Bow Bridge. And visit the Imagine memorial to John Lennon.

If time is limited, enter the park at the south end and wander as long as you can. There’s more to see than at the north end of the park. Download a map or app of the park so you can easily find the points you most want to see.

4. Discount Passes May Save You Money

For your first trip to New York City, consider an attractions pass. This can save you money, especially if you plan to visit the most popular places. Basic options include:

All-Inclusive

These are for a set number of days. Fit in as many attractions as you like in that time. Some come with skip-the-line perks. Two to look into are the Sightseeing Pass and the New York Pass .

Number Of Attractions

These are for a set number of attractions, such as three or five choices from the options given. If you know what you most want to see, these are a good kind of pass. One to consider is The Explorer Pass .

Pre-Packaged Passes

You don’t have a choice of which attractions are included. But many of the most popular are included. Check out the CityPass , which is a booklet of six tickets

Do a cost comparison with what you want to see between having a pass and no pass to find out whether you want to invest in one.

5. Choose Where You Will Take In The City Views

The vastness of New York City never ceases to amaze people. And taking in a view of the city from above is a must when you visit. Not only do you see the density of the buildings but you have the water, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty to spy on from up high. Here are four main places that feature a panoramic view. Book tickets ahead of your visit to get the time of day you prefer. If you can choose two of these viewing sites, book one in the daytime and the other at sunset for views of NYC in all lights.

The Edge is an outside platform 101 stories up, and it literally hangs off the edge of the building. You see West Manhattan and south to the Statue of Liberty. The angled glass walls allow you to lean out over the city. And there’s a glassed section of ground where you can stand and look straight down at the city below.

This is my favorite of the city view places. After you get over the strange sensation of feeling like you’re on the brink of falling 100 stories to the sidewalk, it’s quite exciting. And the views are certainly breathtaking.

Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

From the top of Rockefeller Center, you can take in views of Central Park and Manhattan Midtown from 70 floors up. And from the Top of the Rock you can clearly see the Empire State Building. That’s one reason some people recommend this one if you are choosing just one view site. And with indoor and outdoor viewing decks, you can stay inside if it’s cold or rainy.

Empire State Building

This grand symbol of New York, the Empire State Building , is billed as the “world’s most famous skyscraper.” Get your ticket and ride the elevator to the 86th floor, where you can look out at the city from the 360-degree observatory. See the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty.

If you choose, you can include a visit to the 102nd floor as well. Here are floor-to-ceiling views that can cover up to 80 miles away on a clear day.

Summit One Vanderbilt

The newest entry into fantastic NYC viewpoints is the Summit . The entrance is inside Grand Central Station. It does have a view of the city, and it also has other floors with mirrors and shiny objects. It’s an experience that goes beyond taking in the city sights. Take a look at the website and see if it’s something you want to do.

The main reading room of the New York Public Library

6. It’s Okay If It’s Rainy Or Very Cold

As your trip gets close, check the weather. If it looks like a day of rain or extreme cold is coming, no problem. Plan for amazing indoor options. A few top picks:

Metropolitan Museum Of Art

This world-class art museum offers so much to see that you could easily spend days here. Not only does it display art from different historical periods and countries, but also the architecture of the building alone is worth a visit.

Like the Louvre in Paris and the British Museum, the Met can be enjoyed in short sessions. Plan for a morning or a few hours. Then, look at the online information about the exhibits. Choose two or three areas that fascinate you and start there. You will likely want to return to see more!

American Museum Of Natural History

This grand museum has been around for 150 years. While it’s a great way to keep young ones in your party busy and happy, I’ve found as a grown-up that I love natural history displays.

Popular exhibits include the brown bears in the North American Hall of Mammals, the massive blue whale model that measures 94 feet, and the huge Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.

New York Public Library

This imposing building is a great place to shelter from the weather. The stately lions standing guard on the front steps are named Patience and Fortitude. The architecture inside the library is noteworthy. And it’s free.

7. Wear Comfortable Shoes

You may think of New York City as a fashion mecca and figure you need to dress up. But while there are upscale stores and elegant restaurants, for sightseeing, you don’t need to be fancy. You will walk and walk and walk. And that’s the best way to experience New York. So, wear comfortable shoes or flat-heeled boots. And it may be surprising but rest assured that casual clothes are fine for Broadway shows and most restaurants.

These tips touch on some things that can make your trip easier and more fun. With a bit of planning, you will enjoy your time in New York. I’m betting you’ll want to return for more incredible experiences in this fascinating city.

Go over to our New York City category to find out more about the Big Apple:

9 Best Places In New York City To Escape The Crowds
10 Best Spots To Try New York City Pizza, According To The Locals
10 Luxe Lounges To Visit In New York City

As the owner of the travel blog, Exploring Our World , Sharon enjoys taking her readers on a journey with her. Articles often delve into the history of a place, and by adding in a generous number of photos, she inspires others to explore for themselves. In her early travels, she was most frustrated by coming back home and learning that she had missed a fascinating sight or a hidden gem. Now she helps travelers prepare for a trip by passing along travel tips, pointing out lesser known things to see, and alerting them to enjoyable day trips from major cities.

Her travel articles have been published by Stripes Europe Newsletter and the World War 2 Writing and Research Center. Whether she's discovering more about her hometown of San Diego, California or flying to faraway places, she enjoys sharing with travel lovers around the world.

South Africa
Dominican Republic
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Netherlands
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Itineraries
Travel photography tips
Travel Tips
Weekend getaways
Unique Accommodations
Work together

No products in the basket.

Return to shop

Search for:

New York , North America

Visiting new york for the first time: the ultimate beginner’s guide to new york city.

The Impressive skyscrapers that form a fantastic skyline together, a mix of architecture where historic buildings and futuristic design go hand in hand, the city that never sleeps, … You probably already guessed it? This blog post is about New York City. There is so much to experience in this huge metropolis, that visiting New York for the first time definitely requires some preparation. To help you, I bundled all my tips in an ultimate beginner’s guide for a successful first visit to The Big Apple.

In 2022 I traveled to New York City for the second time. After 8 years I was super excited to visit this fantastic city again and especially surprised, because so much had changed. Although it was my second visit, it still felt like my first time. I had to get to know the city again. And soon New York City stole my heart once more.

Disclaimer: This blog post contains interesting affiliate links. This means that if you purchase something through my recommendations, I receive a small reward. The best part? It doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps my blog continue to grow. A win-win situation, so thank you!

How to travel to New York City?

Traveling to this metropolis is possible with a direct flight from Brussels Airport. There are several airlines that offer tickets to New York. If you search and compare well you can even find very affordable tickets. In barely 8.5 hours or 2 to 3 films on your airplane screen later, you reach The Big Apple.

We landed at JFK airport where we boarded a private transfer to the city center provided by the travel agency where we booked our trip. Frankly, this service was very expensive for a driver who came to pick us up 2 hours late. “Traffic,” he said. Of course, traversing New York City by car is no easy task, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt. There are many other options to get to Manhattan from the various airports in New York. One of them is an external service that offers shared transfer at democratic prices

You can also travel to Manhattan from the various airports with a large shuttle bus. If you prefer a little more privacy, you can opt for the taxi. This may be a bit more expensive, but the taxis are available at all terminals at the airport itself. You don’t lose time waiting for a driver to pick you up. You do have to watch out for ‘pirate cabs’ though. These are not official taxi drivers trying to trick you into riding with them.

Traveling by train is also an option. From JFK and Newark you can reach several major train stations by train. You can also take the airtrain in JFK. This is a kind of monorail system that connects the airport to the New York subway. That way you can continue your journey by metro.

In short, there are plenty of options to travel from the airport to your destination.

How to get around in New York City ?

The yellow cabs have become one of the trademarks of New York City. They are therefore often seen as the means of transport par excellence to move through the city. The taxis are not super expensive, of course this depends on the duration of the ride. Because traffic is often congested during peak hours, the taxi is not always the most appropriate option to get around the city center quickly. Taxis can be hailed all over the city if they are not occupied. You can see this by the light.

You can also use an uber. Unlike a taxi, an uber has a fixed price. But I’ve heard several times that this price can be high, especially during peak hours.

Go underground

The subway is a fast and cheap way to move around the city. The cheapest method of using the metro is to buy a reloadable ‘Metro Card’. This way you can always reload a certain amount on your card. A ride with the Metro Card costs $2.75 regardless of destination. I’m not lying when I say that New York’s subway traffic is very chaotic. When you travel by metro you sometimes have to search a bit and especially stay attentive. Make sure you always have a plan at hand or on your smartphone. The disadvantage of getting around with the metro is that you don’t see anything of the city while you’re on the way.

Hop-on-Hop-off

A pleasant alternative is the red Hop-on-Hop-off bus. This is a bit more expensive, but it drives past the most popular sights in New York City. Because you can get on and off at any stop, you can easily move between the different attractions while enjoying the city. These bus rides are offered by various companies, but tickets are cheaper to book online.

Walking and cycling

Exploring the city by bike is always fun and is certainly possible in New York City. Although this is not the safest and most relaxed option. Don’t get me wrong. There are many neighborhoods that are great to discover by bike, such as Central Park, DUMBO, … However, New York’s traffic is so chaotic that you need your full focus when cycling and can’t fully enjoy the beautiful city. It’s therefore better to opt for an organized bicycle tour with a guide.

I myself planned our visits for a certain day in the same neighborhood so that we had to use the metro as little as possible and could mainly walk from one sight to another. I found the combination of walking and riding the subway to be the best option. This allowed us to move quickly and economically, but this way we could also see a large part of the city.

The best time to travel to New York City?

The climate of New York City is somewhat similar to our climate, only with more extremes. It can get very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer. Yet visiting New York in all seasons has its charms.

The most attractive period is the Christmas period. During these magical weeks, the city is beautifully decorated and the shopping paradise par excellence for buying the best Christmas presents. Then you can also admire the imposing Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center and try the accompanying skating rink. You can also skate in other places in the city, such as Central Park. In short, New York City is the perfect Christmas destination.

Don’t worry too much about the weather. T here are plenty of things to do indoor during cold and rainy days. You’ll find numerous impressive museums such as the MoMa, The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, various indoor observaties such as Summit One Vanderbilt and many covered markets such as the Chelsea market where you can relax and taste some New York delicacies .

When winter gives way to spring, New York City brightens up with colorful, fragrant blossoms. In addition to the soft pleasant temperatures that already make it possible to enjoy the outside terraces, it is the ideal time to discover the parks such as Central Park or The Brooklyn Botanic Garden. I was there in May and this was an excellent time to visit New York.

During the summer months, the real New Yorkers flee the city because of the heat. My first visit to New York City was in July and yes, it was very hot. But I liked those summery sultry vibes, especially the 4th of July festivities. On the other hand, the heat also hampered some activities such as cycling in Central Park.

The best time to visit New York definitely depends on the purpose of your trip.

How many days do you need to visit New York City ?

When visiting New York for the firt time, I advise you to really take your time. This city is so overwhelming and there is so much to experience, so there is a great danger that you will run from one sight to another without really experiencing New York City. Therefore, be sure to book a minimum of 5 nights so that you have at least 5 to 6 full days to fully enjoy The Big Apple.

Important tips before visiting New York for the first time

If you plan to travel from Belgium to the United States, you will need an international passport and an ESTA travel authorization or visa .

Also, don’t forget that New York City is in a different time zone. It is 6 hours earlier than in Belgium. This way you save a little time when you depart. The disadvantage is the jet lag that causes you to wake up very early the first few days.

Make sure you also bring an international plug, otherwise you will not be able to use or charge your electrical appliances.

In New York, a different currency is used, USD. That may seem obvious, but it is not like in some countries where they still accept euros. It is therefore best to change some money before your trip or at the airport. The cheapest way to exchange Euro into USD is through an exchange office. First compare the prices and choose the exchange office where you have the least loss.

Keep in mind that the prices on the menu when you’re going to a bar or restaurant don’t include a tip. At the end of the ride you still have to pay 18%, 20% or 22% extra tip. Even when someone provides you with a service, for example the driver, the bellboy in the hotel, … you are expected to tip.

Where to stay in New York City?

When looking for a place to stay in New York City, Times Square is often put forward because this neighborhood is centrally located. I too have stayed around Times Square twice. Personally, I think it is one of the less cozy neighborhoods in New York. It is perhaps the one that is located the most central in Manhatten, but via the metro you can also move very quickly from another location.

On my next visit to New York I will definitely choose to stay in a different neighborhood. I already an overview of 15 gorgeous boutique hotels where to stay when visiting New York . But also via the map widget of Booking you can easily find a stay near your preference.

Booking.com

The best things to do when visiting New York for the first time

New york city card .

New York City is an immensely large city. And if you are there only there for a few days, then of course you want to see and experience as much as possible. Therefore it necessary to prepare well for your city trip in the Big Apple.

Do you want to visit many sights? Then I advise you to take a look at a New York city card. This allows you to visit some of New York’s highlights at a cheaper rate. There are different types of city cards. Below you will find an overview. The best thing is that you look at them all and choose the city card that best meets your needs.

We opted for a Sightseeing Flex Pass with which we could visit no fewer than 7 sights. The advantage was that we not only saved money on the entrance fee to the attractions, but with this ticket we didn’t have to make reservations anywhere. This way we could decide for ourselves during the trip when we wanted to visit which sights. It’s useful to be able to adjust your itinerary last minute when the weather is bad or not…

New York, New York

One of the reasons why visiting New York City should be on your bucket list is of course, the impressive skyline. This is formed by the mix of beautiful buildings in different architectural styles. The first skyscrapers were built in the early 20th century during a period of economic prosperity. Just think of the roaring twenties. You can still admire many buildings in this typical Art Deco style, such as the Empire State building, Chrysler Building and Rockefeller center.

In this neighborhood you can still find some gems from the past, such as Grand Central Station, the New York Public Library and the Flatiron building.

But time does not stand still and certainly not in New York City, the city that never sleeps. In the meantime, you can also see many hypermodern complexes, such as the recent sustainable construction project Hudson Yards, where you’ll find The Edge and The Vessel, among other spectacular skyscrapers. And there are also some beautiful parks here such as the High Line and Little Island.

Of course there are many more other modern buildings in the city center to admire, such as the One World Trade Center, One Vanderbilt and the Oculus Center.

Both the older and the newer generation of buildings together form the impressive skyline of The Big Apple. You can admire this beautiful skyline from one of the five observatories in New York City or from some other viewpoints that I will discuss in more detail later in this article.

Must visit Museums in New York City

When you plan to visit New York City for the first time, there are bound to be a number of museums on your to-do list. This city has so many museums that it is impossible to visit them all. That is why I am listing a few of them below that are definitely worth a visit.

MoMa is the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Here you can, as the name says, admire modern and contemporary art. It is one of the largest museums in the world and the modern art collection of the MoMa is also considered one of the best collections in the world.

In the permanent exhibition you can admire pieces from 1880 to the present. These are artworks from big names such as Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Gustav Klimt, … It’s therefore a very varied collection that is definitely worth a visit.

Besides the permanent exhibition, there are also changing exhibitions. This allows you to visit the MoMa again and again and be surprised by works that you have never seen before.

Guggenheim

Just like the MoMa, the Guggenheim is a museum with a beautiful Modern art collection, including some works that fall within the Impressionism and Expressionism movement.

In addition to the impressive art collection, the building is actually a work of art in itself. It was designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and consists of a spiral shape that can be seen both inside and outside. This way you can admire the artworks as you make your way along the spiral ramps that run through the entire building.

If you are not planning to visit the Guggenheim, it is definlitely worth just taking a walk past the building.

9/11 Memorial museum

An tragic event New York City will never forget is the 9/11 attack in 2001, when two planes flew into The Twin Towers. This disaster was worldwide on the news. More than 3000 people lost their lives here.

Today this place is referred to as Ground Zero. On the exact spot where the Twin Towers stood, there are now two monumental pools with the names of all the victims engraved in the rim. It’s quite impressive, but at the same time also captivating to see.

9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero, New York City

Be sure to visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum where you can learn everything about this terrible event, but also how New Yorkers experienced this attack through their personal stories of loss, recovery and hope. You will also find remnants of the old structures of the Twin Towers as well as objects that have been recovered from the rubble. This makes it easier to imagine how terrible this event was. Let me tell you that a visit to this museum is sure to leave a deep impression on you.

9/11 Memorial Museum, Ground Zero, New York City

A touch of green New York City

Visiting New York City for the first time is intense. New York City is referred to as the city that never sleeps for a reason. The sounds, lights, the city in constant development… That sometimes causes a little overstimulation. An occasional moment to take a breather is not an unnecessary luxury here. Fortunately, The Big Apple has numerous beautifully landscaped city parks where you can relax or enjoy New York City in a green setting.

Central park

The most famous park in New York City with about 25 million visitors annually is Central Park and is also called the green heart of Manhattan. The large, rectangular domain stretches from 59th to 110th Street and from 5th to 8th Avenue. From Top of The Rock you can admire the park very well from above. That’s where you see how big it really is.

The construction of Central Park took no less than 16 years. When you walk through the park, you will not be surprised that it took so long. It’s a beautiful natural environment consisting of wide avenues, smaller hiking trails through the woods, several lakes, impressive monuments, sunbathing areas and a few restaurants. You can also spot some sights here such as the Belvedere castle and the famous Bethesda fountain. The park also houses a zoo called “Central park zoo.”

Around the park is a 10 kilometer long road where car traffic is banned during weekends and after 7 pm. Then it is a real paradise for active New Yorkers, but also the perfect time for tourists to explore Central Park by bicycle. Rent a bike or opt for a guided bike tour. Not an avid cyclist? Then take a nice walk or go for a romantic ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

Last but not least. If you plan to spend some time in Central Park, it is also nice to have lunch on the beautiful terrace of The Loeb Boat House when the weather is nice. Don’t forget to make a reservation! Here you can also rent rowing boats to go out on the lake.

The Loeb Bout House, Central Park, New York City

High line

The High Line in a beautiful park that stretches for 2,3 kilometers from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards. This park was built on an old elevated railway that was used for the transport of meat and poultry until 1980. This piece of green runs above the streets between the buildings. It is a unique experience that attracts millions of visitors every year.

During the walk you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Hudson River, the typical New York industrial environment, the mix of different architectural styles and art. Yes, you heard that right. Artworks such as statues and murals are exhibited in the park. There are also occasional shows.

If you’re in the mood for a refreshing drink or snack, head down between 15th Street and 16th Street for a break at the Chelsea Market. This former biscuit factory has been transformed into a cozy food hall. Today you can find numerous food stalls and restaurants.

Besides that the High Line is close to some popular attractions. You can combine a walk through the park with a visit to The Vessel and The Edge.

You can also opt to walk the High Line as part of a guided tour. This way you will learn even more about the history of the park and the surrounding area.

Little Island

Little Island is, as the name suggests, an island that floats above the Hudson River. It is a city park that only recently (in 2021) opened its doors. So it probably won’t surprise you that it’s located near the Meatpacking District and Hudson Yards. You can also admire this impressive park with several height differences from the High Line. It’s quite unique to see.

Would you like to visit Little Island? Then you can reach it via one of the two pedestrian bridges, the North Bridge or South Bridge. Both bridges are located on the Hudson River Greenway at Pier 55.

From Little Island you can enjoy a green urban oasis with beautiful flora and an impressive view of Manhattan, New Jersey and the river around you.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Want to escape the city for a while and relax in an oasis of peace? Then be sure to visit the beautifully landscaped Brooklyn Botanic Garden . This park consists of no less than 12 different gardens.

The best time to visit Brooklyn Botanic Garden is during the spring when most of the flowers are in bloom. In April you can admire the lush cherry blossoms. We were only there at the end of May and could enjoy a beautiful setting full of colorful and fragrant flowers. The biggest draw was the vast field of purple bluebells.

Nice neighborhoods to explore in New York City

New York City is divided into several neighborhoods that overlap. The nice thing is that every neighborhood has its own identity. When visiting New York for the first time you will get to most neighborhoods anyway when you go sightseeing all over the city. I already mentioned some neighborhoods under the other topics in this article. But here I list a few more that should certainly not be missing from your itinerary during your city trip in The Big Apple.

Let’s start with the most trendy neighborhood in Brooklyn. Just across the Manhattan Bridge you will find the DUMBO neighborhood which literally means “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”.

It’s a super fun and creative area to explore. You will find various art galleries, coffee bars, bakeries and also very photogenic places.

The most famous photo spot is perhaps the one on Washington Street where you can see the Empire State Building through the pillars of the Manhattan Bridge.

DUMBO viewpoint on Manhatten bridge from Washington Street

From Brooklyn Bridge Park you also have amazing views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the spectacular Manhattan skyline.

The best day to visit DUMBO is definitely Sunday. Then there is a flea market where you can find nice things.

Lower Manhatten and the Financial District

Even though the name ‘Financial District’ sounds rather boring, I still found this a super fun area to explore. You walk in between the most impressive skyscrapers that serve as offices for the most prestigious companies. You will find, among other things, the world-famous stock exchange and the One World Trade center.

Other special monuments are the beautiful Trinity Church that suddenly appears between the skyscrapers of Wall Street.

Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York City

Near Wall Street you’ll also find the famous statue The Charging Bull. If you rub the nose, horns and yes, the balls of this statue, it supposingly brings good luck. Another famous statue in the area is The Fearless Girl. The statue was made in honor of International Women’s Day and stands in front of the New York Stock Exchange.

The Charging Bull, Wall Street, New York City

China Town en Little Italy

Nice neighborhoods to stroll through are China Town and Little Italy. This name already tells you that these are the neighborhoods where mainly Chinese and Italian immigrants settle. Meanwhile, the boundaries between the two neighborhoods have become blurred. China Town is growing while Little Italy is shrinking. This is because many Italians are moving away from the area. Yet you can still find the authentic atmosphere in both neighborhoods. There are also still many traditional restaurants and boutiques.

Times square and Hell’s Kitchen

Although I certainly don’t think Times Square is the nicest or coziest neighborhood in New York, it is of course something you should see at least once. The immense advertising screens, the colorful neon lighting, the many street performers, the gigantic shops, the masses of tourists… It has something, especially when it’s dark.

You can combine your visit to Times Square with a theater performance on Broadway or a snack and drink in Hell’s kitchen. Hell’s kitchen used to not have the best reputation, but today you will find many trendy bars and eateries there.

Below you will find some amazing guided tours from Getyourguide. These are perfect if you want to explore different neighborhoods in an original way.

The best views in New York City

I personally think the best views of New York City are the places where you can admire the city from a distance or from above. Then you can completely soak in that beautiful skyline consisting of the most impressive buildings.

Admire New York City from above

Visiting one of the 5 observation platforms in New York should not be missing on your New York itinerary. These 5 viewpoints are located on the roof of some of the most impressive skyscrapers in New York . I will briefly go through them all here. An extensive report full of tips for visiting one or more of these phenomenal observatories can be found in my blog post about the 5 observatories with the best view of New York .

Empire State Building

Empire State Building is the oldest observation platform and therefore a true classic. In addition to the beautiful view, you also have access to the interactive museum where you can experience the evolution of the building, including a tribute to its film history. The building served as a film setting for several blockbusters such as King Kong and Sleepless in Seattle.

Top of Rock

You have the best outdoor view from Top of Rock. This observatory is located on the roof of Rockefeller center. Here you can admire the iconic skyline in all its glory with highlights such as the Empire State Building, Chrysler building, Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center, but also Central Park.

One World Trade Center

The tallest skyscraper in New York City is One World Trade Center. The top floor, One World Observatory is open to visitors. There you have a phenomenal 360 degree indoor view of the city. The highlight of our visit was definitely the elevator that took us to the 102nd floor in 47 seconds. Not because it was so fast, but because we could see the entire evolution of 500 years of New York City on the walls of the elevator during the ride.

One of my favorite viewpoints is The Edge. The observatory is unique in that way it’s an angular platform suspended from a skyscraper, hence the name: The Edge. So there is no building under the outdoor zone. Some bits of the floor have been replaced with glass that literally allow you to see 100 floors down. The unique shapes and the use of these different materials ensure that this is a very original photo spot.

Summit One Vanderbilt

If you want to be surprised by design, art and special effects in addition to the view, then you should definitely visit Summit One Vanderbilt. The visit is such an amazing experience that sometimes you forget that you have to enjoy the view. This because you are so absorbed in everything that happens in the spaces. Moreover, it is also a very photogenic place.

Do you want to admire New York City from even higher. Then you can also book a helicopter flight. Impressive views guaranteed!

Walk towards the skyline on Brooklyn Bridge

One of the most famous landmarks in New York City is the Brooklyn Bridge. It opened in 1883. This iconic steel-constructed bridge was long the only connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn. It’s definitely a must-see when visiting New York for the first time.

The bridge is not only very impressive to look at. When you walk it from Brooklyn towards Manhattan you also have a great view of the New York skyline. You literaly walk towards it.

Soak in the skyline from on the water

Since Manhattan is completely surrounded by the Hudson River and East River, it is really worth admiring the city from the water.

You can do this by taking a ferry from Battery Park to Liberty Island where you can see New York City’s most famous woman up close, Lady Liberty. In addition to the Statue of Liberty, you will also find the Statue of Liberty Museum with information and exhibitions about everything related to the Statue of Liberty. This museum is free for all visitors to the island.

You can also take the ferry to Ellis Island. This island served as a border post for immigrants who wanted to settle in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today you can visit the Ellis Island Immigration Museum where you can see several exhibits, each highlighting a different aspect of immigration. The personal stories are especially touching.

Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, New York City

You can enjoy a beautiful view of the New York skyline from both the ferry and on both islands.

View of Manhatten from Hudson River ferry, New York City

Besides the ferry, you can also opt for another type of boat trip, such as a cruise with or without extras.

Where to go shopping in New York City?

Soho (south of houston street) and nolita .

What used to be an industrial district, dotted with factories and warehouses, is now a true shopping paradise called SoHo. These old buildings were restored into shops with luxury apartments and lofts above them. Because the historical elements have been preserved, it is still a very pleasant neighborhood to walk through.

Start your shopping adventure at Broadway and get lost among the 25 blocks of shopping district. You will find a mix of unique boutiques, large department stores and high-end luxury designers.

Do you need a break? Then visit Balthazar Bakery . A beautiful place completely in Art Nouveau style where you can go for a snack or drink. And not unimportantly one of the best bakeries in New York City.

Haven’t shopped enough yet? Then walk on to the adjacent neighborhood of Nolita where you can find even more beautiful shops and unique boutiques.

5th Avenue and Madison Avenue

The most legendary shopping street is of course 5th Avenue. There you will find all the famous luxury brands. They are characterized by most impressive shop windows. It is not for nothing that 5th Avenue is called the most expensive shopping street in the world.

Within walking distance is Madison Avenue, which is part of the Upper East side. Here you can also find several high-end shops. In addition, this street is also known because some of the most expensive real estate in the world are located here.

If budget is not an issue, 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue are the places-to-be for shopping. Otherwise you stick to window shopping, like me.

Impressive shopping malls

The United States is known for its gigantic ‘Shopping Malls’. You can also find some impressive ones in New York City. Two of the most famous shopping centers, Brookfield Park and The Oculus, are within walking distance of each other in Battery Park. Brookfield Park mainly houses luxury shops, while you can find more affordable brands in The Oculus. If you don’t like shopping, The Oculus is still a super impressive building to visit.

Another one that you absolutely cannot miss is the famous American department store Macy’s on Herald Square. This branch is according to the Guinness Book of Records the largest department store in the world.

Of course there are still plenty of nice places to shop in New York City. You also have the vibrant Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village and the charming streets of the West Village. For nice vintage stuff you have to be in the East Village. And some more high-end fashion houses and shops can be found in the Meatpacking District.

Not to miss specialties New York City

Hot dogs are an indispensable part of the New York street scene, at least the numerous hot dog stalls that you will find on every corner of the street. It is therefore a must-do to order a hot dog at such a typical food truck during your trip to the Big Apple. There are now also many vegetarian alternatives. I was told that you can taste the best hot dogs at Gray’s Papaya .

Blueberry pancakes

You may have seen them appear in a couple of films or television show, but these little stacked pancakes are a true breakfast classic in the United States. In New York City you can order these typical American pancakes in different ways. The most famous are the bleuberry pancakes made with blueberries. When you order them you usually get a jar of blueberry jelly and one of maple syrup with your pancakes. I first tried to carefully put a piece of pancake in both jars and then eat it, until the waiter convinced me to empty both jars at once over my stack of pancakes. And believe me, it tasted heavenly! The best blueberry pancakes can be found at the Clinton St. Baking Company .

Another real New York specialty is the bagel. These round buns with a hole in them, not to be confused with the donut, originally come from Poland. The bagel was introduced to New York City by Jewish immigrants. These delicious sandwiches became a hit and today they are the favorite breakfast or lunch choice of many New Yorkers. The classic New York bagel is topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon and onion and is highly recommended. You can order delicious bagels at one of the many Black Seed Bagel locations.

New York Pizza

Everyone knows that pizza is an Italian specialty. The New Yorkers gave it their own twist, partly influenced by their fast-paced and busy lifestyle, and that is how the famous New York pizza slices came about. Where you normally have to wait for your pizza to be baked, you can have a delicious pizza slice within just 2 minutes in one of the many pizza places all over New York City. The perfect snack for a quick and cheap bite while discovering the city.

Are you a foodie and want to discover even more delicious New York City specialties? Then opt for an organized food tour with a guide from Getyourguide. You will not only discover the different delicacies, but also the best places to eat them.

Where to eat New York City?

New York City has a lot of restaurants. Like its inhabitants, the restaurants are a melting pot of cultures. And that’s nice, because you can really find all kinds of cuisines there. It’s a true foodie paradise! The only thing you need to know is that the good restaurants are in demand and that it is therefore best to reserve a spot in time. Sometimes it can be hard to get a table in New York’s best restaurants .

Of course it was impossible for me to try everything, but below is a small summary of the restaurants and cozy neighborhoods to eat that personally appealed to me the most.

The blue dog NYC

Do you want to start your day of sightseeing off right? Then go for brunch at The blue dog NYC. This address is one of the best. We even went there twice because it was so good. The specialty of the house are the egg-o-holics on bread, a hearty breakfast that will keep you going for a few hours. The blue dog is popular, so book a table in time.

South Street Seaport

A super cozy neighborhood where you can find a lot of nice restaurants is South Street Seaport. This former harbor is home to some of the oldest buildings in Manhattan. Many of these historic buildings have been completely restored and house authentic boutiques, trendy bars and cozy restaurants. You will also find pier 17 an events center that hosts a series of concerts on the roof terrace in the summer. On the ground floor of pier 17 there are still plenty of restaurants where you can dine with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. We dined at Malibu Farm New York and can definitely recommend this restaurant.

If you then walk further along the waterfront towards Battery Park, you will pass Industry Kitchen where you can also enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner.

Chelsea & Meatpacking Disctrict

Adjacent to the Chelsea district, we find the Meatpacking District where many slaughterhouses and packaging companies used to be located. Today this is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in New York City where you can also find numerous elegant bars and delicious restaurants such as Fig & Olive , Pastis , Catch and Buddakan .

Nearby you can also visit the Chelsea market , a former biscuit factory, which was transformed into an impressive food hall. You will not find many different types of food stalls and restaurants here, but the interior is also really great.

With this comprehensive beginner’s guide to New York City, I’ve tried to give as many tips as possible for visiting New York for the first time. I hope that with my tips you will have an unforgettable first New York experience.

Are you visiting New York for the first time? What would you definitely not want to miss on your this trip to The Big Apple? Let me know below in the comments.

If you are planning a city trip to New York City, then definitely read 5 best observatories in New York City where I share my experiences visiting the all of New Yorks’ observatories and my overview of 15 gorgeous boutique hotels where to stay when visiting New York .

Wanna visit more of the United States? Then check my travel guides below:

The ultimate Deep Road trip
How to spend the perfect day in Miami
What to expect from an airboat tour in the Everglades
The most beautiful beaches in Sanibel
How to plan a 3 days city trip in New Orleans

Thank you for reading.

Yours truly,

Pin for later

The ultimate beginner's guide to New York City

Travel tips and essentials

Find plane tickets

Find airport parking

Find vacation accommodations

Find a rental car

Book tickets, tours and excursions

Book a transfer with a bus or train

Find a travel guide

Find the right travel photography gear

You might also like these

Free lightroom preset for stunning vacation photos

5 best observatories in New York

Visiting Paris for the first time: The ultimate beginner’s guide to Paris

Sarah de gheselle, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

phototography
social media en blog promotion

Username or email address *

Password *

Remember me Log in

Lost your password?

JavaScript seem to be disabled in your browser.

You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website.

Price Match Guarantee
Free Cancellation on most bookings
No hidden costs or commission charges

How many days do you need to visit New York?

You have planned a trip to New York, but don’t know how much time you need? This city is world famous! It’s hard to estimate exactly how many days it will it take to visit New York because of the many landmarks and places of cultural interest. If you want, you can also book a tour to one of the American cities nearby .

New York in 3-5 days

If you have decided to make a 3 to 5 day visit to New York , it will be a race against time to see everything; there will be time to see only the main tourist spots. On the pages “ Popular Places ” and “ Parks ” you will find a detailed route for visiting the places you are interested in seeing. All districts and the best-known parks are described in order starting from the most important and famous. For convenience and to save time and money, we advise you to buy a pass for the main monuments of the city . In New York you can buy two types of passes:

NewYork Pass ;

What to do in New York in a week

New York is a huge city, and that means that even if you stayed two weeks here you would never be bored . Just walking around the most famous places ( Fifth Avenue, Central Park , etc.) will take at least a week. But in a city as surprising as New York there is no limit to what you can do and see. Here you must simply enjoy life.

If you do get bored in New York, you can always take an excursion to the surroundings . Tourist coaches travel regularly to nearby towns. You can also go by train to places of interest.

A real adventure, for example, is a trip to Niagara .

How to book a hotel and save money in New York

Perhaps you are familiar with the site which is famous worldwide, booking.com , or hotels.com which is well-known in America. Please visit these sites to search for the option which is best for you when it comes to the ratio quality-price. The comments from tourists can help you make your decision. Another famous site is hotelscombined.com . This site has a friendly interface that allows you to compare prices and special offers on various other sites . Once you have chosen the best solution for your needs, simply visit one of those sites and book. This is a free service!

Tourists always want to know “ Which is the best neighborhood of New York to stay in? ”. Undoubtedly Manhattan, there is no comparison ! You can find a hotel in any price range from expensive to economical. To save more money, you can search for a room in other districts of the city. The main criterion for choosing a hotel is the distance from the subway so you can get to other parts of the city quickly at any time.

Hotel in New York City

Rated 5 stars out of 5

10524 Reviews

The Standard

2418 Reviews

Rated 4.5 stars out of 5

6567 Reviews

Text printed from the website www.inthenewyork.com

From John Kennedy Airport (JFK)
From Newark Airport (EWR)
From LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Popular places
Romantic trips
For Christmas
Ticket “All inclusive”
Romantic Hotels
Best time to visit
What and where to eat?
Theatres and Musicals
How do I choose a hotel?
How many days do I need
Visit for couple days
Neighbouring cities
Subway, buses & taxis
Useful maps
Mobile connection, Roaming
What is needed in a hotel?
Ask a Question

Search Hotels

Check-in date

Check-out date

Order any tours! Extra discount 5%

One ticket to all places , cheaper and without any queues!

The Very Big Holiday Show! Only in November & December. Save more than 30%!

Museum 9/11. Limited number of visits!

Report an error: select the text and press Ctrl + Enter Disclosure: We earn commission when you use most of our links to make a purchase.

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar

Mint Notion

Feel rich living within your means

First Time in New York City? 15 Essential Travel Tips

By Eden Ashley MintNotion.com is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, we will earn a commission at no added cost to you. This helps keep the content on this website free for everyone to enjoy. Disclosure Page

Tourist mistakes to avoid making in New York City

Traveling to New York City for the first time? Here you’ll find tips on where to stay, things to do, how to save money on New York’s top attractions, and how to prepare for your first trip to New York.

While New York is the largest city in the USA and has plenty to offer, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when planning your trip.

Use this first timer’s guide to take the stress out of organizing your vacation so you can best enjoy this diverse city!

*** Please bookmark this page because I’m constantly updating it to help you get the most up-to-date information about traveling to New York ***

how to not look like a tourist in new york city

Table of Contents

Where should I stay in New York City?

After visiting New York City several times and staying in different neighborhoods, I recommend staying in one of these six areas:

Midtown – The BEST neighborhood for first-timers
Times Square – The heart of Manhattan. You can’t beat its location.
Upper East Side – Ideal for museum lovers and close to Central Park
Lower East Side & Soho – Ideal for shopping
Greenwich Village & Chelsea – Lots of great restaurants
Brooklyn – Ideal for travellers on a budget

AVOID staying at Airbnbs in New York since they are illegal . You’re better off booking a hotel for the ease and comfort of your trip.

I like using Booking.com to find the best price on hotel accommodations. I’ve also had good luck using Hotwire to score 4 or 5-Star hotels for cheap.

Best hotels in New York City for every budget

If you’re traveling on a budget, these are the best affordable hotels in NYC:

CitizenM New York Times Square
Hotel Scherman (Located in Midtown close to sightseeing and restaurants)
Artezen Hotel (Close to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum)

If you have some more wiggle room in your budget, below are some of the best mid-range hotels in New York:

Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/Midtown East
Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Midtown Manhattan/Penn Station
AC Hotel by Mariott New York Times Square

If you want to splurge on your accommodations, below are some popular luxury hotels in New York:

The Standard, High Line
The Beekman A Thomspon Hotel
New York Marriot Marquis (Time Square)

What do I need to know about traveling to New York City?

Best time to go : Spring (April to June) and Fall (September to November) are the best times to visit New York City. This is when the weather is mild and there are less crowds.

Best area to stay : Midtown , Upper East Side , and Times Square are the best areas to stay if you’re visiting New York for the first time and plan to do a lot of sightseeing.

If you’re traveling on a budget, some good areas to stay for tourists include Queens and the Bronx .

Best way to get around : Walk or ride public transit. New York City has an excellent public transit system that will take you anywhere you need to go.

Another option is to take the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour , which can be a great way to get familiar with the city and see the main landmarks and attractions.

Top 5 things to do in New York : The 9/11 Memorial & Museum , The Metropolitan Museum of Art , Empire State Building , Top of the Rock , and Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island .

Best way to save money on New York attractions : Purchase a city pass, such as the

New York Pass *MOST POPULAR* – (Save 50% on over 100 attractions)
New York CityPASS (Save 40% on the top 5 attractions)
New York Explorer Pass (Save up to 50% of your choice of attractions)
New York Sightseeing Pass (Save up to 70% on over 150 attractions)

What’s New York City known for? As one of the most famous cities in the world, New York City is known for its Broadway shows, Central Park, Grand Central Station, Times Square, and the Statue of Liberty.

To help you get the most bang for your buck, here’s some tips for visiting New York City for the first time, including common tourist mistakes to avoid.

How to visit New York on a budget
New York CityPASS vs. New York Pass – Which is better?
New York Pass review – Is it worth it?

1. Avoid taking a taxi or Uber to get around New York

Taking a taxi or Uber to get around the city is expensive. And let’s be honest – you don’t want to waste your precious sightseeing time stuck in NYC’s busy traffic?

W hat is the best way to get around New York?

Use public transportation . Riding the subway is the quickest and cheapest way to get to all the attractions on your itinerary.

You’ll want to get MetroCard to make it easy. A MetroCard is a magnetic stripe card that you’ll use for fare payment on public transportation in the NYC area.

You can get a Pay-Per-Ride card which is good if you’re staying in the city for a few days. Or you can get a 7-day Unlimited MetroCard if you’re staying for a week.

My husband and I bought a 7-day unlimited ride MetroCard during our trip.

We had so much freedom with the metro card because it was a stress-free way to get around town. Plus it saved us A LOT of money.

New York is a BIG city, so even if you’re staying in a central location, you’ll save a lot of time sightseeing by using the metro. This is the best way to visit New York City.

I know the subway map looks like a giant spider web, but you’ll discover that it’s surprisingly easy to navigate.

Whenever you visit a new city, watch a YouTube video about how to use their public transit system. This can help you know what to expect when traveling and gives you peace of mind.

You can also download an app, such as CityMapper , which will show you train schedules, any service interruptions, alternate routes (if necessary), and which exit to take.

Other ways to get around New York:

Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour – Yes, it’s a little touristy, but this is a great way to experience New York for first-timers. This is also a great option to get familiar with the city.

It’s super convenient because you can jump on and off the bus tour at any of their 35+ designated stops in the city, as many times as you wish.

Plus you can listen to their digital commentary and learn more about New York’s top sights.

Walk – New York is one of the world’s most walkable cities. It’s laid out in a grid pattern, which makes it easy to find your way around.

Streets run East-West and Avenues run North-South. Just make sure to wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes .

SIDE NOTE: I don’t recommend wearing sandals when walking around New York. The city is super dirty and it’ll take forever to wash the dirty and grime off your feet.

2. Save money with the New York Pass

If you want to visit New York’s most popular attractions, I highly recommend getting a city pass. This allows you to save up to 50% off the city’s top attractions, tours, and landmarks.

While there are many different New York city passes to choose from, the most popular one is the New York Pass , which is great for those who want to visit a lot of attractions.

What’s the best way to save money on New York attractions ?

Use the New York Pass .

Getting the most bang for your buck is my #1 priority when planning a vacation and the New York Pass was rated the #1 NYC city pass by TripAdvisor.

HURRY, price rise soon! Save up to $170 off the New York Pass. Offer ends May 5th. You have 2 years to activate the pass.

They’re also recommended by Expedia and the New York Pass currently have a TrustScore rating of 4/5 on Trust Pilot .

Over 3.5 million travelers have used the pass and 9 out of 10 customers recommend the New York Pass to their friends. This is the most popular New York tourist pass.

With the New York Pass, you can save time, money, and enjoy stress-free sightseeing. This is your one-stop shop for the ultimate New York sightseeing experience!

But don’t just take my word for it. Check out these Trust Pilot reviews below.

PRO TIP: Buy the pass online to save time and hassle. Plus, you’ll save extra money off the retail price. To buy the New York Pass, click here to go to the official website.

What’s included in the New York Pass ?

✓ Pick from over 100 NYC attractions ✓ Valid for up to 10 days ✓ Save up to 50% compared to purchasing tickets at each attraction ✓ Visit unlimited amount of NYC attractions each day

The New York Pass is a prepaid sightseeing card that can be used to get FREE fast-track entry to over 100+ attractions , museums, and tours in the city.

Below are some of my favorite attractions included in the New York Pass.

Must-see observation decks in NYC:

Edge NYC ($43.55 value)
Empire State Building ($47.91 value)
Top of the Rock Observatory ($43.55 value)

Popular museums in NYC:

9/11 Memorial & Museum ($28.00 value)
American Museum of Natural History ($28.00 value)
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) ($25.00 value)

Best tours in NYC:

Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off tour ($59.99 value)
Statue of Liberty Ferry and Ellis Island Immigration Museum ($24.00 value)
Best of NYC Cruise by Circle Line ( $44.00 value)

Once you’ve bought the New York Pass, you can visit as many attractions as you want. The more sights you visit, the more money you save!

I found that using the pass allowed me to check out more attractions and tours that I wouldn’t normally think of doing .

For example, small walking tours. The New York Pass offers free access to a variety of walking tours in NYC. I really enjoyed this!

Is the New York Pass worth it? Check out my honest review of the New York Pass here.

How to buy your New York Pass:

STEP 1: Choose which pass duration you want to buy (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10-day). You can click here to purchase your New York Pass from their official website.

Why you should consider buying the pass online:

When you buy the pass online, you can take advantage of online discounts .
They offer a 365-day money-back guarantee , so you can get a full refund just in case your plans change.
You can activate your pass anytime within two years from the date of purchase.

HURRY, price rise soon! Save up to $170 off the New York Pass . Offer ends May 5th. You have 2 years to activate the pass.

STEP 2: Download your mobile pass instantly using the New York Pass app.

If you prefer a physical pass, simply print your pass and guidebook at home. Links and easy-to-follow instructions for both options will be in your confirmation email.

STEP 3: You now have FREE access to any of the 100+ top NYC attractions included for the duration of your pass.

How to activate the pass : It will activate once you visit your first attraction and can then be used on consecutive calendar days for the number of days purchased.

You’ll also receive a free guidebook , which is included with your purchase. Use this book to help you easily plan your itinerary.

3. Make time to visit Brooklyn

Visiting New York for the first time? Avoid These 10 Tourist Mistakes

During my first trip to New York City, I spent the whole time in Manhattan. I had no idea there were so many other great places to visit in the boroughs.

I encourage you to make time to visit Brookyln. This a fun escape from the big city and you’ll be treated to spectacular skyline views of Manhattan.

If you’re using the New York Pass , below are some of the attractions and tours you can check out in Brooklyn for FREE using the pass:

Brooklyn Bridge Bike Rental by Unlimited Biking ($51.69 value)
Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour ($35.00 value)
NYC Bus Tour of Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens ($79.00 value)
Brooklyn Museum of Art ($16.00 value)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden ($18.00 value)
Graffiti and Street Art Walking Tour of Brooklyn ($32.00 value)
Brooklyn Bridge Walking Tour ($27.57 value)

PRO TIP : The best photos of the Manhattan skyline are from DUMBO in Brooklyn.

Now whenever I’m in New York City, I always make time to visit Brooklyn . Some of my favorite things to do in Brooklyn include walking across the Brooklyn Bridge (you’ll love the NYC skyline view), eating pizza at Roberta’s, enjoying the best hot chocolate at Jacques Torres Chocolate, and exploring the NY Transit Museum.

Prep for your New York trip

4. Don’t pay full price at New York City museums

There’s no reason to pay full price to visit museums such as The Met , MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), or the American Museum of Natural History .

Instead, there are several ways you can get discounted entry tickets or even visit them for free. This is one of the best things to know before going to New York.

Take advantage of free museum days

You can visit some of New York City’s museums on free days, which makes this a great option to save money.

The only down side is free museum days are always busy . This is why I recommend arriving BEFORE the museum opens to avoid long wait times.

Side Note: For New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut residents ONLY , some museums (such as The Met) offer “pay what you wish” admission. A valid form of ID is required.

In the past, some New York museums offered “pay what you wish” admission for everyone.

But now it’s ONLY offered to New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut residents . You’ll need to show a valid form of ID.

If you don’t live in one of these states , the best ways to save money on attractions is to try visiting on free days or using one of the following New York sightseeing passes.

Save money with one of these New York sightseeing passes :

New York Pass – Using the New York Pass is a no-brainer if you want to avoid paying full-price at NYC’s top attractions.

With the savings you gain from using the New York Pass, you can put that extra money towards a nice dinner, a fancy hotel, and so on.

BEST FOR : You want to hit all the major attractions in a short amount of time. You’ll save up to 50% off vs. paying for individual entrance tickets.

New York CityPASS – If you just want to visit the city’s most popular attractions and aren’t interested in tours, then you may want to consider getting the New York CityPASS.

BEST FOR : You want to visit the top 5 attractions in New York. You’ll save 40% off vs. paying the regular admission price. This includes:

Empire State Building
American Museum of Natural History
Top of the Rock OR Guggenheim Museum
Ferry Access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island OR Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
9/11 Memorial and Museum OR Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

New York GO City Pass – And if you just want to visit a few attractions at your own pace, then I recommend checking out the New York GO City Pass.

BEST FOR : You have more time to spend in New York to see the city’s top attractions. You’ll save up to 50% off vs. paying the regular admission price.

The New York CityPASS and GO City Pass DON’T offer as high of a discount on sightseeing as the New York Pass , but they are still excellent ways to save money when visiting the city’s top attractions.

Below you can read my post sharing tips on how to choose the best sightseeing pass for your trip to New York.

What is the best sightseeing pass for New York?

5. D on’t spend all your time in Midtown and Times Square

Midtown is great, but there’s SO much more to do in New York City. It would be a shame if you spent all your time in Midtown or Times Square.

Many tourists make the mistake of spending their entire trip only visiting these two areas. They miss out on all the wonderful things that New York has to offer.

DO THIS INSTEAD :

Even if you’re visiting New York City for the first time, try to schedule time in your itinerary to explore some less popular, but equally amazing neighborhoods in NYC.

Some of my favorite neighborhoods to explore are the Village, Upper East Side , Union Square, Lower East Side , Lower Manhattan, and SoHo (where you’ll find the Musuem of Ice Cream ).

If you’re using the New York Pass , below are some more great things to do outside of Midtown and Times Square. All attractions are free when using the pass.

9/11 Memorial and Museum
One World Observatory
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigrant Museum
Best of NYC Cruise by Circle Line
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Whitney Museum of American Art
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The Highline
Flatiron Building
Central Park
Washington Square Park
Coney Island
Brooklyn Bridge

6. Don’t eat in Times Square

This spot may be great for a photo or to watch a Broadway show, but you don’t want to eat here. The food in Times Square is usually expensive and doesn’t offer good value.

If you’re hungry when visiting Times Square, try to walk at least 3-5 blocks east or west to find more affordable restaurants with better quality food.

Instead, my favorite neighborhoods to find good food in New York include Chinatown, West Village, SoHo, Chelsea, Flatiron, Lower East Side, and the East Village.

PRO TIP : Traveling can be expensive. One way I like to save money is to get FREE gift cards from Swagbucks . You can get free gift cards to Starbucks, which can be used to cover coffee or breakfast while traveling. Instead of paying out of pocket, this can be a great way to cut back on travel costs. Join Swagbucks for free here.

7. Check out at least one observation deck in New York City

Yes, this is a little touristy, but the views of New York City are absolutely incredible. To get a true feel for New York, you need to see it from above.

If you decide to splurge on one thing, THIS should be it!

My personal favorite is the view from the Top of the Rock . I’ve been several times and never get tired of it. Just make sure to buy your tickets in advance. This will save you money and disppointment if tickets sell out the day you want to visit.

Below are some other popular skydecks to check out. You can visit them all for FREE with the New York Pass .

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Experience – Very new and exciting.

Empire State Building – A must if you like the movie Sleepless in Seattle. Visit the 86th floor observation deck, or if you can check out the 102nd floor to get 360-degree views of the city.

New York One World Observatory – The One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

New York Edge Observation Deck – The highest outdoor skydeck in the Western Hemisphere.

8. Avoid eating at chain restaurants

Don’t tell me you came all the way to New York City to eat at Sbarro Pizza, like Michael Scott did in The Office TV show!

If you’re visiting New York City for the first time, you’ll want to take advantage of the city’s diverse selection of restuarants and ethnic eats.

Whether you’re craving an authentic slice of New York-style pizza or a gourmet meal prepared by some of the top chefs in the world, you’ll find everything your taste buds desire here.

If you’re a foodie like me, consider taking fun Manhattan Food & History Tour with a local guide. You’ll get to hear stories of the millions of immigrants who settled in New York and taste incredible Chinese, German, Dutch, Italain, Jewish and other dishes.

9. Don’t pay full price for a Broadway show

One of the most popular things to do in New York City for the first time is to see a Broadway show. Instead of paying full price for tickets, you’ll almost always be able to find a discount.

How to save money on theatre tickets:

TKTS Ticket Booths sell discounted tickets to see most Broadway musicals, plays, and dance productions. You’ll be able to score same-day tickets at up to 50%, which is a huge savings!

I recommend arriving early in the day, as it tends to get busy and some shows can sell out quickly.

Their flagship location is in the heart of Times Square. You can also check out their booth at South Street Seaport or Lincoln Center.

What are the most popular Broadway shows in New York?

The Lion King
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
MJ Broadway
The Book of Mormon Musical
Blue Man Group

10. Don’t support horse carriage rides in Central Park

Riding a horse-drawn carriage sounds like a fairy tale. But the reality is, carriage horses often live and work in inhumane conditions.

Horse-drawn carriages shouldn’t share the same roadways as honking cars and cyclists as it puts both the animal and the public at risk. These horses work long hours (rain or shine) and even when the weather is unbearably hot or freezing cold.

Paying for a horse-drawn carriage ride continues to support the industry. So while it might sound like a nice way to experience Central Park, you’ll want to pass on this idea.

There are many other great ways to explore NYC. Some of my favorite ways to get around the city include taking the metro or walking.

If you want to relax and soak up all the sights, then you’ll definitely want to ride the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour .

They provide digital commentary sharing exciting stories about NYC’s iconic landmarks and attractions.

Ride the metro – Besides walking, this is the fastest and most cost-effective way to get around New York City.

Staten Island Ferry – It’s free to ride and it’s a fun way to see the Statue of Liberty (Lady Liberty) from a distance.

Walking – Put on your walking shoes and explore the city. This is my favorite way to get around and sightsee.

To make it more fun, consider joining a local walking tour . If you’re using the New York Pass , there are several walking tours available for every interest.

By bike – Explore New York City by bike. Check out the city’s urbans parks or ride along the dedicated greenways.

If you’re using the New York Pass , you can rent bikes for FREE in Central Park – a $54.44 value!

Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour – See all the top sights in NYC with the Big Bus Classic panoramic tour. Free bus tour included with the New York Pass – a $59 value!

New York City helicopter tour – If you have some extra money to spend and want to create an unforgettable experience, consider this helicopter tour.

You’ll get a bird’s-eye view of New York’s Manhattan island and enjoy 180 degree views of the city’s sights.

New York Cruise – If you’re pressed for time, this can be a great way to see New York City.

This 90-minute cruise allows you to experience lower and midtown Manhattan in a unique and exciting way. You’ll also get a close-up look at the Statue of Liberty and other popular landmarks.

11. Some NYC attractions require advance booking

If you’re traveling to New York City soon and plan to visit some of the city’s popular attractions, I HIGHLY recommend making reservations as soon as possible .

Some of the popular attractions, such as the Empire State Building, may sell out or require a wait for the next available entry.

If you’re using a sightseeing pass, such as New York Pass , New York CityPASS , or the GO City Pass , you’re already one step ahead of everyone else because you can skip the long ticket lines.

Then once you’ve planned your New York itinerary, you can make your reservations through their website after purchasing your pass.

Below are some popular attractions that require or recommend advance reservations:

Top of the Rock observation deck
Guggenheim Museum
Ferry Access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
Edge Observation Deck

12. Learn how to find cheap eats in NYC

NYC is an expensive city and the price point at its restaurants are higher than other large cities, such as Toronto. However, with some careful planning, there are plenty of great ways to save money when eating in New York City.

Get the lunch special

Many popular NYC restaurants offer affordable lunch specials. This can be a great way to enjoy a tasty meal for cheap.

Eat and drink during Happy Hour

If you don’t mind eating a little early (or late at night), I highly recommend taking advantage of New York City’s happy hour specials. Enjoy discounted menu prices on a selection of both food and drinks.

Dollar pizza slices

OK, we can’t be healthy all the time. Grabbing a slice of New York pizza is one of my favorite meals when I’m on-the-go sightseeing in the city. If you’re visiting New York City for the first time, getting NYC-style pizza is a MUST!

Find cheap eats in the Village, Lower East Side, and Chinatown

Think everything in NYC is expensive? Think again. There are plenty of delicious restaurants with affordable eats in these neighborhoods.

Check out New York Diners

Diners can be a great way to enjoy an affordable breakfast or lunch in the city.

Try Street Food

From ethnic food trucks to hot dog carts and bagels, there’s lots of street food options to choose from in New York.

No matter where you decide to eat in New York, make sure the restaurant has an “A” rating from the NYC Health Department .

If you don’t see an “A” rating posted outside the restuarant, find a different establishment to eat at.

If you want to eat at the city’s most popular restaurants, try to make a reservation or expect long wait times. Not all restaurants take reservations. In this case, aim to visit during off-peak dining hours.

13. Don’t rent a car in NYC

One of the most common travel mistakes is renting a car in New York City. Parking is expensive and traffic is a nightmare, especially if you’re not used to driving in a big city.

Even if you’re driving to New York, I recommend leaving your car at your accommodations for the duration of your trip. The city’s metro system is easy to navigate and one of the quickest ways to get around town.

14. Follow this basic New York City etiquette for first-timers

Many people expect New Yorkers to be rude, but I found that most people were pretty friendly in the city. To help you enjoy your trip and even befriend a New Yorker, it’s a good idea to grasp the follow NYC etiquette.

Tips for riding the NYC Metro:

If you have trouble swiping your Metro card at the subway station, step to the side to let other people behind you go through first. Then try again when it’s less busy.
Unless you’re getting off at the next subway stop, don’t block the subway doors because people might be trying to exit.
Let people exit the subway / bus before you get on.
Avoid wearing a backpack when the subway / bus is crowded. Carry it in your hands or put it in your lap instead.
Give up your seat for pregnant women, elderly, or disabled passengers.

Tips for walking around NYC:

Don’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk , street, or stairs to look up / take photos / check your phone / look at a map. Instead, step to the side so other people can pass.
If you’re with a group, don’t walk together in a row blocking other people from passing you on the sidewalk. In some cases, you may have to walk single file.
Stick to the right when walking on the sidewalk or riding the escalators. This allows people who are in a rush to pass on your left.
Pay attention to bike lanes when walking through the park or crossing the street.
Real New Yorkers don’t wait for the walk sign to turn green . Most streets are one-way in NYC, so you may notice locals like to cross the street when there’s no oncoming traffic (even if the pedestrian light is red).
If you’re using an umbrella , be mindful of others around you. Move your umbrella up, to the right or left when passing others.
Wear comfortable shoes . You’ll see many locals wearing sneakers with their suits and changing into dress shoes once they reach the office. If you want to wear high heels for photos, put them in your bag and change once you’re at your destination.

Tips for talking like a New Yorker:

“Houston”, the street in Lower Manhattan is pronounced as “HOW-stun” instead of “HUE-stun” (like the city in Texas). If you’re in a taxi and need to get to Houston Street, make sure to pronounce it as “HOW-stun”.
New Yorkers call it “the City” . They don’t call it NYC or Manhattan.
If you want to ask someone for directions, keep it short and sweet. There’s no need to make small talk. Just ask, “Can you please tell me how to get to The Met from here?”

Tips for staying safe in New York City:

Stay away from platform edges on the subway . Stand away from the platform edge so you’re not at the risk of accidently falling on the subway tracks or being pushed.
Be aware of pick pockets . Keep your valuables close to you and within your sight at all times, especially in subway stations.
Don’t walk with earphones in (esepcially at night). Walking alone with your earphones in at night can make it difficult to be aware of your surroundings. This can make you an easy target for getting mugged.
At the airport – Never leave your bags unattended or let a stranger offer to carry your bags for you / offer you a ride into the City. If it sounds too good to be true, it’s because it probably is.
Taxi – Never get into an unmarked cab. All NYC taxis will be clearly identified. They are usually yellow with a light on the roof which displays the cab driver’s medallion number.
Disney and superhero characters in Times Sqaure – If you take a photo of them without their permission, the characters may demand payment. Make a plan in advance if you have children when walking through Times Square.
Avoid walking alone at night or riding the subway late a night . Try to ride in subway cars with others (as opposed to vacant subway cars) or walk in busy areas. Central Park and the Financial District are quiet at night and should be avoided if you’re walking alone.

15. Public bathrooms are hard to find

If you need to use the public restroom, I always recommend using the one at the next restaurant you eat at or museum / attraction you visit. Unfortunately, most places will not let you use their restroom unless you’re a paying customer.

Sometimes you might have some luck using the public restroom at Starbucks . You might need to ask an employee at Starbucks for the restroom door code first.

I’ve also had good luck by using the restroom at hotels. You have to walk into the hotel as if you were already staying there and look for the sign to the restroom. It’s usually in the lobby.

Some hotels during the busy holiday season will ask to see your room key before entering the lobby, so keep this in mind.

Ready to plan your NYC vacation? See what hotel deals are available in the area thanks to Booking.com

First Time in New York City FAQs

What is the best month to visit new york.

The best time to visit New York City is in the spring (April to June) and fall (November to December). This is when the weather is mild and there are fewer tourists.

What is the cheapest month to visit New York?

If you don’t mind braving the cold, early spring (February and March) can also be a great time to visit New York. This is often when I find cheap flight tickets and affordable hotel accommodations.

What should I do on my first trip to New York City?

Below are my top 10 things to do on your first trip to New York City:

Visit Central Park . (it’s free and one of the most beautiful spots in New York)
Check out Times Square at night. (Yes, it’s touristy. But it’s worth going at least once)
See the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (If you’re using the New York Pass , it’s free)
See the views from the Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center. (It’s free with the New York Pass )
See Eygptian mummies at The Met . (It’s free with the New York Pass )
Visit the 9/11 Memorial and One World Observatory . (There’s also the 9/11 Memorial Museum which is worth visiting. It’s free with the New York Pass )
Walk the High Line and check out the observation deck. (This urban walking trail above the city streets is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of NYC)
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge . (This is one of my favorite FREE views of the New York skyline )
See a Broadway show . (Popular shows book up in advance or you can find deals on same-day tickets)
Eat food from around the world. (New York is famous for bagels, cheesecake and pizza. But you can also try authentic food from this city of immigrants)

How many days do you need to see New York?

If you’re visiting for the first time, I recommend spending at least 5 days in New York. This will give you enough time to see the main attractions and neighborhoods of Manhattan.

Depending on what you want to do in New York, you can visit for 3 days. But you’ll need to spend longer if you want to cover the top sights.

Should I stay in Times Square?

Times Square is the heart of Manhattan and the cetner of all the top attractions in New York. This is a great neighborhood to stay for first timers. If you want to escape the crowds, consider staying in the Upper East Side or the Greenwich Village .

What is the easiest way to get around New York?

The easiest way to get around New York is to ride the subway. It’s often faster and cheaper than driving or taking a taxi. You’ll also feel like a local when riding the subway. Another fun way to get around New York is to ride the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour .

Is New York City worth visiting?

Yes, you have to visit New York at least once in your life, especially if you love big cities. It’s the most visited city in North American and often appears in major motion pictures. New York City is known for its world-class Broadway performances, its history, museums, skyscrapers, and diverse population.

About Eden Ashley

Eden has an MBA and a degree in Psychology. As a new mom (and homeowner), she knows the importance of having a budget that works. She's helped thousands of women get good with money using the same strategies she used to save $100,000 by age 25. Click here to learn how to create a better budget!

Reader Interactions

May 22, 2017 at 5:06 pm

Thankyou so much for all the wonderful tips! My fiance and I are heading to the US for the first time from Aus next month and first stop is NYC, this has honestly been the most helpful post i’ve seen whilst researching and has made me soooo excited for next month! Xx

International edition
Australia edition
Europe edition

A local’s travel guide to New York City: what to eat, see and do in three days

Top destinations in New York include a ferry ride, shopping for watches in Chinatown and a Brighton Beach bender

I first came to New York City by accident, after a miscommunication with my father led me to believe my (long-deceased) mother had been desperate to visit the city before she died.

Years later I found out that my mum had actually wanted to go to Paris. But I still had a great time in New York, and ended up moving here a couple of years later.

On that first trip I did all the main tourist things which, owing to the miscommunication, I had thought my mother had wanted to do: I went up big buildings, looked at big buildings, drank in bars beneath big buildings.

It was great and everything, but there’s much, much more to do here – especially if you like eating, riding about by subway and ferry, and bargaining for knockoff luxury goods.

Day 1: Boating and brownstones

A lot of people have heard of the Staten Island ferry , and for good reason. It’s free to travel on the big orange boats between the southern tip of Manhattan and Staten Island. The route goes right past the Statue of Liberty, and offers amazing views of lower Manhattan.

As a boat lover, I’d also recommend taking the NYC ferry . It has a flat fare of $4 and operates up and down the East River, passing under bridges and allowing riders to snoop at waterside buildings.

If you’re starting in Manhattan (which you probably are), take the southbound ferry from East 34th Street to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Dumbo, which stands for “down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass”. It’s here where everyone with an Instagram account gets their shots of both the Manhattan Bridge and the (older, better-known) Brooklyn Bridge. Plenty of people will visit this area then turn their back on Brooklyn, but I’d recommend sticking around New York City’s most populous and, depending whom you speak to, trendiest borough.

A crowd of people walk on a path over the Brooklyn Bridge while two young women pose for a photo.

Pop by Jane’s Carousel , an exquisitely restored 1922 ride which is plonked between the bridges, and then walk south through Brooklyn Bridge Park. You’ll go past several piers – once working docks now transformed into leafy picnic and sport areas. There are magnificent views across to Manhattan. It’s a nice spot to propose to a partner, as my little brother did last year. If you don’t want to do that, but do like to play soccer or basketball or roller-skate, you’re in luck.

After you hit Pier 6, where there’s a pleasant, if expensive, rooftop pizza restaurant called Fornino , walk up Atlantic Avenue for some shopping and coffee at Goose Barnacle , an independent clothing store with a hidden bar in the back. The owner, Dave Alperin, a fourth-generation Brooklynite, is very friendly and knowledgable about the area and can give you tips about everything from where to buy the best sandwich ( Lillo Cucina Italiana – try the Mamma Roma) to the location of a semi-secret basement speakeasy ( Le Boudoir ) nearby.

From there I’d take a bus or cab to Fort Greene, a very pretty neighborhood whose townhouses are the sort of Brooklyn thing you see in the movies, and grab dinner at Olea . If you make it before 6.30pm, there’s a great happy hour.

Day 2: Rude T-shirts and not-quite Rolexes

Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood has all the posh shops, so if you have money, or like looking through windows at expensive clothes and bags, walk east along Prince Street from West Broadway. There are nice buildings to look at around here too – the newly constructed towers that abound in the city are largely absent in this neighborhood. Stop in at Fanelli Cafe , a neighborhood stalwart that has been around since 1847, for a coffee or some food, then head south along Broadway to Chinatown.

People ride an old-style wooden worse carousel.

There are lots of great dim sum places, including Golden Unicorn , whose large fancy dining hall is located on the second floor of a marble-esque building. From there I’d take a walk along Canal Street, dipping into sidestreets for cheap souvenirs – snow globes, little statues and that sort of thing – and bizarre T-shirts (many of which are very rude).

Chinatown also does a roaring trade in imitation watches and handbags. So if, like me, you will not and cannot spend $30,000 on a watch but have about $100 to spare, you can get (to my eye) a fairly good imitation. The food markets along Canal Street also sell real nice timepieces – they even work – if you fancy sticking it to big watch. You’ll find plenty of “designer” bags too.

Hopefully you’re hungry again, because Great N Y Noodletown is, per its name, great – especially the roast pig on rice.

From there I’d head farther south and stop in at Whiskey Tavern , the friendliest bar I’ve ever been to in my life (and I’ve been to a lot of bars). They print out personalized welcome signs that they will stick to your table or behind the bar, which sounds a bit naff – but isn’t. The real reason to come is to chat to locals and regulars. It’s also one of the closest bars to city hall, which means there’s a regular stream of “Just Married” couples doing shots of whiskey and eating chicken wings.

If you’ve still got energy, and like singing or shouting, go to Up Stairs , a karaoke bar tucked behind a nondescript doorway on Canal Street. Drinks are cheap, and it gets packed with revelers.

Day 3: Seaside shenanigans

If, like me, you’re a fan of once-glamorous seaside attractions that are now in a state of faded glory, then take the F train to Coney Island. People seem to overlook the fact that the city is surrounded by water, and while Coney Island isn’t the nicest beach for bathing (for that, try Fort Tilden or Jacob Riis Park), there’s loads to do.

Kick things off by watching a Brooklyn Cyclones game. The Cyclones are a feeder team to the New York Mets. They play at Maimonides Park, tickets are usually dirt cheap and easy to get, and you’ll be able to enjoy a nice view of the Atlantic Ocean. If you want a snazzy memento, buy a beer in a foot-long plastic baseball bat. Sometimes they let the crowd “run the bases” after the game, which is a lot of fun, especially if you’ve had more than one of the baseball bat beers.

A person sits on a bench on a boardwalk with birds circling and snow on the ground.

After the exhilaration of taking in second-tier baseball, walk east towards the Cyclone , one of the oldest and, as far as I can tell, rickety-est rollercoasters in the US. The wooden ride – described as “pretty extreme” by Coaster Critic – will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2027, and it sounds and looks its age. Buyer beware.

Once you’ve stumbled off the ride, go for a settling drink at Ruby’s , the oldest bar on the boardwalk. You can take in the black-and-white shots of Coney Island in its 1930s glory, and if you’re feeling brave, buy a cardboard box full of clams.

Every Friday night from late June to September there is a fireworks show on the beach, which draws a large crowd. You could take it in while eating borscht and sipping coffee or vodka at Tatiana’s , a Russian restaurant-cum-nightclub a 10-minute walk along the boardwalk from the Cyclone.

Side note: you don’t need to wait until summer to visit. I went a day after it had snowed, and it was brilliant.

Question time

How many days do you need to visit new york city.

Three would be fine. If you want to take in all the Instagram favorite destinations, then maybe four.

What’s the most-visited attraction? Is it worth it?

Times Square. And not really. But it’s near enough to other attractions that if you’re heading to a Broadway show then you might as well walk through it.

When is the best time to visit?

The peak of summer can be boiling hot, and winter can be freezing cold. May through early July and September through October are usually a safe bet.

How expensive is it?

New York City is expensive. If you’re staying in Manhattan you’d be (very) lucky to get a hotel room for about $200 a night – but bear in mind that there will usually be hefty taxes on top of that. A bog standard coffee will cost you about $5, a pint anywhere from $6 to $10. The subway fare recently went up: it’s $2.90 a ride now.

Adam Gabbatt is a writer for the Guardian and is originally from the north of England. He has lived in New York City for 13 years and now says “trash” instead of “rubbish” and “sidewalk” instead of “pavement” and his family hates him for it

Hometown tour

When is the best time to visit New York City in 2024?

Mar 22, 2024 • 5 min read

Mom playing peek-a-boo with her baby boy in New York next to a decorated tree.

Pride parties dancing through the streets in the summer, Broadway shows bringing the magic of the stage in the fall, holiday lights and magic in the winter, cherry blossoms galore in the spring…there’s no such thing as a bad time to visit New York City .

This abundance of seasonal activity means it’s hard to decide when to plan your trip. So whether you’re looking to nab a deal, go ice skating in Central Park, avoid the crowds or join them, here’s our guide to the best times to visit New York.

December to February is a holiday season like no other

During the holiday season, New York City is a beautiful sight covered in twinkling lights. Instead of snow-capped mountains or wooden ski lodges, visitors can enjoy the magnificent Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree , plus a mixture of goodwill and retail madness – Fifth Ave department stores (as well as Macy’s ) create festive, elaborate tableaux within their storefront windows. You don’t have to look far to find a concert or religious service packed with holiday tunes. The downside to all this festive cheer is that hotel prices skyrocket to summertime levels.

However, if you don’t mind risking a winter blizzard, there are deals to score during the long, cold winter months of January and February. Though the winter doldrums arrive after the frenzy of Christmas and New Year’s Eve, New Yorkers take advantage of the frosty weather, with outdoor ice skating and weekend ski trips to the Catskills . The odd blizzard and below-freezing temperatures make February a good time to stay indoors nursing a drink or a warm meal at a cozy bar or bistro. The fashion industry A-list descends on Manhattan for New York Fashion Week , while (most years) Lunar New Year celebrations make the city’s Chinatowns (there are many!) the places to be.

Bow bridge in Central Park on a sunny day in spring. A cherry blossom branch in full bloom frames the right side of the image

March to May is a great time for budget travelers

Springtime is another great season to try to score hotel deals. The summer crowds have yet to descend and the weather is generally pleasant this time of year (but there are no guarantees). The odd warm spring day appears and everyone rejoices – though that’s usually followed by another week of subzero dreariness as winter lingers on. Wearing green is essential on St Patrick’s Day, when a huge parade makes its way through Midtown.

Spring finally arrives in April, and the city’s new outdoor dining program officially opens for the season. Tree pits, window boxes, squares and parks abound with bright tulips and cherry trees start blooming – a spectacle you can enjoy at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden , on Roosevelt Island and throughout Central Park.

The weather becomes warm and mild, usually without the unpleasant humidity of summer – May is perhaps the best month for New York City weather. Broadway perks up again as shows open in advance of the June Tony Awards. In late May, uniformed sailors fan out on the town as Navy vessels dock on the Hudson for Fleet Week .

Check out these other budget-friendly tips before you book.

A group of people holding and flying rainbow flags walk down a street during NYC's Pride Parade.

June to August is the perfect time for enjoying the outdoors

There’s nothing like summertime in New York City. While the weather often gets hot and sticky, the city also comes alive with a host of festivals, parties and events throughout the five boroughs. There’s the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island , the Puerto Rican Day Parade and the Pride March in Manhattan and the US Open in Queens . This is also the ideal time to check out the local beach scene .

The warm temperatures in June tempt New Yorkers out of their office cubicles and WFH setups to lie out in the city’s green spaces. Parades roll down the busiest streets and portable movie screens are strung up in several parks. SummerStage offers exciting programming after dark in Central Park all season long.

As the city swelters in July, locals escape to Long Island or to beaches just a subway ride away . Still, it’s a busy month for tourism, as vacationing North Americans and Europeans fill the city. The Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks dazzle, while Shakespeare in the Park serves up some drama – for free.

Thick waves of summer heat generally set in between the skyscrapers in August as everyone heads to the seashore or gulps cool blasts of air-conditioning. Myriad outdoor events and attractions add life to the languid urban heat. The US Open kicks off at the end of the month. Hotel prices are at their highest in the summertime as the streets fill with tourists from all over the globe. If the humidity becomes a little too much, you can always take a day trip to recharge and renew – before heading out for another night on the town.

A traffic-filled street and above, neon signs of Broadway shows in New York City

September to November is the best time for cultural events and openings

After Labor Day, New Yorkers return to the city en masse and the city is abuzz with events, Broadway openings and new art exhibitions. Revelers dance down Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn in the West Indian American Day Parade , and festival-goers eat up sausage and peppers at Little Italy ’s Feast of San Gennaro . Hotel prices might dip a bit from the summer’s peak but don’t expect incredible deals.

As the season progresses and “sweater weather” sets in by October, the air gets crisper and the leaves start to turn. Brilliant bursts of color blossom across the city's parks as temperatures cool, ushering in one of the most pleasant and scenic months to visit NYC. Cultural delights continue, Comic Con invades the Javits Center and normally private sites open their doors for one weekend only during Open House New York . The Village Halloween Parade closes out the month with a creative bang.

As the leaves tumble, light jackets are replaced by wool and down. The headliner NYC marathon is tucked into the final days of pre-hibernation weather before families gather to give thanks – and perhaps watch the giant balloons pass by at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Ready to plan your trip to NYC?

Add these top experiences to your itinerary Find out which NYC neighborhood fits your vibe Start crafting your budget with these tips Navigate NYC like a local with our transportation guide

This article was first published Mar 12, 2021 and updated Mar 22, 2024.

Explore related stories

Sustainable Travel

Apr 29, 2024 • 11 min read

Step away from the gas pump and strap on your seat belt: these are the best US road trips for electric vehicles.

Apr 25, 2024 • 9 min read

Apr 23, 2024 • 6 min read

Apr 14, 2024 • 6 min read

May 25, 2018: Crowd of people surround the Starry Night painting by Vincent van Gogh inside the Museum of Modern Art.

Apr 11, 2024 • 5 min read

Apr 10, 2024 • 6 min read

San Francisco, USA. 7th Jan, 2018. A woman visits the Asian Art Museum on Free Sunday in San Francisco, the United States, Jan. 7, 2018

Apr 10, 2024 • 8 min read

2CK92HR Participants takes part in the Brooklyn Pride Twilight Parade in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., June 8, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Apr 7, 2024 • 11 min read

Apr 6, 2024 • 7 min read

JetBlue JFK T5 inaugural flight to Dublin March 13, 2024

Apr 3, 2024 • 6 min read

IMAGES

New York Itinerary
New York City Travel Guide
New York City Travel Guide
40+ Best Things to Do in NYC
The Ultimate New York City Travel Guide
When is the Best Time to Visit New York City?

VIDEO

New York City is a nice place to be. #shorts
3 Days In New York
moving in new york city is shockingly uncomplicated
New York what is going on
48 Hours in NYC 2-Day New York Itinerary
12 things to do in New York (and some NOT TO DO)

COMMENTS

How Many Days in New York is Enough? Itinerary & Tips
New York in 2-3 days. If you're planning a New York itinerary for 2 or 3 days, then straying a little further away from the island of Manhattan might be a good idea. On your second day, I advise you to start your morning by seeing the grand Statue of Liberty, NYC's symbol of political freedom and independence. It's located on Liberty ...
The Ultimate 5 to 7 Days in New York Itinerary
The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic skyscrapers in NYC's skyline and a must-see during your 5 days in New York City. This 102-story Art Deco building was built in Midtown between 1930 and 1931. The view from the observation deck on the 102nd floor is a popular attraction for tourists.
How to Spend 5 Days in NYC: A Complete New York Itinerary
For your lunch stop on day 3 of your 5 days in New York, John's of Bleecker Street is an absolute must-visit! This is a famous pizzeria dating back to 1929 and is known all over the city for having some of the best pizzas in New York. This coal-brick-fired pizza has a super thin crust that is crispy and tasty.
The PERFECT 3 Days in New York City Itinerary [2024 Guide]
There's something incredible about exploring New York City's many neighbourhoods, districts, and attractions that you won't find anywhere else in the United States, or in most cities around the world. Table of Contents. How to Spend a Perfect 3 Days in New York City. Day 1 - Morning. One World Observatory.
First Time Guide to New York City 5 Day Itinerary by a ...
2 Where to Stay in New York City & How Much Spending Money You'll Need. 3 What to see in NYC in 5 days! 4 Day 1: The Must-Sees with a Twist. 5 Day 2: The Intellectual / The Partier. 6 Day 3: Iconic New York. 7 Day 5: The Culture Lover (Queens) 8 Last thoughts: Plan Ahead.
How to Spend FOUR DAYS in New York City: 4-Day Itinerary
The New York Pass covers over 100 attractions and has prices tailored for how many days you'll be using it. This is my top pick, as you can choose a 4-day option for $289 USD or plan to do all of your sightseeing in 2 or 3 days if you want to save a few dollars.
New York Itinerary: What to Do and See in 5 Days in NYC
74 Trinity Place, Financial District, Lower Manhattan, +1 212 602 0800, trinitywallstreet.org. Open daily from 8:30am-6pm. Visit the World Trade Center & 9/11 Memorial and Museum. On September 11th, 2001, almost 3,000 people were killed in a series of terrorist attacks in NYC and elsewhere.
4 Days In New York Itinerary: How To Plan The Perfect NYC Trip
Day 4 New York City Itinerary - Brooklyn & Williamsburg. The last day of your 4 days in New York City itinerary is centered around crossing the East River into Brooklyn and back again into Manhattan. Maybe more than once! One day is doing Brooklyn a disservice. But on a first visit to NYC, there are just so many places in Manhattan you can ...
The Best NYC Itinerary: 3-7 Days in New York City
Stay in a central location, like Midtown Manhattan, and don't go any further out than Park Slope or Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 3 Days in New York is enough to see the main attractions, but 4 to 7 days will give you a more thorough experience. Day 1 - Midtown Manhattan. Day 2 - Financial District + Lower East Side.
3 DAYS In NEW YORK CITY (Helpful Itinerary & Guide + Tips)
NYC 3 Day Itinerary, Day 1, Morning: Explore Fifth Avenue. We'll start our 3 days in NYC on Fifth Avenue, one of New York City's most famous shopping districts. The iconic thoroughfare runs through most of Manhattan, but we'll focus on the Midtown area riddled with some of New York City's most iconic buildings.
1 Week in New York: Itinerary for First Timers [+3, 4 & 5 Days]
The Museum of Modern Art, or MoMA for short, is for us personally one of the best museums in New York. Here you'll find famous works by many great Modern artists, from Picasso to Andy Warhol to Matisse. The museum is open daily from 10:30 am, admission costs 25 dollars and tickets are available online in advance.
New York Itinerary: An Efficient plan for First Timers in New York City
Tips for visiting NYC for the first time. 1. Get a travel pass to save money! There are many things to visit and do in NYC, which means you'll spend money on those activities. Getting a travel pass could ease the pain! Here are a few travel passes you can consider: New York Pass by Go City - This is an all-inclusive pass that allows you to ...
How Many Days Are Enough To Visit NYC
3 to 4 Days. If you can swing it, this is the minimum amount of time to visit as 3 to 4 days in NYC is enough to see a decent-sized chunk of both Lower Manhattan and Midtown Manhattan. Do all things mentioned in the one and two-day itineraries, and add on a few more attractions and top NYC museums.
1 Day in NYC: Must-do's for First-timers + Interactive Map
9/11 Memorial (and Museum) 9/11 Memorial | Closest subway stops: WTC-Cortland St (1) and Cortland Street (R, W) Start your day by spending your morning in Lower Manhattan. In my opinion, your one-day in NYC itinerary should absolutely include the 9/11 Memorial. It's one of my favorite free things to do in New York City .
7 Key Things To Know Before Your First Trip To New York City
Photo Credit: Sharon Odegaard. 1. New York City Is Manhattan And More. New York City is made up of five boroughs, with Manhattan at its core. While you can venture to Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, you will want to center your first trip in Manhattan. This is where you'll find the Empire State Building, Times Square, Broadway ...
The ultimate beginner's guide to visiting New York for the first time
One World Trade Center. The tallest skyscraper in New York City is One World Trade Center. The top floor, One World Observatory is open to visitors. There you have a phenomenal 360 degree indoor view of the city. The highlight of our visit was definitely the elevator that took us to the 102nd floor in 47 seconds.
The first timer's guide to visiting New York
Coney Island was where New Yorkers first escaped to the seaside from the city in the 1800s, get the train over and check out one of the oldest resorts in North America. While you're there, visit Luna Park for fairground rides and rollercoasters. The Hamptons are a posher version of a seaside resort.
New York City: How many days do you need to visit
New York in 3-5 days. If you have decided to make a 3 to 5 day visit to New York, it will be a race against time to see everything; there will be time to see only the main tourist spots. On the pages " Popular Places " and " Parks " you will find a detailed route for visiting the places you are interested in seeing.
First Time in New York City? 15 Essential Travel Tips
How many days do you need to see New York? If you're visiting for the first time, I recommend spending at least 5 days in New York. This will give you enough time to see the main attractions and neighborhoods of Manhattan. ... Depending on what you want to do in New York, you can visit for 3 days. But you'll need to spend longer if you want ...
A local's travel guide to New York City: what to eat, see and do in
How many days do you need to visit New York City? ... He has lived in New York City for 13 years and now says "trash" instead of "rubbish" and "sidewalk" instead of "pavement" and ...
Best time to visit New York City
June to August is the perfect time for enjoying the outdoors. There's nothing like summertime in New York City. While the weather often gets hot and sticky, the city also comes alive with a host of festivals, parties and events throughout the five boroughs. There's the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island, the Puerto Rican Day Parade and the ...
The Best & Worst Times to Visit New York City (Our Take)
The best time to visit New York City is in the fall, when you can see the city at its best thanks to fall foliage and excellent weather. New York City has a temperate climate with the usual four seasons most of North America enjoys. Fall is a transitional period, so expect variation throughout the season. Early fall days can be quite warm ...

How Many Days in New York is Enough? Itinerary & Tips

How many days in New York?

When’s the best time to visit New York?

New York in 1 day

New York in 2-3 days

New York in 4-5 days

New York in 6-7 days

Getting around New York

Travel tips for New York

Other NYC FAQ

How many days in New York is enough? – Pin it!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

The Ultimate 5 to 7 Days in New York Itinerary

How Many Days in New York City?

Getting To & Around New York City

5 to 7 Days in New York City Itinerary

Day 1 – Downtown NYC

Ellis Island

Battery Park

Wall Street and the Charging Bull

Governor’s Island

Day 2 – Ground Zero, Times Square & Broadway

One World Observatory

Times Square

Day 3 – Midtown Manhattan Highlights

Bryant Park

Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock

Grand Central Station

Day 4 – Central Park & NYC Museums

American Museum of Natural History

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Day 5 – Explore Brooklyn

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Day 6 – Chelsea & the Flatiron District

Chelsea Market and Little Island

Union Square and Flatiron Building

Day 7 – Coney Island or Rockaway Beach

Rockaway Beach

Where to Stay in New York

Related Posts:

About Audrey Webster

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

The Ultimate 3 Days in New York City Itinerary (2024 Guide)

One World Observatory

Day 1 – Morning

Day 1 – Afternoon

Day 1 – Evening

Day 2 – Morning

Day 2 – Afternoon

Day 2 – Evening

Day 3 – Morning

Day 3 – Afternoon

Day 3 – Evening

Tips for Making the Most of Your New York City Itinerary

Where to Stay in New York City

Best Accommodations in Town

Hotel Review – YOTEL New York

Alesha and Jarryd

Related Posts

Leave a comment Cancel reply

First Time Guide to New York City 5 Day Itinerary by a native New Yorker

How to get to NYC from its airports

Where to Stay in New York City & How Much Spending Money You’ll Need

What to see in NYC in 5 days!

Day 2: The Intellectual / The Partier

Day 3: Iconic New York

Day 5: The Culture Lover (Queens)

Last thoughts: Plan Ahead.

Have you been to NYC? How many days felt right? What was your favorite place?

About Karen Turner

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

New York Itinerary: What to Do and See in 5 Days in NYC

New York City Itinerary: Day 1

Book Your Trip to New York City: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Related Posts

Get my best stuff sent straight to you!

4 Days In New York Itinerary: How To Plan The Perfect NYC Trip

Why 4 Days?