is 3 days enough to visit new york

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

• Last Updated: April 17, 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!

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.

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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

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3 Days in New York: The Ultimate Guide for 2024

My nyc itinerary for 3 days.

If you want to experience the best of New York in 3 days, this is the article for you. I’ve been to my favorite city more than 20 times and I’ve put together the most important sights, restaurants, stores, galleries and much more in this itinerary for 3 days in New York. My goal with this is for you to have a great time in the Big Apple, experience and see a lot, and still have enough time to just enjoy the city.

This could also be interesting for you

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• 2 Days in New York

Before we get started: since three days are not really much time, it makes sense to plan your time wisely and, for example, buy your tickets in advance to save time when you’re there. Another option is to buy one of the New York sightseeing passes . With a pass you are best prepared AND you can save even more money!

Table of Contents

NYC Itinerary: Day One

Day one of our three-day itinerary focuses on Midtown Manhattan and the must-see attractions, from parks and buildings to observation decks and museums.

The Perfect First Morning in NYC

01 Start Your Day in Central Park!

Central Park is an attraction that every NYC visitor must see. Not only is the park a sprawling, gorgeous natural oasis in the middle of a busy city, but it’s also full of history, folklore, and character.

However, considering Central Park encompasses 843 acres, seeing everything in one visit is nearly impossible. For your first trip, we’ve included two stops to explore.

First is Bow Bridge , arguably the park’s most famous landmark. This bridge has been featured in many movies and is popular with locals and tourists alike. Then, you will head over to the Bethesda Terrace , where you will find one of the first structures constructed in Central Park. In this area, you will find lots of history, street performers, Instagram stars, and more.

Choose Between Two of The Best Museums!

As a note: New York may be one of the best cities in the world for museums. In fact, we’ve outlined all of our favorite New York museums here. With your 2-day NYC itinerary, however, we know you don’t have time to visit them all, so we’re recommending two of the best here.

02 Option A: Metropolitan Museum of Art

After Central Park, we are providing you with two options, of which the first is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. More commonly known as The Met, this museum is the largest art museum in the country and is also one of the largest art museums in the world. It is home to a permanent collection of more than two million works of art that are divided into 17 curatorial departments. The museum was founded in 1870 with the mission of bringing art and education to the American people. Located near Central Park, here you will find a permanent collection of works from ancient Egypt and classical antiquity, sculptures and paintings from nearly every European Master, and a large collection of modern and American art.

03 Option B: Museum of Modern Art

Your other option is to visit the MoMA or Museum of Modern Art. This museum is located in Midtown Manhattan and is home to more than 300,000 exhibition catalogs and books, 40,000 files of ephemera about groups and individual artists, and over 1,000 periodical titles. In fact, the MoMA plays a significant role in collecting and developing modern art, making it one of the world’s most influential modern art museums. It’s also one of the world’s most visited museums, making it a must-see attraction in NYC.

04 Stroll Down Millionaire's Row

Even if you’ve never visited NYC, you have heard of 5th Avenue. It’s been deemed the most expensive and famous shopping district in the world, and for a good reason! Just walking down this main thoroughfare that connects Upper Manhattan to Lower Manhattan gives you a feeling like nowhere else in the world!

From world-famous restaurants to high-end luxury shops and everything in between – you’ll find it on 5th Avenue! So, for day one of our itinerary, you will spend a bit of time taking in the sights and tastes of 5th Avenue before moving on with your day.

05 Visit the Rockefeller Center

You simply cannot visit New York City and not see Rockefeller Center, even if just for a short time. This national historic landmark is situated in the heart of Midtown Manhattan and comprises 19 buildings across 22 acres. This complex is home to NBC Studios, Top of the Rock Observation Deck, Radio City Music Hall, and much more. So, here you can simply take a stroll and enjoy the many sights and sounds of Rockefeller Center, or you have many options for activities such as shopping and dining. One thing I will reiterate is that if you plan to visit the Top of the Rock, you should book tickets in advance to save time on day one.

You can find out more about Rockefeller Center at their official website.

06 Marvel at St. Patrick's Cathedral

NYC is home to many gorgeous architectural styles, but some structures just stand out more than others. One such structure is the St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan. This building is the end result of centuries of planning, hard work, and refurbishing, but it captures the admiration and attention of every person who passes by. Constructed in 1878, this Cathedral is one of the largest Gothic Revival Catholic cathedrals in America. Given that this building is located right across from Rockefeller Center, there’s no better time to marvel at this beautiful building and snap some pictures to capture the memory!

For more on the history of this Catholic cathedral in Manhattan, visit their official website .

07 Take a Break in Bryant Park

Bryant Park is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Midtown Manhattan and covers just over 9 acres. One of the largest features in the park is the large lawn that’s situated just below the surrounding pathways. Aside from serving as a lunch spot for office workers, this area is also seating for major events hosted here, like Broadway in Bryant Park, Bryant Park Movie Nights, and Square Dance. While in Bryant Park , be sure to watch for numerous sculptures placed around the property and take a ride on the iconic Carousel before heading to your next stop.

The Perfect First Afternoon in NYC

01 Visit The Impressive New York Public Library

And Bryant Park also brings us to the next stop: the New York Public Library. In fact, the main branch of the system is housed within this park. Easily recognizable by the lion statues out front, the Main Branch was constructed in 1911 and is one of four research libraries within the library system.

The building is open to the public, but wear your walking shoes if you go inside. The structure is four stories tall and is said to contain more than 2.5 million volumes in its collection. Still, even if you do not venture far inside, just seeing the New York Public Library in Bryant Park is exhilarating!

For more on the NYPL, including upcoming events, you can visit their site .

02 Stop by Macy's

Macy’s Herald Square location in Midtown is the flagship store for the company and serves as Macy’s corporate headquarters. The building spans an entire city block and encompasses over 2.5 million square feet, of which 1.25 million square feet is retail space.

Thus, this is your opportunity to visit the largest department store in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world. Not only can you shop until you drop, browsing some of the most iconic brands, but there are also many places to grab food. Moreover, during the holidays, Macy’s Herald Square location is an excellent place to catch the Macy’s Day Parade or simply look at the holiday window displays.

For more information you can visit Macy’s official website .

03 Marvel at Manhattan from the waterside

This Circle Line cruise will take you past NYC’s most famous attractions and landmarks. You will head past the Statue of Liberty, the One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, amd much much more. If you are looking to explore Manhattan from the water and learn some of the history of NYC at the same time, this is definitely the cruise for you. At a lenght of approximately 1.5 hours, this cruise will take you half way around the Island of Manhattan as well as once around the Statue of Liberty for the ultimate photo opportunity.

04 Spend Some Time at The Remarkable Hudson Yards

There’s no better time to visit Hudson Yards, now that it’s gotten a face-lift and is home to a state-of-the-art building facility. At 28 acres, Hudson Yards is larger than Rockefeller Center and boasts an impressive neighborhood that is fun to experience. While here, you will find a hotel, monumental sculpture, art space, offices, restaurants, residences, a mall, an observation deck, and 14 acres of green public space. Regardless if you just stop by Hudson Yards to browse and say you’ve been there or shop and have a meal, this is one NYC attraction you don’t want to miss!

There are two amazing attractions in Hudson Yards, and you will choose one for the sake of this three-day NYC itinerary.

Option A: The Edge The first option is The Edge, and, trust me, you will not experience NYC like this anywhere else in the city! Edge is the Western Hemisphere’s highest outdoor sky deck that features a unique, one-of-a-kind design. Suspended in mid-air, Edge gives you the feeling of floating in the sky. When you combine this with the 360-degree views of New York, it’s understandable why this is one of the area’s most-visited attractions. Just keep in mind that this option may not be best for those with a fear of heights, as The Edge allows you to peer 100 stories below from the glass floor.

Option B: The Shed If heights are not your thing, the other unique experience at Hudson Yards is The Shed. This cultural center commissions original artwork for all audiences across all disciplines. The Shed combines emerging and established artists in fields ranging from classical music to hip hop, digital media to painting, literature to theater, and dance to sculpture in a unique moveable structure that can adapt to support many inventive types of art in one building. The Shed is located at 15 Hudson Yards and borders the Gardens and Public Square. And even if you don’t go inside to see the exhibits of these attractions , just know that Edge and The Shed both feature innovative building techniques that are wonderful to marvel at from the outside.

For more on everything related to the Hudson Yards, visit their official website .

05 Wander Above The Streets at The High Line

Continuing on day one, the next stop is NYC’s High Line. Built atop a defunct viaduct section of the New York Rail System, you will find the High Line, which is an elevated linear greenway and park. The park is 1.45 miles long and will take you from Hudson Yards through Chelsea to the Meatpacking District. Here you will find artwork, lush horticulture, community events, seasonal food vendors, and unique views of the city skyline and Hudson River.

If you want to make even more out of your time around the High Line, stop at the Chelsea Piers and take a cruise.

To discover more about this elevated landscape on the West Side of Manhattan, visit the High Line’s official website .

06 Visit Little Island, a Park on The Hudson River

As you make your way into Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, you’ll find an artificial island park called Little Island.

Situated on the Hudson River, Little Island opened in 2021 to serve as an oasis for New Yorkers. With over two acres of distinctive architecture, magnificent landscaping, free programs, and dazzling views, Little Island is not like any other park you’ve visited. Here you can enjoy the gorgeous scenery, grab food from local vendors, or play the various games and activities that are placed around the island. Entrance is free, and Little Island is a great place to reflect on the day for a few minutes.

For more about Little Island, including upcoming events, check out their official website .

07 Come to Union Square

As you head back toward 5th Avenue, you will find your next stop: Union Square. This is not just another neighborhood. It is a park where Flatiron, Gramercy, and East Village meet. From the famed George Washington on horseback statue to the Union Square Greenmarket, Fotografiska, and the various local eateries and shops, Union Square is a bustling centrally-located attraction that has much to offer. Tourists and locals alike enjoy spending time around Union Square, and this is also an excellent place to catch street performers and other entertainment. Don’t forget to stop by Breads Bakery and get one of their iconic buttery croissants before moving on!

For a full list of restaurants, bars, and a calendar of events, visit Union Square’s official website .

08 Come to Flatiron Building and Madison Square Park

Madison Square Park is named after America’s fourth President, James Madison, and is most famous for providing the name of the iconic sports arena Madison Square Garden. The park is located at the northern end of the Flatiron District and is a public park that encompasses over six acres in the heart of NYC. Perhaps the coolest thing about this park is that it has been a public space since 1686!

This is a must-stop location for day one, as you’ll have spectacular views of many famous buildings such as the Flatiron Building, New York Life Building, the Toy Center, Appellate Division Courthouse, One Madison Park, and the MetLife Tower.

For more information visit the official website of Madison Square Park .

09 A New York City Must-See: The Empire State Building

As you continue on the trek, enjoy the sights and sounds of 5th Avenue as you head toward Times Square. Yet, before you make it there, be sure to stop out front of the Empire State Building. Once the tallest building in the world, this towering structure is home to an observatory on the 102nd floor. And it’s a good thing the building is equipped with 73 elevators. Otherwise, you would have to climb 1,872 stairs to reach the top. Of course, going inside the Empire State Building is optional, but at the very least, stop by and take a few pictures out front!

For more information about the building and the kinds of tickets available, visit our guide about the Empire State Building .

10 End Your First Day Surrounded by Colorful Lights at Times Square

Times Square is one of NYC’s most popular tourist attractions and is the epicenter of all things media. So, it’s only fitting that you visit this area on the first day of your trip. Depending on what time of the day you make it to Times Square, strolling through the area, you may find it illuminated under the bright lights of the night or during the day with its digital billboards and skyscrapers looming above.

Either way, Times Square is impressive and a place everyone should experience at least once in their lives. When visiting Times Square, consider catching a Broadway show at one of the many local theaters!

11 Soak up One Last View of NYC

Finishing out day one of your trip, we are providing you with two options for your last attraction of the day.

Option A: Summit One Vanderbilt (my favorite observation deck in NYC!) First, check out the Summit One Vanderbilt, which is, hands down, the best observation deck in NYC! Located on the top three floors of one of Manhattan’s tallest skyscrapers is a multi-sensory, immersive experience that combines floor-to-ceiling mirrors with art installations and amazing views. Summit One Vanderbilt is a different experience than what you get with any of NYC’s other observation decks. And this is a good thing! Of course, if you’re feeling really adventurous, you can also take part in Ascent, which is the largest external glass-bottomed elevator in the world.

You can find more information in our guide about the Summit One Vanderbilt observation decks , including info about tickets.

Option B: The Refinery Rooftop The Refinery Rooftop is a fan favorite for both tourists and locals alike. Located on top of the Refinery Hotel, this coveted spot offers awe-inspiring views of the Empire State Building and the NYC skyline. By day, the Refinery Rooftop is a melange of fashion, culture, and culinary delights as chef Jeff Haskell prepares a full lunch menu with options like Seared Yellowfin Tuna and Little Gem Caesar salads. At night, which is around the time you’ll probably arrive, the Refinery Rooftop is transformed into a more lively place to sip on some signature cocktails. Regardless of which option you choose, both attractions offer spectacular city views and overall experiences.

Check out the menu and make your reservations at the Refinery Rooftop here .

NYC Itinerary: Day Two

Moving a bit south, day two of the itinerary focuses on Lower Manhattan, primarily the areas just south of Gramercy Park to Chinatown . From shopping, cafes, and unique neighborhoods to Union Square and the Meatpacking district , let’s take a look at day two.

Start into Your Second Day

01 Enjoy a Delicious Breakfast in the West Village

To kick off your second day, the tour will begin in the West Village. This is a popular attraction thanks to its trendy restaurants and designer boutiques. Yet, the other draw to this area is the quaint streets, some of which are still made from cobblestone. Here you’ll find Federal-style townhouses lining the streets that are dotted with public spaces. Though West Village is historically artsy and home to many cabarets, theaters, and piano bars that are busy at night, during the day, it’s a whole different atmosphere.

Given that you will be here first thing in the morning, stop by Dante West Village for breakfast and then browse the shops before stopping by a cafe for a snack or tasty beverage.

02 Take a Walk in Greenwich Village

Heading west from West Village to Greenwich Village , you’ll be entering one of NYC’s most historically wealthy areas. This neighborhood is highly coveted thanks to its appealing architecture that spans every decade.

When in the area, don’t forget to look for the famed Friends apartment building and check out Washington Square Park . One of the city’s most beloved parks, Washington Square Park is much smaller than Central Park, only covering about 10 acres. Here you will find a wide array of people from all walks of life. From families and NYU students to poets, artists, chess players, and musicians, you really never know who you will see here!

03 Explore the Neighborhoods of SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown

• SoHo Located just Northeast of Greenwich Village is the ever-popular SoHo neighborhood. Here you’ll find lots of shopping and dining options. From fancy chain stores and designer boutiques to art galleries and more, SoHo is a common shopping destination for out-of-towners. Admired for its elegant cast-iron building facades and cobblestone streets, this area is a magnet for fashionable crowds who gather at restaurants and nightlife spots. You will be visiting SoHo during the day, so prepare to fill your time shopping, and don’t forget to check out the street vendors who offer everything from original artwork to jewelry.
• Little Italy The next stop on day two is Little Italy. This location is usually included on every tourist’s must-see list because it offers a romantic, old-world New York atmosphere that is world-famous and features authentic Italian dishes that cannot be beaten. At one time, Little Italy stressed from Houston to Canal Streets, between the Bowery and Lafayette Street, as immigrants from Sicily and Naples flooded the neighborhood in the 1880s. Today, Little Italy is primarily confined to the blocks around Mulberry Street. Nonetheless, here you will find some of the trendiest clothing shops and best bars in the city.
• Chinatown Home to many Asian immigrants, New York City’s Chinatown is one of the most evocative neighborhoods in the city. Walking its narrow, busy streets reveals surprise after surprise. Marvel at sights like Chatham Square’s statue of Lin Zexu, a Qing dynasty official credited with leading the fight against Britain’s illegal opium importation. Then, keep walking and check out the unique pagoda-style roofs and the Buddhist Temple. Many tourists also venture over to Doyers Street, where you’ll find speakeasies and basement bars that will make you think it’s the 1920s all over again. Bring your appetite and work your way through dumpling dens, dim sum palaces, and noodle joints.

Your Second Afternoon

01 Discover the Lower East Side

The Lower East Side is an eclectic Manhattan neighborhood where tenement-style buildings and gritty alleys mix with chic boutiques and upscale apartments. If you want to visit this area at night, you’ll find it draws young, hip crowds with local music venues, restaurants, and trendy bars. During the day, take in the city’s Jewish heritage as you pass by the Tenement Museum and old-world fabric stores.

Finish out your time in the Lower East Side by stopping at Katz’s Delicatessen and Yonah Schimmel’s Knish . These two restaurants have been in the city for decades and offer up the freshest and tastiest Jewish delicacies and comfort food – you will not be disappointed!

02 Another beautiful neighborhood: The East Village

Heading north toward NoHo is East Village. Once the birthplace of punk rock music, today, East Village is still an artsy section of town, as it is home to many music venues, comedy clubs, and theaters. While in East Village, stop by Astor Place, which was named after John Jacob Astor, America’s richest man at one time. This is a cool area that is famous for the Joseph Papp Public Theatre and the Blue Man Group.

Of course, Astor Place and East Village are both home to some wonderful restaurants and cafes to enjoy while in the neighborhood.

03 Come back to Union Square

As you make your way back toward Greenwich Village, the next stop is another visit to Union Square. Union Square NYC is the heart of everything that happens and is one of the best places to experience everything the city has to offer.

Use this visit to do something different than you did on day one. Perhaps you can go to 14th Street and spend an hour or two strolling, shopping, and dining. Regardless of what you choose to do, Union Square is home to many businesses, from restaurants and bars to shopping, lodging, and theaters.

04 Get to know the glamorous Meatpacking District

Once a neighborhood full of factories and slaughterhouses, NYC’s Meatpacking District has transformed into one of the city’s most glamorous neighborhoods. This luxury destination is home to stylish restaurants, trendy hotels, and luxe clubs. Along the historic cobblestone streets, you’ll also find many upscale salons and boutiques, as well as world-class attractions like the High Line and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

While here, stop at the Sugar Factory, Chelsea Market, or venture over to the Gansevoort Market, where you’ll find a food area and farmer’s market that have been in NYC since 1884. The Meatpacking District is a wonderful place to grab a bite to eat, sip on a signature cocktail, or simply take in the sights of one of the local area attractions like the High Line.

05 Let the day end on Bleecker Street

To finish out an amazing day two of your trip, spend the evening on Bleecker Street. This is basically a one-mile stretch of road that starts in the West Village and runs to Greenwich Village. Bleecker Street is a great way to spend an evening because it is home to so many tasty restaurants, including one of my personal favorites, Dante’s NYC . However, if the tastes of Dante’s aren’t right for you, no worries – Bleecker Street is home to many restaurants, bars, clubs, theaters, art galleries, hotels, and more. In fact, here you will find NYC’s oldest rock and roll club known as The Bitter End , and one of the most authentic blues clubs in the city, Terra Blues.

NYC Itinerary: Day Three

Welcome to day three of your three-day NYC trip! Today will focus on some of New York City’s most famous and iconic landmarks. From Tribeca and the Statue of Liberty to DUMBO and Brooklyn, let’s take a look at day three.

Start Your Third Day in NYC

01 Take a Stroll Around Tribeca

Tribeca is one of NYC’s most hip areas and is renowned for its old industrial buildings that now serve as residential loft spaces. The area’s cobblestone streets are lined with trendy restaurants and boutiques, and you’ll find historical buildings such as the 1884 red-brick New York Mercantile Exchange. Families and other visitors enjoy quiet weekends along the Hudson River and through Washington Market Park.

If you’re lucky, perhaps the Tribeca Film Festival will be taking place, which is held here in the spring each year. Regardless, Tribeca is full of NYC charm, architecture, and other unique sights to see.

02 Take Some Time at 9/11 Memorial & Museum

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, are forever etched in the minds of people around the world, but especially in New York City. Your second stop on day three is the 9/11 National Memorial and Museum .

Here you can pay your respects to those who were lost that fateful day, spend quiet time gathering your thoughts around the reflection pools, and view some of the artifacts saved from that day. In fact, you can check out the Survivor’s Stairs, pieces of the aircraft, damaged steel beams, the Survivor’s Tree, and much more. Just remember that this attraction does get busy, so the earlier you arrive at this stop, the better.

03 Enjoy a Breathtaking View From One World Observatory

Next up, you’ll enjoy the breathtaking views of Lower Manhattan from the One World Observatory.

Once you enter the building, you begin an ascent to the 102nd floor, where the deck is located. As you travel up the building, you are placed in a lift that is covered by screens and depicts an amazing time-lapse of New York City’s evolution from its founding as a 17th Century Dutch colony to the present-day marvel that it is. At the top of the skyscraper, which is the tallest building in NYC, you’ll enter the Observatory and enjoy views of New York that you won’t find anywhere else.

For more information about the One World Observatory, including information about tickets, head to our complete guide .

Make The Most of Your Last Afternoon

01 Say Hello to Lady Liberty

Arguably two of the most famous landmarks in the world, you cannot visit NYC for the first time and not see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The place where so many immigrants began their American dreams and the perfect gift from France, these two attractions have long been a draw for many tourists in NYC. Regardless if you just arrive at the area and marvel from afar or plan visits to both Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, which is located on Liberty Island, you will not be disappointed.

If you are feeling extra adventurous, sign up for the Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island, which gives you a tour of the Ellis Island Hospital, where some 275,000 immigrants were treated as they entered the country. Defunct since 1951, the hospital has fallen into disrepair, and the tour is a way to Save the Ellis Island Hospital.

02 Visit The World's Most Famous Financial District

After seeing what American dreams are made of, it’s time to head toward another infamous landmark: Wall Street.

Located in the heart of New York City’s Financial District, Wall Street is famous for the Charging Bull statue and the New York Stock Exchange building. As you stroll down this famous street, also be sure to check out the Fearless Girl statue in front of the NYSE building, Federal Hall with its famous statue of George Washington, and then stop by Trinity Church for a free tour if you’d like.

Once the sights on Wall Street are over, you can enjoy a quick bite to eat or grab a drink at one of the many cafes and restaurants in the area.

03 Take Some Classic NYC Pictures on Brooklyn Bridge

The legendary Brooklyn Bridge was constructed from 1869 until 1883 and was designed by John A. Roebling. When it was built, the Brooklyn Bridge was the world’s longest suspension bridge and the first bridge to use steel as cable wire. This bridge connects Manhattan to Brooklyn and spans the East River. This is a must-see attraction that is known for its beloved stone arches.

Just beware, it accommodates six lanes of traffic as well as a bicycle and a pedestrian path. It is estimated that the Brooklyn Bridge is used daily by 30,000 pedestrians, 3,000 cyclists, and 116,000 vehicles.

04 Enjoy Amazing Views of The Manhattan Skyline From Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park has something for everyone. Whether you want to explore the rich ecology, sweeping vistas, vibrant programming, or expansive piers, you’ll find it here. Spanning 85 acres, this waterfront park features riverfront promenades, rolling hills, lush gardens, and dazzling city views.

Quite simply, if you are visiting NYC for the first time and planning to see the Brooklyn Bridge, do not miss this accompanying park. Spend a few minutes relaxing by the waterfront or engage in a fun game of bocce ball, basketball, or handball. No matter what you choose to do, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a treasure that you have to see!

For more on what you can do while you’re at the park, including upcoming events, visit their official website .

05 Take a Picture of The Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO

Now that you are on the Brooklyn side of the bridge, it’s time to check out the Manhattan Bridge view from DUMBO. If you are wondering what DUMBO stands for, it means “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.” Situated along Washington Street, you’ll find the Manhattan Bridge viewpoint. This is hands down the best view of this bridge that you’ll find in the city and makes for the perfect photo-op backdrop. The bridge view, combined with the tree-lined cobblestone streets and red brick buildings, provides one of NYC’s best places to take photos and create memories.

Here’s a pro tip: look directly beneath the bridge, and you’ll see the Empire State Building peeking through!

06 Explore Some of The Best Restaurants at Time Out Market

All of this walking and sightseeing may have made you a bit famished, but not to worry, DUMBO is home to the Time Out Market. You’ve never experienced a food court quite like this before! First of all, having so many food options you can eat at the same place is amazing! But when you consider how different your family’s tastes are, it’s so wonderful for everyone to enjoy what they want. From Asian fusion, barbecue, and Indian to bakeries, healthy options, and other specialty restaurants, you can find nearly every type of dish here! The bonus is that the Time Out Market is located on the fifth floor of the building, so you can see the East River, Brooklyn Bridge, and Manhattan Bridge right from the terrace!

Get ready to visit Brooklyn’s Time Out Market by checking the full list of dining and drinking options here.

07 Take The NYC Ferry Back to Manhattan

There’s no doubt you may be tired of walking by this point of day three, so we’re going to give you a break.

One of the last stops on your final day is taking a ride on the NYC Ferry back to Manhattan. Rather than walking across the Brooklyn Bridge again, hop on the ferry and enjoy the ride back to either Wall Street or Pier 11. If you’re not a fan of the ferry, you can also rent a bike at Citi Bike and ride over the Manhattan Bridge. Regardless of which “ride” you take back to Manhattan, this is an excellent way to see some additional sights as you close out your final day.

08 Let The Day End in The Lower East Side

East Village and the Lower East Side both make wonderful options for some nightlife activities. In fact, these are some of the most famed nightlife spots in the city! The bar scene is phenomenal, as they have cocktail lounges, dive bars, speakeasies, and karaoke bars. Then, if it’s dinner or a late-night snack you want, that’s here too! Though some come for the Japanese food of bars, others flock to this area for the eclectic mix of people who attend the area’s many nightclubs.

Whether you enjoy a quiet night at a cocktail lounge or a wild night at The Pyramid Club, have fun and enjoy your last night in the Big Apple.

Tips for Visiting NYC for the First Time

New York City is an amazing Megacity that can be quite overwhelming even for locals. Yet, the good news is that New Yorkers are busy, but they are also very helpful. Traffic cops and signs are always present to guide you, but with a few tips and tricks, your NYC visit can be as hassle-free as visiting the store near your house. Here are our tips for visiting NYC for the first time.

• Pack Comfortable Shoes If you are traveling to the Big Apple and plan to follow our itinerary, be sure to pack comfortable shoes. This is non-negotiable because you will do a ton of walking! After all, it’s the greatest city in the world, so who wants to be stuck in a car?
• Pay Attention Not only can NYC streets be dirty, but you never know who or what you may run into on the street. Remaining vigilant and aware of your surroundings will keep you safe and ensure you have a great first trip.
• Invest in Passes Before you arrive in the city, it’s best to have a clear plan for what you will see and do. Buying a New York CityPASS and subway pass will not only save you money but a great deal of time as well.
• Stay Close to Transportation The last thing you want is to be located far away from the primary types of transportation, i.e., the subway. Traffic is horrendous, and to make the most out of your three days, you will want to quickly access different parts of the city.
• Research Places to Eat Yes, NYC is full of Michelin-star-rated eateries, but it’s also home to many hole-in-the-walls, local restaurants, and food trucks. Before arriving in the city, take some time to research places to eat near your hotel and on your tour route. Doing this is a great way to save money on food or at least prevent going over budget.
• Live in the Moment NYC is one of the world’s most vibrant cities. So, while you are there, save a bit of time to just stop and live in the moment. Take videos and pictures, but remember to see New York City with your eyes as well!

Where to Stay

As you would imagine, there are many wonderful places to stay in the Big Apple. However, before you book a super luxe Upper Midtown hotel, you should know that it takes about twenty minutes to get to Midtown Manhattan.

Still, the truth is that every NYC neighborhood offers a unique and distinct style and personality. From trendy or luxurious to family-friendly. Hence, it can be challenging to pick the perfect lodging destination. Depending on your preferences, travel style, and who you are visiting with, you may decide to avoid some areas to make your trip more memorable.

That said, you still want to enjoy what NYC has to offer. So, it’s probably best if you choose a place that is centrally located. Here are our top three neighborhoods to stay in NYC during a short trip:

Option 1: Midtown Manhattan

If you are like most people, then you want to spend your first time in the city seeing the places you have been watching on TV and in movies for years. The part of Manhattan that you usually see depicted is Midtown. Midtown is where you will find most of the iconic buildings, and the location is central, so getting anywhere in the city is easy. It is important to note that because Midtown is home to so many tourist attractions, it’s always crowded and busy. Yet, it’s a great area to stay for first-time travelers because there are hotels to fit every budget.

Find the best hotels in Midtown Manhattan and everything you need to know about this neighborhood in my guide about Midtown Manhattan .

Option 2: Financial District

NYC is often referred to as the world’s financial capital, and the Financial District serves as its epicenter. This lower Manhattan neighborhood is home to Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange and is where business travelers are commonly found. First-time travelers enjoy the Financial District because it is a business-centric area that is steeped in history. In fact, some of the historic restaurants, bars, and cobblestone streets date back to the 1800s.  Staying in the Financial District puts you close to the 9/11 Memorial, One World Trade Center, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and so much more!

Find the best hotels in the Financial District and everything you need to know in my guide about the Financial District in New York .

Option 3: SoHo

SoHo, or South of Houston Street, is where you will find many shops, art galleries, designer boutiques, and cobblestone streets. The good thing about staying in this district is that it’s more of a residential area, so there are fewer crowds. So, while everyone else is waiting to access landmarks, you can enjoy some of the art galleries and shops. If you are visiting NYC for the first time and are a pizza enthusiast or fashionista, then this is where you want to be! Just be sure that your phone is fully charged for endless photo ops and possible celebrity sightings!

Sounds like you? Then check out my hotel tips for Soho and my neighborhood guide for SoHo in New York here!

The Ultimate New York Travel Guide 2024

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I'm a true New York fan! Not only have I visited the city over 25 times but also have I spent several months here at a time. On my blog I show you the best and most beautiful spots of the city, so that you have a really good time! You can also find lots of insider tips in our New York travel guide . Also check out my hotel finder for New York !

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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.

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.

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.

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

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Ultimate New York 3-day Itinerary: How to Spend 3 Days in NYC + Accommodation & Tips

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!

Are you wondering how to spend three days in New York City? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

This New York three-day itinerary will help you figure out what to do on your trip to the Big Apple.

New York is mesmerizingly beautiful, from domineering skyscrapers to cultural and historical sites, city parks and incredible food, there is no shortage of things to see and do in America’s most famous city.

This NYC three-day itinerary is ideal for first-timers wanting to see an eclectic range of top attractions and unique sites.

🔎 Table of Contents

How to get to New York City

New York’s main airport is John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Queens. It takes around 30 minutes (depending on traffic) to get from the airport to Lower Manhattan. You can also take the AirTrain from JFK Airport to Jamaica and then take the subway to your destination.

There’s also LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in Queens and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Remember the Friends episode ‘The Last One’ when Ross chases Rachel through JFK airport only to find she’s at Newark? Remember to check your flights carefully!

Where to stay in New York City for 3 days

Choosing where to stay in New York can be tricky as there are so many districts and you’ll want to be close to top attractions. Here are some recommendations for where to stay:

💲 Budget: West Side YMCA is in a prime spot just 50 metres from Central Park in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. This might be a budget option but there’s still a sauna, steam room, gym and two indoor swimming pools. A combination of semi-private, shared bathroom, and dormitory rooms make this an affordable accommodation choice.

💲💲 Mid-range: Pestana CR7 Times Square is a cosmopolitan hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Rooms are influenced by the colours and flare of Portugal. Time Square and Macy’s are less than 10 minutes walk away.

💲💲💲 Luxury: Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel offers four-star accommodation and wonderful views of the Empire State Building. The rooms have a luxury feel and the hotel is just a four-minute walk from Madison Square Park and conveniently located 0.5 miles from Penn Station.

How to get around NYC

So, if you are planning on the best way to see NYC in three days, you will need to organise how you are going to move around the city.

By far the most popular way to navigate the city is by subway. You can purchase an OMNY or a MetroCard at any vending machine or ticket desk at the station. Ticket prices are not dependent on the distance travelled like many other subways.

You can also take the MTA, New York’s bus service. You can pay in cash (only coins and exact change), by MetroCard or by OMNY. If you’re using OMNY, starting from Monday you only pay for the first 12 fares in a week then rides are free after that.

You can of course take the iconic yellow taxi. It is a classic New York experience, and they aren’t actually too expensive for shorter journeys.

Walking is also a great way to see the city. Getting the subway to one destination and then walking to attractions close by will allow you to see all the intricate details which make New York so fascinating.

The Ultimate New York Itinerary 3 days

Here is exactly how you can spend 3 days in New York City.

New York City Itinerary Day 1: Central Park, Midtown, MoMA and famous skyscrapers

Now all the logistics are out of the way it’s time to get down to the good bit, how are you going to spend three perfect days in New York City. 

This itinerary is pretty full on but it’s New York City, you’ve got to be up early and make the most of your stay. 

Stop 1: Central Park

New York’s most famous park stretches from North 110 th Street to Central Park South 59 th Street and from Central Park West 8 th Avenue to 5 th Avenue.

It occupies an area of 840 acres, so don’t expect to see the whole park. In fact, you could spend this entire three-day itinerary exploring just Central Park!

There are many subway stations dotted around Central Park. You can head to Central Park North (110 th Street) to be closer to Harlem Meer, Fort Clinton, and The Blockhouse. For the famous Strawberry Fields, you can head to the 72 nd Street subway station.

Central Park is the perfect place to escape the noise of the city. Spend enough time there and you’ll soon forget you are in one of the most populous cities in the world. 

Some of Central Park’s top attractions include:

• Conservatory Garden
• Boat rentals at The Lake
• Strawberry Fields
• Belvedere Castle
• Walk the Mall
• Bethesda Fountain & Terrace

Fan of Friends? Cherry Hill fountain is often referred to as the ‘Friends’ fountain. In reality, it wasn’t since everything was filmed in Hollywood but if you still want to take a photo, that’s a nice spot.

You can explore Central Park on foot but since the park is so big, we highly recommend renting a bike instead. It’s quite a cheap thing to do, especially for NYC, and you will get to explore much more of Central Park.

You can also opt for a bike tour of Central Park . You will be with a guide who will take you to all the highlights of Central Park which is very practical.

Stop 2: Trump Tower

No matter your opinion on the 45 th President of the United States, there is no disputing that the Trump Tower is an impressive architectural feat.

Trump Tower is just a three-minute walk from the southwest entrance of Central Park and conveniently located close to the 5 th Avenue/59 th Street subway station.

This 58-story skyscraper is a mixture of offices, shops, and apartments. The atrium where there are some shops and eateries, and the 5 th level roof garden are the only parts open to the public.

Stop 3: MoMA

The Museum of Modern Art , also known as MoMA, is an unmissable art museum in Midtown Manhattan. Featuring art from the 18 th century to today, this is one of the world’s best collections of art. 

Whether you are an art enthusiast or not, this is an excellent stop on your NYC three-day itinerary. 

More than one million visitors head to MoMA each year, especially to the fifth floor where the most famous art pieces are. Some of the museum’s most poignant pieces include Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon”, Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans”, Monet’s “Water Lilies” and Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”. 

This is by far one of the best museums in the world. There are so many famous pieces and even people who are not particularly into art will love that museum.

There are 6 floors and we recommend you start by the last one and make your way down through the museum. Most people do it the ‘right way round’ therefore, you will avoid the crowds by starting by the top.

Make sure to book your tickets in advance since the museum can get quite busy. This will spare you having to stand in line and waste time. You just need to show your QR code at the entrance and they will let you in.

Make sure to have at least a couple of hours ahead of you (or more) since it’s quite a big museum and you will spend quite a bit of time there.

The nearest subway station to MoMA is 5 th Avenue 53 rd Street. From the subway station it’s just a five-minute walk to the gallery.

Stop 4: Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center simply must be included on your itinerary for three days in New York City. You will most likely know the Rockefeller Center because of the famous Christmas tree light switch on that happens each year.

The Rockefeller Center is actually a complex of 19 commercial buildings between 48 th Street and 51 st Street in Midtown Manhattan. 

One of the most iconic experiences you must try whilst there is heading up to the Top of the Rock . This is Rockefeller’s observation deck which provides unforgettable views of Manhattan. You’ll be standing on the 70 th floor of one of the most iconic buildings in the city whilst staring right at the Empire State Building.

While most people head straight to the Empire State Building to see the views of Manhattan, we actually think that the one from the Top of the Rock is better.

Why? Because you get to actually see the Empire State Building. It’s a stunning skyscraper and it’s nicer to be able to see it. Also, from the top of the rock , you get amazing views of Central Park, which you wouldn’t get from the ESB.

Since this is one of the most visited attractions in NYC, we highly recommend you book a timed entrance ticket in advance . That way you don’t need to stand in line when you get there and can go straight to the elevator.

Top of the Rock is at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, so you’ll need to enter on 50 th Street, between 5 th and 6 th Avenues. The closest subway station is 47-50 Streets-Rockefeller Center Station.  

Stop 5: Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal (yes, it’s a terminal, not a station) is one of the busiest train terminals in the world. If you were a fan of Gossip Girl, you’ll know it as the place where Dan first clapped eyes on Serena van der Woodsen in the very first episode of the series.

The buildings neoclassical exterior is well worth admiring but the real beauty is inside.

Its grandeur, marble floors, intricately painted ceiling and chandeliers are so breathtaking it’s funny to think that commuters must be so busy going about their day not to take much notice.

See the famous clock, the whispering gallery and the Grand Central Market which sells gourmet meats and treats.

If you are particularly interested in this landmark, you can also join a walking tour to discover all the secrets of Grand Central.

The main entrance to Grand Central Terminal is on 89 E. 42 nd Street (Park Avenue), you can get there via subway lines 4, 5, 6, 7 and S.

Stop 6: Chrysler Building

It might be smaller in stature than the Empire State Building, but the Chrysler Building is equally as impressive. 

This Art Deco-style building was the world’s tallest building for 11 months after its completion in 1930. It is absolutely stunning and definitely a sight you want to see while you are around Grand Central Terminal.

As you can only go inside the lobby of the Chrysler Building it’s best to view this shiny building from 3 rd Avenue between 43 rd and 44 th Street.

Stop 7: New York Public Library

New York has nearly 100 branches of its library system, but this 5 th Avenue branch is the most famous in the city. This is the United States’ second-largest library.

Step through the main three arches of the building’s façade and you’ll enter up a grand marble staircase. On the library’s first floor, you should check out Astor Hall and the Dewitt Wallace Periodical Room. Upstairs there’s the McGraw Rotunda and the Harry Potter-esque Rose Main Reading Room.

If you are a Gossip Girl fan, you will also recognise the steps leading to the NY Public Library since it was used as a filming location for one of the most iconic scenes in the show.

The New York Public Library backs onto the next stop on this itinerary, Bryant Park.

Stop 8: Bryant Park

Central Park’s grandeur sometimes takes away from New York’s other amazing parks. Bryant Park might not be massive but it’s a personable and local delight. 

Framed by shimmering glass skyscrapers and lined by trees, Bryant Park is a great spot to take a breather from your busy New York three-day itinerary.

Bryant Park is between 40 th and 42 nd Street and 5 th and 6 th Avenue just one-minute walk from the New York Public Library.

There are table tennis tables, coffee shops, an ice skating rink in winter, and even handy tables with charging sockets, perfect if you are running low on battery.

If you are there around lunch time, you can easily get some take away food somewhere and come back for a little picnic. That’s what a lot of New Yorkers do and it’s a very nice spot.

Stop 9: Empire State Building

Does your three-day itinerary for New York get any more iconic than the Empire State Building? Standing 443m high this 1931 building has become a symbol of New York.

You must head up to the 86 th floor observatory deck because the views are spectacular and somehow watching tiny yellow cabs way down below makes you feel wildly insignificant.

This 360-degree view features the Hudson and East Rivers, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge to name a few.

Even though I still think that it’s worth going to the Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building is one of the best observation decks in the city and a bucket list item. If you want to go up to the top, make sure to book your tickets in advance online.

It is quite expensive to do both, the Empire State Building and the Top of the Rock but if you opted for the NY city card , both attractions are included so it’s definitely worth it.

It is best to get off at Penn Station and walk for eight minutes down West 34 th Street. Don’t worry you won’t get lost, just look up!

Stop 10: Times Square

Japan has Shibuya, Paris has Place Charles de Gaulle and New York has Time Square. Time Square is the point at which Broadway meets Seventh Avenue. A whopping 50 million people visit Time Square each year.

Time Square has been made even more famous because of the New Year’s Eve countdown as people gather to watch the ball drop. 

Visit during the day and you’ll be faced with a bombardment of advertisement billboards, honking horns, street performers, tourists, and locals. 

Visit at night and you’ll feel the same colourful and chaotic explosion only with fluorescent neon undertones. 

Subway lines 2, 3, 7, A, C, F, N and Q all stop near Time Square. If you are following this exact route and coming from the Empire State Building, it’s just a 13 minute walk along Broadway.

Bonus stop: Broadway Show

Since you’ll be in Times Square tonight, you should consider going to see a Broadway show.

Broadway is by far the best place in the world to see musical and theatre plays. There are so many of them, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Whether that’s something you are usually into or not, it is an experience that you won’t forget.

Ideally, we recommend you book your tickets in advance but if you go to one of the numerous box office booths, they will be able to find you tickets for the same day.

There are a lot of play that are worth seeing but I particularly recommend Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (though it’s in two parts so you will need to set aside more time for this one) or Aladdin.

Aladdin is a Disney classic but the production on Broadway is just purely amazing. Everything from the flying carpet to the costumes was so incredibly good!

And they included pop culture references as well which is pretty cool.

New York City Itinerary Day 2: Hudson Yards, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Soho, Little Italy & Chinatown

Day two of this itinerary for three days in New York City will allow you to visit the western side of Manhattan, namely Greenwich Village and the West Side Neighbourhood of Chelsea.

Day two will let you enjoy some classic local life and New York’s cultural heritage.

Stop 1: The Vessel 

Let’s start with one of the newest attractions in NYC, the Vessel. 

The Vessel is a remarkable sculpture at the heart of Hudson Yards. This landmark comprises 154 interconnecting staircases with 2,500 individual steps. This futuristic spectacle provides visitors with views of the Hudson River and the surrounding city.

If you have an interest in photography, you will love taking pictures of this fascinating structure and its geometric pattern.

The closest subway station to The Vessel is 34 Street-Hudson Yards and then it’s just a 2-minute walk.

Stop 2: The High Line

The High Line opened in 2009 and is a 1.45 mile long linear greenway/park/reformed railway.

The historic railway line was under threat of demolition, but the Friends of the High Line group fought for its survival with the plan of converting it into an extraordinary public space that embraces environmentalism and nature.

The High Line runs from Hudson Yards to the northern part of Chelsea. To reach the High Line you can take the 1 or C train to 23 rd Street and then head up 10 th Avenue. 

If you don’t stop along the way, it takes around 30 minutes to walk the entire High Line. There’s a bunch of artwork, beautiful flowers, and benches to stop at and absorb the view.

It is such a lovely spot in NYC and one of the rare places in the city where you feel at peace. It’s quiet, lush and just simply amazing. It’s a lovely place for a walk with friends or your other half so I have no doubt this will be one of the highlights of your trip to NYC.

Please note that if this is an area you are interested in learning more about, you can join a walking tour of Hudson Yard and the high line. Prices here.

Stop 3: Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market is one of the best food spots in New York City. 

Boasting more than 35 vendors, this market is packed with amazing flavours. Visit between 8am and 9pm to enjoy the market but take note that between 12 and 2pm this place is packed as the surrounding businessmen and women flock to get their lunch. 

Chelsea Market’s exposed brick and quirky décor make this a lovely place to visit. Head to Los Tacos for Mexican food (though expect a long wait), grab a smoothie from Daily Goods, try the iconic NY pretzel or tuck into some top-notch grub at Friedman’s.

If you are visiting in summer, you can also take your food outside. There are tables in the street by the market and it’s always nice to have lunch al fresco.

You should also consider joining one of the Chelsea market food tours . Since it’s such a big place, it comes in very handy to be with a guide who takes you to the best spots.

That also means that you don’t have to wait in line as much and you get to sample way more food than you would have on your own.

You can reach Chelsea Market via the A, C, E or L train to 14 th Street (8 th Avenue) station and then walk to 9 th Avenue and 15 th Street but if you’ve been walking along the high line, keep going until you see the signs and you can then walk down the stairs to the entrance of the market.

Stop 4: Little Island

Little Island is Manhattan’s floating green space, it’s quirky, unique and loads of fun. It’s also one of the newest free attractions in NYC since it only opened in May 2021.

You’ll find Little Island at Pier 55 in Hudson River Park. The closest subways are the 1, 2, and 3 trains to 14 th Street and 7 th Avenue but you can easily get there on foot from Chelsea Market.

Little Island is home to 30 tree species, 300 varieties of grasses and 66,000 bulbs. 

The tulip-shaped columns that the pier sits on are highly unique and well worth marvelling at. It makes for a peaceful escape from the city. 

Enjoy this urban nature spot whilst soaking in the views of the Hudson River. 

You can have a walk around and sit on one of the benches. It’s a very nice area and it feels so far away from the city even though you’re still very much in Manhattan.

Stop 5: Greenwich Village

The next stop on this New York three-day itinerary is Greenwich Village. Greenwich Village is a bohemian neighbourhood filled with historical monuments and cultural sites.

The Village as the locals call it is on Manhattan’s west side between 14 th Street and Houston Street. Broadway is on the east side of Greenwich Village whilst the Hudson River is to the west.

This eclectic village is well worth wandering around and getting lost in. Head to 90 Bedford Street and you can see the Friends apartment building. 

Please note that the apartment inside wasn’t actually Monica’s, only footage of the facade was used in the show. Regardless, it’s still a cool photo spot.

Be sure to head along Bleecker Street to discover restaurants, clubs, live music spots and shops. 

You can stop for a bite to eat at any number of bakeries and authentic Italian pizza joints in the area.

Stop 6: Washington Square Park

Washington Square Park is a place for people watching, gatherings and artistic inspiration. This park is defined by its marble Washington Square Arch, which is named after the Continental Army commander and first President of the United States, George Washington. 

After a morning of walking Washington Square Park is an excellent place to take a rest and absorb the hustle and bustle of local life.

There are several ways to get to Washington Square Park but taking the A, C, E, and B, D, F trains to West 4 th and Washington Square is the easiest option. If you are coming from Bleecker Street, it’s just a seven minute walk to the park. 

Stop 7: Soho

Another fashionable and hip New York City neighbourhood is Soho. Soho is defined by its trendy shops, excellent dining spots and cobbled streets and spectacular architecture. Once an industrial powerhouse, Soho is now for New York’s creatives.

It’s a perfect place to have a wander and discover the cast-iron architecture in NYC.

If you have time, you can also visit the Fire Museum or the Ice Cream Museum .

To get to Soho from Washington Square Park you can head south down West Broadway and LaGuardia Place.

Stop 8: Little Italy

Love Italian food and culture? You must check out Little Italy. Italian immigrants flocked to this area of Manhattan during the 1880s.

Though over time the Italian community has reduced in size and now mainly centres around Mulberry Street, the Italian culture is still highly influential.

Whether it’s pizza or pasta you cannot go wrong with picking up dinner in Little Italy. It’s not just food, there’s a Little Italy Street Art Project too which features a number of murals.

If it’s raining, spend some time hopping into the specialty food stores like Di Palo’s Fine Foods and Alleva Dairy.

It’s also a great place to go on a food tour since there are so many amazing food spots here.

Stop 9: Chinatown

You started the night with Italian food. How about you squeeze in some Chinese food too? 

Walking from Little Italy to Chinatown is a complete juxtaposition. But the two different cultures represent beautifully what New York is all about and the multiculturalism that has been there since the 1850s. 

Spot the Buddhist temple, crazy atmosphere of Doyers Street and see if you can find some of the speakeasy basement bars. Of course, you must try some dim sum and malatang. 

To make the best of your time in Soho, Little Italy and Chinatown, we highly recommend joining a walking tour . The guide will show you all the best spots and give you some recommendations for places to eat.

New York City Itinerary Day 3: Lower Manhattan and the Financial District

For those looking to see New York in three days the final day will be spent around Lower Manhattan and the illustrious Financial District. 

Stop 1: The Battery

Set on the banks of the Hudson River, Battery Park City is an upscale residential neighbourhood. To reach The Battery you’ll want to take subway line 4 or 5 to Bowling Green station or the 1 to South Ferry station.

Here you will find a beautiful park with war memorials and more importantly, amazing views of the statue of Liberty.

You’ll see in the rest of the itinerary that we didn’t squeeze in a visit to the statue of Liberty in this NYC 3-day itinerary. This is because there are a lot of things you can see in the financial district but if you’d rather going to the statue of Liberty, that’s entirely possible.

You can book your entrance to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the ferry online. You will need around 4 hours to do everything.

Stop 2: Bowling Green Park and the Bull

Located at the southern end of Broadway, Bowling Green Park became a park in 1733. A beautiful fountain and benches make this a great spot any time of day. 

It is quite a small park but was actually quite important. You might notice that the top of the poles of the fence were cut. This is because they used to be shaped like a crown.

When the US declared independence from Britain, they cut all symbols of monarchy and that was one of them.

Just a short walk away is the Charging Bull sculpture , a symbol of financial optimism and prosperity.

It was sculpted by Arturo Di Modica who is famous in the entire city for the tactics he used to become famous.

Long story short, he used to drop his sculptures in certain places (including in front of Rockefeller Christmas tree) without being authorised. Eventually, he became quite famous and this statue of a charging bull has won a permanent place in the heart of the financial district.

Stop 3: Stone Street

From the statue of the Charging Bull, keep walking to the beautiful Stone Street. 

Stone Street runs between Whitehall Street and Hanover Square. This old cobblestone road is part of the designated historic district.

The contrast of the cobbles and brick buildings with the lower Manhattan skyscrapers is quite impressive. The street is mostly home to bars and restaurants but it’s well worth a stroll up the road.

There are also some historical pubs that used to be used for meetings by George Washington.

Stop 4: Wall Street and The Trump Building

Your next stop is one of the most famous streets in the world: Wall Street.

Did you know that Wall Street was named because of an actual wall that the Dutch built to keep out the British during colonial times?

When New York City was called New Amsterdam, Governor Peter Stuyvesant ordered the wall to be built in the northern part of the colony.

It is now the most important street in the financial district since it’s home to many U.S. brokerages, investment banking firms and of course, the Stock Exchange.

You will also see the Trump Building, known as 40 Wall Street is a neo-Gothic skyscraper standing at 255m high.

Stop 5: The New York Stock Exchange and the Fearless Girl Statue

The New York Stock Exchange is one of the oldest and largest stock exchanges in the world. Located on Wall Street this is one of the most poignant buildings in the Financial District.

The main stock exchange building opened in 1903 and its six pillared exterior with elaborate carvings made for an impressive site. Today the New York Stock Exchange feels even more impressive because it feels wildly small and insignificant in comparison to its surroundings.

You will notice that the New York Stock Exchange which features an incredibly beautiful facade with greek columns.

This is one of the most beautiful buildings in the area and was purposely designed this way to ‘educate by architecture’.

Right across from the New York Stock Exchange is the Fearless Girl statue. This art installation was installed in 2017 to commemorate International Women’s Day.

It was designed by Kristen Visbal and has become one of the most iconic statues in NYC as well as the most instagrammed statue in the city.

Stop 6: Trinity Church

Trinity Church sits at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway.

This old church looks quite remarkable next to all the shiny glass skyscrapers of the financial district. The church was originally founded in 1697 and the current church was designed in the Gothic Revival style and completed in 1846.

Step inside the church and an imposingly tall arched ceiling, large stained glass windows and beams greet you. Trinity Church is an active church, but you can still step inside and explore.

Lunch break: Street food

Day three is so packed with activities it’s recommended to check out some of the street food vendors near Wall Street. There are a ton of food carts on Hanover Street where you can quickly grab an array of cuisines.

Restaurants in this area can be very expensive so grabbing street food is a good way to stay on budget and continue to explore the area.

Stop 7: 9/11 Memorial Pools and One Trade Center

The 9/11 Memorial Pool and One Trade Center make for a harrowing stop but an important one for anyone visiting New York.

Located at the World Trade Center Complex site, architects Michael Arad and Peter Walker’s Reflecting Absence pools were chosen as the competition winners for a new 9/11 memorial.

The two Memorial Pools sit in the footprints of the twin towers. As you walk around them you can see the names of those who lost their lives carved on a bronze parapet. 

You might also notice that there are roses in some of the names, they are placed every day on the name of the person it would be the birthday of.

This memorial was successful in its intentions of creating immense peace and despite being in busy Lower Manhattan a sense of tranquillity overcomes visitors.

It is one of the most poignant places in NYC. There is nothing that can quite prepare you for what you will feel when you watch it. We all interpret it in different ways but one thing is sure, it won’t leave you untouched.

Stop 8: 9/11 Memorial & Museum

On the same site as the Memorial Pools, there’s the National September 11 Memorial & Museum . The museum is open seven days a week so you can visit anytime you want but it’s better to book your tickets online and in advance.

A combination of media narratives and first-hand experiences have been used to tell the story of the events and impacts of the 9/11 attacks.

The museum has been beautifully curated in a respectful yet informative way.

It is very interesting but also incredibly sad and difficult sometimes. No matter what, make sure you go there because that’s something everyone needs to see but it’s true that you need to be mentally prepared as it won’t be easy.

Stop 9: St Paul’s Chapel

Head east along Fulton Street from the 9/11 Memorial and it’s a four-minute walk to St. Paul’s Chapel.

Built in 1766 this is Manhattan’s oldest public building that’s been in continuous use. This is the chapel that George Washington prayed in after his inauguration as President.

Inside the chapel, there are a number of installations and a 9/11 exhibit. This is mainly because the church was used by the firefighters during the attacks to get water, food and rest.

At the time, the church also put up boards on the fences so the people of New York could come and put letters for the fire fighters.

Stop 10: City Hall Park

Just up the road from St Paul’s Chapel is City Hall Park. Surrounded by 100-year-old buildings, this park offers tranquillity in the bustling downtown. Locals and workers flock to the park at lunch to relax and destress.

It’s a lovely park to watch as government workers stroll around, newlyweds emerge from City Hall and locals enjoy picnics.

Stop 11: Brooklyn Bridge

The famous Brooklyn Bridge is a cable-stayed suspension bridge that stretches across the East River connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. Built in 1869 and completed in 1883 this was the first bridge that used steel for cable wires.

To access the bridge, you need to be on the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway which starts at the intersection of Tillary Street and Boerum Place. There’s also a staircase in the underpass on Washington Street/Cadman Plaza East and Prospect Street.

Walking along the bridge and looking back at the Manhattan skyline is a super rewarding thing to do in New York City.

It’s also one of the best photo spots in the city! Don’t forget your camera, you’ll want to use it here!

Stop 12: Dumbo

There are no doe-eyed elephants at stop number 12. Dumbo is actually an acronym for Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass. 

This waterfront neighbourhood is small but brimming with charm and character. Dumbo is between the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge and stretches east until Vinegar Hill.

Dumbo is filled with a number of parks, including the Brooklyn Bridge Park, The Cliffs and The Archway. Explore this quirky neighbourhood and admire Manhattan from the other side of the river.

Make sure to also go to Washington Street, that’s the famous Instagram spot where you get the wonderful views of Washington Bridge in the background.

You can also walk to Main Street Park and to Jane’s Carousel.

FUN FACT: The cardboard box was invented in Dumbo, by Robert Gair a Scottish immigrant.

Dinner: Time Out Market in Dumbo

Whilst in Dumbo grab some dinner at Time Out Market. The market is located in Empire Stores and has an array of delights to please foodies.

A bit like Chelsea Market (though nowhere as big), you’ll find loads of stalls and can get any type of food and drinks. They also have a rooftop which is a cool place to enjoy a drink while admiring the views.

Evening: Manhattan Bridge

The Manhattan Bridge first opened in 1909 and today more than 450,000 commuters travel along the bridge each day. 

From DUMBO, you can head there and Walk along the Manhattan Bridge while admiring the city lights and head back to Manhattan.

And that’s a wrap for this NYC three-day itinerary, we hope you enjoyed it and know everything you need to plan your trip to New York City.

You may also be interested in:

• The Ultimate New York City 2-day Itinerary: Exactly how to spend 2 days in NYC
• 14 Best Pumpkin Patches in New York City And Nearby To Visit This Fall

Founder of Beeloved City, I am originally from France and have been living in the UK since 2016. I've travelled to 25 countries as a backpacker, travel coordinator and for holidays. I spent a year in Australia before eventually settling down in Manchester, England

3 days in New York: the perfect Itinerary + tips

How to spend 3 days in new york: the best itinerary + where to stay.

You’re planning to spend 3 days in New York and you’re looking for the best itinerary?

You’re at the right place!

In order to help you plan your stay , I have prepared for you the perfect itinerary to visit New York in 3 days.

I will start this guide with my best tips to avoid the long waiting lines (often more than 2 hours!) in front of the Empire State Building, or other must-see attractions.

Then, I will give you my optimized and detailed 3-day itinerary to make the most of your stay in the NYC.

In addition to the best places to visit and activities for each stage of your itinerary, I will also give you all my best tips and accommodation suggestions depending on your budget.

So, what are the best things to do in New York in 3 days? Where to stay?

Let’s find out!

1. The New York City Pass

2. the new york go city explorer pass, 3 days in new york: must-see attractions:, one last tip for a perfect 3-day stay in new york, new york in 3 days: the best itinerary, a. central park, b. visit 1 or 2 must-see museums, c. fifth avenue, d. st patrick’s cathedral, e. top of the rock, f. times square, a. brooklyn district and dumbo, b. brooklyn bridge (and helicopter tour – optional), c. statue of liberty and ellis island, d. financial district/wall street/new york stock exchange/charging bull, e. 9/11 memorial and museum, f. one world observatory, g. little italy and chinatown, a. intrepid sea, air and space museum, b. circle line sightseeing cruise, c. madame tussauds new york, d. new york public library / grand central terminal / chrysler building / united nation headquarters, h. empire state building, f. see a musical on broadway, where to stay in new york, new york in 3 days with your family, more places to visit during your 3-day stay in new york, map of your 3-day itinerary in new york, flight prices to new york, you’re traveling in the us these articles will help you, how to avoid waiting in line (and save a lot of time) at new york’s tourist attractions.

As you surely know, New York is one of the most touristic cities in the world.

Tens of thousands of visitors every day are flocking to visit its emblematic attractions such as the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty!

You imagine that you sometime need to queue for hours before entering this city’s top tourist attractions.

I am going to teach you  3 different options to beat the queue and save a ton of time (and money!) during your three days in New York.

The  first solution  to save time during your 3-day trip to New York, is to buy the New York City Pass. 

Most big cities offer  City Passes these days. It’s really  super convenient: you’ll bypass the  queues  and have priority entrances to the  most famous tourist attractions of the city .

Another advantage: as the New York City Pass is 100% digital . You will just need to present your mobile ticket at the entrance of each included sites. No need for any paper ticket!

Just remember to check beforehand on the application if you need to reserve a date and time slot.

With the New York City pass, you will get skip the line tickets for 5 attractions:

• 2 “mandatory visits” – The Empire State Building (3rd day of your itinerary) and the American Museum of Natural History (1st day)
• Top of the Rock Observation Deck (1st day)
• Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island  (2nd day)
• 9/11 Memorial and Museum (2nd day)
• Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises  (3rd day)
• Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum  (3rd day)
• Guggenheim Museum (1st day)

To purchase your New York City Pass , it’s very simple – you just have to  click on the green button below:

Another way to get priority access to the monuments you will visit during your 3-day itinerary in New York  is to buy the New York Go City Explorer Pass.

When you book this city pass, you will need to choose the number of tourist attractions you would like to visit:   2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 attractions. 

The pass allows you to  choose between 90 attractions and activities. All the best things to do in New York during your 3-day visit are of course included!

After purchasing the New York Go City Explorer Pass, you will also be given a digital guide with attraction information including reservation instructions  and opening hours, directions…

Here is a brief summary of the most popular attractions included  in the New York Go City Explorer Pass:

• The Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Ferry
• 9/11 Museum and Memorial
• Empire State Building
• American Museum of Natural History
• Top of the Rock
• One World Observatory
• Madame Tussauds
• Circle Line Sightseeing
• St Patrick’s Cathedral Tour.

You can find the full list of activities and book your New York Explorer Pass by clicking on the green button:

3. Fast track tickets for New York’s best tourist attractions

The last solution to save time is to buy skip-the-line tickets online for each attraction,  depending on what you will want to visit during your 3-day itinerary in New York. 

I will now give you  a list of all skip-the-line tickets and excursions that I will mention in this 3-day itinerary.  For your convenience, you will also find these links throughout the article.

By purchasing them using these links,  you are 100% sure to get the official tickets.

To see the prices and to book, just click   on the links below :

•   Central Park Zoo
• A private tour in Central Park in a horse-drawn carriage
• A pedicab tour in Central Park – choose between the 1 or 2 hours tour version
• Guggenheim Museum
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• National 9/11 Memorial & Museum
• Wall street guided tour
• Helicopter tour over New York
• Statue of Liberty
• Cruise around the Statue of Liberty
• Walking guided tour in Brooklyn
• Broadway show
• Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
• Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
• Madame Tussauds New York

If you want to book other activities in New York, you should always use these 2 reliable and safe websites:

• GetYourGuide: Official entrance tickets and activities in New York .
• Tiqets: Skip the line tickets in New York

If you already know your travel dates (or as soon as you will have them!) , you should really book your accommodation.

As New York is one of the most touristic cities in the world , the hotels offering the best value for money are often fully booked months in advance.

As a seasoned traveler, I can assure you that it’s always by planning as far in advance as possible that I’ve found the best hotels or apartments deals.

You agree that it would be a shame to somewhat ruin your stay in New York by ending up in a not-so-great hotel that costed you a fortune, right? 😅

So your best bet is to take 5 minutes now to have a look at  traveler’s favorite hotels in New York.

And if you like one of the hotels you find, book it!

It’s fast, it’s easy and most accommodation offer free cancellation. That’s the best way to protect yourself from the inconvenience of finding nothing but mediocre rooms at exorbitant prices.

To check the best hotels deals in New York, simply click on the green button below:

After securing your dream stay, it’s time to continue reading this guide!

Let’s now see how to visit New York  in 3 days.

For each day , I will give you  a detailed itinerary with all the details you need for your visits, along with a map  of New York. This will help you optimize your trip  and enjoy a stress-free stay in New York!

I assume that you  will be staying in New York for 3 full days and that you have purchased the New York City Pass, the New York Go City Explorer Pass  or  Skip-the-Line tickets .  This way you will be able to see as many places as possible during your 3 day stay!

If, after reading this article, you still have questions (or need help organizing your trip), you can ask me in the comments section  at the very end of this article.

So,  what are the best places to visit in New York in 3 days?

Day 1: Central Park, Museums, and the New York’s Most Iconic Landmarks

Day 1 tourist attractions:

A. Central Park B. Museums C. Fifth Avenue D. St Patrick’s Cathedral E. Top of the Rock F. Times Square

Let’s start your 3-day New York trip by going to Central Park , an oasis amid the city’s concrete jungle.

Covering a vast area of 843 acres (3.1 km²), this park is the city’s green heart and an iconic location you simply can’t miss.

From the tranquil boat rides on the lake , to the Belvedere Castle , and the Strawberry Fields John Lennon memorial, there are plenty of attractions to explore within the park itself .

Make also sure to check out my favorite spot, the Bethesda Terrace , known for its intricate stonework and picturesque views.

If you are v isiting New York in 3 days with kids , don’t forget to visit Central Park Zoo (buy your fast track ticket here!) or see Alice in Wonderland Statue.

If you’re an early bird, you might even spot some of the park’s local fauna, such as raccoons and various bird species.

You have different ways to explore Central Park: on foot or by renting a bike (click here for more information) .

For a more romantic moment you can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride   or a pedicab tour.

Next, choose between 1 or 2 of the city’s most acclaimed museums:

• The American Museum of Natural History
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• The Guggenheim Museum .

If you’re a fan of ‘Night at the Museum’, the American Museum of Natural History is a must-visit!

Here, you can learn about the mysteries of the universe and the evolution of life on Earth.

You can visit the American Museum of Natural history for free with the New York City Pass and the New York Explorer Pass.

If you don’t have a city pass, you need to book your tickets here:

On the other hand, if you’re an art aficionado, your best bet is The Metropolitan Museum of Art , boasting an impressive collection spanning 5,000 years of art history.

You need to book your tickets on the official website.

And if you prefer a guided visit , you need to book it by clicking here.

For modern and contemporary art lovers , the spiral-shaped Guggenheim Museum is a must-see.

Access to Guggenheim museum is included with the New York City Pass or the New York Explorer Pass.

Otherwise, you have to buy your tickets for the Guggenheim museum here:

After your museum visit, it’s time to head over to Fifth Avenue , one of the world’s most famous shopping streets.

Even if you’re not into shopping, a walk along this prestigious avenue is a classic New York experience.

With luxury boutiques , top fashion brands, and the iconic Apple Store , Fifth Avenue is a shopper’s paradise.

Don’t forget to check out the historic Tiffany & Co , which has been a part of Fifth Avenue since 1940.

A stone’s throw away from Fifth Avenue, you will find the stunning St. Patrick’s Cathedral , a must-see historical landmark in New York City.

This Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral is a peaceful retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle.

I recommend spending a few moments here to admire the beautiful stained-glass windows and the impressive architecture.

Entry to St. Patrick’s Cathedral is included in the New York Explorer Pass.

If you don’t have this city pass, you need to book your tickets here to be able to go inside:

Next up, it’s time for a major New York highlight .

Head over to the Rockefeller Center and make your way to the Top of the Rock .

Once you’re there, you’ll get a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city.

I mean, who doesn’t want to see Central Park, the Empire State Building, and the One World Trade Center all at once?

It’s a truly unforgettable experience that’ll make you go ‘Wow’!

Access to Top of the Rock is included in the New York City Pass or the New York Explorer Pass.

Without the pass, you need to book your ticket to Top of the Rock by clicking on the button below:

Try to time your visit for sunset .

Seeing the city bathed in warm hues and then gradually lighting up as night falls is a sight for sore eyes. No wonder it’s my favorite time to be at the Top of the Rock!

After enjoying all those amazing views, it’s time to head on over to Times Square .

You’re not truly in New York until you’ve been dazzled by the bright lights of this iconic spot.

Yes, it’s busy. Yes, it’s noisy. But hey, it’s Times Square – the heartbeat of the city that never sleeps.

From massive billboards to street performers and a whole lot more, there’s always something happening here.

You should also visit the iconic stores , like the Disney Store and M&M’s World.

And that’s a wrap on Day 1!

You’ve made it through a busy day of sightseeing in the Big Apple , and hopefully, you’ve fallen in love with the city just as much as I have.

But don’t worry, we’re just getting started. Get ready for Day 2 of your amazing 3-day itinerary in New York.

Day 2: Sightseeing and activities in New York

Day 2 visits:

A. Brooklyn District and DUMBO B. Brooklyn Bridge C. Statue of Liberty D. Financial District E. 9/11 Memorial and Museum F. One World Observatory G. Little Italy / Chinatown

Let’s kick off Day 2 with a visit to the Brooklyn District .

Known for its unique vibe and cool eateries, Brooklyn is a place you’d surely enjoy exploring.

Take a stroll through its streets, soak in the local atmosphere , and maybe grab a coffee at one of the many hip cafes.

But don’t spend all your time here because your next stop, DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass , a specific part of Brooklyn), is waiting for you.

This neighborhood offers an unbeatable view of the Manhattan Skyline from its waterfront park. Plus, it’s got some fantastic places for food and shopping.

If you want to learn more about Brooklyn , its famous bridge and DUMBO, you should book this walking tour (click here) with Sean.

He knows everything about the district and will make sure you have a great time!

Once you’ve had your fill of DUMBO, it’s time to walk the iconic Brooklyn Bridge .

The Bridge is not just a landmark but also a superb vantage point offering panoramic views of the city.

Plan some time for photos, as you will for sure take a lot!

If you want to have an exceptional experience during your 3 days-trip in New York , I strongly recommend you to book an helicopter tour.

Departure is near Battery Park so it’s convenient to do it after Brooklyn Bridge or after the Statue of Liberty.

You need to book your helicopter tour here:

And if you have the guts, you can opt for a “door off” helicopter . This is just epic!

That’s what we did and it was simply the best moment of our trip!

After experiencing the charm of Brooklyn, it’s time to catch a ferry at Battery Park . It will take you to the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island .

You will enjoy a 15 minutes boat ride, after which you can choose to disembark on Ellis island and view the Statue of Liberty up close, or if you’re pressed for time, just enjoy the view from the water and go back to Manhattan.

If you ask me, I think you should definitely step foot on Ellis Island, which once served as the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. The museum there is pretty interesting.

The New York City Pass and the New York Explorer Pass both includes round trip ferry ticket for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

If you don’t have the pass, you need to purchase your ferry tickets online by clicking here (audio guide included):

If you only prefer to do  the cruise around the island, tickets are available here:

From there, we’re heading to the Financial District of New York, where fortunes are made (and sometimes lost) at the New York Stock Exchange .

Feel the buzz of Wall Street and don’t forget to pose with the famous Charging Bull. Fun fact: Did you know the bull symbolizes the optimism and prosperity of Wall Street?

And to learn more about the finance’s world, you should definitely book this guided tour during your 3-day stay in New York:

Just a short walk from the hustle of Wall Street, you’ll find the 9/11 Memorial and Museum .

This moving tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is an essential stop during your visit to New York.

The two large reflecting pools in the footprints of the Twin Towers are a powerful sight, and you should absolutely visit the museum to understand more about that tragic day.

The visit of the National 9/11 memorial and museum is free with the New York City Pass or the New York Explorer Pass.

Without the pass, you need to book your tickets for the museum here:

If you prefer, you can also take a 90-minute guided walk around Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial. Book it here!

Next on your 3-day New York itinerary , it’s time to head up to the One World Observatory .

The elevator ride alone is an experience as you can see a short movie projected on the walls . You can observe New York’s transition from a land where there was nothing to the impressive buildings of today.

Once you’re at the top of One World Trade Center, the view is simply stunning!

I loved how you can literally see the entirety of Manhattan from this vantage point.

And don’t miss to stand over the Sky Portal, an impressive glass showing real-time street scenes 100 stories below.

Entrance to One World Observatory is free with the New York Go City Explorer Pass .

If you don’t have the city pass, simply click on the green button below for more info and to book your tickets:

Wrap up your day with a journey to other continents without leaving the city.

First, stroll through Little Italy , which, as the name suggests, is filled with Italian shops and restaurants.

Then, just a stone’s throw away, you’ll find yourself in Chinatown with its hustle, bustle, and myriad of authentic eateries. Trust me, if you’re a foodie, these are must-visit areas.

Day 3 in New York: The best places to visit

Day 3 visits:

A. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum B. Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise C. Madame Tussauds New York D. New York Public Library / Grand Central Terminal / Chrysler Building / United Nation Headquarters E. Empire State Building F. See a musical on Broadway

Your final day in the city that never sleeps should begin with a visit to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum .

Here’s where you get to geek out over a range of cool military and space hardware.

Imagine strutting around on an actual aircraft carrier , or eyeballing a genuine British Airways Concorde , and even touching a piece of the moon.

You don’t need to be a hardcore aviation or maritime fan to enjoy this. It’s just fun to explore the insides of these gigantic machines, imagining what life would have been like aboard them.

Access to Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is included with the New York City Pass or the New York Explorer Pass.

Without it, you need to book your ticket in advance by clicking here:

Next, it’s time to hit the water and see New York from a different perspective.

A Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise offers a unique view of the city’s skyline, including the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge.

And you know what? The Circle Line cruise is included with the New York City Pass or the New York Explorer Pass. It would be a shame not to make the most of it!

Good news for those who haven’t bought a city pass for these 3 days in New York, you can buy your tickets for the cruises by clicking on the button below (and then choose from various options):

I know, I know… why should you visit a wax museum during your 72 hours in New York?

But wait! Don’t be so quick to judge. Madame Tussauds is not a typical wax museum, it’s one of the best museums of its kind in the world  (with the one in London ).

This place is a full-on experience with its interactive exhibits and uncannily lifelike figures.

And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want a selfie with Rihanna, Leonardo di Caprio or the Avengers?

You need to buy your tickets for Madame Tussauds here:

Free entrance to Madame Tussauds is included with the New York Go City Explorer Pass.

It’s now time to visit the heart of New York.

The New York Public Library is more than just books. Its magnificent architecture alone is worth the visit. But do take a peek inside. You might just get tempted to sit down and lose yourself in a good book!

Not far from the library is the Grand Central Terminal .

Even if you’re not catching a train, it’s still worth a visit. The architecture is, quite frankly, breathtaking.

Make sure to look up at the celestial ceiling and whisper in the Whispering Gallery . Yes, you heard it right – a corner where whispers from one corner can be heard clearly from the other. Cool, huh?

A stone’s throw away is the art-deco masterpiece, the Chrysler Building . While you can’t go inside, the view from the outside is more than enough to wow you.

Last but not least, don’t forget to drop by the United Nation Headquarters . If you’re interested in world affairs, this is the place for you. There are guided tours that give you insights into how the UN operates.

Fun fact – Did you know that the stars on the ceiling of Grand Central Terminal are backward? Don’t worry, it’s not a mistake.

It’s a depiction of the medieval perspective of the sky! Now, you can drop this trivia to your friends when they share their New York pictures!

Let’s move on to something tall, shall we? And by tall, I mean the iconic Empire State Building.

I bet you’ve seen it in countless movies, but trust me, seeing it in person is a whole other experience! It’s definitely one of the best places to visit in 3 days in New York.

You can visit during the day for great visibility, or in the evening to see the city’s lights. There’s something magical about standing at the top, wind in your hair, as you gaze down at the bustling city below. I loved it!

My advice? Try to be there at sunset. The transition from day to night is simply breathtaking from the Empire State Building.

The Empire State Building isn’t just a must-see for its views.

The building itself has a rich history. Did you know it was built in just over a year? Yep, the ’30s sure knew how to get things done. And if you’re into photography, the Art Deco style of the building is a joy to capture.

 To visit the Empire State Building, you need to book your tickets in advance here:

Access to the Empire State Building is included with the New York City Pass and the New York Explorer Pass.

Now, what would a trip to New York be without a visit to Broadway? Even if you’re not a theatre buff, a Broadway show is a must-see. It’s an experience you won’t get anywhere else!

Seeing a Broadway show isn’t just about the performance; it’s about the atmosphere, the history, and the buzz of excitement that fills the air.

You can choose from long-running classics, like “Phantom of the Opera” or “Lion King,” or try a new, off-beat show. There’s something for everyone.

You can see all Broadway shows tickets and book them by clicking here!

You now know all the best places to visit during your 3-day trip to New York!

However, you still need to do 1 important thing before leaving:  booking your hotel.

In order to help you out, I have prepared  a list of the best hotels in New York depending on your budget.

To be honest, it’s really not easy to find budget accommodation in New York. As you’d expect in a city that attracts so many tourists, the hotels have no hesitation in charging high prices.

In any case, you should book your accommodation in New York as early as possible to get the best prices.

Here is my selection of the best hotels to stay for your 3 days in New York (around Times Square / Empire State Building / Central Park).

• HI New York City Hostel : Youth hostel located right next to Central Park. Dormitory beds from €50 per night. An excellent choice for cheap accommodation in New York City Center!
• Club Wyndham Midtown 45: Located next to Grand Central Station. Bright and spacious double room from €200 per night. Strong Points: the rooftop and the location.
• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square South: Located 1 km from Times Square. Cosy, comfortable double rooms from €330 per night, including breakfast. Strong points: friendly staff, view, peace and quiet.
• Hyatt Place New York City/Times Square: Located next to Madame Tussauds. Double room with impeccable cleanliness and comfortable bedding from €350, breakfast included. Strong points: central location for visiting New York on foot, very generous breakfast, very friendly staff.
• The Iroquois New York: Located less than 500 metres from Times Square, this 5-star hotel offers superb rooms with very chic decor, from €410 including breakfast. Strong points: ideal, quiet location, attentive staff.
• Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square: Located next to the Rockfeller Center. Very comfortable, noise-isolated room from €450, breakfast €23. Strong points: very professional staff, varied breakfast, very easy to visit the centre of New York on foot.
• Hard Rock Hotel New York: Located next to the Rockfeller Center, this luxury hotel offers elegant, contemporary rooms from €500, breakfast €47. Strong points: the rooftop, the comfort, the classy design. This is my recommendation for a luxury stay in New York!

If you don’t mind being a bit further from the centre (don’t worry, it’s still very easily accessible by public transport), here is my list of the best hotels in Wall Street.

It’s a bit quieter than the hotels in Times Square and also slightly less expensive for equivalent quality.

• Hilton Garden Inn NYC Financial Center/Manhattan Downtown: Located 160 metres from Battery Park. Comfortable, modern rooms from €225, breakfast €23. Strong points: the location close to the metro, very comfortable, practical for going to the Statue of Liberty and Staten Island.
• The Washington by LuxUrban: Located 200 metres from the 9/11 Memorial and museum. Stylish rooms from €240, breakfast included. Strong points: metro stations right next to the hotel – perfect for sightseeing, view of the One World Trade Center, quality of bedding, peace and quiet.
• Club Quarters Hotel World Trade Center: Located next to Ground Zero. Spacious and cosy double room from €330. Strong points: location next to several metro stations, views from the rooftop and some rooms, free unlimited water and coffee/tea, in-room fridge.

To help you find the perfect accommodation, I have also written a guide of the best areas and places to stay in New York depending on your budget.

You can find it here: Where to stay in New York?

This 3-day itinerary is also  ideal if you plan to discover New York with your kids.

Even if New York is quite big,  the public transport network is really good , making it super convenient for families to move around the city. You can  reach most destinations very easily by metro.

Here is the list of the best things to do in 3 days in New York with your family:

• Go to the Central Park Zoo
• Visit The American Museum of Natural History  instead of the Met or the Guggenheim. They’re more likely to be interested in dinosaur fossils than paintings.  😅
• Going to the top of The Rock, the One World Observatory and the Empire State Building. 
• Pass by the M&M and Disney’s stores in Times Square and the Lego’s store on Fifth Avenue
• Take the boat to the Statue of Liberty
• Visit the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
• Broadway Show

As you can see, most tourist attractions in New York are perfect for a family trip!

Both the New York City Pass and the New York Explorer Pass are available for children (prices depends on their age).

The itinerary you’ve just read really allows to  see  as many   must-see attractions as possible in 3 days.

However, don’t hesitate to personalize it by modifying or adding activities!

For that, you should read  my guide of New York. It’s packed with many more ideas for an amazing 72 hours trip to New York!

You can read it here: The 57 best things to do in New York. 

To help you visualize your  daily itineraries during your 3 days in New York,  I have created this map with  all the places to visit day by day . You can view the map’s legend by clicking on the top left button, the one with a little arrow.

You can thus see the suggested itineraries for each day.

As always, you should book your plane tickets as early as possible to get the best prices.

To check the rates and schedules for flights to New York, you can use our flight comparator, in partnership with Skyscanner:

Discover all my articles about USA : All my articles to help you plan your trip to USA are listed there.

• Itinerary: 10 days USA West coast – How to visit Western USA in 9, 10 or 11 days
• Itinerary: 2 weeks USA West coast – The perfect 14-15 days road trip!
• Itinerary: 3 weeks USA West coast – An epic 20-21 days road trip!
• Las Vegas: Top 30 Best things to do and must-see attractions
• Los Angeles: The 45 best places to visit
• New York: The 57 best things to do
• San Francisco: The 27 epic must-see attractions
• 2 Days in New York – The best itinerary to visit the Big Apple in 48h
• 3 Days in New York – All the best places to visit + Detailed itinerary
• 4 Days in New York – The perfect itinerary for your visit
• 5 Days in New York – Itinerary + Best things to do + My Tips
• One Week in New York – The perfect 7-day itinerary
• Where to stay in New York ? My guide of the best hotels for an EPIC stay!

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Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

3 Days in New York – The Perfect New York Itinerary

Last updated: October 21, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 6 Comments

Jess and I have visited New York City many times, and it’s definitely a city we never tire of exploring. There’s just so much to see and do!

In this post, we wanted to share an itinerary for spending 3 days in New York. This will give you enough time to see many of the city’s highlights, from world class museums through to famous sights and spectacular viewpoints.

This itinerary is ideal for a first-time visit to New York for someone who wants to see a lot. As well as the day-by-day itinerary, we’re also including lots of helpful information to help you plan your time in the city, from how to get around through to where to stay and how to save money.

Itinerary for 3 Days in New York City

Below is our detailed day by day itinerary for exploring New York over three days. The city has a lot to offer and it’s quite big, so we’ve grouped attractions together where possible to minimise travel time.

As with many of our itineraries, this is quite packed. New York City is a great place to visit if you like to use all your available time as many sights and attractions are open late into the night.

Of course, if you prefer a slower pace, or perhaps you are visiting New York with kids, then you will want to tweak the itinerary slightly to meet your own needs.

Let’s get started!

New York Itinerary Day 1

Your first day in New York has you visiting some of the city’s most popular museums, its most famous park and getting a spectacular view of the skyline.

Central Park

Even if you’ve never visited New York, Central Park is likely going to feel familiar to you. It’s the most filmed location in the world, with numerous well-known movies and TV shows having scenes shot here.

Central Park is also the most visited urban park in the USA, as well as the largest park in Manhattan.

As you would imagine, there is plenty to see and do here. We’re putting Central Park first on our list because it has long opening hours. If you’re an early riser and are keen to start your sight-seeing, then you can hit Central Park before the other attractions in our itinerary like museums open up. Normally, Central Park is open from 6am until 1am, although check the official website for any updates to that.

At over 800 acres, you could spend a lot of time in Central Park. We’d suggest picking some highlights to visit, and enjoying the walking trails in between them. Popular spots are the Bethesda Fountain and Terrace, Bow Bridge, Alice in Wonderland statue, Belvedere Castle and Conservatory Garden.

If you are visiting New York with kids, or just like zoos, Central Park is also home to a zoo which might be a good option. For getting around, Central Park is very walkable. Bike rental is another option, you can do that here . Carriage rides like this are another popular option.

American Museum of Natural History

Having spent some time exploring Central Park, you now have your choice of museums where you can do everything from experience art, brush up on the history of the city or learn about the world.

We’ve included some of these museums in this itinerary, but the area has many more to choose from so feel free to vary this itinerary based on your particular interests.

First, we recommend you start your museum adventure with a visit to the world’s largest natural history museum, the American Museum of Natural History . Found on the western edge of Central Park and spanning four city blocks, this vast museum is a favourite with families visiting New York. However, anyone with an interest in the natural world will find something to enjoy here.

Highlights include the dioramas featuring animals and scenes from around the world, the halls depicting the origins of people and of course, the fossil halls featuring massive dinosaur skeletons. There’s also a planetarium, a hall full of meteorites and displays on gems and minerals, to name but a few of the attractions on offer.

You could spend a whole day here, but we’d suggest a highlights tour of around two hours to give you time for the rest of your visit.

There’s an entry fee to visit, with entry included in a number of New York attraction passes including our favorite, the New York Pass . You can also buy an individual ticket here . More information on pricing and opening hours on the website here .

Metropolitan Museum of Art

On the opposite side of Central Park to the American Museum of Natural History, around 20 minutes’ walk, is the Metropolitan Museum of Art .

Often referred to as “The Met”, this is the largest art museum in the United States, with over two million works in its collection. If you’re interested in art and want to visit an art museum during your time in New York, this is the one we’d recommend!

As you might expect with such a vast collection to draw on, there is a lot to see here. The collection spans 5,000 years of creative pursuits, from Ancient Egyptian art through to modern day works.

If you live in New York State, entry is free. For other visitors, there’s an entry fee. You can buy your ticket online in advance  here , and skip the ticket lines.

If you’d prefer to take a guided tour of the museum to gain more insights into what you are seeing, we highly recommend this guided walking tour of the Met with one of our favourite walking tour companies.

Museum of the City of New York

One museum we really love visiting in New York is the Museum of the City of New York . That’s because this is the museum which will teach you the most about the history of the city itself, and especially the people who have made New York home over the centuries.

The museum has been telling this story since it opened in 1923, and today it has over 1.5 million objects related to the city in its collection. There are photographs, videos and artifacts as well as a number of interactive displays, where you can learn all about the story of the city and its people.

It’s open every day and there’s an entry fee. You can buy your tickets online in advance  here . It’s also included for holders of the New York Pass.

Alternatively (or additionally, if you’re feeling motivated!), you could also visit other museums in this area, including the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Arts and Design, the American Folk Art Museum and the Frick Collection, to name but a few of the options you have!

Fifth Avenue Shopping

The east side of central park is bordered by Fifth Avenue, and as you head south on this famous New York Street you’ll leave museums behind and arrive at one of the world’s most famous shopping areas.

South of 59th St, Fifth Avenue is home to some of the world’s most well-known luxury brands, as well as some slightly more affordable shopping options. Even if you don’t intend on actually shopping, it’s an impressive stroll to take to see the opulence on display.

Brands you’ll pass as you walk down Fifth Avenue include Gucci, Armani, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, and Dolce & Gabbana. There are also high-end department stores like Saks and flagship stores for brands like Apple.

Basically, if you want to do some retail therapy whilst you are in New York, you should find something on Fifth Avenue that works for you.

Top of the Rock

You’re coming to the end of your first day exploring New York City, and we think it’s time to get a great view of the city.

New York has a number of viewing platforms found at dizzying heights above the city, but one of our favourites is the view from the Top of the Rock . This is found in the Rockefeller Centre in Midtown Manhattan.

We like the Top of the Rock because it offers a great view which includes arguably New York’s most famous skyscraper, the Empire State Building, which is just under a mile away.

It’s also an open top observatory which offers spectacular views all around Midtown, including of Central Park and all the areas you explored on your first day in the city.

Access to the Top of the Rock is included on a number of the New York city  attraction passes, including the New York Pass . Alternatively, you can buy tickets in advance of your visit online  here .

Broadway or Other Show

Finally, if you still have the stamina and want to round out your first day in New York in style, why not take in a Broadway show or other live performance.

From the Rockefeller centre you are just a few minutes’ walk from a range of shows and experience, including the Radio City Music Hall and multiple Broadway and off-Broadway shows.

The only thing we’d say if that if you want to visit a particularly popular show to be sure to book well in advance, as tickets can sell out quickly. However, you can save money by booking less popular or off-Broadway shows instead.

New York Itinerary Day 2

Your second day in New York City is going to have you visiting one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States as well as other attractions around the south of Manhattan. You’re also going to pop into Brooklyn!

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

You’re going to start day 2 of this three-day New York itinerary with a visit to the world-famous Statue of Liberty , found on Liberty Island, as well as the historical immigration centre on nearby Ellis Island .

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States, and it was dedicated in 1886. Since then, it has grown to be a symbol of the USA and one of the most recognisable statues in the world. It’s also a popular visitor attraction in New York, with millions of people visiting each year.

To visit the Statue of Liberty you need to take a ferry, as it’s on an island. You specifically need to take a ferry which is operated by Statue Cruises , which is authorized by the National Parks Service, who operate the island.

On Liberty Island you can visit the Statue of Liberty Museum and learn about the history of the statue. It’s also possible to visit the pedestal and crown of the statue, although this requires an extra ticket.

Another option we’ve done and can recommend is to take a walking tour which includes the cruise to the Statue of Liberty, pedestal access and a tour of Ellis Island. We’ve done and can recommend this 3.5-hour Early Access Statue of Liberty Tour with Ellis Island with Take Walks.

A tour is an excellent way to really learn about the history of what you are seeing, and Take Walks in our experience offer some of the best guides out there.

From Liberty Island, the ferry will then take you to Ellis Island, where you can visit the historical immigration museum. This was where millions of immigrants entered the USA for the first time to begin a new life, and a great many families in the country can trace their lineage to this building.

Note there are lots of other boat tours to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, but these only circumnavigate the island. If you want to land and visit the Statue, you need to get the ticket for Statue Cruises, which you can do here , or book a tour like the one we mentioned above with Take Walks. The ticket with landing is also included as part of the New York Pass .

Skyscraper Museum

You will likely be aware that New York City is home to a lot of skyscrapers, a definition usually given to a building which is over 150 metres (492ft) in height. The invention of the elevator in the 19th century was key to making these buildings commercially viable, as no-one wants to walk up multiple flights of stairs.

New York city was famous for its skyscrapers from the late 19th century. Limited real estate meant the only way to go was up, and by the end of the 19th century the race to build the tallest skyscraper was on. Chicago and New York battled over the title of the city with the tallest building, with the Empire State Building holding the crown for 40 years after its completion in 1931.

If you are interested in learning more about skyscrapers, then a visit to the Skyscraper Museum should be on your to-do list. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the Statue Cruises embarkation point, and it’s also very reasonably priced. The museum is small but we enjoyed our visit. There’s a small entry fee, with entry included as part of the New York Pass .

Wall Street

From the Skyscraper Museum it’s around a 10-minute walk to the next stop on our itinerary, Wall Street.

New York’s Wall Street is the centre of the US financial world, home to both the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. It’s here where fortunes are made and lost, and where some of the great financial stories have taken place.

Admittedly, unless you’re actually a trader, there isn’t a whole lot to do on Wall Street. However, it’s fun to visit and take a picture. A highlight for many is the flag draped NYSE building. Don’t miss the statue of the bull which is another popular photo stop. This symbolises the bulls in the market, who drive stocks up.

9/11 Memorial Museum

From Wall Street another 10-minute walk will bring you to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum . This location has two parts.

First, there’s a huge above ground memorial those who lost their lives in the September 11 2001 World Trade Centre attacks, as well as the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing.

This memorial includes two massive man-made waterfalls which sit in the footprint taken up by the original “Twin Towers” of the World Trade Centre. The waterfalls tumble into two huge pools, with the names of the victims printed around the walls of the pools.

The memorial is free to visit.

The second part of the location is a museum, which is found underground below the pools. This is where you can learn all about 9/11, from the events leading up to the day, to the day itself, followed by the aftermath.

This is definitely a moving place to visit, with stories of loss and tragedy mixed with stories of individual heroism and unimaginable bravery.

The 9/11 Memorial Museum has an entry fee, and you can buy an advance ticket online here . The 9/11 Memorial Museum is also included on the New York Pass, as well as other New York sightseeing passes .

If you would prefer to take a walking tour of some of the key 9/11 sights, then we recommend this excellent 9/11 tour which also includes 9/11 Memorial Museum tickets. We did this tour and can highly recommend it for those wanting to learn more about the 9/11 attacks and subsequent events from a local guide.

Brookyln Bridge

New York City has many iconic buildings and structures, including the bridges which link Manhattan Island to the other boroughs of the city.

One of the most well-known bridges is the 19th century Brooklyn Bridge, which links Manhattan with the borough of Brooklyn. It has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, and walking or cycling across the bridge is a popular activity in the city.

From the 9/11 Memorial Museum it’s around a 10-minute walk to the start of the bridge, and then it’s around a 20 – 30-minute walk across. Of course, it will likely take you a bit longer than this if you stop to take photos!

New York Transit Museum

Depending on how quickly you take in attractions, you might still have time on your second day in New York to take in another sight. If so, we’d recommend a visit to the New York Transit Museum . This is a 20-minute walk from the end of Brooklyn Bridge, which you can take through tree-filled Cadman Plaza Park.

As the name of the museum suggests, this is where you come if you want to learn all about the history of public transport in the city, including the subway, bus and commuter rail system. Appropriately the museum is found in a decommissioned subway station, so it’s all underground and very much on theme.

Exhibits include various preserved public transit vehicles as well as signage, dioramas and other artefacts and memorabilia. We very much enjoyed our visit and can definitely recommend it! You can buy tickets online here .

Sunset across Manhattan

You’re coming to the end of your second day in New York, and what better way to end than with a lovely sunset view. Depending on the time of year you’re visiting the city (and the weather!), you might be lucky enough to catch the sun setting behind the skyscrapers of Lower Manhattan.

My favourite place to watch the sunset is from the Brooklyn Bridge Park, and specifically from Old Pier 1. Here, old wooden pilings sit in the water, making for a nice juxtaposition against the modern skyscrapers of Manhattan. It’s a lovely place for a sunset, and a wonderful way to end your second day in the city.

New York Itinerary Day 3

It’s time for your last day exploring New York City! Today we’re going to take in some more iconic sites and go up one of the most famous buildings in the world.

You’re going to start your day with a walk along the High Line , a relatively new addition to the city. This former railway line is found 30 feet above the city streets, and has been turned into a lovely park. It runs from Hudson Yards at the north end down to the Whitney Museum of American Art, a total distance of around a mile.

It’s a lovely place for a stroll, which also offers nice views of the city as you pass over the streets below.

You also have the option, should you choose, to visit some of the attractions in the area. As well as the aforementioned Whitney Museum of American Art (buy tickets here ), there’s also the futuristic Artechouse NYC , as well as a huge number of art galleries. These might be an option if you’d prefer to switch out one of our other attractions today.

If you have a New York Pass, there are quite a few other attractions in this area which are included, and you can see those by switching to the map view on the attractions page here . The Vessel is a popular option you might consider including for example, which is on the pass.

The north end of the High Line is next to the Edge skyscraper , home to one of New York’s newer high level viewing platforms. This itinerary has you visiting another skyscraper today, but if you’d prefer to visit the Edge (which is included on the New York Pass), that’s an option today as well!

The High Line is free to visit, and usually open from 7am – 7pm.

Madame Tussauds

An always popular option, Madame Tussauds have been attracting visitors to their wax museums around the world since the early 19th century. The New York version is on 42nd Street, either a 10-minute bus ride of 20-minute walk from the northern end of the High Line.

The museum features wax models of notable icons from around the world, although as this is the New York location, there’s more of a slant towards US celebrities including actors and actresses like Jennifer Aniston, Leonardo DiCaprio and Angelina Jolie. You’ll also find world leaders, musicians and actors, as well as famous characters like King Kong, Spider-Man and E.T.

The fun thing about Madame Tussauds is that they have firmly embraced the selfie generation. Many of their installations are designed specifically so you can get a photo with a star in an interesting scenario, making this a very entertaining and interactive experience.

You can buy tickets for Madame Tussauds online in advance of your visit here . It’s also included on the New York Pass.

Times Square

At the heart of Midtown Manhattan is Times Square, one of the busiest and most recognisable pedestrian areas in the world. Times Square is found at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, and spans from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. It is named after The New York Times newspaper which moved its headquarters here in 1904.

Today, Times Square is known for its huge electronic advertising billboards and street performers. It’s one of world’s most visited tourist attractions, and is essentially New York City’s town square. It’s also where the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop takes place, hosting around a million people who come to see in the New Year.

Time Square is free to visit, and just a couple of minutes’ walk from Madame Tussauds.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

From Times Square it’s a couple of blocks, or ten minutes’ walk to St. Patrick’s Cathedral , our next stop today.

This is the seat of the Archbishop of New York, and it occupies an entire city block, making it the largest Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral in North America.

Completed in 1878, the two massive spired towers at the front will immediately grab your attention. These reach to 100 metres (329ft) in height, and stand out against the more modern skyscrapers surrounding them. Inside there is plenty to see.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is free to visit, although you can take a self-guided audio tour .

Grand Central Terminal

I appreciate that including a train station on an itinerary may seem a little odd, but honestly, Grand Central Terminal in New York is really worth the visit. Opened in 1913, this building is one of New York City’s great architectural achievements, and the massive main concourse (complete with famous clock) has to be seen to be believed.

As well as enjoying the concourse, there is plenty to do here. The terminal has regular events, and there’s a huge range of shops and places to eat as well. Definitely worth popping in, and it’s free too. It’s an 8-minute walk from St. Patrick’s Cathedral to Grand Central Terminal.

New York Public Library – Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

From a train station to a public library, New York City really does have some gorgeous public buildings. Found just five minutes’ walk from Grand Central Terminal, the New York Public Library sits adjacent to Bryant Park , a nice green space which often plays host to live music and events.

This National Historic Landmark was opened as a library in 1911 and today it is home to over 2.5 million volumes. The ornate main facade and steps are a popular meeting location, and the library has appeared in multiple movies and TV shows over the years.

The majority of the library is open to the public, with the massive main reading room being particularly beautiful. If you visit, obviously be aware that this is a public library, so it’s important to respect the quiet and not to disturb other visitors.

Empire State Building

It’s time for the final attraction on our 3-day New York itinerary, and you’re going to wrap up your time in the city with a visit to the beautiful and iconic Empire State Building .

Towering 1,454 ft (443.2 metres) above the city, when it was completed in the 1930s this was the tallest building in the world. It held on to that title for almost forty years, until the World Trade Centre tower superseded it.

Whilst it’s no longer the tallest building in the world, it still remains one of the most famous and well-known skyscrapers. It’s a popular visitor attraction, with a number of viewing platforms as well as a series of information exhibits for visitors to enjoy.

We have a complete guide to visiting the Empire State building which we recommend you read. In summary though, it’s well worth the admission fee and the views are spectacular. It’s also open late, so you can visit and see New York City at night if you wish.

There’s a fee to visit, and it’s included for holders of the New York Pass. You can also buy tickets (with optional skip the line) in advance  here .

3 Day New York Itinerary Summary

Here’s a day-by-day summary of our three-day New York itinerary for quick reference.

• Day 1 – Central Park, American Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of the City of New York, Fifth Avenue Shopping, Top of the Rock, Broadway or Other Show
• Day 2 – Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Skyscraper Museum, Wall Street, 9/11 Memorial Museum, Brookyln Bridge, New York Transit Museum, Sunset across Manhattan
• Day 3 – High Line and the Vessel, Madame Tussauds, Times Square, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Grand Central Terminal, New York Public Library – Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Empire State Building

Map for 3 Day New York Itinerary

To help you visualise our 3-day New York itinerary we’ve put together this map. You can also see this on Google Maps here .

How To Get Around New York City

New York City is very large. This itinerary only has you visiting two of the five boroughs (Manhattan and Brookyln), but even with that in mind you will still have quite a bit of ground to cover. For example, from Midtown (where Times Square is) to Downtown, where you’ll find Wall St, you’re looking at about a four-mile distance.

Whilst we have laid out this three-day itinerary in a way that has you visiting attractions that are closer to each other, you are likely not going to want to walk everywhere.

The good news is that New York City has a variety of options for helping you get around. I’ll quickly cover the ones we suggest for this itinerary. We also have a detailed  guide to getting around New York City , which you might find helpful in planning.

Subway / MTA

One of the best value ways to get around New York City is by subway. There are over 450 subway stations across the city, making this one of the largest subway systems in the world.

When we visit New York City, we usually find the subway is the fastest and easiest way to get around. It’s particularly good for getting you from downtown to midtown, and the prices are very reasonable.

You can buy individual fares at stations, or you can purchase a Metrocard which works on a number of transit options in the city.

Another good option for getting around New York is to take the public bus. There are hundreds of routes serving the city, and prices are reasonable. You can pay using either cash (exact change, coins only), or you can use a Metrocard.

Just be aware that any transport option which relies on the road network in the city is liable to take longer than something like the subway, just because of the high volume of traffic on the roads.

New York’s well-known yellow taxis can be found across the city and they fairly well priced. They’ll get you pretty much everywhere you need to go, although as already mentioned you should be aware that traffic across New York can make for slow going.

There are also alternatives to the traditional yellow taxi, including ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. These need to be booked in advance using their apps, and can work out cheaper than a yellow cab.

Launched in 2017, the  NYC Ferry  service is one of the newest options for getting around the city. We really loved using this service when we stayed in Brooklyn – it offers excellent views, and rides cost the same as the subway.

You need to buy tickets from tickets machines near the ferry port, or you can use the NYC Ferry app.

Hop on Hop off Bus

Finally, the other way we enjoy getting around New York, particularly when sightseeing, is to take the Hop on Hop off bus, such as the Big Bus New York. You can buy tickets for this in advance  here .

When we travel in New York with the New York Pass, this comes with  free access to one of the HOHO lines . We enjoyed the live commentary on the bus we took, and learning about different areas of the city that we might not have heard of.

Of course, this isn’t the cheapest way to get around the city, but we think if you invest in something like the New York Pass, then it’s definitely worth taking advantage of.

There are of course lots of other ways for getting around New York, including the train, bicycles, and even an aerial tram!

For our itinerary though, we think the above options are likely to be the most common options. Again, you can see all the options for navigating the city in our detailed guide to how to get around New York .

Where to Stay in New York

We have visited New York many times and stayed in a variety of accommodation options, including a number of different hotels as well as in apartment rentals.

One thing we have learnt on our trips is that whilst there is a huge amount of choice in the city, it primarily falls into the mid-range and high-end categories. Budget accommodation is harder to find, and can sell out well in advance. Our tip is that if you find a good deal, book it early!

Based on our experiences visiting and staying in New York City, we wanted to share some recommendations for where to stay for this itinerary. For easy access to all the sights, our recommendation would be to stay in Manhattan itself, although Brooklyn, Williamsburg, and Long Island City can also be a good option if you find a spot near a subway station.

It’s also worth being aware that different parts of Manhattan will vary in price depending on what time of the week you visit. In our experience for example, downtown Manhattan around Wall Street tends to be less expensive over the weekends as there are fewer business people using the hotels. So definitely shop around and try different dates if you are flexible with your trip.

Here are some options, ordered from less expensive through to more expensive.

• HI NYC Hostel – found in uptown New York just ten minutes’ walk from Central Park, this Hostel offers great value dorm style accommodation in a good location
• The Local Hostel NYC – just across the river in Queens, this hostel has a kitchen, rooftop terrace, and a range of accommodation options from private rooms to dormitories. It’s a few minutes’ walk from the nearest subway, and Times Square is just 8 minutes ride away, making this a great value well location budget option
• The Jane Hotel – this quirky 2* hotel found in Greenwich Village offers well priced rooms which are styled like a ships cabin, and all of which offer river views. Bathrooms are shared, but the prices are great for Manhattan, and there’s a restaurant on site.
• Hotel 31 – this is a very well-located midtown 2* hotel found just 650 yards from the Empire State Building. It offers a variety of rooms at reasonable prices, including some great value private rooms with shared bathrooms.
• Radisson Hotel New York Midtown – just 200 yards from the Rockefeller Center and within easy walking distance to most midtown attractions, this is a great value 4* hotel offering everything you need for a comfortable stay in Manhattan
• Gild Hall – A Thompson Hotel – well located for downtown attractions and a short walk to Wall Street and the Statue of Liberty ferry departure, this is a well-appointed 4* hotel with comfortable rooms and an on-site restaurant. We enjoyed our stay here.
• Warwick New York – this historic 4* midtown hotel is one of my favourite hotels in New York. It’s a historic hotel originally built by William Randolph Hearst, the infamous publishing magnate and builder of Hearst Castle . Spacious rooms and friendly staff combine with a great location to make this a great mid – upper end hotel in the city.
• The Sherry Netherland – Found on Fifth Avenue, this 5* hotel is a great luxury option located across from Central Park and The Plaza. It has everything you would expect of a 5* hotel – lovely rooms, helpful staff, stunning interiors, and a fantastic location.

Of course, there are lots more options to choose from across the city, but we think that should start you off well.

We’ve also used apartment rental sites for visits to New York. Booking.com do apartments as well, but we also recommend Plum Guide for apartments for your New York City trip.

Plum Guide carefully curate their listings so their options tend to be of a very high quality whilst still being available at a range of price points. See their  listings for New York City here .

If you can’t find what you want on the Plum Guide, or you want some new options to try out, we wrote a whole post on the best alternatives to AirBnB  which you should check out!

We also have a page full of travel resources, which includes our tips for getting the best deals on accommodation, which you can find  here .

Walking Tours of New York City

When we visit a new city, we love to take a walking tour with a guide to get acquainted with it. A good walking tour will pair you up with a knowledgeable city expert, and it is a really good way to get an introduction to a city.

We’ve taken a number of walking tours in New York , all of which we did with Take Walks , our favourite walking tour company. We’ve taken walks with them in cities all around the world, and have always had a good time.

Take Walks offer a wide range of walking tours in New York. Here are some options to consider, plus you can see all their New York tours here .

• A  tour of the Broadway Theaters  with a behind the scenes look at the Disney New Amsterdam Theatre!
• A  tour to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island , including access to the Statue Pedestal
• A tour focusing on the  memory of the events of 9/11  with a trip up the new One World Trade Center building
• A tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art , a great way to get an insight into the museum collection with an expert led tour
• A tour of TV and Movie locations across Manhattan , including a tour of the NBC Studios

Naturally there are lots of other walking tour companies and options. If you invest in a New York Pass for example, this includes a number of walking tour options. There are also a wide range of walking tours available here on Viator and here on GetYourGuide .

Saving Money On New York Attractions

New York can definitely be an expensive place to visit. There are of course many free attractions, some of which we’ve included on our itinerary, but many of the most popular attractions do charge an entry fee. These fees can be high, and sightseeing fees in general are a major contributor to the cost of travel in the USA .

There is a way you can save money on these higher priced attractions though, and that is to invest in one of the city attraction passes available in New York City.

When we visit a city and plan to do a lot of sightseeing, we always check to see if there’s an attraction pass which covers the sights we really want to see, as it usually works out saving us money.

For New York City, there’s an excellent choice of passes, and we are sure that one of them will save you money if you plan on visiting at least a few of the paid attractions. We have a detailed guide to all the various New York attraction passes here , which we suggest checking out in advance of your visit. The main passes we recommend are:

• the New York Pass
• the New York Explorer Pass
• the New York Sightseeing Pass
• the New York CityPASS.

For this itinerary, we recommend the New York Pass . The majority of attractions on our itinerary are included on this pass, and at time of writing, the New York Pass offers free entry to over 100 attractions across the city.

These include a lot of high value and popular items like the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Hop on Hop Off Bus, Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial Museum and many more.

If you were to visit all the paid attractions in our list, including taking the Hop on Hop Off bus tour, you would be looking at around $400 in attraction entry costs. So straight away the New York Pass should save at least $50 per person!

What we really love about the New York Pass is just how much it includes. We find that this means we often end up doing things we might not have done, just because they are included, so why not?

So, we don’t need to think twice about adding a museum or two to our tour, or taking a walking tour, or hiring a bike.

It also includes skip-the-line access at a wide range of attractions so in addition to saving you money, the pass can also save you time. Overall, if you are going to follow our itinerary and plan on visiting many of New York’s top attractions, we can highly recommend the New York Pass to save money.

Check prices, and buy yours in advance of your trip here . Passes can be activated up to 24 months from purchase.

Practicalities for Visiting New York

To help you plan your trip to New York, we wanted to share some information on some of the practicalities you should be aware of. Hopefully this knowledge will help you prepare for your time in the city.

Electrical outlets in New York City

Like the rest of the USA, New York uses a 110v-120v system. There are two types of plugs, formally known as types A and B. Plug type A has two flat parallel pins, and plug type B has the same plus a round grounding pin.

If you are travelling from anywhere outside North America, you will likely need some kind of travel adaptor like this . You should also be aware if you are coming from Europe, Asia, Africa or Australasia that the voltage is different. So you will need to check your devices to be sure they support the 110-120v system. Otherwise you will need a power convertor like this .

In our experience, most lower powered electrical devices like laptops, camera chargers, phone chargers etc. work across voltages from 110 – 240v. However, higher powered devices like hair straighteners, curling irons, hair dryers, and kettles do not.

You can read more about travel adapters in our guide to the best travel adapters on the market, which includes voltage convertors as well.

Currency in New York City

The United States is the home of the United States Dollar, so obviously this is the currency you’ll be using in New York City. Dollars come in note form, from $1 bills up to $100 bills. There are also a range of coins, ranging from 1 cent to 1 dollar.

Credit cards are widely accepted across the city for everything from dining to attractions. However, you will want to keep currency to hand, as tipping is very common in the USA. Having a good collection of dollar bills on hand will always be useful.

In addition, single fares on buses can only be bought using coins, although Metrocards can be bought and topped up using a credit or debit card.

We would suggest using a credit card for your purchases where practical, as this will save you carrying large amounts of cash around with you. Just make sure you have a credit card which doesn’t charge you for foreign transactions if you are visiting from outside the USA.

Safety in New York City

These days, New York is a relatively safe city to visit- a far cry from the seventies and eighties when crime was rife.

However, as with any major city in the world petty crime is an issue, and you should take precautions with your valuables so as to minimize opportunities for theft and pickpocketing.

Simple things like keeping purse and wallets out of sight in a zippable pocket, and not leaving valuables like phones lying out in plain sight will go a long way to ensuring a safe trip.

Internet Access in New York City

As a major metropolitan city, New York is obviously well connected, and it’s easy to find free WiFi as you wander the city. Coffee shops, hotels, restaurants and attractions are all good places where WiFi should be fast and free to access.

If you want to get online with your phone using data, you have a few options, which I outline in my guide to getting online when travelling . The USA is not overall a cheap destination for data in my experience, but it is possible to pick up a SIM card for an unlocked phone if you wish.

One thing to be aware of, depending on your carrier and device, is that all the huge skyscrapers in New York do impact the passage of mobile signals, creating a sort of canyon effect. Combine this with the sheer number of people in the city, and you can expect network access to be a little sporadic and slow at times.

Further Reading

That’s it for our guide to what to do when visiting New York City for three days! Hopefully you’ve found it useful, and it’s answered any questions you had about your trip.

We also wanted to share some more content we’ve written on New York and travelling in the USA in general, to ensure you have all the information you might need. We’ve also got a few third-party resources to recommend that we think you might find helpful for your trip.

• If you’re planning a shorter trip, check out our guide to spending two days in New York City
• We have a detailed guide to getting around New York , which should help you plan your transport in the city
• An attraction pass will likely save you money on your visit to the city if you visit enough attractions. See our review of the top New York passes for our thoughts on which are best.
• We have a complete guide to visiting the Empire State Building
• If you enjoy walking tours, check out our  review of some of the Take Walks New York walking tours
• Wondering how much to budget for your trip? We have a guide to  how much it costs to travel in the USA  to help you plan
• If you’re heading on from New York and thinking of hiring a car, take a look at our  tips for driving in the USA
• We also have guides for lots of other locations in the USA ! See our guide to spending 2 days in Chicago , spending 1 week on Route 66 , and exploring the deep south to get you started.
• If you’re looking for a guide to New York, we can recommend the  Frommer’s EasyGuide to New York City .

And that’s it for this guide! As always, if you have any feedback, comments or questions, just pop them in the comments section below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Safe travels!

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There are 6 comments on this post

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Michelle says

12th September 2023 at 11:37 pm

This was helpful. Thank you!

Laurence Norah says

13th September 2023 at 6:05 pm

My pleasure Michelle, have a great time in New York and let me know if you have any questions!

Dr rustom chinwalla says

10th March 2023 at 6:31 pm

hi laurence and jessica ,that was a complete ,exhaustive and such a detailed blog.so well written !! and so methodically covering most details. the itinerary looks so balanced! could u send me your blog if any for orlando as i would be visting there as well this summer.

12th March 2023 at 7:28 am

Thanks very much Rustom! So we haven’t visited Orlando so we unfortunately don’t have any content to send you. But I hope you have a wonderful time nonetheless. Safe travels!

29th December 2021 at 10:47 pm

Your photos are stunning!

30th December 2021 at 10:12 am

Thanks Julie!

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3 Days in NYC: How to Spend a Weekend in New York City

New York City is amazing. Full stop. The food. The energy. The arts and culture scene. All of it. We’re very much city people, and New York checks all the boxes in terms of what we love about cities. There’s so much to do and see in NYC that we’re pretty certain you could spend the better part of a decade trying to see it all, and still end up with things on your list that remain unchecked.

However, you don’t have a decade, do you? You’ve only got something like a weekend in New York City, so you’re going to have to be strategic if you want to see the best that the city has to offer in a few days.

Which is where we come in.

We’re not NYC locals by any means, but we’ve spent a full week in New York City on two separate occasions over the past few years, and have a pretty good perspective on how to explore the city as a tourist. We’ve done most of the major attractions, and have some (sometimes strong) opinions on what’s worthwhile – and arguably more importantly, what’s not – that we think will be helpful as you plan your New York City itinerary.

In this (admittedly very long) guide to spending a weekend in NYC, we’re going to take you through exactly how we’d spend 3 days in New York City.

It’s all based on our own personal experience, and we’ve done our best to create an NYC itinerary that we’d actually want to follow ourselves. Sprinkled in, you’ll find some museums, some Broadway, and a lot of walking (and eating). Plus, some hidden gems – like the New York Public Library – that we discovered mostly by accident and think are definitely worth your valuable time.

Along the way, we’ll also help you answer some of the less exciting – but equally important – questions like where you should stay, what airport to fly into, and how to get around.

Sound good? Grab a cup of coffee (or tequila) and buckle in – this one’s a long one – as we dive deep into how to plan an amazing 3 day NYC itinerary.

PS: Planning a trip to NYC? We’ve got some other super detailed travel guides you might find useful. Read our guide to where to stay in NYC for a detailed breakdown of the best areas to stay for your trip to help you choose the perfect one. And our guide to the best gluten free restaurants and bakeries in NYC if you’re a gluten free foodie, like us.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.

Is 3 Days in New York City Enough?

Is 3 days in literally any major city enough time to see it all? No, definitely not. Especially in a city as big, diverse, and interesting as New York. 

But there is a but. 

But, we totally understand that you probably have limited vacation time, and are using the weekend to make the most of it. You could absolutely spend a week, a month, a year in New York City, but the reality is that you don’t have that kind of time.

3 days in New York City gives you a decent amount of time to explore Manhattan, and spend a half day or so over in Brooklyn. You won’t be able to visit every museum and eat every delicious meal that the city has to offer, but you can get a taste of it, with plenty to see next time. 

If you want to add a day trip over to Governors Island, spend more time in Brooklyn, or see some of the other museums or Broadway shows, add another day for each of those things.

If you’ve only got two days, plan on spending both days in Manhattan (which means not going over to Brooklyn), one day in Midtown / Central Park, and one day in Lower Manhattan. 

The main New York City itinerary below is written for 3 days, but in a section below we have guides on how to spend one, two, and more than three days in New York to help you organize your trip if you have more or less time in the city.  

Where to Stay for a Long Weekend in New York City

New York City is massive, so where you choose to stay is going to have a huge impact on what your weekend is like.

To avoid spending your entire trip in transit, we’d strongly encourage you to stay in Manhattan. Some people like the idea of staying in Brooklyn somewhere, but it’s really inconvenient if you’re going to be spending most of your time doing the main tourist attractions in New York City. Which is what this itinerary is written for.  

If it’s your second or third trip and you’re less interested in things like Central Park, the museums, and Broadway, and you’re more interested in eating and drinking your way through Brooklyn, that’s when you should consider staying in Brooklyn. 

Now, where should you stay in Manhattan? We’ve got three options for you, and we’ve actually personally stayed in all of them, which gives us a unique ability to evaluate the pros and cons of each. 

If you want more detail, you definitely should read our massive detailed guide to where to stay in New York City , which has a deep dive on each of these three neighborhoods with pros and cons, neighborhood highlights, and some cool places to stay. 

Here’s the short version. 

• Our overall recommendation based on our own experience is the Flatiron District / NoMad . It’s on the southern end of Midtown Manhattan, which means you’re right in the center of all the action. But it’s far enough removed from the hecticness around Times Square that you’ll have a little more peace and quiet (if such a thing is even possible in NYC). Greenwich Village, the East Village, Chelsea, and Midtown are all within walking distance, and everything else is a short Subway ride away. We’ve stayed at (and liked) the Ace Hotel and the Freehand . While nothing is particularly affordable in NYC, the Freehand is one of the better values in the city. 
• The best place to stay for first timers who want to be as central as possible is going to be Midtown Manhattan . This area is just north of NoMad (the area we recommended above) and is walkable to Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Central Park. It’s more crowded and packed with people at all hours, but it’s hard to beat the convenience. We LOVE CitizenM Hotels , who have a Times Square location. We’ve stayed in three of their hotels – Boston, Seattle, and London – over the past four months at the time of writing, and every single time we walk away impressed with the modern, streamlined experience from check-in (where you get to select your room, essentially) to check out. Matt also stayed at the Arlo Midtown on his last (solo) trip to NYC, and it’s a stylish option in a nice location with a cool rooftop bar.
• The last option we’d recommend is Chelsea or Greenwich Village , which are adjacent neighborhoods in southwestern Manhattan. While not as central as the two options above, Greenwich Village in particular (and Chelsea, to a lesser extent) is the place to be for foodies . The whole area around Washington Square Park, the centerpiece to the area, is a lovely place to spend an evening, and it’s full of the brownstones you see in series like Friends and Seinfeld. If you’re on a budget, look at the Leo House in the heart of Chelsea. If you’re not, stay at the Moxy Chelsea or the Walker Hotel , the latter of which is a few blocks off of Washington Square Park. 

Flying to New York City: Which Airport to Choose?

This is a hotly debated topic among New Yorkers, and the several people who I asked all basically said the same thing; “it depends.” 

There are three main airports that serve New York City. 

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

The main airport is John F Kennedy International (JFK) , which is a fair distance east of the city center. It does have the best selection of flights, both domestic and international, but it’s a TREK to get to.

It took me 75 minutes to get from Midtown to the airport in a Lyft on a previous trip, and the Subway takes a full 90 minutes or so.

Here’s a guide to getting from JFK to Manhattan by public transit, which costs just $10.75 (AirTrain + Subway fare) and is BY FAR the cheapest option.

For a slightly more comfortable ride, take the LIRR from Penn Station to Jamaica Station and transfer to the Airtrain, which is $15.75 (off-peak) and closer to $20 for peak travel times.

For what it’s worth, I did the LIRR → AirTrain on my last trip, and it was seamless and easy to navigate. 

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

Closer in, just northeast of the city center in Queens, is LaGuardia Airport (LGA) . There’s a fair selection of domestic flights going in and out of LaGuardia, particularly on American and Delta, but not as good as JFK.

Plus, the public transit links are a bit tougher because you have to use both a bus (the Q70 is a pretty easy connection though) and the Subway (more on how to do that here ), so a cab or rideshare is probably going to be your best bet. Plan on $70 and 45-60 minutes to complete that journey.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

On the other side of Manhattan in New Jersey is Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

This is a hub for United, and to quote Alysha who flew out of Newark for our trip, “this airport is a sh*tshow.” We’d avoid Newark if you can, but if you’re flying United (why would you do that?) then you might end up here.

Here’s a guide to getting to and from Newark via public transportation.

There are a couple of options, but none are particularly easy – they all involve at least one transfer. A cab or Lyft, while expensive ($50-80, give or take), is the fastest way to get into Midtown. I just looked, and with morning traffic at 9:30am on a Monday, it’s only about 40 minutes.

So, Which Airport Should You Fly Into (if You Have a Choice)?

The question is, which should you choose? Of course, this totally depends on a bunch of different factors, but here’s our take based on personal experience and talking with friends who live (or have lived) in NYC. 

If you’re staying in Manhattan (you probably are), then it makes the most sense to choose either LaGuardia or Newark. While neither are directly connected to the Subway system, they both are closer to Manhattan than JFK, which means a shorter cab / Lyft journey to your hotel. However, public transportation is a little tougher from both airports. 

If you’re staying in Brooklyn, OR you want to take the Subway to the airport, then you’ll want to choose JFK. JFK also has the best flight selection, especially for international routes, so if you’re coming from outside of the US, this is probably where you’ll land. 

Or, if you’re like us, just choose the airport that gets you the cheapest (direct) flight and deal with how to get into the city later. 

3 Days in NYC: A Complete Itinerary for a Long Weekend in New York City

Because there is SO MUCH to do and see in New York City, just about everyone is going to have a different take on the best way to spend your time.

Our version includes a couple of museums – but not spending all of your time inside a museum – and a lot of exploring on foot. Walking is our favorite way to see a city, and NYC is flat and walkable. Aside from the fact that it’s massive, which means you’ll need to use the Subway or ferries at some points. 

What you won’t find in the meat of this guide is detailed food recommendations UNLESS they are an easy stop along the route. Instead, we’ve compiled a list of our top NYC eats in a separate section at the bottom of this post. 

P.S.: Matt has Celiac Disease, which means he needs to eat strictly gluten free (hence the name of our website). We have a huge guide to the best gluten free restaurants in NYC if you’re in the same boat, but still want the best bagels, pastries, and tacos in the city!

Day 1: Times Square, Midtown Manhattan, and Central Park

On your first day in New York City, we’d spend your time getting acquainted with Midtown Manhattan, which in many ways is the beating heart of the city. At least for tourists, anyway.

Start in Times Square and make your way in a circle, getting one of the best views in NYC, exploring the two best parks in the city, and seeing the best church in the city. Then, spend the afternoon at one of the city’s best museums and take a self-guided walking tour of Central Park before dinner and drinks in Midtown. 

Times Square

Look, Times Square is A LOT. We’ve been there early in the morning, late afternoon around sunset, and after the sun goes down when the bright lights really blaze.

If you’re looking for the whole experience – the street performers, the characters trying to get you to take a picture with them (spoiler: you have to pay them afterwards!), and the throngs of people, then by all means come later in the day. 

If you want to check out Times Square without all of those less pleasant (in our opinion, anyway) elements, come early in the morning. There will still be people around – it’s arguably the biggest tourist attraction in the country – but it is a lot less hectic and chaotic. 

There’s really not much else to say about Times Square. It’s worth seeing once, but it’s probably not worth lingering. One thing we will say is that just about every restaurant in and around Times Square is not worth your time. 

With one exception – Los Tacos No.1 – which also has a location in Chelsea Market. At both locations, the lines are almost always at least 20-30 minutes long. The wait is supposedly worth it, but they have both flour and corn tortillas, which means we don’t get to eat here (because Matt has Celiac Disease and a few crumbs of gluten is bad news barnacles for his body). 

NY Public Library

The New York Public Library , which is right at Bryant Park, was a surprisingly great stop on our last trip to New York. The building – the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building – is iconic, and is the flagship location of the NYPL system. It was built over a century ago, and opened to the public in 1911 after a couple of decades of construction. 

It’s free to enter, though at the moment you do need to make a timed entry reservation to get into the Polonsky Exhibition (more on that in a second). You can make them onsite – they have a couple of stations to register – but they might sell out at peak times and in the summer. 

There are a couple of things to do and see here. The first is the Polonsky Exhibition which is a collection of items spanning from a handwritten copy of the Constitution by Thomas Jefferson, to the actual stuffed animals that inspired Winnie the Pooh. There’s a really cool free audio guide that you can access online with your smartphone, so make sure to bring headphones to take advantage !

The second thing to do here is a docent-led tour of the building . They’re currently offered at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm Monday through Saturday (that may change so double check the website) and last an hour. You can make reservations here , and tours are limited to the first 15 people who sign up. 

There’s also a shorter version of the tour that takes you just to the impressive Rose Reading Room. 

Bryant Park

Just outside the library is Bryant Park, a green oasis in the heart of the city’s densest area. 

If you’ve got more time and it’s a nice day, they have a reading room, some board games – chess and Connect4, for example – to rent, ping pong, petanque, and more. It’s an exceedingly pleasant place to spend a couple of hours in the sun. 

On a random Thursday when we were in town, there was a big group of people gathered near the fountain at the opposite end of the park from the library. There was a huge dance party going on! It was super fun, and something that feels uniquely “New York.” So much energy!

One of the cooler parts about Bryant Park is their events schedule. From petanque tournaments on summer Fridays, to opera and dance performances, they have a continuous calendar of art and cultural events in the summer. You can find the calendar here – we think it’s worth it to return later in the day if there’s an event you’re into.  

A coffee note : If you’re in need of a little caffeine boost, head over to Culture Espresso , a few blocks south of Bryant Park at W 38th Street and 6th Avenue. When I was there last, they used Heart Coffee from Portland , which I was surprised to see so far from home!

Rockefeller Center & the Top of the Rock

A lot of people want to go to the top of the Empire State Building, which is understandable I suppose, given its standing in the pantheon of tourist attractions in the United States. However, we’ve found that the top deck of the Empire State Building suffers a similar problem to other viewing platforms on top of major tourist attractions, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Space Needle in Seattle . 

It’s missing a key element of the NYC skyline… the Empire State Building. 

Instead, head over to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck, the viewing platform on top of Rockefeller Center, for a jaw-dropping view of New York City, including the Empire State Building and Central Park. It’s pricey, but it’s the best view of the city for us. 

More information, including costs, hours, and reservations, can be found here . 

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

New York City isn’t really known for its churches in the way that Paris or Rome are, mainly because it’s historically a more protestant city, which means less ostentatious churches. It’s not all that surprising that the preeminent Catholic church in the city is also the most impressive. 

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is basically right across the street from Rockefeller Center. 

Built in the mid 19th Century, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is an impressive structure. The contrast between the Gothic Revival style and the modern structures surrounding it is quite something. 

There’s a tour, but it’s $20 for a self-guided audio tour . You can decide whether you think that’s worth it, but I can tell you that we don’t think it is. We’d pay for a live guided tour, though. 

Choose Your Own (Museum) Adventure

We’ve done three of the major museums in NYC, and while all of them were excellent, we also don’t think it’s worth spending your entire New York City itinerary indoors at a museum.

Plus, unlike London where many of the museums are free, these museums aren’t particularly cheap.

Instead, we’d pick one and go deep on that museum, which will take you the better part of an afternoon. We’d set aside two to four hours, depending on how deep you want to go. 

The three museums we’re talking about are the Metropolitan Museum of Art , the Natural History Museum , and MOMA (the Museum of Modern Art) . 

Here’s our take on which museum you should choose. All three offer a very different experience, and it really depends on what you’re looking for. 

If you want to see a sprawling collection of art, architecture, and culture from around the world, choose the Met . The Met is like the Louvre in Paris – it has just about everything. And it’s a little overwhelming. The craziest part of this collection is the fact that only a relatively small percentage of the collection is actually on display. The rest is tucked away in storage. Tickets are $25 for adults, and we’d recommend buying them online in advance to skip the line at the museum ticketing desk. Closed Wednesdays. More information on planning your visit here . 

If you want to see a more focused (sort of) collection of art from the 19th, 20th, and 21st Centuries, head to MOMA . The highlights of this collection, at least in our opinion, are Van Gogh’s Starry Night , Monet’s Water Lilies , and a lot of the colorful abstract art on the top floor. Definitely start with the fifth floor while you’re fresh, which was our favorite and is where you’ll find all three of those pieces, and make your way down through the rest of the collection. Tickets are $25 for adults, and we’d recommend buying them online in advance to skip the line at the museum ticketing desk. Closed Wednesdays. More information on planning your visit here . 

If you’re more into nature, impressive animal skeletons (like a T-Rex!), or you have kids, then we’d opt for the American Museum of Natural History , which is across Central Park from the Met. They have a bunch of cool permanent collections and a rotating group of special exhibits that cost extra. The highlights of the permanent collections for us include the blue whale skeleton, a gigantic T-rex, and Lucy, the most intact early hominid skeleton we’ve found. Tickets are $23 for adults, and you need to buy them online in advance . They’re open Wednesday to Sunday. More information on planning your visit here . 

Central Park 

Spend the rest of your afternoon in Central Park, which is the biggest park in the country. 

What’s that? It’s not? Oh right, Golden Gate Park – which we used to live two blocks from in San Francisco – is actually significantly bigger. Central Park isn’t even the biggest park in New York City! Pelham Park in the Bronx and the Greenbelt in Staten Island are significantly bigger. Both are more than double the size. 

Still, Central Park is amazing considering the location right in the center of the most densely populated pieces of land in the world. The fact that it’s not overrun by dog poop and trash (or, development) is a testament to the work that the Central Park Conservancy has put in over the centuries. 

Central Park is absolutely massive, and you probably are not going to be able to see every single one of the 800+ acres in one afternoon.

With that in mind, we’d focus your time on the southern end of the park. Start at “The Pond” in the southeastern corner, and make a loop up to “The Lake” and Bow Bridge (stop at Belvedere Castle before looping back), before heading back past Bethesda Terrace and walking along the Mall to Columbus Circle . 

We know that’s a lot – here’s a Google Map route of that walk. It’s about 2.5 miles, and will take about two hours, with stops. 

There’s a cool audio guide with QR codes around the park where you can learn about the history as you walk. 

Day 2: Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn

On your second day in New York City, start with Lower Manhattan, which is the gateway to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, before hopping on the ferry over to Brooklyn for the afternoon and evening.

The Charging Bull, The New York Stock Exchange, and Coffee

Start your day by making your way to Lower Manhattan. For most people, unless you’re staying there, that means hopping on the Subway. If you’re coming from Midtown, you can take the 1 to South Ferry or the 2 or 3 to Wall Street . 

First, coffee. Black Fox Coffee in Lower Manhattan was one of my favorite spots for coffee in the entire city, and it’s a perfect place to start your day. They rotate through different roasters from all over the world (including Square Mile from London and Coffee Collective from Denmark when I was there), and have single origin coffee options, espresso drinks, and inventive specialty drinks like a sesame chai that Alysha really enjoyed. 

Next, head west on Wall Street towards the New York Stock Exchange , which isn’t really particularly special, but is worth stopping by to see what company is doing an IPO that day, with their banners draped over the front of the building and their PR people milling about taking thousands of photos. 

From there, continue along Wall Street until it ends at Trinity Church . Alexander Hamilton is buried here in the graveyard outside the church.

It’s an Episcopal church, which essentially means it’s an Anglican church – the church that the Royal Family in Great Britain started to, uh, “get in on the cash grab” according to a historian we met in London – but in the United States (or various other places in the world). 

The Anglican movement is an offshoot of Protestantism, but – and stop me if you’ve heard this before – the British didn’t want to be beholden to people on the European mainland, so they decided to set out on their own. 

Why not just be an Anglican church, you ask? Well, because after the American Revolution, it wasn’t exactly cool in America to be required to swear allegiance to the crown. Which is what the Anglican church has to do because the Royal Family are seen as holy. 

Anyway, at the time of our visit we’re pretty sure you couldn’t actually go in, but it’s worth walking around the southeast corner of the church, where you can see the graveyard and the resting place of Alexander Hamilton. 

From there, it’s a short two blocks down to the final stop of this mini walking tour of Lower Manhattan, which is the bronze Charging Bull statue.

If you don’t get here early, you’ll likely have to wait in line to see it (there were lines starting at about 9:30 or 10:00 am when we were there). It’s a symbol of financial prosperity (a “bull market” is a good thing), and is basically the symbol of Wall Street for tourists. 

In our opinion, the cooler thing to see here is the park right behind the bull, which is Bowling Green , the oldest public park in NYC. The fence around the park is original from the 18th Century! 

If you’re interested, the building at the south end of the park is cool – the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House – and it houses the National Museum of the American Indian , which is free to visit and worth poking your head into for both an education on the history of American Indians, and the building itself. 

Battery Park

From there, it’s a quick walk over to Battery Park, which is a cool park at the southern tip of Lower Manhattan. 

To be honest, the main function of Battery Park is to house multiple ferry terminals – you can get the Staten Island Ferry , the ferry out to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (we’ll get there in the next section), and the ferry to Governors Island .  

However, there is a view of the Statue of Liberty from the very southern end of the park, though it’s a distant one.

If you have the time, it’s worth coming back here around sunset, when you can get a nice shot of the Statue of Liberty off in the distance with the orange-pink clouds above. It was a very enjoyable way to close out a day of exploring NYC. 

The main reason you’re here is because, as we mentioned above, it’s the jumping off point for heading out to Ellis Island and Liberty Island. 

Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty

Did you know that there are actually two islands that make up the Statue of Liberty complex? Until very, very recently, I thought that Ellis Island WAS the island that the Statue of Liberty was one. But I was mistaken! Instead, the Statue of Liberty is just southwest on Liberty Island. 

You learn something new everyday, I guess. 

Both islands are symbols of the promise of the American Dream. The famous saying engraved on the Statue of Liberty reads “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” We welcomed millions of immigrants – including countless refugees – with open arms, offering the promise of a better life full of opportunity. 

Of course once they settled, the reality of the United States, which is decidedly not as rosy as the ideals it was built on, became apparent. 

Ironically, the history of Ellis Island actually reflects that dichotomy – it became a detention center in the early 1900’s as nativism and isolationism took hold in the country.

Following that rocky period, several laws were passed to limit the number of immigrants coming into the country after decades of an open door policy with basically zero paperwork. 

Then, shortly before closing forever in 1954, it was used to detain immigrants who had ties to facist and communist regimes around the world.

Given the current discourse in our politics, it seems like some of our countrymen may have forgotten that America, at its core, has always been a nation of immigrants. There is no better reminder of that than Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. 

Both of our families immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island (ironically, both of our families had people coming from Sicily – are we secretly related?), and followed the same route as 12 million other Americans between 1892 and the 1950’s. 

The islands are only accessible by ferry, and the ferries leave from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, making stops at both islands. 

If you want to go to the National Immigration Museum and the Family History Center (where you can search arrival records to potentially see your family’s name), then you want Ellis Island. If you want to check out the Statue of Liberty up close and personal (and visit the accompanying museum ), you want Liberty Island. 

If you want to do both, you totally can but it will take somewhere between two and four hours, depending on how quickly you move. Given limited time, we’d focus on Liberty Island unless you’re making a specific trip to search out your family’s history coming through Ellis Island. 

All of the various museums and attractions are included in your ferry ticket price, so you don’t need to buy individual tickets for each attraction. 

There are self-guided audio guides available for all of the major attractions. 

The 9/11 Memorial

The 9/11 Memorial, which is on the site of the original World Trade Center, is a museum and monument dedicated to the victims of September 11th, 2001, an important day in American history. 

I don’t know where you were on September 11th, but I distinctly remember EXACTLY where I was.

I grew up in Washington State in the Seattle area, so we were three hours behind in terms of time of day. So the attack on the World Trade Center interrupted my morning before school cartoon routine (Pokemon, for those of you wondering). 

Then, I headed off to 6th grade, and we spent the entire day alternating between watching the news and talking about what had happened. As a sixth grader, I didn’t really appreciate what was going on, but I’ve since realized that it was a pivotal moment in modern American history. 

There are two parts to this experience – the Museum and the Memorial . The memorial, which has two reflecting pools with black squares in the center, stands on the site of the original twin towers. The museum is a multimedia experience that tells the story of 9/11. 

If you’re really interested in going deep, I’d recommend checking out their tours. That’s how we would’ve chosen to experience the museum (though as we talk about below, we tried to get free tickets, failed, and ended up skipping it this time). 

Tickets are relatively expensive, but if you happen to be in town on a Monday, then you can visit for free. You’ll need to get on at 7:00 am (on the dot) on Monday morning, go to this page , and try to snag a few of the small number of same day free tickets that are available. We were unsuccessful, so we actually ended up skipping the museum. 

Oculus Center

Right across the street from the 9/11 Museum and Memorial is the Oculus Center, which is a giant white structure that’s supposed to look something like two hands releasing a dove. I say “supposed to” because it’s so big that it’s hard to get a perspective that actually allows you to visualize that. 

It was built following the September 11th attacks to function as part transport hub, part commercial center. Today, there are a bunch of Subway lines that run through it and it’s the Lower Manhattan station for PATH (a high-speed rail network connecting New Jersey and New York City). 

It’s worth stepping inside the ground floor in mid-morning, when there is a ton of natural light pouring through the windows lining the high ceilings. There’s also a few high-end shops like Moleskine and an Apple Store here. 

Really, we’d visit just for the architecture. One tip we got after we had been here – try to come midday if you can. Since it’s a transportation hub, it’s very, very busy during commute hours (8:00-10:00am, 3:00-6:00pm, ish).  

Ferry to Brooklyn Bridge Park

From there, head over to the eastern end of Lower Manhattan to Pier 11 ( here on Google Maps), which is where you can catch the East River Ferry to head over to Brooklyn. 

The ferry is, by far, the best way to get over to Brooklyn from Manhattan in our opinion. It’s nicer than the Subway, the views are better than the Subway, and you can sit outside on the deck on a nice day. 

Plus, it takes you directly to where you need to go to continue this itinerary!

Basically, the ferry costs $2.75 a ride ($1.00 more if you bring a bike), you buy tickets in advance before boarding either through the app or at the ticketing machines onsite, and it moves FAST once you’re on the water.

For this particular route, you want the South Brooklyn ferry heading north towards Corlears Hook. Your stop is DUMBO. You can also take the East River Ferry towards Hunter’s Point South, which takes you to the same stop (DUMBO). See both routes and a map of the ferry system here . 

Walk a Loop through Brooklyn Bridge Park and Brooklyn Heights

From the ferry terminal, you’re going to make two loops. 

One will take you south along the waterfront, then up the hill and back through Brooklyn Heights, where you’ll have some excellent views of Manhattan first from the water level, and then from up a few stories higher. 

The other will take you from the ferry terminal to the east, stopping at the famous DUMBO photo spot of the Manhattan Bridge and making your way through the heart of DUMBO. 

First, make your way south along the waterfront to Pier 6. This walk takes you along the waterfront of the East River, which is pretty much just amazing views of Manhattan from start to finish. In particular we enjoyed the views at the beginning of the walk, particularly from Old Pier 1 . 

This part of the walk is a good illustration of the way that the city has used formerly industrial areas and transformed them into green spaces along the waterfront. There’s another good example of this tomorrow, where you’ll stop at Little Island on the other side of Manhattan. 

From there, head up into Brooklyn along Atlantic Avenue, hang a left on Clinton Street, and another left on Montague Street, which takes you down to Brooklyn Heights Promenade, which you can follow back to the DUMBO Ferry (the start of your next walk). 

Here’s a map of the route . All-in, it’s going to take you about an hour (not including stops) and is a 2.7 mile walk. 

DUMBO Walk #2 (Jane’s Carousel and the Insta-Famous Photo)

The other side of this figure eight loop is less about the Manhattan views, though it still certainly has some of those, but more about the food and drinks (sometimes with a view). 

Start out heading east along the waterfront, where you’ll hit Jane’s Carousel almost immediately, and continue all the way out to John Street Park (stop by Pebble Beach right after the carousel for good Manhattan views). 

Then, loop back through Dumbo, stopping at the spot where you can get that famous photo of the Manhattan Bridge with brick buildings on either side and a picturesque cobblestone street in the foreground.

It’s here on Google Maps, and it’s likely to be swarming with people trying to get the perfect picture (spoiler: to get that, you have to come before 7:00 am…which I did). 

Here’s a map of the route, although this one is definitely more dependent on what you’re craving. If you’re up for beer, head to Evil Twins Brewing . For beer on a cool rooftop, head to Randolph (summer and fall only). For wine, head to Olympia . If you’re up for ice cream, head to Oddfellows . This whole area is full of cool places to eat and drink. 

Here’s a rough map of what this walk might look like, starting at the ferry terminal and looping back through the heart of DUMBO. 

Time Out Market 

End your walk in DUMBO at the Time Out Market , which is a multi-level food hall with a rooftop bar and an endless selection of places to eat and drink. The first iteration of Time Out Market that we experienced was in Lisbon , and this one is even more impressive, with more vendors and a cool rooftop bar. 

P.S. : If you’re confused why an online travel media company has a food hall, you’re not alone. We had the same confused thought before our trip to Portugal when we were reading about the Time Out Market in Lisbon. You can read about how it came to be here . 

If you’re here in the morning (or early afternoon), stop by Ess-A-Bagel , which was recommended to us by our friends, who are bagel aficionados (definitely not gluten free though, so only good for Alysha). 

If you’re up for a drink with a view, head up to the fifth floor to their rooftop (ish) bar. Love Local Beers sells a bunch of local beers that you can take to enjoy out on the terrace (or at home). 

Dinner and Drinks in Brooklyn

If you’re up for staying in Brooklyn for a bit more time, there’s some good food and drinks to be had over on this side of the river. 

One of our favorite restaurants in NYC – Claro – is over in Brooklyn. It’s inspired by Oaxaca, where the head chef spent a bunch of time, and their back patio is an amazing place to have a cocktail and try their food.

It’s expensive, and it’s a tasting menu. Make a reservation early, and order the strawberry aguachile and the chocolate mole cake for dessert. 

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly (but equally delicious) option for Mexican food, head to For All Things Good in Bed Stuy. Honestly, it was a close second to Claro in terms of our favorite food we ate in NYC.

For a drink, head to Cardiff Giant, who has a nice back patio full of greenery, and beer, wine, and cider exclusively from NY State, which I enjoyed learning from the bartender about. 

If cocktails and pinball sound like a good time, Glorietta Baldy is the spot for you. 

Day 3: Chelsea, Greenwich Village, and a Show

On your third day in New York City, explore the western end of Manhattan, starting in Chelsea with a walk on the High Line, heading south into Greenwich Village, and ending back in Midtown to catch a show, which is a must-do in NYC if you’ve never seen a Broadway (or off-Broadway show before). 

The High Line

Start your last day in New York City with a walk along the High Line, a former railroad that has been transformed into a nice elevated greenspace that goes from the southern end of Hell’s Kitchen to the southern end of Chelsea. 

As cities get more and more dense, we’re going to have to find more ways to create green spaces in a neverending concrete jungle. The High Line is a cool example of thinking (slightly) outside the box and turning an unused space – in this case, a railroad – into a public green space. 

It only stretches about a mile, from the entrance at W 30th Street on the north end down to Gansevoort Street on the south end (just south of W 12th Street). We’d recommend that you walk the whole thing, starting here .

Don’t miss Vessel , a cool industrial structure that consists of more than 150 interconnected staircases with some cool city views. It’s right near the entrance to the High Line ( here on Google Maps).

Along the way, you’ll see some unique architecture, the coolest parking garage in existence (the cars are stacked vertically), and plenty of flowers and greenery that feels out of place in industrial Chelsea. 

On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, there are free docent-led tours of the High Line that take you through the history of the park, including its beginnings as a railroad through its transformation over the past few decades.

Tours begin at the Gansevoort Street entrance ( here on Google Maps), and last about 90 minutes. The timing of tours varies by season and you can see the times here . 

I wish we had realized that these tours were available before Wednesday afternoon, because this is something we definitely would have been interested in. 

The High Line has become so popular that in the summer – through the end of September – you actually need to make reservations for peak times (12:00 pm – 6:00 pm) on the weekend and holiday Mondays (Memorial Day, July 4th Weekend, Labor Day). More information on making reservations here . 

Little Island

Speaking of repurposed industrial spaces, Little Island is another great example of a rundown industrial space in the city that has been transformed into an accessible green space.

In this case, it’s Pier 54 on the Hudson River that is now a multi-tier outdoor space. It’s one of the newest public parks in NYC, opening in March of 2021. 

Really, the entire section of the Hudson River is full of nice green spaces, which is another cool way to create a little break from the concrete jungle that is Midtown Manhattan. 

Again, during peak hours you’ll need to make a timed entry reservation to access Little Island. The dates are May 12 through September 19th, and you’ll need a reservation from 12:00 pm to close on Thursday through Sunday (and holidays). 

They have free events almost every day in the summer, in addition to bigger ticketed events . Seeing a show or performance in the little amphitheater on the river would be a fun night out!

If you’re interested in the history and construction, there’s a 40 minute audio tour that’s completely free!

After you exit the High Line at its southern end, you’ll head out to the river and walk a little ways north to get there. When you’re done here, cross back over the road towards Midtown and you’ll basically be at Chelsea Market, your next stop. 

Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market is a collection of mostly food stalls, with some shopping (even a flea market – Thursday to Monday: 11:00am – 7:00pm) mixed in. It’s a great stop for an early lunch / late breakfast before you continue south to Greenwich Village. 

Some of the food highlights here are Friedman’s , which is a brunchy restaurant with tons of gluten free options (including fried chicken and waffles) that you would never know are gluten free, Los Tacos no. 1 (which we mentioned above in Times Square) with authentic tacos and a huge line at most hours, Doughnuttery for innovatively flavored donut holes (it reminds us of Pip’s in Portland, Oregon ), and plenty more. 

This is also a good bathroom stop if you’ve had to go for a while. 

A block or so east of Chelsea Market is one of our favorite coffee shops in NYC, Terremoto , which is a little hole in the wall serving some of the best coffee in the city.

I love places where you can choose what beans you want to try, either for filter coffee or espresso, and this place checks that box with a few different coffees available at any given time. 

Greenwich Village & Washington Square Park

From Chelsea Market (or Terremoto Coffee), hop onto Greenwich Avenue and follow it south towards Greenwich Village and Washington Square Park. 

Along the way you’ll start to see the architecture change, moving slowly (and sometimes abruptly) from old industrial buildings now housing art galleries to historic brownstones that you’ve seen in any show or movie featuring NYC. 

Greenwich Avenue itself is lined with bars, restaurants, and shops. It’s the kind of commercial strip in a residential area (as residential as it could possibly be in the heart of NYC, anyway) that we really enjoy. 

The apartment building featured in Friends as the building where Rachel, Monica, Chandler, and Joey (and Phoebe, for a bit) lived is here .

Make your way to Washington Square Park , which is the centerpiece of the neighborhood.  On the other side of the park, you’ll find the main NYU campus, which gives this area a distinctly young feeling, and means it’s full of great bars and restaurants. It’s worth coming back here in the evening for dinner and drinks if you’re not seeing a show in the evening. 

If you’re looking for lunch, we LOVED Nami Nori , a sushi joint serving temaki, which means a handroll, but an individual portion instead of a roll cut into 6-8 pieces. 

The original location of Magnolia Bakery is also here on Bleecker Street, and while it’s not gluten free (not even close), I brought back a collection of cupcakes for Alysha on my first ever trip to NYC (along with some bagels from nearby Bagels on the Square ). 

Catch a Show

Round out your time in NYC by experiencing the diverse and impressive theater scene that is only really available in a few select cities around the world, including New York and London . 

Now, you’re going to have to do some advance preparation if you want to see one of the most famous productions in the world, like Hamilton or Harry Potter and the Cursed Child . You’ll need to buy tickets well in advance, and you’ll need to be willing to pay for them. 

However, if you’re up for seeing something a little less prestigious, then there are actually a surprising number of ways to experience it more affordably. Broadway for Broke People is a great resource if you’re looking to figure out how to get tickets on the cheap. 

The best way for most people to get cheap tickets if you don’t have time to apply for lotteries and run around to box offices is to head to the TKTS booth in Times Square , where you can get tickets for most of the major performances happening in NYC at somewhere between 20% and 50% off.

See a full list of their offerings here , but you should know that not all shows have availability for every day. Go early for the best selection, and right before show time for the best prices. 

Broadway Roulette is another fun way to do it, but you won’t be able to select a specific show – instead, they give you a list of shows (from which you can cross off a few if you really don’t want to see them or already have seen them), you pay $49-$59, and they give you tickets for one of them. No returns or refunds, so this is an option only if you don’t really care which show you’re going to see.  

For what it’s worth we’ve seen the following shows (not in NYC) and recommend them for different reasons: 

• The Lion King : We’ve seen this together multiple times, and it’s always a pleasure. The costumes, songs, and story are top notch, and there’s a reason that it has been running for several decades at this point. We’d see it again, too, if that’s any sort of endorsement for you. 
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child : Hot take – the story is HOT GARBAGE if you’re a fan of the Harry Potter series (Matt has read the books more than 10 times at this point). But the stagecraft and magic is insanely cool and had us wondering “how the heck did they do that” through pretty much the entire show. It’s LONG too, so it’s really a full day affair (or split into two evenings) and might not make the most sense if you only have three days in NYC. 
• The Book of Mormon : Hilarious and raunchy, this is not a show for families with kids. Or people offended by jokes about Mormonism, colonialism, religion in general, and a wide variety of other topics. It’s a musical from the creators of South Park , so if you’re not a fan of the “a little too close to home” humor from that show, then we’d skip this. 
• Hamilton : We were lucky enough to win the lottery to see Hamilton in San Francisco (Alysha would like me to clarify that SHE won the $10 ticket lottery, and I was just her date), and it’s an amazing spectacle. The lottery meant that we got to sit in the second row, and the energy (and spit) coming from the stage was contagious. The writing and performances are incredible, and we’d highly recommend it if you can snag tickets. 

What to Do with Less Time in New York City

Have less than a long weekend in NYC? Here’s how we’d spend one or two days in New York City. 

One Day in New York City

If you’ve only got a day in New York City, you’re going to have to pick and choose what you really want to focus on. 

To us, the main highlights are going to be Midtown Manhattan , Central Park , and Battery Park / Ellis Island / the Statue of Liberty.  

If you’re into art and want to fit in one of NYC’s world-class museums, you’re probably going to have to sacrifice heading out to the Statue of Liberty to fit in one of the museums – the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) or MOMA (the Museum of Modern Art) – which each take at least two or three hours. You’re also going to have to make the hard choice between the two of those, because you can’t fit both in. 

So, assuming no museums, start your day in Lower Manhattan at Black Fox Coffee , and follow that section of the itinerary above to Wall Street , the New York Stock Exchange , Trinity Church , and the Charging Bull Sculpture . 

Continue on to Battery Park , and catch the ferry out to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty . Pick one of the islands to explore – Ellis Island is the immigration museum where you can check the records for family names, Liberty Island is the Statue of Liberty. 

Back on the mainland, catch the Subway up to Midtown Manhattan . Follow Day 1 of the itinerary above as written, cutting out the museum stop. You’ll have to move fast, and by the end you’ll be exhausted, but it’ll be worth it if you’ve only got a day!

2 Days in New York City

With 2 days, you’ve got a little more time, and you’ll probably be able to see most of the highlights.

Cut Brooklyn (unfortunately) and spend one day in Midtown, and the other day in Lower Manhattan and Chelsea / Greenwich Village. 

That means you’d follow day 1 of the NYC itinerary above as written , and then combine the morning of day 2 (Lower Manhattan) and the morning of day 3 (the High Line, Chelsea, and Greenwich Village) . 

If you want to fit in a show, it probably makes the most sense on the evening of day 1. 

Eating and Drinking in New York City

Rather than try to shoehorn our favorite restaurants into the itinerary above, we decided to just have a separate section for them here (though, when it makes sense, you’ll also find them in the main itinerary). 

Here are our favorite restaurants, bakeries, bars, and more in NYC, in no particular order. 

Restaurants / Food Spots in New York That We Love

Cosme : I love Cosme, chef Enrique Olvera’s (of Pujol fame) outpost in the Flatiron District. I’ve been twice, and both times it was a stellar experience. It has a Michelin star, and the service, ambiance, and food are impeccable. Get the duck carnitas, which are enough to feed a small army, and DO NOT MISS the corn husk meringue, which might have been the best thing we ate on our entire trip. 

Beecher’s Cheese : Hey, look, a company from Seattle ( Filson also has a location not too far away – we’re taking over!). I love Beecher’s Flagship cheese – my mom almost always has a chunk of it waiting for me when I visit her house – and they do a mean mac n cheese here (though I can’t partake, because gluten). Bedford Cheese Shop is another good spot nearby, if you’re looking for a wider selection of cheese. 

Los Tacos No. 1 : As we mentioned above, we didn’t actually get to eat here because they serve gluten in multiple forms. But it was recommended by a couple of New Yorkers we know who didn’t think about that aspect. They also have a location in Chelsea Market, but if you’re in Times Square and you’re hungry, don’t be afraid to brave the fast-moving line for their tacos. 

Nami Nori : We loved this sushi spot in Greenwich Village that serves temaki, which are basically single-serve handrolls that are kind of like tacos. Definitely get the furikake fries with tonkatsu ketchup, and the green curry shrimp roll, which was BY FAR our favorite. Sit at the bar for the best experience, where you get to watch them crafting your rolls individually. 

Claro : We’ve been twice, and love this place. The back garden is where you should reserve if you’re coming in the summer. It’s now exclusively a tasting menu, and the most interesting things on the menu for us were the strawberry aguachile (it’s spicy!), though everything we ate was fantastic. Plus, it’s entirely gluten free!

For All Things Good : While we love Claro and Cosme, two Michelin-starred Mexican restaurants in New York City, this might have been our favorite Mexican food of the trip. They use SUPER fresh masa, and the first thing we noticed is HOW MUCH BETTER tortillas, memelas, and tlayudas are when the masa is fresh. They had just started their dinner service when we were there, and we opted to stop by for brunch. Don’t miss the tlayudas (basically, a pizza with a masa base, beans, cheese, and other toppings) and tetelas (triangle-shaped stuffed masa).

Modern Bread and Bagel : This is for my gluten free fam. If you’re gluten free, I want you to think really hard about the last time you had a good gluten free bagel. For most of us, the answer is “never,” and Modern Bread and Bagel is the antidote to bagels that are just bread with a hole in the middle. It’s so good, we went THREE times in a week. Seriously. It’s good. And their Jewish-inspired pastries like rugelach are also pretty spectacular, too. It’s a must stop for gluten free folks in NYC. 

Coffee Shops in New York That We Loved

Devoción : We have actually been to their cafe in Bogotá, Colombia, and I didn’t even know they had shops in NYC until we walked by the one in Williamsburg. The beans come straight from Colombia (within 10 days of roasting), and they have a BEAUTIFUL space filled with lots of plants and natural light. 

La Cabra : First, this import from Denmark serves some spectacular coffees. I first discovered La Cabra at i/o Cafe , one of my favorite coffee shops in Paris , and I’ve never actually seen them outside of Europe. But they have a flagship in NYC! Great coffee, including special and interesting pour over options and perfectly pulled espresso. Second, they make all of their pastries in-house – which you can see happening through the big windows behind the pastry case. It’s cool to see them take the same intentional approach that they take to coffee and apply it to pastries. Even the ceramics are gorgeous!

Terremoto Coffee : If you’re into places where you can choose what coffee beans you’re served in your drink, this place is for you. They serve Unity Coffee, and have a couple of beans available for filter coffee and espresso, along with a couple of special beans that you won’t find elsewhere (for a slight upcharge). It’s a tiny spot a block away from Chelsea Market, and it’s a good stop for coffee lovers in the neighborhood.  

Cool Bars in NYC

Tanner Smiths : A lovely cocktail bar in Midtown that was the first bar we ever went to in the city. We also discovered Stormalong Cider here, which has become one of our favorite hard cider brands. 

Cardiff Giant : If a bar that serves EXCLUSIVELY beer, wine, and cider from New York state sounds like a good time, this is the place for you. Plus, the back garden is an excellent place to spend a sunny afternoon procrastinating on all the stuff you’re supposed to be getting done. 

Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor : We went here on our first trip to NYC, and spent a solid 15 minutes on our last trip trying to remember the name of this place and find it on Google Maps. Found it! Great beer and cider selection (including gluten free beer from Glutenberg ) in a cozy basement bar (with outdoor seating now). 

Beer Culture : Another one for the beer lovers! Usually, when you think about bars and restaurants within five blocks of a major tourist attraction, you should probably run the other way. This is an exception, and they have a truly impressive selection of craft beer (and cider) on tap and even more in cans and bottles. See their current draft / bottle list here . 

Getting Around New York City

Similar to cities like London and Paris , while New York City is technically walkable because it’s flat, it’s the kind of place where you look at a map, say “oh that’s totally walkable” only to realize that it’s a 72 minute walk. 

We’re all for walking, and think it’s the best way to see a city, but sometimes it’s just not practical. Chances are, you’re going to need to use the Subway or other forms of transportation to get around while you’re in town, especially if you only have a limited amount of time. 

In general, if you’re going less than a mile, walk. It’ll take less time (not to mention money) than heading to the nearest Subway station and waiting for a train. If you’re traveling more than a mile, hop on the Subway. 

And, to be honest, we’d highly recommend the Subway. Generally, it’s fast, reliable, and easy to use (with a few caveats). We know that New Yorkers love to complain about it, and that there have been a few tragic incidents recently that have gotten a disproportionate amount of news coverage, but it’s generally safe, efficient, and easy to use. 

Our number one tip would be to utilize the ferry as often as humanly possible . 

It’s easily the best way to get around certain parts of the city – especially from Manhattan to Brooklyn – and it’s faster and more scenic than the Subway. The ferry was a great tip from our friend Erin over at Gluten Free Globetrotter , a NYC local. 

There are river cruises that you could pay $50 for… or you could just hop on the ferry for $2.75 a person and ride it from the southern tip of Manhattan at Wall Street up to the northern end. 

Riding the Subway in NYC

Lots of New Yorkers like to complain about the Subway, but at the end of the day, the Subway in NYC is probably the best example of public transportation in the entire country.

Sure, it can be crowded, the trains sometimes break down, and occasionally you’ll see signs of the ongoing homelessness and mental health / addiction crises that are happening in NYC (and every other city in the country). 

But all things considered, it’s the easiest and most efficient way to get around NYC.

Riding the Subway in NYC has become so much easier over the course of the past few years with the introduction of OMNY , a new contactless payment system. Before, you needed to buy a MetroCard (which we did on our latest trip because we didn’t realize the benefits of OMNY) at one of the machines in a Subway station, which have long lines and aren’t particularly easy to navigate. 

The MetroCards are notoriously hard for visitors to swipe correctly (New Yorkers will hate you as you swipe it seventeen times at different speeds and angles), and as we learned on our last trip, if you bend them even a little, they’ll just decide to stop working altogether. And the attendants at the booths will NOT replace it for you. 

At this point, we can confidently say that you should just use your credit card / Apple or Google Wallet to ride the Subway. It’s $2.75 a ride, and there’s a fare cap at 12 rides ($33) in a week, which means that anything over and above that is free! That’s just 4 rides per day over your 3 days in NYC, which isn’t hard to do. 

Make sure to use the EXACT SAME payment option if you’re using OMNY – either a physical card (that you can tap to pay elsewhere) or an Apple Wallet / Google Wallet.

They even introduced a $33 weekly fare cap recently, which means that after 12 rides in a week (Sunday to Monday), you get the rest of the rides in that week for free. The only reason you’d buy a MetroCard prior to that introduction was to buy one of the unlimited weekly passes, but they’ve made those essentially obsolete. 

Again, it bears repeating that to take advantage of that $33 cap, YOU MUST PAY WITH THE SAME EXACT PAYMENT METHOD. 

For reference, here’s a full map of the Subway system . 

Like we said above, the ferry system is a great way to get around New York City, particularly along the East River that runs between Manhattan and Brooklyn. If you’re trying to get from Manhattan (Midtown or Lower Manhattan) to Dumbo or Williamsburg, we’d recommend taking the scenic ferry route. 

You can see a map of the full system here .

It’s only really useful for getting between Manhattan and Brooklyn, although you could theoretically also take it from Lower Manhattan to Midtown. The stations just aren’t in convenient locations for that, so you’ll be better off on the Subway. 

More Northeast USA Travel Guides

If you like this guide, you won’t want to miss our other travel guides for the northeast!

New York City

• 3 Days in New York City: A Perfect Long Weekend in NYC
• Where to Stay in New York City: The Best Areas + Hotels
• Gluten Free New York City: The Best GF Restaurants + Bakeries
• A Weekend in Boston: A Perfect 2 Day Boston Itinerary
• Where to Stay in Boston: A Complete Guide to the Best Areas
• Gluten Free Boston: A Complete Guide for Celiacs

Philadelphia

• How to Spend an Amazing Weekend in Philadelphia (2 Days)
• Where to Stay in Philadelphia: A Complete Guide to the 3 Best Areas
• Gluten Free Philadelphia: The Best Gluten Free Eats in Philly

Matt is the founder and main writer behind Wheatless Wanderlust, which he started back in 2018 as a way to share his gluten free travel guides with his fellow Celiac travelers.

Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up.

He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip.

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How to Spend 3 Days in NYC Itinerary (By a New Yorker!)

Looking for how to spend 3 days in NYC? We’ve got you covered! This guide will help you plan how to spend your weekend in NYC and an itinerary you can follow or use bits and pieces on to build your own and customize your time in the Big Apple!

But, let’s start by discussing some hard truths about visiting New York City. Much like trying to conquer the never-ending portal of streaming prestige television, it is impossible to see and do everything in New York.

And similar to the ebb and flow of what appears on Netflix, New York City’s iconic landmarks and businesses do sometimes come and go – beloved hangouts and businesses close, receive a proper spate of heartfelt tributes and lamentations, and eventually disappear into the sands of time, like an urban Ozymandias statue.

But that’s all the more reason to visit New York, and visit New York, and visit New York (or move here! I will be at Port Authority to welcome you with a Zabar’s bag and a leather jacket) and catch what’s here when it’s here.

And if we’re being honest, as heartbreaking as it can be to witness the ephemeral nature of this city, I think it’s what keeps the place truly alive. When you are here, you are experiencing the New York of one era, and then another, and then another, all unfolding, refitting, and morphing to create your own sense of time and place that you will one day look back on with fondness as “the good old days” of New York.

Creating an itinerary for a weekend in NYC is not unlike navigating a board game or “choose your own adventure” novel. Like live music? You can spend an entire weekend dancing inside clubs and venues without seeing the light of day. Especially since you can easily spend 4 days in New York , 5 days in New York , 7 days in New York , or an entire lifetime and still never see it all!

Obsessed with the latest in food and drink? You can try endless cronuts, bespoke cocktails, and all the pop-up street fair grub your stomach can handle.

Is shopping your cardio? Jog from sample sale to sample sale. With endless possibilities in mind, we’ve narrowed this 3 days or weekend in NYC itinerary to a few distinct categories in a few distinct areas: New York dining favorites, quintessential parks and landmarks (including museums), and live theater throughout midtown, parts of uptown and downtown Manhattan, and Brooklyn.

We could go on an infinite tangent of other combinations, but take this as just one small path to discovering New York. And then come back and visit us again as there are so many incredible things to do in New York City to fill a lifetime.

A note on logistics: this itinerary involves a lot of walking (or taking the subway), but the MTA bus system is an accessible alternative option for getting around town! And as we mentioned before, feel free to customize your itinerary to fit your schedule – there are also plenty of alternative suggestions to swap out or add if you have more than a weekend in NYC!

And don’t forget about the nightlife, if you still have the energy! Check out our guide to all the best things to do in NYC at night to add on to your itinerary!

Day 1 of 3 Days in NYC: UPTOWN AND MIDTOWN

Let’s say you’ve just arrived on an early bus, train, or flight to a Midtown hotel for 3 days in NYC. It’s a beautiful day and you’re ready to take on the town!

But first – that $12 airport granola bar has long worn off and you need to eat. Where should you go? One classic and chic New York breakfast joint is Sarabeth’s , which has several locations including Central Park South (40 Central Park S), almost smack dab in the center of Manhattan and the perfect place to begin your weekend in NYC.

Sarabeth’s is known for their pastries – make sure to try their house-made popovers or to split a basket of their muffins and “legendary preserves” – and while I must be responsible here and mention that I am already deeply pro-jam, their preserves really are legendary.

Want to continue the decadent carb fest? Sarabeth’s is also home to fluffy, perfect lemon ricotta pancakes and french toast. More of a savory breakfast fan? Their omelettes, benedicts, and chicken sausage are equally excellent.

For a more bohemian vibe, visit nearby Alice’s Tea Cup (Chapter II) (156 East 64th Street) for a whimsy, wonderland-themed breakfast of homemade scones (try the Scone Benedict!) and a selection of over one hundred different kinds of teas.

Alice’s Tea Cup also features a make-your-own crepe menu and tasty, themed cocktails like the TweedleDee (Birthday tea-infused vodka, triple sec, cranberry and lime juice, with a splash of Raspberry Liqueur) and TweedleDum (Rosemary and ginger tea infused simple syrup, Rooibos Kimberly tea-infused gin, with a splash of Prosecco). Try one to kick off your 3 days in NYC with a bang!

Central Park

After breakfast at either of these Central Park adjacent spots, there is but one place to go – the park itself. While you could certainly spend the entire day here, as it’s one of the best parks in NYC , and still not cover its full expanse, I recommend checking out some of the heavy-hitter locations – the picturesque Bethesda Terrace Fountain , Strawberry Fields (forever), and the Jackie Onassis Reservoir .

Other notable but seasonal locations include the Delacorte Theater , the site of summer Shakespeare in the Park, and the Central Park Tennis courts (available for reservations and limited walk-on play from April to November).

Another great option is just pulling up to a bench or grassy knoll and people-watching. Now (and hopefully forever) known as an outdoor haven for New Yorkers, you’re as likely to see a wedding here as you are a bike race, music video, or photo shoot filming. It’s the perfect place to start your 3 days in New York.

Another scenic spot is just across the pond looking at Bethesda Castle , yes there are castles in New York ! And this one is a stunner in the heart of Central Park. Explore more of the hidden gems of Central Park while you’re here too!

After your time in the park, you’ll be faced with the existential question that weighs on so many New Yorkers: to go East or West? And while I can point you in the direction of the many, many novels/movies/TV shows that will vehemently argue for or against either, like a true Libra I am inclined to recommend that you check out both the Upper West and Upper East Side.

Let’s start by traversing the Upper East Side – stroll up Madison and Lexington Avenues for a look at some of the city’s poshest designer outposts (Chanel, Prada, Lanvin, Celine).

Wander past the beautiful architecture of various international embassies on 5th Ave. and stroll over to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 5th Ave), one of the best museums in NYC , for a few hours browsing their vast collection of over two million pieces of classic and contemporary art.

Wander as far east as possible over to Carl Schurz Park (East End and 88th Street), home to the mayoral Gracie Mansion (featuring a rotating collection of art exhibits and available for tours) and views of the East River.

If you’ve worked up an appetite, be sure to check out venerable UES icon J.G. Melon (1291 3rd Ave) on your 3 days in NYC itinerary. J.G. Melon is a cash-only joint with reasonably priced, juicy burgers and ice-cold beers served over checkered tablecloths in a pub-like setting.

Another UES favorite is the Lexington Candy Shop (1226 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10028), an old-school luncheonette serving up housemade shakes, floats, and egg creams with their expansive club sandwich and tuna melt selection (they also serve excellent burgers, if you’re looking for a burger-off!).

And what if you head West out of Central Park? Visit The American Museum of Natural History (200 Central Park West) for quintessential dinosaur skeleton and whale statue photo-ops and the Hayden Planetarium’s kick-ass programming.

While the Natural History Museum has ample material for kids, if you’re looking for even more youth-focused learning, check out the nearby Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 W 83rd St) for hands-on exhibits and activities the whole family can enjoy.

After you’ve hit up the museums on your New York itinerary 3 days plan, check out the UWS outpost of the famous and one of the best bookstores in NYC , the Strand Bookstore (450 Columbus Ave) for the latest new releases curated by a passionate staff of booksellers.

Stroll over as far west as possible to Riverside Park for beautiful Hudson River views and long, tree-lined walkways adorned with seasonal flower gardens, stopping along the way to admire the ivy-covered architecture of West End Avenue.

When it’s time for lunch, visit Peacefood Cafe Uptown (460 Amsterdam Ave) for incredible vegan fare (their menus changes from time to time, but I once had a vegan “crab cake” there that put the real thing to shame) or Mama’s Too (2750 Broadway)  for jaw-droppingly inventive square pizza slices like the Angry Nonna slice (Hot Soppressata, aged mozzarella, Calabrian chili oil, hot honey). PS this is one of our picks for the best pizza slice in NYC , you gotta try it!

Dinner & Drinks

As the sun begins to set on the first of your 3 days in NYC, head down the West side (or across the park from the East) to Lilly’s Cocktail and Wine (50 W 72nd St), a stylish yet friendly joint serving New American food and craft cocktails.

I recommend trying the Beer Steamed Mussels (chorizo, white cannellini beans, cilantro and chopped tomatoes) and sipping on a Honey Badger (Michter’s Bourbon, muddled strawberries, orange juice, honey infused simple syrup) or an Uptown Girl (Patron Silver tequila, fresh lime juice, lavender simple syrup, splash raspberry liqueur).

Another great option is Cafe Fiorello (1900 Broadway), a white-tablecloth, old-New York style joint open since 1974 and perfect for sharing a bottle of wine and their specialty lasagna and pizzas.

Evening Entertainment – Broadway, Jazz, or Lincoln Center

After dinner, it’s showtime! If you’d like to stick around Lincoln Center, check out one of the rotating Broadway plays or musicals, or dress up in your finest and head to the Metropolitan Opera or the New York City Ballet .

If you have Times Square and Broadway in mind for your 3 days in NYC itinerary, head downtown to the 42nd Street area to pick up tickets for a show.

An insider tip – if you haven’t already reserved tickets to a show ahead of time, visiting the individual box office of the show you’d like to see is the best way to find great seats! Box office professionals are generally really great about helping you find the best possible seat for the best possible price, and there are minimal ticket fees!

There are often really great seats in the $50-75/ticket range that would amount to $100 or more with online fees. Save a buck and savor the joy of live theater! If you’re looking for more of a concert vibe, visit Birdland Jazz Club (315 W 44th St #5402), an iconic venue that often features theatrically-themed sets from Broadway stars.

If you don’t want to risk waiting until the last minute, check out our full guide for how to see a Broadway show so you can see all your options including more money-saving tips!

After the show, grab drinks at Glass House Tavern (252 W 47th St), a popular spot for fresh, New American fare and a frequent after-hours hangout for showbiz folks. Grab an Old Fashioned and hope that Patti LuPone will show up! Check out more of the best bars and restaurants around the Theater District too!

Looking instead for a beer? Try nearby House of Brews (363 W 46th St), a warm, pub-like tavern with dozens of craft beers on tap.

If you’re looking to see the city from a birdseye view, reserve tickets in advance for the newest observatory in the city at Summit One Vanderbilt . This skyscraper in Midtown offers an immersive, multi-sensory observatory with incredible views of the city’s top landmarks from high in the sky including art installations.

If you’d rather be the star of your own show, let me offer you an alternative finale to your first of your 3 days in NYC itinerary.

Late Night Fun

After sunset visit the Empire State Building (20 W 34th St) for views of its ever-changing lights (colors are chosen in honor of holidays, remembrances, sports wins, and philanthropic causes).

Take the elevators to the observatory to check out the city skyline (and maybe recreate the end of Sleepless in Seattle?). I recommend reserving tickets in advance to ensure your spot.

After the Empire State Building, head to Jongro BBQ (22 W 32nd St 2nd floor) for out-of-this world Korean Barbeque fare – the Kimchi scallion pancakes alone are worth the trip. Located up a set of elevators in a fairly nondescript looking building, Jongro is an NYC gem that can get really busy – they do accept reservations for parties of 6 or more, so if you have a larger group it’s best to call or email ahead of time.

To top off your evening, check out one of the many excellent karaoke bars in Koreatown, most of which offer affordable private rooms to belt your heart out without stage fright.

I love to torture my friends and family with multiple renditions of Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” at Space Karaoke (34 W 32nd St fl 11) and Karaoke Duet 35 (53 W 35th St 2nd floor). Once you’ve lost your voice, hail a cab to your hotel and get some sleep ahead of the rest of your weekend in NYC!

Or check out any of the amazing rooftop lounges in NYC , pictured is the view from 230 Fifth Rooftop (230 5th Ave).

Day 2 of 3 days in NYC: DOWNTOWN

It’s day 2 of your 3 days in NYC! Let’s go downtown (everything’s waiting for you). Start out the day with breakfast at the Bar Room at the Beekman Hotel (123 Nassau St).

Lush and ornate, The Beekman hotel is housed in one of New York’s most historic buildings (fun fact, before the building itself was constructed, the land was the site of the Chapel Theater and the New York premiere of Shakespeare’s Hamlet! ).

Old-school charm meets modern luxury at The Bar Room, a thoughtfully curated restaurant from chef Tom Colicchio. Outfitted in gold, mirrors, lush green leather bar chairs and plush couches, The Bar Room has the vibe of a stylish library that you can eat in. Try the Shakshouka (Harissa Stewed Tomato, Coddled Egg & Saaj Bread) or the Brioche French Toast with a Cappuccino or Latte to energize you for the day.

Sightseeing in Downtown

Next up, visit some of downtown’s most important landmarks – the 9/11 Museum and Memorial , located nearby, is a viscerally moving tribute and historical archive of one of New York (and the country’s) darkest days.

Note that if you’d like to enter the museum, you must purchase tickets in advance.

Visiting the museum and memorial is an intensely emotional experience and you may want to spend some time decompressing and processing your time there by heading to the water at nearby Battery Park , one of the best viewpoints for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.

Walk over to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferries for transit to visit the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island Museum . Due to their popularity on weekends, be sure to purchase ferry tickets ahead of time – ferry tickets also include access to the Statue of Liberty Museum and National Immigration Museum at Ellis Island.

If you’re up for more ferries (they make for great waterfront photo ops!), head to the Governors Island Ferry for a trip to one of New York’s most unique public outdoor spaces. There you can rent bikes, check out rotating art exhibits housed in historic buildings, and check out a wide variety of food trucks and pop-up eateries on your New York itinerary 3 days plan.

Lunch Downtown

Another great lunch option while downtown is to head north from Battery Park to Joe’s Shanghai (46 Bowery) for out-of-this-world xiao long bao (soup dumplings) that New Yorkers have enjoyed for over twenty years.

I also recommend chef Joe Si’s twice-cooked pork, soft shell crab, and the Shanghai sauteed flat noodle!

Seeking pizza? Check out Rubirosa (235 Mulberry St), a neighborhood spot serving up crispy, savory pies from owner A.J. Pappalardo’s family recipes. I consistently dream about the Vodka pie and baked clams.

For additional tasty seafood fare, try Cervo’s (43 Canal St), which summons the coastal cuisine of Portugal and Spain with sublime entrees like the fried skate with salsa verde or the yellowfin tuna with pickled habana peppers. Cervo’s is frequently busy and doesn’t take reservations, so lunch can be a great time to visit!

Explore SoHo/Greenwich Village/Alphabet City

After you’ve fueled up, head over to SoHo for shopping and galleries galore – while many national brands have a flagship store here, it can be fun to check out boutiques off of the beaten path.

Stop into What Goes Around Comes Around (315 West Broadway) for the finest vintage and thrifted designer finds, or highly curated duds at Sea (324 Canal Street) a shop where I think Anthropologie finds its inspiration. Also, check out our guide to the best thrifting in NYC by neighborhood to find some other great spots!

Shopping for art? Check out one of SoHo’s many galleries – my favorite is the Morrison Hotel Gallery (116 Prince St #2nd), which focuses on photography of famous musicians.

If you’re looking to keep your afternoon a little more budget-friendly, walk north to Washington Square Park (featuring the famous arch!) for a tour of New York University’s main campus buildings and the neighborhood’s historic architecture.

One particularly interesting corner to walk by is the Washington Mews , a historic gated street currently serving as housing for graduate students and faculty at Deutsche Haus NYU – I myself missed the opportunity to see it up close as an NYU student by majoring in drama instead of German. Verdammt!

Also check out nearby Mercer Street Books and Records (206 Mercer St), a haven for out-of-print books and vinyl LPs and staffed by passionate writers.

Another great afternoon park option is Tompkins Square Park in Alphabet City. Walk east to Avenue A and 7th street and stop for a snack at Butter Lane (small-batch, glorious cupcakes, 123 E 7th St) or Crif Dogs (creative hot dog combos, 113 St Marks Pl) before taking in the vibrant scene in Tompkins Square.

And if by chance you happen to find yourself there on Halloween, there is a truly epic dog costume parade. Enough said.

Enjoy a Drink

Now that it’s happy hour, plan accordingly and head to one of the area’s many top-notch bars. If you’ve made it to Tompkins Square, stroll over to McSorley’s Old Ale House (15 E 7th Street) for one of the oldest bars in New York City and one of the city’s oldest continuously operating bars since 1854!

They only have two kinds of ales, light and dark, saw dust on the floor, and covered in historic memorabilia from floor to ceiling!

If you stayed in the SoHo/Greenwich Village area, head west to Employees Only (510 Hudson St), an art-deco themed, wood-paneled speakeasy in the West Village with craft cocktails and Croatian-influenced New American fare.

Try a Billionaire Cocktail (Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon shaken with fresh lemon juice, EO Grenadine & Absinthe Bitters) or the Lazy Lover (Leblon Cachaça & Jalapeño-infused Green Chartreuse shaken with Benedictine, fresh lime juice & Agave Nectar) and share Oysters on the Half Shell or Bone Marrow Poppers.

You can also easily transition to dinner here and splurge on a rib-eye or a delectable roast half chicken!

Dinner & Evening Fun

If you’re looking to try a new spot for dinner, head over to Jack’s Wife Freda (50 Carmine St), a convivial restaurant serving up fresh cuisine inspired by the foods of South Africa and Israel.

Share some grilled halloumi, spiced beet dip, and zucchini chips before digging into their excellent per-peri chicken, whole fish with chopped and cous-cous salad, or mustard seed crusted tofu. Top it off with the flourless chocolate chipotle cake and you’ve had a perfect meal courtesy of your New York itinerary 3 days plan!

If you want to keep the dinner and a show theme going, check out a dance performance at the nearby Joyce Theater (175 8th Ave,), which features a season of world-class rotating dance companies that perform wide-ranging genres of movement.

Another fantastic option is one of downtown’s many innovative theatres like New York Theater Workshop (birthplace of musicals like RENT and Once!, 79 E 4th St) or The Public Theater (birthplace of the smash-hit musical Hamilton and a little show called A Chorus Line, 425 Lafayette Street).

Would you rather be the one dancing? Boogie over to The Jane Hotel (113 Jane St) which looks like if Wes Anderson decided to open a nightclub and is one of the most unique hotels in NYC . Dance amongst the plush velvet furniture and palm plants under a gigantic disco ball, or take a break on the adjacent rooftop terrace overlooking the Hudson River.

On the east side, head back down to Home Sweet Home (131 Chrystie St # 1) a delightfully grungy basement-level bar filled with taxidermy and one that was voted the #1 bar to make out in by Thrillist (but you’re welcome just to dance!!).

Let’s squash any of those pesky rumors that “New York isn’t weird anymore” by dancing until almost dawn, surrounded by taxidermied squirrels…but wait! We have one more stop on day 2 of our 3 days in New York!

You haven’t lived until you’ve tried Veselka (144 2nd Ave). Open since 1954, this 24-hour mecca of Ukrainian -influenced diner cuisine is a must-visit after a long day (and night) out and about downtown. Sourced with local ingredients, Veselka’s freshly made pierogies, goulash, and blintzes are well worth the sometimes busy after-hours crowd.

And if you’re simply too full, get those blintzes to-go and pop them into the mini-fridge for the next morning, they taste just as great the next day!

Day 3 of 3 Days in NYC: BROOKLYN

Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO

How did we get to the last day of your 3 days in NYC itinerary already?! Let’s make the most of it by caffeinating ourselves and heading down to the Brooklyn Bridge for a sunrise walk – if you’re taking the subway to get there, the closest route is to take the 4/5/6 train downtown to the City Hall/Brooklyn Bridge stop.

Walking over the bridge at sunrise is the perfect time for a beautiful skyline photo-op or to take in rare moments of quiet in this frenetic city.

Once you’ve made it over to the other side, you’ll find yourself in DUMBO , the trendy neighborhood otherwise known as Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass .

Lined with cobblestone streets and large industrial warehouses refitted for stylish independent shops and restaurants, DUMBO is a great place to check out both well-known brands and small boutiques alike.

But first, you must be hungry! You did, after all, get those steps in trekking across the bridge. Grab a real New York bagel at La Bagel Delight (104 Front St), which is open every day at 6 AM. If you get here before 6 AM, you’re a real morning person (I salute you) and your best bet for breakfast is a 24-hour bodega deli (which are fantastic, by the way! Check out Dumbo Gourmet Deli at 157 York St).

Another great coffee spot worth checking out is Butler (40 Water St) or check out our guide to best cafes in DUMBO .

Brooklyn Bridge Park & More DUMBO

After you grab your bagel/deli/breakfast sandwich, wander over to Brooklyn Bridge Park , stopping along the way at the intersection of Washington and Water Street where you will likely see lots of people snapping selfies and portraits – this intersection is an ideal photo-op, as you are able to see the Manhattan Bridge framed by the buildings of DUMBO all over a cobblestone block.

Pose there with your bagels and you have yourself a postcard moment! Continue on to the waterfront at Brooklyn Bridge Park, check out the Manhattan skyline, and take a look at Jane’s Carousel, an old-school restored carousel originally built in 1922.

Wander through the park at will and find your way over to the many shops throughout DUMBO, like Powerhouse Arena books, a photography and art-focused and one of the best bookstores in Brooklyn (28 Adams St) or Jacques Torres chocolate featuring luxe candies, caramels, and hot chocolate.

If you find yourself in DUMBO on a Sunday, the Brooklyn Flea Market sets up at 80 Pearl Street. There you’ll find dozens of local independent artists and vendors selling unique gifts!

Brooklyn Heights & BoCoCa

After you’ve toured DUMBO, stroll southeast to Brooklyn Heights , a historic neighborhood full of beautiful historic mansions and brownstones and fun street names like Cranberry, Apple, and Pineapple Street. Don’t miss the incredible views from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade or the walk across the Squibb Park Bridge for incredible views of Manhattan from Brooklyn !

Brooklyn’s Borough Hall and downtown business district line the edge of Brooklyn Heights into Cobble Hill, your next destination. Cobble Hill is equally as brownstone abundant, but the lower profile of the buildings, both residential and business, give it an almost small-town feel and borders other gorgeous neighborhoods like Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill which are easy to explore the shopping, dining, and beautiful homes from here!

The three neighborhoods are so close together and often lumped together that they refer to the area as BoCoCa, for; Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens.

Check out boutiques like Woods Grove (302 Court St) for unique home goods and bespoke jewelry.

At this point, it’s likely that you’ve worked up an appetite, and there is no shortage of places for lunch in the area. Check out Dellarocco’s Brick Oven Pizza  (214 Hicks Street) in Brooklyn Heights for incredible pizza! They have an impressive white pizza and red pizza menu (and even vegan options).

And what if you spent your morning wandering DUMBO and are still there? Then try Julianna’s  (19 Old Fulton St) an offshoot of the famous Grimaldi’s pizza family (original owners Pat and Carol sold Grimaldi’s and retired, then “unretired” to open Julianna’s!). You can’t go wrong with a classic Margherita pie or the Special Pizza No. 2 (cherry tomato, bufala mozzarella, garlic, and sea salt).

Afternoon Activities

Either way, after all of this eating throughout your 3 days in New York, you may need to rest a bit. The perfect place to relax and unwind is the Cobble Hill Cinemas (265 Court St), a longstanding old movie house showing new releases, indies, and classic films in a movie theater reminiscent of the ones portrayed in movies themselves. The ticket prices also reflect an earlier time – where else can you see a movie for $11 in this town?!

If you’d rather keep moving and grooving rather than hit up Cobble Hill Cinemas, keep getting those steps in by walking over to Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s flagship outdoor space.

Prospect Park is fairly massive, and offers everything from kayak and paddle boat rentals at the LeFrak center to horseback riding, to a fully operational zoo, and also features frequent events, concerts, and greenmarkets. Check out what’s going on in the park during your visit, though you can just as easily entertain yourself by wandering the paths and enjoying the verdant trees, fields, and flowers.

At the eastern edge of the park is the Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Pkwy), an architecturally gorgeous Arts Beaux building featuring rotating exhibits of both classic and cutting-edge contemporary art.

Tickets are required and entry admission is $16 for adults, $10 for seniors, visitors with disabilities, and students, and free of charge for visitors under 19. Some of the special exhibits require an additional ticket too!

Directly adjacent to the Brooklyn Museum is the lush, breathtaking Brooklyn Botanic Garden (990 Washington Ave), open seasonally seven days a week and for limited hours in the winter. Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for seniors, and free for children under 12.

If you happen to be visiting in the spring, you won’t want to miss the hundreds of cherry blossoms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden either!

Afternoon Drinks

If you chose the Prospect Park/Brooklyn Museum/Brooklyn Botanic Garden route, make your next stop happy hour at nearby St. Ends (667 Franklin Ave), a friendly neighborhood bar and patio with cheery, colorful craft cocktails.

Visiting St. Ends is like hanging out at a stylish friend’s patio outfitted with houseplants and patterned rugs – while you’re relaxing, try the Little Mackinaw (Cimaron tequila, grapefruit, black pepper agave) or the Crown Lily (Letherbee gin, St. Germain, lavender, creme de violette).

If you caught a flick at Cobble Hill Cinemas, stroll over to Gowanus and try Threes Brewing (333 Douglass St), a fantastic craft brewery with a year-round large backyard space and kickin’ IPAs, not to mention one of the best breweries in Brooklyn .

Share a bottle of the Threes Barrel-Aged Table beer with a soft pretzel, or try a can of the Threes Thought Experiment (Cherry). If cocktails and wine are more your thing, walk west to Fausto (348 Flatbush Ave), a sleek, modern-Italian restaurant that not only serves up refreshing drinks (try the Cetriolio a mix of Gin, Contratto Fernet, Green Tea, Basil, Cucumber, Tonic,  or the Fragola – made of Dry Vermouth, Rum, Lemon, Olive Brine, Strawberry) but also thoughtful, handmade pastas.

I recommend the Gemelli (Green Zucchini & Goldbar Squash, Mint, Parmesan, Pine Nuts) or the Campanelle (House-Made Pork Sausage, Cherry Tomato, Chives, Parmesan).

If you want to branch out after cocktails and try somewhere new for dinner, you have an almost infinite number of options in both the Park Slope/Gowanus area and on the east side of the park, the Crown Heights / Bed Stuy areas. Be sure to check out our guide to the best bars in Bed Stuy for ideas.

If you’re closer to Park Slope, check out Palo Santo (652 Union St), an intimate and friendly spot serving up fresh and seasonal Pan-Latin fare – I loved the Chilatole and the Cornflake Fried Chicken (served with Jersey Peach, watercress, hot honey). Palo Santo has a wide selection of regional wines and a knowledgeable staff to guide you to the right glass (or bottle!) for you!

Or check out Pasta Louise (803 8th Ave) in Park Slope near Prospect Park for their delicious homemade pasta, don’t forget to add fresh burrata to the top of your dish either!

If you ended up near the Brooklyn Museum and St.Ends, check out near by Chavela’s (736 Franklin Ave), a top-notch Mexican restaurant in Crown Height s – be sure to try La Diabla (Blanco tequila, hibiscus, lime, ginger agave) and the Taquitos de Cangrejo (Flour tacos, crab meat, guacamole, pico de gallo) or Aurelia’s Mole (chicken in slowly simmered mole sauce).

Another excellent option is Cent’Anni (742 Franklin Avenue Ground Floor), a cozy handmade pasta spot – split a bottle of red and some butter and sage ravioli, or their excellent variety of meatball appetizers and sauce dippings!

Evening Entertainment

After your meal, close out your 3 days in NYC in one of two ways – if you’re in the mood for entertainment, check out The Bell House (149 7th St) or Union Hall (702 Union St) for incredible live comedy, podcast, and variety shows with sets ranging from established names to up and comers!

The Bell House is a larger venue more reminiscent of a concert hall, while Union Hall is a bar (and indoor bocce court!!) with an intimate basement stage. Both venues frequently book talent just on the edge of their big break, so check out what’s playing and see the next big star play there first!

If you’re in the mood to enjoy some live music and comedy but also want to dance it out and close down the club, book it over to Friends and Lovers (641 Classon Ave), a lively neighborhood music and dance venue who clearly state their vibe: “we like funky music, stiff drinks, and nice people” .

Friends and Lovers is known for incredible DJ sets and theme nights as well as drag shows, comedy and experimental performance sets. Check out a drag show followed by a 90s-themed dance set and celebrate a perfect weekend in NYC!

More than 3 Days in NYC?

If you have extra time on your New York itinerary 3 days plan, I can’t recommend enough for you to check out more of the city’s museums or popular NYC experiences ! Also check out our guides to 5 days in NYC and 7 days in NYC which all have different recommendations to help you customize your itinerary!

Here are some of my other favorites for enriching your time in the city:

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum (103 Orchard St) is a National Historic Site open for over thirty years and a museum that embraces the role and enrichment of immigration in the fabric of American society through educational programming, tours, and multimedia presentations.

On a similar note, The Museum of the Chinese in America (215 Centre St) is dedicated to preserving and telling the history of Chinese Americans throughout history and through today.

If you’re headed up to Museum Mile, don’t miss a visit to The Jewish Museum (1109 5th Ave), focused on exhibitions of Semitic art and culture. The Jewish museum features almost 30,000 objects of Jewish art, culture, and media and also partners with the New York Jewish Film Festival.

The Museum of the City of New York is one of my favorite places to learn about specific periods of time in NYC (1220 5th Ave). Exhibits range from covering the history of puppets in New York, to the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, to the history of Blue Man Group.

It’s also housed in a beautiful building at the top of Museum Mile and flanked by statues of Alexander Hamilton and DeWitt Clinton.

Directly adjacent to the Museum of the City of New York is El Museo del Barrio (1230 5th Ave), and is New York’s leading cultural institution on the Latinx diaspora. Check out film screenings from Latinx directors and storytellers or view art from perspectives across continents!

Another museum to squeeze into your 3 days in NYC itinerary is the MoMa, or Museum of Modern Art (11 W 53rd St). This is where you can check out classic Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock works as well as of course, more modern art!

Still on the modern art train? Check out The Whitney Museum (99 Gansevoort St), focused on contemporary and modern American art. I once saw an exhibition composed entirely of white canvases, and I’m still thinking about it!

If you’re a film buff, be sure to visit the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria (36-01 35th Ave), which aims to connect the history, technique, and art of the film, television, and digital media industries.

In addition to limited release and talk-back screenings, Museum of the Moving Image features fantastic interactive exhibitions on innovators and auteurs like Jim Henson and Stanley Kubrick.

Fun fact, The New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn (99 Schermerhorn St) is housed in an actual underground subway station from 1936!

Check out this museum during your 3 days in New York for an in-depth look at the history of mass transit in the city and its updates through the present day. The New York Transit Museum also features vintage cars from different eras to walk through and explore and is one of the best museums in Brooklyn .

Make sure to check out the New York Public Library Main Branch (476 5th Ave) on your New York itinerary 3 days route. While not technically a museum, the NYPL is a monument to the history of the city’s literary culture and a wonderful place to research, read, and enjoy the magnificent architecture (and yes, take a photo with the lion statues).

Also, the original Winnie the Pooh characters are in the children’s section!

I realize that we’ve packed a lot of suggestions into this guide for your 3 days in New York, but I have faith in you that you’ll make the most of them! Make sure to hydrate, take lots of photos to commemorate your time, and come back and visit us again soon!

And if you want to spend more time in Brooklyn, consider checking out our weekend in Brooklyn itinerary for more tips along with all the best things to do in Brooklyn to customize your weekend in NYC.

Where to Stay During your Weekend in NYC

There are so many great hotels in NYC with views , themed hotels, and hotels for any style of traveler or budget. Also, there are plenty of amazing places to stay in Brooklyn too with incredible views of the skyline and easy to get around from!

These are just a few of the recommended hotels to check out during your 3 days in NYC or use the booking map below to help you find a hotel in the area you want to stay in by budget.

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

60 Furman Street, Brooklyn Heights

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge , a stunning waterfront hotel in Brooklyn with incredible views of the East River, Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty, and Freedom Tower.

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge not only prides itself on its sleek and upscale design but its commitment to sustainability, as the hotel is made of reclaimed materials and employs the use of low-energy LED lights, smart heating/cooling, carbon offsets, and an irrigation system that uses reclaimed rainwater for its landscaping.

In addition to floor-to-ceiling windowed rooms with views of the Brooklyn Bridge and East River (ask for the Liberty King or Bridge King rooms), hotel guests and visitors can enjoy spectacular vistas from Harriet’s Rooftop Bar (an open-air patio overlooking the water and one of the best rooftop bars in Brooklyn ), Harriet’s Lounge (a classic cocktail bar with full-walled window views of the bridge and passing ferries), and the Osprey (a New American restaurant specializing in farm-to-table cuisine with views of the verdant hotel patio and Brooklyn Bridge Park).

And until the East River is clean enough to swim in (don’t hold your breath), the 1 Hotel’s rooftop pool is an ideal place to cool off with a cocktail and enjoy the view. Book here.

Refinery Hotel

63 W 38th St, Midtown

One of the most centrally convenient locations for picking where to stay in the city is in Midtown and better yet, getting a room with a view is even better and increases your chances when you’re around this area. And, The Refinery Hotel is one of the best hotels in Midtown .

Your secret weapon in planning a New York meetup is the hotel rooftop bar, and Refinery Rooftop at the Refinery Hotel is one of the ideal places to meet among NYC hotels with the best views (if also staying there, ask for a Studio King with Empire Views room for the most direct vista).

The Refinery Hotel is housed in the historic 1912 Colony Arcade Building , and its stylish, industrial fixtures reflect an old-school-meets-contemporary vibe.

The Refinery Hotel features several great food and drink options, with live jazz at lobby bar Winnie’s, ribeye and soft-shell crabs at restaurant Parker & Quinn, and of course, innovative cocktails at the spectacular Refinery Rooftop.

Featuring views of the Empire State Building, the Refinery Rooftop is the perfect place to hold your birthday party or friend meetup, with convenient access to Midtown trains and offices.

Order a round of Empire Palomas (mezcal, pomp & whimsy, simple syrup, grapefruit juice) and toast to a night of celebrating with friends and the New York skyline. Book here.

Beekman Hotel

123 Nassau Street, Lower Manhattan

Hidden away in the heart of the Lower East Side, the Beekman Hotel is a unique landmark that’s been converted to one of the most gorgeous hotels in NYC.

The building itself was built in 1882, it was tragically boarded up in 1940 and left empty for decades. Because of its long hibernation and vacancy the building just sat for those decades almost frozen in time pretty much leaving the entire property restored and untouched.

The luxury hotelier group Thompson Hotels unveiled the Beekman Hotel in 2016 and now it’s one of the most stylish and coolest hotels in NYC.

The heart of the Beekman Hotel is the atrium with a pyramid-topped skylight, which illuminates 9 cascading floors below into the hotel bar. Intricately detailed cast ironwork covers railings and ceilings. In the lobby, you are met with creamy marble, emerald-green pillars, and a Persian rug-wrapped welcome center.

Visit the Temple Court Restaurant with al a carte or 5-course tasting menu, or enjoy the Temple Court on 10- intimate wisteria-covered dining on the West Terrace. Have a drink on a velvet couch in The Bar Room at Temple Court, a Victorian-era bar underneath the Atrium. Book here.

NYC Travel Tips & Tricks

Planning a weekend in NYC or any NYC trip as someone who isn’t super familiar with the city requires you to brush up on some of the common scams, don’t worry, we have an entire guide to the most common NYC scams and how to avoid them!

If you’re on a shoe-string budget, don’t worry we have a guide to NYC on a budget as well with money saving tips from cheap eats, stays, and free things to do in the city!

Not sure what to bring? Check out our Brooklyn packing list , which covers what essentials you’ll need for your NYC trip. Oh, and see our full guide to all the best NYC travel tips too!

Also, if you’re planning on hitting up many of the most famous attractions on your NYC trip consider getting an attraction pass that you pay a price upfront to get into attractions all over the city for free. By purchasing an attraction pass you can save anywhere from 35-45% on your attraction passes and saving you hundreds of dollars on your visit!

CityPASS offers a 3 attraction pass or a 6 attraction pass with over 12 city attractions to choose from including popular observatories like the Empire State Building, The Edge, Top of the Rock, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, the Guggenheim, and more!

Another great option is the New York Pass which you can purchase anywhere from a 1 Day Pass to a 10 Day Pass that gets you into over 100 attractions. Once you purchase your New York Pass you download the Go City app and use that to get up to 45% savings on popular attractions as well as a few hidden gem attractions ranging from the Empire State Building to the Museum of Ice Cream and many of the NYC experiences mentioned in this guide!

We also have a full breakdown of both of these sightseeing passes, check out our guide to CityPASS and New York Pass for more details and FAQ!

Enjoyed this guide or found our 3 days in NYC itinerary helpful for planning your trip? Bookmark for later or share the love on Pinterest below! Happy travels!

Sarah Beling is a playwright, New Yorker, and passionate food enthusiast who is always looking for her next meal. You can find her in an NYC park, enjoying a chopped cheese sandwich and reading about NYC’s best new places to eat.

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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

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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.

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About The Author

Courtney Shapiro

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

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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.

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.

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.

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

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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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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 .

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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Anyone else think that 3 days is not enough in NYC? - New York City Forum

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Anyone else think that 3 days is not enough in NYC?

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I know that may sound silly as thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people visit NYC for a weekend visit all of the time. But when coming from the west coast and paying $200-$300 a night for a hotel, I just feel like it takes a day to get situated into the feel and rhythm of the city.

I am considering visiting again this year, but I need to be very frugal with my spending. I feel like a three-day weekend is just not enough time to enjoy NYC. It is hard to explain the feeling. I feel like if I went and spent all of that money for just a few nights, I would feel as if I am missing something and probably wouldn't want to leave. Whereas when I stay a week or 8 days or so, I feel like I have really experienced the city.

46 replies to this topic

I agree TC. Living in Colorado, the least I would visit is 5 days, but 7 days is really the true number.

Then I think if I can do seven days maybe I can do 10? Is the three day notion because that’s the amount of time you can get off work or?

Three days is definitely not enough. A week at minimum and two weeks even better.

Plan around a holiday and take the extra day.

Three days is not enough in my opinion from California, or from Colorado😊

I think you answered your own question, but try this:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/10/06/travel/things-to-do-nyc.html

3 days for a new visitor is nada. For someone who has ben before.....sure.

But I’m an older person now and I don’t get much out of whirlwind trips. I didn’t start going to New York City until I was in my early 50s..

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Is 3 Days Enough In New York?

Visiting New York City can be an exciting and overwhelming experience. With so much to see and do, many travelers are left wondering if three days is enough time to truly experience the Big Apple. While it may seem like a short amount of time, with careful planning and prioritizing, you can make the most out of your three-day trip to New York City.

One of the first things to consider is where to stay during your visit. New York City offers a wide range of accommodations, from luxury hotels to budget-friendly options. Depending on your preferences and budget, you can find a hotel that fits your needs in the heart of Manhattan or in the surrounding boroughs.

Now that you have your accommodation sorted, it’s time to start planning your itinerary. With only three days, it’s important to prioritize the top attractions and experiences that you don’t want to miss. Some must-see landmarks include the iconic Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, and the Empire State Building.

Exploring the various neighborhoods of New York City is another great way to immerse yourself in the culture and vibe of the city. From the bustling streets of Chinatown to the trendy shops and eateries of the Lower East Side, each neighborhood has its own unique charm. Don’t forget to visit the world-famous museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art.

New York City is also renowned for its Broadway shows. Catching a musical or play is a quintessential New York experience. Be sure to check out the current shows and book your tickets in advance to secure the best seats.

If you’re a foodie, you’ll be spoilt for choice in New York City. From street food vendors selling hot dogs and pretzels to Michelin-starred restaurants, the city offers a diverse culinary scene. Don’t miss the chance to try the authentic New York-style pizza or indulge in a classic bagel with lox and cream cheese.

Getting around New York City can be a bit overwhelming, but thankfully the city has a well-developed public transportation system. The subway is the fastest and most efficient way to navigate the city, providing access to all major attractions. Consider getting a MetroCard, which offers unlimited rides for a set period of time.

While experiencing everything that New York City has to offer in just three days might seem challenging, it is certainly possible to have a memorable trip. By carefully planning your itinerary, prioritizing top attractions, and utilizing the city’s transportation system, you can make the most out of your three-day adventure in the city that never sleeps.

Exploring The Best Of New York City In Just 3 Days: Must-See Attractions, Hidden Gems, And Local Experiences

New York City is a bustling metropolis that offers endless opportunities for exploration and discovery. With so much to see and do, many visitors wonder if a three-day trip is enough to experience everything this vibrant city has to offer. In this article, we will explore the best of New York City in just three days, including must-see attractions, hidden gems, and local experiences.

Start your first day in New York City by visiting its iconic landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. These national monuments represent the rich history and cultural diversity that the city embodies. To make the most of your visit, consider booking an early morning ferry ride to beat the crowds and enjoy panoramic views of the city skyline.

Afterward, head to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to pay tribute to the victims of the September 11th attacks. This somber and powerful experience will provide insight into the resilience and strength of the city.

In the afternoon, indulge in some retail therapy on Fifth Avenue, renowned for its luxury boutiques and flagship stores. From high-end fashion brands to well-known department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, you’ll find something to suit every taste and style.

On your second day, take a leisurely stroll through Central Park, an oasis in the heart of the city. This expansive green space offers a serene escape from the bustling streets, with picturesque lakes, gardens, and iconic landmarks such as Bethesda Terrace and Strawberry Fields.

For art enthusiasts, a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a must. Housing an extensive collection spanning thousands of years, this world-class museum features works from renowned artists such as Van Gogh, Monet, and Picasso. Allow yourself a few hours to truly appreciate the masterpieces housed within.

In the evening, experience the vibrant atmosphere of Times Square. Neon lights, giant billboards, and a constant buzz of activity make this iconic intersection a must-see attraction. Catch a Broadway show or simply soak in the electrifying atmosphere while exploring the numerous shops and restaurants that line the streets.

Start your third day by exploring one of New York City’s hidden gems – the High Line. This elevated park built on a historic freight rail line offers breathtaking views of the city and a unique perspective on urban green spaces. Take a leisurely walk along the elevated path, dotted with art installations and lush greenery.

For a taste of local culture, visit one of New York City’s diverse neighborhoods, such as Chinatown or Little Italy. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere, sample delicious cuisines, and browse through local shops for unique souvenirs.

Before bidding farewell to the city, take a trip to the top of the Empire State Building Observatory for unparalleled views of the New York City skyline. This iconic landmark is a must-visit for any visitor and offers a truly memorable end to your three-day exploration.

In conclusion, while three days may not be enough to experience everything New York City has to offer, it is certainly possible to explore its must-see attractions, discover hidden gems, and immerse yourself in local experiences. With careful planning and prioritization, you can make the most of your time and create lasting memories in the city that never sleeps.

Optimizing Your 72 Hours In New York: Efficient Itineraries And Time-Saving Tips For A Memorable Trip

If you’re planning a trip to New York City and have limited time, you may be wondering if three days are enough to experience all that the city has to offer. While New York City is a bustling metropolis with countless attractions, it is possible to optimize your 72 hours and make the most of your trip.

When it comes to optimizing your time in New York City, efficient itineraries are key. By planning ahead and prioritizing the sights and activities that interest you the most, you can maximize your time and create a memorable trip. Here’s a suggested itinerary to make the most of your 72 hours:

Now that you have an efficient itinerary, here are some time-saving tips to make the most of your three days:

• Plan and book tickets in advance for popular attractions to avoid long queues and save time.
• Utilize public transportation such as the subway to navigate the city quickly and efficiently.
• Consider purchasing a CityPASS or a sightseeing pass that offers discounted admission to multiple attractions, saving both time and money.
• Opt for early morning or late evening visits to popular attractions to avoid crowds.
• Try local street food or grab a quick bite at food trucks to save time on meals.
• Make use of mobile apps, such as Google Maps or Citymapper, to navigate the city and find the best routes.

While three days may not be enough to explore every corner of New York City, by optimizing your itinerary and following these time-saving tips, you can have a memorable trip and cover the highlights of the city. Plan ahead, make the most of your time, and enjoy your 72 hours in the Big Apple!

Maximizing Your New York Experience: Top-rated Hotels, Restaurants, And Nightlife Hotspots For A Jam-Packed 3-Day Visit

Are you planning a jam-packed 3-day visit to New York? With so much to see and do in the Big Apple, it’s important to make the most of your time. To help you maximize your New York experience, we’ve compiled a list of top-rated hotels, restaurants, and nightlife hotspots that will make your trip unforgettable.

When it comes to choosing a hotel in New York, there are endless options to suit every budget and preference. Here are three top-rated choices:

Restaurants:

Indulge in the diverse culinary scene of New York with these top-rated restaurants:

• Le Bernardin: A Michelin-starred seafood restaurant known for its exquisite dishes and impeccable service.
• Gramercy Tavern: This popular spot offers delicious seasonal American cuisine and a warm, inviting atmosphere.
• Russ & Daughters: A century-old deli serving up classic Jewish comfort food and some of the best lox and bagels in the city.

Nightlife hotspots:

Experience the vibrant nightlife scene of New York at these popular hotspots:

• 1 Oak: Known for its exclusive and glamorous atmosphere, this nightclub attracts A-listers and offers top-notch DJ performances.
• The Rooftop at The Standard: Enjoy breathtaking views of the city skyline while sipping cocktails at this trendy rooftop bar.
• The Comedy Cellar: Laugh the night away at this famous comedy club, where you can catch some of the best stand-up acts in the country.

Now, back to the question – is 3 days enough in New York? While it may be a whirlwind visit, three days can give you a taste of what the city has to offer. Keep in mind that New York is vast, and it’s impossible to see everything in such a short amount of time. However, by planning your itinerary carefully and hitting the highlights, you can certainly make the most of your trip.

Make sure to prioritize the iconic landmarks like Times Square, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty. Explore different neighborhoods, such as SoHo, Greenwich Village, and Chelsea, to experience the city’s unique culture and atmosphere. And of course, indulge in the incredible food and entertainment options that New York is famous for.

So, even though three days is not enough to fully explore New York, it’s still possible to have an amazing experience and create memories that will last a lifetime. Plan ahead, make the most of your time, and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime in the city that never sleeps!

Written by  JourneyBliss

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• Travel Guide

How much does it cost to travel to New York City?

You should plan to spend around $326 per day on your vacation in New York City. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

• $50 on meals
• $49 on local transportation
• $350 on hotels

A one week trip to New York City for two people costs, on average, $4,561 . This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

• Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)
• Average Daily Cost Per person, per day $ 326
• One Week Per person $ 2,281
• 2 Weeks Per person $ 4,561
• One Month Per person $ 9,774
• One Week For a couple $ 4,561
• 2 Weeks For a couple $ 9,123
• One Month For a couple $ 19,548

Are You an Experienced Traveler?

Help other travelers! Answer a quick question about your past travels. Click here: let's do it!

How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to New York City cost?

A one week trip to New York City usually costs around $2,281 for one person and $4,561 for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to New York City on average costs around $4,561 for one person and $9,123 for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in New York City will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to New York City on average costs around $9,774 for one person and $19,548 for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to New York City has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

New York City is a somewhat more expensive place to visit. Located in the United States of America, which is a moderately priced country, visitors will need to plan for the extra expenses of this destination. It is in the top 25% of cities in the country for its overall travel expenses. When visiting, expect to pay somewhat higher prices for accommodation, food, and activities.

Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, New York City is a somewhat more expensive destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in North America for its travel costs. While some cities in the region are more expensive, New York City is generally more expensive than most.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is New York City Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to New York City?

The average New York City trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these New York City travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in New York City

Average daily costs.

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in New York City is $175. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in New York City is $350. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.

• Accommodation 1 Hotel or hostel for one person $ 175
• Accommodation 1 Typical double-occupancy room $ 350

Hotel Prices in New York City

Looking for a hotel in New York City? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Actual Hotel Prices The average hotel room price in New York City based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $175. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.

Recommended Properties

• Sankofa Aban Bed and Breakfast Budget Hotel - Kayak $ 157
• The Towers at Lotte New York Palace Luxury Hotel - Kayak $ 639

Transportation Budget in New York City

The cost of a taxi ride in New York City is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $49 per person, per day, on local transportation in New York City.

• Transportation 1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc. $ 49

Recommended Services

• New York City Airport Departure Transfer by Sprinter LGA JFK EWR Viator $ 235
• Manhattan to LGA: One Way Shared Departure Transfer Viator $ 34

Flights to New York City

Rental cars in new york city, what did other people spend on transportation in new york city.

Typical prices for Transportation in New York City are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in New York City, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Subway $ 4.50
• Taxi Ride $ 8.00
• Subway $ 2.50

Food Budget in New York City

While meal prices in New York City can vary, the average cost of food in New York City is $50 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in New York City should cost around $20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in New York City is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

• Food 2 Meals for one day $ 50

Recommended

• NYC Food Tour: Greenwich Village Viator $ 79
• NYC's Famous Cuisine Food Tour Viator $ 71

What did other people spend on Food in New York City?

Typical prices for Food in New York City are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in New York City, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Gelato $ 7.50
• Snacks for Two at Yankees Game $ 34
• Coffee $ 6.53
• Smoothie $ 6.95

Entertainment Budget in New York City

Entertainment and activities in New York City typically cost an average of $180 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids , Things to Do in Central Park in NYC , and The Best Museums in New York City .

• Entertainment 1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc. $ 180

The Go City New York Pass offers great discounts on attractions in New York. With the Go City Explorer pass, you can choose to visit specific sights and attractions at a discount. Or, you can visit as many included attractions as you like with a multi-day All-Inclusive Pass. The average visitor saves 30% off of the regular admission prices.

Recommended Activities

• Broadway Show Tickets Ticket Network View Price
• New York City Historic Walking Tour of Hamilton and Washington Viator $ 50

What did other people spend on Entertainment in New York City?

Typical prices for Entertainment in New York City are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in New York City, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Comedy Show Tickets $ 56
• City Map $ 8.00
• Broadway Musical $ 111
• Broadway Show Program $ 10
• Magazine $ 6.99

Tips and Handouts Budget in New York City

The average cost for Tips and Handouts in New York City is $9.10 per day. The usual amount for a tip in New York City is 10% - 20% .

• Tips and Handouts 1 For guides or service providers $ 9.10

Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in New York City

Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in New York City is $39, as reported by travelers.

• Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps 1 $ 39

Alcohol Budget in New York City

The average person spends about $29 on alcoholic beverages in New York City per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

• Alcohol 2 Drinks for one day $ 29
• Hudson Valley Craft Brewery Bike Tour Viator $ 145
• Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl Viator $ 49

Water Budget in New York City

On average, people spend $3.56 on bottled water in New York City per day. The public water in New York City is considered safe to drink.

• Water 2 Bottled water for one day $ 3.56

Related Articles

New york city on a budget.

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Food and dining, transportation, more related articles.

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How much money should you budget for a week trip to New York City?

Mis à jour le 04/04/2022. 203 commentaires

Determining a budget for a trip to New York is quite complicated. It would help if you considered various expenses, and some are more important than others. Anyhow, I’ll try to give you some clues. First, I will define three types of budgets (tight, average, and large) for a couple who decides to stay a week in New York (7 nights).

For each budget, I will consider the following elements: Flight + accommodation + food + departures + visits + shopping + extras

It is an estimate based on my own experience. At least I will try to give you an idea of how much your budget should be.

Factors to think about as you prepare your budget for a trip to New York City

Firstly, you must consider when you want to go to New York City. The flights and accommodation rates vary depending on the season. The cheapest season is from January to March. The seasons that attract more tourists are when there are school holidays (Easter, summer, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year).

The accommodation is another factor to care about. The place where you will stay and the comfort and services you want. You can start at around $90 a night up to $250-300 or a few thousand dollars for high-end hotels.

The lifestyle you want in New York also matters. You may don’t mind eating sandwiches, going out at night, or shopping; your budget may be more limited than a couple who wants to dine in restaurants, see a show on Broadway, and visit many places.

The 7 factors that seem most important to me are: – the flight (round trip) – accommodation (hostels, hotels, apartment…) – transportation (from the airport, taxis, metro…) – meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) – visits, attractions and shows – shopping – extra expenses (bars, cakes…).

How much does a flight cost to New York?

I know you read me from different countries, and I cannot easily compare the cost of a flight ticket from London, Sydney, or Berlin. For those who read me from the United States, the price categories that I will give below do not apply because domestic flights are usually much cheaper than international flights.

However, if you go on vacation outside school holidays, you will get cheaper rates. But still, you can review the fares of some airlines which propose offers throughout the year. The key is to check rates often. Sometimes it can be helpful to register for an airline’s newsletter and receive special offers notifications.

I prepared a list of airlines in this article . Do not hesitate to review it and compare the rates 😉

If you notice a promotion, you can also inform me, and I’ll publish it in this post .

I determine three types of budget:

How much does it cost to stay in New York?

Again, it is a bit difficult to give you a very precise cost.

New York City attracts a lot of tourists, the rates vary from month to month.

You can find a room at $150 off-season, and pay $250- $300 for the same room during the high season!

In addition, you have to take into account where you would like to stay, the number of travelers, comfort, and services.

How much does transportation cost in New York?

The first expense you will have in New York is the transfer between the airport and your accommodation ( JFK , Newark , La Guardia ). The cheapest way is public transportation with the Airtrain and subway because it is equivalent to $15.75person round trip, or $31 for a couple.

You can also book a taxi shuttle, about $ 23/person, or about $90 per couple, the round trip.

Another option is the taxi or a limousine. It can cost from $50 to $170 for a one-way trip.

Once in New York, if you stay a week, it is best to buy an Unlimited Metrocard . It costs $32 per person.

Yellow cabs can be very practical … and they are so mythical! They are available 24 hours a day in Manhattan. A trip can cost between $8 and $10, it obviously depends on the distance. There are also green taxis, I give you more information in this article . They cost the same, the difference is that they go to areas where yellow taxis do not.

I want to draw attention to those who decide to stay in New Jersey. They must add the price of the PATH (train from New Jersey to NYC), it costs $29 /person, unlimited travel for 7 days. If you don’t stay close to a PATH station, you can take a bus, rates vary depending on the distance.

How much money could you spend for meals?

It is another difficult point to determine. Some may be satisfied with a $3 hot dog, and others prefer $200 meals at a good restaurant. Breakfast at a Starbucks costs $5 to $6 per person (a simple coffee and pastry). You can spend less at a 7 Eleven, Dunkin Donuts, Prêt-à-Manger…

Eating at a fast-food restaurant varies from $8 to $10 for a main dish + drink + dessert. There are small restaurants or Deli’s, in which the main course (pizza, pasta, meat, …) costs from $10 to $12 per person. A full meal costs $20 – $26 per person.

As for restaurants, likewise any big city, some can be very expensive. But there are many with complete menus (entrees + main dish + dessert) between $50 and $60 per person.

Note: some hotels have breakfast included in the room rate, with a large selection of food.

For three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). dinner), my estimate is:

How much do visits, attractions and shows cost in New York?

First of all, I think that for a first visit of New York, the purchase of a Pass is very useful, like the New York CityPASS since it offers the main visits and attractions in NYC.

Then, if you want to see an NBA game, whether it’s the New York Knicks or the Brooklyn Nets, you could find tickets at $26-40. For a baseball game, it’s starting at $20-25, a football game is starting at $40-50. You can read more information here .

If you like shows and plays , you can go see a musical on Broadway, starting at $ 65-90 per person.

One of the must-see activities in New York is a helicopter flight , starting at $215 per person. It is impressive and allows you to see the whole city from an extraordinary point of view.

In short, there are thousands of things that can be done in New York , not to mention concerts, museums, bus tours, boats, guided tours…

How much does a shopping session in New York cost?

It is one of the most difficult budgets to anticipate. Even if your not a regular shopper, the prices in New York are so attractive that one quickly falls into the shopping fever.

Most tourists buy souvenirs from $ 1 to $ 10 (key chains, I Love NY t-shirt …) but they also buy at least a pair of sneakers (Converse, New balance, Nike) from $40 to $50, a pair of jeans from $40 to $50, 2-3 t-shirts at $10 each…

You can save money going to one of the outlet stores near NYC . For nice souvenirs at “wallet friendly” prices, you can go to Cocoblues .

What are the other expenses that can be spent in New York?

Within these expenses I include going to a bar at the end of the day, passing by a bakery during the afternoon… expenses that are not necessary but are part of the vacations.

A cupcake, muffin or cookie, can cost at least 3 to 4 dollars, a beer costs $6-10, a cocktail is from 9 to 13 dollars, if it is on a rooftop (on the terrace of a building) it is at least $ 13…

In this category you can count the administrative expenses ( ESTA -$14 person- or visa, it depends on the countries in terms of price), the passport (the price depends on the countries), and are required to enter the American territory.

I prepared a table so you can better read the budgets calculated above.

As you can see, you can go to New York with your partner with a little over $2000, reserving the flight and accommodation as soon as possible and limiting your expenses in the city. However, I recommend that you go with a budget of minimum $2200 per couple, to truly enjoy your stay. I would say a minimum of $3500-$4000.

In this article, I am not talking about the agencies that offer flight-hotel packages. You can get a good deal on websites like Expedia .

To prepare your budget, you can also calculate how much money you spend per week when you are at home: meals, transportation to work, shopping, gas and electricity for example.

In conclusion, I hope I have helped you a little with this article, so you can prepare your trip to New York with ease.

My fist trip to New York was in 2007 when I was working for an airline company. I was born in the US, I lived in Mexico, in Europe in between Belgium, Spain and France… Well, let’s say I know about travelling! I bring my experience of NYC to the blog, to provide the best travel tips you could imagine!

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New York City Travel Tips

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Broadway Shows

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Trump trial schedule: Latest on the trial and what you should expect this week

Former President Donald Trump 's hush money tria l is on break Monday, but court will reconvene Tuesday morning .

Although the jurors and lawyers typically gather on Monday mornings, Judge Juan Merchan ruled last week that there would be no proceedings Monday, April 29.

Monday is part of the last two days of the Jewish holiday of Passover . Court also let out early on April 22 and April 23 to allow people to travel for religious gatherings.

Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to disguise the hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels that allegedly constituted an illegal campaign contribution.

Here is what to know as Trump's trial continues into Week 3:

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Trump trial live updates: Stormy Daniels' lawyer is back on the stand

Trump trial schedule

The tria is expected to last six to eight weeks, according to a media advisory .

Proceedings typically start at 9:30 a.m. local time and run through the business day. Court is on break on Wednesdays .

Trial is not televised, but you can read transcripts

New York City Criminal Court is publishing the trial transcripts and copies of evidence shown to the jury.

Transcripts of proceedings aren't always available, but officials decided to make them available because of "unparalleled public interest."

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday's transcripts are available now on the New York State Unified Court System's media website. Evidence shown to the jury, including texts, emails and photos , also are available from last week's proceedings.

Week 2 ended during third witness testimony

Jurors heard from three witnesses last week.

First, David Pecker, former head of the National Enquirer’s parent company, testified about how he used the publication to write positive stories about Trump and prevent negative stories about him from coming out during his 2016 presidential campaign.

His testimony and cross-examination spanned three days. He also said his editor-in-chief believed Stormy Daniels' story about an alleged sexual encounter in 2006, which Trump denies.

Trump's former executive assistant Rhona Graff made a brief appearance on the witness stand Friday. When court wrapped for the week, the prosecution was questioning Gary Farro, former senior managing director at First Republic Bank. Farro, who was former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's banker in 2016, could be used to bring in email evidence about the payment to Daniels. CNN reported Cohen used money from his home equity line to cover Daniels' payment, and an email from a First Republic Bank employee confirmed the transfer.

Leaving the courthouse Friday, Trump challenged President Joe Biden to a debate.

“We’ll do it at the White House,” Trump said. “That would be very comfortable, actually.”

Contributing: Bart Jansen and Aysha Bagchi

Your 16-Day Itinerary To Discovering New York

• Spend just over two weeks in NYC to fully acclimate to the city, visit top attractions, and explore famous landmarks.
• Start the New York City itinerary by visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, exploring Wall Street, and shop in Madison Square and Union Square.
• Don't miss out on experiencing the Brooklyn Bridge, famous NYC museums, Coney Island and Luna Park, the Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, Staten Island, Long Island, Woodstock, ice skating in Central Park, and the Edge Observation Deck. Consider a hop-on hop-off bus tour to explore iconic attractions at your own pace. Finish off by ticking anything else off your ultimate NYC bucket list!

Wondering what to do in 2 weeks in New York City? The answer is "a lot", and, fortunately for tourists, 16 days (so just a little over two weeks) is the perfect time to acclimate to the city and its people. It also allows visitors to take their time while visiting central and greater New York attractions, including Lady Liberty, the Empire State Building, Brooklyn, and Coney Island.

Whether deciding on activities for the winter in NYC or what to buy if visiting New York City for the first time (like tickets to the Edge and Empire State Building!), this list is a great starting point for tourists wondering how to spend 16 days in the Big Apple. See the highlights of the concrete jungle with this 16-day New York City itinerary, which showcases most of its top attractions, iconic NYC landmarks, and other stops while visiting what is easily the most famous city in America for tourism!

Related: Sustainable New York City: A Guide To 10 Ways You Can Visit In An Eco-Friendly Way

UPDATE: 2023/11/29 01:57 EST BY SUNIL PURUSHE

Our Previous New York Itinerary (14 Days Long) Is Now A New York Itinerary 16 Days In Length!

Originally starting out as 10 days in New York City, this list has been expanded even further to become a New York 2-week itinerary (just a little over, in fact, at 16 days!). Discover even more activities that have now been added to an already awesome list of great ways to spend two weeks in New York City.

Visit Ellis Island And The Statue Of Liberty

To visit both islands in a day, the national park service recommends an early ferry departure.

To start the New York two-week itinerary, after the morning bagel and coffee, visitors should catch the subway to Battery Park, where they will hop on the ferry to Liberty and Ellis Island, which are two of the most famous places in NYC. Also, if tourists are on a budget, they don't need to worry; the Staten Island ferry is a free service!

Make sure to capture the New York skyline from the water, as well as the obligatory selfie with Lady Liberty. Explore Ellis Island, walk about, and take it all in before heading back to Battery Park.

• Tour: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour - $44 per adult
• Best time to Visit: Mornings on Weekdays

Walk On Wall Street

Fans of 'the wolf of wall street' will feel like they've stepped right into the movie.

Wall Street is a must-visit spot in NYC, even for travelers with a limited interest in finance. Wall Street is the trading hub of the economic world and spans eight blocks in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan.

Walk among the buildings where the biggest stock exchange in America takes place and witness the many people in suits strolling the streets with purpose.

• Tour: How Money Was Made Wall Street Walking Tour - $42 per adult
• Best Time to Visit: Lunchtime

Explore Madison Square & Union Square

Spend a day shopping in the heart of new york city.

Head down to Madison Square, where visitors can easily spend the whole day. Madison Square is one of the best places for shopping in NYC; it's a public outdoor area at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street in Manhattan. Shop ‘till you drop in the morning and then head down to the world-renowned ‘Shake Shack’ for some lunch.

Basketball fans can go and check out the home of the New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden. Then, they can explore Union Square for even more shopping… it just never stops in the Big Apple!

• Tour: Madison Square Garden All Access Tour , Union Square: Crossroads of New York Walking Tour
• Best Time to Visit: Spring, Fall or Summer

Related: 10 Hotels in New York That Are Hotspots For Celebrities

Visit The Brooklyn Bridge And Botanic Garden

From the beauty of the garden to the grandeur of the bridge, explore the icons of brooklyn.

It is near impossible to discover Brooklyn in one day, and once visitors are there, they'll agree. First off, head to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and enter an experience of tranquility within the busy city that surrounds this nature retreat.

If tourists have kids, then their next stop could be the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, perhaps one of the most interactive children’s museums in NYC, and for adults, the Brooklyn Museum (a different museum) offers a more in-depth look at the history of New York and the United States.

No trip to Brooklyn is complete without walking across or riding a bike across the incredible Brooklyn Bridge, a suspension bridge over the East River that connects Brooklyn to Manhattan.

• Tours: Brooklyn Botanic Garden Tours , Brooklyn Bridge
• Best Time to Visit: Late March through early May for the botanical gardens

Tour Famous New York City Museums

New york museums inform and inspire with world-class exhibits full of rare and exclusive artifacts.

For travelers who enjoy finding out the history behind places they visit, the American Museum of Natural History is ideal. The museum is so good, in fact, that they will not regret dragging the kids along.

Get immersed and let one's aviation geek come to life in the Air and Space Museum. Here, visitors will learn the history behind US aviation programs, both military and commercial. Even if visitors aren’t fans of aviation, the history behind the ships and aircraft the US used during the World Wars is something to behold.

Next, it's time for a tour of the famous Lincoln Center and to see where some of the world’s top performances are held.

• Tours: American Museum of Natural History , Intrepid Museum , Lincoln Center for Performing Arts
• Best Time to Visit: To avoid crowds, visit during weekdays and as early in the day as possible

Related: 10 Fun Things You Need To Try In Brooklyn

Visit Coney Island And Luna Park

Home of the cyclone and thunderbolt roller coasters, attractions, dining, shops, and more.

Take the subway to Coney Island, on New York City’s Southern Coast, and hang out at Luna Park. Let the kids run free, take a timeout for a few hours, and enjoy a ride on the iconic Cyclone roller coaster. As the second-steepest wooden roller coaster in the world, the Cyclone features an adrenaline-charged plunge measuring 85 feet at an uncompromising descent angle of almost 60 degrees.

Afterward, jump on a Circle Line Ferry, which takes passengers past all the attractions to see around Coney Island as well as down the Hudson River.

• Tour: Choose a NYC tour from Circle Line Ferry , Cyclone at Luna Park
• Best Time to Visit: Late May to early September

Enjoy The Views From The Empire State Building

Experience the #1 attraction in the united states for the second consecutive year.

No trip to New York City is complete without a visit to the Empire State Building. Jump in the elevator and hop off on the 86th floor. This floor is the observation deck , and what a view it offers.

Words cannot describe the experience of witnessing what is perhaps the best view of the NYC skyline; travelers simply have to see for themselves. Surprisingly, while the experience is already incredible during the day, it's even more impressive after nightfall when the city is lit up.

• Tour: Visit the Empire State Building
• Best Time to Visit: Early in the morning or late in the evening on weekdays for fewer crowds (but this is one of the best attractions in NYC, so always expect some crowds)

Add an Express Pass to the ticket at checkout and skip the lines to spend more time enjoying the view.

Related: 10 Cheapest Hotels To Book In New York City

Explore Times Square

See times square's iconic attractions, then tour greenwich village.

Times Square is perhaps the most famous spot to visit in New York City, filled with neon lights, billboards, and endless entertainment. Travelers will want to head to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Times Square, where the artwork is so impressive it can be challenging to remember the figures aren't real.

The exploring doesn’t stop here, though. Discover one of New York’s most interesting boroughs, with a Greenwich Village walking tour.

• Tour: Madam Tussauds Wax Museum , Greenwich Village Walking and Food Tasting Tour
• Best Time to Visit: Mid-March through December to avoid the severe New York winter, especially while walking

Visitors should be prepared for huge crowds and very little room to walk, no matter what time they visit Times Square, seeing as it's among the most famous places to visit in NYC.

Tuck Into A Picnic In Central Park

Unwind in new york city's green lungs, arguably known as the best city park in the world.

Central Park is a beautiful destination year-round and is free to visit, so no matter what season travelers are visiting New York City, they should prioritize spending time in this expansive green space.

Located in the heart of the city, Central Park provides an escape from the busy streets of Manhattan. In the spring, the cherry blossoms are breathtaking, while in the fall, yellow and red leaves add to the coziness of the atmosphere. Pack a picnic of some local bagels or sandwiches and indulge in a great view of NYC's best nature.

• Tour: Central Park Walking Tour - $25 per adult
• Best Time to Visit: Fall and Spring

Related: 10 Places That Serve the Best Bagels in New York City

Visit Staten Island

Famous for some of the oldest architecture in the us, dating back to the dutch period.

There is much more to NYC than just the five boroughs. The forgotten borough of NYC is Staten Island, and people need to take the Staten Island ferry to get there.

Staten Island offers something of a small-town feel in the otherwise bustling NYC. See some of the oldest colonial buildings in America on Staten Island that are still standing in Historic Richmond Town. Staten Island is also famous for its excellent Italian cuisine and pizzas.

• Tour: Historic Tour of North Shore Staten Island - $180 per adult, Visit Our Lady of Mount Carmel Grotto
• Best Time to Visit: During summer, any weekday between 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM or after 7 PM.

Related: Like A New Yorker: The Ultimate Staten Island Guide & Things To Do

Take A Tour Of Long Island

Enjoy nationally acclaimed white-sand beaches, world-class wineries, and epic shopping.

Long Island has so much to offer visitors who have the time to explore this loved NYC destination. When visiting, people can discover the early history of Long Island - including the Native American, Dutch, and colonial English periods.

Places like the Shinnecock National Cultural Center & Museum delve into more of the prehistory of the island, but Long Island has plenty of "touristy" things to see and do, such as festivals, beaches, lively neighborhoods, and so much more. An ultimate guide for Long Island requires much more than just one day, though, given there's so much going on here pretty much year-round.

• Tour: New York City to the Hamptons Private Day Trip - $1,199 per group of 6
• Best Time to Visit: Spring, Summer and Fall

Take A Day Trip To Woodstock

Known for its unique mix of culture, art, religion, music, and the adventure-rich appalachian trail.

People who have plenty of time to visit NYC should consider taking a few day trips out of the Big Apple. Of course, exploring Long Island and the other boroughs of NYC, as well as New York City's most unique neighborhoods , is a must. However, there are other day trips from NYC to consider for those with enough time to spare (and Woodstock is certainly one of them!).

Visit the original site of Woodstock and learn about the Counter Culture of the 1960s. Woodstock and Bethel are only around 110 miles out of NYC and are perfectly doable as a day trip.

• Tour: Woodstock Music Festival Museum
• Best Time to Visit: Fall

Go Ice Skating At The Wollman Rink In Central Park

Enjoy a magical winter wonderland during the day or night (end of october to mid-march only).

When visiting New York City in the winter, don't miss this beautiful setting nestled within the iconic Central Park, with a breathtaking backdrop of towering trees, shimmering powder, and the stunning NYC skyline. Whether one is a seasoned skater or a first-timer, the Wollman Rink caters to all skill levels. Overall, this is one of the must-do activities in New York City during the off-season .

From October 28, 2023, through March 15, 2024 , Wollman Rink NYC welcomes everyone for ice skating in Central Park. There is also the Wollman Café onsite that offers a wide selection of delicious food and drink, including warm fresh food, grab-n-go items, vegan options, a coffee bar, and favorites for kids. Check out the hours of operation before visiting.

• Tour: Wollman Rink In Central Park - $15 - $37 per adult (skates are available for rent at $11)
• Best Time to Visit: October 28, 2023, through March 15, 2024 (arrive up to 30 minutes prior to your scheduled entry time)

There is no re-entry once you leave the facility. Tickets are non-refundable.

Witness The New York City Skyline From The Edge Observation Deck

Enjoy the world's most famous skyline from the tallest outdoor observation platform in the western hemisphere.

Can someone set aside a whole day just to visit the Edge Observation Deck ? Yes; the views and the experience are worth it, especially, since there# is no limit to the amount of time visitors can spend here. There is so much to explore and enjoy, from the journey up to Edge, the elevator ride, the indoor and outdoor sky decks, the thrilling glass floor, and much more.

Visitors can also enjoy a drink at the Edge bar. Reserve an admission ticket to guarantee an entrance time slot.

• Tour: Edge Observation Deck - $36 - $99
• Best Time to Visit: One hour before sunset

Take A Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour Of NYC

Set your own pace when exploring the iconic attractions of new york city.

It would be a wise decision to purchase hop-on hop-off bus tickets for the first or last day (or last couple of days) in New York City. However, it is recommended on one of the last days so that travelers can see the city for one final time and perhaps learn a thing or two from the audio commentary on board, but most importantly, visit some famous NYC attractions they may have missed.

Tourists can hop off the bus when something catches their eye, and hop back on when they are ready to head to their next point of interest. Even if passengers have seen everything they want to see throughout their two weeks in NYC, they can simply sit back and take in the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple from this excellent tour bus.

• Tour: Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Bus Tour - $54 per adult
• Best Time to Visit: Spring, summer, or fall (the winter period is really cold!)

Tick Anything Else Off The New York City Bucket List

There are endless more bucket list things to do in nyc, from broadway shows to ghost tours.

While 16 days is a long time to spend in The Big Apple, it is still not enough to see everything the city has to offer; the list of things to do in NYC is seemingly endless.

Still, visitors should spend their last day checking out anything they haven't done already - like watching some Broadway Shows, going on an NYC ghost tour, going on an NYC pub crawl, or visiting Harry Potter New York - the world's largest authentic Harry Potter store , which opened a couple of years ago. Travelers are also recommended to visit the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, which enables people to pay their respects and remember those who lost their lives.

• Tour: National 9/11 Memorial & Museum - $33 per adult, Broadway Theaters and Times Square with a Theater Professional - $39 per adult
• Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit NYC overall is spring, summer, and fall (again, winter can be far too cold for many people)

• International

Trump hush money trial

University protests

Day 8 of Trump New York hush money trial

By CNN's Kara Scannell, Lauren Del Valle and Jeremy Herb in the courthouse

Key takeaways from Donald Trump's hush money trial on Friday

Jurors will now have a three-day weekend to think about what they heard during the first full week of testimony in the historic  Donald Trump hush money trial .

David Pecker finally stepped down from the witness stand after more than 10 hours of testimony across four days, where the former American Media Inc. chief described in detail how he helped Donald Trump suppress negative stories and pummel Trump’s rivals in the National Enquirer during the 2016 campaign.

On Friday afternoon, prosecutors called Rhona Graff, who was Trump’s assistant at the Trump Organization, where she worked for more than 30 years. She was quickly off the stand, and a banker for Cohen came next – signaling a move in the trial toward the documents at the heart of the charges against Trump.

Here are the key takeaways from Friday:

• Jury sees paper trail: The hush money case against Trump weaves a colorful narrative, but Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records — so prosecutors have warned this will in many ways be a  routine, document-heavy trial . Friday afternoon prosecutors called a banker from First Republic Bank as their third witness where jurors saw the paper trail for a shell company and corresponding bank account Michael Cohen created in Delaware that was meant to be used to pay AMI for the rights to Karen McDougal’s story.
• Trump lawyer tries to puncture Pecker’s credibility: Prosecutors elicited testimony from the AMI chief about how Pecker’s 2015 deal with Trump was unique, helping him be the “eyes and ears” of the campaign. But in Pecker’s final day on the stand, Trump’s attorneys sought to undercut his testimony with a series of alleged inconsistencies, poking holes in discrepancies from prior interviews with federal and state prosecutors and disputing his testimony that AMI admitted it violated campaign finance law.
• Prosecutors try to re-establish Pecker’s credibility: Prosecutors responded during redirect to reestablish Pecker’s credibility in his answers, showing how his story was consistent and that AMI did admit to campaign finance violations. The points were small in the grand scheme of Pecker’s testimony related to the case, but the fight was really about Pecker’s credibility as a witness. That’s key to the prosecution’s case because he helps tie together the larger hush money scheme – and will be a corroborator of Cohen’s testimony.
• Trump cracks a smile for his longtime assistant: Trump’s longtime assistant Rhona Graff testified for less than an hour. Graff managed Trump’s contacts and calendar for much of her 34 years as his assistant at Trump Tower. Graff’s testimony about her former boss prompted a smile from an otherwise subdued Trump on Friday.
• Defense tries to humanize Trump: Pecker was a longtime friend of Trump dating back to the 1980s, the former AMI chief said on the stand. As his ending question, Bove asked Pecker if he believed Trump cares about his family. He replied, “Of course I do.” Graff no longer works for Trump but she spoke positively about her experience at the Trump Organization and having Trump as a boss. Other coming witnesses, like Cohen and Daniels, will have a far more hostile view of the defendant in this case.

Trump's hush money criminal trial has been on since 2 weeks. Recap what's happened so far

From CNN staff

The second week of court proceedings in Donald Trump's historic hush money criminal trial has wrapped.

To refresh your memory, here are the key moments and witnesses from the trial so far:

April 15: Trial began with jury selection

April 19: A panel of 12 jurors and six alternates was selected.

April 22: Prosecution and defense made their opening statements. Former tabloid boss David Pecker was called to testify.

April 23: Judge Juan Merchan held a Sandoval hearing for Trump's alleged gag order violations, but reserved his decision.

April 25: While Trump sat in the Manhattan courtroom, the Supreme Court heard arguments on the matter of his immunity in special counsel Jack Smith's election subversion case against him.

April 26: Pecker's direct questioning and cross-examination concluded. Trump's former longtime assistant Rhona Graff was called to testify briefly. Finally, Michael Cohen's former banker Gary Farro testified.

See courtroom sketches from Trump's trial

No cameras are allowed inside the Manhattan courtroom where Donald Trump’s hush money is underway, but sketch artists are capturing the scenes.

Trump's hush money trial has wrapped up for the week. Here's what happened on Friday

The jury in Donald Trump's hush money trial heard from two new witnesses on Friday after former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker finished his testimony.

Trump’s defense team tried to poke holes in Pecker’s story, pointing out discrepancies and trying to undermine his credibility. Pecker had testified during direct questioning from the prosecution about how he helped broker a deal with Stormy Daniels and arranged to “catch and kill” a story about an alleged affair between Trump and Karen McDougal.

Prosecutors also had the chance to revisit various lines of questions in their redirect before calling Rhona Graff , Trump’s former long-term assistant, to the stand. After that, prosecutors called finance executive Gary Farro .

Farro will continue his testimony on Tuesday. Court is not in session on Monday.

Here’s what happened in court today:

David Pecker

• Trump Tower meeting: Pecker told Trump attorney Emil Bove that the concept of “catch and kill” was not discussed at an August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower . According to Pecker’s previous testimony, that’s when he agreed to be the “eyes and ears” for the Trump campaign and flag negative stories to Michael Cohen. 
• Redirect: Pecker said after the 2015 meeting, he and Cohen had an understanding that Pecker was going to use his resources at the Enquirer to flag potentially negative stories to Cohen. He testified that before the 2015 meeting, he did not previously have deals to share positive stories about candidates or agree to run stories attacking Trump’s opponents.
• Stories about Trump’s opponents: During cross-examination, Bove confirmed with Pecker that the Enquirer often recycled content from other outlets about Trump’s opponents. The outlet did that without notifying Trump, Pecker said, and confirmed the stories were based on information that was not exclusive to the Enquirer because it was not cost-efficient.
• McDougal agreement: Pecker agreed that McDougal, who said she had an affair with Trump, was not focused on the payment part of the agreement. Pecker confirmed McDougal wanted to relaunch her career and there were other provisions in the deal . He previously testified that the other elements were intended to “hide” the actual intention of the payment.
• Redirect: The prosecution revisited this point and had Pecker re-confirm that the purpose of the contract with McDougal was to suppress a potentially damaging story about Trump and influence the 2016 election.
• Legal concerns: Pecker said he told Cohen that the agreement with McDougal was legally sound . He said he reviewed the agreement with a campaign attorney and his company’s general counsel.
• Redirect: Pecker said he never spoke directly with the campaign lawyer and he did not tell the AMI general counsel about the arrangement that was struck with Trump during the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting. The prosecution is trying to infer that the lawyers who reviewed the contract did not have the full underlying context of Pecker’s agreement with Trump.
• Stormy Daniels: The former tabloid boss confirmed to the defense that he wanted nothing to do with Daniel’s story and told Cohen that his company AMI would not buy it.
• Redirect: Pecker reiterated that he called Cohen with then-editor-in-chief Dylan Howard encouraging him to buy Daniels’ story .
• FBI interview discrepancy: Pecker testified this week that Trump thanked him for handling stories about McDougal and Trump Tower doorman Dino Sajudin during a January 2017 meeting at Trump Tower. But the defense pointed out that "Trump did not express any gratitude to Pecker and AMI" during his 2018 FBI interview .
• Redirect: Steinglass read notes from an FBI meeting one week after the meeting highlighted by Bove that confirmed that Pecker told the FBI that Trump thanked him. 

Rhona Graff

• Answering questions from prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, Graff said she worked for Trump for 34 years at the Trump Organization. She was largely in control of his calendar and in charge of maintaining Trump's contacts.
• She recalled seeing Daniels in the reception area at Trump Tower before Trump ran for president. She later testified to the defense that she assumed Daniels’ visits were to discuss being cast for "The Apprentice." In addition to Daniels, Graff testified she also kept contact information for McDougal .
• During cross-examination, attorney Susan Necheles asked Graff about what it was like working with Trump. She described it as a very “stimulating, exciting, fascinating place to be” and said Trump was a “respectful boss.”
• Farro was previously a senior managing director at First Republic Bank where he worked with Cohen . He said Cohen coordinated with him to set up an account for Resolutions Consultants LLC for the payment to McDougal that never happened. Jurors saw emails between Farro and Cohen.
• Farro testified that his understanding was that Cohen was opening the account for “real estate.” In the paperwork , Cohen described the entity's function to be "management consulting (including HR & marketing).”
• Farro said the Resolution Consultants LLC account was never opened because no deposit was made. Nearly two weeks later, Farro said Cohen told him he wanted to open a new account instead.
• The new account, Essential Consultants LLC , was used to pay Daniels $130,000. On the paperwork, Cohen said this account was for a real estate consulting company.

Gag order: Judge Juan Merchan said there will be a hearing on Thursday morning to discuss possible violations of the gag order against Trump.

Trump hush money criminal trial may see “quite a few somewhat dull witnesses,” expert says

From CNN’s Aditi Sangal

Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial will see “quite a few somewhat dull witnesses,” said former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori.

The case is less about the salacious details of Trump's alleged affair with Stormy Daniels — that he denies — and more about the allegations that he covered it up to influence the 2016 presidential election, he points.

“The crime actually has to do with all of this somewhat banal record-keeping stuff. This is a case where I think we’re going to actually see quite a few somewhat dull witnesses producing things like documents, ledgers, invoices, things that just have to come into evidence to complete this case,” he told CNN.

Meanwhile, prosecution and defense also have to be mindful of the approaching weekend.

As a prosecutor, “you like the idea of leaving [the jurors] with something solid, unchallenged, good at the end of the week,” said Trump’s former attorney Jim Trusty.

“They’re basically introducing some paperwork for the jury to look at at 4:30 before they go home, and go, oh there were checks, or there were meetings, or there were contacts.”

It’s also smart for the defense “to keep it dull, to basically not spend any time cross-examining people where you have no real reason to gain anything because they’re not establishing criminality or they’re not establishing controversial points,” he added.

Leaving court, Trump says he'll debate Biden

From CNN's Kaanita Iyer

After exiting the courtroom Friday, former President Donald Trump once again said he would debate President Joe Biden.

"I've invited Biden to debate. He can do it any time he wants, including tonight. I'm ready — here we are. ... I'm here, ready willing and able," Trump said.

Earlier Friday, Biden said in an interview with radio host Howard Stern that he'd be happy to debate Trump .

Judge Merchan says he's calling it a week

Mangold says she's at a natural stopping point and Judge Merchan says, we will "call it a week."

He is now giving the jury instructions.

Trump hit his attorney Todd Blanche on the arm and leaned over to tell him something.

Merchan reminds jurors court is dark on Monday and we are back 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Merchan says, "Have a good weekend, take care."

Farro says Cohen "changed course" once before opening LLC that he used to make Stormy Daniels payment

Farro says the bank "did all of our work to establish" Cohen's original account, but it was never funded.

"A deposit was never made in the account, so the account never went live," Farro says.

Thirteen days later, on October 26, 2016, Farro received another email from his assistant to return Michael Cohen's call, according to the court exhibit.

"He stated he was changing course and no longer wanted to open Resolution Consultants, and wanted to open a new account," Farro says.

"Every time Michael Cohen spoke to me he gave a sense of urgency and this was one of those times."

The new LLC was Essential Consultants LLC, Farro says.

This is the LLC that Cohen used to pay Stormy Daniels the $130,000 payment.

On the form the bank prepared for Cohen to open the account, it stated under "business narrative" that Cohen was opening the account for a real estate consulting company to collect fees for consulting work on real estate deals.

Cohen again checked "No" on a form that asked if the entity is "associated with political fundraising/Political Action Committee (PAC)."

Cohen checked "No" on a form asking if his entity was associated with political fundraising

Cohen checked "No" on a form that asked if the entity, Resolution Consultants LLC, which was created by him as a Delaware entity, is "associated with political fundraising/Political Action Committee (PAC)."

Farro testified several times that his understanding was that Cohen was opening the account for "real estate."

Per the paperwork, Cohen described the entity's function to be "management consulting (including HR & marketing)."

Cohen was the only authorized signatory for the account.

Farro says that the bank "did all of our work to establish" Cohen's account, but it was never funded.

"A deposit was never made in the account so the account never went live," Farro says, confirming the account was not opened.

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What the New Overtime Rule Means for Workers

One of the basic principles of the American workplace is that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. Simply put, every worker’s time has value. A cornerstone of that promise is the  Fair Labor Standards Act ’s (FLSA) requirement that when most workers work more than 40 hours in a week, they get paid more. The  Department of Labor ’s new overtime regulation is restoring and extending this promise for millions more lower-paid salaried workers in the U.S.

Overtime protections have been a critical part of the FLSA since 1938 and were established to protect workers from exploitation and to benefit workers, their families and our communities. Strong overtime protections help build America’s middle class and ensure that workers are not overworked and underpaid.

Some workers are specifically exempt from the FLSA’s minimum wage and overtime protections, including bona fide executive, administrative or professional employees. This exemption, typically referred to as the “EAP” exemption, applies when: 

1. An employee is paid a salary,  

2. The salary is not less than a minimum salary threshold amount, and 

3. The employee primarily performs executive, administrative or professional duties.

While the department increased the minimum salary required for the EAP exemption from overtime pay every 5 to 9 years between 1938 and 1975, long periods between increases to the salary requirement after 1975 have caused an erosion of the real value of the salary threshold, lessening its effectiveness in helping to identify exempt EAP employees.

The department’s new overtime rule was developed based on almost 30 listening sessions across the country and the final rule was issued after reviewing over 33,000 written comments. We heard from a wide variety of members of the public who shared valuable insights to help us develop this Administration’s overtime rule, including from workers who told us: “I would love the opportunity to...be compensated for time worked beyond 40 hours, or alternately be given a raise,” and “I make around $40,000 a year and most week[s] work well over 40 hours (likely in the 45-50 range). This rule change would benefit me greatly and ensure that my time is paid for!” and “Please, I would love to be paid for the extra hours I work!”

The department’s final rule, which will go into effect on July 1, 2024, will increase the standard salary level that helps define and delimit which salaried workers are entitled to overtime pay protections under the FLSA. 

Starting July 1, most salaried workers who earn less than $844 per week will become eligible for overtime pay under the final rule. And on Jan. 1, 2025, most salaried workers who make less than $1,128 per week will become eligible for overtime pay. As these changes occur, job duties will continue to determine overtime exemption status for most salaried employees.

The rule will also increase the total annual compensation requirement for highly compensated employees (who are not entitled to overtime pay under the FLSA if certain requirements are met) from $107,432 per year to $132,964 per year on July 1, 2024, and then set it equal to $151,164 per year on Jan. 1, 2025.

Starting July 1, 2027, these earnings thresholds will be updated every three years so they keep pace with changes in worker salaries, ensuring that employers can adapt more easily because they’ll know when salary updates will happen and how they’ll be calculated.

The final rule will restore and extend the right to overtime pay to many salaried workers, including workers who historically were entitled to overtime pay under the FLSA because of their lower pay or the type of work they performed. 

We urge workers and employers to visit  our website to learn more about the final rule.

Jessica Looman is the administrator for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. Follow the Wage and Hour Division on Twitter at  @WHD_DOL  and  LinkedIn .  Editor's note: This blog was edited to correct a typo (changing "administrator" to "administrative.")

• Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
• Fair Labor Standards Act
• overtime rule

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5 Takeaways From David Pecker’s Testimony in Trump’s Criminal Trial

David Pecker told jurors of a universe in which favors for celebrities were demanded and dispensed. His cross-examination will continue Friday.

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By Jesse McKinley and Kate Christobek

• Published April 25, 2024 Updated May 2, 2024, 8:48 a.m. ET

Follow our live coverage of Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan.

The criminal trial of Donald Trump featured vivid testimony on Thursday about a plot to protect his first presidential campaign and the beginnings of a tough cross-examination of the prosecution’s initial witness, David Pecker.

In his third day of testimony, Mr. Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, described his involvement in the suppression of the stories of two women who claimed to have had sex with Mr. Trump: Karen McDougal, a Playboy model, and Stormy Daniels, the porn star whose 2016 hush-money payoff forms the basis of the prosecution’s case.

Mr. Trump, 77, is charged with falsifying 34 business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to Ms. Daniels, who has said they had a sexual encounter in 2006 and was shopping that story in the weeks before the 2016 presidential election. He has denied the charges and having sex with Ms. Daniels and Ms. McDougal; the former president could face probation or prison if convicted.

Here are five takeaways from Mr. Trump’s seventh day on trial:

Pecker teed up falsified records charges.

As part of a so-called catch-and-kill scheme, Mr. Pecker testified that his company, AMI, paid Ms. McDougal $150,000 to purchase her story, with no intention of publishing anything about an affair with Mr. Trump.

But Mr. Pecker expected repayment. He said he asked Michael D. Cohen, who was Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, who would handle the reimbursement, and Mr. Cohen responded, “The boss will take care of it.”

Because Mr. Pecker had such a hard time getting Mr. Trump to pay up, he was unwilling to buy a third story: Ms. Daniels’s account of sex with Mr. Trump.

“I am not a bank,” Mr. Pecker recalled saying.

Mr. Pecker suggested that Mr. Cohen buy Ms. Daniels's story instead, leading to the hush-money deal, repayments and records at issue in this trial.

The Links Between Trump and 3 Hush-Money Deals

Here’s how key figures involved in making hush-money payoffs on behalf of Donald J. Trump are connected.

Prosecutors painted a picture of election interference.

The prosecution’s discussion of the deal with Ms. McDougal — brokered in summer 2016 — served another purpose: trying to demonstrate that the payment was part of a scheme to influence that year’s election.

Mr. Pecker said that Ms. McDougal’s payment was disguised as a contract for services, to avoid violating campaign finance laws.

“I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself and I wanted also to protect Donald Trump,” Mr. Pecker said.

Mr. Pecker was also asked whether he believed Mr. Trump was concerned that his wife or family would find out about the affairs. But Mr. Pecker suggested that Mr. Trump’s concerns were electoral, not personal.

Trump worried about Ms. McDougal, even after his election.

Mr. Pecker told of least two instances in which Mr. Trump inquired about Ms. McDougal, referring to her at a Trump Tower meeting before he took office as “our girl.” He also asked about her during a meeting with Mr. Pecker at the White House, the publisher said.

At the Trump Tower meeting, which also included notables like James Comey, then the F.B.I. director, and Reince Priebus, who was chairman of the Republican National Committee, Mr. Pecker reassured Mr. Trump that everything was fine.

Mr. Trump then told the group that Mr. Pecker probably “knows more than anyone else in this room.”

“It was a joke,” Mr. Pecker testified, adding, “They didn’t laugh.”

Pecker did a lot for Trump, who could be hard to please.

Mr. Pecker said on Tuesday he had agreed to be the “eyes and ears” of the Trump campaign and used AMI to deal with threats to Mr. Trump’s reputation.

After the “Access Hollywood” tape was revealed in October 2016, featuring Mr. Trump’s boasts about groping women, one of Mr. Pecker’s editors scrubbed an AMI publication’s website of a 2008 article describing Mr. Trump as a “playboy man.”

Despite that, Mr. Trump often made his displeasure known, Mr. Pecker testified, either through Mr. Cohen or in phone calls. Mr. Pecker variously described Mr. Trump as becoming “very angry” and “very aggravated.”

Still, Mr. Pecker said he felt no ill will. “I felt that Donald Trump was my mentor,” Mr. Pecker said, adding, “I still consider him a friend.”

Cross-examination continues Friday. More names may drop.

Mr. Trump’s lawyers, led by Emil Bove, started their cross-examination trying to show that such deals were “standard operating procedure” in the supermarket tabloid business and that the magazines published only about half of the stories they bought.

That offered the first intimation of the defense strategy: presenting as commonplace actions that the prosecutors have deemed criminal. The cross-examination also showed the ugly side of the tabloid trade, including the admission that Mr. Pecker’s magazines would buy stories as leverage against celebrities.

Many famous names were mentioned, including that of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the movie star-turned-Republican politician. Mr. Pecker described a 2002 meeting in which Mr. Schwarzenegger asked Mr. Pecker not to run negative stories about him before his run for governor of California. It worked: the star of “The Terminator” was elected and served from 2003 until 2011.

The name-dropping may well continue when cross-examination continues Friday.

Jesse McKinley is a Times reporter covering upstate New York, courts and politics. More about Jesse McKinley

Kate Christobek is a reporter covering the civil and criminal cases against former president Donald J. Trump for The Times. More about Kate Christobek

Our Coverage of the Trump Hush-Money Trial

News and Analysis

Jurors heard riveting testimony from Keith Davidson , the lawyer who had arranged the hush-money payment  between Donald Trump and a porn star, Stormy Daniels. Davidson also described an earlier deal to buy the silence of another woman, Karen McDougal.

The judge overseeing the trial held Trump in contempt and fined him $9,000 , punishing him for repeatedly violating a gag order . The judge threatened jail time if the violations continue.

Todd Blanche upended his career to represent Trump and has been the former president’s favorite lawyer. But Trump has also made him a focus of his episodic wrath .

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