NYC 3-Day Itinerary
This post is by Matt Kepnes, better known as Nomadic Matt. Matt and I have both lived in New York City and absolutely love the city. We enjoy sharing our favorite things to do in NYC with others and while my recent visits are geared toward kids, Matt’s 3-day NYC itinerary is for a kid-free getaway.
New York City has it all. Home to almost 10 million people, “the Big Apple” is one of those destinations where you can find anything. Every culture is represented here. There are also over 20,000 restaurants and countless museums and attractions. It would take a lifetime to see and do everything (I’ve lived here for years and have still barely scratched the surface).
While NYC is an amazing destination to visit with kids, it’s also the perfect destination for a child-free getaway. With fantastic dining and cocktail bars, plenty of theater and entertainment options, and a plethora of interesting museums, it’s a great place to have an adults-only escape.
To help you make the most of your visit, here’s my ideal three-day New York City itinerary. Perfect for first-timers, it covers a lot of ground without being too packed, so that you can really soak it all up.
NYC Itinerary Day 1
Walking tour
The first thing I do in a new destination is take a walking tour. It’s the best way to get the lay of the land and connect with an expert local guide who can answer all your questions (they usually have great food and nightlife recommendations, for example).
NYC has tons of free walking tours if you’re on a budget, though Free Tours by Foot is my favorite. They organize a handful of different tours focusing on several areas of town, each lasting 2–3 hours. They’re a great primer if it’s your first time visiting. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!
For more walking tour suggestions, check out my post on the best walking tours in New York City.
NYC has many options for walking tours, including unique off-the-beaten-path tours.
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
After your walking tour, head to see the most iconic sight in the city, if not the country. Standing 305 feet tall (95 meters) tall, it was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (though its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame). Dedicated in 1886, it’s spectacular to see up close and is as big as you imagine.
However, for me, the real highlight is nearby Ellis Island (it’s where my own ancestors arrived to the country). This is where you can learn about the immigrant experience and get a sense of the people who helped shape NYC into the diverse place it is today. Admission is $25 USD.
If you’re on a budget, instead of paying to see the statue up close, you can take the free Staten Island ferry across the harbor, as it offers a nice view of both the Statue of Liberty and the skyline. You won’t get to stop at Ellis Island, however, but it’s a quick (and free) way to take in the view.
Trinity Church
Just a fifteen-minute walk from the ferry terminal, the famed Trinity Church (built in 1698) was originally a small parish church constructed by the Church of England. When the British seized New York after George Washington’s retreat during the Revolutionary War, it was used as a British base of operations.
The church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1776, a colossal conflagration that burned 10–25% of the city. (The new church was consecrated in 1790 and rebuilt in 1839 into its current form.)
After the Revolutionary War ended, both George Washington and Alexander Hamilton regularly worshipped here. The peaceful graveyard is the resting place of many famous Americans, including Hamilton and his wife Elizabeth, Francis Lewis (signatory on the Declaration of Independence), John Alsop (Continental Congress delegate), and Horatio Gates (Continental Army general).
Federal Hall
I think Federal Hall is one of the most overlooked museums in town. Located a block from Trinity Church and across the street from the NY Stock Exchange, this national memorial, built in 1700, has served as New York’s City Hall and the United States Custom House. It was also the site of the first Congress of the United States and George Washington’s presidential inauguration (you can even see the Bible he was sworn in on). I especially love the old vaults. Admission is free too!
While you’re in the area, visit Wall Street and take a photo with the famous charging bull statue (created in 1989). If you really want a deep dive into what goes on here (and how this infamous financial hub keeps crashing the economy), take a guided tour. You’ll learn all about the stock market (and its many crashes), as well as famous elites like John Rockefeller and Warren Buffet. I found the tours super interesting and not nearly as boring and stuffy as you might imagine.
9/11 Memorial
You can’t visit NYC without seeing the 9/11 Memorial, just a short five-minute walk away. A somber but important part of the city’s past, the memorial is free to visit and worth seeing up close. It features the names of all the people who died in the attack around two massive waterfall pools.
If you want to learn more about the events and the aftermath, visit the nearby museum. It’s a sobering experience but one that really highlights the best of New York. I was touched to learn about how people came together to help one another. Admission is $33 USD.
Comedy show
After a busy day of exploring, end your evening with a comedy show. The Comedy Cellar is one of the most important comedy clubs in the country. Some of the biggest stars either started here or have done gigs here, including Jon Stewart, Robin Williams, Kevin Hart, and Chris Rock. Shows vary from day to day (with the weekend ones being the busiest); some have up to five or six comedians and even special guests. You never know who’ll show up on a whim to do a quick set, which means you can sometimes catch some big names.
After a long day, head back to your hotel for a good night’s rest before day two. If you still need a place to stay, check out my list of the best hotels in NYC. It has options for all budgets with suggestions in all of my favorite neighborhoods!
NYC Itinerary Day 2
Brooklyn Bridge
Start your day with a stroll along the Brooklyn Bridge. It offers an easy 25-minute walk to the waterfront park on the Brooklyn side of the bridge (40 minutes if you keep stopping to take photos, which you will!), then you’ll find bars and restaurants galore.
You get a lot of wonderful views of Manhattan as you make your way across; there are also informational plaques along the bridge that explain its construction. Best of all, it’s free!
Find Unique Things to Do in Brooklyn.
The High Line
After exploring Brooklyn for a bit, head back to the High Line, one of the best things to do in Manhattan. Made from a converted train track, it’s a long and narrow park running up the west side of town. I take all my friends here when they visit, and every local I know loves it.
There are food vendors and art installations all along the park, and not only is it free but free public tours are offered year-round. It’s a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours. (Just try to avoid going on a weekend, as it gets super crowded in warmer weather.)
Food tour
After exploring on foot all morning, take a food tour to really discover the city’s culinary offerings. NYC is a foodie place (one of the many reasons I love living here), so you can pretty much find anything and everything you seek.
Some food tours that I recommend are:
If you don’t want to take a tour but would rather just visit some excellent restaurants, some of my favorites include the following:
- Yuka Restaurant (1557 Second Ave.) – Amazing all-you-can-eat sushi.
- Miss Korea BBQ (10 W. 32nd St.) – My favorite Korean joint in town.
- SriPraPhai Thai Restaurant (64-13 39th Ave., Queens) – The most authentic Thai place in NYC (it’s cash only though).
- John’s on Bleecker (278 Bleecker St.) – Incredible pizza.
- Mamoun’s Falafel (119 MacDougal St.) – Cheap and delicious falafel.
- Jadis (42 Rivington St.) – Cozy, romantic atmosphere perfect for a date.
Times Square
Times Square is one of the most touristy areas (and perhaps the most well-known) — but you can’t visit NYC without seeing it at least once. No matter when you go, it will be packed. Try to go at night, so you can see it all lit up, with its glowing billboards brightening the whole area. While locals generally avoid it at all costs, it’s a fun place to people-watch and window-shop before you catch a show. Just avoid eating near here, as everything is overpriced and not very good!
Broadway show
You can’t go to New York and not see a show. To me, there’s nothing better than witnessing NYC theater, and it’s such an integral part of life here that you shouldn’t miss it. Most shows have daily performances.
I’d strongly suggest you get tickets in advance if you’re set on seeing a specific show. However, if you just want to see something and aren’t picky, visit the TKTS booth in Times Square to get half-price tickets. You’ll need to wait in line, so get there early. Some shows also offer day-of, standing-room-only tickets at deeply discounted prices (usually $25–45). To see what shows are playing during your visit, check out broadway.com.
NYC Itinerary Day 3
The Met
Start your day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), one of the largest museums in the world. It’s so vast that you could easily spend an entire day exploring (there are more than 490,000 works of art on display). I particularly love the Egyptian, impressionist, and medieval collections. It also has a beautiful rooftop garden to rest your feet during summertime, with an expansive view of Central Park. If you’re only going to visit one museum in NYC, this should be it. Admission is $30 USD.
Central Park
After exploring the Met, spend some time relaxing in nearby Central Park. It stretches over 50 blocks and is perfect for picnicking or lounging when the weather is nice. During the summer months, there are free concerts and theater productions (like Shakespeare in the Park), and from the spring to the fall, there are free guided walks on Saturdays. Personally, I’m a big fan of lying out in Sheep’s Meadow (a 15-acre lawn — there are no actual sheep here anymore) on a hot, sunny day with a book, some food, and a bottle of wine.
American Museum of Natural History
If you’re craving another museum, head to the nearby Museum of Natural History. Famous for being in the movie Night at the Museum, as well as for its iconic floating whale, this museum will teach you about dinosaurs, Earth’s history, space exploration, natural habitats, human health, and the evolution of man. Don’t skip the section on space at the Hayden Planetarium, which has really detailed exhibitions on the origin of the universe. This is one of my favorite museums in town (and one of the most kid-friendly too, if you do come back with your young ones). Admission is $28 USD.
100+ Things to Do with Kids in New York City
Grand Central Terminal
Aside from being a transit hub, Grand Central is also a landmark and an attraction unto itself. The main concourse boasts an immense 88,000 square feet (8,175 square meters) of space, which, on sunny days, is bathed in sunlight from its giant arching windows. Grand Central’s 12-story-high ceiling is painted with stars and gilded zodiac constellations. I love looking up at the “stars” in the ceiling as everyone races around.
This station also has incredible food and drink options, including its famous oyster bar and The Campbell cocktail bar.
Top of the Rock
After a busy day of exploring, head to the Top of the Rock (in Rockefeller Center) to take in one last panoramic view of the city from the top of the building. At 70 stories high, I like this view better than the one from the Empire State Building, because from here you can see the Empire State Building as part of the skyline, making your photos that much better.
***
I love New York City. To me, it’s not just home; it’s the greatest metropolis on earth. From world-class museums to expansive parks to incredible food, it has it all.
There’s so much to see and do here that you could never possibly cover it all in a single visit. But, by following the itinerary above, you’ll be able to see the highlights and develop a deeper appreciation for the sprawling City that Never Sleeps.
Matt Kepnes is a travel writer and the founder of Nomadic Matt.
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