Are you planning a long weekend trip to New York City?
There is much to see and do – from parks to restaurants to museums to shops, we’re narrowing down the list to give you the most authentic New York experience and see as much as possible.
This itinerary is best for someone who has been to New York before. We’ll be hitting some of the classic New York spots but if it’s your first time visiting the city, we recommend you incorporate this list to catch all of the must-see sights.
New York is a big city and having a plan is key for making the most of your time. To save time getting places, we’ve broken this three-day itinerary down by areas with a day in Uptown Manhattan, a day in Downtown Manhattan, and a day in Brooklyn. Of course, you can change the order of the days to fit your preferences and itinerary. Let’s get started!
Day 1: Uptown
To kick off your first day, you’ll be visiting some of the classiest spots in the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and Midtown.
Zucker’s Bagels, Central Park, Met Museum
Start the day in the Upper West Side and fuel up for a fun day ahead. Head to Zucker’s for a classic New York breakfast: bagels. They have perfected the hand-rolled bagels and their spreads and fish are perfection! We love a lox bagel but if you want to eat like a New Yorker, go for the bacon, egg, and cheese.
Next, head into Central Park and enjoy a walk through the park. Enter on West 72nd Street and check out the Strawberry Fields dedicated to famous Beatles singer John Lennon. Don’t miss the famous mosaic! Continue toward Bethesda Terrace. If you’re visiting in the spring, make a pit stop at Cherry Hill to catch the stunning cherry blossoms. Head through the wooded Ramble and stop by Belvedere Castle before making your way out on East 79th Street.
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A visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a must! Be warned, the museum is enormous and you’ll probably only see a small fraction of the 2 million pieces in their collection. Some popular spots to visit in the Met are: the Greek and Roman sculpture court, European paintings, the Temple of Dendur (an Egyptian temple), and the contemporary art wing. Before you leave, head to the rooftop garden for some great city views!
Insider tip: While most people use the main entrance up the front stairs, there’s another entrance to the left of the fountain and stairs on the ground level that is much quicker to get through.
JG Melon, Fifth Avenue, Top of the Rock
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After the museum, you’ll probably be ready for some food. For lunch, head to the famous JG Melon. This restaurant has been open for over 50 years and holds the title of the best burger in the city. There’s something simple and old school here that makes you feel like you’re in that charming movie version of New York. Just remember, it’s cash only!
Now that you’ve gotten some energy back in you get ready to hit Fifth Avenue. The stretch from the Met to Rockefeller Center is known as Millionaire’s Row and has some of the most expensive shopping, hotels, and penthouses in the city. Peek in the lobby of The Plaza Hotel and check out the impeccable display windows in Bergdorf Goodman and the surrounding designer stores. If you’re visiting during the holiday season, this is the place to see the iconic shop windows.
Take the city in from above at the Top of the Rock. You’ll take an elevator to the 70th floor, from where you’ll get a 360-degree panoramic view of Manhattan including Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Center, and more.
Le Grande Boucherie, Times Square, Broadway Show
For dinner, head to Le Grande Boucherie, an unforgettable French restaurant filling an entire block. It feels like a Parisian square in the center of the city and has amazing ambiance, service, and most importantly, food!
After dinner, head over to Times Square and take in one of the most famous destinations in all of New York City. And to end the night, grab tickets to see a Broadway show. Most of the theaters are located in the streets surrounding Times Square. Check out this site to browse through current shows.
Day 2: Downtown
What Uptown has in grandeur, Downtown has in charm. This day is filled with good food, people watching, and shopping in Greenwich Village, West Village, SoHo, and lower Manhattan.
Cafe Kitsune, Washington Square Park, SoHo Shopping, Prince Street Pizza
To start the day, grab some coffee at Cafe Kitsune, one of West Village’s most popular coffee spots. Save some extra time to sit on the sidewalk tables and people watch.
Stroll through the charming streets of West Village to Washington Square Park. Check out the famous arch and enjoy a walk through the park. It’s small but there’s always something happening here and you’ll be surrounded by the most interesting mix of people.
Get your shopping on in SoHo, arguably the city’s top shopping destination. Start on West Broadway and weave your way through the streets toward Broadway for all of the best mainstream and designer shops. Keep moving toward Elizabeth Street for smaller shops and boutiques.
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For lunch, grab the famous Prince Street Pizza. They’re most recognized for their square pepperoni slices, but they have traditional thin crust slices as well.
9/11 Memorial, Wall Street
Hop on a train and head further downtown to the 9/11 Memorial. If you have time, visit the museum but it’s still a very moving experience if you only have time to see the reflecting pools honoring all of the lives lost.
Directly across is the Oculus, the most expensive train station in the world. If you take just one look, you’ll see why. This architectural marvel stands out in the sea of rectangular skyscrapers. The large, birdlike exterior is unlike any other building in the world, and the interior is just as unique.
Head a block over to Wall Street, and don’t miss the famous Charging Bull!
West Side Highway, Via Carota, Comedy Show
New York does an incredible job with parks and public walkways. One of the most popular is the West Side Highway, the waterfront walkway that goes along the entire West Side. From the bottom, you’ll catch views of the Statue of Liberty and continue along with views of Hoboken and Jersey City. Walk up to West Village where you’ll grab some dinner.
For dinner, go to Via Carota, a cherished West Village Italian restaurant. It’s a hot spot for celebrities as much as it is for neighborhood locals. And the food is out of this world.
To end the night, catch a comedy show! West Village is known for the multitude of comedy clubs, some of the most popular being Comedy Cellar and The Village Underground.
Day 3: Brooklyn
While most itineraries shy away from other boroughs, we’re spending the last day in Brooklyn to get a taste of what Manhattan’s cool and laid-back counterpart has to offer.
Brooklyn Bridge, Arabica Coffee, Dumbo
Start by walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, which connects Manhattan and Dumbo. Dumbo, which stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is the closest point in Brooklyn and the easiest to get to. Try to get an early start as it gets very crowded. While it used to be open for both pedestrians and bikers, they’ve moved the bike lane to the car lane of the bridge so keep that in mind if you intended to bike over.
After getting off the bridge, grab some breakfast at Arabica where they serve amazing coffee and pastries (pssst: a bag of their coffee beans is a great souvenir to bring home!)
Stroll through Dumbo to view the bridge and take some photos at this iconic spot. If you’re visiting on a Saturday, head to Brooklyn Flea which is one of the city’s most popular vintage markets.
Explore Brooklyn Bridge Park and take in the views of the Manhattan skyline. Head into the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and take a walk through the picturesque, tree-lined streets and charming rows of brownstones.
Time Out Market, Domino Park, Harriet’s Rooftop
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For lunch go to Time Out Market which is a food hall featuring outposts of some of the city’s best restaurants all in one building. You’ll have a hard time choosing from all of the tasty options so we recommend getting small bites from multiple places to share and try as much as you can!
The next stop is Williamsburg, one of Brooklyn’s trendiest and coolest neighborhoods. There’s an incredible art scene here and lots of great shops to peruse. Some of our favorites are Catbird, Awoke Vintage, McNally Jackson, Sharktooth, and Leif.
Take a break at Domino Park, the waterfront park underneath the Williamsburg Bridge looking out over the Manhattan skyline. It’s the dreamiest spot to spend an afternoon and will really give you that “pinch me, I’m in New York” feeling.
To end your last night, head back to Dumbo and go to Harriet’s Rooftop in the 1 Hotel. The great food and drinks are amazing and it’s the perfect place to watch a sunset and enjoy a panoramic skyline view.
And that wraps up a fun-filled 3-day itinerary to New York City.
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