Get your walking shoes on because we have so much to see and do in New York City! Walking also helps because there is so much delicious food to eat here you’ll need to walk off all the delicious treats. Let’s get right into it with our quick 5 day itinerary for some must sees in NYC. We spent our time only in Manhattan and Brooklyn. I recognize there is sooo much more to see and do than what we did and there are so many other neighborhoods worth checking out but we just didn’t have time for it all. And we only give recommendations based on what we know and experience.
We recommend spending 2-3 days in Manhattan as most of the iconic things are on this island. We kept walking around saying “Oh that was from this scene in such and such movie” or “I recognize that from one tv show”. We split the area into different walking areas so we could see a lot of things together. Depending on where your hotel is located, how much walking you can handle, you can do one or two of these areas a day.
West Side of Manhattan
With really cool views over the Hudson River of New Jersey, the Hudson Yards and Chelsea neighborhoods are beautiful to walk around. The Hudson Yards is a beautiful high end shopping mall. In the courtyard behind the mall is the famed structure Vessel. While it was temporarily closed in summer 2024, they plan to be open by the end of 2024. They are currently adding safety features by installing floor-to-ceiling steel mesh to the structure. You can also find the highly popular Edge, the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. It gives you 360 degree views of the city. While we didn’t go up ourselves, we’ve heard rave reviews from others.
From here, enter The Highline for a beautiful, elevated garden park walk on an old railway. It’s such a beautiful example of repurposing the old and instead of demolishing, updating to the current use. It’s almost 1.5 miles of gardens, paths, and sitting areas, between some of the most interesting and beautiful architecture of apartments and high rises.
From The Highline, you can walk right into the Chelsea Market, a food hall and small shopping center. This building was constructed in the 1890s and was originally the site of the Nabisco factory complex where the Oreo cookie was invented. Today it’s been transformed into a food hall serving all sorts of delicious treats from bagels to tacos to jerk chicken. Highly recommend a stop at any of the restaurants.
Now for some exciting views and a free observation deck. Cross the street and find Pier 57. This adorable food court offers some great seating and good food. But the best part, keep going all the way to the back where you will find big elevators that take you up to a free outdoor public park with the best views in the city! From here you can see downtown lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and the New Jersey coast over the Hudson River, all for FREE!
Speaking of, once you’ve had your fill of the views, head just down the block to the Little Island. This was the former site of Pier 54 that was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. It was repurposed and rebuilt into this unique looking structure that houses so much green space and features two performance venues where visitors can experience cultural events all summer long.
If you are looking for another free indoor space to beat the heat, check out the Museum at FIT. While rather small, the fashion school has a rotating display. It took us less than 30 minutes to see the whole thing, but it was very interesting to see the dresses on display, some dating as far back as the 1880’s and to read the descriptions.
Finally, if you are in the area, make sure to check out the Flatiron Building and Madison Avenue Park. The streets are lined with amazing restaurants, fun shops, and with Broadway cutting right through, there are some cute walking streets as well.
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan is filled with so many of the classic buildings it’s hard to choose which one to walk past first. The Empire State Building, completed in 1931, was the tallest building in the world until 1971. The building has a classic art deco style that is recognizable. The observation deck on the top gives you unbelievable views of the city. Madison Square Garden is just two blocks west. The arena holds such an importance in modern culture that I thought it would be bigger. We did not go inside but walked the perimeter. What surprised me most is that it sits above a subway stop!
Heading north you’ll run into Bryant Park which has such a cute outdoor space. There is a reading “room” outside where you can read the books on the carts for free and give them back. Bryant Park also has the New York Public Library which is free to tour but you have to get tickets in advance online and it’s only offered at 11am and 2pm on certain days.
Just a few blocks away is Grand Central Terminal with its iconic central lobby. There are so many trains coming in and out of the station with so many passengers but it’s worth it to walk through for sure. Right next door is the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. If you are only going to do one observation deck, I’d make it this one because you get the views but also the sensory experience of the rooms with mirrors, balloons and lights. The Chrysler Building is best experienced from afar and at night as it is a shimmering art deco skyscraper from 1930 whose spire once made it the world’s tallest building.
Walking west just a few blocks, you need to prepare yourself for all the sensory overload that is about to happen in Times Square. It’s bright lights, mass amounts of people, loud noises. There are dancers, street performers, people dressed up in character outfits, protests, performances and so much more all in the same space.
Rockefeller Center and Plaza– If you’ve ever watched anything on NBC (Saturday Night Live, Today’s Show, 30 Rock, or Tonight Show) it’s been filmed here. You’ll recognize the Plaza from the iconic Christmas tree that fills up the Plaza in the winter. You can get tickets to the tapings of your favorite shows online. Also don’t forget to get a picture at the marquee sign for Radio City Music Hall just down the block. Check out who’s performing as everything the auditorium is larger than life and so well done. There are no columns to obstruct views so all seats are good!
Central Park Area
Central Park is so big. How big? The park occupies an area of 843 acres. It is a rectangle shape, stretching 2.5 miles long and 0.5 miles wide. The walking trails are well laid out and you’ll see people biking, walking, running, strolling, and just enjoying the day. On The Mall and Literary Walk, you’ll be serenaded by musicians practicing their craft or artists selling the goods. Stroll down to the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain. It’s such an iconic filming location that we actually saw a camera crew filming that day! Fun fact, you can climb any of the boulders in the park so bring your climbing shoes if you want a fun bouldering adventure! Otherwise just hike right up them the old fashioned way. It honestly doesn’t feel like you are in the city while walking through these tree lined paths.
Make your way over to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. This walking only path (sorry bikers) is gravel and goes in one direction only so make sure to follow the signs to be polite to the other users.
On the southeast corner of the reservoir, you’ll find the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art. What an outstanding display of artwork from around the world. Tickets can be purchased online for easy entrance. Just one block east you’ll find The New York Society Library. As New York’s oldest library, it’s now a private subscription membership library as opposed to the public library system but ask at the front desk and they’ll give you a private tour to see the reading rooms and the stacks!
If quirky things like this interest you and you are a fan of the show Only Murders in the Building, don’t miss the opportunity to see The Arconia. While that’s a fictional name, the real building is The Belnord at 225 W 86th St. You are not allowed to enter the courtyard but you can definitely take a picture outside the famous apartment building.
Broadway
One of the biggest attractions of New York City is the live theater. Broadway musicals and plays do not disappoint. Obviously it will depend on when you visit, so check local listings to find updated shows, times, and locations. Most of the famous plays are running daily, sometimes even two performances a day. Don’t be afraid to check out a lesser known performance. They are all pretty amazing and top notch!
Downtown (southern tip of Manhattan)
Welcome to the Financial District! Here you will find the famed Wall Street. Wall Street is the center of all things financial with the New York Stock Exchange located here. The street is cobblestone and blocked off to traffic so it’s easy to walk around. The legendary statue of the Charging Bull is a 3-ton bronze sculpture of a bull located near Wall Street symbolizing New York’s financial industry.
With people walking fast in suits and many oblivious tourists, I wasn’t expecting to see as much history as we did. At the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway, you’ll find the Trinity Church. I highly recommend making a quick stop as Alexander Hamilton is buried in the graveyard around the church! Not only is his wife Eliza and son buried there but also Hercules Mulligan, the tailor. After being such a big fan of the Broadway musical Hamilton, it was interesting to see this piece of history among the tall buildings.
From the southernmost tip of Manhattan, in Battery park, there are two ways to see the Statue of Liberty. First way is to pay a company. They will drop you off at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. If you want to get up close and personal, this is your best but most pricey option. If you want a free option, take the Staten Island Ferry. This ferry is free of charge, it takes 25 minutes to cross the harbor. While you will NOT stop at the Statue of Liberty to get out and walk around, you will get some incredible views passing by. Just disembark and then get back on the ship to make your return trip, all for free!
One somber but must do thing in NYC is to see the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The location of the old twin towers is now a memorial with a pond in the foundation of each building. The names of all those who lost their lives at this site are inscribed on the border of the memorial. The park they’ve built up in the site is very peaceful. If you want to go to the museum to see more detailed information, you’ll have to purchase tickets online. You can purchase 6 months in advance so make sure to plan ahead. Next door the Oculus World Trade Center is a mall but the most impressive thing is the shape of the exterior and interior lobby. It represents a dove in flight and is a beautiful tribute to peace.
After walking through city hall and the courts area, you’ll enter Chinatown. This 7 block area is bustling with activity. As we lived in Beijing for 3 years, these local shops and restaurants felt like going back. Most of the food is Shanghai or Cantonese and most of the tea shops are Taiwanese bubble/boba tea. It’s a fun area with rich history and it’s great to walk around. If you’re looking for something authentic, you’ll probably find it here. Doyers St has a wild history of gang violence in the early 1900’s with Nom Wah Tea Parlor being the oldest run restaurant in the area dating back as early as 1920’s.
Cross Canal Street and you are transported to Little Italy. With some of the most authentic dishes, the streets are lined with amazing restaurants at every price point. During the summer months, seating extends out into the streets for a fun meal with great people watching!
If you love people watching, Washington Square Park is prime real estate. This park has the well-known arch that is in so many movies and shows about NYC. With a fountain in the middle and benches lining the walk ways, there were so many people out and about in the park. With NYU located nearby, many college students are distributing flyers, playing music, and enjoying the outdoors.
Restaurants in Manhattan
There is literally anything and everything you would want for restaurants in New York City. We personally just used google maps to find restaurants near us when we wanted food. The classics we loved to explore and tried multiple times are bagels and cream cheese for breakfast, pizza (anytime of day), deli sandwiches, and pastrami sandwiches.
I have to eat a gluten free diet and I was SHOCKED how many regular restaurants serve gluten free options that are so good. Even the little pizza joint we found, Libretto’s, had the best gf pizza. We also found Modern Bread and Bagel (with multiple locations) which is an entirely gluten free bakery. It blew my mind how delicious everything was from the bagels to the donuts to the cupcakes and breads. Amazing! Snack Thyme, at 474 Columbus Ave, will blow you away with the best gluten free churro and giant pretzel.
We found a ton of upscale food courts that provide you with so many options to eat including Pier 57, Chelsea Market, and Urban Hawker (Asian). They are a fun way for everyone in your party to get something different but still eat at the same table.
Honestly, there is so much good food here in NYC that you can’t go wrong. Do some quick reviews, find the thing you are craving and enjoy!
Brooklyn
After spending 2 days in Brooklyn, my assessment is that if I were to move to NYC, I would live in Brooklyn as it has more of a neighborhood vibe with so many more grocery stores, restaurants, and normal stores that I would shop at. It’s definitely worth a visit but it’s not as compact and quick to move around as Manhattan. That shouldn’t stop you from visiting, just help set your expectations. Brooklyn is easy enough to get to that you can either just take the train over from Manhattan or walk the bridge.
The first thing we noticed about Brooklyn is the amount of amazing restaurants. There appeared to be less chain restaurants and more local restaurants with such variety. You could spend years eating your way through Brooklyn and never make it to every restaurant! Definitely recommend you walk down 5th Ave in Park Slope, Vanderbilt Ave in north of Prospect Park, and DUMBO neighborhood for good restaurants.
Walking around the DUMBO neighborhood (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is so cute. There is a very quintessential shot of the Manhattan Bridge with the NYC skyline if you stand at Washington and Water St. Don’t miss the riverfront walkway and the Time Out Market here for a bite to eat.
You can keep walking the riverfront to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade which is a tree-lined walkway offering views of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge & Manhattan skyline. If nature is what you are looking for, check out Prospect Park. Built by the same designer who created Central Park, Fredrick Olmsted’s work is on display in these rolling hills, beautiful nature preserves and historical old trees. This park literally feels different, more like a nature preserve, some even call it wild. The trails are well marked and it makes for a great afternoon. Here you will also find the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the Brooklyn Museum. The Brooklyn Museum is the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside of Egypt. It also boasts modern art collections & world-class rotating exhibitions. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden has an impressive cherry blossom section and huge rose garden.
The Green-Wood Cemetery is a very well kept cemetery. With many notable New Yorkers buried here, it was once the most popular destination to visit in NYC. Cross the street and you’ll find Industry City. This vibrant venue in industrial buildings offers hip eateries, shops, art galleries & outdoor events. It’s a great way to showcase how to repurpose old buildings and bring some new life to them.
Although located on the same island, the iconic boardwalk and beach of Coney Island is about an hour away from upper Brooklyn. With its amusement parks, hot dogs, and bright lights, it makes for a legendary summer evening.
So all in all, NYC is amazing. We were only able to explore two sections: Manhattan and Brooklyn and we didn’t even get to see everything in those two places. There is so much more to do and see that we can’t wait to come back again!
