If you’ve never been to New York City, then you’re missing out on the greatest city in the world. No other city has such a diverse culture and so many iconic places to visit. No other city has featured as much in movies and TV shows as New York. It’s no wonder people flock to the Big Apple week after week to try to soak up what they’ve read or seen on the screen their entire lives. And many of them only come for a long weekend.
If you’re one of those people considering a 3-day trip to New York City, I’ve put together a great itinerary to help you make the most of it.
Day 1
My advice is to get a general idea of the whole city starting with a boat cruise. The most recommended boat cruise would have to be Circle Line Cruise. This cruise will take you all over Manhattan, giving you a great tour of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and lower Manhattan with its amazing and impressive skyline. You’ll then cruise down the East River, where you’ll pass under the Brooklyn Bridge, view the United Nations, and then onto the Hudson River, where you’ll eventually return to finish your cruise at the West Side docks.
The Circle Line ride is usually very calm and I have never had the first hint of motion sickness. But keep that in mind, obviously. The view of Manhattan from the water is especially impressive in the late afternoon/evening when the city lights start to come on making it more picturesque. Plan to spend about 3 hours for this particular boat tour.
The cruise will drop you off near 42nd Street on the west side of Manhattan. If you take that towards 9th Avenue then you are in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood which gives you a variety of lunch options. It is a very ethnically diverse neighborhood. After you finish eating lunch there, just follow 42nd Street East. Be sure to snap some photos at 42nd and Broadway, better known as Times Square. You can not lose this! Keep walking east on 42 and you will see the New York Public Library near the intersection of 5th Avenue and eventually Grand Central Station. Also near 42nd and Lexington you will see the Chrysler Building which is another landmark of the Manhattan skyline. Finally, head back to 5th Avenue and then head south several blocks until you reach 34th Street. You’ve come to the Empire State Building and you’d be foolish to miss your chance to climb to the top and see New York. from that wonderful view. It should be a pretty full day there and the view of Manhattan at night from the top of the Empire State Building will be a great way to cap off your first day.
Day 2
Don’t oversleep because there is so much to see! Have breakfast at your hotel so you’re not immediately hungry while you’re out and about. I recommend that you head to Chinatown first and stroll through the streets of that neighborhood (if you just follow Canal St it takes you to the heart of it). There are plenty of places to have lunch in Chinatown and near Little Italy.
After you’ve had lunch and seen enough of those 2 neighborhoods, you can take the 6 train (which you can catch at the Canal St station) to the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop. Another “must” is to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and take some incredible photos. I would not recommend walking all the way to Brooklyn because there is so much more to see in Manhattan. When you’re done there, I’d advise heading north to Spring Street (you can take the subway and get off at the Spring St stop). Now you’re in SoHo. Head to West Broadway and head north. Along that street are tons of unique and funky shops and boutiques, so be prepared to stop at lots of shops. Once you are north of Houston, you will be in Greenwich Village. There’s also a lot to see (and eat!) in this neighborhood, so take your time. The iconic Gray’s Papaya is in Greenwich Village, so if you fancy a snack, or hot dogs for dinner, stop by and give it a try.
Depending on where your hotel is, you can either walk back or find the nearest metro route. Or cab. Subways have become much safer in Manhattan in the last 20 years, making it completely safe to ride any of them at any time. But a taxi is certainly a more direct and private return route.
Day 3
We’re headed to Central Park today. If you are going to do this over a long weekend, then today is Sunday and the park will be the perfect way to spend a Sunday morning. Take some breakfast to take with you (or eat at the hotel) again. There are plenty of parks to explore, but I recommend visiting a museum or two while you’re in the area. New York has some of the best-known museums in the world, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim, just to name a few. You can literally spend HOURS at the Met, and it’s honestly my favorite with the more well-known artists. You can wander through the park towards Central West for that or just take 5th Avenue all the way. Grab something light for lunch and plan to make a reservation at one of New York’s many amazing fine dining restaurants on the Upper West or Upper East Side. Many offer a 3-course prix-fixe dinner which can often be the best way to experience the restaurant (without breaking the bank).