The Brooklyn Bridge and the Lower Manhattan skyline seen from the East River
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New York in 3 days

  • 3 days
  • 9.4 km on foot
  • 18 stops
  • Audio guide

Three days is the most comfortable plan for Manhattan without rushing. You alternate icons, museums and walks: Midtown and the Met on day one, history and the bridge on day two, then a lighter third day on the High Line and in Chelsea that ends with the city's darker side at dusk.

Day 1Midtown icons and the Met

Begin with Midtown Must-Sees: Flatiron, Empire State, Grand Central, the Public Library, Times Square and Rockefeller Center. Have pastrami on rye at Katz's on the Lower East Side and ride the subway back. The afternoon belongs to the Met and Central Park, which meet on Fifth Avenue; the museum forces choices, so decide beforehand which galleries you want. If you still have energy, walk through the park back to Midtown and enjoy a relaxed dinner.

  1. Morning

    Midtown Must-Sees: From the Flatiron to Rockefeller Center

    Mixed · 4.2 km · 2 h 30 min

    1. Flatiron BuildingThe skyscraper shaped like a clothes iron that amazed New York in 1902.
    2. Empire State BuildingBuilt in just over a year during the Great Depression, it was the world's tallest building for nearly four decades.
    3. Grand Central TerminalThe station that nearly disappeared and was saved by a legal battle with Jacqueline Kennedy at the forefront.
    4. New York Public LibraryA marble palace built on the site of an old reservoir and guarded by two lions with names of their own.
    5. Times SquareThe square named after a newspaper, where the New Year's Eve ball has dropped since 1907.
    6. Rockefeller CenterAn Art Deco city within the city, built in the depths of the Great Depression and guarded by a golden Prometheus.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Pastrami on rye at Katz's Delicatessen. 205 East Houston Street

  3. Afternoon

    Central Park

    Manhattan's great green lung, designed by Olmsted and Vaux in the 19th century. Enter near Bethesda Terrace, circle the lake and cross Bow Bridge at an easy pace. It is the best breather between Midtown and the evening.

    Directions

    The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

    One of the world's great museums, on Fifth Avenue beside Central Park. For a short visit, head to the Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian wing, then to the European paintings. Booking your ticket ahead is wise.

    Directions

Day 2Where the city began

Spend the morning downtown on From New Amsterdam to America's First Capital: Castle Clinton, Bowling Green, Fraunces Tavern and Federal Hall. Break for lunch on the Lower East Side, a short subway ride away, with bagel and lox at Russ & Daughters, then head south again. In the afternoon, the 9/11 Memorial sits right beside St. Paul's Chapel and the morning's route. Finish by walking the Brooklyn Bridge, ideally in afternoon light.

  1. Morning

    From New Amsterdam to America's First Capital

    History · 2 km · 1 h 45 min

    1. Castle ClintonA fort that never fired a shot in battle and went on to be a concert hall, the gateway for millions of immigrants and an aquarium.
    2. Bowling GreenThe city's oldest park, where New Yorkers pulled down their king's statue in 1776.
    3. Fraunces TavernThe brick tavern where George Washington bade a tearful farewell to his officers in 1783.
    4. Federal HallThe spot where George Washington took the oath as the first president of the United States on April 30, 1789.
    5. Trinity ChurchThe Gothic Revival church that was once New York's tallest building and where Alexander Hamilton rests.
    6. St. Paul's ChapelManhattan's oldest church, where Washington prayed and where 9/11 rescue workers found refuge.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Bagel and lox at Russ & Daughters. 179 East Houston Street

  3. Afternoon

    9/11 Memorial

    Two vast pools sit exactly where the Twin Towers stood, with the victims' names carved in bronze around the edges. It is a few minutes from St. Paul's Chapel and calls for a quiet visit. The underground museum needs more time.

    Directions

    Brooklyn Bridge

    Opened in 1883, with Gothic-arched stone towers and steel cables, it is one of the city's icons. Walking across the raised promenade gives the best views of Lower Manhattan. It starts near City Hall and the Tweed Courthouse.

    Directions

Day 3High Line, Chelsea and nightfall

A slow morning, no early start: walk the High Line south to north, with its gardens and views over the Hudson, and stop at Chelsea Market, perfect for a late breakfast. Have a good New York-style pizza at Lombardi's in Nolita, then drift down to SoHo and Chinatown. At dusk, New York Below the Surface takes in Trinity Churchyard, the African Burial Ground and the Manhattan Well. Finish with cheesecake at Veniero's in the East Village.

  1. Morning

    The High Line

    A former elevated freight railway turned into a linear park of gardens, art and Hudson River views. You can stroll it south to north in a little over an hour, with benches along the way, ending at Hudson Yards.

    Directions

    Chelsea Market

    An indoor food hall in the former Nabisco biscuit factory, where the Oreo was born. Expect lobster, tacos, pastries and coffee. It sits by the High Line's southern entrance, so the two make one easy outing.

    Directions

  2. Lunch

    Try New York-style pizza at Lombardi's. 32 Spring Street

  3. Early evening

    New York Below the Surface: Crimes, Graves and Secrets

    Mysteries & legends · 3.2 km · 2 h

    1. Trinity ChurchyardA grave for a novel's heroine and a headstone written in secret code.
    2. Tweed CourthouseThe courthouse that became New York's greatest monument to corruption.
    3. African Burial GroundA burial ground for enslaved and free Africans, forgotten for two centuries beneath the city.
    4. Collect Pond ParkA freshwater pond some 60 feet deep once lay here. The city buried it, and the ground took its revenge.
    5. Five Points (Columbus Park)The most feared neighborhood of the 19th century, home to the gangs behind «Gangs of New York».
    6. The Manhattan WellThe well where Elma Sands was found in 1800, the start of the young nation's first great murder trial.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  4. Dinner

    Try Cheesecake at Veniero's. 342 East 11th Street

The map

New York in 3 days, on the map

Each route’s stops are numbered in order; the stars are the extra sights.

Mixed History Mysteries & legends Extra sight

Loading the map…

Before you go

Tips for New York in 3 days

  • Alternate museum days with street days: your feet will thank you, and a big museum like the Met tires you out more than a walking route.
  • A sightseeing pass only pays off if you plan to enter several paid attractions; otherwise, pay only for the ones you really want.
  • The High Line is best early in the morning or late in the afternoon in summer; in winter, at midday when the sun is out.

Questions

New York in 3 days: your questions

How many days do you need in New York?

Three days cover the essentials of Manhattan at a comfortable pace: Midtown, downtown, one big museum and a High Line stroll. To add Brooklyn properly or the Statue of Liberty, plan on four or five.

How far do you walk in three days?

The three routes add up to about 9.4 km, spread over three days. Add the High Line, Central Park and walks between museums and your hotel: it is comfortable if you can manage about six hours on foot each day.

Which neighborhood is best to stay in?

Midtown has good subway links and sits close to day one's sights; Lower Manhattan is quieter at night. Choose according to your budget and how close you are to a subway line.

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