5 days in New York City

Day by day

1. Day 1: Central Park and Metropolitan Museum of Art

   Central Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art and Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, then Empire State Building in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Central Park

      Walk or cycle from Columbus Circle to Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge, then leave by the Met on Fifth Avenue. (2–4 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Metropolitan Museum of Art

      A Met ticket also covers same-day entry to The Met Cloisters in upper Manhattan. (3–4 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: New York pizza slice

      Slice shops all over the city; coal-oven pizzerias in Little Italy and Brooklyn serve whole pies.

   4. Afternoon

      Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

      Take the first ferry of the day and allow at least half a day for both islands; security screening is airport-style. (Half a day, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Empire State Building

      Late-evening visits are often quieter than sunset and show the city lights at their best.

2. Day 2: Top of the Rock and Times Square

   Top of the Rock, Times Square and Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), then A Broadway show in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Top of the Rock

      Book a slot about 45 minutes before sunset to see the city in daylight, at dusk and after dark. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Times Square

      See it after dark, then move on; costumed characters expect a tip for photos. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bagel with lox

      Bagel shops across Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the appetizing stores of the Lower East Side.

   4. Afternoon

      Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

      Go straight to the fifth floor for the most famous paintings before the crowds, then work downwards. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      A Broadway show

      Buy discounted same-day tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square or through official digital lotteries and rush tickets.

3. Day 3: Brooklyn Bridge and 9/11 Memorial and Museum

   Brooklyn Bridge, 9/11 Memorial and Museum and American Museum of Natural History, then East Village and Lower East Side in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Brooklyn Bridge

      Take the subway to Brooklyn and walk back towards Manhattan, so the skyline is in front of you; go early to avoid the crowds. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      9/11 Memorial and Museum

      Visit the free memorial pools first, then allow two hours for the museum, which is emotionally intense. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pastrami on rye

      Katz's Delicatessen on East Houston Street, in business since 1888, and other classic delis.

   4. Afternoon

      American Museum of Natural History

      Arrive at opening and head straight to the fourth-floor dinosaur halls, which are busiest by late morning. (3 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      East Village and Lower East Side

      Dive bars, speakeasy-style cocktail bars and small live-music venues around Avenue A and Ludlow Street.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Beacon and Dia Beacon

   About 1 hour 30 minutes by train each way. Getting there: Metro-North Hudson line from Grand Central to Beacon.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Beacon and Dia Beacon

      About 1 hour 30 minutes by train (Metro-North Hudson line from Grand Central to Beacon); about 95 km.

   2. Day

      Beacon and Dia Beacon

      Dia Beacon, in a former Nabisco box-printing factory on the Hudson, displays large-scale minimalist and conceptual art by Richard Serra, Donald Judd and others. Best for culture, couples and quiet stays.

   3. Evening

      Back in New York City

      Dinner: try Hot dog.

5. Day 5: The High Line and Chelsea Market

   The High Line, Chelsea Market and Grand Central Terminal, then Greenwich Village in the evening.

   1. Morning

      The High Line

      Walk it from north to south in the morning, starting at Hudson Yards, and finish with lunch at Chelsea Market. (1–1.5 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Chelsea Market

      Come for an early weekday lunch; at weekend lunchtimes the corridor is shoulder to shoulder. (1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hot dog

      Street carts in Midtown and Nathan's Famous on the Coney Island boardwalk.

   4. Afternoon

      Grand Central Terminal

      Stand in opposite corners of the Whispering Gallery and whisper into the wall, then look for the small dark patch left unrestored on the concourse ceiling. (30–45 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Greenwich Village

      Historic jazz and comedy clubs and the Stonewall Inn, a landmark of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, 9/11 Memorial and Museum and A Broadway show before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Midtown keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Upper West Side ($$$) suits families, quiet stays and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 24–31 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.3 hours in December to 15.1 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in New York City
• 2 days in New York City
• 3 days in New York City
• 4 days in New York City
• 7 days in New York City

Questions travellers ask