7 days in New York City

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Central Park

      Central Park · 2–4 hours · free.

   2. Late morning

      Metropolitan Museum of Art

      Upper East Side · 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. Evening

      Empire State Building

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

2. Day 2: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

   Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, then Top of the Rock in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

      Upper East Side · 1.5–2 hours · mid-priced.

   2. Late morning

      Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

      Liberty Island · Half a day · mid-priced. Pedestal and crown access are limited and must be reserved with the official ferry operator, Statue City Cruises; crown tickets sell out months ahead.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bagel with lox

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

   4. Evening

      Top of the Rock

      Book a slot about 45 minutes before sunset to see the city in daylight, at dusk and after dark.

3. Day 3: Times Square and Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

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

   1. Morning

      Times Square

      Midtown · 30 minutes · free.

   2. Late morning

      Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

      Midtown · 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. Evening

      A Broadway show

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

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

      The town of Beacon has antique shops and cafés along Main Street, and the riverside train ride is part of the pleasure.

   3. Evening

      Back in New York City

      Dinner: try Hot dog.

5. Day 5: Grand Central Terminal and Brooklyn Bridge

   Grand Central Terminal and Brooklyn Bridge, then East Village and Lower East Side in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Grand Central Terminal

      Midtown · 30–45 minutes · free.

   2. Late morning

      Brooklyn Bridge

      Lower Manhattan · 1 hour · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hot dog

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

   4. Evening

      East Village and Lower East Side

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

6. Day 6: Day trip to Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown

   About 45 minutes by train each way. Getting there: Metro-North Hudson line from Grand Central.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown

      About 45 minutes by train (Metro-North Hudson line from Grand Central); about 45 km.

   2. Day

      Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown

      Autumn brings Halloween events and the Hudson Valley's seasonal pumpkin displays.

   3. Evening

      Back in New York City

      Dinner: try New York cheesecake.

7. Day 7: 9/11 Memorial and Museum and Staten Island Ferry

   9/11 Memorial and Museum and Staten Island Ferry, then Greenwich Village in the evening.

   1. Morning

      9/11 Memorial and Museum

      Financial District · 2–3 hours · mid-priced. Timed museum tickets bought online avoid queues at busy times.

   2. Late morning

      Staten Island Ferry

      Financial District · 1 hour round trip · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: New York cheesecake

      Diners and bakeries across the city; Junior's, founded in Brooklyn, is a long-standing favourite.

   4. 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 7 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 22–29 hours of visiting over 7 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
• 5 days in New York City

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