3 days in York

Day by day

1. Day 1: York Minster and The Shambles

   York Minster, The Shambles and Treasurer's House, then Evening ghost walk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      York Minster

      Built over about 250 years from the 13th century, the Minster is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe.

   2. Late morning

      The Shambles

      Visit early in the morning or in the evening, when the street is quiet enough to see the buildings properly.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Yorkshire pudding

      Pubs and restaurants serving Sunday roasts across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Treasurer's House

      Behind the Minster, this National Trust house was restored in the early 20th century by the collector Frank Green, who arranged rooms in different period styles.

   5. Evening

      Evening ghost walk

      Most walks set off around dusk without booking; bring cash or check whether card payment is accepted.

2. Day 2: York City Walls and JORVIK Viking Centre

   York City Walls, JORVIK Viking Centre and National Railway Museum, then Micklegate in the evening.

   1. Morning

      York City Walls

      Walk the stretch from Bootham Bar to Monk Bar for the best Minster views; the full circuit takes about two hours.

   2. Late morning

      JORVIK Viking Centre

      Built on the site of excavations that uncovered Viking-age houses and workshops at Coppergate in the 1970s and 80s, JORVIK takes visitors on a ride through a reconstruction of the 10th-century street, complete with sounds and smells, followed by galleries of the finds.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fat Rascal

      Bettys Café Tea Rooms on St Helen's Square, and other bakeries and tearooms in the city.

   4. Afternoon

      National Railway Museum

      Walk from the station via the footbridge in about 10 minutes, and check for turntable demonstrations on arrival.

   5. Evening

      Micklegate

      York's main bar street, with pubs, cocktail bars and late-night venues running down to Ouse Bridge.

3. Day 3: Clifford's Tower and York Castle Museum

   Clifford's Tower, York Castle Museum and Fairfax House, then Inside the walls in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Clifford's Tower

      The 13th-century stone keep of York Castle stands on a steep mound built by William the Conqueror.

   2. Late morning

      York Castle Museum

      Start with Kirkgate, then visit the prison cells; children enjoy both.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Wensleydale cheese with fruit cake

      Cheese shops and delis in the centre, Shambles Market and pub cheese boards.

   4. Afternoon

      Fairfax House

      A Georgian townhouse on Castlegate designed by John Carr, with some of the finest 18th-century plasterwork in the city, furnished with a collection of Georgian furniture and clocks.

   5. Evening

      Inside the walls

      Historic pubs on Stonegate, Petergate and Goodramgate, many in buildings several centuries old.

Before you go

• JORVIK Viking Centre: Timed-entry tickets bought online help avoid long queues in summer and at half-term.

If it rains

• Swap in Merchant Adventurers' Hall (Fossgate): Look up at the huge oak roof timbers in the Great Hall, then visit the undercroft below.
• Swap in York Art Gallery (Exhibition Square): Combine it with the stretch of wall from Bootham Bar, a minute away.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Minster Quarter keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Fossgate and Walmgate ($$) suits food lovers, couples and budget. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–16 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.4 hours in December to 17.1 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in York
• 2 days in York

Questions travellers ask