No matter how lengthy your NYC journey is, it’s inconceivable to see all the things within the Massive Apple in only one trip. New York Metropolis is full of museums, galleries, retailers, landmarks, parks, theaters, and a lot extra. When planning your NYC journey, you’re in all probability questioning how lengthy to plan it for.
I’ve discovered that 4 days in NYC is right – though you’ll wish to take a couple of New York Metropolis journey to go to the entire fundamental points of interest.
Whether or not you’re a first-time customer to NYC or have visited a number of instances, you’ll wish to have a plan. Our pattern four-day New York itinerary is an efficient start line, particularly for a primary go to, however make modifications to personalize your expertise. You might also wish to swap across the days based mostly on working hours, climate, or different elements.
We’ve acquired complimentary actions and lodge stays in NYC over time, however have additionally paid our personal method. This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks and a purchase order via one in every of these hyperlinks and the map might lead to a fee paid to us at no extra price to you. All opinions are my very own.
Agenda Concepts for 4 Days in NYC
In case you are planning a visit to NYC, it could be a good suggestion to buy a CityPASS. You’ll pay one worth to obtain a reduction on a number of points of interest together with a few of the greatest issues to do. This may be the easiest way to economize For New York Metropolis, there are two choices:
The usual New York CityPASS permits you admission to 5 points of interest. These embrace:
- Empire State Constructing
- American Museum of Pure Historical past
- Plus, your selection of any three of the next points of interest:
- High of the Rock Remark Deck
- Ferry Entry to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Area Museum
- Guggenheim Museum
The C3, which can be a greater possibility for 4 days in NYC, consists of any three of the next:
- The Empire State Constructing
- American Museum of Pure Historical past
- The High of the Rock Remark Deck
- The Guggenheim Museum
- Ferry Entry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- The Intrepid Sea, Air & Area Museum
- The Museum of Fashionable Artwork (MoMA)
- Metropolis Cruises
- Edge at Hudson Yards
There’s additionally a C-All ticket which incorporates 10 of the perfect locations to go to in NYC. Whereas it’s an awesome possibility for an extended journey, that could be an excessive amount of for 4 days in NYC,
You received’t want to decide on which points of interest you propose to go to whenever you purchase the CityPASS. Take into account that some points of interest might require reservations or have restricted/altering working hours.
You’ll have to analysis that upfront earlier than touring to NYC on your journey. If potential, make these reservations early – particularly if you’re solely going to be in NYC for a brief journey. When you activate the go, you should have a restricted period of time to make use of it, so it’s not one thing that you could select to maintain for a number of separate visits.
There are such a lot of issues to do in NYC with teenagers, in addition to with youthful children, so you’ll be able to take a couple of journey together with your children as they grow old.
Day 1: The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
There are ample alternatives to see the Statue of Liberty from afar. There are a number of vantage factors from above, in addition to from boat rides just like the Staten Island Ferry and the Circle Line.
You may as well see it from Battery Park. We suggest visiting this well-known landmark in your first day.
However, if you wish to go on to Liberty Island, there’s just one strategy to get there – on a Statue Cruises ship. They’re the one approved ferry service to Liberty Island, and tickets are very affordable. They’re additionally one of many choices on CityPASS.
Ferry tickets may additionally be obtainable on the two departure factors: Fortress Clinton in Battery Park or Liberty State Park in New Jersey. However these aren’t assured.
Take into account that these Statue Cruises tickets solely enable for admission to Liberty Island – to not the inside of the particular statue. You’ll have to incorporate the pedestal or crown possibility together with your Statue Cruises ticket.
These are very restricted and should be reserved effectively upfront. Take into account that the crown can solely be accessed by climbing 162 stairs – there is no such thing as a elevator. So ensure you are as much as it earlier than embarking in your journey.
Don’t make the error that many NYC vacationers make. As you stroll to Battery Park, you’ll see many distributors providing excursions and tickets to the Statue of Liberty. These are supplied at a premium – effectively above the precise worth for the official ferry service, and since there is just one official ferry service, you should buy your tickets instantly from them.
Purchase your tickets as quickly as you’ve dates on your NYC journey. You’ll have to select the particular date of your journey as a result of a few of the choices do promote out.
If it’s open throughout your journey, I might suggest including the possibility to go to the crown to your ticket. It’s a fantastic view up there, and it’s such a novel expertise.
Ticket choices embrace:
- Common admission (ferry trip, entry to the Statue of Liberty grounds and museum, entry to the Ellis Island Nationwide Museum of Immigration, and an audio tour)
- Pedestal reserve (consists of all the things usually admission plus entry to the pedestal)
- Crown reserve (consists of all the things within the pedestal reserve plus entry to the crown)
- Ellis Island Onerous Hat Tour (consists of all the things within the normal admission ticket, in addition to a ticket to the Ellis Island Onerous Hat tour)
On the whole, you’ll spend no less than just a few hours going to the Statue of Liberty. As a result of you must take a ferry to Liberty Island, it usually takes some time to recover from there. Anticipate lengthy strains, even with reservations.
You’ll additionally wish to spend a while strolling across the island and visiting the museum. Plan for much more time if you wish to spend time at Ellis Island. I visited the Statue of Liberty a number of years in the past with my son, and we had a good time. Though it was busy and chaotic, it was additionally one in every of our favourite issues we did on our journey.
Due to this, we’re solely together with the Statue of Liberty within the agenda for the day. You’ll in all probability have loads of time within the night to do one thing else and may think about having a pleasant meal after which enjoyable and preparing for Day 2. Listed here are our suggestions for the greatest NYC eating places for youths.
Discover the perfect motels and click on to ebook instantly through this map (affiliate)
Day 2: Instances Sq., Broadway, and Extra
Prepare for a busy day, as a result of day 2 consists of a variety of strolling! Whereas you can even take taxis, public transportation, and/or rideshare providers, strolling in NYC can be a variety of enjoyable. You’ll by no means know what you’ll see.
We’d suggest that you simply save this present day for one whenever you’ll have some good climate to discover the town. You can begin anyplace, relying on the place you’re staying.
On this present day, we suggest you go to the next spots:
- Instances Sq. – this can be a must-see, particularly if you’re a first-time customer to NYC. It’s the most effective locations to see within the metropolis.
- Bryant Park – throughout the winter months, there’s a stunning winter village, together with meals kiosks, retailers, and an ice skating rink
- Rockefeller Middle – think about buying a ticket to the High of the Rock to get stunning views of the town, and don’t miss strolling round Rockefeller Plaza.
- Radio Metropolis Music Corridor – is a fantastic constructing to see, even when you don’t go in to see a present
- Empire State Constructing – make this the primary cease of the day when you plan to go as much as the highest as a result of the strains can get lengthy all through the day
Questioning when you ought to go to the High of the Rock or the Empire State Constructing? You in all probability received’t have to do each, however each are choices on the CityPASS. Learn our submit that will help you determine which is the best choice on your journey.
You may as well finish this present day by seeing the Broadway present of your selection. For extra in style reveals, you’ll wish to buy your tickets effectively upfront to make sure availability. However, if you’re extra versatile, you may get an awesome deal on the TKTS sales space in Instances Sq.. Go to after they open for the best ticket availability.
Most Broadway reveals are darkish on Mondays, so that you’ll wish to verify the present schedules earlier than you propose your journey. Reveals even have matinees – often one or two on the weekend and one on Wednesdays.
Day 3: American Museum of Pure Historical past and Central Park
In case you are visiting NYC with children, I like to recommend spending a while on the American Museum of Pure Historical past. This huge metropolis museum is obtainable as a part of the CityPASS and at the moment requires reservations (through timed tickets) to attend. They’re open Wednesdays via Sundays, though throughout college holidays they could be open extra days.
Like most museums, I’d suggest visiting early – round opening time. That method, you’ll be capable to go to for so long as you’d like earlier than leaving – effectively earlier than the museum closes. You’ll wish to make your timed admission reservations early, as a result of same-day reservations might not be obtainable.
There are lots of reveals within the museum, together with touring particular reveals. We particularly cherished the varied dinosaur reveals. The museum additionally provides the Hayden Planetarium.
After touring the American Museum of Pure Historical past, you’ll be able to head over to the world-famous Central Park. The park itself could be intimidating to tour as a result of it’s so massive.
After I visited with my children, we went on to the Central Park Zoo. Followers of the Madagascar film will acknowledge the Central Park Zoo as the house of Alex the Lion and his pals within the film.
The Central Park Zoo is well visited throughout a half-day, though you can even embrace a go to to the 4-D theater. The zoo is open year-round and consists of some nice animal reveals. It’s a brief stroll across the zoo to see the entire reveals.
Our favorites are the ocean lions, penguins, sea birds, and snow monkeys. There’s additionally a present store, in addition to a restaurant.
After touring these two high points of interest in NYC, you’ll have a free night. Think about seeing one other Broadway present, having fun with an awesome dinner, or enjoyable in your lodge room this night.
Day 4: Select Your Personal NYC Journey
There are such a lot of incredible issues to do in New York Metropolis that it was exhausting to slender issues down for day 4. So, we’re offering you with a number of choices for landmarks, points of interest, and different issues to do in your final day in New York Metropolis.
Listed here are some choices:
Circle Line Tour: We love the Circle Line sightseeing cruises. There are a number of choices to select from, together with a Better of NYC and a Landmarks Tour. They run anyplace from 1-2.5 hours relying on the one you select and are well worth the money and time.
Probably the greatest methods to get an excellent overview of the town is to take the Landmarks Tour. You’ll be capable to see well-known landmarks just like the Empire State Constructing, the Chrysler Constructing, the Excessive Line, One World Commerce Middle, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, DUMBO, South Avenue Seaport, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Williamsburg Bridge.
The Trip: This distinctive bus trip isn’t a standard tour. As a substitute, it’s a full NYC expertise, the place you’ll be entertained all through your complete journey. We suggest doing this as one thing fully distinctive.
The Excessive Line: Stroll via this elevated public park, which was constructed on a former New York Central Railway elevated freight line observe. It’s a pleasant oasis within the metropolis and has some nice views and fairly vantage factors.
Grand Central Terminal: Should you occur to be within the space, stroll into this stunning, historic practice terminal. It’s price seeing, even when you aren’t taking a practice from Grand Central Station.
One World Observatory: this remark deck provides attractive views of the town, and can also be a particular place within the historical past of NYC. A number of totally different ticket choices provide numerous wait instances to get to the highest.
The 9/11 Museum is adjoining to the One World Observatory in Decrease Manhattan, however they’re particular person entities requiring separate tickets. You possibly can mix a go to as a result of proximity. You’ll even be inside strolling distance of the Monetary District.
The Tenement Museum: I haven’t been to this distinctive museum on the Decrease East Aspect of Manhattan, however have heard nice issues about it. There are a number of totally different guided tour choices, and also you’ll wish to take a look at their web site upfront to seek out the tour that’s greatest for your loved ones. Tickets can and must be bought upfront.
MoMath: My children loved a go to to the Museum of Arithmetic. It may be toured in only a few hours and is near the Flatiron Constructing and Eataly NYC.
A few of our favourite motels embrace the next. Many are inside strolling distance of a few of these high points of interest:
Extra assets: Learn our New York Metropolis Journey Suggestions submit right here to learn lodge, attraction, and restaurant opinions, suggestions, and concepts.
