No matter how lengthy your NYC journey is, it’s unimaginable to see every part within the Huge Apple in only one trip. New York Metropolis is stuffed with museums, galleries, outlets, landmarks, parks, theaters, and a lot extra. When planning your NYC journey, you might be in all probability questioning how lengthy to plan it for. I’ve discovered that 4 days in NYC is right – though you’ll undoubtedly wish to take a couple of New York Metropolis journey to go to all the most important sights.
Whether or not you’re a first-time customer to NYC or have visited a number of occasions, you’ll wish to have a plan. Our pattern four-day New York itinerary is an effective place to begin, particularly for a primary go to, however make modifications to personalize your expertise. You may additionally wish to swap across the days primarily based on working hours, climate, or different elements.
We’ve acquired complimentary actions and resort stays in NYC through the years, however have additionally paid our personal approach. This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks and a purchase order via one in all these hyperlinks and the map might end in a fee paid to us at no further 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 might be a good suggestion to buy a CityPASS. You’ll pay one worth to obtain a reduction on a number of sights together with among the finest issues to do. This may be one of the best ways to economize For New York Metropolis, there are two choices:
The usual New York CityPASS permits you admission to 5 sights. These embrace:
- Empire State Constructing
- American Museum of Pure Historical past
- Plus, your alternative of any three of the next sights:
- Prime of the Rock Commentary Deck
- Ferry Entry to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
- Intrepid Sea, Air & House Museum
- Guggenheim Museum
The C3, which can be a greater choice for 4 days in NYC, consists of any three of the next:
- The Empire State Constructing
- American Museum of Pure Historical past
- The Prime of the Rock Commentary 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 & House 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 very best locations to go to in NYC. Whereas it’s an incredible choice for an extended journey, which may be an excessive amount of for 4 days in NYC,
You received’t want to decide on which sights you intend to go to once you purchase the CityPASS. Remember that some sights might require advance reservations or have restricted/altering working hours.
You’ll must analysis that upfront earlier than touring to NYC in your journey. If doable, make these reservations upfront – particularly in case you are solely going to be in NYC for a brief journey. When you activate the move, you should have a restricted period of time to make use of it, so it’s not one thing which 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 youngsters, so you may undoubtedly take a couple of journey along with your youngsters as they become 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 variety of vantage factors from above, in addition to boat rides just like the Staten Island Ferry and the Circle Line. You too can see it from Battery Park. We advocate visiting this well-known landmark in your first day.
However, if you wish to go proper to Liberty Island, there’s just one technique to get there – on a Statue Cruises ship. They’re the one licensed ferry service to Liberty Island, and tickets are very cheap. They’re additionally one of many choices on CityPASS.
Ferry tickets might also be out there on the two departure factors: Fortress Clinton in Battery Park or Liberty State Park in New Jersey. However these aren’t assured.
Remember 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 choice along with your Statue Cruises ticket.
These are very restricted and wanted to be reserved effectively upfront. Remember that the crown can solely be accessed by climbing 162 stairs – there isn’t a elevator. So be sure to 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 plenty of distributors providing excursions and tickets to the Statue of Liberty. These are provided 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 straight from them.
Purchase your tickets as quickly as you will have dates in your NYC journey. You’ll have to select the particular date of your journey as a result of among the choices do promote out. If it’s open throughout your journey, I’d advocate including the choice to go to the crown to your ticket. It’s an attractive view up there, and it’s such a singular expertise.
Ticket choices embrace:
- Common admission (ferry experience, 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 every part typically admission plus entry to the pedestal)
- Crown reserve (consists of every part within the pedestal reserve plus entry to the crown)
- Ellis Island Onerous Hat Tour (consists of every part within the basic admission ticket, in addition to a ticket to the Ellis Island Onerous Hat tour)
Generally, you’ll spend a minimum of a number of hours going to the Statue of Liberty. As a result of it’s a must to take a ferry to Liberty Island, it typically takes some time to recover from there. Count on lengthy traces, 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 all 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 will think about having a pleasant meal after which stress-free and preparing for Day 2. Listed here are our suggestions for the finest NYC eating places for youths.
Discover the very best resorts and click on to ebook straight through this map (affiliate)
Day 2: Occasions Sq., Broadway, and Extra
Prepare for a busy day, as a result of day 2 consists of plenty of strolling! Whereas you may as well take taxis, public transportation, and/or rideshare providers, strolling in NYC may also be plenty of enjoyable. You’ll by no means know what you’ll see.
We’d advocate that you just save at the present time for one once you’ll have some good climate to discover town. You can begin wherever, relying on the place you might be staying.
On at the present time, we advocate you go to the next spots:
- Occasions Sq. – this can be a must-see, particularly in case you are a first-time customer to NYC. It’s undoubtedly top-of-the-line locations to see within the metropolis.
- Bryant Park – throughout the winter months, there’s a lovely winter village, together with meals kiosks, outlets, and an ice skating rink
- Rockefeller Middle – think about buying a ticket to the Prime of the Rock to get lovely views of town, and don’t miss strolling round Rockefeller Plaza.
- Radio Metropolis Music Corridor – is an attractive constructing to see, even if you happen to don’t go in to see a present
- Empire State Constructing – make this the primary cease of the day if you happen to plan to go as much as the highest as a result of the traces can get lengthy all through the day
Questioning if you happen to ought to go to the Prime of the Rock or the Empire State Constructing? You in all probability received’t must do each, however each are choices on the CityPASS. Learn our put up that will help you resolve which is the most suitable choice in your journey.
You too can finish at the present time by seeing the Broadway present of your alternative. For extra fashionable reveals, you’ll wish to buy your tickets effectively upfront to make sure availability. However, in case you are extra versatile, you will get an incredible deal on the TKTS sales space in Occasions Sq.. Go to once they open for the best ticket availability.
Most Broadway reveals are darkish on Mondays, so that you’ll wish to test the present schedules earlier than you intend your journey. Reveals even have matinees – normally 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 youngsters, I undoubtedly advocate spending a while on the American Museum of Pure Historical past. This massive metropolis museum is obtainable as a part of the CityPASS and does presently require reservations (through timed tickets) to attend. They’re open Wednesdays via Sundays, though throughout faculty holidays they could be open further days.
Like most museums, I’d advocate visiting early – round opening time. That approach, 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 out there.
There are lots of displays within the museum, together with touring particular displays. We particularly cherished the assorted dinosaur displays. The museum additionally provides the Hayden Planetarium.
After touring the American Museum of Pure Historical past, you may head over to the world-famous Central Park. The park itself may be intimidating to tour as a result of it’s so giant.
Once I visited with my youngsters, we’ve gone 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 mates within the film.
The Central Park Zoo is definitely visited throughout a half-day, though you may as well embrace a go to to the 4-D theater. The zoo is open year-round and consists of some nice animal displays. It’s a brief stroll across the zoo to see all the displays.
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 prime sights in NYC, you’ll have a free night. Contemplate seeing one other Broadway present, having fun with an incredible dinner, or stress-free in your resort room this night.
Day 4: Select Your Personal NYC Journey
There are such a lot of improbable issues to do in New York Metropolis that it was exhausting to slim issues down for day 4. So, we’re offering you with a number of choices for landmarks, sights, and different issues to do in your final day in New York Metropolis.
Listed here are some choices:
Circle Line Tour: We completely 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 wherever from 1-2.5 hours relying on the one you select and are undoubtedly definitely worth the money and time.
Top-of-the-line methods to get an excellent overview of 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 experience isn’t a conventional tour. As an alternative, it’s a full NYC expertise, the place you’ll be entertained all through the whole journey. We undoubtedly advocate doing this as one thing utterly 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: In case you occur to be within the space, stroll into this lovely, historic practice terminal. It’s completely price seeing, even if you happen to aren’t taking a practice from Grand Central Station.
One World Observatory: this remark deck provides beautiful views of town, and can be a particular place within the historical past of NYC. There are a number of completely different ticket choices supplying you with varied wait occasions 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 undoubtedly 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 Facet of Manhattan, however have heard nice issues about it. There are a number of completely 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 finest for your loved ones. Tickets can and needs to be bought upfront.
MoMath: My youngsters actually loved a go to to the Museum of Arithmetic. It may be toured in just some hours and is near the Flatiron Constructing and Eataly NYC.
A few of our favourite resorts embrace the next. Many are inside strolling distance of a few of these prime sights:
Incessantly Requested Questions
In lots of instances, sure, it is best to make reservations upfront. You received’t wish to be upset once you arrive.
I really like visiting within the spring and fall months, though summer season and winter may be nice as effectively.
The TKTS sales space is a good choice if you happen to don’t have a really particular present you wish to see.
Extra sources: Learn our New York Metropolis Journey Suggestions put up right here to learn resort, attraction, and restaurant opinions, suggestions, and concepts.
