3-Day NYC Itinerary at a Glance
Who This 3-Day NYC Itinerary Is For
This itinerary is designed for first-time visitors who want to see the major icons—Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building—plus experience real NYC neighborhoods and food culture.
Expect 18–22k steps per day with a mix of must-see landmarks and time for coffee breaks, bagels, and aimless wandering. If you're traveling with kids or need a slower pace, start each day 1–2 hours later and drop one stop.
Popular Activities
Top-rated tours and experiences in New York City
Central Park, Metropolitan Museum & Times Square Evening
Start with NYC's green heart, dive into world-class art, and experience Times Square at night.
Morning
Central Park Highlights Loop
See the most famous spots in one of the world's greatest urban parks—you'll recognize scenes from dozens of movies.
How to Do It:
- • Enter at 72nd Street & Central Park West (near Strawberry Fields).
- • Walk the loop: Strawberry Fields (John Lennon memorial) → Bethesda Fountain → Bow Bridge → The Lake → exit at 79th Street.
- • Download the free Central Park app or grab a paper map at the entrance.
Tips
- → Early morning (before 9am) means fewer crowds and perfect light for photos.
- → Bring a water bottle—summer mornings get hot and humid by 10am.
- → Skip the horse-drawn carriage rides ($60–$75 for 20 min)—they're overpriced and you can walk the same routes.
Afternoon
The Met Highlights Tour
From ancient Egypt to Van Gogh, the Met has everything—and it sits right on Central Park's edge.
How to Do It:
- • Book a timed-entry ticket online (strongly recommended to skip ticket lines).
- • Enter via the main Fifth Avenue entrance.
- • Route: Egyptian Wing (Temple of Dendur) → Greek & Roman Galleries → European Paintings (Vermeer, Rembrandt, Van Gogh) → American Wing.
- • If open (May–Oct), visit the Rooftop Garden for Central Park views and a drink.
Tips
- → The museum is enormous—don't try to see everything. Focus on 3–4 wings.
- → Wear comfortable shoes—you'll walk miles on marble floors.
- → Museum café is overpriced; grab lunch from food trucks on Museum Mile or near the park.
Upper East Side Lunch
Grab a quick New York bite—bagel, slice of pizza, or deli sandwich.
How to Do It:
- • Walk down Madison or Lexington Avenue for delis, pizza spots, or cafés.
- • Try Ess-a-Bagel (1st Avenue & 82nd) for a classic NYC bagel with schmear.
- • Or grab a slice at a local pizzeria—look for lines of locals.
Tips
- → Eat standing at the counter like a New Yorker—no need to sit down.
- → Iced coffee is the NYC summer drink—get one to go.
- → Budget $8–$15 for a quick lunch.
Evening
Times Square at Dusk
Love it or hate it, Times Square is quintessential New York—LED billboards, street performers, and sensory overload.
How to Do It:
- • Subway to Times Square-42nd Street station.
- • Walk through, take your photo, then leave—there's no reason to linger.
- • Check the TKTS booth if you want discount same-day Broadway tickets (expect lines).
Tips
- → Avoid all Times Square restaurants—they're tourist traps.
- → Walk 2 blocks west to Hell's Kitchen (9th/10th Avenues) for actual good food.
- → Watch for costumed characters demanding tips—politely decline if not interested.
Dinner in Hell's Kitchen
Authentic NYC dining just blocks from Times Square—Thai, Mexican, Italian, American classics.
How to Do It:
- • Walk west on 9th or 10th Avenue between 42nd–52nd Streets.
- • Choose from casual spots like Empellón (tacos), Sushi of Gari, or The Marshal (farm-to-table).
- • No reservations needed for most casual spots; walk-ins welcome.
Tips
- → Hell's Kitchen has better food at half the price of Times Square.
- → If you want a Broadway show, eat early (6–7pm) for a 7:30/8pm curtain.
- → Budget $25–$45 per person for dinner + drink.
Statue of Liberty, Financial District & Brooklyn Bridge
America's most iconic symbol, Wall Street history, and a sunset walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Morning
Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island
The ultimate American icon—see it up close and walk through your ancestors' footsteps at Ellis Island.
How to Do It:
- • Book via the official Statue City Cruises website (linked from the NPS page) 2–4 weeks ahead—avoid third-party resellers.
- • Take the first 9am ferry from Battery Park (arrive by 8:30am for security).
- • Choose: Grounds-only ($25), Pedestal ($25), or Crown ($29)—pedestal is the sweet spot for most visitors.
- • Spend 1–1.5 hours on Liberty Island, then 2–3 hours at Ellis Island Immigration Museum.
Tips
- → Crown climb requires fitness—162 narrow spiral stairs with no A/C.
- → Security is airport-level; travel light and arrive 30 minutes early.
- → Ellis Island museum is deeply moving—don't skip it.
- → Ferries return to Battery Park throughout the day—no rush.
Afternoon
Financial District Walk
See where American capitalism began—Wall Street, Federal Hall, and the Charging Bull.
How to Do It:
- • Walk from Battery Park north toward Wall Street.
- • Stop at: Charging Bull (photo op, expect crowds), Wall Street itself, Federal Hall (free museum), Trinity Church.
- • Walk to 9/11 Memorial (twin reflecting pools)—free and open daily.
Tips
- → Charging Bull gets mobbed—early morning (7–8am) is best for photos if you want to return.
- → 9/11 Memorial is always free; Museum costs around $36 for adults (optional, very powerful).
- → Financial District is quiet on weekends—weekdays have suited workers rushing around.
Evening
Brooklyn Bridge Walk
Postcard-perfect Manhattan skyline views from the pedestrian walkway—especially magical at sunset.
How to Do It:
- • Subway to High Street-Brooklyn Bridge station (Brooklyn side).
- • Walk Brooklyn → Manhattan so the skyline is in front of you the whole way.
- • Stay in the pedestrian lane (marked)—cyclists will yell if you wander into bike lanes.
- • Allow 45–60 minutes for the 1.2-mile walk with photo stops.
Tips
- → Time your walk to finish around sunset for the best light.
- → Midday summer crossings are brutally hot with no shade—morning or evening only.
- → After crossing, explore DUMBO (Brooklyn Bridge Park) or grab pizza at Grimaldi's.
DUMBO or Lower Manhattan Dinner
Celebrate with waterfront views or head back to Manhattan for dinner.
How to Do It:
- • Option 1 (DUMBO): Stay in Brooklyn for pizza at Grimaldi's or Juliana's (expect lines), then walk Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront.
- • Option 2 (Manhattan): Cross to Manhattan and eat in the Lower East Side or Chinatown for dumplings.
Tips
- → DUMBO restaurants book up—arrive before 7pm or expect waits.
- → Brooklyn Bridge Park at night is stunning—lit skyline views.
- → Subway back to Manhattan runs until 1–2am.
Empire State Building, High Line & West Village Farewell
End with NYC's most iconic view, an elevated park, and dinner in the city's most charming neighborhood.
Morning
Empire State Building 86th Floor
360° views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and beyond—the classic NYC viewpoint.
How to Do It:
- • Book 8am opening slot online to avoid crowds (or go after 10pm for empty decks).
- • 86th-floor Main Deck is the iconic open-air experience—all you need.
- • Skip the 102nd floor ($30 extra)—minimal added value.
- • Spend 45–60 minutes at the top, then explore the Art Deco lobby on the way out.
Tips
- → Early morning means smaller crowds and often clearer visibility.
- → The building itself is an Art Deco masterpiece—admire the lobby even if you don't go up.
- → Express passes ($90+) aren't needed if you book online and go at opening or late night.
Afternoon
High Line + Chelsea Market
A 1.5-mile elevated park on old train tracks with Hudson River views and urban gardens, plus NYC's best food hall.
How to Do It:
- • Subway to 14th Street and enter the High Line at Gansevoort Street (southern entrance).
- • Walk north to 34th Street (full length, 1.5 miles, 45 min) or do a shorter section.
- • Stop at Chelsea Market (entrance below 16th Street High Line stairs) for lunch.
- • Sample: tacos at Los Tacos No. 1, lobster rolls, artisan donuts, Thai, Italian.
Tips
- → High Line is totally free and open year-round.
- → Summer weekends get packed—weekday mornings or evenings are quieter.
- → Chelsea Market can be a zoo at lunch—arrive before noon or after 2pm.
- → Budget $15–$25 for Chelsea Market lunch.
Evening
West Village Evening Walk
Picture-perfect streets that feel more like a village than Manhattan—the best place to say goodbye to NYC.
How to Do It:
- • Start at Washington Square Park (arch, fountain, street performers).
- • Wander west into the West Village: Bleecker Street (cafés, shops), Grove Court (hidden mews), Commerce Street (curved street).
- • Stop at Magnolia Bakery for cupcakes (tourist trap but quick), or skip the line and find a local café.
Tips
- → This is New York's most photogenic neighborhood—pure wandering bliss.
- → Friends apartment exterior is at Bedford & Grove if you care.
- → Saturday afternoons are packed—weekday evenings are quieter.
Farewell Dinner in the Village
End with a classic NYC dinner—bistro, Italian, or a legendary slice of pizza.
How to Do It:
- • Book a West Village bistro or Italian spot for a sit-down meal.
- • Or go casual: Joe's Pizza (Bleecker St) for NY's best slice, then drinks at a cozy wine bar.
- • Finish with a nightcap at Marie's Crisis (piano bar singalongs) or a jazz club.
Tips
- → Weekend dinner reservations should be made 1–2 weeks ahead.
- → Joe's Pizza is the classic—$3.50 per slice, fold it and eat standing.
- → The Village is safe to walk at night—stroll back to your hotel if it's nearby.
Arrival & Departure: Flights and Airport Transfers
Fly into JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), or Newark (EWR). For this 3-day itinerary, aim to arrive by early afternoon on Day 1 and depart on the morning of Day 4.
From JFK: AirTrain ($8.50) + subway ($2.90) ≈ $11–12, 60–75 min or Uber/taxi ($60–$80, 45–60 min). From LaGuardia: M60 bus + subway ($2.90, 45 min) or Uber/taxi ($40–$60, 30 min). Optional: Q70 LaGuardia Link bus is free, then pay $2.90 subway fare. From Newark: NJ Transit train ($15.25, 30 min) or Uber/taxi ($70–$100, 45 min).
Get a MetroCard or use contactless payment (tap credit card/phone) on subway/buses—$2.90 per ride. If using OMNY contactless, fares automatically cap at $34 per rolling 7-day period (after 12 paid rides, the rest of the week is free). Weekly unlimited MetroCard is also $34.
Where to Stay for 3 Days in NYC
For a short 3-day trip, location matters more than room size. Stay in Manhattan for easy access to this itinerary: Midtown (near Central Park, Times Square), Upper West Side (near the Met, residential), Lower Manhattan (Financial District, Battery Park), or Chelsea/Greenwich Village (trendy, great restaurants).
Budget option: Long Island City (Queens) or Williamsburg (Brooklyn)—one subway stop from Manhattan, 30–40% cheaper hotels, and a more local vibe.
Avoid: Far outer boroughs with poor subway access. Saving $30/night isn't worth adding 90 minutes of daily commuting.
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About This Guide
Written by: Jan Křenek
Independent developer and travel data analyst based in Prague. 35+ countries visited across Europe and Asia, 8+ years analyzing flight routes, accommodation prices, and seasonal weather patterns.
Published: November 20, 2025
Updated: November 20, 2025
Data Sources: Official tourism boards and visitor guides • GetYourGuide and Viator activity data • Booking.com and Numbeo pricing data • Google Maps reviews and ratings
Methodology: This guide combines historical climate data, current tourism patterns, and real traveler budgets to provide accurate, actionable recommendations for New York City.