Yellow Cabs are synonymous in New York and you will see many during a your New York 3 day itinerary

Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today – New York, New York. Are you looking for the perfect three-day itinerary in the city that never sleeps? Well look no further, my guide to New York City will ensure you see the top attractions, and even get a taste for some more local favourites in a mere three days – crazy right!. So come on this New York 3 day itinerary for first timers with me.

Day 1

Start your first day in New York on the Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus. Yeah, I know it is very touristy. When I visit a new city for the very first time I like to go on this bus. It takes me to all the best spots to see, provides a commentary of why I should see it and lets me hop on and off the bus so I can see it for myself. Plus if you have limited time in a city, they are great to help you discover the city. And New York City has a great hop off hop on sightseeing bus. I usually do the full loop first, then I can decide exactly what I want to explore more.

There are different tickets available for one or two days of sightseeing. Book your ticket for New York’s Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour here. Or perhaps you’d like to kick off your 3 day New York itinerary with a helicopter ride over New York’s iconic sites. Who wouldn’t want to be face-to-face with the Statue of liberty! Book your helicopter ride over New York here.

Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty

After the hop on hop off tour of the big apple, head to Battery Park on the south western corner of Manhattan. If feeling peckish, consider a visit to the Blue Stone Lane Café in Battery Park before taking the short ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty. I would advise eating first as you can easily spend 3 hours or so at the Statue of Liberty. Particularly if you want to take the elevator to the top. Or walk to the observation deck in the pedestal and then take the spiral staircase to the observation platform in the statue’s crown.

The Statue of Liberty, formally Liberty Enlightening the World is a statue commemorating the friendship of the peoples of the United States of America and France. Standing 305 feet (93 metres) high she holds a flame in the right hand and a tablet bearing the date of the Declaration of Independence (4 July 1776) in the left hand. She is perhaps the most iconic statue in the world. Definitely a symbol of New York City, and not to be missed.

While there is a cheap commuter ferry that goes by the Statue of Liberty, I recommend the $25 tourist ferry if you can afford it. This ferry will drop you off on Liberty Island, take you to Ellis Island, and back to Battery Park when you’re done. You will be able to get better pictures and more historical facts. There are also plenty of ferries that will take you for a cruise around the island. But if you want to get off on the island, ensure you book the right tour.

You can either book your ferry directly with Statue Cruises or check out these tours:

1 hour sightseeing cruise around the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Statue of Liberty with Ellis Island with Ferry
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island 3 hour guided tour

Wall Street

Battery Park is located right by Wall Street, which is an eight-block long street in the Financial District in New York City. The term ‘Wall Street’ has become synonymous for the financial markets of the US as a whole. And is home to the worlds two largest stock exchanges – the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. There are also many brokerage firms, banking headquarters and skyscrapers containing financial institutions. If you love financial stuff, you will love visiting Wall Street. Don’t forget to snap a pic at the famous Charging Bull as you make your way to the 9/11 memorial.

You can visit Wall Street on a guided tour to learn all about this financial district in New York. A tour can take around 75 minutes or so. You can book your Wall Street tour here.

9/11 Memorial and Museum

9/11 Memorial is a sombre place

At the 9/11 Memorial and Museum learn more about 9/11, an event that shaped history in New York, the US, and beyond. The outside memorial pays homage to the lives lost while the indoor museum is an excellent place to learn more. I think we all remember where we were when 9/11 occurred – that’s if you were old enough! This place is now a fitting memorial and it is an easy place to spend a few hours. You can take a moment of quiet at the twin reflecting pools memorial. Here, the names of every person who died in the attack are inscribed.

At the museum, you will learn more about that fateful day and see recovered artefacts from the day. It can be a very emotional place but well worth the visit.

The location of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is 180 Greenwich Street. It is the former site of the World Trade Centre Twin Towers. The 9/11 Memorial is free and open daily from 7.30am to 9pm but there is a cost to go into the museum. Click here to book a timed entrance ticket into the 9/11 Memorial and Museum here.

One World Trade Center

Near the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is the new One World Trade Centre. It is currently the tallest building in the USA and the 6th tallest in the world. You can journey to the observatory on the 100th floor in less than a minute. From the observatory you will get breathtaking 360-degree views of New York City and beyond. You could go up this now or save seeing the views from the Empire State Building, which is on the list to visit later today or tomorrow morning if you don’t have time today. If you want to go up the One World Observatory click here to book your ticket.

Then take the subway to Greenwich Village. 

Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village is a great place to experience New York City like a local. It is located on the west side of town in New York City’s borough of Manhattan. It has become known as the Bohemian Capital of New York City where many artists and people with unconventional lifestyles enjoy living! And why not, there are many tree-lined streets and at its heart is Washington Square Park where you can enjoy the 1892-built Arch and mingle with locals around the central plaza. Take a stroll down Bleecker Street, an iconic walk to find local restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, live music, Jazz clubs, Off-Broadway Theatres and shops. 

Greenwich Village is a fun place to view Federalist-style architecture like the Grove Court. And if you’re a Friends fan, you will want to snap a pic outside the Friends apartment building on 90 Bedford Street. If you’re a Sex and the City Fan, the outside of Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment is also in Greenwich Village on 64 Perry St. Or, try Greenwich Mongolia Bakery, another iconic backdrop from the TV show. If you don’t have time to see these iconic TV show spots now, you can do this on day 3 of your visit to New York.

Empire State Building

Look Up!

After you stroll through Greenwich Village, you have a decision to make. If it’s a clear night, you might want to catch the sunset from atop the Empire State Building which is a 102 storey, Art Deco skyscraper. It is so tall that you need to change lifts to reach the top. You may remember the building from one of the 250 TV shows it has been featured in. Or seen King Kong hanging off it, or in the romcom movie ‘When Harry Met Sally’.

If the weather is clear, you will receive fabulous views over New York City. You may want to enjoy a romantic dinner in the building at the State Grill and Bar. Perhaps find another restaurant nearby if you’re on a budget. If you plan to go up the Rockefeller Building tomorrow (cause you get great views up there too), you might want to forgo this experience now. 

The Empire State Building is open from 8am to 2am for all those romantic souls who want to see NYC at night. And it is why I have included it in this 3 day New York itinerary now. Click here to book your ski the line ticket to the Empire State Building Observation Deck.

But wait, there is still more to see on your visit to the Big Apple. End your first day in New York City with a visit to Times Square.

Times Square

Walk around vibrant Times Square

A trip to New York is not a trip to New York unless you visit the iconic Times Square. It is one of the world’s busiest pedestrian areas and is the hub for the Broadway Theatre District. Maybe enjoy a late meal or drink in one of the many restaurants and bars open in the city that never sleeps! Or perhaps just walk around this vibrant area checking out the Times Square Billboard while taking in the atmosphere.

And so ends your first day in New York City.

Day 2

Start Day 2 on this 3 day New York at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)

Grab breakfast on the way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and enjoy it classic New York style on the steps of the MET. If you’re a Gossip Girl fan (and who isn’t), this was also Blair Waldorf’s favourite meet-up. If you want to see more Gossip Girl iconic spots book onto a Gossip Girl tour taking you to filming location sites in their elite Upper East Side playground. Click here to book a 3 hour Gossip Girl Tour.

Back to the MET …. as the second-largest museum globally, the MET houses some of the most famous art pieces in the world. With over two million works of art, the collection ranges from ancient  to contemporary. The museum is enormous, plan out what you want to see in advance. It’s a bit of a maze inside so it’s advisable to download the Met’s phone app to guide you around. The gift shop is highly rated and a great place to find unique and artsy souvenirs to bring back home. Click here to book a tour of the MET. If not keen on museums, head over to Central Park.

Central Park

Get some exercise in Central Park 

Central Park is located between the Upper West and Upper Set Sides of Manhattan. The park covers some 843 acres, and is a great place to get some exercise or people-watch. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux it has influenced the development of urban parks throughout the USA. Regarded as a masterpiece of landscape architecture, it is a park for all seasons. In winter you can ice skate on the lakes and have snow ball flights while in summer you can fly kites and have boat races on the many ponds.

Central Park is open daily from 6am to 1am and has various entrances to enter from. And there are plenty of things to see and do in Central Park. I suggest you get a map of the park as it is huge and you can spend a few hours here wondering around. Some of the best things to see in New York Central Park include:

• Bethesda Fountain is a mid-19^th century American Gothic and Romanesque architectural creation, and a wonderful place to people watch.
• You can rent a rowboat from Loeb Boathouse in the summer. The boathouse also has a restaurant offering casual and formal meals both dine in or take away.
• If you want to get some exercise, the park has a walking route 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and takes about 2 hours to walk, but that depends on how slow or fast you want to walk. Perhaps start at The Mall where you find the last remaining stands of American Elm trees in North America.
• Or take a walk around Central Park Zoo to see the many animals. Note, there is an entrance fee to the zoo. Not feeling like walking, why not take a carriage ride through the park. Click here to book your Central Park Horse Carriage Ride here.
• Perhaps take a ride on the Central Park Carousel. If visiting New York with kids, they will certainly love a ride on one of the glorious horses on the carousel!
• Visit Strawberry Fields a 2.5 acre landscaped area in Central Park that pays tribute to the late Beatle, John Lennon. Named after the song, Strawberry Fields, it is located on the West Side of the park between 71st/72nd Streets. The Dakota Building where John Lennon lived, occupies the western sidewalk of Central Park West – near 72nd Street.
• The Pond and Gapstow Bridge is one of Central Park’s iconic bridges offering great photo views around the park with New York City behind. You can find the Gapstow Bridge at 62nd street in Central Park.

American Museum of Natural History

Probably the most famous and well-known museums in New York, the American Museum of Natural History, is located on the west side of Central Park. You will know it as the museum featured in the movie ‘Night in the Museum’. The museum is home to the greatest dinosaur fossil collection in the world as well as plenty of other exhibits. You could spend a few hours here learning about the natural history of several American regions. Click here to book your entry ticket for the American Museum of Natural History.

Rockefeller Center

Rockerfeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering an area of 22 acres found between 48th and 51st Streets. In the wintertime, rent skates and go skating around the giant Christmas tree. In summer, enjoy an outdoor coffee shop. If you want views of the city with the Empire State Building, visit the 70th floor of the Rockefeller Center and enjoy the panoramic views from the famous Top of the Rock observation deck. Here the views over NYC are superb. Click here to purchase your ticket to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck.

St Patrick’s Cathedral

After visiting the Rock, marvel at the architecture of St Patrick’s Cathedral. Go inside to view the beautiful stained-glass windows and marble interior of arguably one of New York City’s most beautiful churches. 

New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is an 8-minute walk from St Patrick’s and the place that inspired the creation of Winnie the Pooh. Geek out in the kid’s section if you’re a fan, and enjoy the beautiful architecture inside and out of this beautiful building.

Times Square

For your second night in New York City, end it in Times Square. Being the hub for the Broadway Theatre District why not book to see one of the many fabulous shows on Broadway. The Broadway theatre district has over 41 theatres with most of them being within walking distance of Times Square. Ticket prices vary depending on what show you choose to see. You can turn up at a theatre to see if any tickets are available however, if you have your heart set on a particular show, I would buy a ticket in advance. Check out Broadway for tickets.

Day 3

After breakfast first stop is Grand Central Station,

Grand Central Station

One of the busiest train stations in the world is New York’s Grand Central Station. It is quite an extraordinary place to visit as it is very large, actually spread over 49 acres and has 44 platforms and 67 tracks. Wow – train spotters will just love this place! One of the highlights is the clock above the information booth. The station can be found at 89 East and 42nd street and is open daily from 5.30am to 2am. It is free to enter but if you want to ride on the trains you will need a ticket. If you want to learn more about the Grand Central Station you can go on a tour. Click here to purchase a ‘Secrets of Grand Central Station Tour‘.

Shop Till You Drop

End your 3 day New Itinerary with some shopping. Only a 10 minute walk or so away from Grand Central Station are some of the famous iconic shopping streets New York is known for. Streets such as Fifth Avenue where you will find flagship high-end designer stores of Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Armani and so many more. If you love designer gear, then you will be in heaven. Other streets nearby are Madison Avenue, Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue – get your map out and get shopping!

Walk the Highline

If you don’t feel like shopping why not go for a walk along the Highline. Once an elevated rail line that has been turned into a lovely public park / walkway. Only 1.45 miles long (2.3km) there are gardens, artworks, food vendors and fabulous views of the New York skyline and the Hudson River. What a fabulous way to end your 3 days in New York.

Plan Your NYC Visit

Now you know all the best things to see and do in New York in a 3 day visit to New York, it is time to start planning your visit.

Best time to Visit New York

The best time to visit New York is anytime. Each season offers visitors plenty of reasons to visit the city that never sleeps. Summers can be hot, while winters very cold with plenty of snow. There are seasonal things to enjoy, like the Macey’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Christmas holiday time with plenty of lights and Christmas cheer. Spring is a nice time to visit New York, as is Autumn when there is a little crispness in the air. If you are on a budget Spring and Autumn may suit with cheaper hotel rates.

How to get around New York

Travel around New York like a local – on the Subway. The subway system is the main public transportation system in New York. Some 5.5 million people use it on any given weekday. It is one of the oldest and largest public transportation systems in the world. As a tourist, it is a great way to get around to the places you want to see and experience. Check out the New York Subway Guide for a map and information on riding the Subway.

If you are short for time, a great way to discover New York is to go on a tour such as the Big Bus Hop On Hop Off tour.

Attraction Passes

Attraction passes are a great way to save some money on NYC attractions. Once you know which attractions you want to see you can work out which attraction card will suit your needs.

The New York CityPASS is a great option. It includes a visit to 5 top New York Attractions including the Empire State Building, the Museum of Natural History, the Top of the Rock Observation deck and a ride on Statue City Cruises ferry plus more. Click here to purchase a New York CityPASS.

Another options is the New York Go City Explorer Pass allowing a visit of up to 10 of 90 New York Attractions. You can browse the Go City app and decide which places to visit. Click here to purchase a New York Go City Explorer Pass.

Where to Stay in New York

New York City is a massive place and has a vast array of accommodation from budget to 5 star hotels. You have five different boroughs of where to choose to stay: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. So, what is the best area to stay in New York City for your visit? On your first visit to New York I would recommend staying somewhere central like around Times Square. Sound touristy? Yep, it is but it is great as it is central to many of New York City’s tourist attractions so you can walk to them or catch the subway. This is where I stayed, and I loved walking out the front door of my New York accommodation and being in the thick of it all! But you don’t have to stay around Times Square. There are other areas that are close to the main attractions, plus you can always jump on the New York subway to get around.

To be close to Central Park and other attractions like the American Museum of Natural History, Children’s Museum of Manhattan and Metropolitan Museum of Art, check out hotels on the Upper West Side. The Upper East Side is the ritziest neighbourhood in NYC and close to Madison Avenue for shopping. But it is easy to use the subway to get to other NYC areas.

To the east of Times Square is Midtown East. Staying here you are close to major tourist spots of Rockefeller Center, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Empire State Building, Grand Central Station and Radio City Music Hall. But it is easy to get the subway to here too. So now you know the area to stay in New York, here is a selection of places to stay during your New York 3 day itinerary:

If you are a solo traveller to New York City or travelling in a couple to New York City you may just want a bed in a hostel.
NI NYC Hostel is a ten minute walk to Central Park and very central to everything in this New York Itinerary.
The Jane Hotel Greenwich Village is a popular budget-friendly place with shared bathrooms.
Warwick New York is a historic 4-star hotel if you are looking for a little history.
After a little luxury check into The Langham.
If you are travelling with your family to NYC and are wanting a place to stay in New York with kids then consider the Times Square Hotel.

See the map following for more accommodation options.

What to Pack for 3 day NYC Trip

This NYC 3 day holiday involves a lot of walking, so top of your list for your 3 days in New York should be good walking shoes! It will depend on what season you are visiting New York as to what to pack. Packing for a trip to New York in summer will be different to packing for a trip to New York in winter. In general pack the following items:

1 & 2 Day New York Itinerary

If you don’t have 3 days to spend in New York, but 1 or 2 days, then you can still follow my 3 day New York itinerary – just reduce the number of things you want to see.

2 Day New York Itinerary

Leave day 3 off this itinerary and voila, you have a very activity packed 2 days in New York.

1 Day New York Itinerary

If you only have 1 day in New York I would suggest this itinerary:

• go on New York’s Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus.
• Take a trip over to see the Statue of Liberty
• Walk through Wall Street
• Go to the top of the Empire State Building for great views over New York
• Take a walk through Central Park
• End your day in Times Square

Final Words on this New York 3 Day Itinerary

New York City is such a vast and varied city that I’m sure you’ll want to come back for more after just three days. What are you most excited to see on your trip? Let me know in the comments below! Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today – New York, New York!

Where to next after New York? What about a road trip across the USA taking in Route 66 and ending in Los Angeles? Or visit one of the many other America cities. Perhaps you could stay longer by getting a job in a summer camp as a camp counselor.