Exploring New York
New York is densely packed with sights and sounds. Whether you are visiting for a weekend or a week, it helps to strategize your sightseeing to maximize your time here. Here are ideas for two and four days of exploring the city.
Two Days in New York
Day 1
Enjoy the view from the Statue of Liberty, then saunter through Lower Manhattan, snapping photos of Brooklyn Bridge. Have lunch in South Street Seaport.
Skyscrapers in Lower Manhattan, tower over the streets below.
Stroll through Central Park before perusing the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Day 2
Enjoy panoramic skyline views from atop the Empire State Building, followed by a walk up Fifth Avenue, making stops at its famous department stores.
Tour the American Museum of Natural History, before topping off your visit amid the flashing lights of Times Square and the Theater District.
Four Days in New York
Day 1
Get the lay of the land from atop the Empire State Building. Afterwards, window-shop along Fifth Avenue. You’ll pass the famous stone lions fronting the New York Public Library, then pop into Grand Central Terminal before taking a twirl through Rockefeller Center.
Facade of Grand Central Terminal, topped by a 13-ft- (4-m-) high clock.
Explore the superlative collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, followed by a relaxing walk through Central Park. The nearby Guggenheim Museum also makes for an easy and fascinating stop-in.
Day 2
Take the ferry (book ahead) to greet the morning on Ellis Island, followed by views from the crown of the Statue of Liberty.
Upon returning to Manhattan, walk through Battery Park to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. Afterwards, head through Lower Manhattan, passing City Hall Park and the Brooklyn Bridge. Hop on the subway or walk to the Lower East Side and East Village for dinner and cocktails.
City Hall Park blooms, with City Hall and the Municipal Building among the foliage.
Day 3
Arrive early at the American Museum of Natural History for a morning of exploration, plus a visit to the Rose Center for Earth and Space.
Walk through the Upper West Side to the Lincoln Center, then head to Times Square and the Theater District. Nab tickets to a Broadway show at the TKTS booth.
Day 4
Explore the newest park, the High Line. Refuel at the Chelsea Market with artisanal cheeses and fresh baked goods.
Explore Greenwich Village, passing Washington Square Park on the way to SoHo and TriBeCa for local cuisine and cocktails.