Regardless of how lengthy your NYC journey is, it’s not possible to see all the things within the Big Apple in only one trip. New York City is full of museums, galleries, outlets, landmarks, parks, theaters, and a lot extra. When planning your NYC journey, you might be most likely questioning how lengthy to plan it for. I’ve discovered that 4 days in NYC is right – though you’ll positively need to take multiple New York City journey to go to all the major points of interest.
Whether you’re a first-time customer to NYC or have visited a number of occasions, you’ll need 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 need to swap across the days based mostly on working hours, climate, or different components.
We’ve obtained complimentary actions and resort stays in NYC over time, however have additionally paid our personal approach. This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks and a purchase order by one among these hyperlinks and the map could lead to a fee paid to us at no extra price to you. All opinions are my very own.
Agenda Ideas for 4 Days in NYC
If you might be 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 might be one of the best ways to economize For New York City, there are two choices:
The commonplace CityPASS permits you admission to 5 points of interest. These embody:
- The Empire State Building
- American Museum of Natural History
- The Top of the Rock Observation Deck or the Guggenheim Museum
- Ferry Access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island or a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum or the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
The C3, which can be a greater choice for 4 days in NYC, consists of any three of the next:
- The Empire State Building
- American Museum of Natural History
- The Top of the Rock Observation Deck
- The Guggenheim Museum
- Ferry Access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- City Cruises
- Edge at Hudson Yards
There’s additionally a C-All ticket which incorporates 10 of the perfect locations to go to in NYC. While it’s a fantastic choice for an extended journey, which may be an excessive amount of for 4 days in NYC,
You gained’t want to decide on which points of interest you intend to go to once you purchase the CityPASS. Keep in thoughts that some points of interest could require advance reservations or have restricted/altering working hours.
You’ll must analysis that prematurely earlier than touring to NYC to your journey. If potential, make these reservations prematurely – particularly if you’re solely going to be in NYC for a brief journey. Once you activate the go, you should have a restricted period of time to make use of it, so it’s not one thing which you can select to maintain for a number of separate visits.
There are so many issues to do in NYC with teenagers, in addition to with youthful youngsters, so you’ll be able to positively take multiple 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 numerous vantage factors from above, in addition to boat rides just like the Staten Island Ferry and the Circle Line. You may see it from Battery Park. We suggest visiting this well-known landmark in your first day.
But, if you wish to go proper to Liberty Island, there’s just one solution to get there – on a Statue Cruises ship. They are the one licensed ferry service to Liberty Island, and tickets are very affordable. They are additionally one of many choices on CityPASS.
Ferry tickets might also be accessible on the two departure factors: Castle Clinton in Battery Park or Liberty State Park in New Jersey. But these aren’t assured.
Keep in thoughts that these Statue Cruises tickets solely permit 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 prematurely. Keep in thoughts that the crown can solely be accessed by climbing 162 stairs – there isn’t a elevator. So be sure 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 numerous 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 can purchase your tickets immediately from them.
Buy your tickets as quickly as you may have dates to your NYC journey. You should select the precise 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 choice to go to the crown to your ticket. It’s a ravishing view up there, and it’s such a novel expertise.
Ticket choices embody:
- General admission (ferry journey, entry to the Statue of Liberty grounds and museum, entry to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, and an audio tour)
- Pedestal reserve (consists of all the things typically admission plus entry to the pedestal)
- Crown reserve (consists of all the things within the pedestal reserve plus entry to the crown)
- Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour (consists of all the things within the common admission ticket, in addition to a ticket to the Ellis Island Hard Hat tour)
In common, you’ll spend at the very least a number of hours going to the Statue of Liberty. Because it’s a must to take a ferry to Liberty Island, it typically takes some time to recover from there. Expect lengthy strains, even with reservations.
You’ll additionally need 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. Although it was busy and chaotic, it was additionally one among our favourite issues we did on our journey.
Because of this, we’re solely together with the Statue of Liberty within the agenda for the day. You will most likely have loads of time within the night to do one thing else and will take into account having a pleasant meal after which stress-free and preparing for Day 2. Here are our suggestions for the greatest NYC eating places for youths.
Find the perfect resorts and click on to ebook immediately by way of this map (affiliate)
Day 2: Times Square, Broadway, and More
Get prepared for a busy day, as a result of day 2 consists of a variety of strolling! While it’s also possible to 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 at the present time for one once you’ll have some good climate to discover town. You can begin anyplace, relying on the place you might be staying.
On at the present time, we suggest you go to the next spots:
- Times Square – it is a must-see, particularly if you’re a first-time customer to NYC. It’s positively among the best locations to see within the metropolis.
- Bryant Park – through the winter months, there’s a stunning winter village, together with meals kiosks, outlets, and an ice skating rink
- Rockefeller Center – take into account buying a ticket to the Top of the Rock to get stunning views of town, and don’t miss strolling round Rockefeller Plaza.
- Radio City Music Hall – is a ravishing constructing to see, even when you don’t go in to see a present
- Empire State Building – 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
Wondering when you ought to go to the Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building? You most likely gained’t must do each, however each are choices on the CityPASS. Read our submit that will help you determine which is the best choice to your journey.
You may finish at the present time by seeing the Broadway present of your alternative. For extra widespread exhibits, you’ll need to buy your tickets effectively prematurely to make sure availability. But, if you’re extra versatile, you will get a fantastic deal on the TKTS sales space in Times Square. Visit once they open for the best ticket availability.
Most Broadway exhibits are darkish on Mondays, so that you’ll need to verify the present schedules earlier than you intend your journey. Shows even have matinees – often one or two on the weekend and one on Wednesdays.
Day 3: American Museum of Natural History and Central Park
If you might be visiting NYC with youngsters, I positively suggest spending a while on the American Museum of Natural History. This massive metropolis museum is obtainable as a part of the CityPASS and does at the moment require reservations (by way of timed tickets) to attend. They are open Wednesdays by Sundays, though throughout faculty holidays they might be open extra days.
Like most museums, I’d suggest visiting early – round opening time. That approach, you’ll be capable of go to for so long as you’d like earlier than leaving – effectively earlier than the museum closes. You’ll need to make your timed admission reservations early, as a result of same-day reservations will not be accessible.
There are many displays within the museum, together with touring particular displays. We particularly cherished the assorted dinosaur displays. The museum additionally affords the Hayden Planetarium.
After touring the American Museum of Natural History, you’ll be able to head over to the world-famous Central Park. The park itself might be intimidating to tour as a result of it’s so massive.
When I visited with my youngsters, we’ve gone on to the Central Park Zoo. Fans 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 it’s also possible to embody 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 can be a present store, in addition to a restaurant.
After touring these two high points of interest in NYC, you’ll have a free night. Consider seeing one other Broadway present, having fun with a fantastic dinner, or stress-free in your resort room this night.
Day 4: Choose Your Own NYC Adventure
There are so many incredible issues to do in New York City 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 City.
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 Best of NYC and a Landmarks Tour. They run anyplace from 1-2.5 hours relying on the one you select and are positively well worth the money and time.
One of the perfect methods to get a superb overview of town is to take the Landmarks Tour. You’ll be capable of see well-known landmarks just like the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the High Line, One World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, DUMBO, South Street Seaport, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Williamsburg Bridge.
The Ride: This distinctive bus journey isn’t a conventional tour. Instead, it’s a full NYC expertise, the place you’ll be entertained all through the complete journey. We positively suggest doing this as one thing utterly distinctive.
The High Line: Walk by 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: If you occur to be within the space, stroll into this stunning, historic practice terminal. It’s completely price seeing, even when you aren’t taking a practice from Grand Central Station.
One World Observatory: this remark deck affords beautiful views of town, and can be a particular place within the historical past of NYC. There are a number of totally different ticket choices supplying you with numerous wait occasions to get to the highest.
The 9/11 Museum is adjoining to the One World Observatory in Lower Manhattan, however they’re particular person entities requiring separate tickets. You might positively mix a go to because of the proximity. You’ll even be inside strolling distance of the Financial District.
The Tenement Museum: I haven’t been to this distinctive museum on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, however have heard nice issues about it. There are a number of totally different guided tour choices, and also you’ll need to have a look at their web site prematurely to search out the tour that’s greatest for your loved ones. Tickets can and ought to be bought prematurely.
MoMath: My youngsters actually loved a go to to the Museum of Mathematics. It might be toured in just some hours and is near the Flatiron Building and Eataly NYC.
Some of our favourite resorts embody the next. Many are inside strolling distance of a few of these high points of interest:
Frequently Asked Questions
In many circumstances, sure, you must make reservations prematurely. You gained’t need to be disillusioned once you arrive.
I like visiting within the spring and fall months, though summer time and winter might be nice as effectively.
The TKTS sales space is a good choice when you don’t have a really particular present you need to see.
More assets: Read our New York City Travel Tips submit right here to learn resort, attraction, and restaurant evaluations, ideas, and concepts.
