Five days is the ideal length for a first stay in New York: enough to see Manhattan's must-sees and get a taste of Brooklyn, without rushing. Here is our programme.
Day 1: Midtown
Dive into the energy of Times Square, then walk up Fifth Avenue to St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Rockefeller Center. At sunset, go up the Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building for the city view. In the evening, a Broadway show.
Day 2: the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan
Take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, gateway for millions of immigrants. Back in Manhattan, visit the 9/11 Memorial and Wall Street, then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.
Day 3: Central Park and the museums
Spend the morning cycling or walking in Central Park, then the afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Natural History Museum. Modern art lovers will prefer MoMA or the Guggenheim.
Day 4: the High Line and the neighbourhoods
Walk the High Line, a former railway turned elevated park, to Chelsea Market and Hudson Yards. Carry on through Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown and Little Italy.
Day 5: Brooklyn or Harlem
Finish with Williamsburg and its shops, or Harlem and a Sunday gospel service.
Practical tips
- The subway runs 24/7 and you can pay directly with a contactless bank card.
- An attraction pass can save money if you visit many paid sights.
- Spring, autumn and the Christmas period are the most pleasant.
- Don't forget your ESTA before you go.
New York independently or in an escorted small group, or combined with Quebec and Washington: our specialist builds your stay.
