NEW YORK CITY 5-DAY ITINERARY

Five days in New York City is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of Manhattan, explore different neighborhoods, and see a Broadway show. My favorite time to visit NYC is in the Fall for the weather and the month of December for Christmas festivities.

OVERVIEW OF OUR 5-DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: The Met, Central Park & Midtown
Day 2: Empire State Building, Chelsea Market, Little Island, The High Line, Vessel, & The Edge
Day 3: Staten Island Ferry, Wall Street, 9/11 Memorial Museum, One World Observatory
Day 4: Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, Coney Island or Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Day 5: SoHo or Greenwich Village, Time Square & Broadway Shows

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Visiting during the Christmas season? Click here.

DAY 1

Spend the morning visiting one of these great NYC museums:

The Met
Natural History Museum
Guggenheim Museum
The Museum of Modern Art
TIP: Visit the Neue Galerie to see Gustav Klimt’s famous painting “The Woman In Gold”. There was a movie about the true story of Mary Altmann, who fought the government of Austria to reclaim Gustav Klimt’s iconic painting.

Because of our daughter’s age differences, I took Cicily to the Natural History Museum and Greg took Charlotte to The Met. The Met is one of the largest museums in the world, so you won’t be able to see it all in one visit. My advice is to pick a few sections that sound the most interesting to you and focus on those areas.

Rather than tackling the Met on your own, you can book a tour of the Met with a tour guide: Get your tickets here: NYC: Best of the Metropolitan Museum Guided Tour

Cicily & I loved the Natural History Museum, which is the perfect choice when traveling with children. Get your tickets here: Natural History Museum Tickets

Central Park- Spend part of the afternoon exploring Central Park. You’ll find self-serve rental bikes throughout the park.

We booked a bike tour through Central Park. I’ve visited Central Park many times but learned so much on this tour and saw parts of the park I had never seen.
Here’s the tour we booked: Guided Bike Tour of Central Park New York City

Strawberry Fields, located near Central Park West. This is a tribute to the late Beatle, John Lennon

TIP: Magnolia Bakery has a location near Central Park (1794 Broadway). They are famous for their red velvet cupcakes and banana pudding.

TIP: The original Levain Bakery is near Central Park (167 W 74th St). My favorite is the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookie.

ToP THINGS TO SEE IN CENTRAL PARK

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
Bow Bridge
Literary Walk
Bethesda Terrace & Fountain
Strawberry Fields & Dakota Building
The Lake
Shakespeare Garden
Belvedere Castle
Conservatory Garden
The Obelisk
Alice in Wonderland statue
The Met
The Ramble

What to do IN CENTRAL PARK

Picnic at Sheep Meadow
Rent a bike
Ice or roller skate at Wollman Rink
Go for a run
Take a carriage ride
Watch a free concert or play
Rent a boat at The Lake
Watch the sailboats at Conservatory Water
Take a bike tour
Central Park Zoo
Central Park Carousel

Spend the rest of the day exploring Midtown Manhattan:

The Plaza- The Plaza is one of NYC's most luxurious hotels. Unfortunately, you can’t enter the hotel lobby unless you are a guest or have reservations for Afternoon Tea at The Palm Court. Afternoon Tea is served Thursday through Monday, 10:30-4:00 pm.
Go down Fifth Avenue to experience one of the best shopping streets in the world.
Visit the iconic Tiffany’s on Fifth Ave. for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, at the Blue Box Cafe. They serve breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Reservations can be made thirty days out. As it gets closer to the date, they’ll release more tables. Don’t miss Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress on the 5th floor.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral- One of the most beautiful Cathedrals in the United States, and so big it takes up an entire city block. For a cool experience, stop in for Mass: Saturdays at 4:30. Sundays at 8:30 am, 10:30 am & 5:00 pm.
Rockefeller Center- Don’t miss the iconic rink. You can also see views from the Top of the Rock, visit NBC Studios, or check out the TODAY Show live broadcast in Rockefeller Center.
Meet a Radio City Rockette and take this behind-the-scenes tour of Manhattan’s legendary Radio City Music Hall:

Buy tickets here: Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour

Grand Central Terminal- One of the busiest train stations in the world. Check out the Main Concourse Ceiling and the Largest Tiffany Glass Clock.
TIP: Don’t leave Grand Central Terminal without trying doughnuts from Doughnut Plant. The Coconut creme and Crème Brûlée are so good!
TIP: There are fantastic views directly outside the Grand Central Terminal of the Chrysler Building.
The New York Public Library- Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. The second-largest library in the United States and the third-largest in the world. You might recognize this building from the movie Ghostbusters, but it's been featured in over 30 Hollywood movies. Once inside look for the Rose Reading Room. There are free tours available, one focuses on the building, and the other on the exhibition.
Bryant Park- Directly behind the New York Public Library is Bryant Park, a perfect spot to relax and rest your feet for a few minutes. Kids will enjoy the Carousel and outdoor games. If you visit during the Christmas Season they have ice skating, a Christmas tree, and a Christmas Market.
Tip: Near Bryant Park is Angelina Paris, my favorite spot for hot chocolate, and The Mont Blanc, a cake made of chestnut cream.
End your day at Summit One Vanderbilt- One Vanderbilt is the fourth tallest building in Manhattan. The top three levels of One Vanderbilt is Summit. They have art installations, mirrored rooms, glass sky boxes, and a glass elevator. The best time to visit is just before sunset.

Get tickets here: SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Experience Ticket

DAY 2

Ellen’s Stardust Diner- We started our day with breakfast and the world-famous singing waiters at Ellen’s Stardust Diner. Every 2 minutes you'll hear a different server belt out a classic Broadway hit. We loved the Stardust Diner… Go earlier to avoid long lines.

Empire State Building- Take the subway or Uber to the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building has been featured in over 250 TV shows and movies (Some people prefer views from Top of the Rock because you can see the Empire State Building). For my first visit to NYC, I wouldn’t have missed it.

If you visit get the skip-the-line ticket in advance here: Empire State Building Tickets

Macy’s Herald Square- Nearby is Macy’s flagship store, a popular shopping destination. It’s known for its Thanksgiving Day Parade, holiday window displays, and visits with Santa.
TIP: Macy’s usually has sales on their beautiful NYC Christmas ornaments during the holidays.
TIP: Get a photo of the Empire State Building in front of Macy’s.
Chelsea Market- Take the subway or Uber to Chelsea Market for lunch. They have great restaurants/food stalls that sell food from around the world. They also have boutique shops. Walk to the back of Chelsea Market to reach The High Line.
Tip: One of our favorite taco shops is Los Tacos No. 1, in Chelsea Market.

Little Island- Before you take the High Line visit the Artificial Island park, Little Island. Across the street from the Chelsea Market. You'll get a great view of downtown Manhattan and the Hudson River. Worth a visit it’s so unique!

The Edge. Picture taken from The High Line

The High Line- Once a railroad track and now a park. It's one of my favorite walks, about a mile and a half long. You’ll pass murals and tons of photo-worthy spots. It will end at Hudson Yards. It took us about half an hour to walk from Chelsea Market.
Hudson Yards- Come here for shopping, restaurants, and amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.
The Edge is known as one of the best Sky Decks in NYC! It’s the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. Ride the elevator to the 100th floor, and step out on a protruding glass floor.
Get your tickets here: Edge Observation Deck Admission Ticket
Vessel- In Hudson Yards. We loved seeing the Vessel at night, the lights were so cool. Access to the ground-level base is free.

TIP: If you visit New York around the holidays, Hudson Yards has a great light display you won’t want to miss.

DAY 3

Staten Island Ferry- Take the Staten Island Ferry for free views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Ferries leave every 30 minutes and are about a 25-minute ride. Sit outside in the back for great views. Once on Staten Island, you’ll need to exit the ferry and stand in line for the ferry going back. The entire round trip will take you about an hour.
If you’re traveling with children:

The SeaGlass Carousel- Just a short walk from the Staten Island Ferry.
Battery Playscape- Cicily loved this park!

Things to see around Wall Street:
Charging Bull- Symbol of financial optimism & prosperity. On the north end of Bowling Green, near the intersection of Broadway and Morris Street.
Fearless Girl- Four-foot sculpture promoting female empowerment. On Broad Street opposite the New York Stock Exchange.
Federal Hall- This is the spot where George Washington was sworn in as President & where the first US Congress was held.
Trinity Church- Hamilton fans: The founding father is buried at Trinity Church cemetery.

9/11 Memorial Plaza- This is where the World Trade Center Twin Towers once stood. Visit the beautiful reflecting pools with the names of those who lost their lives on 9/11.
9/11 Memorial Museum- Learn about the story of 9/11 through a series of exhibits.

Get tickets here: 9/11 Memorial Museum Admission Ticket

One World Observatory- See the New York City skyline from the highest point in the city! The building is part of the World Trade Center, the entrance is just steps from the 9/11 Memorial Plaza.

Get One World Observatory Tickets here:

You can buy a combo ticket for Ground Zero, 9/11 Memorial Museum, and One World Observatory here:

Dining at OWO- One Dine is an upscale restaurant, reservations are recommended. One Cafe has Italian coffee & small treats. One Mix is an elegant bar that offers beautiful views. All three of these are located on floor 101 and only accessible to guests with tickets to the observatory.
Oculus- A shopping mall, subway stop & memorial. Worth a quick look inside, the architecture is amazing and it’s free! When we were there they had food trucks in the Oculus Plaza.

DAY 4

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge- It’s 1.1 miles and takes about an hour with all the stops. The earlier you go the fewer people you’ll have in your pictures.
Get pictures at Washington St. & Front St.
Pebble Beach- For views of Manhattan
Jane’s Carousel- Built in 1922
Lunch at Time Out Market- 24 restaurants. Don’t miss the 5th-floor rooftop terrace for views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the lower Manhattan skyline.
Brooklyn Flea- Brooklyn’s largest flea market is full of interesting finds. Open every Saturday & Sunday.

OPTIONS:
You have two options for the rest of your day. You can make your way to Coney Island or go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. My girls picked option 1.

Option 1: Coney Island:
Take the subway from DUMBO to Coney Island, it took us about half an hour to get there.
Coney Island Boardwalk- The Coney Island Boardwalk is open year-round. Food stands and amusement park rides line the historic boardwalk as well as unique street performers. Multiple amusement parks operate at Coney Island including Luna Park and Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.
Luna Park- Fun rides…🎢 Check out the Cyclone roller coaster built in 1927. It’s Coney Island's most iconic ride.
Nathan’s Original Restaurant- 🌭You can't go to Coney Island without seeing the massive Nathan's Famous hot dog restaurant. Nathan's started in Coney Island in 1916.

Option 2:

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island:
You can visit just the Statue of Liberty or you can visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island together as a round-trip excursion from Manhattan. At the Statue of Liberty, you can climb the base of the statue or go all the way to the crown. Make sure you get tickets in advance. Not all tickets include the crown.
Ellis Island was an immigrant inspection station and approximately 12 million immigrants were processed here between 1905 and 1954. I was at Ellis Island during a swearing-in ceremony for new citizens and it was such a cool experience! You will take a ferry from Battery Park to Liberty Island. After seeing the Statue of Liberty, catch the next ferry to Ellis Island and tour this island. Then take a ferry back to Battery Park. It will take about 4 hours.

Get tickets in advance here: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

DAY 5

Start your day visiting one of these beautiful neighborhoods:

Option 1:

SoHo- This is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in New York City. It has boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants, and gets its name from its location, “South of Houston Street”. Broadway between Canal Street & Houston are chain stores like H&M, Uniqlo, etc. Venture off to smaller streets like Sullivan, West Broadway, and Thomson to see the real charm of Soho. You'll find our favorite vintage store, Vintage Twin along this street (Broadway and E. Houston).
Visit the Tenement Museum for a look into what life was like for low-income New Yorkers and immigrants in the early 20th century.
Option 2:
Greenwich Village: Greenwich Village just might be Manhattan's prettiest neighborhood. I loved strolling down Bleecker Street.
Tip: Get cookies at Levain Bakery, 340 Lafayette St.

Carrie Bradshaw’s infamous Brownstone apartment (Sex and the City) is located at 64 Perry Street. This street is so dreamy and worth a stop even if you're not a Sex and the City fan.

Friends apartment- If you’re a fan of the classic sitcom, you’ve got to make a quick stop here: 90 Bedford St.

Washington Square- See the famous arch and the beautiful fountain! This is the center of NYU student life, the campus buildings surround the square.

Flatiron Building- Next make your way to the Flatiron building. It’s a 20-minute walk or a quick Uber ride. One of New York’s most photographed buildings. Get the iconic photo with the big gold clock!
Eat at Eataly. It’s across the street from the Flatiron Building. An Italian food hall, with a variety of restaurants, food and beverage counters, bakery, retail items, and a cooking school.
Traveling with children?
Harry Potter Store- Experience the Wizarding World, a haven for Harry Potter fans. We loved this store!
Strand Bookstore- For book lovers! On the corner of 12th and Broadway, boasting 18 miles of books. This giant bookstore sells everything from new to used books and rare books. Charlotte was in heaven!

Time Square

If you’ve never been to New York, Times Square is a must. From giant billboards to the hustle and bustle, there is something magical inside all of the chaos!

Here are some of the best things to do with kids in Times Square:

Visit the M&M World Store
Disney Store
Madame Tussauds
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Gulliver’s Gate: A miniature world exhibition featuring detailed models of iconic landmarks from around the globe.
National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Lego Store

Broadway Show

Celebrate your final evening on Broadway! I bought our discounted tickets to our Broadway Show on the app Today Tix. Once you get the app, an email promotion code offers an extra $20.00 off. I didn’t want to spend time in line at TKTS (Last-minute discount tickets to Broadway Shows). However, the TKTS in Lincoln Center doesn’t have as long of wait times as the Times Square location. Many Broadway theaters offer family-friendly shows, such as “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” and “Wicked”.

NYC FOOD BUCKET LIST

•Los Tacos No. 1
•Balthazar
•Katz’s Deli (Home of “I’ll have what she’s having”)😆
•Momofuku Noodle Bar
•Buvette- Brunch
•Angelina Paris
•Ellen’s Stardust Diner- Singing servers
•Vanessa’s Dumpling House (China Town)- Spicy beef fried dumplings 😋
•John’s Pizza
•Artichoke Basille’s Pizza
•Black Tap- Burgers & dessert
•Carmine’s Italian Restaurant
•The Halal Guys- Middle Eastern food stand
•Empanada Mama

Bagels:
•Absolute Bagels
•Kossar’s Bagels
•Ess-a-Bagel.

Hotdog:
•Grays Papaya

Dessert:
•Magnolia Bakery- Banana pudding
•Junior’s Restaurant & Bakery- Yummy burgers & Cheesecake
•Levain Bakery- Chocolate pb chip
•Amorino Gelato
•Angelina Bakery NYC
•Doughnut Plant- Crème Brûlée
•Serendipity 3- Frozen Hot Chocolate 😋
•Dominique Ansel Bakery- Frozen S’more on a stick

Public Markets:
•Time Out Market New York in Dumbo- 24 Restaurants
•Chelsea Market- The most famous food market in NYC
•Eataly- Italian food & products

TIP: Get the Rome2Rio App. It will show you the quickest, cheapest, and most convenient transportation options.

WHERE TO STAY IN NEW YORK CITY

LUXURY HOTELS IN MIDTOWN/TIMES SQUARE/CENTRAL PARK:

The Knickerbocker Hotel- Glamorous European luxury, Times Square

Lotte New York Palace- Iconic landmark hotel with rich history & dramatic interiors, great Midtown location.

The Muse New York- Boutique luxury, hip vibe, located in the theatre district

The Plaza- The New York hotel to see and be seen, Central Park

JW Marriott Essex House- Great service and views of Central Park

MID-RANGE HOTELS IN MIDTOWN/TIMES SQUARE:

Riu Plaza Manhattan Time Square- Trendy, family-friendly, free breakfast

MOXY NYC Times Square- Trendy boutique hotel in Midtown

The Made Hotel- High-end rooms: Concrete ceilings, bohemian fabrics, floor-to-ceiling windows, near the Empire State Building.

BUDGET HOTELS IN MID-TOWN/TIMES SQUARE:

Pod 51- Minimalist room, Midtown East

Pod 39- Visit their rooftop bar for views, Murray Hill

Pod Time Square- Time Square