New York City is one of our favorite places on the planet. We love its iconic attractions, diverse neighborhoods and perpetual feel good buzz. But we also know that planning to visit for the very first time can be incredibly overwhelming. How many days do you need? What should you prioritize? And how do you string together an efficient NYC itinerary?
In this guide we show you the best way to plan an unforgettable 4 days in New York City itinerary for a first visit, based on our extensive experiences in the Big Apple. We condense the very best of NYC into 4 action packed days, so simply follow the route and you won’t miss a thing.
Our Experience
So what do we know about NYC and why should you trust us to help with planning your itinerary?
Well, we haven’t just visited NYC once or twice, we’ve been more times than we can count. We often meet friends or family from England there and act as their personal tour guides. And to really put an expertise cherry on the top, we even spent a few months living there in early 2021. So you can rest assured we know the city inside and out as tourists, and we know where to take people when they visit. We’ve even published a popular travel guidebook for New York City which you can see in our store.
For us, an unforgettable first time NYC itinerary should involve plenty of walking, seeing lots of famous attractions and landmarks, eating classic New York food like bagels and pizzas, and being out from dawn to dark. This is how you truly get to experience the city, and it’s why our itinerary is jam packed with everything you could want to do. Read more about us.
Is 4 Days In NYC Enough?
You might be wondering if 4 days is enough time to visit New York City? Could do it in 3 days or maybe you should extend to 5 days?
Here’s why we think 4 days in NYC is the magic number:
3 days: You can see and do a lot with 3 days in New York if you’re willing to pack your schedule full of attractions, walking, early mornings and late nights. You’d keep costs down, but you’d have to compromise on attractions or neighborhoods and you’d definitely lose flexibility. It’s a good option if you’re visiting on a budget, otherwise stay the extra day.
4 days: We think 4 days is easily enough time to get ticks on your bucket list and see everything without overdoing it. You’d benefit from the perfect balance between total expenses, time you’d need to take off work, how much you’d be able to see and keeping up a reasonable pace.
5 days: – Obviously, staying in NYC for an extra day won’t hurt if you have the time and money spare. You’d be able to slow things down even more or add in a few extra attractions. But it would start getting very expensive and you’d need more time off work. We’re not sure if you really need that fifth day once you factor in exactly what you’d use it for and how much extra it would cost.
About Our Itinerary
We’re about to walk you through how we would spend 4 days in NYC if it were our first time based on all we know now. But first we want to explain a few things so the itinerary makes more sense:
- The areas around Times Square and Central Midtown are most popular for first time visitors to book hotels. So we’ll begin and end each day in the Midtown area.
- We cover 4 full days in New York, so ideally you’d arrive the evening before day 1 and leave the morning after day 4 for a total of 6 nights in a hotel.
- But if you’ll be arriving early in the morning you could potentially pick up day 1, or if you’ll be leaving on a late flight you could skip the last few things on day 4.
- Use our itinerary as a reference so you can see how to string attractions and neighborhoods together. But remember, you don’t have to follow it exactly.
- We’re including what we think is an achievable amount of things to do each day, but you can simply cut one or two attractions if it’s too much.
- We strongly advise you to book all attractions and any required time slots in advance before you visit. You have a lot to get through in 4 days, so there’s not a lot of room for waiting in lines or waiting for a later time slot.
Finally and most importantly, there is no one-size-fits-all itinerary for New York City. We’re going heavier on attractions because it’s NYC, but you might prefer to relax in cafes or bar hop around trendy neighborhoods instead. Both are excellent ways to see the city, so consider exactly how you want to spend your time.
Okay, let’s begin!
Day 1: Central Park + Times Square
Morning
Kick things off the right way with a delicious NYC bagel and coffee. Our two favorites in Midtown are Liberty Bagels and Best Bagel & Coffee, both of which are on 35th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. Walk up 7th Avenue to Central Park or take Yellow subway line from 34 St-Herald Sq to 5 Av-59 St. We advise walking so you can see Times Square in the daylight.
Central Park is one of our favorite parts of NYC because it’s filled with cherry blossoms in spring, lush green leaves in summer, stunning fall foliage colors in autumn and brilliant white snow in winter. Here’s how to walk around Central Park most efficiently:
- The Mall
- Bethesda Terrace
- Bow Bridge (don’t cross)
- Strawberry Fields
- The Ramble
- Belvedere Castle
Exit Central Park onto 5th Avenue and you’ll be at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET). The MET is an outstanding museum and we highly recommend you spend the rest of the morning inside. If you’re not interested, go to the American Museum of Natural History on the opposite side of Central Park instead.
READ: The museums you can’t miss in NYC
Afternoon
After The MET walk back down 5th Avenue and pass by The Plaza (hotel from Home Alone 2). Continue for another minute and you’ll begin walking down the world’s most expensive shopping street: Upper Fifth Avenue. You have lots of options here, including the Museum of Modern Art which jumps way ahead in time from The MET. Alternatively, you could splurge on a luxury afternoon tea at The Whitby. We thought it was fantastic and highly recommend it.
Next, we would go to Grand Central Terminal. It’s a bit of an inconvenient walk, especially because the route goes back up Fifth afterwards. You can skip this part, but we think seeing Grand Central is worth the extra effort. Enter via 42nd Street, see if there’s any temporary exhibits in Vanderbilt Hall, watch the chaos unfold in the main terminal and go downstairs to whisper through the walls. You’ll know what that means when you get there!
Evening
Head back up to see Saks Fifth Avenue department store. Next, walk through The Channel Gardens to Rockefeller Center. Get on 50th Street and head west so you can enter Top of the Rock. We think Top of the Rock is the best observation NYC deck at sunset because you can see Central Park and all of Manhattan glowing under soft light. Go to the top floor and enjoy the clear views with no perspex windows.
It’ll be dark by the time you exit, so everything will be lit up. Don’t miss Radio City, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Atlas for fun night photos. Next, walk back through Times Square to see it in all it’s glory. Sit on the red steps and watch the carnage unfold for a few minutes. Then finish with cocktails overlooking the Empire State Building at Refinery Rooftop on 39th Street and 6th Ave (book in advance).
Note: Instead of Top of the Rock, you could alternatively go up to Summit One Vanderbilt after Grand Central. It’s popular with Instagram and TikTok because it has mirrored rooms.
Need help planning your visit to NYC?
Our popular New York City travel guidebook will help you with planning every aspect of your trip, including airport links, the subway, top attractions, itinerary ideas, restaurants, hotels and map!
View NYC GuidebookDay 2: Midtown + Chelsea
Morning
Today you’ll get stuck into the meat of south Midtown Manhattan with a nice and easy square shaped loop, which is best achieved by walking. Grab breakfast, then start by going up the Empire State Building as soon as it opens to see the NYC skyline in daylight. There are 50 sunrise tickets per day for New York’s most iconic building, but they’re far more expensive so you might prefer the general entry price.
Take Broadway through Koreatown and Nomad so you can see the uniquely shaped Flatiron Building. Then continue down to Union Square which has a bustling farmers market on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Continue down Broadway and take a look around Strand Book Store, which is one of the most extensive bookstores we’ve ever seen.
Afternoon
Walk down to Washington Square Park and continue into West Village. One of our favorite things to do in NYC is walk through vibrant neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, so take your time wandering the residential streets here. Stop in somewhere like Bleecker Street for a slice of pizza and a beer, but leave room for more and head northwest to Chelsea Market where you’ll find independent stores and a whole host of excellent eateries.
Head back down slightly into the Meatpacking District to pick up the southern end of The High Line on the corner of Gansevoort and Washington. Climb the steps and walk north on the raised pedestrian walkway, stopping to look at skybridges and street views along the way. You’ll know when you reach Hudson Yards because you’ll stumble across the enormous copper-colored Vessel.
Evening
After walking around Vessel and Shed next to it, go inside the shopping mall at Hudson Yards. It reminds us of those super malls you see in Dubai and Singapore with its pristine finish and upscale feel, just on a much smaller scale. On the 4th floor you’ll find the entrance to Edge. We’ve been up to the Edge observation deck twice for sunset and we absolutely love the views, so definitely consider adding it into your NYC itinerary.
When you’ve seen enough, walk up 34th Street beyond Penn Station and Madison Square Garden until you reach Macy’s, which is one of the world’s most famous department stores. Take a quick look around, then if you have any energy left we highly recommend you go to 230 Fifth rooftop bar on 27th Street and 5th Avenue. Yes, it’s more walking but it’s a lively bar with amazing views of the Empire State Building. You don’t need to reserve, but drinks are pricey.
Day 3: Lower Manhattan + SoHo
Morning
Grab a hearty breakfast and lots of coffee for another big day. Start by hopping on a red line subway train from Times Square 42 St to South Ferry. Walk into Battery Park, find Castle Clinton and head into the white canvas tent behind to board a ferry to the Statue of Liberty. You must book your ferry ticket and the earliest time slot well in advance. Also, arrive well before your time slot to get through security.
Spend the morning learning about the Statue of Liberty, walking around Liberty Island and exploring the fantastic Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. We think both are definitely worth visiting on a first trip to New York, but they do take up a big chunk of time so consider if you really want to do this part.
Afternoon
There’s lots of things to do in Lower Manhattan so it’s time to explore the maze-like streets of the Financial District. Start with Stone Street, Broad Street and William Street before reaching Wall Street. Check out Federal Hall, NYSE, Fearless Girl, and Trinity Church. You might even want to take this popular walking tour of Wall Street. If you plan to take a helicopter tour over NYC, now’s the time because they leave from Pier 6. We did it and loved it, but they’re not cheap.
It’s likely you’re not doing a chopper tour, so continue straight to Oculus, which is one of our favorite structures in New York. It looks like a bright white winged dove from the outside and it opens into a vast cavernous hall inside. You could go up to One World Observatory but it’ll be getting a bit later in the day so we think you should instead prioritize the incredible 9/11 Museum and Memorial. Book your tickets in advance for a late afternoon slot so you can easily make it after Statue of Liberty.
Evening
After 9/11 you might need a minute. They’ve done a great job with the museum but it’s a harrowing few hours. Head north through Tribeca on W Broadway until you reach the Ghostbusters Headquarters. Take White Street past The Roxy Hotel, left on Church Street and cross Canal Street to Greene Street. We really like the cobbled Greene Street in SoHo with its galleries and high end shops.
Spend some time walking around SoHo and consider trying a Cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery if you still have time. They’re delicious but there might be a long line. If you can’t find anywhere to eat dinner in SoHo, head east on Prince Street towards Little Italy where you’ll find a bunch of great places to eat and drink. And if all else fails, walk east to Katz’s Delicatessen for an amazing pastrami sandwich. Eventually, head back to your Midtown hotel on the yellow line from Prince Street.
Day 4: Brooklyn + Williamsburg
Morning
You’ve seen Upper, Midtown and Lower Manhattan. So your last day should be spent over the East River in Brooklyn. One day for Brooklyn is a disservice, but you only have 4 days and it’s your first time in NYC so you have to prioritize Manhattan. Start by taking the blue line subway from 42 St-Port Authority or Penn Station all the way to High St. Head north on Washington Street and you’ll arrive at the Manhattan Bridge View in Dumbo.
This viewpoint is one of our favorite photo spots in NYC and we tried 3 sunrises here without ever having it to ourselves. During the day it’s even busier, so expect to see a lot of people doing photo shoots. Walk around to Pebble Beach and Jane’s Carousel for awesome Brooklyn Bridge Views, then go to the Time Out Market rooftop to grab food and drinks. There’s another great bridge view from the roof too.
Note: One of the best sunrises in NYC is from Pier 17 overlooking Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise. But it means a very early start. If you do it, walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to the Manhattan Bridge View instead and pick up the itinerary.
Afternoon
You could spend your afternoon walking around Downtown Brooklyn, visiting the NY Transit Museum, relaxing in Prospect Park or eating key lime pie with Statue of Liberty views in Red Hook. They’re all great options, but we recommend you go to the trendy neighborhood of Williamsburg instead. Take the cheap ferry from Dumbo to North Williamsburg.
If it works out to be a Saturday, you can’t miss Smorgasburg Williamsburg just as you get off the ferry. Otherwise head for Domino Park and it’s awesome Midtown Manhattan skyline views. If the weather is nice this place will be packed. Next, take a walk down Berry Street or Bedford Ave and treat yourself to a spot of bar hopping. We really like the chilled beer and food scene in Williamsburg. If you’re interested, you can book a tour of Brooklyn Brewery. Mark did it with a friend from England and it was excellent.
Note: If pubs and beer aren’t your thing, you could take a subway to Jefferson Street to see street art known as the Bushwick Collective. Or you could walk along 2nd Street to one of the best pizza places in New York called L’Industry Pizza.
Evening
When you’re done in Williamsburg, hop back on the ferry to Dumbo. You’ll arrive into Brooklyn Bridge Park, which has sensational views over the Lower Manhattan skyline. Walk around to Old Pier 1 for a unique photo opportunity, then head to the corner of Prospect and Washington to climb the steps leading onto Brooklyn Bridge.
It’s around 10 minutes walk to reach the main part of the bridge. Make sure you’re at least here by the time the sun begins to set, if not a little further. Now, you’re going to walk the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. We’ve done it four times and it never gets old. The pedestrian walkway will be packed full but it’s be a great atmosphere, and what a way to end your 4 days in New York City.
Note: Don’t forget you can download this itinerary along with everything else you need to know about planning your first trip to New York in our helpful NYC digital ebook.
NYC Itinerary Planning Tips
Here are our top tips to remember for planning and when you arrive:
- Plan to walk as much as you can
- Pack comfortable shoes with cushioning
- Get a metro card to use on the subway
- Top the metro card up in small increments
- Book attractions and time slots in advance
- Book restaurants and rooftop bars in advance
- Plan to spend very little time at your hotel
- Carry snacks and water in a day pack
- Be specific about what you want to see
- Book any sporting events in advance
Lastly, we recommend you read our New York attractions pass comparison to see if any of the 4 passes can save you money based on what you want to see. We use them every time we visit a major city to bundle attractions and save a few dollars in the process, which is better spent on food or drinks.
We’ve personally used each of the passes available. Our favorite is Sightseeing Pass and we’ve teamed up with them to offer our readers an exclusive discount on all Sightseeing Passes. Clicking the link automatically applies 5% off for adults and 10% off for children, and you won’t find this anywhere else. You can then choose between day pass or attraction pass, with the discount already in place.
More From New York City
- Free and cheap things to do in NYC
- Best places to stay in NYC
- Famous NYC photo spots
- Visiting New York in winter
- Museums you can’t miss in NYC
- NYC observation decks compared
Want more NYC information? Head over to our New York City Travel Guide for help with planning your first visit.
We hope our 4 days in NYC itinerary helps with planning your trip!
Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Incredible!!! Thanks so much for this wonderful guide. It has really helped me.
Hi Elaine, glad to hear it! Let us know if you have any questions about your trip![🙂](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/svg/1f642.svg)
Taking my teenage son during spring vacay and this was super helpful! thank you
You’re very welcome, Karine. We hope you have a fantastic time in NYC!
This is great!! How do we incorporate a broadway play or 2?
Hi Bonnie, if you’re planning to squeeze in a few broadway shows we would suggest doing one or two of the observation decks during the day instead of at night so you can do broadway on an evening instead. It might be worth considering staying close to Times Square so you don’t have to go far after your shows at night. We’d also recommend booking your tickets in advance, we are just leaving a few days in NYC and it is back to being extremely busy! Have a great time!
WOW. This was impressive. Your valuable effort and time does not go unnoticed with this post.
Thank you very much, Levi, we appreciate you taking the time to let us know you found our itinerary helpful. Have a great trip to NYC!