How to spend 3 days in New York

Travel Itinerary

0 ratings

Itinerary by: Dan Hill

3 years ago

Travel Blogger

Duration: 3 days

Itinerary Contents

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Itinerary Introduction

This 3 day New York itinerary - penned for me by a local I sat next to on a flight in - gave me a wonderful insight into Manhattan - and New York City has since been permanently engraved into my mind as a great city of culture, history and entertainment. Since my first visit, I have been back on multiple occasions - with friends and family - and I always try to see as much as possible on foot - weather permitting. So, if you’re headed to New York for a long weekend or a 3 day city-break, this itinerary should guide you to the not-to-be missed sights. Photo Credits: 1. Photo by Florian Wehde on Unsplash 2. Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash 3. Photo by Cody Nottingham on Unsplash

Useful information about New York

Best times to visit New York

I've visited New York in the winter time when it has been incredibly cold with biting winds, I've visited on very hot summer days, and I've visited in-between, when the temperature has been just right for exploring. September was my favourite month for visiting New York.

Getting around in New York

On my trips to NYC, I've always enjoyed walking between destinations. It gives me a sense of how the city fits together, and I really enjoy the sights and finding somewhere new. However, if it's too far for you, you can check out transit options such as Subway, bus, tram and taxis on The Official Guide to New York City

Where to stay in New York

When tourists refer to visiting New York City, they are often talking about Manhattan Island (22.8 sq. miles, population 1.6 million) - the most densely populated part. Manhattan Island consists of 3 areas: Upper Manhattan, Midtown and Lower. When I have been visiting as a tourist, I have always stayed in Midtown - since it is so convenient as a base for exploring. When I have been travelling for work purposes, I have stayed in Lower - in the financial district. Do invest time in researching which hotel you should stay in. Hotels are the usual option for most travellers.

New York - Travel Itinerary

Day 1

Lower Manhattan

The first day of our New York City itinerary takes us on a ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty to start with. After Ellis island, we'll be walking through the financial district, taking in the enormity of the scale of the 9/11 Memorial and then experiencing Chinatown and Little Italy.

09:30 - 10:15

Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York, NY 10004, USA

A gift from the people of France to the people of the USA to celebrate their independence, the Union victory in the civil war and the abolition of slavery, the Statue of Liberty is perhaps the most iconic symbol of the United States. Conceived by Édouard René de Laboulaye, it was his hope that the people of France would also be motivated by the symbolism, and rise up against the ruling monarchy in a push for democracy. Thought to have been conceived in 1865, it was finally dedicated in 1886. While France gifted the statue itself, America was responsible for finding a suitable location (formerly known as Bedloe's Island), and building the pedestal to hold this 46 metres giant built from 27.2 tonnes of smelted copper. The copper itself is a mere 2.4mm thick, and it covers 113 tonnes of steel. Located close to Ellis Island - the Federal immigration entry point in use from 1892, the statue was a welcoming sign for immigrants arriving from Europe. The statue itself is of the Roman goddess of Liberty: Libertas. The shackles lying broken at her feet celebrate the abolition of slavery, and in her left hand she holds a tablet inscribed with the date of American independence in 1776: July 4th. Upon approaching the island by ferry you'll get some great photo opportunities of the statue itself - perhaps even better than on the island. Upon docking, the National Park Service (who run the island) provides a guided tour via their Rangers. This complements the excellent free audio tour - and both services provided within the cost of the ferry ticket. Entry to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island National museum is free - however getting there is not. Only one vendor is permitted to drop passengers at the islands - Statue Cruises - and tickets must be obtained directly from them (ignore all non-authorised street vendors who overcharge, and sell fake tickets). For tickets, see: https://www.statuecruises.com/. Children under 3 are free on the ferry, but ages 4-12 cost $9. The ferry departs from both Castle Clinton in Battery Park (NYC) and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Arrive in plenty of time! Note: CROWN ACCESS at the Statue of Liberty costs an additional $3. Photo Credits: 1. Photo by Andy MacMillan on Unsplash 2. Photo by Avi Werde on Unsplash

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Boat

Prices for Statue of Liberty
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	19.25 USD
Kids	0.00 USD	Under 4
Seniors	14.00 USD

Getting there

The ferry sails from Castle Clinton in Battery Park, if you're coming from the New York City side. There's a large monument here. If you're coming via subway, you could use the South Ferry Station or Bowling Green stops. It might be easiest to purchase your ferry tickets in advance online, at: https://www.statuecruises.com/statue-liberty-and-ellis-island-tickets/ Ferries depart every 25-30 minutes, from 08:30 to 17:00.

Travel time

0 hours 30 minutes

Statue of Liberty

10:30 - 12:15

Ellis Island

Ellis Island, United States

A bright new world - a land of possibilities, the opportunity to live what would become known as the American Dream. Back in the old world of Europe, enterprising individuals and entire families dreamed of creating a brighter future for themselves - and America was seen as the place to head. Living conditions in Europe in the 1800s were affected by economic uncertainty, religious persecution and an unstable political landscape. Prior to 1890, the individual states in the US policed their own immigration policies - and in New York State, this was carried out at Castle Clinton (formerly Castle Garden), from 1855 onwards. Some 8 million Europeans, mostly from the northern climes - passed through the state's administration facilities to settle into their new lives. As the Federal Government moved in to standardise immigration, the 27.5 acre Ellis island (a former naval magazine) was chosen as the location to build the new landing facility. The facility including quarantining facilities - in an attempt to prevent the new arrivals bringing disease from Europe with them. In 1892, the first year of operation, some 400,000 new immigrants arrived at the new facility. Inspection facilities screened arrivals for signs of both physical and mental illness. Approximately 1% of those who were screened were deemed to have failed the requirements for entry and were sadly scheduled for deportation back across the Atlantic. The buildings you see today are in fact the second incarnation of the immigration centre - the first wooden buildings (themselves having processed 1.5 million arrivals) having burnt to the ground in 1897 - including all of the immigration records. The second immigration centre, which opened in 1900, went on to process a further 12 million immigrants up to the year of 1921. After 1921, arrival inspections were carried out on the arriving boats themselves - and Ellis island was relegated to a detention centre for migrants. I visited the Ellis Island museum back in 2006, but the memorable experience has stuck with me to this day. I took the audio guide option - which was excellent - and it added an extra dimension to the learning experience. To think of the boats arriving, loaded with passengers seeking a new life in America, after a gruelling voyage across the Atlantic - only to face uncertainty as to whether they would be allowed in - evokes the emotions. Sadly, some of those turned away took their own lives rather than face the return journey. Entry to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island National museum is free - however getting there is not. Only one vendor is permitted to drop passengers at the islands - Statue Cruises - and tickets must be obtained directly from them (ignore all non-authorised street vendors who overcharge, and sell fake tickets). For tickets, see: https://www.statuecruises.com/. Children under 3 are free on the ferry, but ages 4-12 cost $9. The ferry departs from both Castle Clinton in Battery Park (NYC) and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Arrive in plenty of time! Image Credits: 1. by Chris Engel from Pixabay 2. By Unknown author - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3a14957.

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Boat

Prices for Ellis Island
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	19.25 USD
Kids	0.00 USD	Under 3
Seniors	14.00 USD

Getting there

Travel time

0 hours 20 minutes

Ellis Island

12:45 - 13:15

9/11 Memorial & Museum

9/11 Memorial & Museum, 180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007, USA

Just about every person on the planet can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when the terrible events of 11 September 2001 began to unfold. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum at ground zero (the former site of the World Trade Center), was founded with the goal of documenting the attack and its lasting impact. It remembers the 2,977 people who were lost on that tragic day, and also the World Trade Center bombing of 1993, which killed 6. The memorial is open daily between 1pm and 8pm. The memorial consists of a collection of 243 white swamp oak trees, and two 9.1m deep reflecting pools - each representing the site of one of the twin towers. The memorial is sombre and its size reflects the enormity of the tragedy. Water flows across where the each stood. The names of the victims stand engraved on stone plaques around the perimeter. I remember visiting the World Trade Center site a few years after the tragedy, seeing the gaping hole in the ground. It really gave a sense of the enormity of what had happened to an entire city block. Today, this memorial provides a lasting reminder. The design selected for the memorial was that of architect Michael Arad, an Israeli-American - based in San Francisco. It was opened on September 12, 2011 - after just over 5 years of construction. The museum itself is located at 180 Greenwich Street. It includes many artefacts from the site, including the Survivors Staircase - which, after the towers fell, was the final remaining structure on the site. The stairs saved hundreds of people from the World Trade Center on 9/11. The museum prices are listed on this page, but in addition, there's a family pass ticket available for $82, which covers 2 adults and up to 3 children. Children aged 7-12 are priced at $15, and under 7s are free. US Military (active or retired) gain free admission. Between 3:30pm and 5pm on Mondays, admission is free for everyone. Photo Credits 1. Photo by Axel Houmadi on Unsplash 2. Image by Jens Junge from Pixabay

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Entry

Prices for 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	26.00 USD
Students	20.00 USD
Kids	20.00 USD	Under 17
Seniors	20.00 USD

Notes

For me, a visit to the outdoor memorial itself is enough to give me a sense of the scale of the events of 9/11.

Getting there

It's a 12 minute walk via West Street to the 9/11 memorial from The Battery ferry stop.

Travel time

0 hours 12 minutes

9/11 Memorial & Museum

13:30 - 14:00

Wall Street

Wall St, New York, NY, USA

Although Wall Street has become synonymous with references to the big financial institutions in the US, it is actually an 8 block thoroughfare between Broadway and the East River in Lower Manhattan. The actual financial district, housing the multitudes of brokerage firms that support the exchange, extends way beyond this street. There were, at one point, 6 major exchanges on Wall Street: The New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, the American Stock Exchange, the New York Mercantile Exchange the New York Futures Exchange and the New York Board of Trade. The New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ remain the world's two largest exchanges by market-capitalisation - that is the sum of all the tradable securities on their markets - at almost $23 and $11 billion dollars respectively. The next largest in the world is the Japanese Exchange, with $5.8 billion market-cap. If you start at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway, and walk down Wall Street for 2 blocks and look right, you will see the grand entrance to the New York Stock Exchange - on the corner with Broad Street. These days, many exchanges no longer have a trading floor where dealers (with their distinctive coloured jackets that indicate which firm they deal for) interact - most transactions of stocks take place between 2 computer systems. In fact, from 2000-2010 I was myself a software developer creating systems that trade on these markets - but that's another story. Located only a few blocks from the former World Trade Center, the attacks of 9/11 also destroyed the communication networks that were vital to the New York Stock Exchange. Many of the financial firms that trade on Wall Street also rented offices in the World Trade Center towers - and it is estimated that up to 45% of the office space required by Wall Street firms were destroyed in the attacks. Many firms have since relocated to New Jersey, Mid Town Manhattan, or other cities, such as Chicago. It was in 1789, that the first US president - George Washington - was inaugurated on Wall Street. As a tourist, the main reason to visit here is to see the world's central financial hub and the New York Stock Exchange entrance with your own eyes. There's not much more to it than that. If you've ever got excited by movies like The Wolf of Wall Street, or Oliver Stone's Wall Street - then you can now put a face to a place. To get to Wall Street, you can use one of the 3 Metro stops, the ferry terminal, grab a cab, or, if you're a tourist, walk. Photo Credits: 1. Photo by Aditya Vyas on Unsplash 2. Image by Alexander Naumann from Pixaba

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Wall Street
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	Free

Getting there

It's about a 10 minute walk from the 9/11 Memorial to the New York Stock Exchange, on Wall Street.

Travel time

0 hours 10 minutes

Wall Street

15:00 - 15:30

Chinatown, Manhattan

Chinatown, New York, NY, USA

The highest concentration of Chinese people living in the West can be found in Lower Manhattan's Chinatown - one of 9 Chinatowns to be found in New York City. Around 100,000 people live here, together with an additional 800,000 ethnically Chinese people in living in the New York metropolitan area. Approximately 64% of the population of the Chinatown on Manhattan are of Asian ethnicity. Bordering Little Italy, if you're exploring Lower Manhattan on foot, it's worth experiencing Chinatown - and some Chinese culture. The population is divided between Cantonese and Fuzhou - although since the Cantonese population has traditionally dominated the business district, many Fuzhou speakers have since learned Cantonese. The official language of China is Mandarin - and since the start of the new millennium, there has also been an influx of new Mandarin speakers to the area. As well as greengrocers, fish mongers and street vendors, tourism and the restaurant business dominate the economy of Chinatown. There are more than 300 restaurants here, and if you enjoy Dim Sum, check out the restaurants on Little Fuzhou - East Broadway. It was back in the 1850s when the first resident of Chinese origin moved into the area - Ah Ken. If you want to dive deeper into the area's history while you are here, check out MOCA - the Museum of Chinese Americans - at 215 Centre Street. Although damaged by a fire in January 2020, many of the original items were fortunately salvaged, and a prior digitisation effort had already captured 35,000 of the items. Originally opened in 1980, the museum was opened with the goal of sharing the Chinese Americans experience through its exhibitions. If you're not used to exploring large cities, it can be quite eye opening to step through such distinctly different neighbourhoods that border so closely. In this part of Manhattan, a short walk can take you from the Financial District through to Chinatown and then Little Italy. Two subways serve Chinatown - one at Grand Street, and one at Canal Street. Photo Credits 1. Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash 2. Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Chinatown, Manhattan
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	Free

Getting there

It's a 1 mile or 22 minute walk from the New York Stock Exchange to Chinatown. You can cut about 6 minutes off that time if you use the M15 Subway from Water St and Wall St to Madison St / Oliver St

Travel time

0 hours 22 minutes

Chinatown, Manhattan

17:00 - 17:30

Little Italy, Manhattan

Little Italy, New York, NY 10013, USA

Many of the world's cities have an enclave dubbed "Little Italy" - and the Lower Manhattan are of New York City is no exception. Bordering Chinatown on its south side and SoHo on its west, this 3 block district on Mulberry Street was once known for its large Italian population. Today, Little Italy is no longer dominated by people of Italian descent, but retains its moniker due to its strip of 50+ Italian themed restaurants and cafés - catering to Manhattan's tourists. Only 1,200 residents claimed to be of Italian origin in the 2000 census. If you hear an Italian voice in Little Italy today, it is most likely an Italian tourist. Still, the tourists flock in the hope of gaining a feel of the 19th century influx of European immigrants. I stopped in Little Italy on my last trip to New York at an Italian restaurant for lunch - and the food was fantastic. Image by Bruce Emmerling from Pixabay

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Little Italy, Manhattan
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	Free

Notes

There are some great restaurants in Little Italy. If you enjoy Italian food, you should seriously consider grabbing dinner here.

Getting there

It's about a 6 minute walk from Chinatown to Little Italy.

Travel time

0 hours 6 minutes

Little Italy, Manhattan

Day 2

Midtown Manhattan

On Day 2 of our New York City itinerary, we'll be hitting Midtown Manhattan. After checking out the iconic Flatiron building, we'll head up the Empire State Building for a view of New York City that you'll never forget. The afternoon sees us heading to Times Square and the Theater District - where I highly recommend you book yourself in to a Broadway Show.

09:30 - 10:00

Flatiron Building

175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA

By the mid-19th century, land on Manhattan was already at a premium, and each plot of land was maximised for its building potential - even if the plot was triangular. In 1857, Amos Eno bought the plot of land where the Flatiron stands today - and erected a 7 story apartment building. On his death, one of his sons, William Eno, bought the land at auction for $690,000. Chicago's Daniel Burnham was commissioned to produce the design of a new 22 floor building that would astonish the city's residents. Today, the Flatiron building is one of the city's most iconic landmarks, but at the time of its completion, many residents assumed the building would blow down - given a strong enough gust of wind. Incredibly, construction was completed in only one year - with the steel framed floors added at an astonishing one per week. The resulting building, inside the triangular shell, produced what some termed as a "rabbit warren" of inter-connecting rooms. The final design appears to be "ploughing up through the traffic of Broadway and Fifth Avenue in the afternoon light" - as H. G. Wells put it at the time. Today, it is one of the most photographed buildings in the world. The neighbourhood around the Flatiron Building is now called the Flatiron District - birthplace of Silicon Alley - New York City's high-tech sector. Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash.

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Getting there

If you're staying in Midtown, the Flatiron building is an easy walk. Otherwise, you could get here via the 23rd street Subway.

Travel time

0 hours 20 minutes

Flatiron Building

10:30 - 12:00

The Empire State Building

20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001, USA

For 42 years from its construction in 1930, the iconic Empire State Building, on the west side of Fifth Avenue on Manhattan, stood as the world's tallest building.The World Trade Centre building took its top spot. After the WTC's tragic collapse on 9th September 2001, the Empire State Building again became New York City's tallest building - reigning until 2012. Following a construction boom, the Empire State Building is today (2020) relegated to the 7th tallest building in New York City and the world's 48th tallest. The building attracts 4 million tourists on a regular year - thanks to its central location in Midtown Manhattan, its Art Deco style and the popular observation decks. And, truth be told, it's the observation decks that they stand in the long lines for. And when I say long lines, they can get very loooong! On my last visit, with my father, we opted for the $69 VIP Express Pass - at a $30+ premium to the regular ticket price. When your stay in New York City is limited and you want to maximise your time by seeing as many sights as possible, the last thing you want to do is waste hours in lines. On that occasion, I must admit to feeling a bit of a cheat as we were escorted to the front of the lines - but as we saw how many people we passed, I am extremely glad we made the investment.The observation decks are located on the 80th, 86th, and 102nd floors. I really enjoyed my visit to the observation deck - and I can highly recommend it, to gain a real life perspective of the scale of Manhattan. You stand outside the building, behind iron railings. It's an odd feeling to see regular skyscrapers look relatively small below you. Pushed ahead by the roaring 1920s "Race To The Sky", the buildings plans went from 50 to 60 to 80 floors and then to the present 102. Rivalry with the Chrysler building, and fears that the owners of that building could plant a spire on top to win the crown of highest building, pushed the owners of the Empire State Building to a final design of 1,250 feet (380 meters). There were 15 versions of the original plans made, before the building was finally approved. The final building has been called one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. 3,500 workers contributed to the construction of the Empire State Building - and it was completed in a mere 18 months. The building has 6,514 windows and 73 elevators. Photo by Kit Suman on Unsplash

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Entry

Prices for The Empire State Building
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	36.00 USD
Kids	31.00 USD	Under 18
Seniors	35.00 USD

Getting there

The easiest way to get to the Empire State Building from the Flatiron building is to take a 13 minute (0.6 mile) walk north on Fifth Avenue, and turn left onto W 34th Street.

Travel time

0 hours 13 minutes

The Empire State Building

13:00 - 15:30

Times Square

New York, NY 10036, USA

"The Center of the Universe", "The Heart of the World", "The Crossroads of the World", "The Great White Way". However you refer to New York's Times Square, and whatever you think of it - there's no escaping the fact that here lies one of America's most iconic landmarks - and 131 million annual visitors come here to be a part of it. Bright lights and billboards beam down on passers by - showering their commercial messages and mesmerising those of us from more subdued climes. The competition between pedestrians and traffic along this diagonal intersection has been somewhat tamed - thanks to Mayor Bloomberg's pedestrianisation efforts. A staggering 460,000 people walk in the square on its busiest of days - and thanks to the removal of some of that traffic - there are now significantly fewer traffic-person collisions. To further improve air quality, smoking has been banned in Times Square since 2011 - with a 50 dollar fine for those not adhering to the law. Bang in the centre of mid-town Manhattan, where Broadway and Seventh Avenue intersect, this is the epicentre of the Broadway Theatre District. If you're in New York City for entertainment - you'll be in the "very heart of it" in Times Square. While you're here you could check out Madame Tussauds New York, The Hard Rock Café, The National Geographic Encounter, Ripley's Believe it or Not, the Swing 46 Jazz Club or countless other entertainment venues. There are over 200 cafés and restaurants in Times Square's immediate vicinity. You may think of Times Square as a commercial hub, but it is also home to some 5,800 residents. 172,000 office workers commute through Times Square on a regular day. The square is frequented by costumed characters - who are not actually residents, but may as well be. Here to entertain, it's customary - but not required - to tip them. To find out about on-going festivals and events in the area, visitors can check out the Official NYC Information Centers. The nearest one to Times Square is located at Broadway Plaza between 43rd St and 44th Street - and is closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. News Years Eve holds a special meaning for Times Square - with over 1 million revellers typically attending for the strike of midnight. Photo by Jorge Fernández Salas on Unsplash

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Times Square
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	Free

Notes

Enjoy the hustle and bustle of Times Square. Certainly a tourist hot spot, there's so much life here! Grab some lunch in one of the many restaurants and cafés - there's something for everyone.

Getting there

Getting to Times Square from the Empire State Building is just a 12 minute walk (0.6 miles) north along Broadway.

Travel time

0 hours 12 minutes

Times Square

15:30 - 21:00

The Theater District

Theater District, New York, NY, USA

The majority of the 41 Broadway theatres on Manhattan are located in an area know as the Theater District (strictly, a sub-district). Each theatre has at least 500 seats. The majority of shows playing on Broadway are musicals. Nearly 15 million seats were sold in the year to 2019 - grossing $1.8 billion for the industry. As of the time of writing (September 2020), currently running shows include: To Kill a Mockingbird, Hamilton, Wicked, Moulin Rouge, The Phantom of The Opera, The Lion King, The Book of Mormon, Ain't Too Proud, Aladdin, Tina, Come From Away, Hadestown, Dear Evan Hansen, Chicago, Mean Girls, Mrs Doubtfire, Company, Jagged Little Pill, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Girl from the North Country and Diana. Check out a reputable online source to book tickets well in advance to ensure you get the show and seats that best suit you. Photo by Saketh Garuda on Unsplash

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Notes

I heartily recommend booking one of the many spectacular Broadway shows that takes your fancy well in advance. Check out the link on this page.

Getting there

Times Square is in the heart of the Theater District.

The Theater District

Day 3

Upper Manhattan

Day 3 of our New York City itinerary sees us heading north to Upper Manhattan. After a morning exploring the sights of Central Park, we'll be heading onto Fifth Avenue and into an afternoon of culture at the Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. Late afternoon affords us time to experience the boutiques and shops of the world famous Fifth Avenue as we head south back towards Midtown.

10:00 - 12:00

Central Park

Central Park, New York, NY, USA

Central Park sits in central Manhattan - between the Upper East and Upper West sides - and is the breath of fresh air you just might need amongst the hustle and bustle of city life. There are 18 gates used to get in and and out of the park - located around the nearly 9km long stone wall that surrounds it. The park covers 843 acres (3.4 square km, or 1.3 square miles), and is 2.5 miles long, by 0.5 miles wide (4km by 0.8km). When you're in it, this feels like a very substantial urban park - but it is actually only the fifth largest park in New York City. There are approximately 40 million visits to Central Park per year - made by approximately 9 million people. It is estimated that 70% of these visitors are New York City residents. The winning design for the park was selected in April 1858: Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's "Greensward Plan". Top soil was shipped in to the park in enourmous quantities: around 5 million cubic feet (140,000 cubic meters). 700 workers contributed to the overall building project - that included a reservoir and lakes, 3 wooded areas (North Woods, the Ramble, and Hallett Nature Sanctuary) contributing to the more than 20,000 trees in the park, numerous plazas and entrances. There are 29 monuments in the park - with Bethesda Fountain being the only statue actually commissioned for the park. If zoos are your thing, you can check out the Central Park zoo while you are here. Residents of Manhattan make great use of Central Park for recreational purposes. The 6.1 miles (nearly 10km) of driveways are used daily by joggers, runners and inline skaters, to get their cardio fix. A staggering 26 baseball fields lie within the park's bounds. In the winter months, the park plays host to 2 skating rinks. Younger children need not feel left out as there are no less than 21 playgrounds in the park - the largest being Heckscher Playground. On my last visit, I rented a model boat from the Kerbs Memorial Boathouse - which I found to be very relaxing. Both radio controlled and wind powered boats are available. If a full size boat is more your thing, then between April and October you can rent a rowing boat or gondola at the Lake - from 10am until dusk. For more information, check out: thecentralparkboathouse.com. You can also enjoy a ride in a horse driven carriage, or take part in a bicycle tour around the park. On your way around, check out some of the stone bridges (for example, Balcony Bridge) - at least to me they felt like they had been lifted right out of the European countryside. There are so many features of interest in the park - and I can highly recommend visiting the Central Park Conservancy's website to get a full overview: https://www.centralparknyc.org/attractions/ There are numerous opportunities for refreshments in the park. 3 restaurants and 6 cafés supply the parks visitors with their fares. Check out Ballfields Cafe if you fancy a sandwich, salad or a burger. Photo Credits: 1. Image by David Mark from Pixabay 2. Photo by Jason Forrest on Unsplash 3. Image by Leonhard Niederwimmer from Pixabay

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Central Park
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	Free

Notes

I recommend grabbing some lunch in one of the cafés in the park if the weather permits.

Getting there

I recommend you start south in Central Park - such as the Fifth Avenue subway station, or 59 St - Columbus Circle Subway station. From here, you can meander your way north through the park.

Travel time

0 hours 20 minutes

Central Park

12:30 - 13:30

The Guggenheim Museum, New York

1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128, USA

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is an art gallery in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City. It has a focus on contemporary, impressionist, post-impressionist and early-modern works of art. It's located on 5th Avenue, near the lower east side of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, in Central Park. The museum has 7 sister museums - 3 in the Americas, 3 in Europe and 1 in the Middle East. From the exterior, the white, swirling 1959 Guggenheim Museum building itself is a piece of art. The architect was the innovative Frank Lloyd Wright - who created over 1,000 buildings over his 70 years of work. The design of the Guggenheim building (considered Wright's masterpiece) is not only eye-catching, but its form is functional: the swirls on the outside translate into 7 floors of continuous walkway on the inside - leading visitors upwards while they admire the art that adorns the walls. On Manhattan, where ground space comes at a premium, this makes a good deal of sense. In regular years, the museum attracts around 1 million visitors per year. The museum is open 7 days a week, from 10 am, and generally closes at 5.30pm, except for 8 pm closing on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. The best time to visit is opening time, if you want to avoid the crowds. I visited on a Sunday morning, and didn't find the museum to be crowded at all at that time. Allow yourself between 1 and 3 hours to visit The Guggenheim Museum - depending on your interest in studying the works of art. As with most galleries, the exhibitions at The Guggenheim consist of permanent and temporary exhibits. There are over 30 Picasso paintings on permanent display, as well as works by Gaugin, Klimt and Degas. On my visit, I particularly enjoyed the works of Jackson Pollack. In order to educate yourself of the art works, the museum provides an audio guide which is available to patrons for free. As well as in English, the guide is available in French, Italian, Spanish and German. The museum has 2 eateries: on the 3rd floor you'll find Café 3 - with a view over Central Park, or you could try The Wright restaurant. Photo Credits: 1. Photo by Tomas Eidsvold on Unsplash 2. Photo by Taylor Heery on Unsplash

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Entry

Prices for The Guggenheim Museum, New York
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	25.00 USD
Students	18.00 USD
Kids	0.00 USD	Under 11
Seniors	18.00 USD

Getting there

The Guggenheim museum sits right on Central Park. The time to get here depends on where you are in the park - but somewhere between 10-30 minutes should be enough walking time!

Travel time

0 hours 20 minutes

The Guggenheim Museum, New York

14:00 - 16:00

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Fifth Avenue

1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, USA

2020 marked the 150th anniversary of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York - often referred to simply as "The Met". The Met has 1.5 million works of art - spanning 5,000 years of human creativity - divided over its two locations: Fifth Avenue in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and The Met Cloisters in the north - at Fort Tryon Park. This article focuses on The Met Fifth Avenue. The Met Fifth Avenue is one of the world's largest art galleries - and it had nearly 6.5 million visitors in 2019. Not only will you find masterful paintings, drawings and sculptures, but the museum also places a focus on interior design, and even houses an antique weapons collection. The permanent collections include ancient Egyptian artefacts, works from the European masters, classical antiquities and American art through the ages. There are 35,000 art works from Asia, 17,000 works from ancient Greece and the Roman period, one of the world's largest collections of Islamic art, and a 4,000 square metre exhibition hall (The Rockefeller Wing) including 11,000 pieces of work from sub-Saharan Africa, The Pacific Islands and The Americas. With the museum having a specific focus on modern art, needless to say there are some incredible pieces to see: Jackson Pollock's Autumn Rhythm, Picasso's Gertrude Stein and cubist works by Picasso, Braque and Gris. The modern day building contains nearly 2 million square feet of floor space, and is nearly 1/4 of a mile long (400 meters) - but it wasn't always this way. The original building of 1880 was 20 times smaller - but the modern day building (owned by The City of New York) - has been expanded over the years. The Beaux-Arts front to the museum was a later addition - and its iconic appearance, in my opinion, couldn't be improved upon for a museum of this significance. How long should you spend at The Met? The answer to that depends entirely on you. The museum is huge - and one could easily spend an entire day here. Several hundred thousand works of art from The Met have now been digitised and made available online by the museum - so if you miss something - you can check it out from home. During Covid restricted times, The Met is open to guests who have pre-booked at the museum website (link on this page), at the following times: Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Closed Thursdays and Fridays: 12-7 Saturday–Monday: 10-5 The Met has made available an audio guide on the SoundCloud.com website. Image by anielbaez0 from Pixabay

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Entry

Prices for The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Fifth Avenue
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	25.00 USD
Students	12.00 USD
Members	0.00 USD
Kids	0.00 USD	Under 12
Seniors	17.00 USD

Getting there

It's about a 6 minute walk (0.3 mile) north walk on Fifth Avenue from the Guggenheim Museum to reach the Met.

Travel time

0 hours 6 minutes

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Fifth Avenue

16:00 - 17:30

Fifth Avenue

5th Ave, New York, NY, USA

If you've ever wondered what one of the most extravagant, elegant and expensive streets in the world looked like, then look no further than the 6.2 mile long Fifth Avenue on Manhattan - New York City. Commissioned in 1811, Fifth avenue runs from Washington Square Park in the south (Greenwich Village), to West 143rd street in the north (Harlem). Shopping The length of Fifth Avenue that runs between 49th Street and 60th Street is where people go to visit the some of the most prestigious and luxurious shops in New York. If you can think of a luxury brand, the chances are, they have a boutique here: Armani, Prada, Gucci, Tiffany, Rolex, Omega and Chanel to name a few. Museums While Manhattan may be one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Fifth Avenue can be equally argued to be as densely loaded with culture. A single stretch of Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side, colloquially know as "Museum Mile", contains no less than 9 museums - between 82nd and 110th streets. These museums include the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Africa Center, the Jewish Museum, El Museo del Barrio, the Museum of the City of New York, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, National Academy Museum, and Neue Galerie New York. An additional museum lies further south on Fifth Avenue: Henry Clay Frick House. Photo by Josh Wilburne on Unsplash

Website

Article By: Dan Hill

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Fifth Avenue
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	Free

Getting there

After leaving the Met, just head south on Fifth Avenue. You'll soon reach the boutiques and shops that'll keep shopaholics entertained for hours!

Travel time

0 hours 10 minutes

Fifth Avenue

Privacy: public

Submitted by: Dan Hill, 4 years ago

About the author

Dan Hill

I founded MapADay to create a platform where anybody could share and promote their favourite travel itineraries - in a consistent format that travellers can easily follow. I've lived in 5 different countries: UK, France, USA, Canada and now Denmark, and love exploring new places with my family - near and far.

DanHill_

Instagram

Website: https://mapaday.com