Ever since I set my foot in NYC for a night at the age of 10, I’ve bean dreaming about returning one day. No city has made such an impact on me before – New York mesmerized me, so much so, that I wanted to yell ‘I love you’ at every passer-by.
12 years later, there I was again, but this time I had a plan for four whole days. After spending days reading Tripadvisor and blogposts found on Pinterest, I knew what I wanted to see and do, and I had a foolproof step-by-step itinerary to help me complete my mission. Maybe M being there also helped, but shh!
The itinerary worked. Although we had to skip quite a few things, it was still a dream trip I would do over again anytime! Since then, this little plan also helped others to guide themselves in the Big Apple, so I hope you’ll enjoy it as well!
Note: This is exactly how it looked like on my laptop during the trip. You can see what we had to skip, and when I felt necessary, I also provided little tips or notes with my impressions so that you really get the full package!
A way too detailed itinerary for NYC first-timers
Day 0 4:00pm start
Brooklyn sunset – pure love!
- shopping nearby (groceries)
- just a heads-up: we stayed in Brooklyn so it was our starting point every day
Day 1 6:00am start
Financial District
Financial District
- Brooklyn Bridge (tip: start your walk from the Brooklyn side!)
- Wall Street
- Battery Park – Berlin Wall, for more: the guide! – Ellis Island Ferry
- World Trade Center – Memorial
- The Dead Rabbit (Whitehall)
- Stone Street Tavern (Whitehall) (very good burgers and the street itself is a must-see – a cobblestoned little gem among the glass-and-metal giants? Win!)
- Irish Hunger Memorial
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum
- Tenement Museum
(it’s definitely on my list for next time!) - Ava Lounge
South Street Seaport
South Street Seaport – on our warmest day while in NYC
- Nelson Blue
- TKTS booth – Broadway tickets?
- came across a tai chi class under the overpass though
Tribeca
I imagined myself sipping my chai latte here – would be the perfect afternoon!
- it had such a laid-back atmosphere, we loved it!
- if you’re wondering why there are no details here is because we wanted to give ourselves a little break from all the sights – we just had a nice stroll, taking in the view and the people
Hudson River Park
- I’ve seen beautiful photos of this park and
Prospect Park
It looks so movie-like!
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- picnic!
- It felt so much like home! Young kids running around, older ones practicing baseball, joggers and dog-walkers and elderly couples on their daily strolls – loved it!
Day 2 – 6:00am start
Staten Island
The view from the ferry
- Ferry – free – Statue of Liberty (to be honest, although you really can see the Statue of Liberty from the ferry, and it’s free, when you only have your iPhone with you, your photos will mostly be blurry. If the latter is not a problem and/or you have a slightly more professional camera, this trip will be a win!)
Back to the Financial District:
- Fraunces Tavern (Whitehall) (for a first brunch in NYC, this was quite the meal!)
West Village
Next time I’m here I’ll definitely spend more time in this neighbourhood!
- 401 Bleecker Street – Magnolia Bakery
- 400 Bleecker Street – Bookmarc (many love this place, for me it didn’t live up to the hype. The neighborhood, though, was my favorite!)
- 64 Perry Street (exterior of Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment)
- The Garret (speakeasy)
- The Grey Dog
East Village
Love is even more love when in NYC
- Wafles & Dinges Café (tried it in Central Park a day later!)
- Alphabet City
- The American Gangster Exhibition (highly recommended if you’re into this kind of subculture!)
- Miss Lily’s
Greenwich Village + Nolita (St Patrick’s Cathedral) + SoHo
Greenwich Village
- I’m not sure if we got to Soho after all, and we really only visited St Patrick’s Cathedral, so it’s mostly Greenwich Village
- NYU
- Washington Square Park
- The Little Owl
- Arturo’s (for dinner)
Day 3 – 6:00am start
Coney Island
- Subway ends!
- Wonder Wheel?
- Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs (ate them later at Columbus Circle Station)
- Brighton Beach – the other end
- please please make sure you visit Coney Island, it’s such a different experience! Our only company on an April morning was a half-naked runner and a meditating rabbi
Upper East Side
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- Madison Ave – The Morgan Library and Museum
- Museum Mile – MoMa, MET (steps, MET Roof Garden)
- Lexington Ave
- Park Ave
- yeah, we missed all the big museums, but hey! I’ll be back!
Upper West Side
A sunny day at Lincoln Centre
- 59th Street – Columbus Circle Station
- Columbia University (I’m so sad about this one!)
- Natural History Museum
- 509 Amsterdam Av (W 84-85)– Jacob’s Pickles
- Metropolitan Opera
- Julliard
- Lincoln Center
- Empire Hotel (W 62-64, Broadway – Amsterdam Ave)
- Levain Bakery – W 74 – Amsterdam Av (New Yorkers just love to wait in line! For hours. We didn’t have hours for this.)
Harlem – Restaurant Row
Lower East Side
- – Les Enfants de Boheme (French bistro)
Central Park
Sheep Meadow – would love to have a picnic here in the summer!
- Love Quotes
- Loeb Boathouse (this was such a cheesy but heartwarming experience!)
- Wafles & Dinges (they were delicious!)
- Zoo
Rockefeller Center – Top of the Rock Observation Deck
How beautiful is this?!
Day 4 – 6:00am start
Gramercy/Flatiron
No introduction needed, I guess
- Union Square
- Flatiron Building
- Chelsea – High Line! (Meatpacking District) (I know you’re gonna hate me for this but we didn’t like the High Line at all. We just didn’t get the fuss about it. Maybe it was bad timing?)
- Bill’s Bar & Burger
- Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company
- Chelsea Market
Midtown East
Bryant Park – a little paradise tucked away in the concrete jungle
- UN plaza – UN HQ – Berlin Wall
- Grand Central Terminal
- Constellation Mural
- Whispering Galleries
- Michael Jordan’s Steak House (we looked at the prices and skipped but the place looked great!)
- The Campbell Apartment?
- Chrysler Building
- New York Public Library (the Rose Main Reading Room was closed at the time due to restoration and it killed me! This was one of the things I was waiting for the most)
- Bryant Park(love love love) Grill Rooftop
- 5th Ave
- Radio City Music Hall (just from outside)
- Pod 39 Rooftop Bar
- Empire State Building (just from outside – the Rockefeller Center was more than enough!)
Midtown West
Too touristy but you cannot come to NYC without visiting Times Square!
Queensboro Bridge- Times Square – R Lounge
- Madison Square Garden –
- 828 Broadway (between E 12-13) – the Strand book store (THE BEST)
- Carnegie Deli + Carnegie Hall! (Central Park alatt)
- The Press Lounge at Ink 48 Hotel
Day 5 – 6:00am start
Bye-bye, NYC! See you soon
- Packing and leaving
- Exit apartment between 9:30-10:00am, arrive at Airport at 12:00
There you have it, my very detailed itinerary for NYC. We had the best time there and can’t wait to be back soon!
Is there something you think is missing from this list? How would your NYC plan look like? Tell me in the comments below!