New York in 3 days: our day-by-day itinerary

In short: Day 1, Lower Manhattan: the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial and the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset; day 2, Midtown: an observation deck, Fifth Avenue, Times Square and Broadway; day 3, Central Park, the Met, the High Line and Greenwich Village.

Before you go: what to book

• The Statue of Liberty: official ferry tickets, book ahead (especially for the pedestal or crown).
• An observation deck (Empire State, Top of the Rock…): timed entry, ideal at sunset.
• A Broadway show: book ahead or try same-day discount booths.

Always check opening days and hours on the official websites: they can change.

Day 1: Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn

Morning: the Statue of Liberty. Board at Battery Park for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Midday: Wall Street. Have lunch near Wall Street and the Financial District.

Afternoon: 9/11. Pay your respects at the 9/11 Memorial, then perhaps go up One World Observatory.

Evening: the Brooklyn Bridge. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset to DUMBO, and dine in Brooklyn.

Day 2: Midtown

Morning: an observation deck. Start with an observation deck (or save it for the evening) and the New York Public Library.

Midday: Grand Central. Pass through Grand Central’s concourse, then walk up Fifth Avenue.

Afternoon: Rockefeller Center. Visit Rockefeller Center and St Patrick’s Cathedral, or MoMA.

Evening: Times Square and Broadway. Soak up the lights of Times Square and catch a Broadway show.

Day 3: Central Park, the Met and the High Line

Morning: Central Park. Explore Central Park on foot or by bike: Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, Strawberry Fields.

Midday: the Met. Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on the edge of the park.

Afternoon: the High Line. Head to the High Line, a former railway turned promenade, and Chelsea Market.

Evening: Greenwich Village. End in the streets of Greenwich Village and its jazz clubs.

A fourth day? Day trips

• The Staten Island Ferry, free, for views of Manhattan and the statue.
• Williamsburg and Brooklyn, markets and rooftops.
• Harlem, its Sunday gospel churches and its history.

Our tips for these 3 days

1. Start early: the big sights are far more pleasant at opening time.
2. Group your visits by area to cut down on travel.
3. Walk and take the subway: it runs day and night, with contactless payment at the gates.
4. Allow for tax and tips on top of restaurant prices.
5. Remember your ESTA if you need one, applied for only on the official website.

Where to stay for these 3 days?

All the areas are covered in our guide Where to stay in New York. To go further, see Things to do in New York.