You could easily spend weeks discovering the sights and attractions of The Big Apple, not to mention the shopping, restaurants, bars, and shows, but unfortunately, not everyone has that much time (or money) to explore New York. That’s why I’ve put together this three-day New York itinerary that allows you to see all the top spots, spend time in some of the best museums and seek out some excellent photo opportunities over the course of a long weekend!

This three-day New York itinerary takes you around the top Manhattan museums, though the sprawling gardens of Central Park, over to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, and much more!

You’ll spend time reflecting at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza and Museum, explore the halls of the New York Library, do a spot of shopping on 5th Avenue, and, of course, take in the vista of NYC from above with a trip up the Empire State Building or the Rockafeller Center! If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also have time to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to discover the urban hotspot DUMBO, and take time to enjoy Times Square by night when the area is illuminated with dazzling lights!  Read on to find out all you need to know about planning this epic three-day New York itinerary.

 

How to spend 3 days in New York City

Day 1

 Metropolitan Museum of Art | MET

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (more commonly known as the MET) is one of the most famous galleries in the world and is the largest art museum in America. Located on the Upper East Side on Manhattan’s ‘Museum Mile’, the MET features an extensive art collection that includes everything from ancient sculptures and classical European portraits to modern art and pieces created by local New York artists. In addition to traditional forms of art, the museum also boasts a range of artifacts, instruments, textiles, accessories, armor, and weapons so whatever you’re interested in there’s sure
to be something within the gallery that inspires you!

It’s good to get to the MET early so that you are able to see some of the highlights without space being too crowded.

Museum of Modern Art | MOMA

Another of New York’s impressive museums is the Museum of Modern Art (aka MOMA). As you would expect, this museum is home to some of the biggest names in modern art, with world-famous pieces such as Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night”, Salvador Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory”, Monet’s
“Water Lilies”, Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans” and Jackson Pollock’s “One, Number 31, 1950” one of his masterful ‘drip technique’ paintings.

MoMA is bright, spacious, accessible, and welcoming so it is often a favorite of tourists and travelers as well as avid art lovers. Spread over six floors, there are loads to see at MoMA, so I’d suggest spending at least a few hours here to really immerse yourself in the art. Admission is free on Friday evenings (between 4 pm and 8 pm) which is great if you’re a budget traveler.

Central Park

After spending the morning inside in museums you’ll probably want some fresh air and thankfully Central Park is located just five blocks North. This sprawling park spans over 843 acres, so again you could spend hours exploring the different areas. The park features lakes, gardens, meadows,
baseball pitches, a carousel, and even a zoo, not to mention the hundreds of dog walkers and exercise junkies who love spending time here. Wind your way around the paths and attractions within the park stopping off to enjoy a people-watching sit down on one of the many park benches.

You can explore as much or as little of the park as you like, depending on how energetic you’re feeling, but you’ll want to be heading south of the park again for the afternoon so keep that in mind as you wander.

Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center is another of New York’s iconic buildings and is often a favorite for those who want to go up one of the city skyscrapers to witness New York from above. The Top of the Rock experience is a good alternative to going up the Empire State Building as you’re able to see the New York skyline (with the Empire State Building included) with 360 views from the three indoor and outdoor observation decks.

If you have time, you could spend the evening doing a spot of shopping on 5th Avenue or watching a show on Broadway!

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Day 2

Ellis Island

Start day two with a trip to Ellis Island, a small island that lies off the south end of Manhattan, close to Jersey City. Ellis Island was the country’s immigration gateway from 1892 to 1924 when millions of immigrants entered the country in search of a better future. There are arrival books and story
placards telling the tales of arriving immigrants which give a fascinating insight into the country’s history. Entrance to Ellis Island and the museum is free but you do need to take a ferry there which must be done via Statue Cruises, the official ferry partner. It is advisable to book these well in advance to ensure you don’t miss out.

Statue of Liberty

Included in your Statue Cruises ferry ticket is a drop off at Liberty Island, the location of the world-famous Statue of Liberty. Therefore, for no extra cost, you can explore the grounds around the Statue of Liberty and take photographs but you won’t be able to climb up the statue to either the Pedestal or Crown. These are additional services and again, it’s worth buying a ticket in advance.

If you don’t want to go to Ellis Island but still want to see the Statue of Liberty, you can take the Staten Island Ferry for free that travels from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island every day. This ferry service passes by the Statue of Liberty (albeit about half a mile away) so it allows you to witness this
famous sight without spending a dime!

9/11 Memorial Plaza

After you’ve spent the morning out at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, you’ll want to head back to Manhattan to visit the 9/11 Memorial Plaza and Museum. From Battery Park at the bottom of Manhattan, you’ll need to walk up West or Washington Street in the direction of Liberty Park. This is where the 9/11 Memorial is located, on the former site of the two World Trade Center towers.

The memorial includes two large, man-made reflection pools as well as a collection of bronze parapets that pay tribute to the 2,977 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. In addition, there is a 9/11 Memorial Glade, a space honoring the men and women who took part in the rescue and recovery effort during and after the attacks and The Survivor Tree, a Callery pear tree that survived the attack.

9/11 Memorial Museum

After spending a period of contemplation at the Memorial Plaza, you may want to head into the 9/11 Museum, a stunning building hosting exhibits, personal stories, and interactive displays about the 9/11 attacks. Visitors enter the museum through a pavilion from the plaza which serves as a bridge between the past and the possibility of the future. You will then descend into the museum, down a staircase that lies next to the original staircase that provided an exit route for survivors fleeing the site during the plane attacks.

The best way to experience the 9/11 Museum is to take a guided tour with an expert who can provide context and content about the 9/11 attacks and explain the collection of artifacts and testimonies that run throughout the museum.

When you’ve finished your visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum you may want to head over to Wall Street, take the Subway up towards the Highline or head over to Chinatown or Little Italy for some food.

Day 3

Walk Brooklyn Bridge

A trip to New York wouldn’t be complete without walking over one of the city bridges to see the skyline from the other side. My personal favorite is to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. Not only is this bridge itself picturesque but it also offers a fantastic vantage point from which to see the city.

Your walk across the Brooklyn Bridge could take anything from 25 minutes to an hour, depending on the time of day you visit, how busy it is and how many times you want to stop to admire the view or to take photographs.
There are many different entrances to the Brooklyn Bridge depending on what side you are coming from. From Manhattan, you’ll want to access the bridge from Centre Street or Park Row. Just don’t forget to keep looking behind you to take in the view of Manhattan itself!

DUMBO

When you have finished crossing Brooklyn Bridge and have reached Brooklyn itself, you have two choices: to go down towards DUMBO or to continue on to Downtown Brooklyn. Here I’d suggest taking the earlier exit and heading into DUMBO (named as an acronym of Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass). This is a cool, hipster area of Brooklyn that features parks, cafes, bars, markets, a carousel, outdoor movie theatres, and much more.

You can simply stroll the streets taking in street art, photo opportunities and plenty of people watching or discover some specific activities such as the Time Out Food Market, the Etsy Labs craft classes, a literary event at The Powerhouse Arena or head straight to Ample Hills Creamery for ice cream!

Empire State Building

Depending on whether or not you went up to the Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center, you may or may not want to go up the Empire State Building to see NYC from above. Going up the Empire State Building is obviously a classic tourist attraction and the 86th and 106th-floor observatories offer epic 360-degree views of the city. The Empire State Building also has a museum of exhibits on the 2nd floor which allows guests to understand the history and construction of the tower as well as what makes it one of the most famous buildings in the world!

New York Public Library

Book buffs will absolutely love the New York Public Library, a stunning historic building, located across two blocks at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. The library is a fully public reading and research destination that has also become a place for tourists to wander in at their leisure. There are two tours held for tourists daily: the Building Tour and the Exhibition Tour and visitors even have access to regular events or lectures held on-site.

5th Avenue

If you’re a shopaholic then you’ll probably belong to browse the stores along Fifth Avenue in New York, a Mecca for those seeking out designer clothes and accessories. Shops such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany and Co, Louis Vuitton, the Apple Store, and the Nike flagship store are iconic and you could spend hours wandering from shop to shop. Fifth Avenue tends to be busy day and night so it can be pretty overwhelming but it’s a must if you want to splash the cash!

Times Square

Last but by no means least is another of the most famous spots in NYC: Times Square. This landmark is billboard central with neon signs and video boards buzzing all around. Times Square is a hub of shops, restaurants, theatres, and street performers, with iconic yellow taxis flooding through the center day and night. Most people either love or hate Times Square, but either way, it’s well worth seeing.

As Times Square lies right at the heart of Manhattan, it is easily accessible by Subway or simply by stumbling across as you walk around the Midtown/Broadway/Fifth Avenue region.

Of course, I could go on and on about different things to see and do in New York, but I think this three-day New York itinerary gives first-time travelers to the city a really great overview of the highlights. I think it’s definitely worth exploring both Manhattan and a bit of Brooklyn, and if you love historical events then a trip to Ellis Island is a must!

Let me know if there’s anything else you think travelers should see on a three-day trip to New York, or if you haven’t been yet, what you’re most looking forward to visiting.