Things to do in New York

3 – 4 Days in New York | Complete New York Itinerary

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Want to see the best of New York in 3 days? Our 3 days in New York Itinerary is just what you need for a sedate yet action filled tour of the Big Apple. Check out our expert crafted itinerary that will show you how to make the most of 3 days in New York. If you plan on extending your stay to 4 days in New York, scroll on and you shall find what you can do incase you decide to stick on an extra day in the city.

3 Days in New York - Detailed Itinerary


Day 1

Run Time

Statue of Liberty

Price

9/11 Memorial

Duration

Times Square


Morning - Statue of Liberty


Start your NYC vacation by touring Lady Liberty. Hop onboard a ferry and transport yourself to Ellis Island where the Statue of Liberty stands tall. If you wish to go up the Statue of Liberty, you need to purchase a ticket online in advance as they sell out very quickly. If you're not in the mood for the tedious climb, you can spend a few hours at Ellis Island, visit the museum and go for the free ranger tours before making your way back to New York City. All of this, including the climb up should take you about 5 hours. If you're on a budget, you can take the free Staten Island Ferry and cruise close to the Statue of Liberty. Though these ferries don't sail as close as the sightseeing cruises, you get close enough to take in a good view of the emblematic statue. Read more

Afternoon - 9/11 Memorial | One World Observatory


Once you get back to Manhattan, take a 20 minute walk to the 9/11 Memorial situated near the One World Trade Center. The memorial honours those who died during the terrorist attack of Sepetember 11, 2001. Situated around the fallen Twin Towers, this is a beautiful memorial with bronze panels around two pools and water cascading down the edges of the memorial before disappearing into a hole in the centre of the pool. Standing behind the museum is the One World Observatory, tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere offering splendid views of New York City from atop. You can grab tickets for going up the One World Observatory Deck in advance and visit the building while you're in the vicinity. There are combo tickets that give you access to the One World Observatory and 9/11 Museum, a popular and highly recommended choice. Read more

Late Evening/Night - Times Square


Even if you're in New York for a day, visiting Times Square is an absolute must! Go here around 6:00 PM and see why it is nicknamed the 'Center of the Universe'. The massive lit billboards, umpteen shops, restaurants, broadway theatres and not to mention the sea of humans passing by. Grab a seat by the TKTS steps and watch the world rush by. Grab a meal from the very first Applebees on Times Square and stay till midnight for the famous Times Square Midnight Moment. Every night from 11:57 PM to midnight, you can witness the world’s largest digital art exhibition where the huge billboards in Times Square are synchronized resulting in three fabulous moments of the same whimsical imagery.Read more

Recommended Experiences for Day 1 in New York

Statue of Liberty Tours New York

9/11 Memorial Tickets

One World Observatory Tickets

nyc bucket list
NYC Bucket List

59 Ultimate List Of Things To Do In New York

Check out these must-do experiences in NYC and plan your itinerary like a pro!

Day 2

Run Time

Art Museums

Price

Central Park

Duration

Broadway Show


Morning - Art Museums


Start your second day in New York by choosing your pick from any of the Top Museums in NYC - Metropolitan Museum of Art | Museum of Modern Art | American Museum of Natural History | Whitney Museum of American Art | Guggenheim Museum. Each of them have a charm of their own, and if you're one to love museums, you should definitely give a few of them a visit over the next few days. If not all, one museum in NYC is a definite must. Depending on your taste, proximity from where you're put up and the kind of museum you'd like to explore, choose your pick and spend the morning ambling about a museum. Read more

Afternoon - Central Park


No better way to spend a sunny afternoon than amongst the foliage of the good ol' Central Park in NYC. If it is an exceptionally hot day, shift your Central Park plans to late afternoon, but otherwise, Central Park through the day is a joy. You can opt for any of the Quirky Tours across Central Park, be it a TV and Movie Sites Tour, the quintessential PediCab Tour or the American Landscape Walking Tour. These tours take you through the lesser known parts of Central Park and are highly recommended for those who love exploring. If you're in the mood to just stroll about, our specially curated Central Park Attractions Guide should help you hit up all the must visit spots. Read more

Late Evening/Night - Broadway Show


After Central Park, gear up for another quintessential New York experience. Freshen up and don your best suit and dresses for the The Broadway Theatrical, an experience that often falls short of words unless witnessed first hand. You can choose your pick from the umpteen broadway shows running currently and book your tickets before hand to grab the best seats at discounted prices. If this is a last minute plan, you can try for TKTS, Rush or Lottery Tickets and waltz in for the show. However, we recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance so that you can choose a good seat as it makes a huge difference. Our seating chart guides should help you with that. If you're traveling with kids, you can even check out our curation of kid-friendly broadway shows. If you're looking to watch the classics, here are a few Broadway shows you can check out! Read more

Celebrate Christmas On Broadway!

If you're in NYC during Christmas, there's no better way to bring in the Christmas cheer and uplift your holiday spirits than with a Christmas Broadway Show. Check out the best Christmas broadway shows in NYC right now and grab your tickets before they run out!

Use promo code : XMAS18 to get 10% off on your Christmas Broadway show tickets!

christmas on broadway

Recommended Experiences for Day 2 in New York

Best Museums in New York

Best Central Park Tours in New York

Best Broadway Show Tickets

Day 3

Run Time

Sightseeing Cruise

Price

Brooklyn Walking Tour

Duration

Observation Deck


Morning - Sightseeing Cruise


Experiencing New York from the waters is an experience you should not deprive yourself of. Feel the wind in your hair and the towering buildings all around on a sightseeing cruise. You're spoilt for choice with regard to Sightseeing Cruises in New York because there are so many options, you'll be in a fix! Our friendly tip would be to go for Circle Line Cruises. They have the best rates, most professional tour guides and a guaranteed A-class experience. If you're looking for specific brunch tours, dinner tours or even Hudson River cruises, you'll find plenty of option for them too. If you're looking for an economical option, then the Hop On Hop Off Ferry is a good bet. Read more

Afternoon- Brooklyn Walking Tour


Brooklyn Bridge is one of New York's most famous icons and a top destination for first time visitors in NYC. Take a walking tour across the Brooklyn Bridge and the neighbourhood , while admiring stunning views of the quaint brownstone neighbourhood and learn about the bridge's history. Walking through New York's oldest borough area with a historian guide taking you through the architectural and social history, art, culture, food and contemporary politics surrounding the area is a charming experience. Don't forget to explore DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) which is now a state of the art gallery while you're in the vicinity. You can opt for the morning tour that starts at 10:00 AM or the afternoon tour that starts at 3:00 PM. Read more

Late Evening/Night - Top of The Rock | Empire State Building


When you're in New York, consuming aerial views of the city glittering at night is an absolute must. Where you choose to go is completely up to you, but go atop any of the Observations Deck in the city - Top of The Rock, Empire State Building, One World Observatory and feel the spirit of NYC wafting under the star lit sky. If you've ticked the One World Observatory on your first day, you can skip these Observation Decks. You can check out our in-depth Comparison of the Observation Decks in NYC to make up your mind. However, a friendly tip would be to go up the Rockefeller Tower. It is far less crowded and offers amusing views of the Central Park and Empire State Building. Moreover, it is not as high as the Empire State Building which gives one a clearer view of the nearby buildings. Read more

Recommended Experiences for Day 3 in New York

Sightseeing Cruises

Brooklyn Walking Tour

Tickets to Observation Decks in New York

4 Days in New York Itinerary


New York in 4 days allows you to hit up a few more places and most people often end up staying 3 nights and 4 days in New York. If your flight is on the 4th night, then you can add these 3 places onto your list and spend a few more memorable hours in the city.

Day 4

Run Time

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Price

New York Public Library

Duration

Greenwich Village


Morning - St. Patrick's Cathedral


The St. Patrick's Cathedral is a Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral which is the current seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese. It is a prominent landmark in New York located in Midtown Manhattan, directly across the street from Rockefeller Center. It is considered one of the most visible symbols of Roman Catholicism in New York City and the United States. It welcomes more than five million visitors each year and is one of New York's most spectacular architectural sights. Services are held daily and all are welcome, visitors and worshipers alike. You can download the self-guided audio tour app during your visit here to know more about the Cathedral during your visit. Read more

Afternoon - New York Public Library


The New York Public Library (NYPL) is the second largest public library in the United States and the third largest in the world. You can explore the New York Public Library for free. All you need to do is register for a library card and opt for one of the two free tours ( optional) - The Building Tour or the Exhibition Tour. Each tour highlights different aspects of the building and are equally good. The Building Tour takes you through the highlights, The Exhibition Tour takes you through the library's current exhibitions. There are regular events at the NYPL, so check the website before your visit to know the agenda for the day. Read more

Late Evening/Night - West Village | Greenwich Village


Greenwich Village was the bohemian epicenter of the 60’s counterculture movements and the modern LGBT movement. The West Village where the Greenwich Village falls is is a radically different neightbourhood from the other parts of Manhattan and those who want to see other facades of New York must travel to these parts. Start your Greenwich Village tour from Washington Park and make your way around the famous Cafe Wha? , NYU Campus, Washington Mews , Mark Twain House and of course, the famous Friends house that stands in this neighbourhood. You can even go for the Greenwich Jazz Crawl if you're into Jazz and want to hit up the best jazz music hubs in this bohemian town. Read more

Recommended Experiences for Day 4 in New York

The Ride

Greenwich Village

Guide To Spending 3 days in New York


Apart from our New York 3 - 4 day Itinerary, here are a few things that could come useful for your New York trip. Simply click and read to know how to make the best of 3 days in New York!