The best things to do in New York City are riding the free Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty, seeing the skyline from Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building, walking Central Park, spending an afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, catching a Broadway show, and strolling the High Line. Group them by neighborhood so you spend your time seeing the city instead of riding the subway between sights.
Pick by what you want
Most guides give you a flat list of 20 or 25 attractions. That is hard to turn into a plan. Start with your goal, then use the neighborhood sections below to build each day.
| If you want | Start with |
|---|---|
| The classic skyline view | Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building |
| Something free | Staten Island Ferry, Central Park, the High Line |
| Art | Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art |
| A rainy-day plan | Museums, Grand Central Terminal, a Broadway matinee |
| History | Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial & Museum |
| Nature | Central Park, New York Botanical Garden |
Lower Manhattan: harbor, history and the bridge
Lower Manhattan packs the city’s founding story into a small area, so it works well as a half day on foot.
The Statue of Liberty is the headline sight, and the National Park Service runs access to it. Tickets to the crown sell out months in advance, so book early if you want to climb. If you only want the view, the Staten Island Ferry gets you a glimpse for nothing (more on that below). rci
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the city’s most sobering stop. Give it unhurried time and don’t schedule a party-mood activity right after.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge toward Brooklyn for harbor and skyline views, and pair it with a meal in DUMBO or Brooklyn Heights. One World Observatory and Wall Street round out the area for people who like skyscrapers and finance history.
Midtown: views, Broadway and the icons
Midtown is where first-time visitors spend most of their time. It holds the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Terminal, Times Square and the Theater District.
For skyline views, you have two main choices. Top of the Rock sits 70 floors above Rockefeller Center, and it looks onto the Empire State Building as well as Central Park. The Empire State Building gives you the classic, but you can’t see it from its own deck. Many visitors pick one and skip the other. smartertravel
Grand Central Terminal is worth a walk through even if you aren’t catching a train. The ceiling and the famous clock are the draw, and entry costs nothing.
Times Square is loud and bright, and it works best after dark and in small doses. A Broadway show is the better use of an evening there.
Uptown: Central Park and the museums
Central Park is the city’s backyard, with lakes, lawns, bridges and paths, and you can explore it on your own or with a guide. Allow at least two hours, and more if you want to row a boat in warm months.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art deserves a full afternoon. It holds more than 2 million works spanning 5,000 years, so pick two or three wings rather than trying to see everything. Along the same stretch of Fifth Avenue, Museum Mile adds more options. smartertravel
The American Museum of Natural History suits families and anyone who likes dinosaurs and space exhibits. The Museum of Modern Art, in Midtown, is the better pick for modern art.
The High Line and the West Side
The High Line is a park built on an old elevated railway. It is an easy, flat walk with art, plantings and views over the Meatpacking District and Chelsea.
Walk it south to north (or the reverse) in about an hour, then drop down to Chelsea Market for food. It pairs well with the Whitney Museum at the southern end, and it is the easiest “second half of the day” after a morning in Lower Manhattan or Midtown.
Free and low-cost things to do
New York is expensive, but several of its best experiences cost little or nothing.
The Staten Island Ferry is the best deal in the city. It is a free commuter ferry running 24 hours a day between Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and St. George Terminal on Staten Island, and the crossing takes around 25 minutes in each direction. It passes within sight of the Statue of Liberty. To dodge commuter crowds, ride on a weekday between 9:30 and 11:30 am or after 7 pm. The Better Vacation +2
Other free or nearly free picks: walking Central Park, the High Line, the Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Terminal, and the public areas of Rockefeller Center. Check each museum’s own site for current admission rules and any resident or free-hour programs, because policies change.
Beyond Manhattan
If you have a third or fourth day, leave Manhattan.
Coney Island in Brooklyn is the classic seaside amusement stop, best in warm weather. In the Bronx, the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden sit close together, and both have indoor exhibits, so cold weather doesn’t rule them out. Baseball fans can catch a game in true New York fashion when the season is on. newyorktheatreguide
Brooklyn also rewards a slow neighborhood wander. Treat it as a day on its own rather than squeezing it between Manhattan sights.
A sample 3-day plan
Day 1, Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Morning at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, midday ferry past the Statue of Liberty, afternoon walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, dinner in DUMBO.
Day 2, Midtown. Morning at Grand Central, then Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock. Walk to Times Square, then see a Broadway show in the evening.
Day 3, Uptown and the West Side. Morning in Central Park, afternoon at the Met, then take the High Line toward sunset.
If you have a fourth day, add the Bronx or Coney Island. Book timed tickets (Statue of Liberty crown access, observatories, Broadway) before you go.
When to go
New York works in every season, but the experience changes. Summer suits parks, boat rides and Coney Island. Winter brings ice skating at Rockefeller Center and holiday displays, and December is a popular month to visit for that reason. In cold or wet weather, lean on museums, Grand Central and Broadway matinees.
FAQ
What are the top 5 things to do in NYC for first-timers?
The Statue of Liberty (or the free ferry view), a skyline view from Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a Broadway show.
What can I do in New York City for free?
Ride the Staten Island Ferry, walk Central Park, the High Line and the Brooklyn Bridge, and look around Grand Central Terminal.
How many days do I need in New York City?
Three days covers the main sights in Lower Manhattan, Midtown and Uptown. Add a day for Brooklyn or the Bronx.
Is the Staten Island Ferry really free?
Yes. It is free and the trip between St. George and Whitehall terminals takes about 25 minutes. 6sqft
What should I do on a rainy day in NYC?
Go to the Met, the Museum of Modern Art, the American Museum of Natural History, Grand Central Terminal, or a Broadway matinee.