New York
New York itinerary: four days, planned day by day
It is eight o'clock and the first ferry to the Statue of Liberty has not yet filled up. Order matters in New York, so here are four days laid out from morning to night, with breaks where you need them.
A good New York itinerary is less about what you see than the order you see it in. Observation decks are best at sunset, ferries are emptiest early and museums are calmest when the doors open. Plan around that and every hour goes further.
The plan below covers four days from a Midtown base. Details on each sight are in our 20 things to do in New York, and practical advice on the subway and tipping is in First time in New York.
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In short
Four days in New York covers Midtown, the museums, Downtown and a day in Brooklyn. Start day one in Midtown and give day two to the museums. Catch the first Statue of Liberty ferry on day three, and save the High Line and Brooklyn for day four. Book ferries, views and theatre before you fly.
Our first choice: The London New York, on West 54th Street in the middle of Midtown.
Book your stay: See rooms at The London New York (Paid link)
Tickets and tours: See things to do in New York (Paid link)
Day 1: Midtown
Morning: Start in the Grand Central concourse before the rush, then walk on to the Public Library and Bryant Park.
Lunch: Oysters at the counter of Grand Central Oyster Bar.
Afternoon: MoMA on 53rd Street. Head for the most famous paintings first.
Evening: Top of the Rock at sunset, then a Broadway show. Tickets and seats are covered in our Broadway guide.
Day 2: Central Park and the museums
Morning: Enter Central Park at Columbus Circle and walk north to Bethesda Terrace.
Late morning: The Met on Fifth Avenue. Pick two departments and leave the rest.
Afternoon: The Guggenheim further north, or the Natural History Museum on the West Side if you have children with you.
Evening: Dinner on the Upper West Side, or a big night at Per Se on Columbus Circle. More ideas are in our best restaurants in New York.
The Statue of Liberty
Catch the first ferry from Battery Park and you are on Liberty Island before the day-trip crowds.
Day 3: Downtown
Morning: The first ferry from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Tickets are explained in our Statue of Liberty guide.
Afternoon: The 9/11 Memorial, then lunch on the Lower East Side at Katz's or Russ & Daughters.
Evening: Wander through SoHo into the West Village and eat where the streets stop following the grid.
Day 4: The High Line and Brooklyn
Morning: The High Line from its southern end on Gansevoort Street, with the Whitney beside the entrance.
Lunch: Chelsea Market, in the old biscuit factory beneath the park.
Afternoon: The subway to DUMBO and a stroll through Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Evening: Walk Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan as the lights come on.
Three days or five?
Three days: Merge days two and four. Do Central Park in the morning and the High Line in the afternoon, and drop one museum.
Five days: Add a day with no plan, or a trip out of the city. Ideas are in our day trips from New York.
With children: Swap one museum for the Natural History Museum and build in more park breaks. See New York with kids.
Where to stay for this plan
The plan is built around Midtown, because days one and two start there. The London is on West 54th Street, a few minutes from MoMA and Central Park, so you walk to the first stop on both mornings. After the theatre you are home in about fifteen minutes.
Book your stay: See rooms at The London New York (Paid link)
If you arrive by train from JFK or want quick subway access south, The Westin New York Grand Central is a good alternative. It is on East 42nd Street, a couple of blocks from the station where day one begins.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Westin New York Grand Central (Paid link)
New York itinerary: frequently asked questions
Are four days enough in New York?
Four days in New York is enough for the main sights without rushing: Midtown, the museums, Downtown and a day in Brooklyn. You will have to leave something out, such as one of the big museums or a neighbourhood like Harlem. Five days adds a day with no plan.
What should I book in advance in New York?
Book Statue of Liberty tickets, especially for the crown, the observation deck you want for sunset and the Broadway show you want to see. Popular restaurants also need booking several weeks ahead. Museum tickets can usually be bought on the day.
In what order should I see New York?
Do the busiest sights earliest, such as the Statue of Liberty ferry and the museums, and save views and theatre for the evening. Stick to one neighbourhood a day. You will walk more and sit on the subway less.