Best Things to do in New York City ( New York Itinerary )

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In this article, I will discuss the best Things to do in New York City with a perfect New York itinerary or the best places to visit in NYC. Plan your NYC tour with this helpful New York itinerary. New York is fabulous in winter too. Read about NewYork in winters. 

new york itinerary

New York – City that never sleeps. Vibrant, lively, cheerful and financial/commercial capital of the USA(United States of America). This city lies on the East Coast of the US.  New York is the most populated city in the USA.  Famous for skylines, theatres, street acts, street food, glittering lights, yellow taxis, and commuting system. 

NewYork skyline
NewYork skyline

New York comprises of River Hudson, which meets the Atlantic Ocean.  It is an epicenter of Arts, theatre, and dramas. Dining and Shopping capital too.  You can even go for a Gossip Girl tour in NYC. 

As a tourist, I got to see this city only 4 days which is significantly less, but I tried to cover as much as I could. You can also purchase New York Pass to see many sightseeing attractions in one combo deal.  I traveled to NYC from  Dubai via London, and it was a very long journey with jet lag. So know more about things to do with jetlag in New York City.

Best Places to visit in NYC | Things to do in New York City

TIMES SQUARE 

It is the major tourist destination, entertainment center, and commercial intersection in the middle of the Manhattan area of New York City. From you get many Bus Tours. Times Square tops the New York itinerary or NYC bucket list ideas.

Things to do in New York City
Times Square

Both days and nights are filled with people, entertainment, lights, and a nice walk around the place. Times Square is very photogenic and is one of the most Instagrammable spots of NYC. Know more about 20 best Instagram spots in NYC. 

Things to do in New York City
Famous Regal theatre of Times Square

 RIVER CRUISE TO STATUE OF LIBERTY

Take a Hudson River cruise sailing across iconic skylines of New York City, Brooklyn Bridge and across very famous Statue of Liberty.  These cruises tickets are coming as a total package with Bus tours of 5 day Pass also.   Check all deals before booking it.  

Things to do in New York City
Statue of Liberty

Empire State Building

It is 102 story skyscraper on 5th Avenue, in midtown Manhattan. On 86th and 102nd floor there are observation decks to view the whole city.

Empire State Building
Empire State Building
New York city from top
New York city from the top

Brooklyn Bridge 

It is a hybrid cable/stay Suspension bridge and one of the oldest bridge in the United States.  Read about free things to do in Brooklyn. 

Things to do in New York City
Brooklyn Bridge

Museums of New York – American Museum of History

 As there are many museums in New York, which is impossible to do all in a short time. We chose Madame Tussaud’s (celebrities’ wax statues) and the American Museum of History. American Museum of History is for free and for Madame Tussaud’s there are many deals and offers running on. Also, a huge Q on weekends and public holidays to enter in these famous museums. Or visit to the New York Hall of Science with kids. 

American Museum of History
American Museum of History
Madame Tussaud's
Madame Tussaud’s

Grand Terminal

It is the world’s largest train terminal with 45 track platforms and 63 tracks. It is a very historic place and preserved like olden style but not also working.  Commonly known as ‘Grand Central Station.’  It is the busiest station. With 60 shops, 35 places to eat, it is a beautiful historic landmark of New York City.

Grand Terminal
Grand Terminal

 St. Patrick’s Cathedral 

A very prominent landmark of NYC due to Neo-Gothic styled Roman Catholic Cathedral.  

Things to do in New York City
St. Patrick’s Cathedral

 Unisphere Globe

 Located in front of Trump International hotel at Colombus Circle in Manhattan.  

Globe
Globe

 Charging Bull (Famous Wall Street Bull) 

Located in the Financial District of New York.  It is a bronze sculpture and one of the most visited New York tourist attractions.  

Charging Bull

Charging Bull


Booking.com

National September 11 Memorial & Museum 

Visit 9/11 Memorial – a very emotional and sensitive story.  Paying tribute to innocent people who were killed makes your moment very emotional.  

 Night Tour in New York 

Lovely city lights and moving traffic makes you believe that this city never sleeps. 

Things to do in New York city
Night Tour in NYC

 Enjoy Street Art 

Many streets of this city are decorated with colorful caricatures or cartoons.  Street art of New York City is one of the unique things which is admirable. Also you can check the most Instagrammable spots in NYC.  Don’t forget to check Bushwick Art Collective in Brooklyn.  

Street shopping and Street Food 

New York is famous for food trucks with lip-smacking global cuisine on roads.  Many paintings, belts, caps, sunglasses are available on streets where one can do a good bargain. If you love hot chocolate drink then read more about the Best hot chocolate drinks to keep you warm in New York City. 

Go for New York City Food tour like a local or try out some best brunches in NYC then read more on Best & Bottomless Brunch Flatiron NYC restaurants. 

 Bryant Park or Central Park 

These parks have nice trees and nature lovers will truly love this place. Bryant Park is famous for an open library – read books under trees.  Central Park has amazing greenery amidst hustle and bustle of the city. But you would love Central Park in Fall – best places to see fall colors in NYC.

There are many more places but within 4 days I can cover this many only.  Hopefully, I will stay in NYC for more days to cover more places.  But for a short visit or 24 hours New York city follow this local guide with all major attractions covered. 

Shopping – New York Trip Planner

Macy’s(for branded stuff), Marshalls, JC Penny (for budget shopping), or Woodbury’s Outlet Mall (on the outskirts of NYC) for factory outlets of all luxury stuff.  Woodbury’s Outlet mall is on the outskirts of the city. Woodbury’s also run shuttle buses, but you must check their schedules and route map. 

Stay Recommendations – Best Things To Do In New York 

Read about the Detailed Guide to New York City before planning your trip.  New York is very excited about the winter holidays and read for Things to do in New York for the holidays. 

For other East Coast Tour options in US please visit this page.  There are many famous tourist destinations on East Coast which can be covered by road trip or by air travel. Itinerary for this is on this page. Click to read it.  

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82 Comments

  1. It’s been forever that I’ve visited New York – and now is certainly not a good moment. So your post allows me to visit all those wonderful places at least virtually. Thanx for that <3

  2. Love going to NYC. Such a vibrant city with so much to see and do. Next time, I want to make it to Statue of Liberty and go up top, have you been?

  3. I love New York in every season but summers is my favourite. I love exploring its skyline, street street food, yellow taxis and parks. And, I can never get enough of NYC street food and shopping. so good.

  4. As a Native New Yorker…what a great post! I love that New York City never sleeps, and I’m so glad that you enjoyed how awesome this aspect of the city is as well! I also love how you mentioned things to do that many travelers might otherwise look past – such as examining the street art. It really is such an iconic part of the NYC culture! The street food and street shopping is a must – loved reading that part. It seems like you did a great job covering the city! I love your blog!

  5. You certainly covered a lot of ground in 4 days–I’m impressed. I love New York City and have been many times. Little Italy and Chinatown are two places I’d recommend for your future visits.

  6. Good list for first timers to New York City. I only been to the city once and I didn’t do St Patricks Cathedral or the museum. I did everything else and had a blast there. Would I go again? yes!

  7. You are right that four days really isn’t enough to see New York City, but you sure did cover a lot of ground in that time!

  8. NYC is my favorite city. I lived there for several years and got to to do pretty much everything on your list. I only made it to Bushwick a couple of times though, so I need to see more of the art there on my next visit. Bryant Park and Central Park are both fantastic parks. I love all the events Bryant Park has throughout the year.

  9. I haven’t been to NYC yet but looks like your itinerary covered the must-see there. We don’t like crowd, but what’s a visit to NYC without going to Times Square, right? I heard so much about the museums, and also about the New York Hall of Science. My son will love it!

  10. So great and helpful your post on New York is!! I am planning to visit and certainly will pick all the points you have stated. Thanks Dear. Its just you appeared on right time:)

  11. Ah….. how I miss the Big Apple! I absolutely love this city and I keep going back to the sam spots because I love it so much. I dind’t do a night tour though and I think that’s a really great idea. I remember seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time…. stunned and awed:)

  12. I’ve been in NYC my whole life and there’s a couple of things here I still haven’t done

  13. NYC is one of our favourite urban cities. There is so much to do and to visit! We actually would love to come back and that next trip will be dedicated to eating only! So many good spots to eat. If you go back you have to test out Katz deli!

  14. NYC is totally one of my favorite cities in the world – it is so super exciting with ohhh so much to do. It’s totally a city that does not sleep. Times Square was definitely interesting with so much going on. You could spend hours just people watching here! And it is so colorful. The one thing I missed that I was sad about was the cruise to liberty island – I hope one day I’ll make it back to this city and will finally see liberty up close!

  15. There’s certainly never a shortage of things to do in NYC. During my 20-30 trips there over the course of my life, I’ve managed to do almost all of these things. One thing I wish I’d known about on my last trip there a few days ago is the Bushwick Art Collective, as I was staying near Bushwick and could’ve easily made it there had I known. Adding it to my list for next time!

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