If you've never been to New York City, then you're missing out on the greatest city in the world. No other city has such a diverse culture and so many iconic landmarks to visit. No other city has been featured in movies and TV shows as much as New York. It's no wonder that people flock to the Big Apple week after week to try and soak up what they've read about or seen on the screen all their life. And many of them just come for a long weekend.
If you are one of those people considering a 3 day trip to New York city, then I've put together a great itinerary to help you make the most of it.
Day 1
My advice is to get a big picture of the whole city by starting off with a boat cruise. The most recommended boat cruise would have to be Circle Line Cruise. This cruise will take you all around Manhattan, letting you get a great tour of the Statue of Libery, Ellis Island, and lower Manhattan with it's amazing and impressive skyline. Then you'll cruise up the East River where you'll pass under the Brooklyn Bridge, see the United Nations, and then to the Hudson River where you'll eventually head back to finish your cruise at the West Side piers.
The Circle Line tour is usually very calm and I've never had even the first hint of sea sickness. But take that into consideration, obviously. The view of Manhattan from the water is especially stunning later in the afternoon/evening when the lights of the city start coming on and make it that more picturesque. Plan on spending about 3 hours for this particular boat tour.
The cruise will let you off near 42nd street on the west side of Manhattan. If you take that over towards 9th Avenue, then you're in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood which would make for a variety of lunch options. It is a very ethnically diverse neighborhood. After you finish lunch there, just follow 42nd St. east. Be sure to take some pictures at 42nd and Broadway, better know as Times Square. You can't miss that! Keep walking east on 42nd and you'll see the New York Public library near the intersection of 5th Avenue, and then eventually Grand Central Station. Also near 42nd and Lexington you'll see the Chrysler Building, which is another skyline landmark of Manhattan. Finally, head back to 5th Avenue and then take that several blocks south until you come to 34th St. You've come to the Empire State Building and you'd be foolish to miss the opportunity to go up to the top and see New York from that amazing view. That should be quite a full day right there and the view of Manhattan at night from atop the Empire State Building will be a great way to cap off your first day.
Day 2
Don't sleep in because there's lots to see! Grab breakfast at your hotel so you're not hungry right away while you're out and about. I recommend you first head down to Chinatown and stroll around the streets of that neighborhood (if you just follow Canal St it takes you through the heart of it) There are plenty of places to grab lunch in Chinatown and nearby Little Italy.
After you've had lunch and seen those 2 neighborhoods enough, you can take the 6 train (which you can catch at Canal St Station) down to the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop. Another "can't miss" is walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and getting some amazing photos. I wouldn't recommend walking all the way across to Brooklyn because there's plenty more to see in Manhattan. When you're done there, I advise you head north to Spring Street (you can take the subway & get off on the Spring St stop). You're now in SoHo. Head over to West Broadway and take that north. Along that street are tons of unique, funky shops and boutiques so be prepared to stop in a lot of stores. Once you're north of Houston, you're in Greenwich village. There's plenty to see (and eat!) in this neighborhood also, so take your time. The iconic Gray's Papaya is in Greenwich village, so if you feel like a snack - or hot dogs for dinner - then stop by and try it.
Depending on where your hotel is, you can either walk it back or find the closest subway route. Or cab it. Subways have gotten so much safer in Manhattan in the past 20 years so you're really completely safe to ride most any of them at any hour. But a cab certainly is a more direct and private route back.
Day 3
We're headed to Central Park today. If you're doing this over a long weekend, then today is Sunday and the park will be the perfect way to spend a Sunday morning. Grab some breakfast to bring with you (or eat at the hotel) again. There's a lot of park to explore, but I recommend catching a museum or two while you're in the area. New York has some of the world's most well known museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim, just name but a couple. You can literally spend HOURS in the Met, and it is honestly my favorite with the most well known artists. You can stroll through the park up towards Central West for that or just take 5th Avenue all the way up. Grab something light for lunch and plan on making a reservation at one of New York's many amazing fine dining restaurants on the Upper West or Upper East Side. Many offer a 3-course fixed price dinner which can often be the best way to experience the restaurant (without breaking the bank).
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