The Ultimate 4-Day New York Itinerary Exploring the City
New York City is one of the most beautiful and iconic cities and is the most populated major city in the USA, with over 8 million people. New York City has a beautiful skyline, with over 270 skyscrapers and 6,000 high-rise buildings. I love standing in New York City because it makes me feel small in the best way!
I have been visiting New York City since I was a kid, and I will never get over how incredible the city is. I have found that spending 4 days in New York is perfect to see many of the must-see attractions. It allows you to take your time exploring the city and see everything on your bucket list. This guide reviews everything you need to know to create the perfect 4-day New York itinerary!
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Tips for Planning a 4-Day New York Itinerary
Here are a few things you should keep in mind when creating your 4-day New York itinerary.
New York’s weather is unpredictable. If you are visiting in the warmer months, I recommend bringing a rain jacket. In the winter months, I recommend bringing many layers as it can be very cold.
Do not rent a car. New York City has crazy traffic, and parking can be stressful, so I recommend walking or taking a subway or taxi to get around the city. If you drive to New York, you can park your car for your stay at a garage and use one of the above options to explore the city.
Buy the New York CityPASS or Go City Pass if you want to visit some of the iconic New York City landmarks, including the Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and Statue of Liberty. If you want to visit six attractions on their list, it will save you money by buying the CityPASS.
Walk as much as you can. New York City is huge, but I recommend taking the time to walk around the city as you explore your bucket list items. It is also important to have comfortable and supportive shoes. I always recommend wearing supportive sneakers because they provide great support and comfy socks.
If you do not want to walk, take the subway. New York City has an expansive subway system that will take you pretty much anywhere you need to get. You can either pay per ride or purchase a 7-day unlimited card that will save you money if you ride it more than 12 times during your stay.
Eat at local restaurants and make a reservation ahead of time. Instead of eating at chain restaurants, I recommend eating at local restaurants. New York City has some of the most delicious food you will eat, so make sure to eat locally rather than at a chain. I also highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time because most restaurants will have long wait times!
Follow the sidewalk traffic rules. I know this sounds silly! There are so many people living and visiting in New York, and most are in a rush, so there are traffic rules. It’s similar to driving, so it’s pretty easy! You’ll notice quickly there are two lanes of traffic on sidewalks. You need to stay on the right side as you walk, and if you are walking slowly, make sure to stay all the way to the right. If you need to stop walking, make sure to move out of the way and aren’t blocking people walking.
Drivers are a bit crazy, especially taxis. If you ride in a taxi in New York, you will know what I mean. Drivers in New York are on a mission and drive a little crazy through the city. If you are walking, make sure to keep an eye out for the crazy drivers.
Avoid all of the tourist traps. New York City has many people selling things on the street, including tickets, bags, accessories, clothes, and everything in between. Usually, these things are fake, so I recommend avoiding them as much as you can. If someone in Times Square asks you to take a photo with them, I recommend saying no thanks because they will harass you until you tip them.
How to Get to New York
To get to New York, you can drive, take a train, or fly.
If you drive, I highly recommend adding extra time to your itinerary to accommodate traffic.
If you take the train, you can arrive at one of two main rail stations - Penn Station and Grand Central Station. Penn Station is on the west side of New York, and Grand Central Station is on the east side.
If you fly, you can land in one of the three major New York City airports - John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia, and Newark. All three airports are great options for getting to New York.
Where to Stay in New York
New York City has five boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island.
The majority of people who visit New York stay in Manhattan because it is in the heart of the city. If you are looking to stay outside of the city, I recommend staying in Brooklyn. Manhattan and Brooklyn will likely be the two best places to find accommodation.
If you want to stay in Manhattan, you have many neighborhoods to choose from:
Midtown is in the middle of everything, including Times Square, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. It’s a great place to stay if you are visiting for the first time, but even then, I recommend finding a different neighborhood to stay in. Midtown is very crowded and expensive. It’s the most popular area to visit, so it has a lot going on, which can be what you are looking for or something you want to stay away from as far as finding accommodations.
Lower East Side and SoHo are two smaller neighborhoods in New York City that are a bit quieter because they are mainly residential. There aren’t many landmarks near these neighborhoods, so you will have to use public transportation or walk to get to most places.
The Upper East Side is the luxury part of Manhattan that is home to many museums and designer stores. If you are on a budget, I recommend staying in a different neighborhood because the Upper East Side has mainly luxury and expensive hotels.
East Village is the perfect place to stay if you want to be close to bars and the New York City nightlife. It’s one of the most energetic neighborhoods in New York!
Chelsea and Greenwich Village are two fun neighborhoods that are more laid back compared to Midtown. They are close to the Chelsea Market, Flatiron Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and Statue of Liberty.
Day 1 of the 4-Day New York Itinerary
It’s time to start your fun 4-day New York itinerary! This itinerary will start from the bottom of New York City and work its way up. The beauty of this itinerary is you can mix up the days to fit your schedule, and it leaves you space to add other bucket list items.
The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty is one of the most iconic structures in New York City and should be on everyone’s bucket list! You can take in the statue from the grounds, visit the museum, and walk up to the Pedestal.
The Statue of Liberty Museum has exhibits showing you the full context of the statue and has the original torch. On top of the museum, you can enjoy a beautiful view from the Liberty Vista of the Statue of Liberty and New York City.
When you reserve your ferry ticket to visit the Statue of Liberty, you can also visit Ellis Island and the National Museum of Immigration. The museum has artifacts and chronicles from the 1500s forward of the history of America’s immigration. You can also enjoy beautiful views of the Statue of Liberty and New York City from Ellis Island.
9/11 Memorial & Museum
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a beautiful remembrance of 9/11 and has stories of those affected. You can walk around the memorial and museum by yourself or take an expert-led tour.
The tour provides incredible facts and stories on different aspects of 9/11. It’s a great way to gain more insight about it and learn some facts you may not have known. The museum tour is 60 minutes, and the memorial and museum tour is 90 minutes.
One World Observatory
The One World Observatory is one of the most unique and incredible experiences in New York. The observatory sits on the 102nd floor and provides a stunning view of the skyline. There is also a Sky Portal with a glass floor you can step out on and see the city streets below. It is an exhilarating experience that should be on everyone’s New York itinerary!
There is also ONE Dine that offers stunning views and delicious cocktails and food. You will need to make a reservation at least 30 minutes before you arrive to enter the ONE Dine. Dining here was one of our favorite experiences in the city!
The Oculus
The Oculus is one of the most unique buildings in your 4-day New York itinerary that will leave you in awe. The building houses a shopping mall and transportation hub, but the true beauty is in the structure itself. The wing-shaped, steel dome building was designed by Santiago, a Spanish architect, who wanted it to look like a dove leaving a child’s hands. The wings are 350 feet long and are spectacular!
Wall Street
Wall Street consists of eight blocks in the Financial District and is home to the iconic New York Stock Exchange. Although the stock exchange is what most people think of when they hear Wall Street, there is much more to see! Make sure to check out these spots on Wall Street:
Federal Hall National Memorial - one of the most historic buildings in the USA
Fearless Girl Statue - a symbol for women fighting for equal rights
Charging Bull Statue - a symbol of the stock market crashes of 1987 and 1988
Trinity Church - the first church built in New York City
Staten Island Ferry
Are you ready to watch the sunset over the city? If you time it right, you can ride the Staten Island Ferry during sunset to catch the sunset over New York’s skyline. The ferry runs every 15 or 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you should be able to plan it! And the best part? It’s free! Once you arrive on Staten Island, you can hop back on the ferry and go back to New York City while taking in the beautiful skyline again.
Best Restaurants in the Area:
Day 2 of the 4-Day New York Itinerary
You will explore beautiful areas on the west side of the city on this day of your 4 days in New York! Get ready for incredible views, unique structures, and delicious food!
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is considered one of the world’s most famous office buildings. And the best part? You can experience the beauty of New York’s skyline from the 86th floor!
We always visit the top of the Empire State Building Observatory because the beautiful 360-degree views are unmatched! The Empire State Building is a must-have on everyone’s New York itinerary.
Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards is one of the newest neighborhoods in New York City and has everything from food, stores, and artwork. Whether you want to spend the day shopping or looking at art, Hudson Yards is perfect. We always visit these fun attractions when we visit Hudson Yards:
Vessel - the most iconic feature in Hudson Yards, featuring a spiral staircase that provides beautiful views of the city
The Shed - a fun theatre that has live music and entertainment
Edge - the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, providing stunning views of the city
The High Line
The High Line is a place to relax and walk through a beautiful area of New York City. It was built on an elevated rail line and travels through art exhibits, gardens, and live performances. The High Line is a great way to get a unique view and perspective of the city.
Chelsea Market
Are you looking for delicious food in the area? Chelsea Market has some of our favorite restaurants and marketplaces where we can enjoy a sit-down meal or take home meat, cheese, and fresh produce. Make sure to come with an appetite!
Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park is a beautiful park in Lower Manhattan that is the perfect place to relax. You can enjoy the city views and explore the Washington Square Arch, Garibaldi Plaza, and Washington Square Fountain.
SoHo
SoHo is our favorite place to end our day! We love shopping at the boutiques and enjoying delicious food and drinks. You really cannot go wrong with anywhere you eat in SoHo, so you will not be disappointed!
Best Restaurants in the Area:
Day 3 of the 4-Day New York Itinerary
This day of your 4 days in New York is filled with museums, beautiful buildings, shopping, and a fun show!
Solomon R Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R Guggenheim Museum is in a stunning seashell-shaped building and is home to incredible early modern and contemporary art pieces. You will be in awe of the beautiful artwork in the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum!
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (also known as the Met) is the largest art museum in the USA, with over two million pieces of art from around the world! It is home to 5,000 years of artwork, including prehistoric art to contemporary art pieces.
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is known for being one of the world’s largest natural history museums. It is home to over 45 exhibits, a library, a planetarium, and 33 million animal and plant fossils, rocks, minerals, and artifacts. The American Museum of Natural History is incredible and should be on everyone’s New York itinerary.
Central Park
Central Park is a beautiful park in the middle of Manhattan that is the perfect place to relax and eat lunch. The park has over 840 acres of land, making it the fifth-largest park in the city! You can walk around the park, enjoy lunch, take a horse and carriage tour, or explore the Central Park Zoo. I recommend grabbing lunch at a nearby restaurant and enjoying it surrounded by the beautiful park!
Fifth Avenue
If you want to shop, Fifth Avenue is for you! It is an iconic shopping street and one of the most luxurious retail streets in the USA! Make sure to allocate plenty of time to explore the shops on Fifth Avenue. If you don’t want to shop, feel free to skip this!
Broadway Theatre
You can’t leave New York without seeing a Broadway Show! The Broadway Theatre is an iconic place to see plays and should be on everyone’s New York bucket list! There are many amazing shows to pick from, so you can choose something that interests you!
Best Restaurants in the Area:
Day 4 of the 4-Day New York Itinerary
The last day of your 4 days in New York includes more beautiful buildings and iconic landmarks!
New York Public Library
Although you will not be renting books from the New York Public Library, it should be a place you visit because it is a stunning building! It is one of my favorite buildings in New York City because the architecture is incredible.
Grand Central Station
Grand Central Station is an iconic place in New York that has stunning architecture. Although it began in 1913 as solely a transportation hub, it is now home to restaurants, stores, and other attractions.
One of my favorite things to in Grand Central Station is visit the four-faced opal clock. Exploring Grand Central Station will leave you in awe as you learn about its history and explore the beautiful building.
Top of the Rock
Another observation deck? Yes, but this one is different from the rest! The Top of the Rock stands out from the other observation decks because it offers indoor and outdoor spaces on top of the Rockefeller Center. It is one of our favorite places in the city because we love the views from one of three floors - the 67th and 69th floors are indoor, and the 70th floor is an open-air roof deck. The Top of the Rock is an exhilarating experience you will not want to miss!
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art (also known as MoMA) is an incredible museum that focuses on the modern era. It is known as one of the world’s most influential museums of modern art, having over 200,000 pieces of art! The MoMA is an incredible addition to every New York itinerary.
Times Square
It’s time to end your 4 days in New York with a trip to the iconic Times Square! We love visiting Times Square at night when everything is lit up.
Although you can visit it at any point of the day, I think it’s the most beautiful at night. Times Square has countless stores and restaurants and many beautiful billboards. It is one of the world’s busiest pedestrian areas with over 50 million visitors each year, so you will never be alone when exploring Times Square, but it is an experience you need to have at least one!
Best Restaurants in the Area:
If you want to spend 4 days in New York, this guide is the perfect place to start! It provides everything you need to know to create the best 4-day New York itinerary.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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