Thursday, March 21, 2024

How To See New York City In One Day

Saving Money On Broadway Shows

How to see New York City in 24 hours while living in a van

There are several ways to get reduced tickets for coveted Broadway Shows during your 4 days in New York City.

For legitimate discounted last-minute tickets, visit the TKTS booth at Duffy Square in Times Square. The lines get long, but you can view a live webcam before heading that direction.

If you are open to sitting apart from your group of friends, you can get great deals on single seats that are available randomly throughout the theater. Tickets can be purchased same day, directly at the ticket counter.

Try your hand at the lottery system to win free tickets, you never know! To enter the lottery, go directly to the website of the show you want to see and find the lottery button. Hamilton is supposed to be out of this world and I really enjoyed The Lion King.

See a Broadway Show during a weekday instead of the weekend. People are more available on the weekends so things get busier and more expensive. If your schedule is flexible during your 4 days in New York City, try going on a weekday.

DO NOT: Purchase tickets on the secondary market or from craigslist because they could be counterfeited.

Day : Arrival In New York

On the day of arrival, you shouldnt schedule too much and should instead take the day easy. A 6 hour time difference shouldnt be underestimated.

So that the jet lag doesnt completely consume you, its important that you dont directly lie down in the hotel bed and sleep. Align your rhythm right away with the time of day in New York.

So if you arrive in the morning, midday or afternoon, you should really hold out until the evening and only then give in to your tiredness.

If you still havent chosen your hotel, then be sure to take a look at our article on this:

During our last visit, we stayed at CitizenM in Midtown, nearby Times Square. Wed go there again anytime and can only highly recommend the hotel to you.

Depending on how much time you have on the first day and where in New York your hotel is, you could even visit one of the sights that had actually been planned for another day.

Our tip: if you get accommodation at CitizenM or your hotel is in Midtown, you can see Times Square in the evening. You dont have to prepare anything to visit this icon of the city or worry about getting any tickets. You can simply just take this place in.

Radio City Music Hall

After Top of the Rock, Radio City Hall is another iconic place for a selfie. You will probably not have time for a show this time around, but at least have a quick look from the outside.

Tip: Grab a traditional pretzel from one of the street car vendors nearby . It is a great snack, until you are ready for lunch.

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What Is The Number One Attraction In New York

14 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in New York State 1 Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Ellis Island | Photo Copyright: Jordan Seavey. 2 Times Square. Times Square | Photo Copyright: Jordan Seavey. 3 Central Park. Central Park. 4 Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls. 5 Finger Lakes. Finger Lakes. 6 Lake Placid. Lake Placid. 7 Lake George. Lake George. 8 Cooperstown.

Stroll Down Fifth Avenue And Check Out Iconic Spots

One Day in New York

New Yorks Fifth Avenue is among the most famous streets on the planet, and its packed with some of the most famous storefronts and tourist sights in the world!

Here are just a few things not to miss during your walk down Fifth Avenue.

The Plaza Hotel

Located right next to the southern end of Central Park, youll recognize this iconic luxury hotel from plenty of movies and shows over the years!

Rockefeller Center

Even if youre not headed to the Top of the Rock, the area immediately surrounding Rockefeller Center is definitely worth swerving slightly off 5th for.

Be sure to check out the Atlas statue as well as the exterior of Radio City Music Hall around the cornerand if youre looking for an over-the-top Manhattan take on a beloved childrens brand, Nintendo and Lego also have storefronts here.

St. Patricks Cathedral

Arguably the most impressive religious structure in New York, the impressive Neo-Gothic St. Patricks Cathedral looks almost out of place on modern, consumer-focused Fifth Avenue, but the building is stunning.

New York Public Library

The main branch of the New York Public Library, with its imposing lion statues guarding the front steps, is a city icon in its own right.

Be sure to step inside to admire the Rose Reading Room!

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Other Useful Things To Know

Luggage storage

If you need to store your bags while in town, head over to LuggageHero to find the most suitable storage places. There are some at Grand Central Terminal, Port Authority Bus Terminal, Penn Station, and Times Square. Make sure to book in advance.

Scams

Beware of the following scams you may experience:

  • The Staten Island ferry scam the ferry is free, so walk away from anyone trying to sell you tickets.
  • Costume cartoon characters in Times Square dont take photos of them or they will chase you for money.
  • Taxi scams easy to fall for them as you may not know your way around. Just trust your instinct.

And keep your eyes out for pickpockets on the subway!

Miscellaneous

Other useful tips:

  • Theres no point in getting a local SIM card, so make sure your data plans will cover you in New York and download offline maps just in case it doesnt.
  • Travel insurance is a must for all trips.
  • Care for a guidebook? I recommend this one.

New York City is such a thriving, bustling city that you will feel like you could spend days on end there. While were sure youll have an amazing time during your trip, we have a feeling youll already start planning your next trip there very soon to see everything else the city has to offer you especially if you had limited time and only had one day in New York City on this visit!

Stop #: High Line Park

A rehabilitated stretch of elevated railroad track, the High Line spans about a mile and a half in the Lower West Side. Today this park is filled with beautiful greenery and even some wild creatures. The High Line also hosts special events like stargazing and horticulturist-led tours. You’ll also enjoy fantastic sites of the city and the Hudson River, so it’s worth it just for the photo opportunities alone. Depending on whether or not you want to walk the entire length, it will take between 20-30 minutes of your time. Getting In: Access to High Line Park is totally free!

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Brooklyn Bridge And Brooklyn Heights

If you have one day in New York going to Brooklyn may be a bit ambitious but I promise you its worth it.

Many will suggest you go straight to DUMBO but there are places I prefer, so Id rather include those.

Completed in 1883, back when it was the first ever suspension bridge, Brooklyn Bridge connects Manhattan to Brooklyn across the East River and is one of the most iconic places to visit in New York. The views of the bridge as well as from the bridge of Manhattans skyline are stunning.

After walking the Brooklyn Bridge, take it right and you will be going through Brooklyn Bridge Park to reach Brooklyn Heights, the first suburb of New York City. This is a pleasant area to walk around, with beautiful Victorian style buildings and churches.

Head to Brooklyn Heights Promenade for some of the best views in New York, which include Lower Manhattan, Midtown Manhattan, New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty.

Getting To Nyc From The Airport

You Can Legally Climb a New York Skyscraper

There are three airports that service New York City and sadly, none are conveniently located. But have no fear, there are three fairly quick options to get to the heart of the city: taxi, Uber/Lyft and public transportation. Other options are available, but I havent personally used them so Im sticking with the basics.

  • What better way to make an entrance to the Big Apple than arriving via yellow taxi? The price for taxis varies between airports and well cover average costs from each airport. However, its worth noting that prices range throughout the day, based on demand and traffic.
  • Uber and Lyft are great options and sometimes cheaper than taxis, depending on time of day. I usually take Uber when traveling for business.
  • Public transportation tends to be my preferred method because it is the cheapest.
Getting to Manhattan from JKF Airport via subway:
  • Taxis start with a flat rate of $52 before fees start adding up . The ride takes close to an hour, depending on traffic and drop off point.
  • Uber/Lyft ranges between $30 $50, depending on time of day and takes approximately an hour.
  • Public Transportation: $5 per person. From JFK airport, take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station, and then connect with subway trains. This is my preferred method because it is the cheapest.
Getting to Manhattan from La Guardia Airport
Getting to Manhattan from Newark Airport

Enjoy the Big Apple!

4 days in New York City and complete guide

Until next time,

Antonina

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Night Itinerary: Dinner A View And A Night Cap

The options available for dinner in New York City are virtually endless. Home to some of the world’s finest restaurants, as well as many more affordable choices, it’s hard to suggest just one place to have dinner, but if you’re in the mood for some of the best Chinese food in the United States, head on over to Chinatown.

Chinese food in New York City is famously delicious, and surprisingly affordable. Two local favorite Chinese restaurants are Wo Hop and Oriental Garden . Wo Hop serves classic Chinese-American cuisine from lo mein to chop suey, in a plain below-street-level location while Oriental Garden focuses on fresh Chinese seafood that’s still swimming in tanks when you arrive. You can also check out some Recommended Chinatown Restaurants for some other ideas.

Getting There: From the West 4th Street Subway, take the B or D downtown 2 stops to the Grand Street Station. Exit on Grand Street and walk west, crossing Bowery. If you’re heading to Oriental Garden, take a left onto Elizabeth Street and walk two blocks. If you’re heading to Oriental Garden, take a left onto Mott Street and walk two blocks.

Getting There: From the recommended restaurants above, you can take the B, D, F, or V train uptown to 34th Street. Walk one block east to 5th Avenue and take a left. The entrance to the Empire State Building is on 5th Avenue between 33rd & 34th Streets.

Lunch: Chinatown Or Little Italy

Its time to eat! What are you craving? We say hang around Lower Manhattan and take advantage of the deliciousness in Chinatown or Little Italy. Youll truly feel like youve switched continents if you choose lunch in Chinatown. The award-winning Joes Shanghai is the best spot in Chinatown, hands down. With so many famous dishes you may have a hard time choosing, but make sure you start with their soup dumplings. If you decide on Little Italy, make a beeline to Rubirosa. This family-run restaurant has some of the best pizza and pasta youll ever taste.

Your weekend trip to NYC is almost over, but weve picked some of the best remaining options so you can end your New York City itinerary on a high note!

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Day : South Manhattan & The Business District

Go during weekdays if you want to see the real business district atmosphere -it’s unique!

SOUTH MANHATTAN

  • Beautiful view on Manhattan’s skyline and on the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry

  • Business district

  • Stunning views from One World Observatory

  • 9/11 Memorial -prepare for quite a shock

  • Visit of St Paul Chapel, where lots of victims have been rescues on 9/11

  • Sunset from Battery Park

Week In New York: Itinerary For First Timers

24 Hours in New York City: One

New York has so unbelievably much to offer and thats a good thing. Unfortunately, it also makes travel preparation difficult. To make planning your trip to easier, weve written down our suggested itinerary for 1 week in New York.

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Your trust is really important to us: This post contains so-called affiliate links. Every time you buy or book something using these links, we receive a small commission. Theres no hidden surcharge or any other downside. That way, you can support us with our work. Thank you so much, Jenny & Basti

Hi! We are Jenny & Basti.

Were head over heels in love with photography and traveling. On our travel blog, we share useful travel tips and give you practical photography advice.

Were head over heels in love with photography and traveling. We turned our shared passion into our profession and have been at home everywhere in the world ever since. On 22places we share everything about our travels: with a lot of attention for details, inspirational, authentic, and above all: always honest. On our travel blog, we share useful travel tips and give you practical photography advice.

A full week is a very typical time span for a trip to New York.

So in this article, weve shared our recommended itinerary for 1 week in New York with you.

Of course, we also know that not everyone has a week in New York at their disposal.

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Visit The Iconic Steps Of The Met

This one day in New York itinerary doesnt really leave time to explore the Met itself, but the building is a great place to start the next part of your day, whether youre arriving via metro, cab or Uber, and whether youre coming from the Financial District or from DUMBO.

Drop by the steps quickly, and then head into Central Park!

Bonus #: Times Square

Times Square is another incredibly iconic landmark. Its a crossroad, a major junction with traffic, theaters and what not. Its located in Midtown Manhattan close to Grand Central Terminal and Madison Square Garden and easy to reach from the Empire State Building. Locals may have a been-there-done-that mentality, but for first-time visitors there is nothing like standing in the middle of the neon studded junction, surrounded by the crowds to take it all in.

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Best Coffee In New York City

A guide to 4 days in New York City and no mention of coffee? Im not crazy! I know my friends are powered by coffee.

Honestly, any reasonably looking café will hit the spot. But these are the three I suggest trying during your 4 days in New York City:

  • La Colombe spread like wildfire and for good reason! Theres no better way to describe it than to say their coffee tastes real.
  • Think Coffee we got coffee at Think Coffee during the last day of our previous visit and were sad we couldnt go back for more. The americano was so good.
  • Blue Bottle Coffee hails from San Francisco. They offer rich and decadent cups of quality coffee. So delicious, especially their americanos and drip coffee. I go out of my way to drink Blue Bottle coffee, regardless of the city Im in.
  • Maman, Happy Bones and Birch Coffee as all great options, too!

See A Broadway Musical

The SUMMIT | One Vanderbilt | Brand New Observation Deck Opened in New York City | Midtown Manhattan

It would be hard to visit New York City without seeing a Broadway musical! The distinction between Broadway and Off-Broadway shows is simply the number of seats in the venue, so dont be put off by productions that dont have Broadway status.

Only buy theater tickets from trusted sources your safest best is to go straight to the box office. Ticketmaster and Telecharge are great online ticket sellers, so consider those if youd like to reserve your seats ahead of time.

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Want To Try Something Else

If youve already seen the major sites of Midtown or are looking for something less touristy, NYCs other neighborhoods have a lot to offer. Each of the routes below can be completed in less than a day.

Arts & Architecture in Chelsea & Meatpacking Districts

Take in one of the trendier corners of Manhattan. On this route youll walk along the High Line one of NYCs newest and best parks, built on an old elevated railway check out art galleries, duck into Chelsea market for farm-to-table food stalls and food purveyors, and see the iconic Flat Iron building. If time permits, you can even take in the Whitney Museum. Edgy and even a bit gritty, Chelsea and the Meatpacking districts are your choice if you want to get away from stuffiness of the uptown neighborhoods or the tourist magnets around Times Square.

Best of Greenwich Village

One of New Yorks more famous neighborhoods, when contrasted against the high rises of midtown or the grand apartments on the upper east side, Greenwich village feels almost quaint. But there is a lot of energy floating around the cafes, bookstores, and music venues driven in part by the large population of NYU students that give the area much of its character. Walking the Best of Greenwich Village will take you through about 2.75 miles of its streets and is a good way to spend half a day if youre in the lower Manhattan area.

Downtown & Brooklyn

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