The East Coast of the United States is a living timeline: colonial streets, immigrant neighborhoods, Gilded Age masterpieces, and modern skylines. In 18 days, you’ll trace that arc from New York City’s electric neighborhoods to Washington DC’s marble monuments, and Boston’s revolutionary roots and sea-salted cuisine.

These three cities are linked by the storied Northeast Corridor and their own distinctive rhythm. Expect world-class museums, theater and jazz, green spaces from Central Park to the National Mall, and campuses where ideas have shaped the world. You’ll eat old-school deli classics and cutting-edge tasting menus, sip third-wave coffee, and close your nights in speakeasies and rooftop lounges.

Practical notes: Timed-entry tickets are common for top museums and observatories—reserve ahead. The train is often faster than flying door-to-door between these cities. Weather swings with the seasons; pack layers and comfortable walking shoes. Bring a photo ID for building and museum security checks.

New York City

NYC is the gateway to the East Coast: an atlas of neighborhoods where entire worlds fit on a single block. Walk the High Line, ferry past Lady Liberty, get lost in the Met, and cross the Brooklyn Bridge at golden hour. Nights belong to Broadway, jazz basements, and skyline lounges.

Where to stay: For Midtown convenience, downtown buzz, or a Brooklyn base, browse stays on VRBO and hotel deals on Hotels.com. Consider Midtown (fast subways), the Village/Chelsea (dining and nightlife), or Williamsburg/DUMBO (views and space).

Getting to NYC: Compare flights to NYC airports (JFK/LGA/EWR) on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From the airport, budget 45–90 minutes to reach Manhattan depending on traffic and transit.

Days 1–3: Manhattan Icons

• Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island: Board the morning ferry for pedestal-level photo ops and the powerful Immigration Museum. Expect 4–5 hours; reserve tickets ahead, especially crown access.
• The Met and Fifth Avenue loop: The Metropolitan Museum of Art rewards 2–3 hours minimum; stroll Central Park afterward (The Ramble, Bow Bridge, Bethesda Terrace) for classic skyline views.
• Midtown views: Choose Top of the Rock or Edge for sunset panoramas. Times Square is best after dark—short, dazzling, and then onward.
• Broadway night: Secure tickets in advance (prices vary widely ~$60–250). For same-day bargains, try matinees or weeknight performances.

Eat & drink nearby: Breakfast at Russ & Daughters Café (lox, eggs, and onions on a bialy), or B&H Dairy for a time-capsule diner vibe. Lunch at Joe’s Pizza (foldable slice) or Los Tacos No. 1 (hand-pressed tortillas). Dinner at Via Carota (rustic Italian; expect a wait), Cote (Korean steakhouse with a Michelin star), or Rezdôra (Emilia-Romagna pastas). Nightcaps at Dante (classic cocktails), Overstory (wraparound terrace), or Attaboy (bespoke drinks; go early).

Days 4–5: Downtown, High Line, and Brooklyn

• West Side walk: Chelsea Market snacks, the High Line’s elevated gardens, and the Whitney Museum’s terraces.
• 9/11 Memorial & Museum: Quiet reflection at the pools; allow 2 hours for the museum’s oral histories and artifacts.
• Brooklyn Bridge at golden hour: Walk Manhattan to Brooklyn; explore DUMBO’s cobblestones, Jane’s Carousel, and the waterfront.
• Williamsburg evening: Rooftop views at Westlight, then dinner at Lilia (wood-fired Italian) or Fini Pizza, and gelato at Lella Alimentari.

Local coffee & bites: Devoción (single-origin Colombian coffee), La Cabra (Scandi pastries), Everyman Espresso (barista-driven classics). Lunch gems: Xi’an Famous Foods (hand-pulled noodles), Mamoun’s (late-night falafel), and Kiki’s (Greek taverna on Division St.).

Day 6: Curated Highlights or Guided Overview

• Guided city intro: If you prefer a fast, expertly narrated overview, consider:
  New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour

  

  This covers signature stops efficiently—great early in the trip or as a capstone if you’ve been exploring independently.
• Seasonal sparkle (Nov–Jan): Families love the
  Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights Admission Ticket

  

  for an evening of whimsical installations and animal-themed lanterns.

Travel to Washington, DC (Morning of Day 7): Amtrak Northeast Regional NYC–DC is ~3h20–3h45 (typical $70–$150); Acela trims to ~3h ($120–$220). Buses run ~4.5–5.5h ($20–$50). Flights are ~1h25 but plan ~3.5–4h door-to-door. If flying, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Washington, DC

DC is a city of ideas carved in stone. The National Mall anchors the nation’s story with memorials and museums, while lively neighborhoods—from historic Georgetown to music-filled U Street—reveal the modern capital.

Where to stay: For museum access, base near Penn Quarter or the Mall; for charm, book Georgetown; for nightlife, try Logan Circle or U Street. Browse VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com.

Days 7–8: The National Mall and Smithsonian Masterpieces

• Monuments by day and night: Lincoln, MLK, FDR, WWII, Vietnam, and Korean War Memorials—stirring at sunrise and luminous after dark.
• Smithsonian essentials: Choose 2–3 per day: National Museum of American History (Star-Spangled Banner), Air and Space (moon rock, Wright Flyer—note ongoing renovations), National Museum of African American History & Culture (timed entry), and the National Gallery of Art (Vermeer to Rothko).

Eat & drink nearby: Breakfast at A Baked Joint (house-made breads) or Call Your Mother (Montreal-style bagels). Lunch at the Mitsitam Café inside NMAI (Indigenous regional dishes) or Union Market (grab-and-graze at multiple stalls). Dinner at The Dabney (Mid-Atlantic hearth cooking), Rasika (modern Indian with iconic palak chaat), or Le Diplomate (Parisian brasserie energy). Cocktails at Silver Lyan (Riggs Hotel), Allegory (mural-lined lounge), or Service Bar (bartender favorites).

Days 9–10: Neighborhood DC—Georgetown, U Street, and Museums Off the Mall

• Georgetown day: Stroll the C&O Canal towpath and boutique-lined M Street, then waterfront sunsets at Washington Harbour. Peek into Tudor Place or Dumbarton Oaks Gardens when in season.
• U Street and Shaw: Jazz history at the African American Civil War Memorial, then live music at the storied Howard Theatre or Blues Alley (Georgetown). Street art and soulful eats round out the evening.
• Museum gems: Phillips Collection (America’s first modern art museum; Renoir’s “Luncheon of the Boating Party”), National Portrait Gallery (famed presidential portraits) and American Art Museum in a grand historic building.

Day 11: Potomac History—Mount Vernon or Old Town Alexandria

• Mount Vernon: George Washington’s riverside estate offers house tours, working farm, and a sweeping Potomac view—plan a half-day.
• Old Town Alexandria: Cobblestones, independent boutiques, and waterfront dining. Ride the free King Street Trolley between the metro and the river.

Coffee and sweets: Peregrine Espresso (precise pours), Compass Coffee (local roaster), and Seylou (whole-grain bakery known for phenomenal loaves and pastries).

Travel to Boston (Morning of Day 12): Amtrak DC–Boston is ~6.5–7h on Acela ($150–$260) or ~7–8h on Northeast Regional ($90–$180). Flying takes ~1h45 plus airport transfers; compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’d rather break it up, split the ride with a lunch stop in NYC’s Moynihan Train Hall.

Boston

Founded in 1630, Boston blends colonial landmarks and cutting-edge labs, lobstah rolls and contemporary tasting menus, Fenway cheers and Charles River sculls. It’s compact, walkable, and brimming with academic energy from nearby Cambridge.

Where to stay: For history, try the North End or Beacon Hill; for shopping and dining, Back Bay; for value and access, Seaport or Cambridge. See options on VRBO and Hotels.com.

Days 12–13: Freedom Trail and the Historic Core

• Freedom Trail (2.5 miles): Follow the red line past Boston Common, Granary Burying Ground, Old South Meeting House, Faneuil Hall, and the North End. Continue to the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill in Charlestown if you have the legs.
• North End eats: Classic Italian at Giacomo’s (cozy, no-frills) or Carmelina’s (Sicilian leanings). Cannoli showdown: Mike’s Pastry vs. Modern Pastry.
• Fenway Park tour: Baseball fan or not, the Green Monster stories make a great hour (~$25–$35; game days vary).

Cafés & bites: Thinking Cup (Stumptown beans), George Howell (coffee geek heaven), and Tatte Bakery (savory shakshouka and pistachio croissants). Seafood standouts: Neptune Oyster (buttery lobster roll), Row 34 (oysters, crispy tuna), and James Hook & Co. (harborside shack vibes).

Days 14–15: Cambridge, Museums, and the River

• Harvard Yard and Harvard Art Museums: World-class collections in a glass-roofed Renzo Piano reimagining; stroll Brattle Street’s “Tory Row.”
• MIT & the Charles: Walk the river paths for skyline reflections, then peek at MIT’s public art and Frank Gehry’s Stata Center.
• Museum options: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Venetian courtyard, infamous 1990 art heist) and the Museum of Fine Arts (from Egyptian antiquities to contemporary installations).
• Evening drinks: Hecate (Back Bay’s subterranean cocktail den), The Longfellow Bar at Alden & Harlow (inventive small plates and drinks), or Lookout Rooftop (seaport skyline).

Days 16–18: Coastal Day Trips and New England Flavor

• Martha’s Vineyard day trip from Boston: Let someone else handle the logistics with
  Martha's Vineyard Daytrip from Boston with Round-Trip Ferry & Island Tour Option

  

  for lighthouses, beach towns, and clapboard cottages.
• Alternative coastal escape: Salem (witch trial history plus Peabody Essex Museum) or Newport, RI (Gilded Age mansions and cliff walk). In summer, consider a quick Cape Cod jaunt for beaches and fried clams.
• Final night feast: O Ya (sublime omakase), Mamma Maria (white-tablecloth Italian in a brick townhouse), or Oleana (Eastern Mediterranean garden patio when warm).

Departure: Fly out of BOS (Logan) and compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’re looping back by rail, Amtrak to NYC is ~4–4.5h.

Block-by-Block Overview

• Days 1–6: NYC—Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island, Central Park, The Met, Top of the Rock or Edge, Broadway, 9/11 Museum, High Line, DUMBO, Williamsburg, curated tour option.
• Days 7–11: DC—National Mall monuments, Smithsonian highlights, National Gallery, Georgetown, U Street jazz, Phillips Collection, Mount Vernon or Old Town Alexandria.
• Days 12–18: Boston—Freedom Trail, Fenway Park tour, MFA/Gardner, Harvard/MIT, coastal day trip to Martha’s Vineyard (tour option), or Salem/Newport; cap with a seafood-forward finale.

This 18-day East Coast itinerary balances blockbuster sights with local discoveries, trains with walks, and museum time with waterfront breezes. You’ll leave with the big stories—and the small, delicious details—you came for.