New York City is a mosaic of neighborhoods layered with four centuries of history. From a Dutch trading post to the world’s cultural capital, it’s a place where brownstone stoops meet glass spires, and where bagels, Broadway, and breathtaking skylines are part of daily life.

Fun fact: the city’s iconic grid was laid out in 1811, shaping today’s walkable Manhattan. Another: Central Park wasn’t nature—it was engineered in the 1850s to give the booming city a grand green refuge. Today, NYC draws visitors for its museums, theaters, and the simple joy of strolling from deli to gallery to rooftop bar.

Practical notes: the subway and buses use contactless OMNY (tap a card/phone), rides are $2.90. Taxis and rideshares are easy; budget 45–90 minutes from JFK to Manhattan depending on traffic. Tipping at restaurants is typically 18–22%. Book timed-entry tickets for popular observation decks and the Statue of Liberty to avoid queues.

New York City

NYC rewards curiosity. Wander the Beaux-Arts grandeur of Grand Central Terminal, feel the hum of Times Square, and then duck down a quiet West Village block for espresso and a perfect pastry. Balance big hitters—the Met, the Statue of Liberty—with intimate moments: a jazz set in a basement club, a sunset on the Brooklyn waterfront.

• Top sights: Central Park, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, the Met, 9/11 Memorial, Brooklyn Bridge, High Line, Hudson Yards.
• Neighborhoods to explore: Greenwich Village, SoHo, DUMBO, Williamsburg, the Upper West & East Sides, Chinatown, Koreatown.
• What to eat: Hand-rolled bagels, New York–style pizza, deli pastrami, classic red-sauce Italian, inventive tasting menus, and one-of-a-kind bakeries.

Where to stay (Hotels & Vacation Rentals):

• The St. Regis New York (Fifth Avenue icon with butler service, near Central Park and top museums).
• The Plaza Hotel (Historic grandeur at the southeast corner of Central Park, a film and literary legend).
• Residence Inn by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square (Spacious suites with kitchenettes; great for longer stays near Bryant Park).
• Pod 51 Hotel (Clean, clever budget option in Midtown East with a rooftop and easy subway access).
• Browse more NYC hotels on Hotels.com or find apartments on VRBO.

How to get here: Fly into JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), or Newark (EWR). For flights, compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. If traveling from Europe, you can also compare routes on Omio. Typical flight times: US East Coast ~1–3 hours; US West Coast ~5–6 hours; London/Western Europe ~7–8 hours nonstop.

Airport to Manhattan: JFK AirTrain (~$8.25) + subway ($2.90), or taxi (flat fare around $70 plus toll/tip). LGA rideshare/taxi often $30–$60. EWR: NJ Transit train via AirTrain (~45–60 minutes) or taxi (~$70+).

Day 1 — Midtown Icons, Grand Central Secrets, Sunset Skies

Morning: Travel and arrival. If you land early, stretch your legs at Bryant Park, a leafy square with a seasonal carousel and pop-up kiosks. Grab a light bite at Culture Espresso (noted for chocolate chip cookies) or Le Pain Quotidien in the park.

Afternoon: Step into Grand Central Terminal to admire its celestial ceiling and whispering gallery; then duck into the Main Concourse balcony for photos. Snack stop: Bien Cuit for a croissant or Magnolia Bakery for a classic banana pudding. Walk by the Chrysler Building for art deco splendor, then into the New York Public Library’s Rose Main Reading Room.

Evening: Time your observation deck for golden hour. Book the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Experience Ticket for immersive, mirror-filled cityscapes and thrilling glass ledges overlooking the Empire State Building.

Dinner in Koreatown (West 32nd St). Try Jongro BBQ for charcoal-grilled short ribs, or The Kunjip for bubbling kimchi jjigae. Nightcap: the classic Jimmy’s Corner (cash-only, boxer memorabilia) a few blocks from Times Square, or a quieter cocktail at Dukes Bar near Grand Central.

Day 2 — Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, and Historic Downtown

Morning: Fuel up near Battery Park at Leo’s Bagels (chewy, hand-rolled bagels) or Black Fox Coffee. Then join a morning departure for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour to access Liberty Island and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum with a historian guide.

Afternoon: Back on Manhattan, wander the 9/11 Memorial’s reflecting pools and the Oculus. Lunch around Stone Street: Adrienne’s Pizza Bar for old-school pies, or Luke’s Lobster for a Maine-style roll. Walk past the New York Stock Exchange and the Fearless Girl statue; peek into Fraunces Tavern, a Revolutionary War haunt.

Evening: Explore Chinatown and Little Italy on a self-guided food crawl. Sample scallion pancakes or soup dumplings at Joe’s Shanghai, hand-pulled noodles at Xi’an Famous Foods, and finish with a cannoli at Ferrara. For drinks, consider The Dead Rabbit (award-winning Irish bar) near the harbor or Apotheke for speakeasy vibes and botanical cocktails.

Day 3 — Central Park, Museum Mile, and Broadway Night

Morning: Breakfast near the park: Sarabeth’s Central Park South for fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes or Ess-a-Bagel for a classic lox-and-schmear. Enter Central Park at The Pond and work north: The Mall, Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, and Strawberry Fields. Rent a rowboat at the Loeb Boathouse (seasonal) or simply linger at the Conservatory Water’s model sailboats.

Afternoon: Choose a museum: The Met (Egyptian wing, Impressionists, the Temple of Dendur) or the American Museum of Natural History (the Hayden Planetarium is a standout). Late lunch on the Upper East Side: Pastrami Queen for a towering sandwich, or Sant Ambroeus for Milanese-influenced salads and panini. Walk Fifth Avenue by St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center ice rink or summer plaza.

Evening: Broadway time. Pre-theater dinner in Hell’s Kitchen: Don Antonio for blistered Neapolitan pizza or Mom’s Kitchen and Bar for comfort classics. See a musical or play; same-day deals can be found at TKTS in Times Square. Post-show, slip into the Theater District’s Joe Allen (industry haunt with a late kitchen) or the tiny jazz room at Swing 46 on Restaurant Row.

Day 4 — Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO Views, Williamsburg Eats, Skyline by Water

Morning: Cross the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan just after sunrise for fewer crowds and glowing skyline views. Coffee and pastries at Butler in DUMBO, then photos on Washington Street with the Manhattan Bridge perfectly framed. Stroll Brooklyn Bridge Park piers and Jane’s Carousel (a restored 1922 beauty, now in a glass pavilion).

Afternoon: Head to Williamsburg for boutiques and bites. Coffee at Devoción (lush interior and bright Colombian roasts). Lunch options: L’Industrie Pizzeria for thin, crisp slices; Bernie’s for retro red-sauce classics; or a farm-driven plate at Sunday in Brooklyn. Browse local shops on Bedford Avenue and take in the East River view from Domino Park.

Evening: Return to Manhattan for an elegant, expert-led circuit around the island on the Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise—a 2.75-hour voyage with narration that brings the skyline’s stories to life.

Dinner back in Brooklyn if you prefer: Lilia (wood-fired Italian; reserve early) or Rule of Thirds (Japanese-inspired, lively and shareable). For a final view, Westlight atop The William Vale offers sweeping panoramas and thoughtful cocktails.

Day 5 — High Line, Hudson Yards, Farewell from the Empire State

Morning: Breakfast at Daily Provisions (excellent crullers and egg sandwiches) near Union Square, then walk the High Line from the Meatpacking District—an elevated park with public art, native plantings, and peek-a-boo vistas—toward Hudson Yards. Explore the shops and public spaces; pop into Mercado Little Spain for a tapa or two.

Afternoon: Cap your trip with a classic: the NYC Empire State Building Admission Ticket for its Art Deco exhibits and wraparound 86th-floor views. It’s an efficient, central stop if you have a flight later in the day.

Grab a quick, quintessential lunch nearby: Keens for a mutton chop or pub lunch in its wood-paneled bar, or Koreatown’s food halls for fast bites. Depart for the airport with extra time for traffic, and one last look at the skyline that hooked you.

Optional Add-Ons and Tips

• Orientation in a day: If you’re short on time, the New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour efficiently hits many highlights with a licensed guide.

  

• Seasonal sparkle (Nov–Jan): Rockefeller Center tree, holiday windows on Fifth Ave, and Bryant Park Winter Village are magical. Book nighttime light-viewing tours if visiting in December.
• Getting around: Tap-to-pay OMNY on subways/buses; consider a 7-day unlimited if you’ll ride frequently. Wear comfortable shoes—NYC is a walking city.

Food & Drink Shortlist by Area

• Midtown: The Modern’s Bar Room (MoMA, refined small plates), Los Tacos No.1 (Chelsea Market; also Midtown), Soba Totto (buckwheat noodles), Don Antonio (Neapolitan pies).
• Downtown: Katz’s Delicatessen (pastrami icon), Balthazar (French brasserie), Eataly Downtown (Italian market), Khe-Yo (Laotian, bold flavors).
• Uptown: Pastrami Queen (Upper East Side), Levain Bakery (cookies, various locations), Jacob’s Pickles (comfort fare on the Upper West Side).
• Brooklyn: L’Industrie (slices), Juliana’s (coal-fired pies), Rule of Thirds (Japanese-inspired), Celestine (Mediterranean with views).
• Cafes & Coffee: Devoción, La Cabra (cardamom bun), Café Grumpy, Stumptown.
• Drinks: Dante (Negroni variations), The Dead Rabbit (Irish), Bemelmans Bar (hand-painted murals), Bar Goto (Japanese cocktails).

In five days, you’ll trace New York’s story from harbor to skyline—walking its bridges, savoring its bakeries and pizza counters, and hearing its history from the decks of boats and the heights of towers. Keep this guide handy, and let the city’s neighborhoods lead you from one delicious discovery to the next.