New York City is a patchwork of neighborhoods and stories—Lenape homelands that grew into a Dutch trading post, a British colony, an American port of arrivals, and now a global capital of arts, food, and ideas. From the Statue of Liberty to Harlem jazz and Brooklyn’s warehouses-turned-galleries, the city rewards curiosity on every corner.

Expect a dynamic week: ferry rides past Lady Liberty, walks on the High Line, late-night pizza, and a matinee on Broadway. You’ll pair world-class museums with bagel shops older than most skyscrapers, and cap days with sweeping views from new-generation observatories.

Practical notes: The subway is the fastest way around (tap a contactless card/phone; $2.90 per ride, daily fare-capping applies). Taxis from JFK have a flat fare to Manhattan ($70 plus tolls/tip). Dress for walking, book popular restaurants and shows early, and carry a light layer—indoor A/C can be brisk even in summer.

New York City

Iconic and intimate at once, NYC’s character emerges in its details: steam curling from a street grate, delis stacked with smoked fish, stoops where generations have watched parades and protests. You’ll explore Manhattan’s landmarks and Brooklyn’s creative edge, with time to linger in cafés, parks, and bookshops.

• Top sights: Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Central Park, the Met, MoMA, 9/11 Memorial, Brooklyn Bridge, High Line, Hudson Yards, Rockefeller Center.
• Neighborhoods to savor: Greenwich Village jazz bars, SoHo’s cast-iron blocks, Nolita boutiques, DUMBO’s cobbles and waterfront, Williamsburg’s indie energy, the Upper West Side’s café culture.
• What to eat: Hand-rolled bagels with lox, New York slices, Chinatown dumplings, Village trattorie, Korean BBQ in Koreatown, and destination-worthy bakeries from Levain to La Cabra.

Where to stay: Base yourself in Midtown for easy transit or choose the West Village, Upper West Side, or Williamsburg for neighborhood vibes. Browse stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting in: Fly into JFK, LGA, or EWR—search competitive fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Typical flight times: 1–6 hours domestic; 6–9 hours transatlantic; $100–$400 domestic, $500–$1,200 international depending on season.

Airport transfers: JFK taxi flat fare to Manhattan is $70 (+tolls/tip; ~45–75 min). AirTrain + LIRR/Subway (~$8.50–$15, ~40–60 min). LGA’s Q70 SBS LaGuardia Link is free to/from the airport; connect to the subway ($2.90). From EWR, take AirTrain + NJ Transit to NY Penn Station (~$15.50, ~35–50 min) or taxi (~$60–$80).

Day 1: Arrival, Bryant Park, and Times Square Glow

Morning: Travel day. Hydrate, download offline maps, and shortlist a few restaurants near your hotel in case you’re hungry post-check-in.

Afternoon: Arrive and settle in. Stretch your legs in Bryant Park—once a 19th-century reservoir, now Midtown’s prettiest backyard—then pop into the New York Public Library’s majestic Rose Main Reading Room for Beaux-Arts grandeur. Espresso stop: Culture Espresso (buttery chocolate chip cookies and excellent flat whites) or Blue Bottle on 40th St.

Evening: Early dinner near Midtown: Keens Steakhouse (since 1885; famed mutton chop and clay pipe ceiling), Urbanspace Vanderbilt food hall for variety, or Sarge’s for classic deli comforts. Cap the night in Times Square’s neon amphitheater, then toast the skyline at The Press Lounge (river views) or Pebble Bar at Rockefeller Center.

Day 2: Lady Liberty, Ellis Island, and Lower Manhattan

Morning: Fuel up at Leo’s Bagels in FiDi (smoked salmon on an everything bagel) before your harbor day.

Afternoon: Join a guided experience that weaves America’s migration story with today’s skyline.

Featured activity: Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and 9/11 Memorial Guided Tour

This guided tour efficiently covers Liberty Island, Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Memorial with context and reserved ferry access, saving time and adding insight. Afterward, consider the 9/11 Memorial Museum (powerful exhibits, timed tickets recommended).

Evening: Explore the Oculus and Wall Street’s Federal-style canyons. Dinner options: Crown Shy (elevated seasonal dishes in a landmarked Art Deco tower), Delmonico’s (revived Gilded Age classic; look for the namesake steak), or Stone Street’s cobbled beer gardens. Cocktail idea: Overstory—elegant drinks with wraparound downtown views.

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

Morning: Wander Central Park’s Mall, Bethesda Terrace, and Bow Bridge. Brunch at Sarabeth’s Central Park South (fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes) or via a classic lox platter at Russ & Daughters Cafe (Lower East Side original with an uptown spirit if you ride the subway).

Afternoon: Choose your museum: The Met (2 million objects; don’t miss the Temple of Dendur) or the American Museum of Natural History (whales to worlds beyond). Snack break at Zabar’s (old-school appetizing on the Upper West Side) or Levain Bakery (legendary cookies).

Evening: Broadway beckons—arrive 30 minutes early and consider same-day discount tickets at the TKTS booth for flexibility. Pre-theater dining: Becco (pasta trio), Joe Allen (the insiders’ spot for a quick, unfussy meal), or Sushi of Gari (chef-driven nigiri). Post-show, slip into The Campbell in Grand Central for a nightcap in a Jazz Age salon.

Day 4: Midtown Icons, Grand Central, and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

Morning: St. Patrick’s Cathedral gleams opposite Rockefeller Center; ride up to Top of the Rock if you want a classic Empire State Building view framed by Central Park. Coffee at Blue Bottle Rockefeller Center or Ole & Steen for a Danish pastry break.

Afternoon: Step inside Grand Central Terminal to find the whispering gallery and celestial ceiling, then time your immersive skyline moment at SUMMIT.

Featured activity: SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Experience Ticket

Part art installation, part observation deck, SUMMIT’s mirrored chambers and glass sky boxes turn Manhattan into an infinity of light—book a late-afternoon slot for golden-hour drama into sunset. Lunch ideas: Urban Hawker (Singaporean hawker classics like Hainanese chicken rice) or Los Tacos No. 1 (adobada on a hand-pressed tortilla).

Evening: Feast in Koreatown: COTE (Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse; book early) or Her Name is Han (soulful homestyle plates). Dessert and tea at Grace Street (honey butter bread) or karaoke at Gagopa if you’re feeling bold.

Day 5: Brooklyn Bridge Sunrise, DUMBO, and Williamsburg

Morning: Cross the Brooklyn Bridge early for empty-bridge photos and watch the skyline warm up. Coffee and croissants at Butler in DUMBO, then amble to Pebble Beach and the Time Out Market roof for postcard-perfect shots of the Manhattan Bridge.

Afternoon: Ferry up the East River to Williamsburg (scenic and quick). Browse indie shops along Bedford Avenue, sample a slice at L’Industrie (razor-thin, blistered crust), and sip a nitro cold brew at Devoción (beans roasted on-site, lush interior greenery).

Evening: Dinner options: Lilia (smoky mafaldini with pink peppercorns; tough reservation but worth it), Llama Inn (Peruvian flavors with New York swagger), or Roberta’s (wood-fired pizza classic). For skyline cocktails, Westlight crowns The William Vale; Bar Blondeau offers a stylish alternative with a raw-bar lean.

Day 6: SoHo, Nolita, Greenwich Village, and a Food Tour

Morning: Stroll SoHo’s cast-iron blocks before crowds arrive and browse Nolita’s small boutiques. Breakfast at La Cabra (cardamom bun and a Scandinavian roast) or Café Integral for Nicaraguan beans and quiet corners.

Afternoon: Dive into the Village’s culinary heart with a small-group tasting that blends history with bites—from Sicilian slices to cannoli and Chinatown dumplings.

Featured activity: Greenwich Village Food Tour | Tasty Tours NYC

It’s a flavorful way to meet the neighborhood and decide where to return later in the week. If you skip the tour, build your own: Prince Street Pizza (spicy squares), Emilio’s Ballato (old-school red-sauce vibes), or Xi’an Famous Foods (tingly hand-pulled noodles).

Evening: Jazz at Village Vanguard or Smalls for an intimate set, or laugh the night away at the Comedy Cellar. Late dinner: Minetta Tavern (Black Label Burger) or Via Carota (rustic Italian; walk-in list moves faster for 2).

Day 7: High Line, Chelsea Market, and Edge—Then Departure

Morning: Start at the Whitney Museum’s plaza and walk the High Line’s elevated gardens to Hudson Yards. Snack your way through Chelsea Market—Los Tacos No. 1, Miznon’s stuffed pitas, and Doughnuttery minis—then end with a sky-deck finale.

Featured activity: NYC Edge Observation Deck at Hudson Yards Admission Ticket

Edge’s outdoor deck and glass floor deliver a thrilling, open-air perspective 1,100 feet up—perfect for a farewell panorama. Pick up any last souvenirs in the Shops at Hudson Yards.

Afternoon: Head back to your hotel, grab a final coffee at Blue Bottle or Café Grumpy, and depart for the airport (plan 1–1.5 hours to JFK/EWR, ~45 minutes to LGA depending on traffic). Safe travels—your camera roll will thank you.

Optional add-ons for more time or return visits: The Cloisters (medieval art above the Hudson), Little Island’s floating park, Whitney Museum galleries, Yankees/Mets game in season, or a dinner cruise with skyline views like Bateaux for a polished night on the water.

Where to compare and book your essentials:

• Flights: Trip.com Flights, Kiwi.com
• Stays: VRBO New York, Hotels.com New York

Quick-reference dining picks by vibe:

• Breakfast & coffee: Ess-a-Bagel (bagels), Russ & Daughters (lox), La Cabra (Scandi bakes), Devoción (single-origin), Culture Espresso (cookies), Abraço (tiny East Village gem).
• Lunch favorites: Katz’s Delicatessen (pastrami), Los Tacos No. 1 (adobada), Joe’s Pizza or L’Industrie (slices), Balthazar (brasserie), Time Out Market (variety with views).
• Dinner standouts: Gramercy Tavern (seasonal), COTE (Korean steakhouse), Lilia (pasta), Keens (historic steak), Via Carota (rustic Italian), Llama Inn (Peruvian).
• Drinks & night: Dante (award-winning Negronis), Overstory (skyline cocktails), Westlight (Brooklyn views), Village Vanguard (jazz), Comedy Cellar (stand-up).

In one week, you’ve traced New York’s history from harbor to high line, tasted your way through beloved neighborhoods, and seen the skyline from multiple angles. Return soon—the city changes with the seasons, and your favorite corner may be the one you haven’t found yet.