The East Coast of the United States is a tapestry of bold skylines and era-defining history. In a single week, you can watch the sun gild Central Park, stand where immigrants first glimpsed America at Ellis Island, and read Lincoln’s words etched in stone at the Lincoln Memorial. This itinerary pairs New York City’s creative pulse with Washington, DC’s living history, balancing iconic sights with local-favorite food and neighborhoods.

New York grew from a 17th-century Dutch trading post into a cultural superpower—home to Broadway, the Met, and some of the world’s most influential cuisine scenes. Washington, DC, planned in the 1790s by Pierre L’Enfant, was built to inspire: grand avenues, marble monuments, and museums that make history feel immediate and human. Together, they make an ideal 7-day USA trip for first-timers and return visitors alike.

Practical notes: Reserve popular entries (Statue of Liberty pedestal/crown, the Met’s exhibits, DC’s National Museum of African American History and Culture) ahead of time. In NYC, ride the subway with a tap-to-pay card; in DC, get a SmarTrip card for the Metro. Pack comfortable shoes—you’ll happily walk 10,000+ steps most days.

New York City

Welcome to a city that hums at every hour. New York’s neighborhoods each feel like their own village—SoHo’s cast-iron facades, Greenwich Village’s jazz pedigree, and DUMBO’s cobblestones opening to cinematic skyline views. You’ll taste your way through bagel shops, delis, and markets, then cap the night with a Broadway curtain rise or a rooftop view.

• Top sights: Central Park, The Met, MoMA, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, High Line, Brooklyn Bridge, Top of the Rock or Edge at Hudson Yards.
• Why it’s special: Layers of immigration shaped a food scene where a century-old appetizing shop and a cutting-edge tasting menu coexist a block apart.
• Where to stay: Browse apartments and hotels near Midtown (for easy transit), the Village (for dining), or Brooklyn (for views and value).

Stay here: Search vacation rentals in New York City on VRBO or Search hotels in New York City on Hotels.com.

Getting to NYC: Fly into JFK, LGA, or EWR. Compare fares on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com; typical nonstop times from major U.S. hubs are 1.5–6 hours.

Day 1: Arrive, Bryant Park & Midtown Glow

Afternoon: Check in, then stretch your legs at Bryant Park—tables, Parisian-style chairs, and free games set a neighborly tone. Pop into the New York Public Library’s Rose Main Reading Room for Beaux-Arts grandeur and a quiet wow.

Evening: Early dinner in Midtown: try Joe’s Pizza (classic New York slice; grab a plain slice to taste the sauce-cheese balance) or Urbanspace Vanderbilt for stalls like Roberta’s (Neapolitan pies) and Mimi Cheng’s (Taiwanese dumplings). Stroll Times Square after dusk when the LEDs blaze; it’s touristy, yes, but the energy is part of the story. Nightcap at Refinery Rooftop for Empire State Building views.

Day 2: Central Park, The Met, and Broadway

Morning: Coffee at Devoción (W. 20th St) for ultra-fresh Colombian beans, or Upper West Side’s Daily Provisions for a bacon-egg-and-cheese on a soft roll. Walk Central Park: Bow Bridge, Bethesda Terrace, and The Mall’s elms. Keep an eye out for buskers near Bethesda Arcade.

Afternoon: Spend several hours at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (don’t miss the Temple of Dendur, Impressionists, and Armor Court). Lunch nearby at Via Quadronno (buttery Milanese panini) or grab a cookie at Levain Bakery on 77th St—still the city’s most decadent chocolate chip. Window-shop along Madison Avenue or 5th Avenue afterward.

Evening: Pre-theater dinner on Restaurant Row: Becco (Lidia Bastianich’s spot; all-you-can-eat pasta trio is a smart curtain-time play) or Joe Allen (industry haunt with a burger worth the hype). See a Broadway show—drama, musical, or comedy. After, toast at Glass House Tavern or grab a late slice at Prince Street Pizza if you find yourself downtown.

Day 3: Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Museum, and Brooklyn Bridge

Morning: Ferry to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (plan 4–5 hours; pedestal/crown tickets require advance booking). The Ellis Island museum’s immigrant records and photographs are moving—budget time to read the stories.

Afternoon: Back in Lower Manhattan, lunch at Fraunces Tavern (colonial-era pub where Washington bid farewell to his officers; order the pot pie or fish and chips). Reflect at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum; the twin reflecting pools are free, museum entry is ticketed. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge at golden hour for skyline views.

Evening: In DUMBO, pizza at Juliana’s (coal-fired, thin-crust; try the classic Margherita) or Time Out Market for variety. Dessert and views at Harriet’s Rooftop (1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge) or linger on Pebble Beach as the lights come on.

Day 4: High Line, Chelsea Market, SoHo & the Village

Morning: Espresso at Blue Bottle (Chelsea) then stroll the High Line—wild plantings, public art, and elevated city vignettes. Drop into Little Island for curvy lawns and river views.

Afternoon: Lunch at Chelsea Market: standout stalls include Los Tacos No. 1 (adobada on a fresh corn tortilla), Very Fresh Noodles (hand-pulled), and Lobster Place. Continue to SoHo for cast-iron architecture and indie boutiques; then wander Greenwich Village’s tree-lined blocks, Washington Square Park, and Caffe Reggio (espresso since 1927).

Evening: Dinner options: Via Carota (rustic Italian; get the insalata verde and cacio e pepe), L’Artusi (modern Italian pastas), or Katz’s Delicatessen on the Lower East Side for a towering pastrami on rye. Cap the night with a speakeasy experience at PDT (enter via a phone booth inside Crif Dogs; reservations recommended) or a cocktail at Dante in the Village.

Washington, DC

DC pairs neoclassical monuments with neighborhoods that feel distinctly local—capitol corridors in the morning, Ethiopian injera on U Street by night. The Smithsonian museums (many free) make a unique playground for the curious, and the city’s monument loops are best at twilight when marble glows soft and the reflecting pool mirrors the sky.

• Top sights: National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Air & Space, Natural History, American History, African American History & Culture (timed passes), Arlington National Cemetery, Georgetown waterfront.
• Food scene: From classic power-lunch rooms to award-winning mid-Atlantic kitchens—think hearth cooking, Chesapeake seafood, and international flavors.
• Where to stay: Downtown/Metro Center for easy Metro access, the Wharf for waterfront dining, or Dupont/Logan Circle for nightlife and leafy streets.

Stay here: Search vacation rentals in Washington, DC on VRBO or Search hotels in Washington, DC on Hotels.com.

Travel NYC → DC (Day 5 morning): The Amtrak Northeast Regional runs ~3h15m ($40–$120) and the Acela ~2h45m ($110–$220) from NYC Penn Station to DC Union Station; choose a window seat for shoreline views in New Jersey/Maryland. Buses (BoltBus/Flix/Mega) take ~4–4.5h ($20–$40). Flight time is ~1h15m (factor in airport transfers/security); compare fares on Trip.com flights.

Day 5: Arrival in DC, American History, and Monuments by Moonlight

Morning: Depart NYC by train; snack on a bagel before boarding.

Afternoon: Drop bags, then start at the Smithsonian Castle visitor center to orient. Explore either the National Museum of American History (Star-Spangled Banner, First Ladies’ gowns, pop culture artifacts) or Natural History (the Hope Diamond, dinosaurs). Coffee at Peregrine Espresso (Penn Quarter) for a flawless cappuccino.

Evening: Classic DC dinner: Old Ebbitt Grill (est. 1856; oysters and the crab cakes are go-tos) or Founding Farmers (farm-to-table with a great chicken & waffles). After dusk, walk the Lincoln Memorial → Korean War → Vietnam Veterans → WWII Memorial loop. The reflections and quiet at night are unforgettable.

Day 6: Capitol Hill, Library of Congress, and Museums

Morning: Breakfast at Call Your Mother (Capitol Hill) for a loaded bagel sandwich and pink decor that sparks photos. Tour the U.S. Capitol (reserve in advance) and the Library of Congress Jefferson Building—the Great Hall’s mosaics and the Gutenberg Bible are highlights.

Afternoon: Choose a Smithsonian focus: the refreshed National Air and Space Museum (Wright Flyer, Apollo, space capsules) or the National Museum of African American History and Culture (timed free passes; from slavery through the civil rights movement to today—allow 2–3 hours). Lunch at Union Market (don’t miss Takríque for birria or Poke Papa) or Teaism (bento-inspired, house chai).

Evening: Dinner on 14th Street: Le Diplomate (French brasserie—steak frites, onion soup) or Maydan (open hearth; dips and grilled meats; book ahead). Cocktails at Service Bar (creative, unfussy) or artful drinks at Allegory (inside the Eaton hotel) if you prefer moody storytelling with your martini.

Day 7: Georgetown, Waterfront Stroll, and Departure

Morning: Coffee and a monster cupcake at Baked & Wired or buttery pastries at Yellow (Chef Michael Rafidi’s Levantine bakery). Walk the C&O Canal Towpath and Georgetown Waterfront Park, then browse M Street boutiques and side-street Federal architecture.

Afternoon: Quick lunch at Martin’s Tavern (presidential lore; order the crab cake sandwich) or Falafel Inc. (fast, affordable, and tasty). If time allows, cross the river to Arlington National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Depart in the afternoon—Metro to DCA is especially convenient.

Food and Coffee Shortlist (Save This!)

• NYC breakfasts/coffee: Devoción (Colombian), Daily Provisions (egg sandwiches), Black Fox Coffee (specialty). Bagels: Ess-a-Bagel or Absolute Bagels.
• NYC lunches: Los Tacos No. 1 (Chelsea Market), Russ & Daughters (smoked fish; try a classic lox bagel), Katz’s Delicatessen (pastrami).
• NYC dinners: Via Carota (Italian), L’Artusi (pastas), Balthazar (bistro), Szechuan Mountain House (East Village heat lovers).
• DC breakfasts/coffee: Call Your Mother (bagels), Peregrine Espresso (espresso), Compass Coffee (local chain, reliable).
• DC lunches: Union Market stalls, Teaism (light, flavorful), Ben’s Chili Bowl (half-smoke, DC classic).
• DC dinners: The Dabney (mid-Atlantic hearth), Le Diplomate (brasserie), Albi (Levantine tasting menus), Thip Khao (Laotian, for spice fans).

Transport Tips

• Air: Compare routes and prices on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com. NYC has three airports (JFK/LGA/EWR); DC has DCA (closest), IAD, and BWI.
• Local: NYC subway and DC Metro are the fastest ways to move around. Use tap-to-pay in NYC; buy a SmarTrip for DC.
• Intercity: Amtrak Northeast Regional/Acela is the most convenient NYC↔DC option; book earlier for better fares. Buses are the budget pick; flights work if you’re connecting onward.

In one week, you’ll trace America’s story from the harbor where millions arrived to the avenues where its ideals are carved in stone. Expect big sights, neighborhood flavor, and plenty of memorable meals. This East Coast itinerary is a repeat-worthy blueprint—tweak the museum mix or swap eateries, and it’ll still sing.