New York City didn’t become the City That Never Sleeps by accident. From Lenape trading routes to Dutch New Amsterdam, from an immigrant boom at Ellis Island to a modern mosaic of neighborhoods, the city rewards curiosity at every corner. Its skyline tells a story—art deco spires, glass needles, water towers, and iron bridges linking five distinct boroughs.

Across seven days you’ll trace classic sights—Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Fifth Avenue—then pivot to local-favorite food, a Brooklyn day, and a restorative escape up the Hudson River to Beacon and Cold Spring. You’ll pair museums with markets, rooftop views with village streets, Broadway applause with jazz afterglow.

Practical notes: the subway runs 24/7 and supports contactless OMNY tap-to-pay. Tipping (18–20%) is standard. Reservations are wise for popular restaurants and observation decks at sunset. Pack layers, great walking shoes, and a metro card—or your phone/wallet for OMNY—and you’re set.

New York City

New York is a collection of villages wearing a world-class skyline. Wander from Midtown’s theatrical pulse to SoHo’s cast-iron calm, from leafy Brooklyn blocks to storied Harlem jazz rooms. You’ll eat your way through bagel shops, slice joints, and chef temples—then chase it all with park time and harbor views.

• Icons: Central Park, Empire State Building, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Terminal.
• Museums: The Met, MoMA, American Museum of Natural History, Dia Beacon (on the day trip).
• Neighborhoods: Greenwich Village, West Village, DUMBO, Williamsburg, Harlem, Lower Manhattan.
• Food highlights: Bagels and lox, New York-style pizza, Jewish delis, Korean BBQ, Italian trattorie, innovative tasting menus.

Getting to NYC: Search flights on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Typical US nonstop times: 1–6 hours; fares often $150–$500 roundtrip depending on season and advance booking.

Where to stay: Compare stays on VRBO (New York City) and Hotels.com (New York City). Excellent picks: The Plaza Hotel (flagship Fifth Ave legend), The St. Regis New York (butler service and Gilded Age glamour), Residence Inn by Marriott Times Square (suite-style rooms and kitchenettes), and Pod 51 Hotel (smart budget in Midtown East).

Day 1: Midtown Welcome, Library Lions, and a Sky-High Sunset

Morning: Fly into NYC. Use Trip.com or Kiwi.com to snag a morning arrival; aim for JFK, LGA, or EWR.

Afternoon: Check in, then stretch your legs in Bryant Park and peek into the New York Public Library’s Rose Main Reading Room. Coffee and a small bite at Culture Espresso (excellent chocolate chip cookie) or Daily Provisions (buttermilk cruller). Early dinner options: Keens Steakhouse (mutton chop, circa 1885 pipe club) or head to Koreatown for tabletop grilling at Jongro BBQ.

Evening: Kick off with immersive skyline art-meets-views at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt—time your entry for golden hour.

Nightcap at Pebble Bar by Rockefeller Center or St. Cloud Rooftop (great Times Square lights without the crush).

Day 2: Central Park, Fifth Avenue, and Broadway Lights

Morning: Bagels at Ess-a-Bagel (fatty, shiny crusts) or Tal Bagels; then a Central Park loop—The Mall’s American elms, Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge. For a fun overview with storytelling, consider a pedicab ride (book on-site at the south end of the park).

Afternoon: The Met rewards at least 2–3 hours; prioritize the Temple of Dendur, European paintings, and Arms & Armor. Nearby lunch: Via Quadronno (paper-thin Milanese panini) or Pastrami Queen (peppery stacks on rye). Window-shop along Madison and Fifth Avenues.

Evening: See a Broadway show. Pre-theater dining: Becco (pasta trio), Joe Allen (industry haunt), or Gallaghers (open-kitchen steaks). Post-show treat at Schmackary’s for inventive cookies.

Day 3: Lady Liberty, Lower Manhattan History, and a Glassy Harbor Dinner

Morning: Go early for fewer crowds on the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour with Ferry. Hear immigrant stories and decode Lady Liberty’s symbolism with an expert guide.

Afternoon: Back on Manhattan, reflect at the 9/11 Memorial pools and stroll to Wall Street’s Federal Hall and the Charging Bull. Lunch at Eataly Downtown (try the pasta counter) or historic Fraunces Tavern (Revolution-era vibes).

Evening: Dress up for the all-glass Bateaux Premier Dinner Cruise—live music, skyline silhouettes, and refined courses as you glide by the Statue and bridges.

Day 4: Brooklyn Bridges, Cobblestones, and Skyline Rooftops

Morning: Subway to DUMBO. Flat white at Devoción (sunlit, plant-filled roastery) or Butler. Photograph the Manhattan Bridge from Washington Street, then amble the Brooklyn Bridge Park piers and Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

Afternoon: Lunch at Time Out Market (Juliana’s pizza slice, Jacob’s Pickles fried chicken biscuit) with a terrace view. Head to Williamsburg for boutique browsing along Bedford Ave, record shops, and coffee at Devoción’s flagship or Blue Bottle on North 4th.

Evening: Dinner at Lilia (smoky wood-fired Italian; malfadini al limone) or Laser Wolf Brooklyn (Israeli grills with mezze and epic skyline). Cap the night at Westlight, a glassy rooftop bar perched above the East River.

Day 5: Flatiron to Hudson Yards—Design, Art, and the High Line

Morning: Breakfast at Daily Provisions (egg sandwich on a milk bun) or Léon Bakery (Parisian laminated dreams). See the Flatiron Building and stroll Union Square Greenmarket (check days) for local cheese and apples. If you want a classic, go early to the Empire State Building to beat lines.

Afternoon: Dive into MoMA—Starry Night, design galleries, and rotating contemporary shows. Lunch at The Modern Bar Room (Michelin-starred but relaxed) or Tonchin for Tokyo-style ramen a short walk away.

Evening: Walk the High Line at golden hour toward Hudson Yards; pop into Mercado Little Spain (gambas al ajillo, churros y chocolate) or dine at Cookshop near Chelsea. If you crave one more view, consider Edge or Top of the Rock for different sightlines.

Hudson Valley: Beacon & Cold Spring

Just north of the city, rocky bluffs, Victorian main streets, and artists’ spaces unfurl along the Hudson River. Beacon’s warehouses became galleries; Cold Spring’s 19th-century storefronts remain handsome and walkable. It’s an easy, scenic train ride—just enough distance to reset.

• Highlights: Dia Beacon’s monumental art, Hudson Highlands trails, Constitution Marsh boardwalk (seasonal), indie cafes and antiques.
• Local flavor: Farm-forward menus, small-batch coffee, and majestic river views at nearly every turn.

Getting there: Morning Metro-North Hudson Line from Grand Central to Cold Spring (~70–80 min) or Beacon (~85–90 min), off-peak about $17 each way (peak ~ $23). Sit on the left for best river views heading north.

Day 6: River Towns Day Trip—Hike, Art, and Small-Town Strolling

Morning: Grab a Zaro’s Bakery coffee at Grand Central and board an early Metro-North to Cold Spring. Stroll Main Street’s antiques and bookshops; if you’re feeling outdoorsy, tackle a manageable section of Breakneck Ridge or the gentler Constitution Marsh (boardwalk over the cattails). Brunch at Hudson Hil’s Café (hearty scrambles, pancakes) or Riverview (river vistas, wood-fired pies).

Afternoon: Hop one stop to Beacon. Spend 2–3 hours at Dia Beacon—massive galleries housing Serra’s torqued ellipses, Flavin’s neon, and more. Espresso at Bank Square Coffeehouse or Kitchen & Coffee (bakes with local flour). Train back to Grand Central before rush hour.

Evening: Celebrate uptown with Harlem soul food—Sylvia’s (since 1962) or Red Rooster (live music some nights, Yard Bird fried chicken). For jazz, try Minton’s Playhouse or Bill’s Place (BYOB speakeasy-era room).

Day 7: SoHo, Village Bites, and Wheels-Up

Morning: Shop SoHo’s cast-iron blocks; macchiato at La Colombe or Laughing Man, and a pastry at Dominique Ansel (DKA caramelized kouign-amann). Then join a guided tasting walk: Greenwich Village Food Tour | Tasty Tours NYC—a delicious primer on the city’s culinary history in a neighborhood of jazz clubs and brownstones.

Afternoon: Quick final bites at Katz’s Delicatessen (hand-carved pastrami) or Russ & Daughters (smoked fish on a sesame bialy). Head for your airport by early afternoon; allow 60–90 minutes to reach JFK/LGA/EWR and clear security.

Evening: In transit—scroll photos and mark the places you’ll return to next time. New York rewards repeat visits.

Optional Add-On (Swap into any evening): Rise Above or Another View

If you’d like a different style of skyline moment—interactive and theatrical—consider SUMMIT One Vanderbilt (already included Day 1) or keep it classic with the Empire State Building by day and Top of the Rock by night. For families, RiseNY is a quick, fun primer on the city’s icons.

Handy Booking Links (Recap)

• Flights: Trip.com | Kiwi.com
• Hotels and Apartments: The Plaza Hotel | The St. Regis New York | Residence Inn Times Square | Pod 51 Hotel | Hotels.com – New York City | VRBO – New York City
• Featured Tickets & Tours:
  • SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
  • Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Guided Tour
  • Bateaux Premier Dinner Cruise
  • Greenwich Village Food Tour

Where to eat (save these): Katz’s Delicatessen (lower East Side pastrami), Los Tacos No. 1 (Chelsea Market and Times Square), Balthazar (bistro classics), Keens (historic steakhouse), Via Carota (West Village trattoria; walk-in list), Levain Bakery (cookie legend), Scarr’s Pizza (Old-school slice, naturally leavened dough), Ippudo (tonkotsu ramen), and Di Fara (Brooklyn pizza institution; check hours).

In a week you’ve seen the greatest hits and slipped down side streets, tasted bagels and bialys and a skyline reflected in glass. The Hudson River carved its path long before the skyscrapers—now you’ve traced both. Keep this guide handy; New York changes subtly by season, but its energy is perennial.