10-Day New York Itinerary

Day 1: Arriving in New York for 10 days

AFTERNOON – Times Square

• Your first day in New York depends on when you arrive. Book a flight that gets you into the city early so you can catch your first glimpse of New York as soon as you land. Don’t worry though: 10 days gives you plenty of time to see everything. Before you go, check the list of public holidays in New York to avoid showing up at a place that’s unexpectedly closed.
• If your hotel is in Midtown, start your New York trip with a bang: Times Square. This is the busiest intersection in Manhattan, with its forest of giant billboards and neon signs. It’s an iconic New York sight. You can even display your photo on a Times Square screen.

Day 2: Midtown

MORNING – Midtown

• Midtown has more top attractions than almost any other neighborhood in New York. Return to Times Square early in the morning, then head toward 42nd Street, one of the city’s main thoroughfares. You’ll see the charming Bryant Park, the New York Public Library, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler Building, the Ford Foundation, and the United Nations headquarters.
• Since you’re on 42nd Street, why not head up to the observation deck at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt? In the morning, you’ll get stunning views of lower Manhattan with the sun hitting the Empire State Building.

AFTERNOON – Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue

• From 42nd Street, head up Fifth Avenue, New York’s most prestigious avenue. Shop at the NBA store and browse the souvenir shops.
• Around 49th Street, you’ll enter Rockefeller Center, a massive complex with stunning Art Deco architecture. Don’t miss the magnificent Radio City Music Hall. If you didn’t go up to SUMMIT in the morning, consider visiting Top of the Rock, the observation deck atop the Comcast Building.
• Just across from Rockefeller Center, take time to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Then continue up Fifth Avenue to Grand Army Plaza, the square at the southeast corner of Central Park. Find a bench in the park and relax.

Day 3: Brooklyn Bridge and the Financial District

MORNING – Brooklyn Bridge

• For a sweeping overview of New York, start your 10 days with the Brooklyn Bridge. This iconic bridge offers stunning views of the Financial District, One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty in the distance. You’ll see all of New York at once.
• Jet lag means you can arrive early, before the crowds. Explore the Dumbo neighborhood in Brooklyn at the foot of the bridge, then cross into Manhattan.
• At the end of the bridge, head down to the East River and grab lunch in South Street Seaport. New York’s old port has real character.

AFTERNOON – Financial District

• Head to Wall Street. You’ll see the New York Stock Exchange and, across the street, Federal Hall. Wander the narrow streets of the financial district, then walk down Broadway to see the Charging Bull.
• Continue to the World Trade Center complex. You’ll see the moving 9/11 memorial, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which you can visit if you wish, and One World Trade Center, New York’s tallest building.
• End the day by heading to the top of One World Observatory, the observation deck in One World Trade Center.

Day 4: Statue of Liberty

MORNING – Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

• To complete your tour of lower Manhattan, visit the Statue of Liberty. This is one of the world’s most famous and visited monuments. It’s a must-see in person.
• The ferry to the Statue also stops at Ellis Island. This historic island is worth exploring, if only for the beautiful views of Manhattan.

AFTERNOON – Helicopter tour

• Back in Manhattan, spend time in Battery Park. Grab lunch with the business crowd, then book a helicopter tour of New York. See the city from the sky—an unforgettable memory.
• Head north to Chinatown, Little Italy, and the Lower East Side. These three very different neighborhoods show you another side of New York.

Day 5: TriBeCa, SoHo, and Greenwich Village

MORNING – TriBeCa and SoHo

• North of the Financial District, TriBeCa has striking architecture. You’ll see the famous cast-iron buildings with exposed fire escapes. This former industrial neighborhood is now one of New York’s trendiest areas.
• Continue to SoHo, another celebrity magnet. SoHo is the fashion and shopping hub. You’ll find top designers and more affordable brands like Converse and Nike, plus plenty of lunch spots.

AFTERNOON – Greenwich Village

• Head to Greenwich Village, New York’s bohemian neighborhood. The vibe here is very different from the rest of Manhattan, with tree-lined streets and quiet corners.
• One must-see: the apartment from the TV series Friends at 90 Bedford Street. You won’t miss it—there’s always a crowd on the sidewalk across the street.

Day 6: Harlem and Central Park

MORNING – Harlem

• Plan this day for a Sunday. In the morning, experience a Gospel service in Harlem. We offer a guided tour of Harlem with Gospel service at a church away from the usual tourist routes.
• Have lunch in Harlem. Try the local soul food. Our guides can recommend their favorite spots.

AFTERNOON – Central Park

• Head south from Harlem to explore the vast Central Park. The area just south of Harlem isn’t the most interesting part. Take a bus to the center of the park instead.
• You can see the Central Park Zoo, Belvedere Castle, Bow Bridge, the Balto statue, and the Alice in Wonderland statue. Don’t miss Strawberry Fields, the memorial to John Lennon. For more details, see the 10 things to see in Central Park.
• Rent a bike in Central Park to see as much as possible. Or join our guided bike tour of Central Park. Another option: a pedicab ride in Central Park.

Day 7: Hudson Yards and the High Line

MORNING – Hudson Yards

• East of Midtown, Hudson Yards is a new neighborhood that’s grown rapidly. Skyscrapers rival those in Midtown and the Financial District. You’ll also appreciate the striking Vessel, an iconic structure here.
• In the morning, head to the top of The Edge. This observation deck has the highest outdoor platform in the Western Hemisphere.
• Back on ground level, stroll the beautiful High Line. This former railroad has been beautifully converted into a public walkway. Stop for lunch at Chelsea Market.

AFTERNOON – Meatpacking District

• At the end of the High Line, you’ll reach the Meatpacking District. This former meatpacking area has been completely transformed and is now one of New York’s trendiest neighborhoods. You’ll find designer boutiques, including Diane von Fürstenberg.
• Take a detour to see Little Island, an artificial island on the Hudson River.
• If you’re interested, visit one of the museums here: the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Ground Zero Museum, or the quirky Ice Cream Museum.

Day 8: A museum and another neighborhood

MORNING – A museum

• By day 8, you’ve seen a lot of New York. Time to visit a museum. Choose based on your interests. Here’s a list of the 5 must-see museums in New York. For more options, see the full list of New York museums.
• We especially recommend the MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art. Another essential: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York’s answer to the Louvre. Also worth visiting: the American Museum of Natural History.
• Depending on museum hours, you could also take an early morning ride on the Roosevelt Island Tramway, then head to Midtown or the Upper East Side.

AFTERNOON – A neighborhood outside Manhattan

• With 10 days, explore beyond Manhattan. New York is more than just Manhattan—discover the other boroughs that make up the city.
• Consider spending the afternoon in the Bronx. Explore the charming Little Italy in the Bronx, the borough’s Italian neighborhood. Or take the Staten Island Ferry and visit St. George, the main town on Staten Island.

Day 9: Brooklyn and the Empire State Building

MORNING – Bushwick and Williamsburg

• Continue exploring New York’s neighborhoods with a day in Brooklyn. We especially recommend Bushwick, with its impressive street murals. Also visit Williamsburg.
• To see the most in the least time, join our guided tour of Brooklyn. The tour covers Bushwick, Williamsburg, and Dumbo, with a ferry ride across the East River.

AFTERNOON – Coney Island, another neighborhood, and the Empire State Building

• In spring and summer, continue exploring Brooklyn with Coney Island. This Brooklyn neighborhood sits on the Atlantic Ocean—it’s New York’s beach.
• Or head to Queens. We recommend the Chinatown in Queens.
• End the day at the Empire State Building. From this historic observation deck, you’ll see all the places you’ve visited over your 10 days in New York.

Day 10: The end of 10 days

MORNING – Shopping or revisit a favorite spot

• Your 10 days in New York are coming to an end, but make the most of them. On your last morning, either do some shopping or revisit a place you loved. Stay close to your hotel—you’ll need to pick up your bags and head to the airport.
• Your last morning could be a good time to visit an observation deck at opening time. Consider Top of the Rock if you haven’t been yet.

AFTERNOON – Transfer to the airport

• Leave plenty of time for your airport transfer. You can’t afford to miss your flight. Airlines recommend arriving 4 hours before departure. Check-in and security lines are long.
• Add travel time from Manhattan to the airport. Plan to leave 5 hours before your flight to be safe. If everything goes smoothly, you’ll have time for some airport shopping. Safe travels!