20 Top Things to Do in New York City
If you're going to New York City for a few days and want to fit in the most experiences in the time you'll be there, use this bucket list and these tips as a guide! These were my must-see places, foods to try, and top things to do when I went to NYC for the first time for a 3-day weekend. Even if this isn’t your first trip to the Big Apple, this guide can help you find plan out your own weekend with potentially new experiences.
Is three days enough time in New York City, you may ask. The answer is a resounding no— it is larger than life, it never sleeps, and you could live there for decades and still discover hidden gems. That said, if you’re just passing through or only have a weekend to conquer the hustling and bustling city, this NYC guide a great way to make the most of your trip.
Pro tip: I made a personal Google Map of all the locations I wanted to try to fit into my NYC itinerary. The map made it much easier to navigate a city I didn't know and helped me to plan out my days efficiently by letting me see which places and things were clustered near each other.
Where to Stay When Visiting NYC?
If this is indeed your first time in New York City, I recommend staying in Midtown Manhattan because it is within walking distance to so many iconic, touristy places. This meaning you’ll spend less time getting around the (massive!) city, and more time experiencing it. Midtown Manhattan puts you a stroll away from Times Square, Broadway, Central Park, and Rockefeller Center, as well as Greenwich Village, the East Village, Chelsea, and Midtown. Everything else is a quick subway ride or taxi (arguably another NYC experience) away!
Top 12 Must-See Places in NYC
Put on your most comfortable pair of walking shoes, pal!
One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum - It feels like a responsibility to visit the Ground Zero, see the reflection pools and the thousands of names of those who were lost in the greatest tragedy our county has seen in the 21st century.
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island - She's an green copper goddess, and Ellis Island is where many immigrants first entered America, including many of my our relatives.
St. Patrick's Cathedral - Stop and gaze awestruck at the architectural details of this gorgeous Neo-Gothic cathedral. I did numerous times during my brief trip. Its construction ended in 1858; it has NINETEEN church bells and has so much beauty to take in both inside and out.
Stroll through Central Park and look out for these landmarks:
Bow Bridge - A beautiful cast iron bridge that makes for wonderful photos no matter the season. If its warm out, you're apt to see row boats pass beneath it.
Alice in Wonderland group statue - So many beloved characters to pose next to.
Hans Christian Andersen Statue - This statue of Hans is so endearing. The famous fairytale author is reading "The Ugly Duckling" to a duck)
Shakespeare's Garden - Calming enough to sit and be inspired to write in iambic pentameter.
Strawberry Fields - A tribute to The Beatles' John Lennon. Often you'll find people playing and singing their songs for the crowds.
The Morgan Library and Museum - There are tons of major museums, but I recommend checking this one out. It started as the personal library and museum of Pierpont Morgan, J.P. Morgan's father, and is spectacular.
The Brooklyn Bridge - This suspension bridge is a marvel. It opened in 1880 and is incredible; stroll across it and admire all the hard work that went into its design and construction.
The Empire State Building - "James and the Giant Peach", anyone? It decided to outshine the Chrysler Building's 11-month title of World's Tallest Building in 1931.
The High Line - A former section of railroad that's been converted into luck trails and parks.
Times Square - Bustling, bright and busy; essentially the epitome of NY.
Grand Central Station - A historic spot with so much to take in and many tastes of NY in one place.
Wall Street - The Fearless Girl, the Charging Bull, vendors hawking silly tourist chotchkies.
The Chrysler Building - Its beautiful Art-Deco style is easy to spot on the skyline.
8 Things You Have To Do in New York City
Naturally, many of the must-do experiences on this list go hand-in-hand with the places above.
If possible, tour all the NYC must-see places I listed above. After all, if you're visiting New York, you're a tourist. Do touristy things! Pro tip: Even with all the train rides, I walked an average of 7 miles each day—so don't do what I did and wear shoes that you thought you had already broken in. Unfortunately, my shoes left blisters on my heels from day 1 and it was awful. They were huge, disgusting blood blisters by the end of my short trip.
See a show on Broadway. My sister and I saw "Anastasia" while there. You can read a bit about that here. It is such a fun show; I couldn’t recommend it more!
Eat pizza and other tasty food finds from street cart vendors. I love pizza, probably more than most people. I ate a slice from somewhere every single day I was in New York. I know the city is known for 5-star restaurants, but that experience wasn't really something I wanted. Pro tip: Pizza is super inexpensive by the slice (as are hot dogs) and you can find them while walking around the city pretty much anywhere. Yay for yummy, cheap and convenient cheesy goodness. Other famous NYC vendors that are more than worth the stop include Halal Guys and
See the NYC skyline from the top of a realllllly tall building. The Top of the Rock (the Rockefeller Center), The Empire State Building and One World Trade Center all offer stunning observations of the city. I recommend The Top of the Rock since it has both indoor and outdoor observatories. Pro tip: Get a time slot for just before sunset so you can be there to see the skyline transition from daylight to night.
Take the subway! Everyone refers to them as trains, and they will get you places far quicker than walking at an affordable rate. Pro tip: Download the free subway app, it'll tell you which trains to take and their arrival times. Also, buy a 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard for your train rides. It's $32 and you won't have to think about paying each time you take the train the remainder of your trip. We weren't there for 7 days, so I gave my MetroCard away to someone who works at the airport when flying back home so it wouldn't go to waste.
Take a boat ride, especially to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island up close. We didn't get a chance to tour them, but we did take a boat ride past them. The boat tours are pretty pricey, so Pro tip: Take the Staten Island Ferry for free, it's a 30-minute ride from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island and goes right past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Go to a comedy club. Everyone loves a good laugh and a couple drinks.
Go to a Yankees' game. I like to see the different stadiums and happen to really enjoy going to ballgames. My hometown team was playing while I was there, so it was extra fun for me to root them on in a different city and setting.
