This practical guide to getting around New York in 3 days will help you prepare the itineraries you need to get to know one of the world's most cultural and leisurely cities.
While we know that three days is still not enough time to see all of New York's tourist attractions, we're also sure that if you optimise your routes, both on foot and by underground, you'll be able to get the most out of your trip and experience New York life up close.
Having this time will allow you to do many of the top things to do in New York such as visiting Times Square, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge or Wall Street, as well as taking the Contrasts Tour and the free ferry to Staten Island, not forgetting of course experiences such as going to the theatre, eating some of the best burgers in the city or having a picnic in Central Park.
Based on the experience of our previous trips to the city of skyscrapers, the first time on an 11-day trip to New York and the second time living in a flat for almost two months, we've put together this guide to the best of New York in three days. Let's get started!
Recommended accommodation in New York in 3 days
On our first trip we stayed at the Holiday Inn Times Square, located just a few minutes' walk from Times Square and the main Broadway theatres. In addition to its excellent location, the hotel has 24-hour reception, friendly staff, excellent value for money and if you get one of the rooms on the upper floors, amazing views of the Empire State Building from the bed.
Other hotels located in Midtown and offering some of the best value for money in the city are the Arlo Midtown, the Pestana CR7 Times Square, La Quinta by Wyndham Time Square and the MOXY NYC Times Square, Evelyn Hotel New York on the-evelyn.hotelsofnewyorkcity.net and Truss Hotel Times Square.
For more information, check out this post on the best neighbourhoods and hotels to stay in New York.
How to get from New York Airport to Downtown
Most international flights land at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) which has good public and private transport links to Manhattan, the island where most tourist attractions are concentrated and the best area to stay in New York in 3 days.
To get to your hotel you have these options:
Air Train + Subway: this combination is the cheapest way to get to your hotel, costing about 12 dollars. Once you buy your ticket, you can take the Air Train from the airport to the Howard Beach (A line) and Jamaica Station (E, J and Z lines) underground stops. For example, if you are going to Midtown (Times Square area) you should take the Air Train to Jamaica Station and then take the E line to the 7 Avenue Station.
Air Train + LIRR: If your hotel is near Grand Central Madison and Penn Station, you can take the LIRR train from Jamaica Station, which is faster and more convenient than the underground, but costs about $18.
Private transportation: the most convenient way to get to your hotel is to book this private transfer where a driver will take you directly to the door of your accommodation.
Taxi: The fixed price is $70 plus tolls and tips (15%-20% for the Manhattan area). Another popular transport option in New York is Uber, which is cheaper than a taxi, especially if it is shared.
If you have more questions you can consult this post on how to get from JFK airport to Manhattan or this one on how to get from Newark airport to Manhattan.
When choosing a place to stay, Flushing is a desirable neighborhood to live in because rent here is typically less expensive than in other parts of the city. Flushing offers a range of hotels that provide a comfortable and convenient stay. As a vibrant and bustling neighborhood in Queens, Flushing is known for its rich cultural heritage and renowned attractions. Hotels in Flushing New York on www.hotelsofnewyorkcity.net cater to different budgets and preferences, ensuring a pleasant experience for every traveler.
Greenpoint area, located in the vibrant borough of Brooklyn, also offers a range of hotels that provide a unique and charming stay in New York City and save your budget. Known for its artistic and trendy atmosphere, Greenpoint is a neighborhood filled with eclectic shops, cozy cafes, and trendy bars. Greenpoint Brooklyn hotels on www.hotelsofnewyorkcity.net cater to different preferences, ensuring a memorable experience for visitors.
Recommendations for New York
Following this list of recommendations can help you in your first contact with the city:
Remember that to travel to New York it is essential to apply for the ESTA from this official website which costs 21 dollars. Be aware that there are several unofficial websites that charge up to 100 dollars for this procedure. Be careful!
Bring adapters for type A / B plugs.
Follow this list of must-see places to visit in New York.
Learn more about the history and anecdotes of New York by booking this complete tour with tickets or this free tour, considered one of the best free tours in New York, both with English speaking guide.
To save money on entrance fees to the main attractions we recommend you take one of these tourist cards: New York Explorer Pass, CityPass or the New York Pass, all of which include significant discounts of up to 50% and avoid queuing at many of them.
The best and fastest way to get around the city is the underground using the handy rechargeable MetroCard.
For more recommendations you can check out this post with tips for travelling to New York.
First day in New York
The first day of the New York in three days will focus on the Midtown area, located in the centre of Manhattan and with some of the most famous places in the city.
The tour starts early in the morning at the iconic Times Square, where after marvelling at the billboards, you can climb the red stairs of the TKTS for the best views of the intersection.
After breakfast at a nearby coffee shop such as Andrews Coffee or Café Grumpy, you'll walk along the famous Broadway Street, full of theatres, towards Columbus Circle, past the famous HOPE sculpture and on to Central Park, an oasis of peace surrounded by nature, where it is traditional to have a small picnic. A good place to buy takeaway food is the Whole Foods mall at Columbus Circle, although if the weather is not too good we prefer to leave the park and have a delicious burger at the Burger Joint.
The New York in 3 days itinerary continues with a stroll along Fifth Avenue, the city's most famous shopping street, lined with luxurious window displays, mostly concentrated in the area closest to Central Park.
New York's Central Park
Following this avenue you'll come to St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Rockfeller Center complex of buildings, whose great experience is climbing to the Top of the Rock, one of the best views in New York. If you don't have a tourist card that includes entry such as the City Pass, you can book this flexible date ticket, which will allow you to skip the queues and reschedule if the weather is bad. For us, the best time to go up is an hour before sunset to enjoy the sunset over the city and watch the buildings light up, including the spectacular Empire State Building.
If you arrive before sunset, you can make some time by walking a little further up Fifth Avenue to the beautiful Grand Central Terminal station, the Chrysler Building, Bryant Park and the Public Library.
Note that while the Top of the Rock is spectacular, the Summit One Vanderbilt observation deck recently opened a few blocks away with even more panoramic views. You'll also be able to walk on a transparent glass floor at a height of over 1,000 feet.
Summit One Vanderbilt
To end this first day of New York in 3 days you can return to Times Square to see the illuminated signs and see some of the most famous musicals in New York such as The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, Hamilton or Aladdin, which was one of the ones we saw and we loved it.
For dinner somewhere typical near Times Square you have Los Tacos No.1, Joe's Pizza Broadway, Hard Rock Café or the fun Ellen's Stardust Diner, where the waiters sing the most famous Broadway and Disney songs while they bring you your food.
For full information on the first day, check out our guide to New York in a day.
Map of the route of the first day in New York in three days
This map of the first day of New York in three days will help you to prepare your itinerary in the easiest and most logical way.
Day 2 in New York
The second day of the New York in 3 days starts with the New York contrasts tour, the most recommended tour of the city which will give you a first glimpse of some of the city's most authentic neighbourhoods such as Harlem, Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn.
Although all the neighbourhoods can be visited on your own, we think that if you're short on time and you're not sure about the most interesting places in each neighbourhood, the best option is to book the Contrasts Tour or the VIP Contrasts Tour, which takes place in a minibus with a maximum of 15 people and both include an English-speaking guide who will tell you the history and anecdotes of each spot. This tour is the most popular and is one of the top tours in New York, so it's essential to book it in advance if you don't want to miss out.
The tour ends at noon in the DUMBO area, where you can eat one of the best pizzas in the city at Grimaldi's or the neighbouring Juliana's and then visit the Brooklyn borough.
Bronx borough of New York
The afternoon tour of New York in 3 days starts with a stroll through DUMBO to Washington Street, where you can take one of the best photos of New York City from this point. Another place with incredible views of the Brooklyn Bridge is Fulton Ferry State Park, which even has a small beach.
Before sunset, we recommend crossing the incredible Brooklyn Bridge or just part of it, and then walking or taking the underground back to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade area. This promenade has for us the best views of the skyline that you can enjoy while sipping a delicious ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.
Brooklyn Bridge
To end the second day we suggest you try what they say are the best burgers in New York at Shake Shack on Fulton Street or the American cuisine at Clark's Restaurant and Henry's End.
For full details of the second day, check out our guide to New York in 2 days.
Map of Day 2 in New York
This map of the second day of New York in 3 days will help you plot your route so you don't miss anything important in the city.
What to see in New York in 3 days
On the last day of the What to see in New York in 3 days you will visit Lower Manhattan, which concentrates several points of interest such as the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the Financial District and the Staten Island Ferry.
The first visit of the morning will be to the 9/11 Museum, one of the best museums in New York, where we recommend you go before 9am, opening time, as there are usually long queues.
To get there from downtown you can take the 1 underground to WTC Cortlandt which is very close to the Oculus, a futuristic and impressive station designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, where you can have breakfast at a Starbucks or donut stand.
When you leave the Oculus you can spend about two hours visiting the 9/11 Museum, which, although quite daunting due to the amount of memorabilia from the attacks on the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, we think is a must-see experience in the city. However, it is advisable to go prepared and be aware of what you are going to see and experience.
9/11 Museum
Please note that admission is included in the tourist cards, although if you don't have one you can book this entrance to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in advance.
Next to the museum is the 9/11 Memorial, two large pool-shaped monuments with cascading waterfalls located exactly where the Twin Towers once stood, paying tribute to all the victims. In this square you will also find a small tree that surprisingly withstood the disaster and still stands today as a symbol of hope.
9/11 Memorial
On one side of the square stands One World Trade Center, the sixth tallest skyscraper in the world, with a fantastic view of the bay and all of Manhattan. If you're short on time, you can book these tickets in advance to avoid the queues, which often take more than an hour. For more information, check out this post on how to go up to the One World Observatory.
Views from the observation deck at One World Observatory
After these visits, the New York in 3 days continues to the Financial District but before heading to Wall Street you can take a break and recharge your batteries with a delicious lobster sandwich at Luke's Lobster, one of our favourite places to eat in New York.
In the afternoon the itinerary starts at the New York Stock Exchange, where you can see brokers in suits heading out for a quick lunch at a street stall. Next door is also the Federal Reserve Building.
Leaving the Stock Exchange along Broadway you'll come to the famous Charging Bull, a symbol of Wall Street's financial splendour and aggression, where it's almost impossible to get your picture taken without someone coming out, as it's one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.
Wall Street
Near this area is the heliport at Pier 6, where helicopters take off for sightseeing tours of the city. From 2 p.m. onwards is a good time to do this as the sun is higher and you won't be disturbed for the front view. The tour lasts between 15 and 20 minutes and can be booked on this page, so you can secure your seat at the time you choose and on the day you want, as it is a very popular tour and there are rarely any unreserved seats available. If you want to see New York lit up you can book this night helicopter ride over the city, considered one of the best helicopter tours in New York.
After our experience we can confirm that it is very worthwhile and that both the experience and the views of New York are unforgettable.
Helicopter New York
Once the tour is over you can take a pleasant stroll through Battery Park with views of New Jersey and the Statue of Liberty, as well as a very moving sculpture called the American Merchant Marines Memorial.
Battery Park
When the sun starts to set it's a good time to catch the Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall Terminal, one of the best free things to do in New York. The ride takes about 15 minutes and you can enjoy magnificent views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan Island at one of the best times of the day. The best place to enjoy the views is at the back of the ferry and, especially on the return trip at night, don't miss the illuminated New York skyline.
Staten Island Ferry
And since you can't end the day without a good dinner, there are two different restaurants in the Financial District that won't disappoint you: The Dead Rabbit with good burgers, salads and fish and chips, and Delmonico's, a New York classic.
After dinner, we suggest another of the best experiences in New York, if it's game day: go to Madison Square Garden to watch a basketball game of the New York Knicks, a legendary NBA team. To get good tickets it is advisable to book early on this page, as the best seats sell out pretty quickly. For more information you can read this post about how to buy NBA tickets in New York.
Map of the third day in New York in 3 days
This map of the last day of the New York in 3 days is perfect to see the highlights of the city without wasting time.
If you have more time you can follow these personalised day-by-day guides:
New York in 4 days
New York in 5 days
New York in 6 days
New York in 8 days
