This 4-day tour of New York will allow you to get to know many of its tourist attractions and other lesser-known areas of this city that never sleeps, making the most of your time.
Although we know that four days are still not enough to see all the must-see sights in New York, after our trip, we can say that if you organise your routes well, on foot and by underground, you can visit its main points of interest such as Times Square, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge or Wall Street, as well as stroll through other less visited neighbourhoods such as Greenwich Village, Soho, Tribeca or China Town.
Based on the experience of our two visits to the city of skyscrapers, the first on a trip to New York in 11 days and the second living for a month and a half in a flat near Central Park, during which we wrote this step-by-step guide to New York, we have optimised this tour to get to know the most important parts of New York in four days.
Practical tips for New York in 4 days
Following this list of recommendations can help you get a good first taste of the city:
For accommodation in New York in 4 days we recommend the Midtown area, close to Times Square and with good underground connections to the main points of interest. Among the best value-for-money accommodations are the Holiday Inn Times Square, the Arlo Midtown, the Pestana CR7 Times Square, La Quinta by Wyndham Time Square and the MOXY NYC Times Square. If you are looking for accomodation further from the centre, consider hotels near Brooklyn Heights on www.hotelsofnewyorkcity.net or hotels in Bushwick on www.hotelsofnewyorkcity.net
To get downtown or to your hotel from JFK Airport (New York's main airport) you have these transportation options: underground, train, bus, taxi, Uber or book this comfortable private transfer directly to the hotel. For more information you can read this post on how to get from JFK to Manhattan or this one on how to get from Newark Airport to Manhattan.
To enter the United States you need to get your ESTA in advance from this official website.
Booking this full ticketed tour or this free tour, considered one of the best free tours in New York, will allow you to learn more about the history of New York and not miss anything important.
To get to the more distant points of interest, you can use the underground by paying for each ticket ($2.75) with the rechargeable MetroCard.
For more recommendations, check out this post on tips for travelling to New York.
Tourist cards to save money in New York
If you're going to visit the main tourist attractions in New York in 4 days, we suggest you buy one of the cards that include significant discounts, as well as avoiding the long queues at the entrance.
Among the best rated are:
New York Explorer PassWith this card you can choose to enter 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 of the city's main attractions such as The Edge, the Empire State Building or the Top of the Rock Observatory, on the go and save up to 50%. You can buy it from this page.
New York CityPASSNew York CityPASS: allows you entry to 5 of New York's most iconic sights at a discount of up to 40%. You can buy the card from this website.
New York Pass: free admission to over 100 New York attractions, including the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty Ferry and the 9/11 Museum, with a choice of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7 or 10 day passes. You can book the pass from this page.
First day in New York
The first day of New York in 4 days starts with a visit to Times Square and then continues along Broadway, seeing the theatre billboards and past the famous HOPE sculpture, to Central Park.
After completing this list of places to see in Central Park and having a burger at the Burger Joint you can walk along a part of the commercial Fifth Avenue to St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Rockfeller Center.
If it's not yet sunset you can continue the route to Grand Central Terminal Station, the Chrysler Building, Bryant Park and the Public Library, then return to Rockfeller Center and climb to the Top of the Rock to watch the sunset and see the city lit up. Admission is included in several tourist cards, but you can also book it in advance on this page.
Top of the Rock
If you prefer a more modern viewpoint and walk on a glass floor you can opt to go up to The Summit One Vanderbilt, located a few blocks away and another of New York's best viewpoints.
When you get off the observation deck, you can return to Times Square, passing in front of Radio City Music Hall, to enjoy the atmosphere and dine at a typical restaurant such as Los Tacos No.1, Joe's Pizza Broadway or the fun Ellen's Stardust Diner.
To round off this first day of New York in four days, nothing better than seeing one of New York' s best musicals such as The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, Hamilton or Aladdin.
For full information on the first day you can consult the New York in a Day guide.
First Day in New York in four days route map
This map of the first day of New York in 4 days will help you to organise your tour in the most logical way.
Day 2 in New York
The morning of the second day of the New York in 4 days will be spent on the New York contrasts tour to visit the less touristy neighbourhoods of Harlem, Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn.
Although these neighbourhoods can be visited on your own, it is advisable to book this Contrasts Tour or this VIP Contrasts Tour to learn about the interesting history of each of them and their most striking sights in the company of an expert guide.
Brooklyn Bridge
You can finish the Brooklyn Contrasts Tour in Brooklyn and have a fantastic pizza at Grimaldi's or Juliana's, then stroll through DUMBO, Fulton Ferry State Park and the photogenic Washington Street.
The route continues across part of the Brooklyn Bridge and back the same way to see the city lit up from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade while sipping ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.
For dinner, try the American cuisine at Clark's Restaurant, Henry's End or the Shake Shack for some of the best burgers in New York.
For complete information on the second day, see our guide to New York in 2 days.
Map of the second day of New York in 4 days
This map of the second day of New York in 4 days will help you map out the best way to get around the city so you don't miss anything important.
Day 3 in New York
The third day of the New York in 4 days starts by taking the underground to the impressive futuristic Oculus station to visit the 9/11 Museum, one of the best museums in New York, and the Memorial outside. If you don't have a tourist card, you can book your ticket here.
A few metres from the museum is the entrance to the One World Observatory, located in the One World Trade Center, from where you can take some of the best photos of New York. To skip the queues, you can buy your ticket from this page.
When you come down from the observation deck you can walk down to the financial district past the Federal Reserve Building and the New York Stock Exchange to the sculpture of the
Wall Street Bull. For lunch in this area there are delicious sandwiches at Luke's Lobster.
Wall Street
Midday is a good time to take this 15-minute helicopter tour, which departs from the helipad at Pier 6 and is considered one of the best tours in New York.
After taking thousands of photos from a unique perspective, the 4-day New York tour continues with a stroll through Battery Park past the American Merchant Marines Memorial and a view of the Statue of Liberty from afar.
At sunset you can take the ferry to Staten Island from Whitehall Terminal, one of the best free things to do in New York, and head back to Manhattan for dinner at The Dead Rabbit or Delmonico's. If it's a game day you'll be able to catch the Staten Island Ferry.
If it's game day, you can cap off the day by taking the underground to Madison Square Garden to watch a New York Knicks basketball game. You can book your ticket from this page.
When it comes to finding a place to stay in the bustling city of New York, Battery Park offers a range of exceptional hotels that provide both comfort and convenience. Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Battery Park New York hotels provide a picturesque setting with its stunning views of the waterfront and iconic landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty. Hotels in this area cater to various budgets and preferences, ensuring a memorable stay for all.
For full information on the third day you can consult the New York in 3 days guide.
Map of the third day in New York
This map of the third day of New York in 4 days is perfect to see the highlights of the city.
What to see in New York in 4 days
On this fourth day in New York you'll visit some of Lower Manhattan's best-known neighbourhoods such as Hudson Yards, Greenwich Village, Soho, Tribeca, China Town and Little Italy, as well as taking a cruise around Manhattan, strolling along the High Line and sampling the culinary delights of Chelsea Market.
The route of what to see in New York in 4 days starts with a cruise on the Hudson River along the most famous part of Manhattan. The cruise can be done with the Circle Line, as the tour is included in the CityPASS and you can save a few dollars.
Other good and romantic options are to come back later for this New York City evening cruise which includes dinner or this sunset cruise.
Cruises can last between 1:30 and 2:30 hours, and depart from 10am until sunset. Depending on the time of year, you can also do it at night, a unique moment in the city to see it all lit up.
From the cruise you'll enjoy incredible views of Manhattan's skyscrapers, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge, among many other sights that we're sure you'll love.
The departure point for the cruise is Pier 83, a half hour walk from Times Square. If you don't feel like walking, you can take one of the buses that stop in the area.
New York City Cruise
Hudson Yards
Near Pier 6 is the new Hudson Yards neighbourhood which has several attractions such as the spectacular futuristic monument The Vessel, which is shaped like a vase and consists of 2,500 steps. It is currently closed to visitors due to several accidents, although you can climb The Edge, a spectacular skyscraper with a huge terrace protruding from the building, located 345 metres above the ground, which will make you feel vertigo with its glass floor. You can book your ticket in advance on this page.
After enjoying the 360-degree views of the Hudson River and the whole city, you can continue your New York in 4 days with tapas at Little Spain Market, owned by chef José Andrés and brothers Albert and Ferran Adrià, although we'd wait a while to eat at the famous Chelsea Market.
The Edge
High Line
When you leave the market you can take a flight of stairs up to the High Line, an elevated park built on an old railway line and filled with greenery. The pleasant walk is about 2 kilometres long and is one of the best things to do in New York.
High Line
Chelsea Market
Once the walk is over, we recommend you take the opportunity to visit the beautiful Chelsea Market where you can eat at some of its fantastic food stalls such as Los Tacos nº1, Very Fresh Noodles, Cull & Pistol and for dessert the sweets of "Sarabeth's Bakery" or the ice cream of "L'arte del Gelato", all of which are among the best restaurants to eat at in New York.
As a curiosity, this covered market is where the famous Oreo biscuits were invented, and in addition to the food court, there are shops selling quality fresh produce, which you can buy if you're staying in a flat and want to sample some of New York's best products.
To wash down your meal, head to the old Piers 54 and 56 to stroll around Little Island, a new floating public park on the Hudson River that will surprise you with its futuristic design.
Chelsea Market
Greenwich Village
With your appetite quenched you can follow the 4-day walk to Greenwich Village or the West Village, which is located in the northern part of Lower Manhattan, between Broadway and the Hudson River.
This is one of New York's trendiest neighbourhoods with its beautiful houses, cobblestone streets such as the pretty Gay Street or the commercial Bleecker Street and its courtyards and gardens hidden among the buildings. The heart of the neighbourhood is Washington Square Park, an area with a great atmosphere of artists, students and locals strolling around. Other essential stops for foodies include cupcake bakeries Magnoly Bakery and Molly's Cupcakes, and for film buffs there's nothing better than finding Carrie Bradshaw's flat from Sex and the City (66 Perry Street) and Friends (corner of Bedford and Grove Streets).
We recommend strolling around this bohemian neighbourhood and popping into some of its shops, where you can pick up some of New York's most original souvenirs.
Greenwich Village
Soho and Tribeca
After Greenwich Village we recommend continuing your day in Soho, which is short for South of Houston, one of the most famous and must-see neighbourhoods in New York City. Soho is known for its art galleries, boutiques, bookstores, fashion boutiques, clothing shops, restaurants, cafes and antique shops, many of which are considered the best in the city and which, we're sure, you won't be able to resist going into. Of course, if you're a shopaholic, this neighbourhood could be your downfall, we warn you. Don't forget to try the best cheesecake in town at Eileen's Special Cheesecake and buy some souvenirs at the MOMA shop. Among its busiest streets are Spring Street, Prince Street and Broadway.
Next to Soho is the TriBeCa neighbourhood, which was formed when rents went up in Soho and artists moved into TriBeCa to make it the new Soho. Like the first one, this one is also full of art galleries, shops, bars and restaurants.
In this area you can also find original coffee shops such as The City Bakery, Cafe Gitane, Ferrara Bakery & Cafe.
Soho
Chinatown in New York in 4 days
The New York in 4 days tour continues at sunset as you make your way down from upper Lower Manhattan along Canal Street until you feel like you're in a Chinese city, don't worry, you've arrived in Chinatown. This is where most of New York's Asian community resides and they've created a neighbourhood to suit their tastes with restaurants, shops and even signs in Chinese. After strolling along Canal Street you can head to Mott Street, Doyers Street and Columbus Park, where older Chinese people play board games.
A classic in this neighbourhood is to buy imitation goods ranging from clothes, handbags and watches, but be aware that the best imitations are hidden in the back of the shops. Ask them if you're interested.
Chinatown
Little Italy
Chinatown has grown so much that it has absorbed much of the old Italian immigrant neighbourhood of Little Italy. The neighbourhood has almost been reduced to its main street, Mulberry Street, lined with Italian restaurants with their typical Italian flag-painted fire hydrants, which, although it has become so limited, is well worth a visit.
To get to know and understand the history of these two neighbourhoods it may be very interesting to book this tour with an English speaking guide.
Little Italy
For dinner in New York in 4 days, we recommend returning to Greenwich Village for one of the best pizzas in the city at John's of Bleecker St. or Joe's Pizza and ending the day at Cafe Wha?, a legendary place to have a drink while listening to live music.
Another great option is to take this nighttime tour of New York's best-lit monuments and buildings.
Map of New York's highlights in 4 days
To make sure you don't miss anything important on the last day of New York in 4 days you can follow this tour:
If you have more time you can follow these guides to New York in 5 days, New York in 6 days, New York in 7 days and New York in 8 days.
