72 Hours in New York City
Round two of my 36 Hours In… Series! New York, New York - one of the best cities to visit in the world! If you haven't been before, it should be on your travel bucket list. There is truly something for everyone in the city that never sleeps - comedy clubs, Broadway, nature (yes, even in Manhattan!), and some of the best shopping in the world!
This itinerary is for our first time visitors to New York. You will see the highlights and some off the beaten path ideas. Later this year, I will post a part two to dive deeper into Manhattan neighborhood by neighborhood. But if you've never been, start here!
New York City History
Let's start with some historical fun facts, shall we?
New York was actually the first capital of the United States. George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the US at Federal Hall - a building you can still see on Wall Street today.
It would take over 24 hours to travel the entire subway system in New York. It's one of the oldest and biggest systems in the world!
How did New York get its nickname, "The Big Apple," you ask? Horse racing was quite popular in NYC and the prizes were called "big apples." The name stuck after an advertising campaign in the 70s!
The Federal Reserve in NYC has the largest gold storage in the world. The gold vault is 80 feet underground and houses $90 billion in gold.
The first pizza shop in the United States opened in 1895 in New York. Since about the 60s, the price of a slice of pizza has been roughly the same price as a subway ride. This is called the “Pizza Principle” among economists.
The Five Boroughs
New York City is divided into 5 boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. This itinerary will keep you in Manhattan for the most part, but part two will explore the other boroughs!
P.S. Want a one-page printable version of this itinerary? Enter your email below and download it right away!
Day One
Your day will begin with the site most immigrants saw when first landing in New York - the Statue of Liberty. Book a boat ride out to the statue here and check her out from the island. It's a great opportunity to see Manhattan from the water as well! Your drop off point for the boat is right near the financial district. Walk through Wall Street - fun to see this on a work day especially! The New York Stock Exchange is fun to see as well!
Pop into Levain Bakery and get one of their classic chocolate chip cookies. After leaving the financial district, walk to the World Trade Center Memorial - a must see. Very sobering, but worth it!
Tonight, see a show on Broadway! You should know - Broadway is dark on Mondays (meaning there are no shows!). Using the TKTS booth for last minute seats is a great way to save some money. Plus, all shows on Broadway are great so you can't go wrong! While you are in the neighborhood, you should spend some time in the Times Square madness. Stores are open late and the neighborhood will stay crowded through the night, so you can go before or after your show. Perfect time to get a photo standing in the center of the chaos!
Day Two
This is an early morning for you, but worth it! You will be waking up before 6am to watch a live taping of Today Show (requires proof of vaccination) It's first come, first served. Weekday mornings, arrive between 6:15 and 6:30. Wrapped up by 9am.
After the taping, you will want to head to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck (preorder tickets to reserve a spot!) There is a ton to see within about a couple blocks of Rockefeller Center so be sure to check out:
Lunch at Ellen's Stardust Diner - this is where a ton of Broadway singers work between shows! They do performances while serving food. It's a must see.
After lunch, I recommend spending time in Central Park for the afternoon! Some key sights/things to do are the famous Central Park Carousel, Strawberry Fields, Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, and renting a boat from the Loeb Boathouse. Nearby, I recommend seeing the MET as well! You can go inside of course, but just seeing the outside is great, too. If you decide to walk back to the hotel, walk down 5th Avenue to see the famous shops, the Plaza Hotel, etc.
If you're up for it, you should plan on seeing a comedy show tonight! Comedy Cellar, Gotham City Comedy, or Upright Citizens Brigade are my favorites.
Day Three
This morning (as early as you can manage) I recommend taking the subway or a taxi to DUMBO (The intersection of Washington Street and Water Street) for the classic NYC photo op below and then, walk the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan.
After your walk, head to Chinatown/Canal Street - good for faux luxury items, but even if you don't like shopping it's fun to see the hustle and bustle! Can be a bit overwhelming, so if it's too much head to Little Italy, instead! Slightly less crowded. Plan on having lunch in Little Italy or at Katz' Delicatessen.
Highline and Chelsea Market - Walking the highline and exploring the Chelsea Market is the perfect way to wrap up your whirlwind trip to NYC. You will be able to see Manhattan from above (the path is on a retired above ground train line) and explore the adorable little shops in Chelsea. It's quintessential New York!
