New York Itinerary – What to do in 7 (or more) days in the city!

At the time of writing this post, I have already visited New York three times.

Each of these visits was a unique experience and, if I wanted, I could have visited different attractions in each of them. To be honest, I've never visited a city with so many things to do like Big Apple, and leaves there every time feeling that something was missing lots of thing.

If your interest is in doing the classic tours, however, I would say seven days is enough. This amount is ideal for getting to know the main tourist attractions without having to rush, allowing you to enjoy the museums, parks and even shop at your leisure.

As the city is huge, the ideal is to plan and do the nearby attractions on the same day. There's no point trying to go to Brooklyn and visit the Natural History Museum on the same day, for example, as they are on opposite sides and you'll waste a lot of time commuting.

I know… this planning seems difficult, after all NYC has many neighborhoods and tours. But do not worry! To help you, I put together an itinerary around New York with suggestions for 7 days in the city, where I have already separated the attractions by region.

At the end of the post, I even gave some extra tips if you have more time to travel!

How to get around New York

The best way to walk around city ​​that never sleeps is using the subway. Traffic is chaotic and you will only be stressed if you rent a car or use uber. The system of Subway It's cheaper, faster and more efficient, and takes you to all the places on the itinerary. To save money, I suggest purchasing the one-week unlimited pass for $35.

Here on the blog there is a post with tips on how to use the subway and not get lost, and another about how to get to or from the region's main airports using public transport.

Where to stay in New York

Even with the subway taking you everywhere, the ideal is to stay close to the main tourist attractions, such as Times Square and Central Park.. I try to always stay between 40th and 100th streets, and I've never had any problems getting anywhere. During my travels I tried different accommodations in various price ranges. The ones I most recommend are:

• There's a post here on the blog with a full review. Booking rating: 8,4.
• I've also written a post here on the blog with other cheap accommodation options in New York!

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  New York Itinerary – What to do in 7 days in the city

  Day 1: Midtown Manhattan – Times Square, 5th Avenue, Central Park and Broadway

  There is no way to start a trip to New York without visiting Times Square and Central Park. These are some of the most famous tourist spots in the world and for good reason! I warn you that this is the day you will be walking the most, so be prepared and wear comfortable shoes!

  The idea is to start ending up in the same place, so you can see the Times region both day and night. Don't be surprised if you don't find Times Square on the map, as it is actually a area and not a street itself. The region with that name is at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Ave.

  Get off the subway at 50th or 49th Street – whichever is easier depending on your location – and follow 7th Avenue in the direction downtown (that is, the number of streets is decreasing). In this area you will see the famous steps, a giant Forever XXI, a gigantic M&M's store, Hard Rock Cafe and several other stores...

  Take your time, visit the stores you want, take several photos and, when you arrive between 44th and 42nd, walk towards 5th Avenue (east). There you will find some luxury brand stores, as well as more affordable ones like GUESS, H&M, Urban Outfitters and even Microsoft and Apple.

  On the 5th, walk in the opposite direction, and go up to uptown until you reach 58th, where the entrance to Central Park is. If it's close to lunch time and you're hungry, go to 55th or 56th Street towards 7th Avenue, where there are several restaurants with Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Greek, Mexican food and whatever else you can think of. For something quick, I recommend 5 Guys (by far the best fast food from United States). Another option is the black tap, which serves American food and has milkshakes Instagram-worthy.

  Arriving at Central Park, know that it is gigantic is that you not must go without a plan. Find out which attractions you want to see and create a route to them using Google Maps. The most famous spots are Bethesda Terrace, Strawberry Fields and the Carousel. My suggestion is to do the route in that order, so you're almost back to Midtown when you reach the end.

  Leave the park through the exit Columbus Circle, and take the opportunity to get to know the Turnstyle underground market, inside the metro station. This underground market has several restaurants and shops, and if you want a snack worth trying out donuts from Doughnuttery or Bolivian food from Bolivian Llama Party (the fries are wonderful).

  To end the day, since you will already be in the region, I recommend watching a Broadway show. There's a post here on the blog talking about the most classic musicals – like the Phantom of the Opera – and about others shows like Disney. Remember to buy your tickets in advance, this way you get the best seats and don't run the risk of getting there and being sold out. I recommend purchasing with WePlann, which sells tickets for the most popular presentations, without IOF and even allows you to pay in installments.

  If you think it will be too tiring, you can also leave Broadway for the different neighborhoods day or the museum day.

  The cool thing is that you will be in Times Square at night, and you will be able to enjoy the lights that are so characteristic of this part of the city!

  

  Day 2: Midtown Manhattan – Grand Central, Library, Bryant Park and Empire State Building

  Start the day by taking the subway and getting off at the 42nd Street station to visit the Grand Central Station. The building is beautiful and has several stores – including a huge new Apple Store – as well as great places to have a meal. If you haven't eaten breakfast at the hotel, my suggestion is to try the delicacies of Magnolia Bakery, which is on the lower floor of the station.

  After the visit, exit to the 42nd Street exit and walk towards Lexington Ave to observe the magnitude of the Chrysler Building, which was once considered the tallest skyscraper in the world. Take some photos and then walk east on 42nd Street to 5th Avenue, where you'll find the New York Public Library. It is possible to enter the building and see the environment for free, the architecture is beautiful and it is a great place to rest for a while.

  Behind the library is the Bryant Park, park with green area, cafes and restaurants. You can take the opportunity to make a snack at one of the stalls, or buy your food and eat on the lawn. Nearby there is a Mc Donald's, Panera Bread, Poke and even a Chipotle.

  From there you have two options: follow 5th Avenue to 34th Street and arrive at Empire State Building or, if you have time and inclination, take 7th Avenue. At that point you will find the wax museum of Madame Tussaud, the comic shop midtown comics and even the famous fabric Mood, famous for reality Project Runway. Go down 7th to 34th Street, and then head towards 5th Avenue towards the Empire State Building. There are several stores along the way, including a giant Victoria's Secret!

  Depending on the time you arrive at Empire Statebuilding, It will be possible to see the sunset from up there. The view is stunning and becomes even more exciting as night falls, when the city lights up! As the queues are long, especially in high season, I recommend purchasing your ticket in advance! At WePlann you can pay in reais, without IOF and in installments!

  

  Day 3: Lower Manhattan – 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street, Statue of Liberty and One World Trade Center

  This part of the New York itinerary is for you to discover a different part of the island of Manhattan! Start by taking the metro to one of the stations near the 9/11 memorial (Fulton St. or Cortlandt St.), and visit the park honoring the victims of the city-changing tragedy.

  Observation: Take photos of the memorial but, PLEASE, remember that this is a place that brings sadness and act accordingly! Nothing of boomerang jumping because it has nothing to do with the climate of the place!

  If you are interested in learning more about the event, you can visit the museum located in the same location. The queues are usually quite long so get there early. Before heading to another region, take a look at the The Oculus, one of the most expensive stations in the world and which is combined with a shopping mall, full of stores! The architecture is incredible and makes for great photos.

  If you're already hungry, the tip is to eat at Eataly, famous Italian food market that is next to the memorial, or cross the avenue and eat at Le District, which would be the French equivalent.

  From there, head to the Wall Street – You can either walk or take the subway on Fulton Street and get off at Bowling Green Station. The scenery is full of tall buildings and not very exciting, but walk to the famous Wall Street Bull, which is now accompanied by the Fearless Girl. Legend has it that taking balls of the bull brings good luck, rs.

  If you have left for lunch here, the suggestion is to Artichoke Basille Pizza, considered by many to be the best pizza in New York (I loved it!).

  After that, it's time to visit one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the world: the Statue of Liberty. If you want to go to the island where the statue is located, you need to buy a ticket for the ferry which costs US$18.50. The purchase must be made in advance through the official website.

  If you want to save money, you can take the ferry free to Staten Island, which comes out every half hour. He doesn't pass So close to the statue like this, but you have a better view than if you were on the island, lol.

  When you finish the tour, you can follow one of the following itineraries:

  • Take the subway back to the 9/11 memorial and watch the sunset from the top of the One World Observatory, the city's newest observatory. To avoid queues, buy tickets online on the WePlann website and pay in reais, without IOF and in installments.
  • Or, if you don't want to see the city from above de novo, take the subway and discover other parts of Lower Manhattan. I, for example, went to the West 4St Washington Square station and got off at Washington Park. In this region there are several great restaurants for dinner, and the bakery that sells cookie dough on the cone, DŌ.

  

  Day 4: High Line, Chelsea Market, Museum of Modern Art, Hoboken

  Start the day by taking the subway and going to the 34th or 23rd street stations. Head towards the Hudson river until you find the entrance to the Highline, a suspended park built on top of the city's old railway tracks. The view is beautiful and you have a super pleasant walk.

  From the High Line, head towards downtown and get off at the 15th or 16th street exits to see the Chelsea Market. This market has everything: decoration, stationery, clothes, accessories and lots of good places to eat. If you haven't had breakfast yet or want to have a snack, my tip is to try the donuts at Doughnuttery or some delight Sarabeth's. For lunch, the suggestion is the tacos from LOS TACOS No.1 or for the classics of Creamline.

  After the park, you can follow one of the two itineraries below, depending on your favorite type of attraction:

  • Proceed to the Whitney Museum of American Art, a contemporary art museum that is a work of art in itself. From there, go down to the building where the series was filmed Friends (You can walk to see more of the surrounding area or take the subway to Christopher St. station). After taking some photos, head along Christopher St. to the Hudson River Park Pier 45, perfect place to watch the sunset.
  • Or, you can go down to the 14th Street station, take a PATH (a type of train, subway tickets are not accepted) and get off at Hoboken. It is a small town on the other side of the river, where the Carlo's Bakery original. After eating some sweets, walk through the riverside park and wait for the sunset, you will have a spectacular view of the skyline from Manhattan. To return to the island, just go the other way using PATH.

  This region of West Village where both Hudson River Park Pier 45 and the PATH stop are located, there are countless restaurants and bars, so it's a great place to end the night! Choose one of the options and have fun! 🙂

  

  Day 5: Brooklyn Bridge, Flea Market, Prospect Park and Brooklyn Heights

  Our New York itinerary cannot only pass through Manhattan. Today is the day to visit one of the most famous neighborhoods in the region: Brooklyn! If you are traveling in the summer, do this route on a Sunday to catch the Flea Market at Dumbo. In winter, it takes place on Saturdays and Sundays at the Atlantic Center.

  Before you start, you need to decide if you want to cross the Brooklyn Bridge. The pedestrian crossing is around 1,6 km long and has a great view, as well as making for great photos. If you want to cross, take the subway to Brooklyn Bridge City Hall Station and start your walk to leave the island. If you're not going to cross, take the subway to York St. Station, just outside of Manhattan.

  Regardless of your choice, when you arrive in Brooklyn, walk towards the Dumbo, a great place for photos with the Manhattan Bridge background. Walk through the park on the water's edge, take photos at the Carrousel and with the two bridges.

  If you are traveling in the summer, take advantage of the fact that you are already in the region and visit the Flea Market what happens there. If you are traveling in winter, take the High Street Station subway and get off at Lafayette Avenue Station where the event will be taking place. Flea Market. Take advantage of the fact that at this time the market is together with Smorgasburg, wonderful gastronomic fair! Check times and locations on the official website.

  From the fair, depending on how much time is left in the day, you can take the metro at the same station and go to the botanical garden of the Prospect Park, or if it's late go back to the Dumbo region and watch the sunset. The tip is to stay further to the left, in the region of Brooklyn Heights Promenade, and from there proceed to Montague Street, full of restaurants and shops.

  

  Day 6: SoHo, Chinatown and Little Italy

  The sixth day is dedicated to different neighborhoods on the island of Manhattan. You will pass by great places to take photos for Instagram, wonderful restaurants, shopping (from cheap to more expensive) and experiencing different cultures in just a few hours. The entire itinerary is on foot (the regions are close together), so be prepared to walk!

  This itinerary can take the whole day or, if you just want to explore without shopping or eating, a few hours. If you choose the second option, there is one walking tour free service that passes through the three neighborhoods. You can use the rest of the time to rest, explore the region near your hotel or even repeat a tour.

  Start by taking the subway to SoHo, stopping at Prince St station. The neighborhood – which gets its name because it is south of Houston Street (South of Houston) – is full of boutiques, local brands and delicious cafes and trendy restaurants. When getting out of the station, follow Broadway towards downtown and then between Broome St. towards the Hudson River (west). Remember to stop to observe the buildings and enter the places that interest you!

  At the end of Broome is the Black Tap, a burger restaurant famous for its milkshakes. Depending on how long it took you to get there, you might be hungry, so here's a suggestion for lunch. If you only want one snacks, Take advantage of the fact that nearby, on Sullivan St., is the Dominique Ansel Bakery, one of the best-known bakeries in the city.

  After that, head towards downtown until Canal St. and from there continue until you reach Lafayette Street. At that point the Canal Street Market, a market full of clothes and decorative items. Nearby is also NOMO, a hotel with a perfect entrance for taking photos!

  Continuing along Canal St. you will arrive at Chinatown. You can't help but notice the change of neighborhood, as signs start to be written in Chinese and countless street vendors appear on the streets. If you want to buy New York souvenirs, this is the place, as the prices are much cheaper than those in Times Squares.

  My suggestion in this region is to walk the streets and enter the markets and stores. There are lots of good and cheap things, and if you like Asian cosmetics, there are lots of pharmacies and stores to get your fill. If you haven't eaten yet, I recommend going to Name Wah Tea Parlor, a super traditional restaurant with great prices (the menu has photos, so no need to worry).

  The next neighborhood is Little Italy, and the main attractions are restaurants and cafes. If you're not yet hungry for pizza, I suggest walking around Columbus Park and enjoying more of Chinatown. When you're ready, follow Mott St. toward uptown, take a photo at the Chinatown Sign and then enter the Italian part of the city. The most traditional restaurants are Rubirosa and Lombardi's, and it's difficult to decide between the many pizza options. If you don't want to have a meal, there is also Ferrara Bakery, where you can get a traditional gelato.

  

  Day 7: Natural History Museum, MoMa, Metropolitan and Top of the Rock

  The last day of the New York itinerary is the most cultural, as well as passing through Central Park and Times Square to say goodbye to the city's icons.

  Here you can start by taking the metro straight to the Natural History Museum, at the 81st Street station, or, if you haven't had coffee yet, get off at 72 Street / Broadway and walk to 74th St. to try the cookies from Levain bakery. They are wonderful and I am suffering writing this post and thinking about them, rs.

  At the museum, if you want to save time and skip the line, Buy your ticket in advance and avoid the queues, in addition to paying in reais, without IOF and in installments. The view is one of the coolest, as you can see the Empire State Building. Depending on the time, you can even catch the sunset!

  My suggestion to end the trip is to go back to Times Square (it's at the same height, just go up to 7th) and see the lights for the last time! You already miss it, right?

  

  And there you have it, a complete New York itinerary covering the city's main attractions! Tips for tours, restaurants, photo spots and much more!

  Do you have more time on your trip? Some tour suggestions are:

  • Outlet: The Jersey Gardens It's close to New York and has one of the best selection of stores I've ever seen, including Victoria's Secret! You can catch a bus there from Penn Station.
  • Hit and return to Washington: The capital of the United States is close to NYC and there are several day trips! This one from WePlann, for example, has a guide in Portuguese and passes by the Abraham Lincoln Memorial and the exterior of the White House. You can also do a round trip to Boston or to Philadelphia.
  • Visit other museums: Here in the itinerary I included the most famous ones, but the city is full of museums, galleries and exhibitions! Some options are Guggenheim, Brooklyn Museum, New Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of the Moving Image.
  • Film and series scenarios: Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, Home Alone… there are many stories that take place in New York, and visiting its main attractions is a super fun trip! Here in the itinerary I have already included the Friends building, the MET staircase and the Magnolia Bakery, but there are several other places!

  Do you think something was missing? Do you have any questions? Leave a comment and let's talk! 🙂

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  Some links in this post are affiliate links. In the case of museums and attractions such as observatories, both WePlann and Get Your Guide offer prices that may be higher than those on the official websites. The advantage is that with WePlann you can buy in installments, in reais and without IOF. Where to make the purchase is up to you! =)