The independent NYC travel guide
Plan your New York City trip around skyline walks, neighborhood food, a night at the theater, and the things you can only do here.
Start with three days ↓Edition
The Wednesday parade runs from 26th to 45th Street. Expect closures around Fifth Avenue and leave extra time for cross-town trips through Midtown. (amNewYork)
The city announced $25 million in new funding to expand cold-weather outreach and shelter capacity. Its plan also includes more resources for clearing snow and ice. (NYC Mayor’s Office)
Affected NJ Transit trains end at Hoboken instead of New York Penn Station. Allow time for a PATH transfer if you’re headed to Manhattan. (Port Authority travel advisory)
From 9:45 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, Church Av-bound trains skip 4 Av–9 St, 15 St–Prospect Park and Fort Hamilton Pkwy. Check the MTA advisory for alternatives. (MTA)
Advocates for Children counted more than 138,000 students who experienced homelessness during the 2025–26 school year, including students in shelters and those sharing housing after losing their homes. (Chalkbeat New York)
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01 / First visit
Give Midtown and Central Park one day, spend the next downtown and by the water, then use day three for a neighborhood you want to get to know.
Morning: Walk from Grand Central to Bryant Park and the New York Public Library. Afternoon: Enter Central Park near 59th Street and make for Bethesda Terrace. Evening: See a Broadway show or visit Times Square after dark.
Bethesda Terrace visitor info ↗Morning: Choose a ticketed Liberty and Ellis Island visit or take the free Staten Island Ferry for harbor views. Afternoon: Visit the 9/11 Memorial, then walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Evening: See the skyline from Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Brooklyn Bridge Park ↗Morning: Start near 74th Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights. Afternoon: Stop for momos, then take the 7 to Flushing for dumplings or noodles. Evening: Head to Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City for a view across the East River.
Gantry Plaza State Park ↗Explore New York
Choose a neighborhood, plan a place to stay, or follow the waterfront and the High Line.
Explore named neighborhoods and city planning areas in all five boroughs.
Compare bases across NYC or read the guide to Airbnb and Vrbo.
Find hospital locations and lodging near Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Plan a ride through Riverside Park or find more outdoor places to explore.
Browse Fifth Avenue, stop at Ralph’s Coffee Truck, or head to Hudson Yards and Chelsea Market.
Check NYC rental rules before you book.
Pick a borough for a half-day and build around one neighborhood, one meal, and one place to linger.
Choose a few galleries at The Met, then head into Central Park for a break by the Reservoir.
Plan a Met visit ↗Start near Jane’s Carousel and follow the waterfront south. Head up to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade for a second look at Lower Manhattan.
Waterfront park map ↗Have lunch in Downtown Flushing, then make time for the Unisphere and the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Queens Museum visitor info ↗Browse the Italian food shops around Arthur Avenue and East 187th Street, then visit the New York Botanical Garden.
Botanical Garden visitor info ↗Take the ferry from Lower Manhattan, then continue from St. George to Snug Harbor for gardens and historic grounds. Check individual venues for hours and admission.
Visit Snug Harbor ↗03 / What to do
Start with what you like, then check hours, ticket availability, and what’s on for your travel dates.
Begin near the Whitney in the Meatpacking District, or enter at one of the stair or elevator access points farther north.
High Line hours and access ↗Book ahead if you have a particular show in mind. If you’re flexible, check TKTS for discounted tickets and booth hours.
Check TKTS ↗Head to the American Museum of Natural History and pick a few halls to explore. The dinosaur floors make a good starting point.
Museum tickets and access ↗Take a walk around Mott, Bayard and Pell Streets. Stop for dumplings, roast meats, or a bakery bun along the way.
Chinatown food and shopping guide ↗The city-operated ferry is free and connects Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan with St. George on Staten Island. The ride takes about 25 minutes each way.
Ferry rider information ↗Look up exhibitions, festivals, performances, and seasonal events before you lock in the rest of your itinerary.
NYC Tourism events calendar ↗04 / Before you go
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05 / Quick answers
Walk Central Park, cross the Brooklyn Bridge, stroll the High Line, visit the 9/11 Memorial pools, or ride the Staten Island Ferry. The 9/11 Museum has separate admission. 9/11 Memorial & Museum visitor info
Three full days give a first-time visitor time for Midtown and Central Park, Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront, and a day in another neighborhood. Add a fourth day if you want a longer museum visit or more time in Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island.
The free Staten Island Ferry passes through New York Harbor and stops at St. George. To set foot on Liberty Island or Ellis Island, book with the National Park Service’s authorized ferry operator. National Park Service visitor information