NYC in 3 Days: The Perfect Speedy New York Itinerary

Welcome to New York, the Big Apple, the City that Never Sleeps, the concrete jungle where dreams are made of… To be honest, with everything that there is to do in NYC, 3 days is very little time. That said, here at Civitatis, we think you’re better off visiting a city for a little bit less than you would have liked, than not visiting it at all. When visiting somewhere like New York City in just 3 days, you need to have a rock-solid itinerary, so you can get the most out of your trip. As such, today at Civitatis, we’re running through our perfect itinerary for 3 days in NYC, hitting all of the main landmarks, and getting the true ‘New York experience’ along the way. Let’s get into it!

Day 1 – Diner, MET, Central Park, The Edge

Grab Breakfast at a New York Diner

Day one in New York City, what do you do? Start your morning by heading to the Upper East Side and stumbling into a classic New York American diner. The diner has become somewhat of a symbol of America, where people from all walks of life come to get their morning feed. Often, these establishments will have the owner behind the grill or serving you your food themself. Think eggs, bacon, pancakes, and a hot drip coffee—the perfect start to your New York City experience.

Explore the MET Museum

Next, walk toward the world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) at 1000 5th Ave. Walk up the MET steps, which have become a destination in themselves and are a popular meeting point for locals. In fact, you might recognize them from Gossip Girl—if you’re a fan, definitely check out this Gossip Girl tour of NYC to see more spots from the show.

Once inside, it’s up to you how you go about exploring this vast exhibition, which features 2 million pieces of art, spanning 5,000 years of history. A highlight is the Egyptian Galleries, which feature a temple dating back to 10 B.C., gifted to the United States by Egypt. Also discover Vincent van Gogh’s Self Portrait with a Straw Hat, as well as Emanuel Leutze’s famous Washington Crossing the Delaware. You’ll also find fantastic Greek and Roman sculptures and works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Picasso, and more. You could quite easily spend the whole day exploring the MET, but if you want to see the most important pieces within a couple of hours, and learn a little bit along the way, check out this skip-the-line MET guided tour.

Take a Tour of Central Park

After exploring the MET for 2-3 hours, go and enjoy Central Park, which is at the museum’s doorstep. This expansive green space of 843 acres (341 ha) right in the heart of Manhattan dates back to the mid-19th century and has served as a haven from the hustle and bustle of city life in New York ever since. Wander through the green meadows and water features, enjoying the sound of buskers as you pass by them. A highlight is Strawberry Fields, a portion of the park that pays tribute to John Lennon. If you’re tired from exploring the MET, check out this Central Park rickshaw tour, which will take you to the highlights of the park in style!

• See more ways to check out Central Park with Civitatis.

Enjoy the Sunset from the Edge

After a long day of exploring, conclude your first evening in the Big Apple at one of its finest viewpoints. Buy a ticket to The Edge, which stands 1,100 feet (345 meters) above the city. This is our favorite viewpoint in the city (though there are lots of other great options nearby). Look over downtown Manhattan, including Central Park, and even the Statue of Liberty in the background. Another slightly different option is this ticket to Summit ONE Vanderbilt, which provides an incredible view of the skyline and includes three levels of multi-sensory immersive experiences. Keep in mind that either viewpoint will be busiest at sunset, so buy your tickets well in advance of your trip.

• Are you an adrenaline junkie? Check out this City Climb at The Edge, and scale part of the building wearing helmets and harnesses over 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the city streets!

Day 2 – Statue of Liberty, Little Italy, Broadway

Tour the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Start the morning of your second day in NYC by heading to the southern tip of Manhattan Island, to the entrance of Clinton Castle in the Battery. From here, as part of this Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island tour, you’ll board a ferry to bring you first to Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty. Now a symbol of New York, this turquoise, copper-clad statue was given as a gift to the United States by France in 1886 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Next, you’ll sail to Ellis Island, the piece of land that received over 12 million immigrants into the country. Here, you’ll learn about what life would have been like for people coming to the United States in search of a better life.

Explore Washington Square Park & SoHo

When you get off the ferry, it should be around 11:30 AM. Hop on the subway and make your way straight to Washington Square Park, which is about 20 minutes away, right in the heart of Greenwich Village. Here, check out the Washington Square Arch and fountain, enjoy the music of buskers playing jazz and singing, and check out impressive chess players battling it out on the southwest corner of the park—if you’re a player, enjoy a game yourself!

Then, wander down toward SoHo, a neighborhood known for its great shopping, restaurants, and nightlife.

Visit Little Italy & Chinatown

Hungry yet? After spending some time in SoHo, make your way to the African Burial Ground National Monument, to enjoy a food tour of Little Italy and Chinatown—two of the most culturally rich areas in the city, which also happen to be home to some of the very best restaurants. Learn all about the impact that immigrants have had on this city, and find out where to get the best New York slice of pizza and deli culture in New York. Also, gain an insight into Chinese cuisine in NYC by visiting the most authentic stalls selling the best dumplings.

Catch a Show on Broadway/Take a Stroll in Times Square

In the evening, enjoy another classic New York City experience by attending a Broadway show. If you’re looking for an itinerary for NYC in 3 days, or just 1, catching a show on Broadway is a must! The theaters along Times Square and beyond feature some of the best productions in the world. Whether you’re into musicals, drama, or comedy, there’s a performance for everyone in the City that Never Sleeps. Check out the many shows available in New York City, from Wicked to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to Hamilton!

After the show, cap off the day with a stroll through the ever iconic Times Square. Its dazzling lights, bustling crowds, and live street performances create a dynamic atmosphere that epitomizes New York by night.

Day 3 – Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn, Pub Crawl

See Brooklyn Bridge + DUMBO

Start your final day with a scenic walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge, which officially opened in 1883, is an architectural icon that was once the longest suspension bridge in the world. Enjoy a 20-minute stroll across the bridge with a breathtaking view of Manhattan and the East River. Cross over into the borough of Brooklyn, and explore its trendy DUMBO neighborhood, known for its cobblestone streets, waterfront parks, and the famous Manhattan Bridge photo spot on Washington Street. Civitatis offers a guided Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO walking tour (or explore on your own) to explore the area for yourself, accompanied by a local guide. One of our favorite things to do in DUMBO (if you’re visiting on the weekend) is to hit up the Brookyln Flea. Here, you’ll find retro fashion, unique antique jewellery. Even if you’re not buying anything, it’s a fun spot to explore and soak in the vibes!

Experience Bushwick + Williamsburg

When you’ve explored DUMBO to your heart’s delight, hop on the Subway or grab a cab to Bushwick, another one of Brooklyn’s coolest, up and coming neighborhoods. This area is certainly rough around the edges, but it’s absolutely brimming with character. Explore Bushwick’s thrift stores and street art. Grab yourself a bagel in a family-run breakfast spot, and then a coffee in a trendy café. Most of all, soak in the vibes! On this Bushwick + Williamsburg guided tour, you’ll explore this neighborhood alongside a local guide, who’ll also bring you to Williamsburg, another trendy neighborhood. If you’re particularly interested in street art, take a look at this Bushwick graffiti tour.

Williamsburg is one of our favorite areas in the city. Here, you’ll find industrial buildings that have been repurposed to host brilliant art galleries and music venues. Grab yourself a snack in a local eatery, explore South Williamsburg, an Orthodox Jewish community, and enjoy views of the city at Domino Park!

Go on a Bar Crawl

Enjoy your final evening in the city on this NYC bars & rooftops tour. Bar culture in the city is rich and varied. In Manhattan, you’ll find incredible spots everywhere, from Harlem to the Battery. On this tour, you’ll also get to enjoy bars with terraces looking out over the city skyline. What better way to conclude your trip to the Big Apple than looking over the city’s skyline with a Manhattan or a Negroni? Bliss!

Bonus – What We Couldn’t Fit In

There’s an endless number of things to do in NYC, and quite simply, 3 days doesn’t allow you to do them all. If you can fit it in, we’d highly recommend this boroughs of New York bus tour, which brings you around Brooklyn, as well as Queens, Harlem, and the Bronx—areas which symbolize the contrasts of New York and are well worth checking out if you have time.

Museums

In terms of museums, grab yourself a ticket to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), an obvious omission from our list, featuring timeless classics, including the legendary Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. Lovers of modern art should check out the New York Guggenheim Museum—the building is a work of art in itself, featuring a famous spiral and glass dome. Here, you’ll find works by Marc Chagall, Vasily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, and Pablo Picasso.

For those interested in history, we recommend checking out the Museum of the City of New York, an exhibition off of Central Park, that showcases the past, present and even future of NYC, featuring maps, manuscripts, and timescapes, showing the city’s growth from a humble colony to the cosmopolitan metropolis as we know it today!

A ticket to Madame Tussauds, the world-famous wax museum, is another fantastic option, as is the lesser-known New York Ice Cream Museum.

Sporting events

If you can fit it in, going to a sporting event in New York is a fantastic experience. Check out some of your options with Civitatis:

• Ice Hockey: New York Rangers ticket
• Basketball: Brooklyn Nets or New York Liberty NBA tickets, or New York Knicks Tickets
• Baseball: New York Yankees tickets

Iconic sights

There are also lots of iconic sights/activities in the city that we’ve had to leave out of our list. We love visiting the Empire State Building, certainly one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. We’d also recommend this Official Grand Central Terminal tour to discover another one of New York City’s most legendary landmarks and to gain an insight into its history. If you’re visiting during the winter, going skating at the Rink in the Rockefeller Center is our favorite way to get into the winter spirit…

So there you have it, Civitatis’ guide to visiting NYC in 3 days. If you’re still looking for things to do, check out more tours & experiences in New York City with Civitatis!