First time visit to NYC

I’d start with a bang by seeing the most amazing view EVER. Do NOT go to Times Square. It is crowded, noisy, and gross.

Instead, head to Chelsea Piers on the west side. There, you can hop on a sailboat or indoor cruise from Sail-Manhattan. nyc. Chelsea Piers, Pier 62, New York, NY 10011. I don’t care what time of year unless it’s bitter cold (of course you decide what is bitter cold). The sail down and near the Statue of Liberty is the most breathtaking thing you’ll ever see.

Additionally, you will get a beautiful view of multiple skylines. You’ll see Little Island and determine if you want to go back and visit it in person. (I vote YES!) Little Island, Pier 55, New York, NY 10014. You’ll see the beautiful Wall Street area and Battery Park City,with gorgeous buildings, including One World Trade.  10006. You will get up close and personal with Lady Liberty without getting off the boat.

Sail-NYC serves refreshments such as wine and beer. And you’re welcome to bring your own snacks on board. In fact, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to grab a sandwich anywhere. You don’t even need somewhere special unless you’re starving. You won’t believe you are in Manhattan.

After the sail: Freshen up and relax at your hotel. And you know what?  I’m splurging. I know everybody says take the subway, schmubway, but you are tired from your traveling. You just got off a boat. Take the Uber, or Lyft or regular yellow cab.

Dinner/ Drinks: you’re going to go to my favorite place in New York City. And that is Avenues Cocktail Bar or Peak With Priceless. Peak With Priceless, 30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. PRO TIP: If you spend $60, probably a little less at either of those restaurants, you get a free entry to The Edge (30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001) and be prepared to blow your mind.

You do not need anything else for your first day. You have just had the most amazing visual experiences on day one that you can. Now, day two, three, and four, there are so many different things to do in Manhattan, it’s hard to say what the best things are. So I can give you some examples of itineraries that I would have.

 

Breakfast:  I don’t know what time you’re going to get up but guess what? You can get a bagel anywhere, in New York City. And yes, there’s Apollo bagels. There’s H&H bagels.  There’s so many bagels. I have yet to have a BAD NYC bagel unless you go to one of the delis and they are premade. Here is a list of bagel stores, but you don’t have to worry about lining up around the block for a friggin’ bagel. They’re all good. I like them double toasted and scooped out. I like my bagels crunchy. And I like a smear of cream cheese with lox. But you get what you want. That’s just me.

Dumbo

You want to go see the Dumbo experience (that is Brooklyn, but I am writing it here because too many people INSIST). For another outrageous view, take the NYC Ferry from 34th Street  & FDR Drive, New York, NY 10017 for $4.50. However, if you want to save time and money, download the APP and buy a book of ten. Then it’s $2.70 per ticket and you will see how fast you use that up. NYC FERRY – NOT NYC Waterway.  Get on the SOUTH BOUND ferry to Dumbo.  Ask the dock workers there to ensure you are on the right line. It will be downtown to Wall Street.

How to get to the Ferry

So obviously this is all dependent on the weather. If you’re in Times Square like every other tourist, but you can take a taxi, take an Uber, or if you want to take public transportation, you have to go east on 34th Street. Depending on where you are, you can walk to 34th Street and take an east heading cross-town bus.  Use your phone or credit card- it’s $3 per person.

PRO TIP: When you are pulling away from the dock at 34th Street, there’s this fabulous shot of the Empire State Building in between the Copper Building

Dumbo is  way more than just Pebble Beach.

READ DUMBO DETAILS

All right, so now you’re you’re in Dumbo.  There’s a gazillion art galleries. There are the pretty places. And 100% go up to the top of the Time Out New York building. Time Out Market New York, 55 Water St., Brooklyn, NY 11201. I did not plan to be blown away, but I was. The bridge picture is absolutamente gorgeous.

You can spend easily three, four, five hours in Dumbo because you can stroll along the water. You can go into art galleries. You can go into the cute stores. One of the restaurants I really love there is the ABC Kitchen. I had a great time there. But in Time Out New York, there’s 50 bazillion restaurants. Dumbo is about shopping, food, galleries, and views. You don’t have to be like everybody else. You can just chillax and enjoy that.

If you time it right, now that the sun is setting early, you can walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset or near sunset. It doesn’t really matter what time you walk across the Brooklyn Bridge because anytime is going to be a beautiful, beautiful sight. Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY 10038.

So now you’ve walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. I’m not exactly sure how you get from the Brooklyn Bridge entry down the area called South Street Seaport, but this is a another fave area for me. Mainly, once again, for the views, and there are really nice restaurants there. South Street Seaport, 89 South St., New York, NY 10038. One of the ones that I like particularly is called Industry Kitchen. Industry Kitchen, 70 South St., New York, NY 10005. Not to be confused with Le Industry Pizza.

Wall Street

If you don’t want to go see the South Street Seaport. Wall Street, New York, NY 10005. (A tiny bit tricky but I always ask people directions), option number two is to walk across the lower part of Manhattan. It’s a bit of a walk and you might get lost. So what you do is you get directions and you can see  Charging Bull, Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004. I’m not sure what the big thing is about the bull– but everyone seems to want it. LOL.

Next (or save for day 4)

I really think I’m packing too much in here, but what you can do is at that point, I just think it’s too heavy at this point to go spend three hours in the 9/11 Museum, 180 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10007. If you are too tired,   just see the the 911 fountains, which are spectacular,

The Oculus:  185 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10007.

The Oculus is a train station, but it is a masterful, I’ve never seen anything like it. And even as a New Yorker, the sculpture, the architecture of the Oculus blows my mind.

City Vineyard or Brookfield Place.

If you really wanna go crazy sunset at the end of the day, West downtown Manhattan go to City Vineyard, which is right on Hudson river (233 West St., New York, NY 10013) or you can stop by Brookfield place, 230 Vesey St., New York, NY 10281, which is kind of on your way and eat in one of the restaurants inside Brookfield.

That  wraps up day two, so there’s wow there’s a lot:  there’s a ferry,  there’s Dumbo there’s views there’s walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and then there’s choices to go either to the South Street Seaport, 911 Fountains, West Side Sunset dining,

You may have seen The Edge or Summit One, but if you haven’t, One World is another great choice.  They are NOT all the same, and in fact, have completely different experiences.  Here are several things to do downtown.

One World Observatory

• Address: 285 Fulton Street (One World Trade Center), New York, NY 10007: Height: 100th floor, 1,776 feet above ground
• Admission: Around $38–42 per person
• What to expect: Plan 30 minutes to clear morning security, 30 minutes to ride the SkyPod elevators, 30 minutes to take in the 360-degree views. This is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. On a clear day you see for miles.
• Subway: A/C to Fulton Street; 2/3 to Park Place; 4/5 to Fulton Street
• Directions to next stop: Exit the One World Trade Center lobby on the south side facing Fulton Street. Walk straight south across Fulton Street onto the pedestrian plaza. (3-minute walk)

9/11 Memorial Fountains if you missed them day 2

• Address: 180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007
• What it is: Two reflecting pools built into the footprints of where the Twin Towers stood. The names of all 2,977 victims are inscribed into the bronze edges. It’s a place to stop, reflect, breathe.
• Hours: Open daily (weather permitting)
• Admission: Free
• Optional: 9/11 Memorial Museum is right there if you want to go deeper. It takes 2–3 hours and requires advance tickets. This museum is heavy—really heavy. The story, the artifacts, the personal histories. It’s important but emotionally intense.

Battery Park Waterfront Walk

• Address: Battery Park, New York, NY 10004 (southern tip of Manhattan)
• What to do: A completely relaxed afternoon stroll. Walk the waterfront. Grab a coffee. Sit on a bench and look out over the harbor. See the Statue of Liberty across the water. Watch the water. This is a moment to breathe before you choose your next move.
• Admission: Free

Governor’s Island or Statue of Liberty Cruise

Head to Slip 7 (Ferry Terminal)

• Address: Battery Maritime Building, 10 South Street (Battery Park), New York, NY 10004
• This is the ferry terminal for the Trust for Governors Island ferry
• Directions: From Battery Park, walk south along the water via the East River Esplanade / South Street Seaport Promenade. Keep the water on your left as you loop around the southern tip of Manhattan directly into Battery Park until you see the Governors Island ferry slip. (20-minute walk)
• Check in and queue up. The ferry is first-come, first-served.

Ferry to Governors Island

• Ferry: South Brooklyn ferry route to Governors Island
• Cost: $5.00 round trip
• Time: About 10–15 minutes
• Tip: Claim a spot on the top deck for sunset views of the Statue of Liberty as you cross the harbor
• What you’ll see on the boat: Lower Manhattan skyline getting smaller, Liberty Island, New Jersey in the distance

Hike to Outlook Hill (Sunset)- This is OH MY GAWD Gorgeous

• Where to go: Soissons Landing ferry dock → Walk straight down the eastern or western promenade toward the southern tip of the island to reach The Hills
• The hike: Outlook Hill is about 70 feet above sea level. It’s a short, easy walk uphill.
• What you’ll see: A jaw-dropping, panoramic sunset view of the Statue of Liberty and the glowing Manhattan skyline. This is one of the most beautiful views in New York. The timing is everything. Get there right as the sun is setting.
• Duration: About 15–20 minutes to walk there, then stay for sunset (30–45 minutes)
• This is why you came. This is the moment.

Dinner & Drinks on Governors Island: The island has multiple dining hubs. Choose your vibe:

Soissons Landing Waterfront:

• Six Coasts: Open-air waterfront dining with views of the harbor and Manhattan skyline
• Taco Vista: Casual tacos and margaritas right by the water

Liggett Terrace Courtyard:

• Little Eva’s Beer Garden: Local beer, casual atmosphere
• Makina Cafe: Lighter bites, coffee, pastries

Collective Retreats / The Hills:

• Three Peaks Lodge: Upscale wood-fired culinary dinner experience tucked away in the hills. More intimate, more elevated.

Return to Manhattan

• Last boats depart Governors Island at: Sunday–Thursday: 10:00 PM and Friday–Saturday: 11:00 PM
• Cost: $5.00 (included in your round-trip ticket)
• Walk back to Soissons Landing and catch the evening ferry

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Head to Battery Maritime Building

• Address: Battery Maritime Building, 10 South Street (Battery Park), New York, NY 10004
• This is the official ferry terminal for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
• Directions: From Battery Park, walk to the Battery Maritime Building. It’s right there at the tip of Manhattan.
• IMPORTANT: Only buy tickets from Statue City Cruises (the official, authorized operator). Do NOT buy from street vendors around Battery Park—they are scammers selling fake overpriced cruises. Book tickets online at cityexperiences.com in advance if possible.

Ferry to Liberty Island & Ellis Island

• Operator: Statue City Cruises (the ONLY official ferry operator)
• Departures: Every 20–30 minutes starting at 9:00 AM
• Cost: $25.50 per person (includes ferry, both islands, both museums, and audio guide in 12 languages)
• Ferry time: About 10–15 minutes to Liberty Island
• What you’ll see: Lower Manhattan skyline, New Jersey, Liberty Island, Ellis Island
• Book in advance at: cityexperiences.com

Liberty Island

• What it is: Home to the Statue of Liberty. You can walk around the grounds, get right up to the base of the statue, and walk inside the Statue of Liberty Museum.
• Access: You cannot go inside the statue itself, but you get the grounds and the museum.
• Time: About 1–2 hours on Liberty Island
• Views: 360-degree views of the harbor, Manhattan skyline, and New Jersey from the grounds
• Museum: Modern museum with exhibits about the statue’s history and symbolism

Ellis Island

• What it is: The historic immigration hub where over 12 million immigrants first landed coming to America. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is here.
• Access: You can explore the buildings where immigrants were processed, see the registry rooms, and search for ancestors in the database.
• Time: About 1.5–2 hours on Ellis Island
• Museum: Comprehensive exhibits on immigration history. Personal stories, artifacts, family records. Many people come here to trace their family roots.

How it works:

• Ferry goes to Liberty Island first, then to Ellis Island, then back to Battery Park
• You decide how long to spend on each island
• Plan 4–6 hours total for both islands (including ferry time)
• Last ferry leaves Liberty Island around 6:45 PM (peak season)

Lunch/Snacks:

• Limited food options on the islands (café at Liberty Island, some vending)
• Better to eat before you go or grab something in Battery Park

Sunset Timing:

• If sunset is your priority, this might be tight. By the time you ferry over and spend time on both islands, sunset happens on the water heading back
• If you want to see sunset on the islands, board an earlier ferry (9:00 AM or 10:00 AM departure)

Crown Reserve Tickets (Optional – Plan Ahead)

• Want to go inside the Statue’s crown? Crown Reserve tickets are $25.80 (just $0.30 more)
• BUT: Only 500 sold per day and they sell out 3–4 months in advance
• Not a same-day option
• Book far in advance at cityexperiences.com if this is important to you

Return to Manhattan

• Ferry departs Ellis Island for Battery Park regularly throughout the day
• Last ferry back varies by season (check schedule when you book)
• Cost: Included in your ticket
• Directions to subways: Exit the Manhattan Battery Maritime Building, walk 2 minutes to the right to reach subway entrances
• Subway options ($3.00 per person): 1 Train at South Ferry Station — for the West Side (Tribeca, Greenwich Village, Uptown) R/W Trains at Whitehall Street Station — for Broadway and Queens 4/5 Trains at Bowling Green Station — for the East Side and Brooklyn (walk 4 blocks up Whitehall Street).

The West Side

Morning: American Museum of Natural History:  200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024 – Honestly a museum that is not to be missed.

• Hours: 10 AM–5:30 PM daily (last entry 5 PM)
• Closed: Thanksgiving and Christmas
• Subway: B or C train to 81st Street–Museum of Natural History (direct access)
• Time to spend: 2–4 hours
• What you’ll see: 40+ permanent exhibition halls spanning four city blocks. The massive blue whale suspended from the ceiling, dinosaur skeletons, the Hayden Planetarium, Egyptian mummies, Hall of Human Origins. It’s one of the world’s largest natural history museums. You could spend a whole day here, but 2–3 hours hits the highlights.

Central Park:

Now this can take another 2 or 3 hours but if you stay on the West Side of the park, you can see a lot and then, (while it is technically, the directional split between the east and west sides, take a bus down 5th Avenue and see some midtown sites.)

5th Avenue & Rockefeller Center

Take the bus down 5th Avenue.  Only $3.00 and allows you to view a lot of the sites. OR, Walk or take the C train south from the museum.  Then you will walk to 6th Avenue to see some of the following sites.  This is all in the 50’s.

• Rockefeller Center: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
• You’ll see the iconic plaza, the shops, the energy of midtown
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral: 5th Avenue at 50th Street, New York, NY 10022
• The architecture is gorgeous. It’s one of the largest cathedrals in the US. You can go inside or just admire it from outside.

Broadway Play!

Don’t miss out on an opportunity to go to a Broadway show.  There are many to choose from and get discounted, sameday tickets at TKTS.

East Side Beginning

Morning: Central Park:  You can start at 59th Street, right near The Plaza Hotel.

• Start anywhere on the perimeter or just walk in
• Depending on where your hotel is, you can enter from multiple points
• Just walk, relax, breathe, enjoy the park. It’s 843 acres of green in the middle of Manhattan.

Late Morning/Afternoon: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Address: 1000 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10028
• Hours: Sun–Thu 10 AM–5 PM | Fri–Sat 10 AM–9 PM
• Closed: Wednesdays
• Admission: $30 adults suggested donation (New York State residents and NY/NJ/CT students pay what they wish)
• Subway: 4, 5, or 6 train to 86th Street
• Time to spend: 3–4 hours for first-time visitors
• What you’ll see: The largest art museum in the United States. Over 2 million works of art spanning 5,000 years—from ancient Egypt to modern masterpieces. You’ve got Egyptian tombs, Greek sculptures, paintings by the old masters, contemporary art, decorative arts, armor, musical instruments. The museum sits right on 5th Avenue along the eastern edge of Central Park. The views from inside looking out are beautiful.

Midday/Late Afternoon: Lexington Avenue & Grand Central Terminal

• Take the Lex bus down Lexington Avenue (or subway: 4, 5, or 6 line)
• Grand Central Terminal: 87 E 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017
• The main concourse is absolutely stunning. 125-year-old architecture, soaring ceilings, beautiful light. It’s not just a train station—it’s a masterpiece. Even if you don’t take a train, walk through and see it.

Late Afternoon: Summit One Vanderbilt

• Address: 45 E 42nd Street (directly above Grand Central Terminal), New York, NY 10017
• Access: Enter through Vanderbilt Passage in the southwestern corner of Grand Central Terminal. Look for “Observation Deck” signage.
• Height: 1,210 feet (about 100 feet higher than The Edge)
• Floors: Three floors of immersive art installations, glass floors, interactive experiences
• Tickets: Base SUMMIT Experience around $44 per person
• Signature experience: Ride the Ascent—the world’s largest external all-glass elevator (12 stories of pure glass going up)
• What you’ll see: 360-degree views of Manhattan, the Empire State Building (best public view in NYC from here), Chrysler Building, Central Park, Hudson River, East River, Brooklyn Bridge, and on clear days the Statue of Liberty
• The experience: This isn’t just about the view. There are mirrored rooms, levitation boxes, interactive art. It’s designed to be immersive and honestly a little mind-bending. It’s not your typical observation deck.
• Best time: Sunset or early evening when the city lights start coming on

Evening: Dinner at Grand Brasserie

• Address: 89 E 42nd Street, Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY 10017
• Hours: 5:30 AM–2 AM daily
• What it is: A gorgeous 400-seat French brasserie inside Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central. The space is stunning—80-foot ceilings, rich leather banquettes, grand marble bar, contemporary design that honors the historic architecture.
• Menu: Classic French brasserie fare. Steak frites, duck confit, croque monsieur, fresh seafood, French onion soup, all of it done well.
• Brunch service: 5:30 AM–3 PM (if you’re coming earlier)
• Dinner: 3 PM–2 AM
• Chef: Guillaume Thivet, trained at legendary French restaurants
• Vibe: Quintessentially New York with Parisian elegance
• Alternative: There are tons of other restaurants around Grand Central if you want something different