All citiesNew York Things to do and walking itinerary
United States New York travel guide
31 things to do in New York, where to stay, airport transfers, 8 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in New York
- Metropolitan Museum of Art — art museum in New York City, United States (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Central Park — public park at the center of Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Brooklyn Bridge — bridge in New York City, crossing the East River (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Times Square — neighborhood and square in Manhattan, New York City, United States (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Museum of Modern Art — art museum in Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States (visit ≈ 120 min)
- American Museum of Natural History — natural history museum in Manhattan, New York (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum — art museum in New York, New York (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Empire State Building — The art deco skyscraper icon; observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors look over all of Manhattan. (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Manhattan Bridge — bridge in New York City (visit ≈ 15 min)
- St. Patrick's Cathedral — cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Williamsburg Bridge — bridge in New York City (visit ≈ 15 min)
- National September 11 Memorial & Museum — memorial & museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Queensboro Bridge — bridge in New York City (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Madison Square and Madison Square Park — square and park in Manhattan, New York City (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Trinity Church — Episcopal parish church in Manhattan, New York, United States (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Federal Hall — building and historic site in New York City (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Studio 54 — Broadway theater and former nightclub (visit ≈ 20 min)
- High Line — urban park on an elevated section of a disused railroad in Manhattan, New York (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Whitney Museum of American Art — art museum in New York City (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Radio City Music Hall — concert hall and music venue in New York City, United States (visit ≈ 20 min)
- The Frick Collection — art museum in New York City (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Union Square — neighborhood and square in Manhattan, New York City, United States (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Washington Square Park — park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York City (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Columbus Circle — monument, circle and neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City (visit ≈ 15 min)
- The Morgan Library & Museum — library and museum in New York, New York (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Cathedral of St. John the Divine — cathedral in Manhattan, New York City, U.S. (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Central Park Zoo — zoo in New York City, New York, USA (visit ≈ 150 min)
- U Thant Island — islet on East River in Manhattan, New York, United States (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Bryant Park — public park in Manhattan, New York City, USA (visit ≈ 45 min)
- National Academy of Design — tripartite institution of an honorary association of American artists with a museum and a school of fine arts (visit ≈ 120 min)
- New Museum — contemporary art museum in New York City (visit ≈ 120 min)
3-day New York walking itinerary
Starting point: Midtown. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 4.3 km · 5,790 steps · 58 min on the way): Times Square → Empire State Building → St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Day 2 (≈ 9.6 km · 13,020 steps · 2 h 10 min on the way): Metropolitan Museum of Art → Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum → Central Park → American Museum of Natural History
- Day 3 (≈ 1.9 km · 2,500 steps · 24 min on the way): Museum of Modern Art
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in New York
- Grand Central Terminal and Whispering Gallery — Historic terminal with a starry ceiling; in the lower-level arch a whisper carries to the far corner. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Roosevelt Island Tramway — For a subway fare, an aerial tram over the East River with bird's-eye views of Manhattan. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Four Freedoms Park — Quiet memorial park at Roosevelt Island's southern tip facing the Manhattan skyline. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Little Island — New park on the Hudson set on tulip-shaped concrete piles, with hills and gardens. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Elevated Acre — Hidden raised park in the Financial District reached by escalator, usually near-empty. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Old St. Patrick's Cathedral — Historic Nolita cathedral whose candlelit catacombs can be seen on a guided tour. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- DUMBO — Cobbled Brooklyn district famous for the photo of the Manhattan Bridge framed by old warehouses. (visit ≈ 75 min)
- Chelsea Market — Food halls and shops in a former biscuit factory, right beside the High Line. (visit ≈ 60 min)
- New York Public Library — Beaux-Arts building guarded by stone lions; the frescoed Rose Main Reading Room is free to visit. (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Flatiron Building — Famous 1902 iron-shaped skyscraper on a narrow triangular plot where two avenues meet. (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Chrysler Building — Art deco skyscraper with a stainless-steel crown; its lobby's wooden lift doors and ceiling mural are worth a look. (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Ellis Island — Former immigration station that millions passed through, now a museum visited on the Statue of Liberty ferry. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Brooklyn Heights Promenade — Quiet terrace walk behind historic brownstones, facing the Manhattan skyline across the East River. (visit ≈ 30 min)
Where to stay in New York
- Midtown: Times Square, Broadway and big hotels; close to every subway line.
- Greenwich Village: Tree-lined streets, jazz clubs and small restaurants.
- SoHo: Cast-iron buildings, boutiques and galleries.
- Lower East Side: An old immigrant quarter; bars, delis and nightlife.
- Upper West Side: A calm, family-friendly area between Central Park and the Hudson.
- Williamsburg: Brooklyn’s young café-and-bar district, one stop from Manhattan.
Getting from the airport to New York
- John F. Kennedy (JFK): AirTrain to Jamaica, then LIRR train to Penn Station ≈ 50 min.
- LaGuardia (LGA): Free Q70 bus to Jackson Heights, then the 7 train to Grand Central ≈ 45 min.
- Newark Liberty (EWR): AirTrain to the airport station, then NJ Transit train to Penn Station ≈ 40 min.
Getting around
The subway runs 24 hours and is the fastest way around; tap a contactless card or phone (OMNY) at the gate. Manhattan is great on foot.
Classic places to eat
- Katz’s Delicatessen: Giant pastrami sandwiches since 1888.
- Russ & Daughters: Smoked fish and bagels since 1914.
- Lombardi’s: Coal-oven pizza since 1905; often called America’s first pizzeria.
- Joe’s Pizza: The classic New York slice since 1975.
- Keens Steakhouse: Mutton chops since 1885, with thousands of pipes on the ceiling.
- Peter Luger Steak House: Dry-aged steak in Brooklyn since 1887.
- Veniero’s: Italian pastry shop since 1894; cannoli and cheesecake.
- McSorley’s Old Ale House: An old bar open since 1854, serving only its own ale.
- Junior’s: New York cheesecake in Brooklyn since 1950.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- Le Bernardin — 3 MICHELIN stars, Seafood, French
- Eleven Madison Park — 3 MICHELIN stars, Plant-based, contemporary
- Per Se — 3 MICHELIN stars, Contemporary American, French
- Masa — 3 MICHELIN stars, Sushi
- Atomix — 2 MICHELIN stars, Korean, contemporary
- Gabriel Kreuther — 2 MICHELIN stars, French, Alsatian
- Aquavit — 2 MICHELIN stars, Scandinavian
- Atera — 2 MICHELIN stars, Contemporary
Romantic views
- Brooklyn Bridge (Sunset): The Manhattan skyline from the wooden walkway.
- Brooklyn Bridge Park (Sunset): Riverside lawns with Manhattan’s lights across the water.
- Bethesda Terrace (Afternoon): A fountain and lakeside terrace in the heart of Central Park.
- High Line (Sunset): A planted walkway on an old elevated railway.
- Top of the Rock (Sunset): See the Empire State Building and Central Park in one frame.
Football stadiums in New York
- Sports Illustrated Stadium: Home of Red Bull New York
- Yankee Stadium: Home of New York City FC
Day trips
- Statue of Liberty — 9 km from the centre
- Brooklyn Museum — 9 km from the centre
- Bronx Zoo — 14 km from the centre
Good to know before visiting New York
- Fine: Carrying open alcohol in the street is banned in most cities.
- Fine: Cannabis remains illegal federally: banned in national parks, airports and across state lines.
- Fine: Declare fruit, vegetables, meat and other food at customs; undeclared items are fined.
- Warning: The drinking age is 21; bars and shops ask for ID.
- Warning: Healthcare is very expensive; get comprehensive travel medical insurance.
- Price tags exclude sales tax, which is added at the till.
Extra rules for New York State
- Fine: In New York City, right turns on red are banned unless a sign allows them.
- Fine: Open alcohol is banned in streets, parks and the subway.
- Warning: Cannabis is legal for 21+, but not where smoking is banned or in vehicles.
- Jaywalking was decriminalised in NYC in 2024; still cross with care.
- Emergency: 911
- Plugs: A/B, 120V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink.
- Tipping: Tipping 18–22% in restaurants is all but mandatory; $1–2 per drink at bars.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection — ESTA, Wikivoyage — United States of America, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
New York travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in New York?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 3 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 6 days for the top 20 places within walking distance. Add extra days for day trips (Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Museum).
- What are the top things to do in New York?
- Highlights: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square and Museum of Modern Art. The map has 31 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in New York?
- Midtown: Times Square, Broadway and big hotels; close to every subway line. Other options: Greenwich Village, SoHo, Lower East Side, Upper West Side and Williamsburg.
- How do you get from the airport to New York city centre?
- John F. Kennedy (JFK): AirTrain to Jamaica, then LIRR train to Penn Station ≈ 50 min. · LaGuardia (LGA): Free Q70 bus to Jackson Heights, then the 7 train to Grand Central ≈ 45 min. · Newark Liberty (EWR): AirTrain to the airport station, then NJ Transit train to Penn Station ≈ 40 min.
- How do you get around New York?
- The subway runs 24 hours and is the fastest way around; tap a contactless card or phone (OMNY) at the gate. Manhattan is great on foot.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in New York?
- According to the last known data there are 8 starred restaurants: Le Bernardin (3 stars), Eleven Madison Park (3 stars), Per Se (3 stars), Masa (3 stars), Atomix (2 stars) and 3 more. Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in New York?
- Emergency: 911.
- Do you tip in New York?
- Tipping 18–22% in restaurants is all but mandatory; $1–2 per drink at bars.
Nearby cities
Boston · Washington, D.C. · Montreal · Ottawa · Toronto · Quebec City · Chicago · Miami
United States travel guide: all cities · All cities