New York, the city that never sleeps, packs Manhattan's skyscrapers, the buzz of Times Square, and the green breathing space of Central Park into a few square kilometers of concrete. Between the suspension bridges linking its five boroughs, some of the richest museums in the world, and a food scene reflecting every culture on the planet, the city is best discovered on foot, by subway, or from the Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise. Every neighborhood, from SoHo to Williamsburg to Harlem, has its own identity and deserves to be explored at its own pace.
Estimated budget: Budget around €150-200 per day per person for activities, meals, and transport (accommodation not included): €15-25 for a quality quick meal, about €2.80 for a subway ride (free after 12 paid rides in 7 days with OMNY), and €30-45 per major site (Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial). New York remains one of the most expensive cities in the US.
Best time to visit: The best time is April to June and September to November, with pleasant temperatures and fall bringing the bonus of Central Park's blazing foliage. Avoid, if possible, hot and humid July-August, and December-January, when the cold can bite despite the magic of the holiday lights.
Prices and hours are indicative — please verify before your visit.
Day by day
Day 1
Statue of Liberty
Gifted by France in 1886, this 93-meter statue including its pedestal was the first symbol of freedom seen by millions of immigrants. Access to the crown requires a separate reservation, best booked weeks in advance. The same ferry also serves Ellis Island, the former immigration station now a moving museum.
Statue Cruises ferry from Battery Park (subway lines 4/5, Bowling Green station) - ticket required, booking recommended.
9/11 Memorial & One World Trade Center
Two massive pools sit in the exact footprints of the twin towers, victims' names etched in the bronze surrounding them. The underground museum, visited separately, presents deeply moving objects and testimonies from that day. Right next door, the 100th-floor observatory of One World Trade Center rounds out the visit.
Subway lines E, A/C, 2/3, R/W, or PATH, World Trade Center station - right in Lower Manhattan.
Brooklyn Bridge
Completed in 1883 after thirteen years of construction, this suspension bridge was the longest in the world when it opened. An elevated pedestrian walkway crosses it for 1.8 km, with spectacular views of Manhattan all the way. Crossing over to DUMBO, magical at sunrise, takes about 30-40 minutes.
Subway lines 4/5/6, Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station, Manhattan side - direct pedestrian access.
Williamsburg
A former working-class Brooklyn neighborhood turned one of New York's trendiest, with street art, thrift shops, and specialty coffee along Bedford Avenue. Smorgasburg gathers dozens of street food stalls on weekends, facing the East River. From Domino Park, the view of the Manhattan skyline ranks among the city's finest.
Subway line L, Bedford Avenue station - 3 stops from Manhattan (14th St-Union Square).
Day 2
The High Line
A former 1930s elevated railway, saved from demolition and converted starting in 2009 into a 2.3-km suspended garden. The walkway crosses Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, with a near-mandatory food stop at Chelsea Market. Free, and especially beautiful in late afternoon with the low sunlight.
Subway line A/C/E or L, 14th Street station - several access points along the route between Gansevoort St and 34th St.
Empire State Building
Built in just 410 days and opened in 1931, this Art Deco skyscraper was the tallest in the world for nearly 40 years. Two observatories are open to visitors, one on the open-air 86th floor and one on the fully glazed 102nd floor. Book a late-afternoon slot to catch both the sunset and the night lights without going back down in between.
Subway lines B/D/F/M/N/Q/R/W, 34th Street-Herald Square station - 2 min walk.
Times Square
The most illuminated crossroads in the world, permanently flooded with giant digital billboards. It's the heart of the Broadway theater district, where same-day discounted tickets are available at the TKTS booth. A nighttime visit is a must, when the neon signs are at their most striking.
Subway lines N/Q/R/W, 1/2/3, or 7, Times Square-42nd Street station - right in the heart of Manhattan.
Day 3
Rockefeller Center
A 1930s Art Deco complex, famous for its winter ice rink topped by a massive illuminated Christmas tree. Its Top of the Rock observatory offers a panorama often considered better than the Empire State Building's, since it includes that very building in the view. The complex is also home to the NBC studios and Radio City Music Hall.
Subway lines B/D/F/M, 47-50th Sts-Rockefeller Center station - direct exit.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Over two million works spanning 5,000 years of human history, from the Egyptian Temple of Dendur to European Impressionism. It's best to pick a few departments in advance rather than trying to see everything in one visit. The rooftop terrace, open May through October, offers a rare view over Central Park.
Subway line 4/5/6, 86th Street station - 10 min walk, or bus M1/M2/M3/M4 stopping right in front.
Central Park
341 hectares of nature entirely shaped by human hands starting in 1858, right in the heart of Manhattan. Bethesda Terrace, Strawberry Fields dedicated to John Lennon, and Bow Bridge rank among its most photographed spots. Bike rental, a horse-drawn carriage ride, or a simple walk along the Mall: there's a pace for everyone.
Subway lines N/Q/R/W (5th Ave-59th St) or B/C (several entrances along Central Park West).
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