6-Day New York City Itinerary: the best traveler tips

New York awaits you awake 24 hours a day to show you all its charms. Nature, breathtaking views, gastronomy and a host of cultural and leisure activities that will take your breath away.

Carmen Navarro

Carmen Navarro

11 min read

6-Day New York City Itinerary: the best traveler tips

Sunset in New York | ©Matias Di Meglio

A little less than a week is the time you've chosen to explore New York. Have you already thought about what you're going to do?

If you organise yourself well, you'll have time to enjoy the city to the fullest. Here's a guide that will help you: it's time to make your dream come true!

Day 1: Central Park and its museums

View of The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park| ©Ajay Suresh
View of The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park| ©Ajay Suresh

Cycling around the park

What better time to get up early than to visit the lungs of New York City. Central Park is huge, located between 59th and 110th streets and between 5th Avenue and Central Park West.

Be prepared to discover a myriad of spaces in which to stroll around numerous lakes, lawns and bridges over which many series and movies have been filmed. There are also street performers and food stalls for an entertaining morning. And if you travel in the winter months, you can skate on its most famous ice rink , The Wollman Rink, in a dreamlike landscape.

I invite you to explore the park at your own pace by renting a bike by the hour.

Book a tour of Central Park

Enter the MET

At one of the exits on the east side of the park and only 500 metres away, you will find the MET or Metropolitan Museum of Art on 82nd Street and 5th Avenue.

The Met is one of the 10 most visited museums in the world and, of course, one of the best museums in New York. Here you can admire works by such prolific artists as Monet, Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

Don't miss the incredible treasures of Egyptian culture that can be found in this museum, such as the Temple of Dendur, a gift from the country for helping to save Abu Simbel.

Book a guided tour of the MET New York

Eat at The Loeb Boathouse

Head back inside Central Park for an elegant dining experience. This restaurant is located in the centre of the park, right on the shore of The Lake. A building with Victorian touches facing the lake.

Savour a variety of European dishes, including lobster toast and crab cake. Get a table by the window and you'll fall in love with the view.

Book a food tour of Manhattan

Step inside the American Museum of Natural History

The AMNH is located at one of the exits on the west side of Central Park. I'm sure you've seen the Ben Stiller movie, "Night at the Museum".

Then let yourself be swept away into the magical world of natural history. Dream as if you were in "Jurassic Park" with its collection of dinosaur skeletons or as if you were sailing aboard the Enterprise with a look at the digital atlas of the universe in the planetarium.

You'll come across a mammoth, a giant squid or the largest meteorite ever found in the U.S. Are you going to miss it?

Buy your skip-the-line tickets to the Museum of Natural History

Sail on The Lake at sunset

Take a romantic stroll across the Bow Bridge| ©David Ohmer
Take a romantic stroll across the Bow Bridge| ©David Ohmer

And what could be better than grabbing a burger from one of the park's street stalls and sitting by one of Central Park's largest and most beautiful lakes?

There you can take a boat for a ride across the romantic Bow Bridge, the most photographed bridge in the park - feel like you're in a movie!

Book your tour of Central Park

Day 2: Southern Manhattan

Strolling around Ground Zero| ©Hellotickets
Strolling around Ground Zero| ©Hellotickets

9/11 Memorial

Today, you'll head to Ground Zero in New York City. It's a time to remember the people who lost their lives in the 9/11 attack. The space dedicated to the Memorial takes up almost half of the World Trade Center and you'll find two huge fountains on the site where the Twin Towers once stood. You can also contemplate, among more than 400 oak trees, The Surviving Tree, a symbol of resistance to the catastrophe.

If you want to know more, don't hesitate to visit the 9/11 Museum.

Book your tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero

The Financial District

Don't look for it because you're already in the Financial District. It's a neighbourhood that's home to a multitude of banks and offices, as you'll have seen from the many businessmen in suits hurrying through the streets.

In this district there are some emblems worth visiting such as Wall Street and its iconic Stock Exchange building, touching the bronze Charging Bull for luck or having your photo taken with the Fearless Girl statue, a girl who is a modern-day symbol of female empowerment.

If you want to stop for lunch, I recommend you go to Stone St. and try one of the delicious pizzas that you can taste at Adrienne's.

Book your bike rental to visit the financial district

Museum of Jewish Heritage

Just a few minutes' walk away, you can visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage, where you can get up close and personal with the history of the Holocaust.

A tribute to the people who lived, died and survived, and a testimonial legacy as a lesson to learn from the tragedy.

If you want to visit this museum, I advise you to choose your daily New York Pass, the cheapest and easiest way to get quick access to almost 100 attractions in New York City.

Buy your New York Pass

Watch the sunset on the way to the Statue of Liberty

From the museum, in Battery Park itself, you'll find the pier where you can catch the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.

I recommend you relax because you're in for an unforgettable two and a half hour cruise where you'll be able to photograph the best sunsets with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop as well as the Statue of Liberty, the undisputed symbol of New York City. Is there a better way to end the day?

Book a tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Day 3: Brooklyn, the borough with the most personality

Sunset at Coney Island| ©Keith Michael
Sunset at Coney Island| ©Keith Michael

Walk across the bridge

Start the day with a coffee in hand and head to the Brooklyn Bridge. Stroll over it, a magical journey with the best views of Manhattan and the East River. You won't be able to stop taking pictures with every step you take along its towers with pointed arches.

Take your time and enjoy the sound of the cars, the breeze of the river and the flashbacks you'll have remembering your favourite movies. Your journey will culminate with your arrival in the borough of Brooklyn, where wonderful experiences await you.

Brooklyn Bridge Tour from Manhattan

Take a stroll through DUMBO

As soon as you step off the bridge you'll find yourself face to face with New York's trendiest neighbourhood, DUMBO. Admire the street art with graffiti and murals scattered throughout the streets.

From Main Street Park you can still take snapshots of the skyline of Manhattan's Financial District. Sit by the river at Pebble Beach to relax and if you want to feel like a kid, take a ride on Jane's Carousel for some fun.

Book your Brooklyn Street Art Tour

Visit and eat at Time Out Market

Without leaving DUMBO, come and discover a food market with more than 20 stalls, located in an industrial building.

Time Out Market takes its name from the famous magazine that showcases some of the best chefs and bartenders in a vast space of over 2,400 m2. Definitely a fabulous way for you to celebrate and toast to this beautiful moment.

Book your food tour in Brooklyn

Coney Island Sunset

If you want to see a spectacular sunset, which not every traveller knows about as it is located in the southernmost part of Brooklyn, get ready to enjoy a great time at Coney Island. It's a favourite spot for New Yorkers to relax outdoors and spend the afternoon on the boardwalk.

If you're travelling with kids, there's nothing better than riding the vintage rides at Luna Park or visiting the New York Aquarium.

And for dinner, go crazy for the authentic New York hot dogs at Nathan's Famous, the first location of this famous American fast-food chain.

Book a Boroughs and Coney Island Tour from Manhattan

Day 4: The Bronx

Bronx Zoo Giraffes| ©Terry Ballard
Bronx Zoo Giraffes| ©Terry Ballard

A morning at the Bronx Zoo

Whether you're travelling with children or simply an animal lover who wants to explore the wildlife of the Americas, Africa and Madagascar, the Bronx Zoo is highly recommended.

The Bronx Zoo is located in the centre of the Bronx Park District. It is the largest urban zoo in the world and its importance stems from the removal of cages to create habitats similar to the animals' original habitats - don't miss the cute lemurs in a reproduction of their natural habitat! You'll also find polar bears and the real gorilla of the Congo. A fun experience for the whole family.

Book your tickets for the Bronx Zoo

Picnic at the New York Botanical Garden

Without leaving the park and heading north, there's another great plan to enjoy with your family. The New York Botanical Garden was one of the first botanical gardens in the United States.

Take the free little train through the park and hop off at your leisure to see your favourite spots, at your own pace. Stop for a picnic by the Bronx River and an ancient forest to imagine what New York was like before it was the city of skyscrapers. Visit the jewel in the crown, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a wrought-iron greenhouse with tropical plants and cacti, as well as its famous temporary exhibits.

Take a photo in its evocative pond of water lilies, lilies and water lotuses. Get in with your New York Pass and enjoy this magical corner of the Bronx, one of the most visited.

Reserve your tickets for the New York Botanical Garden

Visit Yankees Stadium

Yankee Stadium Entrance| ©Andres Alvarado
Yankee Stadium Entrance| ©Andres Alvarado

Become a true fan of America's king of sports, baseball. Located in the Bronx and easily accessible by underground, this new stadium created in 2008 is just a block away from the old one and is home to the resident team, the New York Yankees. Inside, pick up a team jersey to cheer in one of the many shops.

For an overview of the boroughs adjacent to the Big Apple, book the New York Contrasts Tour and you'll be able to discover the beauties of the Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens neighbourhoods, thanks to an expert Spanish-speaking guide who will help you discover the city's secrets.

Book your tickets to watch the New York Yankees

Day 5: Uptown Manhattan

Views from the Top of the Rock in lower Manhattan.| ©Hellotickets
Views from the Top of the Rock in lower Manhattan.| ©Hellotickets

Have breakfast next to Tiffany's & Co.

More than half a century has passed before you can now have breakfast at Tiffany's, as the name of the Audrey Hepburn film suggests.

After the renovation of the 5th Avenue shop, Tiffany has opened a coffee shop. From the fourth floor you'll have fantastic views of Central Park. Choose a full breakfast brunch or try one of the fine teas on the menu with a delicious croissant - you'll feel like a movie star!

Climb to the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center

It's about time you took to the heights to marvel at the magnitude that is New York City.

When you come out of enjoying your "diamond breakfast", turn the corner and you'll find the entrance to climb to the 67th, 69th and 79th floors of the Top of the Rock, where you'll have the best panoramic view of New York and can see Central Park and Manhattan in all its splendour. Are you ready to experience the vertigo?

Book your skip-the-line tickets for the Top of the Rock

Shop Fifth Avenue

After a heavenly experience, it's time to put your feet back on the ground, but without leaving the glamour behind, because you're going shopping on Fifth Avenue!

Along with Times Square, it is the nerve centre of New York where you will spend, with dozens of people around you, the idle hours looking in the shop windows of its clothing and technology shops, touching your favourite toys from your childhood or your children's at the Disney shop or treating yourself to a cap from your favourite NBA team for tonight's game.

I recommend stopping at St. Patrick's Cathedral to take in the wonderful visual contrast between the 19th century building and the surrounding skyscrapers.

Book tickets for St. Patrick's Cathedral

End the day with an NBA game at Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden, home stadium of the New York Knicks| ©Ajay Suresh
Madison Square Garden, home stadium of the New York Knicks| ©Ajay Suresh

Tonight you're in for a great show! Watching an NBA game live is as fun as it is exciting, whether you're a basketball fan or a first timer.

What is clear is that it is a unique experience. Madison Square Garden is where the New York Knicks, the most famous team in the NBA, play, so don't run out of tickets and go and experience the game of your life!

After the game, you're hungry, aren't you? Here's a selection of the 10 best places to eat in New York to enjoy a tasty pastrami sandwich or a succulent burger. Enjoy!

Book your tickets to see the New York Knicks

Day 6: From the top of the Empire State Building

The exterior of the MoMa| ©Wikimedia
The exterior of the MoMa| ©Wikimedia

This last day is going to be a very special day, as I'm going to show you the most emblematic places in New York to end this spectacular trip and leave you with the best taste in your mouth.

Climbing the Empire State Building is a must-do experience with jaw-dropping views of the Big Apple.

Go to the 86th floor, the cheapest option, and stop to contemplate the beauty of the city. One last snapshot to remember the city of skyscrapers from above. You can also get to the 102nd floor by booking these tickets, and you'll be amazed by the views!

Book your official Empire State Building ticket

The contemporary charm of MoMA

Another must-see in New York is the MoMA, the world's most important museum of modern art. Get ready to see the works of your favourite artists such as Van Gogh, Dali and Warhol up close.

But that's not the only thing you can enjoy, there are also important collections of photography, film and design - a real gem you can't miss!

I advise you to book your tickets in advance, as it is one of the most visited museums, and to plan your visit as it is huge and there is a lot to see inside.

Book your entrance to the MoMa without queues

Chelsea Market: a culinary experience

Head to the Meatpacking District, a former industrial area of slaughterhouses converted into a trendy neighbourhood with boutiques, art galleries and amazing restaurants.

Among the varied gastronomic offer, I recommend you visit Chelsea Market. Inside, you can try its speciality, seafood, as well as various international dishes.

Let yourself be seduced by the sweets at Amy's Bread or the doughnuts at Doughnuttery. You can also pick up some of the freshest produce in the market's basement or take home souvenirs.

Book your tour of the High Line, Chelsea and Meatpacking District

Times Square and Broadway

And to end your stay, you'll want to stop by Times Square, if you haven't had the chance to do so already, but this time to look out over the square from the steps and watch the hundreds of people milling about.

All eyes are scattered in this place, where it is impossible to focus on a single point as dozens of LED screens flood the place. But let's give it a try. Take a seat, focus on one spot, grab your camera and hit the flash. There's your special moment to share with the world. Bye Bye New York!

Check out the top 10 Broadway musicals 2021/2022, if you want to enjoy your favourite musical to end your trip on a high note.

Book Broadway tickets