2-Day New York City Itinerary

New York City is a gold mine of amazing museums, iconic skyscrapers and spectacular Broadway shows. If it’s your first time visiting the Big Apple, you’ll want to get a taste of what the city has to offer. Here’s an itinerary on how to see New York City in two days.

Many of the iconic sites people want to see in New York City charge admission. I’ve found that a New York CityPASS will save you money and allow you to more quickly hit up the major sites listed below.

Day 1 in New York City

The first day of this New York City itinerary begins on the south end of Manhattan at Battery Park. I recommend getting there around 8 a.m. to kick off your first day.

Morning

• Statue of Liberty: The first boat from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty National Monument leaves at either 8:30 or 9:30 depending on the season. I recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before your departure time so you can check in with your New York CityPASS (or buy tickets onsite) and get through the security checks. Plan on about 45 minutes exploring Liberty Island, then catch the boat over to Ellis Island.
• Ellis Island: The National Museum of Immigration on Ellis Island is an interesting experience. Walk where millions of immigrants stepped on U.S. soil for the first time. Learn what life was like on Ellis Island, then catch the boat back to Battery Park.

Afternoon

• 9/11 Memorials and Museum: Before heading into the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, walk around the two large fountains marking the footprints of the World Trade Centers that fell on Sept. 11, 2001. It’s a humbling experience to see the names of all those who died on that fateful day. Your New York CityPASS will get you into the museum, or you an purchase tickets onsite. Once inside, listen to the stories told by those who survived, see items pulled from the rubble – including a wheel from one of the airplanes that hit the building. If you were alive on that day, record your own story of how you spent Sept. 11, 2001, and the days following the attack on America. Plan on spending 2-3 hours to fully experience the museum.
• Brooklyn Bridge: You don’t have to walk all the way across the Brooklyn Bridge to experience it. You can walk halfway out, under the first tall pillar, grab some photos, and then head back toward Manhattan. You can also trek the full 1.3 miles across the Brooklyn Bridge and enjoy dinner in the Dumbo area of Brooklyn before grabbing the metro to the next stop: Times Square.

Evening

• Times Square: Times Square is the best in the evening/night. It’s lit up with all the flashing TV screens and news ticker tapes towering above the street. If you want to do some shopping, you’ll find the Disney Store, Hershey’s Store, plenty of clothing stores, souvenir shops and even the M&M Store. There are numerous chain restaurants around the area as well – but I recommend eating at local, non-chain restaurants. Don’t spend a lot of time in Times Square. It’s kinda overrated and crowded – but with a quick visit.
• Empire State Building: The Observation Deck at the top of the Empire State Building is a neat experience. What makes it unique? You stand on an outdoor balcony on the 86th floor. Admission is included in your New York CityPASS, or you can purchase tickets at the visitor center on the ground floor. Depending on the weather, your experience may vary. I’ve been there on a cloudy, windy, rainy and cold night – it was pretty cool. Even better – no one else was there. I’ve been there during the day as well, but I really liked the night-time visit. The one disadvantage of going to the top of the Empire State Building… you can’t see the iconic building your standing on. So a visit to Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Tower) can help you get that vantage point. It’s on the next day’s agenda.

Day 2 in New York City

Hopefully a full day exploring New York City didn’t wipe you out. Day two is going to be another packed day. But one filled with the arts.

Morning

• Central Park: A stroll through Central Park is a great way to start your day. You could even us it as your morning run. If you’re ambitious and want to start exploring the park at sunrise, there are some amazing spots to photograph. There are also hidden gems, like the Imagine Mosaic in Strawberry Fields – yep, it’s a Beatles thing. You can also rent a bike and ride along the pathways throughout the park. Belvedere Castle is another spot you may want to check out as you explore this massive public park.
• American Museum of Natural History: Located on the west side of Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History has five halls chuck full of animals, space meteors, fossils and other cultural wonders. The museum opens at 10 a.m. If you’re there at opening time, you’ll be able to spend a few hours exploring the multiple floors and taking advantage of the films offered as well. Admission is part of the New York CityPASS.

Afternoon

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as The Met, is on the east side of Central Park. Like other major art museums, this one is massive. It’s pretty easy to get lost in all the floors and exhibits that spring up around every corner or at the top of every staircase. You’ll find Egyptian art and temples, armor from the days of European kings and Asian emperors. There’s a plethora of sculptures from French and Roman artisans. I really enjoyed the arts of the Oceanic and African cultures.
• Top of the Rock: If you want to get an amazing view of the Big Apple, Top of the Rock is the place to go. Rock stands for Rockefeller Center, so it’s the place with the iconic ice skating rink and statue. While most people want to visit the top of the Empire State Building, the one disadvantage to that spot is that you’re standing on the iconic skyscraper of the city. Top of the Rock may not be as tall, but you can see the skyscrapers towering over the city, along with the grandeur of Central Park. Access to the Top of the Rock is included in the New York CityPASS.

Evening

• Broadway musical: The best way to top off your visit to New York City is to catch a Broadway play. There are several to choose from – like Wicked, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, Hamilton, Chicago, Disney’s Aladdin and many more. You can purchase show tickets from a variety of sources. Discount tickets can be purchased morning of at one of three TKTS booths in the city. The main one is in Times Square. I’ve been privileged to see Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, along with Wicked during prior visits to the Big Apple. But there are many more on my wish list.

Variations on the 2-day New York City Itinerary

The above New York City itinerary covers the major sites. But there are different variations you can take, depending on your interests. For example, the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum has the Enterprise Space Shuttle from NASA. That whole museum is something you may want to explore.

If you enjoy history, you may be interested in visiting Federal Hall National Memorial. See the Bible used by George Washington when he was sworn in as America’s first president. Walk the halls of the countries first Federal Reserve.

If you’re like my son, you may want to walk down Wall Street and see the New York Stock Exchange. Or swing uptown to tour the United Nations building or visit the KGB Espionage Museum. There’s a seemingly unlimited number of things to do in New York City, so hopefully you brought some comfortable walking shoes.

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