3-Day NYC
This guide is built around a 3-day weekend in spring where you arrive in NYC on a Thursday evening and depart on Sunday in the afternoon/evening.
That said, this guide is very flexible and customizable to meet your needs and schedule.
Accommodations
Ticket Pass
Want to make your trip smoother & save money? Check out the New York CityPASS which gives you access to to several of the activities in this itenerary & more!
Day 1: Friday
Café in the Upper West Side
8:30a-9:30a
Start your day off nice and easy with coffee & views in this gorgeous neighborhood. Experience a NYC morning where locals greet and catch up with each other while you sip and get ready for an exciting day.
Explore Central Park
10:00a-12:00p
Take a lovely walk a few blocks over to Central Park. Wander through the Ramble and across the Bow Bridge for a romantic, easy going morning. You can also rent a Citi bike and explore further!
Tip! If you're visiting in March-April, be sure to stop and smell the hundreds of tulips you'll see around the park & check out this Cherry Blossom Tracker:
American Natural History Museum
1:30p-3:30p
Cool off by taking a stroll through the history of the natural world. You can spend hours in this fascinating museum exploring everything from dinosaur fossils to the furthest reaches of space.
Tip! Make sure to reserve your tickets online - you have to reserve your time slot
The FRIENDs Experience
5:00p-6:00p
Fans of the show Friends will love seeing the show come to life and get tons of photos with the set pieces - you can even grab a coffee at the Central Perk look-a-like!
Tip! At the end of the Experience, photos of your journey are available for sale, but you can also take pictures on your own and employees are more than happy to take pictures on your phone for you and your group.
Broadway Show
8:00p-10:30p
There are so many amazing shows on Broadway, you are in for a great time no matter what show you choose to see! If you've got your heart set on a particular show, I recommend getting your tickets well in advance. BUT, if you're a more casual theater-goer, try your luck with the Broadway Lotteries:
Times Square
Pre- or Post- Broadway Show
While you're in the neighborhood, bask in the lights and electric energy of Times Square. It's definitely touristy, but it's a classic for a reason.
Day 2: Saturday
Roosevelt Island
10:00a-12:00p
In the spring, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom on Roosevelt Island and you can "fly" over using the Tram on 60th Street!
DUMBO Flea Market
12:30p-2:30p
The Brooklyn Flea Market in Brooklyn is an incredibly fun place to check out art, thrifty finds, and unique souvenirs. The market is in the heart of DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and you can easily get there from Roosevelt Island, by taking the F train straight to DUMBO.
Manhattan Bridge
2:30p-3:00p
You can't miss an opportunity to get a picture with the Manhattan Bridge - it's a very short walk from the Brooklyn Flea Market to this spot. If you take Washington St. north, you'll also find Pebble Beach and Jane's Carousel to get even more views of the Manhattan & Brooklyn Bridges.
Empire State Building AM/PM
AM Visit - 5:30p-7:00p & PM Visit - 8:30p-9:00p
A view so nice, go see it twice! With the AM/PM ticket, you get two spectacular versions of this iconic landmark. I recommend going during golden hour (1 hour before sunset), going to dinner, and then coming back for the night-time city view.
Tip! You can avoid the sunset upcharge by booking the 5:30p slot and staying until golden hour (roughly 6:30p-7:30p in the spring)
Dinner: Flatiron Room
7:00p-8:30p
Enjoy your meal while a live jazz band swings & don't skip the 28 layer chocolate cake!
Day 3: Sunday
Circle Line Landmarks Cruise
10:45a-1:00p
You've walked a lot this weekend, for your last day in New York, kick your feet up as you cruise along the Hudson & East River soaking up the NYC skyline and wave to the Statue of Liberty. This 1.5 hour cruise is the perfect capstone to a lovely weekend trip.
Tip! Arrive 45 minutes before your departure time to make it onto the boat in time!
Afternoon/Evening Departure
It's always bittersweet leaving New York City, but with this itinerary, you're guaranteed to go home with some amazing memories and mementos ❤️
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