5 Days in New York: Beyond the Icons

The classic Manhattan skyline day, all within a walkable Midtown core.

1. Morning

   Top of the Rock

   Open with the definitive skyline view from Rockefeller Center's deck, which frames the Empire State Building and Central Park in one sweep. Go early for thin crowds and clean light before the day heats up.

2. Late Morning

   Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center

   Walk down through the plaza, past St. Patrick's Cathedral and the flagship stores. It is the most concentrated stretch of Midtown landmarks and shopfronts in the city.

3. Lunch

   Grand Central Terminal

   Look up at the celestial ceiling in the main concourse, then grab a fast, iconic lunch at the Grand Central Oyster Bar or the lower dining concourse.

4. Afternoon

   Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

   A focused two hours covers Van Gogh's Starry Night, Monet's Water Lilies, and the modern masters. It sits just a few blocks from Rockefeller Center.

5. Late Afternoon

   Central Park

   Enter at Grand Army Plaza and wander to Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge, the park's most photogenic corner, as the light turns golden.

6. Evening

   Times Square

   End amid the lights and, if you can, a Broadway show. The blaze of screens is at its best after dark.

A slower day among the park's set pieces and the Upper Manhattan museums.

1. Morning

   Central Park

   Rent a rowboat on the Lake, cross Bow Bridge, and rest at Bethesda Terrace. The southern half packs the most beloved sights.

2. Late Morning

   The Metropolitan Museum of Art

   One of the world's great museums sits on the park's east edge. Prioritize the Egyptian wing, European paintings, and the rooftop in season.

3. Lunch

   Barney Greengrass

   Cross to the Upper West Side for smoked fish and bagels at the century-old 'Sturgeon King.'

4. Afternoon

   The American Museum of Natural History

   Dinosaurs, the blue whale, and the Rose Center for Earth and Space fill an easy few hours a short walk away.

5. Treat

   Levain Bakery

   Detour for the famously thick, gooey chocolate-chip walnut cookies that draw a permanent line.

6. Evening

   Lincoln Center

   End with the New York Philharmonic or an opera under the plaza's fountain-lit arches.

Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 grounds, and the downtown skyline from the water.

1. Morning

   Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

   Book the first ferry from Battery Park to beat the lines. Ellis Island's immigration museum is as moving as Liberty herself.

2. Late Morning

   9/11 Memorial and Museum

   The twin reflecting pools sit in the footprints of the towers. Reserve museum tickets ahead to skip the queue.

3. Midday

   One World Observatory

   Ride to the top of the Western Hemisphere's tallest building for a 360-degree view stretching to the harbor and beyond.

4. Lunch

   The Oculus

   The soaring white transit hall doubles as a mall with quick eats. It is a striking piece of architecture in its own right.

5. Afternoon

   Wall Street and the Charging Bull

   Snap the famous bronze bull, then walk the narrow canyons of the Financial District past the Stock Exchange and Federal Hall.

6. Sunset

   Staten Island Ferry

   The free ride glides past the Statue of Liberty with a full skyline view behind you. Board for the round trip and stay on deck.

Cross the river on foot and spend the day in Brooklyn's waterfront and beach.

1. Morning

   Brooklyn Bridge

   Walk across from the Manhattan side for the best skyline reveal. Start early to have the promenade mostly to yourself.

2. Late Morning

   Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 1

   Land in DUMBO and follow Washington Street to the postcard shot of the Manhattan Bridge framed between brick buildings.

3. Lunch

   Roberta's

   Detour to Bushwick for some of the city's best wood-fired pizza in a buzzy warehouse setting.

4. Afternoon

   Coney Island

   Ride the subway south for the boardwalk, the Cyclone, and a Nathan's hot dog by the Atlantic.

5. Evening

   Peter Luger Steak House

   Cap the day in Williamsburg at the century-old temple to porterhouse. Book well ahead and bring cash or their card.

Elevated park, food hall, and the low-rise charm of Greenwich Village and SoHo.

1. Morning

   The High Line

   Stroll the elevated rail-line park from the Whitney end north through Chelsea, threading between galleries and gardens.

2. Late Morning

   Whitney Museum of American Art

   Anchoring the High Line's south end, the Whitney pairs top American art with terraces overlooking the Hudson.

3. Lunch

   Chelsea Market

   Duck into the covered market in the old Nabisco factory for tacos, lobster rolls, and pastries under one roof.

4. Afternoon

   Washington Square Park

   Head to Greenwich Village for the arch, the street musicians, and the surrounding NYU streets and cafes.

5. Late Afternoon

   SoHo

   Browse the cast-iron blocks and boutiques south of Houston, one of the city's best strolling-and-shopping neighborhoods.

6. Evening

   Katz's Delicatessen

   Finish on the Lower East Side with a towering pastrami on rye, then bar-hop the surrounding streets.