Perfect New York Itinerary: 3 Days from Manhattan to Brooklyn
People often ask me if 3 days is enough to spend in New York City. For short trips, 3 days is definitely enough, but if you want to explore the surrounding areas by car, it might be a bit rushed. 3 days is more than enough to explore the shops, malls, landmarks, museums, restaurants, and more in downtown New York City!
In this article, I'll suggest a 3-day itinerary for New York City. Ultimately, you can decide how to plan your trip after reading this article. Because you're sure to get some interesting ideas!
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Pre-Departure Preparations for New York: My Practical Tips
- Trip.com offers the New York City Pass, which includes access to major attractions such as the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It can save you over 40%!
- As for accommodation, while everyone wants to stay in Manhattan, if you're looking for a balance between budget and experience, Long Island City is a truly underrated option. It's just one subway stop from Manhattan and offers fantastic skyline views.
- Also, rather than agonizing over choosing a SIM card after landing, having an eSIM in advance gives me peace of mind. I can use navigation immediately upon arrival without having to circle around looking for a signal!
Day 1: Reliving Classic Manhattan
The first day can be spent in Lower Manhattan.
In the morning, visit the 9/11 Memorial to experience its tranquility and the weight of history. Then, take the classic Staten Island Ferry from Battery Park. Although crowded, the feeling of watching the Statue of Liberty slowly pass by on the deck is still very New York.
In the afternoon, explore Chinatown and the Little Italy. In New York, the best lunches are often found in these bustling neighborhoods. In the evening, I highly recommend Greenwich Village. The low-rise red brick buildings and ubiquitous jazz clubs are the most authentic New York seen in American TV shows.
Statue of Liberty
Day 2: Skywalk and Modern Perspective
On the second day, explore this vibrant city from a different angle. The High Line is a place I always walk through whenever I visit. From a former abandoned railroad to a modern aerial oasis, the visual impact is fantastic. The High Line ends at Hudson Yards.
If you're interested in technology or history, the nearby Intrepid Museum is worth a visit. In the evening, don't forget to stroll through Times Square: the numerous LED screens and crowds create a truly magical atmosphere. If you still have energy, save the remaining time for a Broadway show.
Times Square
Day 3: Slow Moments in Central Park and the Brooklyn Night
On our last day, we can slow down. Wake up early and head to Central Park. Find a spot on the grass and watch locals walk their dogs and jog. Spend the afternoon strolling along Fifth Avenue. Even if you don't buy anything, looking at the shop windows is a treat!
In the afternoon, I recommend saving it for the Brooklyn Bridge. Walk across the bridge and admire the Manhattan skyline. After crossing the bridge, stay in the DUMBO area until dark. When the lights on the other side come on, you'll understand why this scene is always featured in movies—it's truly beautiful.
Brooklyn Bridge
NYC Travel Tips: Food, Budget & Best Time to Visit
What to eat in New York
Bagels and pizzas are the soul of life here. If you have trouble deciding, just browse Trip.com's local food section. You'll often find well-reviewed but not overly touristy eateries!
Regarding budget
Expenses in New York are quite flexible. I usually recommend booking hotels and flights through Trip.com's package deals. Wouldn't it be better to use the money saved to treat yourself to a nice dinner or catch a good show?!
Best time to visit
May and September are my top choices. The weather is neither too hot nor too cold, perfect for aimlessly wandering the streets!
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🔥 Recommended Hotels in New York
New York Hotels
5 star
Very Good186 Reviews
Times Square New York|5.31km from city center
This hotel pretty much has the typical drawbacks of a city-center hotel: tiny rooms and exorbitant prices. Honestly, the value for money is extremely low. Another issue I encountered was this: the hotel agreed to help me contact a courier service to send a local parcel. I paid about 98 USD in person, left my phone number, address, and the sender's email, and they promised next-day delivery (I didn't have high expectations, understanding they weren't like SF Express). However, after four days, the item still hadn't arrived, and I received an email saying the parcel was returned to the hotel, with two charges deducted from my account. Absolutely ridiculous!FromSGD 522
Very Good114 Reviews
Gramercy New York|3.76km from city center
This is a great hotel
1. First of all, the location is very good, located on Park Avenue and 28th Street, next to Fifth Avenue and only 1 minute away from the 28th Street subway station, which is very convenient for going to North or South Manhattan. We took the subway to Sumit, then walked along the way to Times Square and the shopping street, and finally passed the Empire State Building and walked back in less than half an hour!
2. A 5-minute walk away is a large supermarket WholeFood. It has a large buffet restaurant with a lot of oriental food, which is very convenient and delicious. There are nearly 10 kinds of soups to choose from. The buffet has a lot of cold dishes and cooked food. It feels like the problem of eating is completely solved. In addition, it also includes a sushi restaurant and a pizza restaurant, so no matter what kind of diet you need, it can be solved. Although the price is not as cheap as imagined, in New York, I think it is worth the money 😊
3. Although the equipment in the room is a bit old, it is modern so it doesn't look old. In addition, the size of the room is considered large in New York, which is a big advantage.
4. We stayed here for four nights. Room number 1401 was at least very quiet. The air conditioner, which is the most criticized in the United States, was very noisy. It didn't happen here at all. And its LCD air conditioner control was the simplest and most convenient to adjust by myself that I have ever used, so I slept well for four nights.
5. The staff is of good quality and helpful. The room service is mainly Chinese, so there is no problem in communication. They are also very polite, so I think this is a plus.Very Good648 Reviews
Times Square New York|5.2km from city center
The location is fantastic, right in the heart of Times Square. It's super lively downstairs with tons of great food options nearby. The only downsides are the traffic congestion, which is to be expected, and the rooms are a bit on the small side. Other than that, everything was great, and the convenience factor truly can't be beaten.FromSGD 470
Very Good117 Reviews
Greenpoint New York|4.24km from city center
My girlfriend and I stayed in a large king suite complete with balcony and stunning view of NYC over the East River. We had an excellent room service breakfast the following morning. Would def recommend and return again one day!FromSGD 754
Very Good173 Reviews
New York City Center New York|5.34km from city center
The breakfast selection was fantastic, featuring congee, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, salmon, cheese, various yogurts, and even dumplings. Of all the hotels in New York, this one likely caters best to Chinese tastes. I was particularly pleased to be able to enjoy two bowls of congee for breakfast. Plus, the room was very clean.FromSGD 379
Business travel
Very Good157 Reviews
Wall Street/Financial District New York|1.37km from city center
I had a wonderful stay at a hotel near Wall Street in New York. The location was perfect, within walking distance of major financial landmarks and subway stations, making it easy to explore the city. The room was clean, modern, and well-equipped, with a comfortable bed and great city views. The staff were professional and attentive, always ready to help with any requests. Despite being in a busy area, the hotel was surprisingly quiet at night. Overall, it offered excellent value for money and a convenient base for both business and leisure travelers. I would definitely stay here again.FromSGD 221
Very Good118 Reviews
SoHo New York|1.14km from city center
Room and sheets were very clean and I was given a quiet spot which I was really happy about. Water was well heated and pressure was perfect as well. Loved that I was able to cast my phone screen on to the TV as well. Room size was perfect for me because I was travelling solo. Location was safe and very convenient as well. But I have to say I was disappointed by the lack of bottled water and kettle in the room. I had to get my own bottle and refill it downstairs daily. Apart from this, I’d say I had a great experience and will definitely consider staying here again when I’m back in New York.FromSGD 335
Very Good1945 Reviews
Wall Street/Financial District New York|1.28km from city center
The bed was big and spacious. Very comfy.
But the best highlight is probably the location. You can easily access all 3 major train lines. The following stations are within minutes.
Red : South Ferry
Yellow : White Street. Right in front of hotel
Green : Bowling Green
That means you can easily access many places without having to take too much Uber.
The financial district is just nearby as well. See photos.FromSGD 233
Very Good146 Reviews
Times Square New York|4.38km from city center
The environment is okay, and the room is quite spacious, but the facilities are a bit old. It's a little far from Times Square. There's security at the entrance and in the elevators, so it feels very safe. It's super convenient to hail a taxi right outside the door.FromSGD 234
Very Good131 Reviews
Times Square New York|5.31km from city center
Located in Times Square, it's a pleasant walk to Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The rooms are a bit small, and breakfast is grab-and-go with three vendor options. I recommend Carve at the intersection of 47th Street and 8th Avenue for more choices. They also offer complimentary red and white wine every Tuesday and Friday from 5-6 PM. Pictures 4 and 5 are from Bond 45.Family friendly
Great53 Reviews
Times Square New York|4.45km from city center
Moxy NYC Times Square
In the bustling heart of Times Square, with the Empire State Building right next door. It's super convenient for trains and subways from Penn Station, and surrounded by lively shopping areas. A great stay!FromSGD 241
Very Good57 Reviews
Times Square New York|5.47km from city center
The hotel being at the heart of Midtown Manhattan is stone throw away from Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Madison Square, the Theater District, Central Park, port authority bus terminal, among many others. There are also lots of grocery stores and restaurants around so you won't worry about food. Staffs are helpful and when you're out of room, they do daily housekeeping, just make sure you remove the ”occupied room” tag on your doorknob. They support sustainability through providing a water dispenser instead of bottled water. The room size is good. Having a mini kitchen is a plus, with microwave oven, kitchen sink, water kettle and mini refrigerator. Overall, we enjoyed our stay especially the hotel's proximity to lots of attractions. Thank you, Beldevere Hotel!FromSGD 214
Very Good96 Reviews
Upper East Side New York|6.2km from city center
We loved this hotel. I was not sure based on some of the reviews but it was great and we would absolutely stay here again! We had a full park view on the 23rd floor and it was amazing!!!! It is not a brand new hotel but nicely remodeled with a nice bathroom and fun Central Park murals on the wall. Great location! Nice lobby. The lobby coffee shop was way over priced 10$ for drip coffee in a paper cup when it was opened. Which wasn’t often We never ate on the second floor restaurant and the rooftop bar was closed for all but breakfast if it had been open that would have been much better in the evenings. We were hesitant to have breakfast there on rooftop as we heard such bad reviews but we did on our last day and we were very glad we did. Yes it is expensive $75/peraon. But the atmosphere is lovely with an incredible view. It is a basic hotel buffet with hot eggs, bacon sausage potatoes toast pastries. Also beautiful fruit. Bagel and lox, very nice Greek yogurts and granola prosecco and juices. A bit over priced but a nice relaxing breakfast when you have plans for the day and don’t want the stress of running around for a quick breakfast to please everyone. Wish we had gone earlier in our stay it would have saved us some stressful mornings!! The doormen were great! Very friendly. The only issue was that we checked out this morning and the machine was down when we checked out and still have not gotten a bill or final receipt for payment charged.Great42 Reviews
SoHo New York|1.24km from city center
Very nice hotel, beautiful rooms, incredible view, staff available at any time, the only flaw is a constant smell of food including garlic, fried food and other things that can be felt throughout the hotel and even in some rooms, in fact we changed rooms because the smell was unbearable.FromSGD 796
Very Good106 Reviews
Tribeca New York|0.57km from city center
Incredibly noisy, even on the top floors. The live music can be loudly heard the rooms (stayed on the 8th floor) due to open ceiling from ground floor all the way to the top floor. No escaping from it, no matter which room you get.FromSGD 511
Gym
Very Good75 Reviews
New York City Center New York|4.46km from city center
At the time of check in I asked for a late checkout and was asked what time I am asking for. I told 12:30 and was told that it is going to be granted.
I stayed at the hotel just for one night and just to sleep. My door got knocked 4 times on the morning of departure by room service for cleaning starting from 9:50 am.
First of all, why would you try to do room service on the day of departure? It is clearly not communicated between room service team and front desk. Even more, Communication of my departure time was not properly communicated and thus a hotel manager was knocking my door at noon to ask if I am not going to leave.
Room service personnel were extremely loud yelling each other at distance on the aisles all this time, so even if I were not disturbed by door knocking, I would've woken up because of them yelling and closing the doors full force.FromSGD 312
Very Good168 Reviews
Gramercy New York|4.07km from city center
Had an amazing experience despite the snow storm in NYC. Arif, the staff was really helpful and kind. Our stay here was memorable because of him and his team.FromSGD 236
Very Good112 Reviews
Wall Street/Financial District New York|0.78km from city center
The bedding in the room was incredibly comfortable, absolutely top-notch! It rivaled that of high-end luxury hotels. There was a coffee machine that could also boil water (single-serving size). The room was a bit small, but the bathroom was quite large. You couldn't open two suitcases simultaneously. The front desk and cleaning staff were very efficient. It could get a bit noisy on weekend nights due to people drinking nearby. However, there are plenty of shops and supermarkets in the vicinity, and the ferry and subway are within walking distance. In the mornings, the lobby offered coffee and hot water, perfect for making tea.FromSGD 177
Very Good132 Reviews
Wall Street/Financial District New York|1.03km from city center
We got upgraded which was very nice. The place was beautiful. Only thing is that our room we couldn’t adjust the temperature and in November having the AC on and not being able to turn it off made the room very cold. Otherwise everything else was great. Location was perfect for us because we had a wedding close by. Night time gets a little weird. Wall st use to be a quiet area but it became a party place at night.FromSGD 323
Very Good132 Reviews
Times Square New York|5.02km from city center
Nice 4* hotel closed to popular Times Square and Hard Rock cafe with easy access to lots of food and amenities. City Subway is just 2mins walk from the hotel lobby
Helpful staff and room is comfortable and clean
Got free pass for general admission fo American Museum of Natural History
Will stay at this Westin again in next visit to NYFromSGD 410
Breakfast
Very Good91 Reviews
Chelsea New York|3.64km from city center
I had a very pleasant stay at this hotel and would definitely recommend it to others. The rooms were clean, spacious, and well-maintained, with all the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay. The staff was extremely courteous and always ready to help, which made the experience even better. Check-in and check-out were smooth and hassle-free. The location of the hotel is also a big advantage, as it is easily accessible and close to key areas. The food quality was excellent, with a good variety of options available. Overall, it was a great experience, offering good value for money, and I would happily stay here again.FromSGD 235
Very Good138 Reviews
Times Square New York|4.32km from city center
The front desk staff were proactive in trying to solve problems, but the cleanliness of the room was disappointing. We didn’t want to know, but we ended up learning the hair color of the previous guest.
Having only two elevators was an inconvenience, but the relaxed pace of travel made it more tolerable. The hot water and coffee were really great.FromSGD 268
Very Good351 Reviews
Times Square New York|5.01km from city center
Great location, close to Times Square and the convention center. The room was nice and clean. For this area and price, it's definitely worth it. I had booked a twin room, but the front desk was very kind and upgraded me to a king bed since I was traveling alone.FromSGD 203
Great138 Reviews
Times Square New York|4.71km from city center
I love Arlo. I stay at Arlo pretty often. But this time was off. I came back to my room in the evening, they cleaned it, but they didn’t take out the trash from the terrace and it started the rain. And I didn’t have coffee capsules (pods) at all. I called to reception and girl was like oh do you have a coffee machine in your room I was like yes I do. And a guy came at 11pm and was cleaning the terrace.FromSGD 217
Good113 Reviews
Times Square New York|5.15km from city center
The staff were very helpful and nice. The room was small. And I don’t think the ac had been running all day so when I got to the room it was a bit warm. I ended up sleeping on top of the covers so I could feel the fan cooling me down. There was no fridge in the room, no chest of drawers and no desk. There was an ice bucket and a water and ice machine on the floor. The bathroom was only big enough to fit one person at a time. But the thing that was really inconvenient was the elevator. There was only one working elevator for 28floors so going somewhere took a while as the elevator stopped on nearly every floor. And the elevator wasn’t even that big. It felt cramped with just 6 adults.FromSGD 247
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