With 4 days in New York City, you can visit the iconic spots such as the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and Central Park. With the right planning, you can also take some time to walk along the High Line, explore different neighborhoods, and even watch a Broadway show! I have put together the best 4 day New York itinerary to help you have the best experience in this incredible city!

About this New York City itinerary

As a first time visitor in New York, it can be overwhelming with an extensive list of things to do. I have compiled these 4 days in New York to make it as easy for you to ensure you see the best bits of the city at a comfortable pace.

Having spent over 4 months travelling around this gorgeous state, I have condensed the best sights of New York City into a few days for you to enjoy this beautiful, bustling hub and make it your own!

I have tried to group sites together based on location, to minimise unnecessary walking from one end of the city to the other (a mistake I made myself too many times!). These days can be explored in any order, so please make this New York itinerary your own!

This is the Ultimate 4 Days in New York City!

Day 1: Explore Midtown Manhattan, Grand Central Station, and the Rockerfeller Center!

On your first day, spend the day wandering around New York City, getting to know the vibes and quirks of midtown Manhattan.

Central Park

Start the day by wandering around Central Park, exploring parts of this green landscape which spans over 800 acres! From John Lennon’s memorial to the expansive reservoir, there is so much to explore in this iconic park of New York.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

After wandering around Central Park, head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a dive into the artistic culture of New York City. Whether you spend one of five hours in this gorgeous gallery, take some time to unwind as you walk around one of the largest museums in the world!

Grand Central Station

After exploring the Met Museum, take a stroll (or the subway!) to the iconic Grand Central Station. The main concourse of the station provides a vast, open space with beautiful ceilings and archways throughout. Make sure you spend some time exploring the nooks of this gorgeous station.

If you’re looking for something fun to do, ask an employee where the whispering gallery is (it’s located in Grand Central terminal’s dining area on the lower floor outside the Oyster Bar & Restaurant). In this pedestrian intersection, grab a friend, stand at opposite corners of the archways and talk to each other. When you’re both facing the corners of this gallery, even the faintest whispers can be heard between you! It’s as if you are standing next to each other.

New York Public Library

After exploring all Grand Central Station has to offer, take a short stroll to the New York Public Library. The library is free to enter and features a small section on the ground floor with a museum-like feel. In this part of the New York Public Library, you can view items such as the original Winnie the Pooh (this was a personal highlight) among other things.

The library is definitely worth a visit and is just around the corner from Grand Central Station!

Rockefeller Centre

As the sun starts to set, head over to the Rockefeller Centre to witness New York City in its golden hour.

Although tickets are more expensive at this time and you will need to book in advance, it’s well worth the extra cost to see the city skyline as day turns to night. You can spend as long as you wish at the top, so take in the panoramic views as you watch the city come alive at night.

Time Square

In the evening, head to Time Square to see this area in its bustling glory. This iconic square is filled with bright lights, crowds, and street performers, so be prepared for business!! Although this area is an iconic part of the city, it can be quite overwhelming at times. Spend as much or as little time here as you wish, but it’s definitely worth the visit.

If you’re feeling up to it, why not watch a Broadway show in the evening! These shows are some of the best in the world, so head to the theatre and watch some incredible performers in action!

Day 2: Visit Lower Manhattan’s Neighborhoods, One World Trade Center, and the 9/11 Memorial.

For day 2 of your 4 days in New York City, head to neighborhoods like Lower Manhattan, the Financial District, and SoHo. Spend the day learning about New York’s famous histories and exploring new areas of the iconic city.

SoHo

Begin your second day of your New York itinerary by exploring one of the city’s quirkiest neighborhoods: SoHo. Home to many artistic locations and galleries, SoHo oozes with creativity. The gorgeous architecture, paired with high-end boutiques and a streets filled with different food vendors, it’s hard not to fall in love with this Lower Manhattan neighborhood.

After grabbing some food and wandering around these quirky streets, head further south to learn about some of New York’s important histories.

One World Trade Center

The One World Trade Center is an important building to visit in your 4 days in New York City. As the tallest building in the US, the One World Trade Center was rebuilt in 2006 after the tragic events of 9th September 2001 and has powerfully reclaimed the city’s skyline. It is an important visit for any tourist to further understand New York’s history.

If you want to explore this beautiful building further, head to the observatory. Boasting a panoramic overlook of New York, it’s hard not to be amazed by the views of the city from this deck.

9/11 Memorial and Museum

After exploring the One World Trade Center, head a short walk away to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

The breathtaking memorial features twin waterfall pools designed by architect Michael Arad in 2004. Titled Reflecting Absence, these pools reflect the footprint of both towers and give space for those visiting to reflect and remember. The memorial is quiet and thought-provoking, so take some time to walk around these pools and reflect.

If you are wanting to deepen your knowledge of the events of both the 9/11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, pay a visit to the 9/11 museum. This space is located next to the memorial, and will take you between 45 and 90 minutes to walk around. I recommend spending a minimum of 90 minutes there to absorb as much of the information as possible, and give yourself time to process the tragedies you will learn about.

The museum is an incredibly important but understandably heavy place to visit. I believe it is a great place for tourists to visit, but be aware that it is quite emotionally stimulating. When planning this visit, ensure you have some time after to process the information and have some quiet time before returning to the bustling nature of this incredible city.

Staten Island Ferry

To conclude the day, why not take the ferry to Staten Island. This ferry is FREE and a great way to view the Statue of Liberty from afar.

I recommend taking this ferry at sunset (either there or back), so you can see both Lady Liberty and New York’s skyline in all its glory.

There is little to do on Staten Island itself, so after a quick wander and possibly a bite to eat, take the ferry back to the city that never sleeps.

Once when I went on this ferry, I didn’t even go out of the port! I just wanted to see the Statue of Liberty from afar, so my friends and I simply took the opportunity to have a free sunset cruise!

Day 3: Say Hello to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and New York City’s Brooklyn!

It’s day 3 of the ultimate 4 days in New York City, and a New York itinerary would not be complete without a visit to Lady Liberty herself! Spend the day exploring Ellis Island, learning about the Statue of Liberty, and exploring the gorgeous borough of Brooklyn!

Statue of Liberty

A visit to New York City wouldn’t be official without saying hello to Lady Liberty, so get on a ferry and head to the base of the Statue of Liberty.

For an additional cost, you can climb over 300 steps (100 of which are in a tight helix) to reach the crown. From the crown, you can look out of 54 windows overlooking New York City’s skyline and the waters surrounding the island.

The climb can be strenuous for some, so prepare for a steep incline to reach the top of this giant statue.

Ellis Island

A trip to the Statue of Liberty would not be complete without a visit to the nearby Ellis Island. This tiny island is home to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, and even if you’re not a museum person, I would recommend paying this a visit for the afternoon.

After a wander around this tiny island, it’s time to head back to Manhattan and over the iconic Brooklyn Bridge to visit a new borough of the city!

Brooklyn

Brooklyn is a beautiful borough of New York City, with some neighborhoods feeling more intimate than those in the heart of the city.

A great place to start in Brooklyn, after the famous Brooklyn Bridge of course, is Dumbo. As an acronym for ‘down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass, this area has changed from warehouses to shops and restaurants. This area also hosts an iconic photo opportunity of the Brooklyn Bridge.

After visiting Dumbo, take some time to visit the quirky neighborhood of Williamsburg. Hosting some of New York City’s trendiest restaurants and clubs, this neighborhood is alive both day and night.

Brooklyn has some of the best views of the Manhattan skyline, so save some time to watch the city come alive as day turns to night before the final day of this New York itinerary.

Day 4: A final explore of Manhattan, the Empire State Building, Hudson Yards, and the High Line.

As the final day of your 4 days in New York City, it’s time to have a final explore of Manhattan, as you venture up the Empire State Building, wander over the High Line, and visit the iconic architectural building of the Vessel.

Empire State Building

A trip to New York City would not be complete without a visit to the Empire State Building. Being one of the city’s most iconic buildings, this structure holds stunning panoramic views of Manhattan whatever time of day you visit.

My potentially unpopular opinion is that I think views from the Rock are more impressive, as you get to see the Empire State Building in all its glory. However, it is so iconic that I feel like a New York itinerary wouldn’t feel right without a trip up the Empire State Building.

After climbing up both the Empire State and the Rock, you can find out for yourself what view was most impressive.

Walk the High Line

The High Line is rail trail that was once the New York Central Railroad. Since being converted into this gorgeous public park, you can now wander amidst New York’s building, whilst getting beautiful views of the Hudson River, the city’s skyline, and Manhattan’s Westside.

It is a great way to immerse yourself in greenery within the busy city of New York. Start in Chelsea and walk down to the end of the High Line in Hudson Yards.

Hudson Yards

After walking the High Line, it’s time to explore Hudson Yards. Home to the iconic Vessel, among an abundance of restaurants, shops, and vibrancy, spend some time taking in all that Hudson Yards has to offer.

Whether it’s a trip up the Edge, a thrill seekers observatory heaven, or a grounded shopping trip, New York’s newest neighborhood of Hudson Yards has something for everyone!

Although it may seem that this New York itinerary has too much to do, I promise that with the right planning and spontaneity you can see the key sights and areas within 4 days in New York City.

I hope you found this itinerary useful and feel able to make these 4 days in New York your own! If you liked this post, be sure to pin it for later for those important travel plans!!

This was the ultimate 4 days in New York City!