New York City is full of activities and attractions from the incredible shopping, numerous art galleries and fantastic Broadway shows. Everything in this 24 hour city is open late which makes it easy to create a jammed packed itinerary if short on time.

I spent 11 days here but rushed around so much in the first half that I didn’t leave much else do! I would have preferred spending more time in the galleries than I did. So I have created a 7 day itinerary for you, fitting in the best of NYC. This will be quite busy but definitely do-able and if you have more time then it’s easy to spend longer on activities or just add in more attractions to the mix!

Day 1- Central Park, The Met, Shopping

Have a nice lie in after a long flight, then grab some brekkie at coffee or bagel shop before taking a stroll around Central Park. The park is HUGE so you won’t be able to fit it all in one day but you can walk through it to the find The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This is also huge so pick a couple of sections instead of trying to do the whole thing. You literally can spend the whole day here!

If your still raring to go then hit some of the shops in Midtown. Columbus circle is also great for shopping and right by the south end of the park.

Day 2- Top of the Rock, Times Sq, High line, Circle Line

Try and get to the Rockefeller Center at 8am (opening time). I would seriously recommend going at this time as I pretty much just walked straight up. At busy times the queue can be very long. The morning light is amazing over the city and it was definitely a favourite attraction of mine. You get great views overlooking the Empire state and Central Park.

Since you will be near to Times Square, you may as well see what all the fuss is about. It is incredibly busy with tourists everywhere but it does kinda take your breath away. I was just standing there moving around in circles at all the lights and displays in every direction.

Grab some lunch (any cuisine you like!) and then take the subway to The High Line. This is a walkway on an old railway line in the Chelsea area. It’s a different way to see the city and perfect for photographers. If you start The High line at the Whitney Museum of Art and walk North then you can carry on walking along the Hudson river to the circle line pier.

Here you can take the sunset cruise on the circle line and see NYC by day and night. It will also go quite close to the statue of liberty and around the downtown end of Manhattan for those amazing cityscape views looking back at the city.

Day 3- Shopping, Moma and Broadway

Time to shop! (yay). Dedicate some time for shopping, there are so many shopping areas to choose from like the designer shops on 5th Avenue to Chelsea’s trendy boutiques or discount designer stores like Century 21 near Columbus Circle. Shops are open very late so you literally can shop til you drop! If you’re here at Christmas time be sure to check out the window displays in the department stores.

If you need a break from shopping then head to the Museum of Modern Art (Moma) which is just off of 5th Avenue. They have some famous paintings here so it’s worth a visit. Moma is also free on Fridays 4-8pm but gets very busy.

In the evening head to a Broadway show. ‘TKTS’ booths sell discount tickets for the same day if you don’t mind waiting in line. I booked online for the Christmas Spectacular and it was amazing. Christmas in New York is kinda magical.

Day 4- Museums and Empire State

If you’re into art then New York perfect for you. Check out the Museum of Natural History situated in the Upper West side. It’s one of the oldest museums in the worlds and is full of interesting and fun exhibits. Then you can explore some more of the park whilst walking over to the Upper east side (takes around 30 minutes from the West).

The Upper East side is where the Guggenheim Museum is situated. The quirky museum is interesting in architecture but I found the art a little too ‘contemporary’ for my liking. A short walk up 5th Avenue will take you to the Museum of the City of New York. This is quite small but worthwhile to find out about the people who make up the city and the struggles citizens have had throughout the years. Some exhibitions are permanent and some are special exhibitions. There is a ‘suggested donation’ as with a lot of museums so you really pay what you like or can afford.

After an arty day, have a big dinner in the city or relax in a bar before heading up to the Empire state building. After 10pm it gets quiet- I just went straight up without queuing. Even though it might be a late time it will save you waiting hours in the queue and you also get to see the city at night. You can see the bright lights of Times Square even from way up at the top.

More on New York: Inspiring Photos of New York in Winter

Day 5- Walk the Bridge to Brooklyn

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge was one of my favourite activities- and its free! I would suggest getting here at 8/9am for fewer crowds and to make the most of the day. I left a bit late so at 11am it was already busy. You can get some incredible shots of the bridge and looking back at Manhattan. Once over the other side you can explore cool and hip areas likes Dumbo and Williamsburg. Brooklyn Bridge Park offers fantastic views back at the city.

Brooklyn has a grungy but trendy feel about it and is much more relaxed than Manhattan. Take a stroll around Brooklyn Museum and the botanical gardens. Or for something a bit different head to the New York Transit Museum, set in an old subway station. You can walk through old subway trains form the 1920’s upwards.

If you’re here for Christmas then check out Brooklyn’s Christmas lights in Dyker Heights. Local residents with huge houses put on massive light displays every year. The area with most lights is from 83rd to 86th Street and in between 11th Avenue to 13th Avenue, although I saw some really pretty houses on the way so it’s worth wandering around a bit. The area felt very safe and I felt fine walking that late by myself.

Day 6- Harlem, 9/11 Memorial and Chelsea Galleries

Aim for an early start and head to the African-American suburb of Harlem. I was a little nervous going here alone as it sometimes gets a bad rep but it was mostly ok, although I did get a few stares. I stuck to the main street (125th st) and wandered around a few side streets to get some shots of the typical brownstone houses. Although the main areas are pretty safe I do think I would have felt more comfortable (being a solo female) with a walking tour.

Grab an early lunch to make time for a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. This is quite upsetting walking around and hearing the stories from the people who witnessed this day. I actually spent around 3 hours here as there is a lot read and watch. The atmosphere is very calm and almost silent- a humbling visit.

Find a cafe for a tea or coffee and a little pick me up and then spend the afternoon in the nearby artsy area of Chelsea. From 18th-25th streets you will find small galleries lined alone each street and they are all free! Sometimes the work you will find here is better than that in the bigger galleries. Just wander up and down the block and head into any gallery that takes your fancy.

  Day 7-  Hop on Bus, Downtown and Bryant Park

The Big Bus tours are great to get around and see the city from a different perspective. Hop on the downtown tour and head to Bryant park. At Christmas they have a winter village and an outdoor ice rink. Then hop back on the bus to explore the Flatiron building or Chinatown. This would be a great place to stop for a cheap lunch.

Then jump off the bus at Wall St, the heart of the Financial district. Everyone wants a photo with ‘the Charging Bull’ so to save waiting in line I would get there early. Then you can wander down to Battery Park. Sit, relax and enjoy views of the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

So there we have a weeks worth of things to do in New York. It was quite art focused I know but there are many activities to do instead if that’s not your thing. You can hire out cycles, go on a neighbourhood walking tour or a food and gospel tour in Harlem, visit Madame Tussauds, or Staten Island Zoo. The list is endless!

How do I get to Manhattan from JFK Airport?

Taxis are expensive and the shuttle buses are time consuming. I would recommend using the AirTrain. This is a cheap and efficient option and I found it pretty easy to navigate. Take the AirTrain from JFK to Jamacia station then change to the E train all the way into Midtown, Manhattan.

How Do I Get Around?

Definitely buy the 7 day unlimited Metro card, which can be bought just before getting on the AirTrain. This will give you unlimited rides on the subway and buses and at $32 (as of 2018) it’s great value for money. You will soon get used to using the subway its not as hard as first appearances might suggest.

Where do I stay?

There are several hostels in Manhattan and many in Brooklyn if you don’t mind the 40 minute commute, it will be slightly cheaper. That goes for Airbnb as well. I managed to find a good deal, situated in the Upper West side, on 73rd St. I found this a perfect location and right by the park! Hotels are everywhere from budget to ridiculously expensive.

How Much Should I Budget?

Obviously a hard question to answer as it depends on how much you will spend on shopping, food, etc. I roughly spent around £1300 but I was there for 11 nights. That included around £470 for my Airbnb, £140 for the explorer pass, £300 on shopping, £200 on food, £50 on extra activities, £70 for a show and £35 on transport. It will be easy to spend much less or much more depending on how crazy you go!

Tip: The city explorer pass is a great way to save on attractions. The New York pass is expensive and only worthwhile if you’re smashing out the activities everyday. The explorer pass allows you to pick from 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 attractions.

More Reading: Walking the Brooklyn Bridge, NYC

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