Exploring New York in a day or even attempting to tour the best of New York in 2 days is going to be a frenzy affair but we can help you make a little order of the chaos. While New York in 2 days can be slightly more sedate, depending on your appetite to check things off your list, you can add and subtract a few things off the list below. Check out our 2 day itinerary to make the best of 2 days in New York. If you're there for just one in New York, you can adapt either of the day's plan to your liking and make the best of New York in a day. Happy hustling!
1 - 2 Days in New York Itinerary
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New York in 2 Days - Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Central Park
Art Museums
9/11 Memorial
Times Square
Broadway Show
Morning - Central Park
Start your 2 day NYC stint at Central Park, as early in the morning as possible. Grab a cup of coffee from the umpteen places around and take a nice walk across Central Park under the morning sun. The crowds are less ( except for the fitness enthusiasts) and the weather through the year is best during the morning hours. If you're in the mood to explore hidden nooks and corners of Central Park, you can opt for any of the Quirky Tours across Central Park, be it a TV and Movie Sites Tour, the quintessential PediCab Tour or the American Landscape Walking Tour. If you're in the mood to just stroll about, our specially curated Central Park Attractions Guide should help you hit up all the must visit spots. Read more
Early Afternoon - Art Museums
After the aimless ambling, grab a quick and heavy breakfast after which you can head to one amongst the many Art Museums in New York. Here's our list of Top Museums in NYC - Metropolitan Museum of Art | Museum of Modern Art | American Museum of Natural History | Whitney Museum of American Art | Guggenheim Museum. Each museum has a charm of its own, and if you're one to love museums, you should definitely try hitting atleast 2 of them. Depending on your taste, proximity from where you're put up and the kind of museum you'd like to explore, choose your pick and spend a good half of your earlya afternoon in one of the NYC museums. Read more
Recommended Experiences for Day 1 in New York
• Best Museums in New York• 9/11 Memorial Tickets
• One World Observatory Tickets
• Best Central Park Tours in New York
• Best Broadway Show Tickets
Day 2
Statue of Liberty
Brooklyn
Chelsea Market
Sightseeing Cruise
Observation Deck
Morning - Statue of Liberty
Start your second and last day in New York by touring Lady Liberty. Though we would love for you to witness the skyline from Lady Liberty's Crown, we must warn you that the whole excercise of a ferry to Staten Island, two thorough rounds of checking, then the tedious climb up and down and getting back to Manhattan will take you about 5-6 hours in total. If you're good to spend half your day at the Statue of Liberty, you can grab your tickets and spend a leisurely day here. Hop onboard a ferry and transport yourself to Ellis Island where the Statue of Liberty stands tall. If you're not in the mood for the tedious climb, then you can spend a an hour at Ellis Island, visit the museum and go for the free ranger tours before making your way back to New York City. However, the best bet for a tight itinerary is the free Staten Island Ferry that takes you close enough to Lady Liberty for a decent view, drops you off at Staten Island and takes you back to Manhattan; all in one and half hours time.Read more
Early Afternoon - Hop On Hop Off Tour
Like I always say, there's no better way to see the best of the city than on a Hop On Hop Off Tour. Jump aboard the Big Red Bus with other like minded tourists and lay back while the bus cruises you through the highlights of New York. Since you're in New York for such a short period, no better way to cover grounds than on a Hop On Hop Off. However, make sure you know the HOHO lines before hand so that you get on the line which interests you best. The Downtown Manhattan line is pretty interesting and covers a good portion of the must visits in New York. If the sun is not scorching, sit on the upper deck and enjoy clicking pictures while you tour NYC.Read more
Late Afternoon - Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of New York's most famous icons and a top destination for first time visitors in NYC. New York demands to be taken by stride, hence a walking tour is an absolute must while in New York. Go for 3:00 PM slot fo the Brooklyn Walking Tour and walking through the neighbourhood while admiring stunning views of the quaint brownstone neighbourhood and learn about the bridge's history. Walking through New York's oldest borough area with a historian guide taking you through the architectural and social history, art, culture, food and contemporary politics surrounding the area is a charming experience. Don't forget to explore DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) which is now a state of the art gallery while you're in the vicinity.Read more
Evening - Chelsea Market
Chelsea Market is an up town neighbourhood of myriad luxury malls, fabled restaurants, industrial office spaces and the home grounds to the famous Oreo cookie! You will find fountains bathed in neon light flowing next to cheery bakeries, gelato shops, hip jewelry stores and unmarked doors promising the unknown. The best way to explore Chelsea Market is to sign up for a Walking Tour that will take you around the highlights and best spots. The most recommended tour around Chelsea Market is the Food and Culture Tour that gives you the best of both worlds. You can learn the history of the market, view original artworks, peep by the Hudson River and taste Chelsea specialities from 7 famous shops in the market.Read more
Night - Observation Deck
Consuming aerial views of the City that never sleeps at night is an absolute must. Where you choose to go is completely up to you, but pick any of the Observation Decks in the city- Top of The Rock, Empire State Building, One World Observatory and feel the spirit of NYC wafting under the star lit sky. If you've ticked the One World Observatory on your first day, you can skip these. You can check out our in-depth Comparison of the Observation Decks in NYC to make a better informed choice. However, a friendly tip would be to go up the Rockefeller Building. It is far less crowded and offers better views of the Central Park and Empire State Building. Moreover, it is not as high as the Empire State Building which gives one a clearer view of the nearby buildings. Read more
Recommended Experiences for Day 2 in New York
• Best Museums in New York• Statue of Liberty Tours New York
• Hop On Hop Off New York
• Brooklyn Walking Tour
• Tickets to Observation Decks in New York
Guide To Exploring New York in 2 days
Apart from our New York 2 day Itinerary, here are a few things that could come useful for your New York trip. Simply click and read to best explore New York in 2 days!
