New York City in 3 Days
- Brian
- Oct 30, 2025
- 6 min read
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world with more to do and see than you can probably ever get done. That's probably leaving you thinking then: what can you really see or do in just 3 days? From my own experience of visiting New York City countless times, I can tell you there's a lot you can do.
What's even more fun is coming back during different seasons and experiencing even more that that city has to offer. Let's jump in and see what you can experience in "The Big Apple" in a 3 day Quick Escape . . .
A Little Background
Over the years I have visited New York City for a combination of work and personal trips. I've found the work trips to be tedious, frustrating, and stressful, mainly due to traffic and the bustling nature of the city. Personal trips, however, I've found some incredible things to do and have been able to create some incredible and lasting memories.
The most fun of these are when my wife and I have taken each of our three children on individual trips to New York. When each of kids transitioned from Elementary to Middle school, we take them to New York to see the city and experience all the iconic sights. We've managed to create a thoroughly enjoyable experience all while "cramming" in everything to just 3 days (including travel). How, you ask? Just a little planning (and experience from other trips).
Each time we've gone to the city, we hit up some major sights, as well as some fun and entertaining ones. We change it up a bit each time we go, based on which child is going and what their particular interests are. So if you're ready for a great experience on a quick get-away, here's all the tips, tricks, sights, and eats we've done.
Getting It All In
With just 3 days (including travel time), it might seem overwhelming to get it everything you want. Once you've outlined the key sights you want to see, it's time to begin to schedule everything around those things.
Pro Travel Tip: Any major landmarks generally require booking well in advance. The Statue of Liberty's Crown, for example, needs to be booked at least 6 months in advance or you risk not being able to do it.
1st Timer's Agenda
Want to hit all the key sights and some fun stuff along the way for your first time to New York?
Day 1
Land (or Drive) no later than 9:00 am. I recommend LaGuardia, as it's closer to Manhattan than JFK.
Taxi in to the city and get to your hotel no later than 10:30 am.
Taxi to One World Trade to visit the observatory.
When you've had your fill in the observatory, head down to the memorial on ground level.
Museum of Ice Cream around 1pm. You won't be disappointed by the thoroughly enjoyable "museum" exploring the evolution of ice cream. Plus, there's a 4 story slide at the end that you just can't miss.
After the museum, head out and make your way up toward Times Square.
Spend some time exploring the M&M Store, Hershey Store, and others nearby while taking in the sights.
Have dinner nearby. There are a lot of great restaurants around. If you need suggestions, see below for my eats & treats recommendations.
Day 2
Be up and head out of your hotel by 7:30 am.
Grab a light bite at a cart or coffee shop near Battery Park.
Be at Battery Park ferry entrance no later than 8:30 am to board the 9:00 ferry. I highly recommend this first ferry, as it will give you the most time to explore before the heavy crowds hit.
Reminder: You need to buy Statue of Liberty tickets well in advance (especially the crown). The only source to buy tickets is from the park service. Here's the link. Don't be fooled by resellers.
Spend time on the grounds on Liberty Island. The museum, the statue, and more are all top-notch. If you have tickets for the crown, I'd suggest getting an early entry so you have the rest of the day for other stuff.
Once you've had your fill, head over to Ellis Island via the Ferry.
Tour the Museum on Ellis Island.
When you're ready for lunch, there's a restaurant on-site, however, I've found it to be very expensive and the food is just so-so. I suggest you head back to Battery Park via the ferry and get lunch on your way to your next stop.
After lunch, stroll up to Wall Street and get some great photos outside the buildings.
Day 3
Wake up and head out by 8:00 am.
You may want to drop your luggage at the front desk to hold while you head out for the day.
Breakfast at Tavern on the Green in Central Park.
Stroll through Central Park. I suggest heading south and follow the loop towards The Pond. Standing on the bridge will make you feel nostagic for many great movies you probably watched as a kid. Then head north to The Mall. There are great statues and some really neat vendors that setup along this corridor. The goal here is to make it to Bethesda Fountain.
Reminder: If you want to do a carriage tour, bring cash! Even if they tell you they take credit card, they'll throw you for a loop at the end and hold your stuff hostage while you find an ATM.
After this, head northwest along a path at the edge of the lake. Follow this path and you'll cross the Bow Bridge. This is a famous and beautiful bridge that will make you want to just stop and take in the sights.
Once across the bridge, you'll find yourself in the Rambles. This is one of my favorite areas. It's a heavily wooded area with primarily non-paved paths winding throughout. You can easily get lost in here, and it will certainly feel like you've left New York when you're in the depths of it. Enjoy!
Make sure you continue to head north and eventually you'll exit the Rambles right in front of Belvedere Castle. The castle can get crowded at times, but if you can manage to walk to the top spire, you won't be disappointed by the view.
Our Favorite Sights
If you're a first-timer to New York, or taking someone who is a first-timer, these are the sights my family and I always see. They are just a few of the most iconic sights in the city, and replete with history.
Key Sights
One World Trade
Ellis Island
Statue of Liberty
Battery Park
Central Park
Broadway (typically a play at night)
Times Square
Flex Activities
Museum of Ice Cream
Grand Central Station
M&M Store
Hershey Store
Sunset Dinner Cruise
Tavern on the Green
Serendipity 3
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Central Park Zoo
Empire State Building Rooftop Tour
American Museum of Natural History
Washington Square Arch
Madison Square Garden
Harry Potter New York Store
Macy's Herald Square
Radio City Music Hall
Hudson Yards / The Vessel
NYSE
Good Eats and Treats
New York City is never complete without the food. The great thing is that there's no shortage of great food, either.
If you're a history buff, and love a good steak, visit Keen's Steakhouse. The 2nd floor has a room that houses the original brochure from Ford's Theater with Abraham Lincoln's blood still on it. The lower floor has pipes hanging from the ceiling from when it used to be a gentlemen's club.
If you enjoy interesting places where there's a lot of food options, visit the original Eataly location. It's such a fun grocery store that has a lot of restaurants and bars contained within.
Don't forget the pizza. Grabbing a slice of New York pizza is a must-do. There's no shortage of places to grab a slice, but my favorites are these: PLACE 1, PLACE 2....
Some More Unique Sites
In case you have extra time during your visit, here are a few other more unique sites that you might want to visit.
 | The Obelisk (Cleopatra's Needle) This is probably the oldest monument in North America. It was a gift from Egypt in the mid 1900's. It is one of 2, it's sister now residing in London, that dates back to the time of Queen Cleopatra. |
 | Ghostbuster's Firehouse If you like the movies, you'll enjoy seeing this in-person. If you don't, it's simply a neat sight to see anyway. The building is well-maintained and an active firehouse. While you are nearby, feel free to visit some of the local restaurants, such as Frenchetta, Terra Wine Bar, or many more. |
Musem of Sex If you're visiting without kids and want something totally off-the-wall to do, this is a unique (and cool) place to visit. | |
Katz's Deli Although this will be a highly unpopular opinion, I'm not a huge fan of Katz's Deli. Visiting here is more like late-night TV nostalgia than anything else. | |
World Trade Center Memorial on September 11 This is both a beautiful and haunting sight at the same time. Seeing the lights shining into the sky where the twin towers once stood. The silence of people paying their respects while the water slowly falls into the fountains is enough to send chills down your spine. Despite that, if you manage to find yourself here on September 11, I highly suggest you experience it. |
