What to do in NYC - Family Itinerary 3, 4, or 5 Days

New York

Grab your walking shoes and your appetite for a slice of the Big Apple because we're about to introduce you to the organized mayhem of New York City. Here, the pigeons are bolder, the pizza slices are bigger, and the skyline? Well, it's just showing off. This itinerary is your map of the best experiences, most iconic buildings, excellent museums, and delicious food in NYC. Your trip will be full of adventure of trying to convince the kids that yes, the subway is part of the adventure, not an underground labyrinth of doom to ranking all the pizzas you ate. Welcome to the "concrete jungle where dreams are made of".

Day 1: Wall Street, Statue of Liberty

• Morning: Start your day by checking out the Oculus, an amazing architectural structure that serves as both a shopping and transit center. Check out the 9/11 Memorial Plaza and pools, located in the 8-acre park where the Twin Towers once stood. Visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum for interactive learning about this sad event. Head to Wall Street to take photos with the New York Stock Exchange, the Charging Bull, and the Fearless Girl. Grab a slice of NY pizza for lunch. Joe's Pizza is a good option.

  
  

  

  
  

• Afternoon: Head to Battery Park and pre-book your free Staten Island Ferry tickets. Spend the afternoon exploring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

  

  Statue of Liberty

• Evening: Explore Chinatown and Little Italy and all the excitement it has to offer. Dinner at Xi'an Famous Foods.

  
  

  Day 2: Central Park, 5th Avenue, Times Square

  
  

• Morning: Start your day with the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) where you can learn about the dinosaurs, mammals, origins of life, space, and gems, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) where you can see an amazing collection of Egyptian, Medieval, Impressionist, and Asian Art.

  

  American Museum of Natural History

• Afternoon: Grab a hot dog for lunch from a cart, an essential NYC experience. Explore Central Park on foot or with a Central Park Bike Tour. This 843-acre green space is one of the world's top-visited attractions and an NYC treasure. Make sure to see Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields, Cherry Hill, Bow Bridge, and Sheep Meadow.

  

  Central Park

• Evening: Exit the park on the south side to see the fancy Plaza. Stroll down 5th Avenue for some souvenir or window shopping. Check out the energy at the lively Times Square. See a family-friendly Broadway musical. Eat at famous Ellen's Stardust Diner with singing waiters or if crunched for time, at Los Tacos No. 1.

  

  Times Square

  Day 3: Midtown

  
  

• Morning: Start your day by exploring the largest train station in the world which is also a historical site with beautiful architecture, Grand Central Terminal.

  

  Grand Central

  Grab a Brazillian breakfast treat at TAP NYC nearby. Scale the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt for an immersive unique experience and 360 views.

  Alternatively, go up to the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center for another view of NYC and Insta-worthy pix.

  

  Top of the Rock

  Hang out at the Rockefeller Center and visit St. Patrick's Cathedral. Walk down south to Bryant Park and explore the elegant New York Public Library and its interesting exhibits.

  
  

• Afternoon: Take the subway to the East Village for the famous Katz's Deli lunch, a must-try in NYC. Stroll through Nolita and SOHO, both fashionable and trendy neighborhoods. Check out Washington Square Park.

  
  

  

  Katz's Pastrami

  
  

• Evening: Spend the evening in the bustling Greenwich Village. Maybe see a jazz performance or a comedy show with an older teen. Lots of amazing food options. here.

  
  

  Day 4

  
  

• Morning: Begin your day with breakfast of bagels and lox at Chelsea Market. Head over to the High Line Observation Deck to begin your walk on High Line, a unique urban park created on top of an elevated old railroad. End up at the Hudson Yards, a new, ultra-modern neighborhood. Check out Vessel, a honeycomb-like structure and public art installation. Go to the top of the Edge, the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. Hang out at the Public Plaza. Mercado Little Spain is a collection of Spanish eateries nearby for lunch.

  

  The Vessel

• Afternoon: Head over to Pier 83 Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises for an hour-long tour to get a different perspective of NYC. Head over to Pier 86 for a visit to the Intrepid Museum, for hands-on learning about space and naval technology and history.

  

  Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise

• Evening: Head over and ascend the Empire State Building. Walk to the Flat Iron building passing by Macy's. Dinner and experience at Eataly. 

  
  

  

  Empire State Building

  Day 5: Brooklyn

  
  

• Here we have several options for visiting Brooklyn on your own or for older kids booking a day tour of four boroughs (something not possible a few years back). Let's explore the first option.

• Morning: Cross the Brooklyn Bridge. Explore DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and the cobblestoned streets. Head to the intersection of Washington Street and Water Street for a great photo of the Manhattan Bridge (DUMBO Manhattan Bridge View).

  

  Brooklyn Bridge

  Next, Pebble Beach, where you can enjoy Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan views. See the vintage Jane's Carousel (Old Fulton St). Head to the Granite Prospect for more views. Enjoy lunch at Juliana’s Pizza or explore Time Out Market New York, a foodie's dream.

  

  Views from Brooklyn

• Afternoon/Evening (option 1): If Lunapark at Coney Island is operational you should head over for this unique experience. Use the F, Q, or D train to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue. Walk the Riegelmann Boardwalk and enjoy the beach. Ride the Cyclone or the Wonder Wheel at the Lunapark and enjoy the carnival food. Visit Nathan's Famous (1310 Surf Ave) for a hot dog or clams.

  
  

  

  Boardwalk

  
  

• Afternoon/Evening (option 2): Keep exploring Brooklyn and its historical brownstone-lined streets. Visit the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Plymouth Church, See the Brooklyn War Memorial and Brooklyn Museum. Head to Williamsburg for Street Art Walk or Smorgasburg (if on a weekend), shopping on Bedford Avenue, stroll in Domino Park, and dinner.

Info:

• Background: New York City, once New Amsterdam in 1624, became a melting pot with English rule in 1664. Wall Street marks its financial legacy, while the Statue of Liberty represents an immigrant's hope for the American Dream. In the 20th century, New York flourished with Broadway's dazzle, Times Square's glow, and skyscrapers like the Empire State Building. The city endured the Great Depression, WWII, and the profound impact of 9/11, Each borough tells its story, from Brooklyn's bridge to the Bronx's hip-hop origins. NYC is where history, culture, and resilience meet, offering families a journey through time in one of the world's most dynamic cities.

• Transportation: We generally took the subway and walked with an occasional Uber or taxi for ease and efficiency.  Use the MTA website or app for real-time subway information. Consider a multi-day pass.

• Weather: NYC can be unpredictable; pack for various conditions.

• Budget: Consider NYC Pass. Look for a discounted Broadway tix.

• Safety: Teach your kids that in NYC, the pigeons are the real bosses and to keep an eye on their belongings.