New York in 5, 6 or 7 days: our itineraries for a stay in New York

Would you like to escape to the USA and explore the Big Apple? Discover the best routes to visit New York in 5, 6 or 7 days!

New York is a mythical and enchanting city, one of the most visited in the world. Impressive with its huge buildings, it has made dreams of entire generations. Visiting New York is a pure moment of happiness and wonder. Emblematic sites are worldwide known. This is particularly true of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and the gigantic Central Park. The various neighbourhoods have many must-see sites. But the city is huge and itineraries in New York allow for a first approach. For a visit to New York in 5, 6 or 7 days, you have to go to the essentials.

Would you like to visit the Big Apple? So here's the guide to discover the best routes in New York in 5, 6 or 7 days. Let’s go!

New York in 5 days

From all our itineraries, those included within 5 days contain the places and sightseeing. Start with a full day of visit. If you arrive early in the afternoon, you can make a first approach Central Park or Times Square .

For the last day, the program will also be to be modulated according to the time your plane takes off or if your plane leaves only the next day. Some leave N.Y at the end of the afternoon and others late in the evening. The program can also be modulated according to the weather and tastes of each.

Finally, the vast majority of the places cited are included in the various New York passes. It is highly recommended to buy one or two, in order to reduce the cost of visits (and transport). We recommend the following steps:

• Either it New York Pass ;
• Either it FreeStyle Pass ;
• The New York CityPASS ;
• But also New York C3 PASS ;
• Or New York City Explorer Pass.

Day 1: Statue of Liberty & Downtown/Financial District

The Statue of Liberty

The visit begins early with the famous Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, leaving Battery Park. In New York, Lady Liberty has remained on Liberty Island since 1886. Visitors can climb up to the pedestal or to the crown (reservation several months in advance) for a breathtaking view. Join Ellis Island, the gateway to America. Millions of people transited there between 1892 and 1924, before being able to settle on American soil. During the Second World War Ellis Island served as a prison camp and was closed in 1954. Today the island is registered in the historical site register. The visit of both sites takes all morning, about 5 hours.

Downtown / Financial District

Then go south of Manhattan for the meal break. If it’s beautiful, buy a take-away and picnic at Battery Park. The afternoon is devoted to the Financial District. Take a photo break in front of the bull Wall-Street , then New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall and Little Trinity Church, dated 1846. Continue with the visit memorial and museum of September 11 . The site is a gathering place. We can see the two mirror basins. Reflecting Absence , at the location of the two twin towers. In the late afternoon, climb to the One World Observatory 104 floors and 546 metres high.

Day 2: Midtown

The visit starts early with The Top of The Rock for a view of the city. It is located in the Rockfeller Center complex. Then go to Radio City Music Hall, the famous Art Deco showroom, dating from 1932. Then, direction Saint Patrick Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the country. Moreover, do not hesitate to push the door, to contemplate the rosace and the organ. Then go back to the 5th avenue to the Trump Tower.

For the lunch break, direction Bryant Park for a picnic. In front of the park, you can see the New York Public Library.

After the meal, direction the beautiful Grand Central Terminal train station. As far as it is concerned, construction began in 1871 and the current configuration dates back to 1913. On leaving, two streets further, is the very elegant Chrysler Building. A refined and photogenic building, with a lot of style. More to the east, is the seat of the United Nations. Then head south to Flatiron District to contemplate the Flatiron Building. Dating from 1902, it is distinguished by its iconic triangular silhouette.

In the late afternoon, climb to the Empire State Building 102 floors. It is one of the most famous buildings in the city and the country. Moreover, it appears in many films, including King Kong . From the observatory, on the 86th floor, the view is absolutely fabulous. In the evening, immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Times Square.

In addition, it is possible to reverse the visit program.

Day 3: Brooklyn / Chinatown / Little Italy

In the morning, head to Brooklyn, via the iconic Brooklyn Bridge . Visitors have the immense pleasure of surveying the famous bridge and immortalizing this moment in images. It dates from 1883 and offers a remarkable view of the East River, Downtown and Brooklyn.

As soon as you get to Brooklyn, think about making the unmissable picture of the Manhattan Bridge, Bridge View , in Dumbo, at the crossroads of Washington Street and Water Street. Then visit the Brooklyn Bridge Park and Brooklyn Heights. If you want to enjoy nature and do a physical activity, Prospect Park is very appreciated. There you can make pedals on the pond, as well as horses.

On the other hand, if you prefer to discover the architecture and atmosphere of Brooklyn, two neighbourhoods are renowned:

• First Bushwick, which is known for its street art;
• But also the neighbourhood Williamsburg and Bedford Avenue his main artery. Formerly a workers’ quarter, it is now very popular. A nice address for gourmets: Junior’s. The Brooklyn Junior’s dinner is the oldest (one has another one) Times Square and Grand Central). Their specialty is cheesecake. Moreover, consider including gastronomy in all your routes in New York. This is, in effect, an important cultural part of the city.

To finish the day, back to Manhattan by the Brooklyn Bridge or the ferry, to save time. Discover the neighborhoods of Chinatown and Little Italy. You can also enjoy it to do an activity like a helicopter overflight or a mini cruise. In the evening, choose one rooftop , for a drink with city view.

Day 4: West/Greenwich Village – Midtown

Attack with the old railway track, very appreciated by New Yorkers. The Highline is a very pleasant ride in the greenery. Start south of Chelsea Market on 14th Street or 16th Street. Then go up the green promenade until 30/34th Street. Then visit the surprising Vessel, inaugurated in the spring of 2019. It is between 30th and 33th Street, near Hudson Yards. It offers a view of the neighbourhood and Hudson. Its architecture in the form of bee hives, of copper color, is very original. In addition, the art amatters will enjoy the Chelsea district, which has many galleries.

In the afternoon, visit the Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum or Museum of Modern Art. L’Intrepid is a museum on board the aircraft door of the same name: USS Intrepid . It is located on Pier 86 (attention it closes at 5pm and 6pm on the weekend). This day is also an opportunity to discover MOMA , world famous for his contemporary works of art.

In the late afternoon, head to the top of The Edge. This is the ultimate attraction, inaugurated in the spring of 2020. It is a glass terrace, above the vacuum, at 345 meters high. It's so chilly! To enjoy the evening, we recommend going see a NBA game at Madison Square Garden , temple of the Knicks.

Day 5: Harlem / Central Park / Upper West Side

Harlem

The morning of the fifth day is devoted to the visit of Harlem, north of Central Park. It is the heart of African-American culture, which extends from 110th to 168th Street. Several sites are to be seen, such as:

• The famous Apollo Theatre : dating from 1913, many black artists made their first steps. This is particularly the case of James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald or Michael Jackson ;
• Saint John The Divine Cathedral: started in 1892 and never completed, deserves the detour. Moreover, it is the largest cathedral in the world;
• Morningside Park: appreciated by the inhabitants;
• Still in the Morningside Heights district, is Columbia University: it is not very far from the cathedral and visits;
• Close by, we can see him General Grant National Monument. The American president Grant (Chair from 1869 to 1877) rests. It is the largest mausoleum in the country.
• Finally, a visit by Harlem is also an opportunity to attend a Gospel Mass in the morning;
• For Jazz fans, the National Jazz Museum Maybe interesting.

Central Park and Upper West Side

In the afternoon, if you are passionate about history, Natural History Museum , facing Central Park, in the Upper West Side will be exciting. This museum, dated 1877, contains rare pieces. Indeed, there are more than 30 million objects, including dinosaur skeletons. From October to May we can also see the Butterfly Conservatory, a huge window populated with butterflies.

If you prefer to stay outside, Central Park is to be seen absolutely. This huge green rectangle in the heart of the city is one of the must-sees. This is a must-have spot in your itineraries in New York. This 340-hectare park, consisting of trees, lawns, ponds and walking trails is perfect for relaxing.

In the evening, if you are not tired, offer yourself a show Broadway . Thus, you will dive into the New York from there, probably the one who inspired you this journey.

New York in 6 days

Day 6: Queens, Bronx / Upper East Side

Are you staying in New York more than 5 days and looking for further visits? Don't panic, there's a resource! Here are other routes from New York not to be missed.

Guggenheim Museum, MET Museum and Roosevelt

Start your new routes with a small pass to Central Park. Then visit a Upper East Side museum, at the choice of the Guggenheim Museum or the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Guggenheim Museum is world renowned for its 20th century art works. It contains works by Picasso, Monet, Degas... Moreover, its architecture is quite special.

Another exciting and world-renowned museum to see: the Metropolitan Museum of Art or MET. This is the world’s largest collection of art, founded in 1872. Note that one can admire the Egyptian, Eastern, Greek and Roman art, contemporary art, European paintings and American painters, of course. On the other hand, a roof garden is accessible from April/May to October.

After the visit of one of the two museums to choose from, go down on 60th Street, at the crossroads of 2nd Avenue and climb on the Roosevelt cable car. It connects Manhattan to Roosevelt Island, since 1976. We were able to see him in several films, including Léon or Spiderman . We advise you to avoid the hours of affluence, especially between 7h/9h and 17h/19h.

Queens and Bronx

For the rest of the day, discover Queens or Bronx. If you just want to have a quick look, you can make a short passage in both by selecting just a few spots to see. In the north of Queens/Astoria, a viewpoint on the shores of the East River or on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and the northern tip of Roosevelt Island.

Otherwise, head south of Queens, Long Island City, at the Gantry Plaza State Park, for a view of Manhattan and Midtown. From there, make a small detour to the Hunters Point Historic District to contemplate different architectural styles.

With regard to the Bronx area, north of Harlem, several sites may interest you:

• The Bronx Zoo: opened in 1899, it is the largest urban zoo in the USA. It extends over a hundred hectares and all ecosystems are represented there. The zoo allowed the reproduction of endangered species;
• The New York Botanical Garden: which dates from 1891, is crossed by the Bronx River. One can see, among other things, a rose garden and Victorian-style greenhouses;
• The Yankee Stadium: worldwide known. Itineraries in New York including in the Bronx allow you to attend a baseball game. In the afternoon, from May to September, or in the evening.

New York in a week

Are you staying for a week or more? Here are some places we recommend to include your itineraries in New York:

• A getaway to Coney Islandsouthwest of Brooklyn is possible. Indeed, you can access it by subway from Manhattan. The journey lasts about an hour. As soon as you're on site, enjoy it to make one seaside promenade. You can also see Luna Parkfamous in the 1930s. But also Brighton Beach, enjoyed on weekends and summers. The noon enjoy it for taste hot dogs from Nathan’s, close to the beach.
• If you’re on a half-day flash tour in the afternoon, head south of Manhattan, Battery Park to take the Staten Island ferry. The crossing lasts about 25 minutes and good plan, it is free. In addition to this, it offers a beautiful view of the southern tip of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
• You could also take the ferry for a return trip Governor Islandsouth of Manhattan (May to October). If you have time, it is also the opportunity to do an activity as a helicopter overflight.
• If Coney Island doesn't connect you, why don't you make a guided tour of a neighbourhood with a French-speaking guide? For example, you could visit Soho, TriBeCa, Greenwich Village...

Transportation in New York

How to get to New York?

To reach New York from France, it is necessary to fly. The destination is very well served with direct and regular flights. The airports are JFK, La Guardia, or Newark, New Jersey. If you are already on the American continent, you can reach the Big Apple by plane, train, bus or car.

Getting around in New York

To complete your itineraries in New York, it is not recommended to use a car. Also, the means of transport are very developed and it is ideal:

• The Metro: economic and active 24/7;
• Tourist Bus/buses: buses have the same rates as the metro, the open-air tourist buses are included in some passes;
• The Taxi: the famous yellow taxis have a fixed rate for the support and proportional supplement at the distance + time spent in the caps;

Finally, some of the routes in New York can also be done on foot, it is also a good way to visit the city and its architecture.

There you go! You now have the must-see routes in New York in 5, 6 or 7 days. So you only have to decide and book your stay.