If you saw my 10 day New York itinerary or my 3 day New York itinerary, you will know that I've visited NYC twice before. And this year we made it a family trip. Every time that I've stayed in New York I've stayed in a different area of Manhattan. This time we opted for the Chelsea/Flower District and it might just be my favourite location yet. We technically visited for six nights/seven days, with us leaving around noon on our seventh day. But here is my New York 7 day itinerary as well as my top tips for travelling to NYC;
Is 7 days in New York enough?
Seven days is a great amount of time to be able to check off many of the tourist attractions and sights, while not feeling like you're rushing to get everything done. As I always say, you could visit New York City every year, or even several times a year and still not see everything.
What is the best way to get around?
Don't even think about using a car, whether that be a taxi or Uber to get around. Unless you have deep pockets and don't mind wasting hours in traffic. The quickest and most convenient way is by Subway. It may take a bit of practice but I've got a full guide on how to master it here. If you're there for a week or will be using it multiple times a day, get a weekly Metrocard. It's priced at $33, plus $1 for a new card and will soon pay for itself.
And here is my New York 7 day itinerary, whether you're visiting for the first time or have been before;
Day 1
If you've arrived on an international flight, like we did, you will probably arrive into the city around mid afternoon. Which is typically when you can check into your hotel. After a long day of travel, get checked in and situated. I would really recommend having a little wander close to your hotel, as well as exploring your hotel itself. If you've booked a hotel with interesting amenities like a rooftop, bar, gym or even a swimming pool, be sure to check them out.
As I mentioned above, this year we stayed in the Chelsea area right in the heart of the Flower District. So much so that every day our street and almost the entirety of the sidewalks were filled with beautiful flowers, plants and even potted trees. There definitely wasn't a worry about smelling garbage or any of NYC's funkier smells this time. On our street there were a good number of hotels to choose from. But we stayed at the Cambria Chelsea this time and it was a great base to explore from.
Because of our location, we were less than ten minutes walk from my all-time favourite spot in NYC; Madison Square Park. On our first night we headed straight there. I always love seeing the Flatiron Building too, even if it was covered in scaffolding on this trip.
TOP TIP: Find a nearby dollar pizza place (we love 2. Bros Pizza) or a US fast food restaurant that you've always wanted to try for dinner. I loved discovering Chick Fil A and Popeyes this time. It will definitely make you feel like you've truly arrived in the US on your first night.
Day 2
Even if Times Square is one of my least favourite spots in the city, for a few different reasons, I always recommend that people head there first to really feel like you've arrived in NYC. Whether you see it early in the morning or late at night, the first time that you see all of the lights is undeniably magical.
As jet lag normally means that you are up at the literal crack of dawn on your first day (we were up at 5:30am), make the most of this by getting out early. Most stores and museums won't open until at least 9 or 10am so you'll want to focus on certain sights instead.
After checking out Times Square, make the walk to Rockefeller Center. And check off seeing Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Fifth Avenue while you're there.
Again, as most places are still closed, this is the perfect time to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Especially as it gets busier and more crowded as the day goes on. So if you're hoping to snap some great photos, the earlier you can get on the Brooklyn Bridge the better. I personally like walking from Manhattan to Brooklyn. But you could take the subway over to Brooklyn and walk back into the city, if you prefer.
Once you do get to Brooklyn, walking to DUMBO and getting that iconic shot and exploring Brooklyn Bridge Park is a must. There are also lots of great spots to grab coffee, brunch or lunch while you're there.
On your first evening, choose one of the incredible observation decks to take in the city from a different perspective. I personally loved Top Of The Rock and would recommend it over the Empire State Building any day. But plenty of new viewing platforms have opened in recent years that have even greater twists on the standard platforms.
On my list of ones to check out next have got to be Summit One Vanderbilt and EDGE at Hudson Yards. There's also One World Observatory too. When it comes to your New York 7 day itinerary, I cannot recommend going up to an observation deck highly enough.
Day 3
As you will no doubt be aware, there are plenty of incredible museums to choose from in NYC. I personally like to carve out two mornings to visit two on each trip. My top pick would have to be the 9/11 Museum, which is something that everyone visiting the city should see. If you'd rather simply pay your respects instead, the 9/11 memorial fountains will truly highlight the scale of the loss that day. Take some time to stop and reflect.
If you're already in the WTC/downtown area, it's hard to miss the Oculus. I'm always left speechless when I look up at the architecture of it. And once you've had a good look, you'll soon realise that it houses a mall and a major transport hub too.
Other great must-see museums include The American Museum of Natural History, The Met, MoMa, the Guggenheim and Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
TOP TIP: If you plan on visiting multiple museums or tourist attractions, it may be cheaper and more convenient to use a CityPASS. I've written a whole blog post on whether or not it is worth it. But I use it every time that I visit.
Walking the High Line is one of the first things that I recommend to anyone visiting New York. This public park elevated on what used to be an old train line is packed full of art, sculptures, viewing platforms and greenery. It's a great way to spend an evening or morning.
When you get off the High Line, depending on where you start/finish, you will be within walking distance of Chelsea Market and the Meatpacking District. Both are brilliant for grabbing some great food or having a browse in the stores.
And not too far from the start of the High Line, at the other end, is Hudson Yards and the Vessel. This was being built the last time that I visited. So I was really excited to see both the Hudson Yards mall, which is super fancy. And the Vessel. Because I was there during COVID times, the Vessel wasn't fully open. But you could enter at the bottom to look up and grab some photos. And I can't wait to visit again to properly explore it.
Day 4
You really could spend an entire day in Central Park and not see everything. But try to pick out which areas are of the most interest to you. I personally like entering the park from the 72 St Subway station and walking across the park as you will see the likes of Strawberry Fields, where John Lennon was killed. There's also Bow Bridge, Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, the Loeb Boathouse and the Hans Christian Andersen and Alice In Wonderland statues.
Take a picnic or grab some lunch and spend the day enjoying the green space.
Other park highlights include Umpire Rock, Wollman Rink, the Mall, Central Park Zoo and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.
Day 5
Take another morning to visit the second museum that you have on your list. For us, on this trip, it was The American Museum of Natural History. Again, you could easily spend a full day there. But I tend to go in the morning and leave just after the lunch rush. That way when I go to grab lunch it's a little bit quieter and more enjoyable.
A few more sights to make sure and see that are completely free to visit are Grand Central Terminal, which blows my mind every time that I see it. And just a few minutes walk away, you'll also find the New York Public Library, which is another sight to behold. As well as Bryant Park outside.
TOP TIP: Be sure to head to the 'whispering corner' in Grand Central Terminal. The curved ceiling trick will no doubt blow your mind.
You'll also see my favourite skyscraper in NYC while you explore this area; the Chrysler Building.
Day 6
On your last full day in New York, I would really recommend exploring a new neighbourhood or somewhere a bit less touristy. Whether that be more of Brooklyn or some of the other boroughs or even just an area of the city you haven't stepped foot in before, it's nice to enjoy more of an authentic experience after all the tourist attractions.
On this trip I visited SoHo for the first time. And I had a lovely day wandering around some of the beautiful higher end stores and enjoying a slower pace for the day. But other great areas to explore would be Little Italy, Chinatown. And even Coney Island, if you're there during the warmer months.
If, you enjoy shopping, this final full day can be the best opportunity to get anything you have on your wishlist. Or to pick up bits to bring back home for friends and family or yourself. You should know how much space you have left in your case(s). And if you haven't been focusing on shopping, it can be fun to see what American snacks Target has. Or to get some things a little bit cheaper than back home.
That final evening I made one last trip to the iconic Strand bookstore near Union Square. As you may have seen in my What I Bought In The US On My Recent Trip blog post. And I easily could have spent many more hours exploring the aisles and aisles of books in there. You'll know which stores are a priority for you.
Day 7
Depending on when your flight is on your final day, you might be able to squeeze in a couple of things. You could either revisit one of your favourite areas or check off anything still on your list. We had to leave just before lunchtime on this trip. So our morning mainly consisted of packing and grabbing breakfast.
TOP TIP: If your flight is much later in the day or even the evening, your hotel should be able to store your luggage for you after you check out. This leaves you free to explore without having to worry about dragging your cases along with you.
So there is my New York 7 day itinerary. Of course you can move things around when you're making your own. But this should hopefully give you lots of inspiration for your own New York 7 day itinerary.
Have you been to New York before or always wanted to visit? Where would be on your New York 7 day itinerary? And would you like to see more New York content (like where to eat, etc.)?
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