Not many cities in the world enjoy the fame that NYC does. It’s the celebrity among the best cities of the world and visiting it is a dream of millions around the world. Is it enough to visit New York City for four days? The answer would be no. Can you manage a memorable trip to the city of dreams in four days? Yes, but you will need some advice to do that. That’s exactly the reason we have prepared this 4-day itinerary so you can take an image of NYC in your memory that never ceases to exist.
Before jumping into the list of amazing places to visit, let’s look at some interesting facts about NYC.
NYC Itinerary 4 Days – Interesting NYC Facts
- If you like to honk horns in your country, you better not when you are in NYC. It is illegal. The locals might still do it, but learning bad manners is not a good practice.
- New York City has enjoyed being the capital of the US for one day. That was way back in 1789.
- The Long Lines Building in NYC has 29 floors and is nearly 550 feet tall. However, that’s not the interesting part. The building does not have any windows. You better avoid going there if you are claustrophobic.
- Manhattan is not New York City. New York City is not Manhattan. Manhattan is just one of the five NYC boroughs – the other four are Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx.
- More power to the women when they arrive here because NYC has fewer men than women.
- Do you know the name of the biggest gift in NYC? That’s Statue of Liberty. A gift from France.
- Talk about diversity and you could replace the word in dictionary with New York City. People here speak over 800 different languages.
- New Yorkers will know you are from outside NYC with a simple test. Please say “Houston Street”! Did you pronounce it HUE-stun Street? Alternatively, did you call it HOUSE-ton Street? If your answer was HUE-stun, they know you are not a local.
- Do you think you will have the opportunity to ask for directions from the locals when in NYC? If yes, learn a few acronyms such as SoHo and NoHo. They stand for South of Houston Street and North of Houston Street respectively. How did you pronounce Houston again?
- Do you know why the Manhattan skyscrapers are concentrated in only one area? That’s because the ground in other areas is not strong enough to support the buildings. It is soft.
- People get so lost in the tall and splendid buildings of Manhattan that they completely forget it is an island. Did you know that?
- Have you seen many Wal-Mart memes on the internet? Do you want to take some time to visit a Wal-Mart in NYC? No, you can’t. There is none in NYC.
- Did you know NYC is also known as The City So Nice, They Named It Twice?
NYC Itinerary 4 Days – A Basic Guide to Traveling on Subway
One of the cheapest and best ways to travel in New York City is on Subway. You don’t want to call it metro because no one calls it that here. Even the term “train” won’t work. If you are in NYC for the first time, you also want to learn familiarize yourself with the terms “uptown” and “downtown”. They don’t say north or south when telling you directions, so you better prepare yourself and not get confused. When in Manhattan, south is downtown and north is uptown.
Get a Map
Therefore, when you tell someone you are going uptown, it means you are going either to Bronx or to Queens. Similarly, a person going downtown is traveling to Brooklyn. The first thing you want to do before you get on a subway is get your hands on a map. You can get one when you buy tickets from the booth. Since MTA operates subway, you can go to MTA’s website to download the official map too.
Understand the Map
The first thing that you have to know is that the map is not 100% accurate in how things appear on it. Staten Island looks quite small but it is not. Some stations might appear very close to each other but they are not. You can find a lot of lines on the map but you have to focus on the thick and most prominent ones. They show you the route of the subway. NYC’s subway is not divided in zones. You pay once for a trip and you can travel as far as you want for that onetime fare. Big white and black dots on the map are the stations.
The Local and Express Dilemma
Do you want to travel faster? Get on an express train. Local will stop at every stop in the way. Where it gets confusing is when the same train is express in one borough but local in the other. To make it even more confusing, a train can change its local and express status based on the time of the day. A local person is the best guide here. The black dots on the subway map depict stations that the train will not stop at if it is an express train. White dots are stations where both the trains will stop.
Understand the Metro Card
It will be the last part of our Subway guide because you are free to learn the rest on your own. MetroCard is what allows you to travel on the subway. You have to pay a dollar to buy the card. Your card can be unlimited or regular. You have to pay for every ride with a regular card.
As you continue to make separate trips, your balance gets deducted. You get discounts for loading over $5.50 on the card. You can use the same card to take four different people on the subway with you. For the unlimited card, you pay $121 and travel for free for 30 days as many times as you want. You can also pay $32 to get unlimited rides for seven days.
Best Places to Visit in NYC in Four Days
NYC Itinerary 4 days – Day one
Statue of Liberty
The reason you want to start with the Statue of Liberty is because it is going to take a lot of your time. If you postpone it to the last day, there is a chance you won’t be able to visit it at all. You will have to get a ferry to get to the Statue of liberty. Secondly, you can land at the island, get access to the pedestal or be there in the crown. You will need to book your tickets way in advance to get to the crown. A visit to monument and landing at the island can take up a large part of your day. Therefore, leave your hotel as early in the morning as possible.
The Central Park
If you are back from the Statue of Liberty by three or 4pm, you now have time to visit the Central Park. People who have been there recommend visiting during the daytime. NYC might not be Venice but the gondola ride at the Central Park is nothing less than that. There is a lot to do here including: a close view of the Cleopatra’s Needle, an entertaining watch of the Shakespeare in the Park, a visit to the Belvedere Castle, or a relaxing few moments at the Great Lawn.
The Museum of Modern Art
It is a lovely place and its staff gets kudos from the visitors for its friendliness. Why you would want to visit the Museum of Modern Art after Central Park is because they are very close to each other. You don’t see a lot of people talking about this amazing place. However, it is one of the best museums in the world when it comes to modern art. From electronic media and films to prints and sculptures, what is it that you won’t find here? It is also home to several arts programs and exhibitions almost every day. On Fridays and Thursdays, it is open until 8pm.
Empire State Building
Use the bus and you can reach the Empire State Building within 15 minutes from the Museum of Modern Art. Get on top of this fantastic building and get a bird’s eye view of the New York City. It is a sight you will never forget. While it is the observation deck that gets all the attention, the building per se is quite a sight. Standing right against it like you are trying to talk to a giant is an experience to remember. Even the lobbies in the Empire State Building are great attractions.
The Times Square
If you still have the gas in the tank after a long day of trips, you could just take a 15-minute walk to the Times Square. Times Square is quite noisy and crowded at night, but that’s what makes it Times Square. Yes, the bright screen all over the place can be a bit overwhelming. However, no one will ever recommend you to stay here for more than half an hour. See the people passing you by, take a few selfies, and some pictures of the area, and wrap up your trip.
NYC Itinerary 4 Days – Day Two
Brooklyn Bridge
It’s a beauty and a man-made masterpiece. Going underneath the large structure is an experience even more mesmerizing than standing against the Empire State Building. Keep in mind that a complete walk across the bridge is a bit more than a mile. It is best for women to keep their heels at home for this trip. The benches on the bridge are perfect places to stay and enjoy the beauty of NYC. It’s the perfect place to take pictures. It is also the perfect way to start your second day in NYC. Early morning will help you avoid crowds as well.
Chinatown
Now that you have crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, postpone the idea of going back instantly. A warm breakfast after a long walk is the perfect way to start a day. If you feel adventurous, you can walk to the Chinatown from the Brooklyn Bridge within 15 minutes. It is less than a mile. It might seem a bit strange but there are other delicious cuisines available in the area too. Just walk around in the area and wait for some restaurants to open if you are more interested in a brunch a lunch.
The Rockefeller Center
It is now time to cross the bridge again and get back to visiting other amazing places. You visited the Empire State Building on day one. Dedicate your day two for Rockefeller Center. Some visitors describe being on top of this building a better experience than going on top of the Empire State Building. A big reason they like it more is because they can get the Empire State Building in a selfie once on top of the Rockefeller Center. It’s called the Top of the Rock observation deck. If you can get your hands on the VIP pass, that’s the recipe of a perfect romantic time with your partner.
Bryant Park
The best thing about Bryant Park is that you and everyone in your family will like it. There is so much happening in the park that no one feels out of place here. It’s a straight road from the Rockefeller Center to Bryant Park. A taxi ride won’t be bad too. You can glimpse a new movie’s screening for free or just spend some time under the sun with your family. It might sound unbelievable but you can do ice-skating here too. After spending some time here, get a casual or a formal dinner. Bryant Park has got all the options for you.
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal is very close to the Bryant Park and so getting here should not be an issue for you. Look for The Glory of Commerce on top of the Grand Central building. Are you wondering what that is? It’s the Hercules, Mercury, and Minerva sculptures that depict strength, speed and wisdom.
Get inside the building and you will find yourself lost. The sky-high ceiling with people rushing past you to get to their trains on time IS a moment to freeze in your mind. Don’t forget to visit the whispering gallery. That’s the place where people hear your whispers loud and clear. Do you think a better name would be “don’t whisper gallery?”
NYC Itinerary 4 Days – Day Three
American Museum of Natural History
There aren’t many museums in the world where your kids would like to go with you. American Museum of Natural History is an exception. It is so big you will hardly find any museum bigger than this one in the world. It has everything you would expect from a museum of natural history such as human remains, meteorites, minerals, fossils, animals, plants, and what not. It opens at 10am so you can get their first thing in the morning. Make sure to show your kids the skeletons of the dinosaurs and the gigantic blue whale model.
The Guggenheim Museum
A little more than a mile away from the American Museum of Natural History you have the Guggenheim Museum. Yes, there is some possibility that your children might feel a bit bored. You can decide to visit The Guggenheim before the American Museum of Natural History based on how understanding your kids are. As for you, The Guggenheim is going to cast a spell on you. The more you stay here the more you feel like wandering in an artist’s head. You have masterpieces of contemporary, modern, post impressionist and impressionist art all around you.
One World Observatory
It is time you start doing something that you and your children can enjoy together. Take the bus for 40-minute travel or a taxi cab to reach the One World Observatory in less than 25 minutes. If you don’t know already, it is now the tallest building in NYC. Yes, it’s taller than your favorite Empire State Building too. One World Observatory is exactly where the Six World Trade Center used to be before the 9/11 attacks. You might as well try out some fresh sandwiches at the café that’s on top of the One World Trade Center.
Broadway
Alright, this one can be a long ride but you should be fresh like new after visiting the top of the One World Trade Center. Not to mention, a Broadway show is a must when in NYC and also worth every penny you spend. One of the most popular Broadway shows is The Lion King. Your kids will love the show because of its story, content, and kid-friendliness. Moreover, you will love it even more because surely you watched the cartoon movie when you were young and must have shed a tear when Simba tries to wake up Mufasa after the stampede.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
End your day with a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It is less than a mile away from Broadway so walking to it can be one of the options. It closes at around 8:45pm so you will have to be a bit quick to reach there. The good thing is that your tour will not be more than an hour. You will feel the chills from out of this world going down your spine once you are inside this cathedral. While tall skyscrapers surround it from all sides, it is a mesmerizing sight to behold it even at night time.
NYC Itinerary 4 Days – Day Four
The Highline
It’s your last day in New York City and you have to make the most of it. Wake up early in the morning and start your day with this free tour to the abandoned train tracks. Stand on the tracks in the morning as the morning breeze coming from the Hudson River refreshes your senses. Spend some time bathing under the sun and enjoying some street food. Have some picnicking time with your family in the 23rd Street Lawn. Your two hours will pass within moments here.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The museums in NYC are some of the best in the world and that’s why you want to visit one each day. It should not take you more than 40 minutes to reach here from the High Line if you take the bus. It is nearly a 25-minute ride if you take a taxi. It is the biggest museum in NYC when it comes to the art museums. Painting, sculptures, costumes, armors, ornaments, etc. from all around the world can be found here. Do you think it will be crowded when you reach here? For your information, it’s the world’s third most visited art museum.
Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
That’s another museum on the list but how could you ignore the sea, air and space technology of the world’s super power? Moreover, this place is going to be on your favorite list when you go back home. Look at and pass by the fighter jets. Get on the ship and see that space shuttle only an arm’s length away from you. Did Concorde plane fascinate you when you were young? If yes, this is your chance to get inside one. It’s not all modern technology though. You can see some fantastic war gadgets from the World War II as well.
The Flatiron Building
You know you are getting a bit hasty now because you have got packing to do and some last-minute errands to run. Visit the Flatiron Building that’s nearly two and a half miles away from Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. The good thing about this visit is that you don’t have to spend more than 30 minutes here. However, you can take some of the most awesome and memorable pictures with this building in the backdrop. The Flatiron Building also has an observation deck. It might not be as attractive after being on top of the tallest buildings of the world. However, it’s not a bad idea to try it out because you are not going to be spending a lot of time.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
That’s your last stop, and technically, you are back to the Central Park yet again. However, there is nothing better than being close to nature toward the end of your journey to NYC. Be sure to walk the nearly 2.5km track around it. Let the cool breeze cool you down. Spend some time away from the city noise. Of course, ask someone to take the picture of your entire family with water and the city skyline behind you. If you can, get a glimpse of the setting sun behind the city skyline as it brightens the back of the buildings with orange and glistens in the reservoir water.
Concluding Thoughts
Four days should be enough for you to see the best of NYC. By the end of this journey, you will have seen man-made architectures, masterpieces of engineering, antiques from the ancient times, ever-living buzz of NYC, and much more. Do not make it a race against time to see the highest number of things in four days. You just have to make sure that whatever place you visit, you spend time with it and enjoy to the fullest. In the end, be sure to familiarize yourself with NYC and plan your trip well in advance to avoid last-minute hassles.