4 days in New York: itinerary for first-timers (2026)

This plan groups sights by area. Check the day of the week: the Met is closed Wednesdays and the 9/11 Museum is closed Tuesdays (mostly). Book timed tickets for the Statue ferry and the Empire State Building ahead.

Day 1: Lower Manhattan: Statue of Liberty and 9/11 Memorial

Morning: Take the Statue City Cruises ferry from The Battery (buy only from Castle Clinton or online). Allow most of the morning on the islands.
Afternoon: Walk to the 9/11 Memorial (open to 8 p.m.) and book the museum ahead for a Wednesday–Monday visit.
Evening: Ride the free Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall for harbour views at dusk.
Getting around: Mostly walking in Lower Manhattan.

Tours for day 1 ↗

Day 2: Museums and Central Park

Morning: Visit the Met when it opens at 10 a.m. (not Wednesdays). Pick a few galleries rather than the whole museum.
Afternoon: Walk through Central Park to the Natural History Museum (open 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.).
Evening: Relax in the park, which is open until 1 a.m.
Getting around: Walk across Central Park or take a crosstown bus.

Tours for day 2 ↗

Day 3: Midtown and the High Line

Morning: Go up the Empire State Building with a timed ticket.
Afternoon: Take the subway to Hudson Yards and walk the High Line south.
Evening: Have dinner in Chelsea. The High Line stays open until 10 p.m. from April to November (8 p.m. in winter).
Getting around: Subway to 34th Street, then on foot along the High Line.

Tours for day 3 ↗

Day 4: Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO

Morning: Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan.
Afternoon: Explore Brooklyn Bridge Park and the DUMBO waterfront.
Evening: Return by NYC Ferry from Dumbo, or subway.
Getting around: Subway to the bridge, then on foot; ferry or subway back.

Tours for day 4 ↗

Go deeper

Details for every stop

Things to do in New YorkHours, prices and how to get to each sightSee the sights → Tours in New YorkGuided tours and tickets on GetYourGuideBrowse ↗

Plan the rest

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Getting there

Cheapest flights from Canada

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Everything for this trip: New York travel hub: flights, when to go and all our guides →

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Sources

Checked October 1, 2026. Prices, rules and fees change, so confirm before you travel.

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