New York ~ A Perfect 5-Day Travel Itinerary for First-Timers

New York City, often termed as the “Fashion Capital of the World”, is a must-visit in the United States of America. Now, that you are reading this post, I assume that you belong to one of the following categories –

- You are planning a trip to New York soon.

- You are interested to know about my trip details, which might inspire you to travel to New York soon.

- You are a dear friend, who is looking to relive my memories and happiness, by going through my travel posts.

You are my favourite group of blogging critics, who help me improve more and more with your constant suggestions.

Welcome aboard! I have a bit for each one of you, in this very special post. Today, I take you on a virtual trip to my favourite international city of dreams – New York. Even after travelling and walking almost 10 kms everyday, I feel that so much of New York is still left for me to see. I’m sure you’ll experience the same on your trip too!

Having stayed in both the west coast and the south central part of America for the last 6 months, I had almost created my own sweet impression on this beautiful country. I had definitely been through my initial blues after shifting base to USA, until I finally made my peace with America. Even while I started getting used to an American lifestyle, I always had one constant complaint – “Why don’t I see people walking on the streets?” It used to give me a strange sense of lull and abandonment, when I hardly got to see people around while I travelled. All that I could see were clean streets, with moving cars – NOT a single living soul walking around. Being a traveller with a keen observation, I always love observing and interacting with people around me. But it was strange here! Little did I realise that my craving for people will be suddenly blessed with a huge crowd (almost like a public fair) in the city that never sleeps – NEW YORK.

So, let’s begin with my experiences, which will be extremely handy for you on your next trip to New York.

Things To Know Before You Start Your Journey in New York

The entire city is best covered by walking. So, if you are looking for a non-touristy experience and want to get an experience of a local New Yorker, pack your MOST COMFORTABLE walking shoes.
That brings me to your footwear for the trip. Please DON’T pack your favourite pair! The streets are not as clean as the rest of America. So, you might not want to go back home, with a filthy pair of favourite shoes.
Subways are most convenient modes of commute, if you need to travel from one end of the city to another. They are cost-effective and fast.
You can buy a subway pass from any subway station and use that for any amount of travel inside New York. They have a wide variety starting from 7-day to monthly passes. (For my trip, I purchased a 7-day pass worth $32 and trust me – It was totally worth all the travel in my 5-day stay.)
Download a Subway App. It is one of the best ways to navigate around the city.
Stay alert to the subway station announcements. Weekend schedules are slightly different.
Save 2 maps in your phone – New York map and New York Subway Route map. This will be extremely handy, when your phone battery is running low, you have nowhere to recharge and you need to turn off your cellular data.
Carry your portable charger at all times, because it’s difficult to find charging points while roaming around in the city. The local shops are not going to entertain your requests.
Try to wear layers while travelling in the subways. The temperature keeps fluctuating and it can get slightly hot underground.
Travel via subway is safe, but I would not go alone by myself very late at night. I just didn’t get the super-comfortable vibes.
Check the weather beforehand, and always carry an umbrella. New York gets unpredictable rain showers. Nevertheless, the umbrella can always protect you from the sun.
Pack your best clothes for the trip if you’re very look-savvy, else you might get some major complex from the New Yorkers. They generally dress up more than the average American and have a great sense of fashion.
New Yorkers eat dinner much later than the rest of America. 9-10 PM are common dinner times! So, if you eat late, you don’t have to worry at all. You’ll get surplus food options at odd hours too.
Food is cheap, if you opt for local food in food trucks. Accommodation is expensive. You can try renting AirBnB homes for your stay. I do the same, and it is the most cost-effective form of accommodation on trips.
If you want to enjoy more, be ready to walk – A LOT! I walked almost 10 kms daily.

Keeping all this in mind, let’s discuss more on my 5-day travel itinerary for New York. I assure you that this travel itinerary is absolutely budget-friendly.

ITINERARY SUMMARY

Day 1

Bronx Zoo
Central Park
Times Square

Day 2

Empire State Building
Flat Iron Building
Trump Tower
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Rockefeller Center

Day 3

Brooklyn Bridge
Grand Central Terminal
Chrysler Building
Federal Hall
Wall Street (Charging Bull)
Trinity Church
New York Stock Exchange
9/11 Memorial and Museum
One World Observatory

Day 4

Niagara Falls
In and around Buffalo City

Day 5

Statue of Liberty
National Museum of American Indian
Back to Times Square

Itinerary : Day 1

After landing straight into my dreams (read : New York), we headed straight to Bronx from John F Kennedy airport. We had booked an AirBnB accommodation in Bronx and couldn’t have asked for a more cost effective and great option to stay in New York. I’d taken an early morning flight to New York. So, that easily covered my brushing and bathing before reaching New York.

REMEMBER this tip to utilise maximum time in New York, if you are on a short trip – Try to take an early morning flight!

I dropped my bags and headed straight outside, in search of food. And the first thing which I noticed was – an array of colourful trees lining up the streets. My mood was perfectly set, right there! After a brief walk, I discovered a restaurant which served authentic Mediterranean food. Being a meat-lover myself, I could not have asked for anything better.

After a hearty meal, we decided to get a Subway Pass from the nearest Subway station, for rest of our transportation within New York. REMEMBER – You should carry cash in hand, because most of the day-to-day transactions in New York is by cash. I was quite surprised when I had to purchase even my Subway Pass with cash. They do not accept cards in the Bronx subway station.

Let’s elaborate more on the places that can be covered on Day 1 :

Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States and among the largest in the world. It is located within the Bronx Park in Bronx. The zoo is world-famous for it’s diverse collection of wildlife and award-winning exhibitions.

You need to plan well for a trip into this zoo, because wrong weather and traffic congestions might spoil your plan for the day. Make sure that you visit this place on a hot day and try to avoid weekends, since there is pretty huge traffic at the entrances then. Overall, it will be a great experience to tour the zoo, which you must be watching on Animal Planet so far. It has a great landscape and natural habitat for animals, in general. The sign boards for directions are self-explanatory. Sprawling on an area of about 265 acres, this visit will require a bit of walking. If you are hesitant about walking, you can even rent out scooters inside.

Travel Tips :

- Total-experience Tickets for Adults cost around $40. But you can ask for general admission tickets, which are priced slightly lower.

Wednesday allows free admission, with a few “extras” (close to $10). Since it’s free admission, it does not give you access to the special exhibits. So, you need to pay extra for the same, along with parking fees. Mostly, Wednesdays are run on donations. Obviously, traffic is a little high on Wednesdays.

Best Deal : If you are travelling with a big group, you can purchase a family membership that gives you free unlimited access and you can claim a portion of it on your taxes as a deduction.

Timings (General) : 10 AM – 5 PM (Weekdays), 10 AM – 5:30 PM (Saturday, Sunday)

Duration of Visit : 3 hours approx.

You can book your total-experience tickets online here.

Central Park

Our journey in New York Subways begin here. You can head straight to the Central Park from Bronx subway station. Central Park is an urban park, located in Manhattan, New York. This is the most visited urban park in the United States and one of the most filmed locations in the world. Remember the title track of one of the biggest films of Hindi cinema – “Kal Ho Naa Ho”? Watch the video here.

Even though plantations and landscape in most parts of the park appear natural, it is in fact almost entirely landscaped. The park contains several natural-looking lakes and ponds that have been created artificially by damming natural seeps and flows.

The sheer natural beauty of this urban park, makes it a must-visit in New York.

Entry Fee : Free Admission, except special exhibits like Central Park Zoo etc.

Timings (General) : 6 AM – 1 AM (All days)

Duration of Visit : 2 hours approx.

You can get all details regarding Central Park tours here.

Times Square

By now, it’s almost evening and Times Square beckons! It stands true to its common name – “Crossroads of the World”. It is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination and entertainment center In Midtown Manhattan of New York City. Be it the vibrant Broadway musicals, theatres, unlimited shopping options for fashionistas, foods and drinks galore – Just name it, you’ll get it all!

I spent almost the whole evening there and was back to my room way past midnight. If you are looking for special experiences like, Madame Tussaud’s, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Broadway Musical Shows etc., it’s all here at Times Square (stretching between streets 42 and 47). I would recommend prior booking of tickets, if you want to visit specific places here in Times Square.

Else, you can always wander around the streets like me, and decide on-the-fly if you want to visit a particular place. We went to Madame Tussaud’s and Broadway that evening and enjoyed Times Square, as a whole.

Itinerary : Day 2

Empire State Building

The world-famous Empire State Building is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, New York. Both the 86th and 102nd floor observatories provide unforgettable 360 degree views of New York City and beyond. No visit to NYC is complete without experiencing the top of the Empire State Building.

Travel Tip : Check the weather for the day on which you’ve planned to visit the high-rise observatory, beforehand. Cloudy weather would result in poor visibility of the beautiful city skyline. Opt for a bright and sunny day for this visit. You can even carry your own set of binoculars to enjoy the spectacular view. Read all about the best compact binoculars here.

Entry Fee :

There are a wide range of offers, ranging from – Main Deck (86th Floor), Top and Main Deck (102nd and 86th Floor), Sunrise Entry Tickets, Premium Tickets, 4th July Special tickets and many more.

You can buy tickets to the Empire State Building Observatory here.

Timings (General) : 8 AM – 2 AM (All days)

Duration of Visit : 1.5 – 2 hours approx.

Flat Iron Building

The Flatiron Building, originally the Fuller Building, is a triangular 22-story steel-framed landmarked building located at 175 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, New York City. This is considered to be a groundbreaking skyscraper.

Built as the headquarters of the Fuller Construction company, the skyscraper was meant to be named Fuller Building. But locals soon dubbed it ‘Flatiron‘ after its unusual shape. Its footprint is a triangle and its shape is thus somewhat reminiscent of an iron – hence its name, the Flatiron.

Fun Facts :

1. The streets and avenues converge on the Flatiron in a triangle – and that means that the winds here come together from various directions. This makes the Flatiron – one of the windiest spots in the city. So, all you beautiful ladies – hold on to your skirts!

1. It even had a “starring role” in the Spider-Man trilogy, in which the building was made into the offices of The Daily Bugle!

List of Shows and Movies featuring the Flatiron Building :

• Armageddon

• The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

• Godzilla

• As Good as It Gets

• Hitch

• New York Minute

• Spider-Man

• Spider-Man II

• Spider-Man III

• Veronica’s Closet

• The Late Show with David Letterman

Travel Tip : This is mostly a popular place for avid photographers, to capture the aesthetics of a building which has been featured in so many blockbuster movies. So, all Spider Man fans out there – time to take a selfie here and capture this memory forever!

Entry : Since it is an office building, entry is restricted and you cannot go beyond the lobby.

Trump Tower

If you have any fascination in checking out one of the skyscrapers owned by the current President of America – Donald Trump, then you can walk alongside the streets of Times Square and arrive at the Trump Tower. This is within a walkable distance from the Empire State Building. Google Maps can always get you there! (I told you – Be ready for some walking, if you want to travel like a local.)

Trump Tower is located at 721 5th Avenue between 56th and 57th Street of Manhattan. To enter the building, you will have to pass through a serious security check, including X-ray scanners for bags. However, the process to get in should not take more than 10 minutes.

Trump Tower is a 58-story skyscraper with a mix of apartments, offices and retail stores. The first 5 floors are an open atrium with a few shops and eateries. The remaining floors are divided between 26 floors of office space and 39 floors for condominiums. The atrium and a small roof garden of the 5th level are the only parts open to the public so you won’t need more than an hour to check it all out. Even with the security checks, you won’t need too much time, unless you plan on a full meal at the Trump Grill.

Travel Tip : I would recommend that you take a look, do some shopping (if interested) and have dinner outside!

Duration of Visit : 1 hour approx.

St.Patrick’s Cathedral

Just a walk away from the Trump Tower and the Rockefeller Center, is one of the most prominent landmarks of New York City – St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It is the largest decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of New York and the seat of the Archbishop. This international landmark, dedicated in 1879, welcomes more than five million visitors each year. With its 330-foot spires, it is one of the City’s most spectacular architectural sights.

Travel Tip : Keep a tab on the mass timings and evening service schedules, if you do not want to miss out on a mellifluous mass experience. They have particular schedules for choir performances and mass recitals, which will fill your day with melody. Try not to miss out on that surreal experience.

You can get all details regarding St. Patrick’s Cathedral here.

Timings (General) : 6:30 AM – 8:30 PM (All days)

Duration of Visit : Totally upto you!

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is New York City’s historic landmark for dining and shopping in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. It boasts of a sprawling campus with flags of all nations of the world, waving high in American air. That environment will definitely make you feel good. It somehow made me realise how welcoming the true essence of America has always been – celebrating all nations of the world.

You can also visit the Top of the Rock Observation Deck here, to experience the 360 degree view of the New York City skyline. You can get all the details related to ticket purchases and observatory timings here.

Itinerary : Day 3

Brooklyn Bridge

Nothing can beat a sunrise at the Brooklyn Bridge with your loved one! The bridge is a very popular tourist attraction and tends to get busy at certain times of the day and week (weekends are generally very crowded). So, you might want to avoid crowds and take a morning stroll across the bridge.

Once you cross the bridge and step afoot in Brooklyn, you must begin your trip by exploring Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights – neighbourhoods surrounding the bridge. You should take a walk through Brooklyn Bridge Park, and enjoy the mesmerising view.

Cheers to one of the most amazing starts to your day!

Duration of Visit : 1 hour approx.

Grand Central Terminal

Even though our legs felt wobbly, after all that walking in the previous day, we mustered courage to begin our journey the next day. Yes, I was struck by the New York fever!

Grand Central Terminal is a commuter and intercity railroad terminal in Midtown Manhattan, New York. This is a world-famous landmark in New York, as it is not just a transportation hub, but also a shopping, dining and cultural destination. You should have a look at the grandeur of this terminal – It’s certainly one of its kind!

Travel Tip : Plan a visit to Grand Central Terminal, as a stop to any of your destinations in the city. This way, you’ll get to visit this place, while you are on the way to visit another. It can save your travel time. We were on our way to the Federal Hall. So, we decided to take a Subway to the Grand Central Terminal and walk over from there.

Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building is located at 405 Lexington Ave in Midtown Manhattan, just adjacent to Grand Central Terminal. This building is a spectacular example of Art Deco design, the Jazz Age at its finest. You can see the beautiful mural on the ceiling, the clock and the beautiful elevators, each with their own custom designed doors. The signature element though is the beautiful crown of the building, which features seven terraced arches radiating upwards, creating a shiny sunburst pattern – very typical of the Art Deco Movement.

Unfortunately, there are no official tour options inside this building. However, both the lobby and exterior of the building should not be missed.

Timings (General) : 8 AM to 6 PM (Monday – Friday) – Entry is restricted to the lobby.

Federal Hall

At the Federal Hall in Wall Street, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of USA, and this site was home to the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch offices. Now, this building serves as a museum and memorial to the first President and the beginnings of the United States of America.

If you are a history buff, you can take a look inside this historical building.

You can get all details regarding Federal Hall here.

Wall Street (Charging Bull)

The Charging Bull (also referred to as the Wall Street Bull) is a very popular bronze sculpture located in the Financial District in Manhattan. This oversize sculpture depicts a bull (the symbol of aggressive financial optimism and prosperity) leaning back on its haunches and with its head lowered as if ready to charge. The sculpture is both a popular tourist destination which draws thousands of people in a single day, as well as “one of the most iconic images of New York” and a “Wall Street icon” symbolizing Wall Street and the Financial District.

It was too crowded and I just managed to click a picture of the Bull, gliding and struggling through the immense crowd. Since it was almost lunch time, I didn’t quite have the patience to wait for my turn in the long queue to pose in front of the Charging Bull. So, I clicked one, right opposite to the Bull, for my memories. In short, I was trying to be the second “Fearless Girl” in front of the Charging Bull.

For those who are not aware of who the Fearless Girl is – Fearless Girl is a bronze sculpture depicting a girl facing the Charging Bull It was installed on March 7, 2017, at Bowling Green in the Financial District of Manhattan. State Street Global Advisors commissioned the work as part of a broader push to get more women onto corporate boards.

Trinity Church

Trinity Church is a historic parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York located near the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway in the lower Manhattan section of New York City.

Interesting Fact :

During the September 11 attacks, people took refuge inside the church from the massive debris cloud produced by the first World Trade Center tower collapse. Some of the chapel pew’s paint was rubbed off from the people taking refuge.The pews were later replaced, but one still exists at the back of the chapel for remembrance of the events on 9/11.

New York Stock Exchange

The New York Stock Exchange (abbreviated as NYSE, and nicknamed “The Big Board”) is an American stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street, Lower Manhattan, New York City. It is by far the “world’s largest stock exchange” by market capitalization of its listed companies at US$ 21.3 trillion as of June 2017.

Taking a walk across the Wall Street, you will come across the world’s largest stock exchange. The best part is you don’t have to plan separately for visiting this place. It is located in a walkable distance on Wall Street. It was quite interesting actually to finally watch these buildings live, after having seen it just on TV and read about it for years.

Point to Note :

The NYSE building is a high-tech home of one of the world’s leading financial markets; closed to visitors without permits.

9/11 Memorial & Museum

America has actually dedicated this whole area (occupied by the Twin Towers earlier) to the victims of the unfortunate attacks on September 11, 2001. They never built another building here. They have created a Memorial and engraved the names of each of the victims of that tragic day. The emotional dedication does not end here! The 9/11 Memorial authorities place a white rose on these victims’ engraved names, on their birthdays every year.

This is a must-visit in New York, to witness the spirit of America in the true sense. I urge all my readers to say a silent prayer for the victims’ families and friends. Their suffering still continues!

Make it a point to visit the 9/11 Museum, located right next to the Memorial. There could not have been a better commemoration of the unfortunate events on 9/11.

Travel Tip : It is advisable to book your tickets online beforehand, to avoid the long queues in the ticketing counters at the museum. You can opt just for the Museum Admission tickets and take a tour on your own (if you don’t want to spend extra on guided tours). Book tickets here.

Timings (General) : 9 AM to 8 PM (All days)

Duration of Visit : 2 hours approx.

One World Observatory

“The experience is more than just views from the top.” – AM New York

Positioned on top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, on levels 100, 101, and 102 of the 1,776 feet tall One World Trade Center building, One World Observatory provides unique, panoramic views of New York City, its most iconic sites, and surrounding waters.

Travel Tip : It is advisable to book your tickets online beforehand, to avoid the long queues in the ticketing counters at the observatory. Don’t forget to compare the price differences with Groupon.

Entry Fee :

There are a wide range of offers, ranging from – Standard Reserved, Priority Reserved, Fourth of July, Sunset Flex Admissions, VIP Tours and many more.

Book tickets here.

Timings (General) : 9 AM – 9 PM (All days). You can get exclusive timing details of One World Observatory here.

Duration of Visit : 1 hour approx.

Itinerary : Day 4

Niagara Falls

Time to hop on to a bus from New York to the Buffalo City! An overnight bus journey from New York, takes you straight into the city of the Niagara Falls. Then you can easily take a 1-day travel pass and board the local shuttles to the Niagara Falls USA Official Visitor Center.

The grandeur of the crystal clear waters and the gushing winds make this place a visual delight. It is a geological wonder indeed. After witnessing such wonders of nature, I feel like a mere speck on this planet. I think this comes close to what Heaven might look like! Don’t forget to try the adventure ride – Maid of the Mist.

If you have an extended plan of 2 days for Niagara Falls, then you can wait for the amazing light shows at the Niagara Falls in the night.

Travel Tips :

- You don’t have to worry about your luggage and accommodation, if you are on a 1-day trip to Buffalo City from New York. You can drop your bags at the lockers available in the Niagara Falls USA Official Visitor Center. Additionally, you can get any travel related assistance, neatly maintained public restrooms, complimentary WiFi at the center. So you don’t have to bother about any accommodation booking in the Buffalo City.

During winter, spring and fall, crowds tend to be less, hotel room rates drop and the unique change of seasons is well worth a visit.

In and around Buffalo City

Buffalo City has retained its vintage old-world charm, which makes it so refreshing to visit. After a tiring day at the Niagara Falls, it is best recommended to chill at the local eateries, serving beer and food. Mostly, the buses leaving for New York are towards midnight. So, you can enjoy the whole evening in Buffalo Downtown.

Itinerary : Day 5

Statue of Liberty

Almost gliding through hundreds of people on the dock, I somehow managed to click this beauty from the cruise on my way to the Liberty Island. It was a sunny Tuesday morning and I had never imagined that there would be so many visitors to this place on a tourist off-season and working day. This clearly explains the world-class charm that this monument still maintains!

The Statue of Liberty is a colossal sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York City, USA. The copper statue is a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States, as a token of independence. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886.

Travel Tip : Avoid trips on a cloudy day, else you won’t get to witness the beautiful skyline view of Manhattan from the island. Read all about the most handy tips to visit Statue of Liberty here.

Ferry Charges to reach the island : $18.50 per adult

Timings (General) : 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Duration of Visit : 1 – 1.5 hours approx.

National Museum of the American Indian

Located right next to the ferry terminal of Statue of Liberty, you can took a look inside this reputed museum in New York City. A diverse and multifaceted cultural and educational enterprise, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is an active and visible component of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum complex.

Since the admission is free, you can give it a try!

Timings (General) : 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM

Duration of Visit : 2 hours approx.

Back to Times Square – Shopping time!

After a long day, you can head back straight to Times Square and complete your pending shopping expeditions from New York. Try to book a late night flight, which will give you almost an afternoon and a full evening at Times Square. There are direct bus and train terminals to the airport from Times Square. This makes it the most convenient place to end your trip at New York.

Before signing off, I have few important points to address –

This itinerary is for a very tight schedule of 5 days. So this can be easily divided into a 7 or 8-day itinerary, if you want to relax and acclimatise with the life of New York for a day or two.
Always keep an extra afternoon in hand, in case your observatory visits are postponed due to bad weather. There’s no point in going up to such heights, if visibility of the city skyline is poor.
You can also look for accommodation options in New Jersey and begin your journey in New York, if you are not too keen on visiting the Bronx Zoo.
This itinerary is prepared solely for travellers who are enthusiastic and have no qualms in walking extensive distances daily. If you have children or old adults travelling with you, you can always opt for the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours offered at Times Square. These tour services take you to all the prominent places in New York in a bus-ride.
Being a travel buff, I could not have been satisfied just by sight-seeing. So, I opted for an exploring plan in my own style. Walking along the streets of New York City, gave me an experience of how life of a New Yorker actually feels. I hope this travel itinerary is helpful to fellow travellers who are equally enthusiastic about exploring new places just like me.

On my last day, I looked at the Subway Route map which I’d carried with me for the last few days. New York City was divided into three distinct areas – Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan. And I had left my footprints in all three. No matter how much you travel in New York, you will never have seen enough of this beautiful city. I can proudly say that a piece of my heart stayed in New York forever. I promise to come back to this beautiful city and present you with more travel stories. Trust me – the stories of New York are unending!

Wish you the best times of your life at New York!

Much Love,

Wander Bird