New York

City guide · 2026 edition

New York,
your way.

The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge. Build your itinerary, see how far it is to walk, and add dinner and a night out.

Plan your perfect trip

How long are you staying?
Who are you travelling with?
First time here?
What do you want to do?
Your budget?
or start from our suggested plan below
01

Itinerary

Your schedule

Day 1

  1. 09:30 Grand Central Terminal – The 1913 Beaux-Arts station with the celestial ceiling, the four-faced clock and the Whispering Gallery.
  2. 10:30 Bryant Park & the New York Public Library – A green lawn between skyscrapers, with the Beaux-Arts public library and its Rose Main Reading Room behind it.
  3. 11:45 Times Square – The neon-lit crossroads of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, with giant screens, the red TKTS steps and street performers.
  4. 14:00 Rockefeller Center & Top of the Rock – The Art Deco complex with the Prometheus fountain, plus a three-level observation deck facing the Empire State Building.
  5. 15:45 St. Patrick's Cathedral – The neo-Gothic Catholic cathedral on Fifth Avenue, with marble altars, stained glass and spires between the towers.
  6. 16:45 Empire State Building – The 1931 Art Deco icon, with open-air views from the 86th floor and an optional glass-walled 102nd floor.

Day 2

  1. 09:00 Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island – Lady Liberty on Liberty Island plus the Ellis Island immigration museum, reached by the Statue City Cruises ferry from The Battery.
  2. 13:45 Wall Street & the Charging Bull – The heart of the financial district: the Stock Exchange, Federal Hall, Trinity Church and Bowling Green's Charging Bull.
  3. 14:30 9/11 Memorial & Museum – Twin reflecting pools mark the Twin Towers' footprints, and the museum below tells the story of 9/11.
  4. 17:15 Brooklyn Bridge – Walk the 1883 granite-and-steel bridge over the East River for skyline views and the DUMBO side.

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02

Eat & drink

Restaurants near your stops

Book your meals into your day. Every day has a breakfast slot (avg. 45m, or mark it as at your hotel), a lunch slot (avg. 1h 15m) and a dinner slot (avg. 1h 30m). Use “+ Add to schedule” on any place below, or pick one straight from a slot in your schedule.

  • Fraunces Tavern (American · $$ · Lower Manhattan)
  • Adrienne's Pizzabar (Pizza · $$ · Lower Manhattan)
  • Delmonico's (Steakhouse · $$$ · Lower Manhattan)
  • Shake Shack Battery Park City (American · $ · Lower Manhattan)
  • Hudson Eats (Brookfield Place) (American · $$ · Lower Manhattan)
  • Eataly Downtown (Italian · $$ · Lower Manhattan)
  • Il Brigante (Italian · $$ · Lower Manhattan)
  • Nom Wah Tea Parlor (Asian · $$ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • Joe's Shanghai (Asian · $$ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • Xi'an Famous Foods (Bayard St) (Asian · $ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • Lombardi's Pizza (Pizza · $$ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • Di Palo's Fine Foods (Italian · $$ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • Rubirosa (Pizza · $$ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • Prince Street Pizza (Pizza · $ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • Balthazar (European · $$$ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • Cafe Habana (World · $$ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • Joe's Pizza (Carmine St) (Pizza · $ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • Corner Bistro (American · $ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • Minetta Tavern (European · $$$ · Downtown & the Villages)
  • John's of Bleecker Street (Pizza · $$ · Downtown & the Villages)
03

After dark

New York by night

04

Good to know

Practical info & fares

ESTA, passport and plugs

  • Belgian, Dutch and French citizens travel visa-free for up to 90 days but need an ESTA approved before departure: apply only on esta.cbp.dhs.gov
  • The fee is $40.27 and rises to $40.62 on 16 October 2026; other websites charge more; a valid passport is required
  • US plugs are type A/B (two flat pins, 120 V): bring an adapter; most phone chargers handle 120 V, hair dryers often do not

Tap to pay on the subway

  • Tap the same contactless card or phone at the turnstile: $3 per ride, free after 12 rides in 7 days (cap $35)
  • One card per person; MetroCard is gone. You can also buy a reloadable OMNY card ($1) in any station
  • Subway lines run all night; express trains skip stops: check the sign, and note that uptown is north, downtown is south

Prices, tax and tipping

  • Prices on menus and tags are before sales tax (8.875% on most goods and restaurant meals): the total at the till is higher
  • Tip in restaurants and bars with table service: 18–22% of the bill before tax; $1–2 per drink at a bar; taxi drivers 15–20%
  • Most places take cards and phones; a few small places are cash-only

Book the big attractions ahead

  • The observation decks (Empire State, Top of the Rock, One World, SUMMIT), the Statue of Liberty ferry and the 9/11 Museum sell timed slots: book online, sunset slots cost more
  • Crown access to the Statue of Liberty sells out months ahead; buy only from Statue City Cruises
  • A city pass (CityPASS, Go City, Sightseeing Pass) only pays off if you visit most of the listed sights: add up the prices first

Museums: free evenings

  • Several big museums have pay-what-you-wish or free hours open to everyone: check each museum page
  • Pay-what-you-wish all week is often for New York State residents only: tourists pay the full price
  • Central Park, the High Line, Brooklyn Bridge, the Staten Island Ferry and Washington Square Park are free

Age 21 and ID

  • The drinking age is 21: carry your passport or a copy; many bars and clubs check at the door even if you look older
  • You can drink in bars, but open alcohol in the street or park is not allowed
  • Tap water is safe and good: bring a bottle and refill it

Toilets, walking and weather

  • Public toilets are rare: use Bryant Park, Grand Central, department stores and museums
  • Distances are bigger than they look: 20 blocks = 1 mile (1.6 km); wear comfortable shoes
  • September–November is mild; summer is hot and humid; winter is cold with snow possible
05

Local life

Markets

Markets run on set days, so they are info only and not part of your schedule.

All markets, with a full guide →