New York in 3 days: itinerary with walking times
Spending 3 days in New York? This plan fits 14 sights into 3 relaxed days, ordered so you walk as little as possible. Highlights include Grand Central Terminal, Bryant Park & the New York Public Library and Times Square. Every stop lists opening hours, prices, the walk to the next one and good places to eat nearby.
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Day 1 Midtown
- 09:30
Grand Central Terminal
The 1913 Beaux-Arts station with the celestial ceiling, the four-faced clock and the Whispering Gallery.
Opening hours: Daily 05:15–02:00 (the station), the Main Concourse is free to walk
Price: FreeEat nearby: Grand Central Oyster Bar (Seafood · $$$ · Midtown) · 1 min walk
Junior's Restaurant (Grand Central) (American · $$ · Midtown) · 1 min walk - 🚶 0.7 km · 9 min walk → Bryant Park & the New York Public Library
- 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.
Opening hours: Park daily about 07:00–22:00; Library Mon–Sat 10:00–18:00, Sun 13:00–17:00
Price: FreeEat nearby: Joe's Pizza (Broadway) (Pizza · $ · Midtown) · 6 min walk
Brooklyn Diner (American · $$ · Midtown) · 6 min walk - 🚶 0.8 km · 10 min walk → Times Square
- 11:45
Times Square
The neon-lit crossroads of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, with giant screens, the red TKTS steps and street performers.
Opening hours: Always open (best after dark)
Price: FreeEat nearby: Los Tacos No. 1 (Times Square) (World · $ · Midtown) · 5 min walk
Brooklyn Diner (American · $$ · Midtown) · 5 min walk - 🚶 0.6 km · 8 min walk → Rockefeller Center & Top of the Rock
- Lunch suggestion Los Tacos No. 1 (Times Square) (World · $ · Midtown)
near Times Square · 🚶 0.4 km · 5 min walk - 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.
Opening hours: Top of the Rock daily 08:00–24:00 (last entry 23:10); the plaza is always open
Price: Top of the Rock from $42Eat nearby: Katsu-Hama (Asian · $$ · Midtown) · 6 min walk
Gallagher's Steakhouse (Steakhouse · $$$ · Midtown) · 9 min walk - 🚶 0.4 km · 5 min walk → St. Patrick's Cathedral
- 15:45
St. Patrick's Cathedral
The neo-Gothic Catholic cathedral on Fifth Avenue, with marble altars, stained glass and spires between the towers.
Opening hours: Daily 06:30–20:45 (services; closed to visitors during some services)
Price: FreeEat nearby: Katsu-Hama (Asian · $$ · Midtown) · 5 min walk
Bobby Van's Steakhouse (Park Avenue) (Steakhouse · $$$ · Midtown) · 8 min walk - 🚶 1.7 km · 22 min walk → Empire State Building
- 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.
Opening hours: Daily 10:00–22:00 (hours shift by date)
Price: from $46Eat nearby: Cho Dang Gol (Asian · $$ · Midtown) · 4 min walk
Hangawi (Vegetarian · $$$ · Midtown) · 4 min walk - Dinner suggestion Cho Dang Gol (Asian · $$ · Midtown)
near Empire State Building · 🚶 0.3 km · 4 min walk
Day 2 Lower Manhattan
- 09:00
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Lady Liberty on Liberty Island plus the Ellis Island immigration museum, reached by the Statue City Cruises ferry from The Battery.
Opening hours: Daily, ferries from The Battery about 09:00 to mid-afternoon (times vary by season; arrive before 14:00 to see both islands)
Price: $26Eat nearby: Fraunces Tavern (American · $$ · Lower Manhattan) · 50 min walk
Luke's Lobster (Financial District) (Seafood · $$ · Lower Manhattan) · 51 min walk - 🚇 ~35 min by public transport → Wall Street & the Charging Bull
- Lunch suggestion Fraunces Tavern (American · $$ · Lower Manhattan)
near Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island · 🚶 4.0 km · 50 min walk - 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.
Opening hours: Always open (street)
Price: FreeEat nearby: Delmonico's (Steakhouse · $$$ · Lower Manhattan) · 4 min walk
Luke's Lobster (Financial District) (Seafood · $$ · Lower Manhattan) · 5 min walk - 🚶 0.7 km · 9 min walk → 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- 14:30
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Twin reflecting pools mark the Twin Towers' footprints, and the museum below tells the story of 9/11.
Opening hours: Memorial daily 08:00–20:00; Museum Wed–Mon 09:00–19:00 (closed Tue except selected days)
Price: $24–$36Eat nearby: Eataly Downtown (Italian · $$ · Lower Manhattan) · 3 min walk
Le District (European · $$ · Lower Manhattan) · 5 min walk - 🚶 1.8 km · 23 min walk → Brooklyn Bridge
- 17:15
Brooklyn Bridge
Walk the 1883 granite-and-steel bridge over the East River for skyline views and the DUMBO side.
Opening hours: Always open (pedestrian path)
Price: FreeEat nearby: Il Brigante (Italian · $$ · Lower Manhattan) · 8 min walk
Juliana's Pizza (Pizza · $$ · Brooklyn) · 8 min walk - Dinner suggestion Il Brigante (Italian · $$ · Lower Manhattan)
near Brooklyn Bridge · 🚶 0.7 km · 8 min walk
Day 3 Central Park & Upper East Side · Chelsea & Flatiron
- 10:00
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Five thousand years of art, from Egyptian temples to Impressionists, in the largest museum in the Americas.
Opening hours: Sun–Thu 10:00–17:00, Fri–Sat 10:00–21:00; closed Wed
Price: $30Eat nearby: Café Sabarsky (Café · $$$ · Central Park & Upper East Side) · 6 min walk
Serafina Fabulous Pizza (Madison Ave) (Pizza · $$ · Central Park & Upper East Side) · 7 min walk - 🚶 1.6 km · 21 min walk → Central Park
- Lunch suggestion Café Sabarsky (Café · $$$ · Central Park & Upper East Side)
near The Metropolitan Museum of Art · 🚶 0.5 km · 6 min walk - 14:00
Central Park
Manhattan's green heart: the Pond, the Mall, Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge and Strawberry Fields.
Opening hours: Daily 06:00–01:00
Price: FreeEat nearby: Tavern on the Green (American · $$$ · Central Park & Upper East Side) · 7 min walk
Via Quadronno (Café · $$ · Central Park & Upper East Side) · 13 min walk - 🚇 15 min by metro (line 6: 23 St → 77 St / 86 St) · 4.6 km · 57 min walk → The High Line
- 16:45
The High Line
A former elevated railway turned into a garden walkway, from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards.
Opening hours: Apr 1–Nov 30 daily 07:00–22:00; Dec 1–Mar 31 daily 07:00–20:00
Price: FreeEat nearby: Tía Pol (European · $$ · Chelsea & Flatiron) · 2 min walk
Empire Diner (American · $$ · Chelsea & Flatiron) · 2 min walk - 🚶 0.8 km · 10 min walk → Chelsea Market
- 18:00
Chelsea Market
An indoor food hall in the former Nabisco factory with tacos, lobster rolls, bakeries and shops.
Opening hours: Concourse daily 07:00–22:00 (individual shops and restaurants vary)
Price: FreeEat nearby: Los Tacos No. 1 (Chelsea Market) (World · $ · Chelsea & Flatiron) · 1 min walk
Buddakan (Asian · $$$ · Chelsea & Flatiron) · 1 min walk - Dinner suggestion Los Tacos No. 1 (Chelsea Market) (World · $ · Chelsea & Flatiron)
near Chelsea Market · 🚶 0.1 km · 1 min walk
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Last updated: 8 October 2026