New York travel guide
TIMING:
New York is beautiful at all times of the year. The summer is HOT and humid while the fall is warm and has rich colours, and Christmas in New York is truly a dream. You cannot go wrong with the time of year you choose to visit.
WHERE TO STAY:
If you are only in town for a few days Midtown is the place to be! Between 46th - 57th and 5t - 7th is the sweet spot. You will be walking distance to broadway shows, central park, amazing restaurants, but it is easy to get downtown and uptown without issues. If the hustle and bustle is not for you then the Upper East side between 59th - 70th and Madison - 3rd is the place for you. The Met is a close walk as is central park, cute coffee shops and restaurants but it will be quieter. You can easily go for a nice walk by the park to end up in Midtown but will be staying with locals.
WHERE TO EAT
Trattoria Dell’Arte is one of my favourite Italian restaurants in New York! It is conveniently located in Midtown across the street from Carnegie Hall. The carbona is to die for as is the pizza, you cannot go wrong with any dish. It is the perfect spot to hit before going to a broadway show.
Molly’s Cupcakes are the BEST cupcakes in New York! Molly’s is located on Bleecker street. This is a great area to rom around and shop while enjoying your cupcake. The peanut butter nutella is my personal favourite!
PHD Terrace is the most Instagramable rooftop bar. You will be taken through a wall of flowers to emerge on to a rooftop terrace overlooking Manhattan. The cocktails are wonderful and has a great vibe for the night. It is located in Midtown making it the perfect nightcap location.
Black Tap has won “best burger in New York” multiple years in a row. There are two locations where you will typically find a line up down the block to get in. They are known for crazy milk shacks and amazing burgers!
H&H Midtown Bagels are my favourite bagels! Everything is made in house and you will typically find a line up out the door on the weekends.
what to do
Water Taxi
If it is your first time to New York I recommend taking the water taxi. It will give you a great view of the city while learning some fascinating facts. Plus, who doesn’t love an excuse to get out on the water!
Check out a broadway show! If you are wanting to see the classics like Lion King or Wicked you will need to buy tickets in advance. If you are looking for a last minute show trying going to the box office or TKTS to find cheaper tickets. I have seen over 20 shows and Lion King is forever my favourite!!
Food walking tour’s are a great way to get to know different areas of the city. You can do a bakery walking tour of the Village, food tour of Harlem, food to farm tour of Hudson Valley. The options are endless!
Walk the High line / River Park
You can check out the Vessel, an incredible structure like non other then walk the High Line to the the Hudson River Park. The park is floating in the River and is a spectacle worth visiting.
The ferry runs all day and is free. It is a great way to see the skyline while getting a great view of the Statue of Liberty.
Grand Central Station is mesmerizing. The architecture is so amazing you could spend a long time walking around admiring the building. (Pro Tip: Ask where the whisper corner is. You then stand on opposite sides of the room and whisper into a corner and can hear your partner / friend chat with you.)
Attend a Sports Game
New York is home of the Giants, Jets, Mets, Yankees, Knicks and Nets. Find yourself tickets to a game, the chances of a team playing while you are in town is high! Or plan your trip around the Tennis US Open in early fall to see some of the best tennis players in the world!
I have been up each tower many times and Top of the Rock is easily my favourite! The First World Trade also has an amazing view but the Empire is by far the worst view you can get. With the Rock you can see the Empire and World Trade which is what makes it so incredible and is around $30 / person.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR ITINERARY
Manhattan is a large island and you want to make the most of your time. Try to plan your days based on the areas so that you do not have to go back and forth lots. Here is what I recommend doing:
Day 1:
Spend the day in Midtown. Explore the New York City library, Bryant Park, the Moma, Top of the Rock, St Patricks Cathedral, the Plaza Hotel (check out the food court downstairs), Central Park, and take in some of the most famous landmarks of Manhattan! The double decker bus tour can also be a great way for you to get a lay of the land. I would then finish the day by grabbing dinner at La Trattoria and going to a broadway show.
Day 2:
Venture down to the Vessel where you can walk the High line to Chelsea Market, where you can explore Chelsea and the Meatpacking district. You can then continue on the High line to the Hudson River park for a leisure walk to explore. From there you can take an Uber to Chelsea Pier to check out the driving range where you shoot over the Hudson River while looking over New Jersey or you can make your way to the Water Taxi. The Water Taxi is a hop on hop off ride so you can choose a destination you wish to spot at an explore. This is a great day to check out a museum or art gallery if you have this on your to do list and then find a sports game for the evening!
Day 3:
Explore the financial district and see the Brooklyn Bridge! Get dropped off at First World Trade where you can see the 9/11 memorial and museum. You can then make your way towards the water and walk along the water until you hit Battery Park. Battery Park is a beautiful spot to hangout and relax. Or, you can keep walking to catch the Staten Island Ferry to enjoy the skyline some more.
Once getting off the Ferry you can make your way to see the Wall Street Bull which is not far from the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge. If you are wanting to venture into Brooklyn, trying going on a Sunday and check out Smorgasberg which is an amazing food festival.
Day 4:
Explore the upper East Side. This is where you will find lots of high end shops, and lots of locals. The Met is located in the Upper East Side so you can enjoy a walk down Madison to the Museum and the walk the park back to MidTown. I like to do this on my last morning before packing up to head home.
