Going to New York City for four days...?

Question

...what are the must sees and must dos while I'm there? I'm in my mid-20s and it will be my first time visiting. Keep in mind I'll only be there for four days.

Answer 1

The great thing about Manhattan is that everything is accessible by foot, subway or taxi. It's really surprising that most things are so close together.

Without knowing what your interests are, I would suggest Times Square, Central Park and the Modern Museum of Art, which can are all within walking distance of each other, maybe as a whole day of exploring.

If you like Museums and stuff, don't miss MoMA or the Museum of Natural History.

If you like Shopping, there's Times Square for the tourists, Fifth Avenue (walking distance of each other), or catch the subway down to Soho and Canal street for more electic finds (Canal Street is bursting with designer knockoffs, some are actuallt decent).

Like Sports and recreation? Go to Central Park, that place is always, always brimming with activities, and it's a nice escape from the madness of the city.

Don't be in a huge rush to see the Statue of Liberty. The ferry ride is not exciting, and once you get there, you've pretty well been there and are ready to turn around again. It's not worth the price, IMO.

Perhaps signing up for a walking tour would be ideal if you are short on money but still want to see some really interesting stuff.

Answer 2

The absolute first thing you must do is take a Circle Line Tour. Boats leave from 12 Ave (any cab can take you there). The boat goes all the way around Manhattan, and takes about 4 hours, but it's definitely worth it. It helps you get your bearings and you see lots of sights in a short time.

Also, of course, try and see a Broadway show. Failing that, make sure you get to Times Square. Also know that the MoMa (Museum of Modern Art) is free on Friday nights and has a great new building. Also see the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art). Their Egyptian Collection is amazing (they've transplanted a whole temple) and it's right near Central Park.

If you're shopping inclined, 5th Avenue is the place to go. Soho is great for more off the beaten path fashions.

Finally, you may or may not be interested in seeing the World Trade Center site. I haven't been since a few months after the attacks, but I hear it's quite moving.

Answer 3

Forget Ground Zero - it's really just a big hole in the ground.

You must see Grand Central Station - it is beautiful. There are some great restaurants inside the terminal, as well as a food court downstairs if you want cheap eats.

Definitely catch a Broadway show. I highly recommend the Lion King - it's like nothing else on Broadway.

Shopping is wonderful - even if you can't buy the stuff, check out 5th Avenue - Saks, Bloomingdales, Barney's, etc. There are also some great little shops in Soho, as well as chic little cafes and restaurants - take the N train to Prince Street and walk in any direction. It's a very hip area in NYC, and as a 20 something year old, you'll fit right in.

Answer 4

There are several very hip places down in the meatpacking district, but they are a bit pricey - Spice Market, Ono, and Pastis. Not only is the food excellent at these places, but the the ultra hip scene makes for great people watching.

Some other suggestions if you like Sushi are Poke in the upper east side. This place has the freshest sushi and it's BYO, so you'll save on drinks. For Sushi I also like Yama (multiple locations), Tomoe, and one of the more famous places is Nobu (very expensive).

If you like Italian, try Po, il Mulino (tough to get a reservation), Bello, or Mangia e Bevi.

If you want a great burger either hit up J.G Melons in the upper east side or the Corner Bistro downtown. Both dives, but GREAT burgers.

You want mexican, go for Dos Caminos or Zocala.

While you may want to check out Times Square, don't spend a lot of time there. There's really not a lot to see there outside of flashing lights. Visit some of the other neighborhoods like the village, upper east and west side, and meatpacking districts to get a better feal for the city.

Hope this helps. Enjoy the city!

Answer 5

Some things I would see are The Statue of Liberty, Time Square, and the place of what used to be the twin towers. Bring a lot of money because things are cheaper to buy there than in most other cities.

Answer 6

Four days will be awesome if you spend them well... my first, but certainly not my last, trip to NYC, I was there for ONE DAY. I had to be in Princeton, N.J. and took the train in to just spend the day and then take the train back and it was one of the most memorable days of my life SO you'll be able to pack in wonderful memories in four days! Get a guide book that will fit in your handbag right now, today and start reading it every night! Familiarize yourself with the layout of Manhattan so you'll know where you are and where you want to go, etc. If you plan each day by the different areas, you'll save valuable time hoping around from place to place in long taxi rides. One day it might be worth doing one of the "hop on, hop off" buses that will take you to all the major areas but my choice was to go it alone and take a cab or subway when I wanted to go to a different area. Money will be the deciding factor here.

I don't know how far in advance you are planning but if you have 6-8 months until your trip, get online and search the tv shows for tickets to a taping of Regis and Kelly or one of the others, if that's your thing. You will also need to make any reservations for dinner as soon as possible also. Alot of the famous places take reservations online or by phone, their websites will tell you. If you aren't familiar with the great places to eat (not all of which are expensive) in NYC then check out your guidebook or websites online that have reviews from travelers. I love tripadvisor.com and would never go anywhere without checking my destination on their site. There will be reviews of hotels, restaurants, etc and will help you narrow down your choices.

Use the map in your guide book to help you organize your days. For example, on the day you are going to see a Broadway show (Playbill.com will get you started with choices and tickets for them), get a dinner reservation for before or after the show on a nearby street. If you want to go someplace classic like Sardi's but don't want to lay out the cash for dinner then get a late night reservation for after your Broadway show and walk (it's right across from one of the theaters and only a street away from many) there for dessert and coffee. We chose this option and it was a great way to enjoy seeing a famous place with all the star's characatures and experience a real broadway tradition while we were still excited about our show and without paying their high dinner prices.

Must sees, as far as I'm concerned are: A Broadway Show, A Broadway Show, A Broadway Show!!! Ellis Island (if it's still open), Metropolitan Museum, Central Park (ride a horsedrawn carraige if this makes you nervous, but seriously, you'll be fine walking around a bit in between the lower street numbers... it just feels soooo new york to walk through the park!) Rockefeller Center to see the Ice Skating Rink and Tree if it's December and Saks 5th Avenue is right across the street and you can head down 5th from there popping your head in places along your way down to Tiffany's. You must go in and buy SOMETHING and have it wrapped in their signature blue box with white ribbon (there is stationary and other afforable gift items on one floor). In a totally different area of manhattan, you can shop in Macy's... it's so old and wonderful and there is a great lunch area downstairs. Go to the top of the Empire State Building, walk around SoHo shopping and visit Little Italy and Chinatown! Oh, and be sure to visit one of the famous deli's... my favorite is Stage Deli near Times Square. We also enjoyed NY style pizza cooked in huge brick ovens...

I haven't been since 9/11, but I would want to go to the World Trade Center site on a return visit.

Hope your trip is wonderful!

Answer 7

Statue of Liberty and 5th Avenue.

Answer 8

just hang out in manhattan with your friends for four days you'll have alot to do and see