Only have one day in New York City? As someone who has been there countless times (it’s only a few hours drive away!), New York is essentially a second home. This is the ultimate one day in NYC itinerary that includes the best things to see, eat, and do for a first-time visitor. I also include helpful travel tips and a list of restaurants for the top quintessential New York City bites.
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Is One Day in NYC Enough?
Absolutely not! One day in New York City, or even a weekend, only barely scratches the surface. NYC has five boroughs including Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island — this itinerary only covers Manhattan. Check out my NYC 3 Day Itinerary with more things to do in NYC outside of this one day in NYC guide.
General Tips for a One Day in NYC Itinerary
As someone who has visited New York City countless times, these are some practical tips to help your trip be as smooth as possible:
- Wear Comfortable Shoes—You’ll be walking a lot around New York City! Make sure to wear sneakers or shoes that you know will be comfortable all day.
- Be Aware of Your Surroundings – While New York City is generally safe for tourists, remain vigilant about your surroundings. Don’t crowd sidewalks or walk too slowly in congested areas, either — people have places to be and often speedwalk.
- An easy way to see the city if you’re short on time is taking a Hop on, Hop Off bus tour. It knocks out a bunch of landmarks in a few hours — best of all, It’s your mode of transportation and a city guide all in one.
How to Get Around NYC
The best way to get around New York City is either by foot or by public transportation. New York’s transportation system, the MTA, includes a subway that runs through each of the five boroughs.
For a one day in NYC itinerary for first-timers, you’ll mostly be spending your time in the most popular borough, Manhattan. Each ride is $3.25 no matter the distance of your trip. Subway trains are routed either uptown or downtown, and stations have multiple entrances depending on your destination. Be sure to pay attention to the direction you’re heading to avoid going the wrong way!
Other ways to get around the city are taxis and using a rideshare service. These are generally not recommended since NYC’s streets are congested and often the subway is quicker. If you take a cab or use a rideshare, note that a taxi may be cheaper during peak hours since it is at a fixed rate. During off-peak times, an Uber or Lyft may be a better choice. New York City also uses Revel, a budget alternative to other popular rideshare apps.
One Day in NYC Itinerary
Now, onto the one day in New York City itinerary. This itinerary is very fast-paced and action-packed since you only have one day! Luckily, many iconic landmarks are within walking distance to one another. Feel free to move around this itinerary as you would like, but I’ve grouped attractions by proximity to avoid long travel times. I start the itinerary near Midtown Manhattan (Times Square, Rockefeller Center, etc), then bring you down to Lower Manhattan neighborhoods like Soho and Chinatown (two of my favorites!).
Enjoy a Classic New York City Breakfast
Start your one day in NYC itinerary with a go-to New York breakfast — a bagel and coffee. Many New York locals say that the best bagels can be found in any New York City deli or corner store, but listed are popular bagel spots:
- Ess-a-Bagel – a well-known bagel shop conveniently located in Midtown East.
- Tompkins Square Bagels – my favorite bagel shop in Manhattan. I always get the bagel sandwich with bacon, egg, and cheese. It’s located in East Village, Manhattan.
- Liberty Bagels – known for their old-fashioned, kettle boiled bagels. They’re also known for unique their tie-dyed bagels. There are multiple locations, but the Midtown one is the most convenient for this itinerary.
Stroll Through Central Park
Depending on the weather, bring your bagel over to Central Park to enjoy your meal and take in all the beautiful scenery. The park spans 843 acres from the Upper West Side to the Upper East Side and is easily the largest green space on a map of Manhattan. It has plenty to do every season including ice skating and sledding in the winter, the Central Park Zoo, and photo op spots from popular TV shows like Gossip Girl.
View Central Park’s official website to see what upcoming activities and events are happening.
Optional: Check out a Museum
Just off of Central Park is the largest art museum in America and the fourth-largest museum in the world – the Metropolitan Museum of Art! The art museum opens at 10 AM every day and features over 5,000 years of art from around the world. The museum is huge, so I am listing this an optional activity for your one day in NYC itinerary. You’ll need more than just a few hours to truly experience all the museum has to offer.
Other museums worth checking out nearby is the MoMa (AKA the Museum of Modern Art) in Midtown and the Museum of Natural History in the Upper West Side. These museums get extremely busy, so book Skip-The-Line tickets online so you don’t waste precious time waiting in line.
Further Reading: Best 33 Indoor Things To Do in NYC Right Now
Rockefeller Center
Once you’ve filled up on breakfast and explored a museum, next on the one day in NYC guide is Rockefeller Center. In the winter the plaza transforms into an ice skating rink that you may have seen in famous movies like Elf, and there is a giant, lit-up Christmas tree. Surrounding Rockefeller Center are flagship retail stores like the Nintendo Store, Lego Store, and FAO Schwartz. Also located at Rockefeller Center is the Radio City Music Hall Theater, the headquarters for the Rockettes! You’re able to buy tickets to a show on their website.
While at Rockefeller Plaza, you can ride up to the Top of the Rock. The observation deck has 3 tiers on the 67th, 68th, and 70th floors with an unobstructed, 360-degree panoramic view of the city! It also has the perfect view of the Empire State Building.
Travel Tip: A budget alternative to paying for an observation deck is to head to the top of the highest rooftop bar you can find in Midtown. One of my favorites is the rooftop bar at the Public Hotel.
Shop on Fifth Avenue
One of the most famous shopping streets in New York City is Fifth Avenue. It has retailers ranging from affordable to luxury so there is something for everyone. Shops worth checking out include the original Saks Fifth Avenue and the luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman. The holidays are a great time to see Fifth Ave since many stores deck out their storefronts with holiday decor.
Grand Central Station
Located just a few blocks away from Fifth Avenue and the Rockefeller Center is the Grand Central Terminal. While the transportation hub is a station for buses and trains locally and across the U.S, it’s also a landmark for beautiful architecture, the Whispering Gallery, and the Grand Central Clock! You’ll likely only need ten minutes to see the station and snap your picture, but you can also take an official guided tour. Grand Central also has a dining concourse and stores.
Bryant Park
A couple blocks away from Grand Central Station is Bryant Park. On one side of the park is the Main Branch of the New York Public Library, which is free to enter. The other side of the park has plenty of outdoor seating, food stalls, and ping pong tables. It’s a great area to people-watch and take a break from exploring the city.
Bryant Park is also a hub for seasonal events including the Bryant Park Christmas Market in the winter and outdoor movie events in the summer.
Empire State Building and Koreatown
Next on the one day in NYC itinerary is the Empire State Building. The 102-story, Art Deco style skyscraper was originally built to host corporate offices and its signature design is one of the defining features of the New York City skyline. Many tourists travel to the top of the Empire State Building observation deck. It’s the highest open air 360-degree viewpoint of the city on the 86th and 102nd floor!
The Empire State Building is located right in the middle of New York City’s Koreatown, so it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy Korean food. Two excellent choices for authentic Korean cooking are Cho Dang Gol and Her Name is Han. For Korean BBQ, you can’t go wrong with Jongro BBQ or COTE Korean Steakhouse. For affordable Korean bites, head to Woorijip or the food court Food Gallery 32. And, make sure to end your meal in Koreatown at Grace Street for dessert.
SoHo
After filling up on delicious Korean food, venture out of Midtown into a different neighborhood. Lower Manhattan, the West Village, and East Village all have a completely different vibe than Midtown that many say feels like the “real New York”. This is my favorite section of this one day in NYC itinerary! I particularly enjoy the neighborhood SoHo, which stands for South of Houston Street. The famous shopping district spans 26 blocks and is filled with boutiques, retail shops, galleries, restaurants, and cafes. The “main” shopping street is Broadway. However, I also recommend venturing off onto its neighboring streets for their cool cast-iron architecture, stores by local designers, and galleries.
What’s a trip to New York City without trying pizza? NYC is known for their thin, foldable crispy pizza crusts. Popular pizza spots include Joe’s Pizza, Rubirosa in Nolita, and Prince Street Pizza (get the pepperoni sicilian style pizza) in NoHo.
Further Reading: 15 Soho NYC Best Restaurants (+ Hidden Gems!)
Chinatown & Little Italy
Right next to SoHo is Manhattan’s Chinatown and Little Italy. You can find everything from cheap Chinatown eats and other local shopping in the Canal Street Market. It’s one of my favorite neighborhoods for a budget meal in the city.
Little Italy includes a few streets lined with Italian restaurants, cafes, and cannoli shops. Its size has decreased in the past few decades, now only spanning 3-5 blocks. However, I think it is still worth a visit!
Optional: An Observation Deck
Waiting until sunset to ride up an observation deck is the perfect way to cap off your one day in NYC. The views are even more incredible at night since all the buildings are lit up. Listed are observation decks worth checking out:
Times Square & Broadway Show
Last on your one day in NYC itinerary, head over to quite possibly the most well-known tourist attraction in the city – Times Square! The plaza is a giant commercial intersection and tourist destination with plenty going on from street performers to vendors selling souvenirs. I’ve saved Times Square for last on this one day in NYC itinerary because it is best seen lit up in the evening.
Times Square is located in Midtown’s Theater District, so I recommend going to a Broadway show. Must-see’s include the top-grossing show, The Lion King, and Hamilton, one of the newer Broadway hits and my personal favorite. Broadway shows lasts between 2.5 to 3 hours with a 10 to 15-minute intermission.
Post-Broadway Drinks and Food
Finish off your one day in NYC itinerary with a common post-show activity – grabbing a drink or late dinner. From meat plates at Adel’s Famous Halal Foods to meals with live performances at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, New York City is truly the city that never sleeps. You’ll have plenty of restaurant and bar options!
Other Activities for Your One Day in NYC Itinerary
While I’ve done my best to include New York City’s best sights in your one day in NYC timeframe, there is so much else that is just as much worth it to see! Listed are other famous NYC activities.
- Walk the Brooklyn Bridge: This hybrid cable-stayed and suspension bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn and leads into Dumbo, a charming New York City neighborhood. The bridge is about a mile long and takes around 30-40 minutes to cross. It’s the PERFECT way to see the city skyline — I’ve done this walk plenty of times and my favorite time to be there is during the sunset.
- Check out Dumbo: Right off of the Brooklyn Bridge is the neighborhood Dumbo, which stands for “Down under The Manhattan Bridge Overpass”. Here you’ll find a pebble beach, a carousel, the TimeOut New York food hall, and the famous view of the Dumbo Manhattan Bridge.
- Walk the High Line: The High Line is a public park with a unique walking path that had been transformed from an elevated railway. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street on Manhattan’s West Side. The walkway gives views from above street level of Manhattan, and often has fun art installations throughout.
- Check out Chelsea Market: Right off of the High Line in the Meatpacking District, Chelsea Market is a food and vendor hall that’s a foodies paradise.
- See the Statue of Liberty: Since it is on an island right off of Manhattan, you need to take a Statue of Liberty Sightseeing Cruise to see it up close.
What to Eat in One Day in NYC
With over a whopping 48,000 places to eat in all five boroughs, deciding what to eat in just one day in NYC can feel overwhelming! The city is especially known for its bagels, the classic “New York pizza slice”, halal carts, and pastrami sandwiches at a deli. However, it is such a melting pot of a city that there are plenty more you should try. Listed are some restaurants that I would add to my one day in NYC itinerary:
- Katz Deli in the Lower East Side: No-frills deli known for their pastrami sandwiches.
- Los Tacos No. 1 with multiple locations: Taqueria serving Mexican street-style tacos. I always get the carne asada (steak) and al pastor (pork).
- Xi’an Famous Foods with multiple locations: Chinese hand-pulled noodles. They are chewy and flavorful.
- Joe’s Shanghai in Chinatown: A touristy but INCREDIBLE soup dumpling spot in New York. It definitely lives up to its hype — I’m getting hungry just thinking about it right now.
- Magnolia Bakery with multiple locations: They’re famous for their banana pudding.
Wrapping Up: One Day in NYC Itinerary
That concludes my one day in NYC itinerary and travel guide! Hopefully, this guide has inspired you with ways to maximize your limited time in the city. Once you’ve traveled your way through New York City, check out my other USA travel guides:
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