Wanderlog

4-day New York first-timer

Statue of Liberty, Central Park, museums, and Broadway in four days.

4 daysFirst-timersBest: April–June, September–November

Last updated: 2025-03-15

Day 1 – Midtown and Broadway

  • Times Square, Rockefeller Center
  • Broadway show
Check in, then Times Square and Rockefeller (Top of the Rock at sunset). Evening Broadway show.
Tips:

Book Broadway in advance. Subway or Uber for getting around.

Day 2 – Downtown and Statue of Liberty

  • Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
  • One World Observatory or Wall Street
Ferry to Liberty Island (book crown or pedestal early). Ellis Island. Afternoon One World or Wall Street. Dinner in Tribeca.
Tips:

Ferry from Battery Park. Book Statue of Liberty weeks ahead.

Day 3 – Museums and Central Park

  • MET or MoMA
  • Central Park
Morning at MET or MoMA. Afternoon in Central Park (Belvedere, Bow Bridge). Evening in Upper West Side or East Village.
Tips:

MET: pay what you wish for NY/NJ residents. MoMA is closed some days; check.

Day 4 – Brooklyn or last sights

  • Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO, or High Line
Walk Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, or High Line and Chelsea Market. Last shopping. Transfer to JFK/Newark.
Tips:

JFK: allow 1–1.5 hours from Manhattan. Newark similar.

Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you book or buy through our links. We only recommend products and services we believe in.