15 Perfect Itineraries For How To Spend 24 Hours In NYC, According To NYers

Need some new weekend plans?

Of course NYC is the city that has everything, and there are unlimited restaurants, activities, arts, museums, theater, parks, etc. to enjoy. But if you need to liven up your weekend plans, or are visiting the city and want a not-too-touristy itinerary while still seeing the sights, OR have friends coming into town, these 15 itineraries provide the perfect ideas!

We asked our followers what they would tell someone who asked them the best way to spend 24 hours in NYC, and they delivered. Check them out below, and you can read the original post here for even more ideas.

Itinerary 1

Walk along Broadway starting from Battery Park going uptown, but before you do that, take a round trip ride on the Staten Island Ferry to see the harbor and the skyline
Then along the way, you can divert from Broadway to see some major spots like the One World Trade Center and the Brooklyn Bridge
But after diverting, go back to Broadway and keep walking uptown. Don’t sit to take a break for too long, just to grab a bite.
Then finish at Central Park. Best in spring or fall!

Itinerary 2

Head to Queens and take the Long Island City Ferry station, enjoying the city views and the bridges
Get off in Brooklyn and walk the Brooklyn Bridge, heading towards the 9/11 memorial and the new development in the area
Catch lunch at Brookfield Place by the water and walk your way down to the Staten Island Ferry
Get on board and enjoy the view of the Statue of Liberty for free
Then get on a return ferry and back to downtown Manhattan and then back home to relax
If you don’t fall asleep (like we did), a night at a rooftop would be perfect

Itinerary 3

Early morning walk on the High Line
Jazz brunch at 1803
Check out some local flea markets (like Chelsea Flea)
Hit up a museum (like Fotografiska, The Morgan Library, or the Museum of Modern Art)
Pre-dinner drink at R Lounge
Dinner at one of our amazing restaurants
Night cap at Bo Peep
Fill your time WALKING the city and enjoying the parks

Itinerary 4

Start by going to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens for early AM birding
By 11 a.m. you should be finished and ready for lunch
Clean up then head over to Cafe LULUc in Brooklyn for brunch/lunch
Then head over to Jacob Riis Park in Queens for a few hours on the beach and of course birding because Seawatching is a thing for hard core birders
By 4-5 p.m. you’re ready for an early dinner because there are plans for the evening
Clean up and head over to Chez Moi in Brooklyn, for a delightful French dinner. If you plan it well you could be having dinner with live jazz music accompanying you
After dinner you then head out to Terminal 5 to attend the Thievery Corporation concert that you had tickets to. It’s the perfect way to close out the perfect day!

Itinerary 5

Visit one of the Botanic Gardens in the Bronx or Brooklyn
Lunch & dinner at Le Petit Cafe in Carroll Gardens (beautiful atrium in the day, candlelit wall at night)
Brooklyn Bridge Park

Itinerary 6

Early morning walk
Dim sum in Chinatown
Then walk up Broadway to Union Square Park
Stop for a beer and break…
Onward, to the High Line for a walk all the way up
Then over to hop aboard the North River Lobster boat for some treats (sitting) and a cruise
Then stroll up 10th Avenue, stop for a beer at my favorite bar, now called Scruffy Duffys for happy hour!
Then to the gym for a swim and sauna
Late dinner at The Boat House in Central Park

Itinerary 7

Walk the High Line
Check out Hudson Yards
Go for a Broadway show (when they reopen next month!)
Stop by Eataly
Take in the views from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building
Take Circle Line cruise around Lady Liberty
Visit Chelsea Market
End the day with banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery

Itinerary 8

French toast at Rue 57
Walk to and around Central Park
Lunch at Boqueria
Broadway matinee (when it opens next month!)
Rooftop drinks at Kimberly’s
Walk on the High Line
Dinner at Via Carota
Drinks and singing at Marie’s Crisis
Late night drinks at Employees Only

Itinerary 9

Breakfast in Chelsea
Walk down to Washington Square, through Greenwich Village and East Village. Take your time!
Keep heading south to Lower East Side and meander until you get to Essex Market where you can grab lunch
Head through Chinatown to Battery
Hop on the Staten Island Ferry and do a round trip
Take the subway to Central Park for some serious people-watching
For dinner, head up to the real Little Italy in the Bronx

Itinerary 10

Get your sneakers out! First, ferry ride to Ellis Island
After, walk up to the 9/11 memorial
Walk through the Oculus too
Then walk to the Irish Hunger Memorial, straight across to South Street Pier 17, then to the Brooklyn Bridge
Have lunch on other side in Brooklyn at the Time Out Market
Take the ferry back to Manhattan to 33rd Street
Walk up to the UN, and enjoy their international sculpture garden. Sit and relax.
When ready, walk straight through 42nd street to Grand Central and find the Whispering Gallery
Grab a coffee and scone at Zaros
Then head to West Side find the Vessel, High Line, and then Times Square. Or head north and go to museums along Central Park East. Then crash & have good night sleep!

Itinerary 11

Brunch at 230 Fifth Ave Rooftop
Walk The High Line
North River Lobster boat
End the night watching the sunset at Hudson River Park or Little Island

Itinerary 12

Ferry to Governors Island
Rent bikes for the day
Then ferry back to Brooklyn
Have a meander and a cocktail and catch the sunset over the harbor
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge and dinner at Nobu
Taxi home

Itinerary 13

Start the day off by having breakfast at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, while listening to the mesmerizing sounds of piano playing and sipping a Bloody Mary with amazing views of the lake in front of you
Then take a walk and explore the park a little: Bow Bridge, Bethesda Fountain and many hidden corners to feel the nature
In the afternoon, take a walk around city: get out of Central Park, stroll down 5th avenue from 59th street until 42nd street Bryant Park
Shop in the nicest stores in the world all located along both sides of 5th Avenue
Then when you reach Bryant Park, just take a chair and sit there, enjoy the views the park offers, look at people rushing around, take pics, get a cup of coffee or even lunch from somewhere nearby and just relax for a while
In the evening have dinner at River Cafe in Dumbo Brooklyn, an amazing restaurant offering gorgeous views to Manhattan skyline and iconic Brooklyn Bridge
After dinner go for drinks to one of many amazing rooftops, where you can feel real NYC night vibe: wild, noisy, lively 🙂

Itinerary 14

Wake up early and go for a run by the river
Pick up your bagels or an egg sandwich and head out to the beach for a nice and relaxing morning
Around noon, hop on the ferry ride to Wall Street and take a stroll to the village for the lunch at Dante
Order one of the best cocktails in the world (or take one for the trip lol)
Then walk the High Line towards the theater district because YES they have finally reopened! Catch some off Broadway show and after it enjoy a pleasant ride with a Citibike to Central Park
Exit on the UES for a nice dinner in any of the great restaurants in this area and finish your night at some chill rooftop with a killer view

Itinerary 15

Wake up in BK
Walk the Williamsburg Bridge into the city
Sadelle’s for brunch
Follow by a bit of buzzed shopping in SoHo
Head to the West Village for afternoon ice cream and stroll the High Line
Head back to the East Village for drinks at Goodnight Sonny
Dinner at Don Angie and finish the evening at Arthur’s Tavern