New York Usa 7 Day Itinerary

7-Day Itinerary for Exploring New York City

Day 1: Arrival and Central Park

  • Arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
  • Check-in at your preferred hotel in Midtown Manhattan, close to Times Square (e.g., The Knickerbocker, The New York Marriott Marquis, or The W New York).
  • Familiarize yourself with the area and grab lunch at Shake Shack (Madison Square Park) or Eataly (Flatiron District).
  • Spend the afternoon exploring Central Park. Visit Bethesda Terrace, Central Park Zoo, and Strawberry Fields.
  • Dine in the evening at one of the restaurants near Lincoln Center, such as Pergola Central Park or The Sea Fire Grill.

Day 2: Iconic Landmarks

  • Start your day with breakfast at a classic NYC diner like Tom’s Restaurant (Seinfeld’s “Monk’s Cafe”) or Egg (Multiple Locations).
  • Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You can take a ferry from Battery Park.
  • Lunch at Carmine’s (Times Square), known for its family-style Italian dishes.
  • Explore Times Square, Broadway, and Rockefeller Center. If you’re interested in a Broadway show, book tickets in advance!
  • Dinner at Lombardi’s Pizza (Soho), America’s first pizzeria.

Day 3: Museum Day

  • Breakfast at Russ & Daughters Cafe (Lower East Side) or The Smith (Multiple Locations).
  • Spend the morning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world’s largest and finest art museums.
  • Lunch at Shake Shack (Metropolitan Museum of Art location) or The Modern (at MoMA).
  • Afternoon at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to see iconic works of art like Starry Night and Mona Lisa’s American cousin, American Dream Café.
  • Dinner at Joe’s Pizza (Greenwich Village), another famous NYC pizza joint.

Day 4: Brooklyn Exploration

  • Breakfast at Four & Twenty Blackbirds Bakery (Brooklyn) or The Smith (Brooklyn Bridge location).
  • Take the Brooklyn Bridge and explore DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), with its Instagrammable Washington Street.
  • Lunch at Juliana’s Pizza (DUMBO) or Lucali (Carroll Gardens), a famous pizzeria by day, Italian restaurant by night.
  • Afternoon in Brooklyn Heights Promenade for panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline.
  • Dinner at Ops Sushi (Williamsburg) or Peter Luger Steak House (Brooklyn).

Day 5: Upper Manhattan

  • Breakfast at Levain Bakery (Upper West Side) or Sarabeth’s (Central Park South location).
  • Visit The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to the art and architecture of medieval Europe.
  • Lunch at Angelina’s Ristorante (Upper West Side) or The Loeb Boathouse (Central Park).
  • Afternoon exploring Harlem, including the Apollo Theater and the historic brownstones of Striver’s Row.
  • Dinner at Red Rooster Harlem by Marcus Samuelsson.

Day 6: Shopping and Foodie Delights

  • Breakfast at Russ & Daughters Cafe (Lower East Side) or Egg (Multiple Locations).
  • Spend the morning exploring SoHo, Greenwich Village, and NoLita for shopping and street art.
  • Lunch at Katz’s Delicatessen (Lower East Side) or The Smith (NoHo location).
  • Afternoon stroll through Chelsea Market and the High Line.
  • Dinner at Le Bernardin (Midtown West), one of the world’s best seafood restaurants.

Day 7: Departure

  • Breakfast at your hotel or grab a quick bite at a nearby café before checking out.
  • Depending on your flight time, you may have time to explore more of NYC, visit Grand Central Terminal, or shop for souvenirs in Midtown Manhattan.