📍New York // A city you never get tired of
New York 5 days and 4 nights classic itinerary recommendation 🗽✨
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New York is a vibrant city with world-class attractions, dining and cultural experiences. Below is a classic 5-day, 4-night itinerary covering must-see attractions and hidden gems!
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Tour Overview
✅ Day 1: Manhattan classic landmark tour
✅ Day 2: Museum Art Day + High-altitude Sightseeing
✅ Day 3: Statue of Liberty + Wall Street + Brooklyn
✅ Day 4: Central Park + Upper East Side + Broadway
✅ Day 5: Shopping + Return
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Day 1: Manhattan Classic Landmark Tour
🚩 Morning
- Times Square: Experience the bustle of New York and check out the neon signs.
- Broadway: You can visit theaters during the day and come back to see shows at night.
- Rockefeller Center: Climb to the Top of the Rock and enjoy a panoramic view of Manhattan (wider than the Empire State Building).
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🚩 Afternoon
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral: Gothic architecture, free to visit.
- 5th Avenue: Shopping (Tiffany, Apple Store, luxury stores).
- Grand Central Terminal: Check out classic movie scenes and try the oysters there!
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🚩 Evening
- Empire State Building: The night view is super beautiful, it is recommended to climb to the top at sunset.
- Dinner recommendations: Keens Steakhouse (old-school steakhouse) or Carmine’s (family-style Italian cuisine).
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Day 2: Museum Art Day + High-altitude Sightseeing
🚩 Morning
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met): One of the world's top museums, it is recommended to spend at least 3 hours visiting.
- Central Park: From The Met, you can take a walk to Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge.
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🚩 Afternoon
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): Van Gogh's "Starry Night", Picasso, Dali and other masterpieces.
- The Vessel (Hudson Yards): Unique building, perfect for taking photos (currently reservations are required to climb to the top).
- High Line Park: An abandoned railway transformed into an aerial garden with a full sense of art.
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🚩 Evening
- Edge Observatory: The highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere, with a 360° view of New York!
- Dinner recommendations: Chelsea Market (food market) or Manhatta (high-end restaurant with a view).
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Day 3: Statue of Liberty + Wall Street + Brooklyn
🚩 Morning
- Statue of Liberty: We recommend taking Statue Cruises to Ellis Island to visit the Immigration Museum.
- Wall Street: Touch the bronze bull (go early or there will be a long queue), New York Stock Exchange.
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🚩 Afternoon
- World Trade Center & 9/11 Memorial: Visit Ground Zero and the Oculus building.
- Brooklyn Bridge: Walk across the bridge, a great photo spot!
- DUMBO District: A popular photo spot (Washington St. and Manhattan Bridge in the same frame).
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🚩 Evening
- Brooklyn Bridge Park: See the night view of Manhattan.
- Dinner recommendations: Grimaldi’s (New York’s most famous pizza) or Peter Luger (legendary steakhouse).
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Day 4: Central Park + Upper East Side + Broadway
🚩 Morning
- Central Park in-depth tour: rent a bicycle or boat (The Loeb Boathouse), visit Strawberry Fields (John Lennon Memorial).
- Upper East Side: Browse boutiques and luxury homes.
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🚩 Afternoon
- Guggenheim or American Museum of Natural History (filmed in Night at the Museum).
- SoHo: trendy brand stores, art galleries, cafes.
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🚩 Evening
- Broadway musicals: Recommended: The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
- Dinner recommendations: Sardi’s (a favorite of Broadway actors) or Junior’s (a famous New York cheesecake shop).
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Day 5: Shopping + Return
🛍️ Morning
- Woodbury Common Outlet (if you have enough time, you can arrange a day trip) or Macy’s.
- K-town (Korea Town): Eat Korean food and buy beauty products.
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✈️ Afternoon
- Before heading to the airport, you can visit Little Island (floating park) or Hudson Yards.
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Must-eat food in New York
✔ Pizza: Joe’s Pizza, Prince St. Pizza
✔ Bagels: Ess-a-Bagel, Russ & Daughters
✔ Burgers: Shake Shack, J.G. Melon
✔ Steak: Peter Luger, Keens Steakhouse
✔ Desserts: Magnolia Bakery (banana pudding), Levain Bakery (cookies)
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Useful tips
🚇 Transportation: Buy a 7-day unlimited subway card ($34), which is more cost-effective than a single ticket.
🎟️ Attraction passes: Consider New York Pass or CityPASS to save money on admission.
📱 Essential apps: Google Maps (navigation), Resy (restaurant reservations), TodayTix (discounted Broadway tickets).
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PS I especially recommend visiting New York during the Christmas holidays, as the Christmas atmosphere is strong, the decorations are rich, and it’s a great place to check in.