I’ve been to New York City five times now, and each time I make sure I do something new so I’m not just doing the same things over and over again. I’ve also been at various times of the year, but Christmas and summer are definitely my favourite times of year to visit.
After all those visits, I’m finally giving you my perfect 4-day itinerary for visiting New York City in the summer for a long weekend getaway! Get ready, because this is a bumper 3000+ word blog post, so grab a cup of coffee and let’s get into it…
Also, this itinerary is probably best for first or second timers – I’ll do a separate guide for things to do if you’ve been a few times already.
I know there are a lot of NYC itineraries out there, but when I first visited New York in 2016 I was terrified it wouldn’t live up to my expectatations.
I was genuinely sooo scared that it would be a huge let-down. Instead, I fell head-over-heels in love with it.
For me, it was exactly like it is in the movies.
My itinerary really ensures you’ll have the best time and see everything in just four days.
Travel on a Wednesday
Fly out to New York Wednesday morning. If you’re in the UK, this will get you to NYC by around 3pm. I love the Virgin Atlantic flight at 11:15am, as it gets you into JFK at 14:30.
It can then take up to two hours to get through immigration, and another hour to get a taxi from the airport to Manhattan.
Check-in at The Langham
The Langham New York remains my favourite hotel in New York, but I’ve also stayed at The Knickerbocker and The Hard Rock Hotel and loved both of those too if you’re after something in the luxury range!
If you want more of a mid-range hotel, I’ve also stayed at Hyatt Grand Central New York and it was perfectly comfortable and clean, and also the Moxy Times Square which was a very fun and reasonably priced hotel.
5:30pm – Walk up Fifth Avenue
Once you’re checked-in, I recommend heading straight out to keep yourself awake and help your body adjust to the timezone. Walk from the hotel up fifth avenue.
You’ll pass Bryant Park, the Rockefeller Centre, and St Patrick’s Cathedral! Turn right on E 55th Street, and keep walking until you get to PJ Clarke’s on the corner of 3rd Ave.
6:30pm – Dinner at PJ Clarke’s
PJ Clarke’s is one of my fave NYC restaurants. You walk in and it just feels like New York.
They do a great burger and chips, it’s proper comfort food, and they also do really amazing cocktails. The place is full of locals, and there’s a cute bar as well for a pre-dinner drink.
8pm – Dessert at Emack & Bolio
Head to Emack & Bolio after dinner for dessert! It’s a 2-min walk round the corner from PJ Clarke’s, and I swear Emack & Bolio does the best ice-cream. The actual best. Their flavours are just incredible and I love the different cone options as well.
8:30pm – Drinks at The Campbell, Grand Central Station
One of my favourite bars in New York is The Campbell, at Grand Central Station. It feels very ‘old’ New York, and is on the way back to The Langham from PJ Clarke’s.
You can also visit Grand Central Station while you’re here – killing two birds with one stone!
Hidden away inside the ornate Grand Central offices of a 1920’s mogul is The Campbell bar. Their cocktails are unbelievably good and it’s a bar I stop by every time I’m in the city!
Day 1 – Thursday
Wake up bright and early – jetlag will be in your favour if you’ve flown from the UK! For your first day you’re going to explore Chelsea and Downtown.
8:30am – Grab a bagel for breakfast
My fave breakfast in New York is a classic bagel from a street cart.
They’re only a few dollars, and they’re just so simple but so good. I always get a sesame seed bagel with cream cheese!
However, if you want a fancy bagel, go to Black Seed Bagel in the Rockefeller Centre shopping centre. They’re epic, but huuuge.
9am – Top of The Rock
The Top of the Rock is just iconic and I adore the whole experience it provides. I recommend visiting at 9am, and make sure you pre-book no matter which one you choose to visit.
You’ll be awake early due to jetlag, and if the weather is good you really can’t beat that crisp morning blue sky in NYC.
11am – Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery
Now, you’re actually going to do two trips to Magnolia Bakery on this trip, but I promise it’s worth it. You’ll 100% be wanting a third visit by the time you leave.
The first visit will be to Magnolia Bakery just a 2-minute walk from Top of the Rock (the 1240 6th Ave location).
Their banana pudding is ridiculously moreish…my mouth waters every time I just think about it! Get a banana pudding and then eat it en-route to the next place (they don’t have any seating indoors, so you’ll have to eat&walk).
11:30am – Subway to Chelsea
Walk down to the 5th Ave subway stop at Bryant Park and get the subway down to 34 St-Hudson Yards in Chelsea.
You can then see The Vessel, before walking across the square to the entrance of The Highline at West 30th St.
12noon – Walk the highline from West 30th St
The Highline is one of my favourite things to do in New York in the summer! It’s absolutely unmissable, and so so beautiful.
You walk along the old train tracks above the city, surrounded by benches, trees, and plants, and see the area of Chelsea from up above. Gardeners work on the gardens all day, so you’ll see them as you walk along.
You’ll want to get off The Highline after around 20-minutes of walking, at W 16th St, because this is where Chelsea Market is located!
1pm – Lunch at Chelsea Market
Oh my gosh. Chelsea Market is incredible. There are sooo many different eateries and food places, so have a wander, take your pick, and enjoy your lunch!
Have a look at the Chelsea Market food options here.
2:30pm – Get a taxi to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
After lunch, enjoy a wander around the Chelsea area, and then get a taxi or Uber down to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
I recommend doing this over the subway because you need to change subways part-way, and it’s a bit confusing for first-timers.
You can’t really visit New York without visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. It’s a truly haunting experience, and well worth visiting the museum to find out more about the day and recovery efforts.
4pm – Oculus Centre
The Oculus at The World Trade Center is a transit hub and Westfield shopping centre, that’s located right next to the 9/11 Memorial.
The interior is mind-blowing, and home to 12 different subway lines, loads of shops, and restaurants too.
Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, he built The Oculus with the aim for it to resemble a dove leaving a child’s hands.
4:30pm – New York Stock Exchange & Charging Bull
Just a short walk from the Oculus Centre is the famous Charging Bull on Wall Street, and just round the corner from the Charging Bull is the famous New York Stock Exchange.
5pm – Free Ferry to Staten Island (and back)
Now, to end your sightseeing, take the free ferry to Staten Island!
No, the aim is not to visit Staten Island, the aim is to see the Statue of Liberty for free 😛 It’ll save you the high cost of the organised tourist ferry tours of the Statue of Liberty.
Stay on the ferry when you reach Staten Island, and come back to Manhattan on the same one (unless you actually want to visit Staten Island, of course).
7pm – Dinner at Arturo’s Coal Oven Pizza
Y’ALL. Arturo’s is my favourite pizza place in the whole of New York.
I used to be a huge Julianna’s fan, but then fellow travel blogger Lee Abbamonte told me to go to Arturo’s Coal Oven Pizza in SoHo.
Lee is a New Yorker who has visited every country in the world, and is a huuuuge pizza fan, so is someone who’s NYC opinions I trust a lot.
I’ve now been to Arturo’s a few times and I’m never disappointed. The pizza’s are huge and well priced, and really, really delicious. They often have live music playing, and the clientele is always locals. I don’t think I’ve ever heard/seen another tourist in there.
Just make sure you go to Arturo’s Coal Oven Pizza in SoHo, and not Arturo’s Pizza on the Upper East Side!
9pm – Drinks at The Standard Grill
After dinner, get a taxi/uber up to The Standard Grill in Chelsea for drinks and great vibes.
The front terrace and cafe is a cute French bistro style, but if you walk through there’s a moody dining room, and an outside patio.
During the day the outside patio is empty, but it’s a real party place at night and is always packed with young New Yorkers drinking and having fun.
Day 2 – Friday
Your second day is all about visiting the iconic New York sights in Midtown and the Upper East Side.
10am – Breakfast at Lexington Candy Shop
IMO, Lexington Candy Shop is the epitome of New York.
Founded in 1925 (almost 100 years ago!) and run by the same family ever since, it’s an old fashioned soda diner that still serves coca-cola the traditional way – by hand mixing it!
They do a great diner breakfast and their malt shakes and coke floats are also delicious! You really can’t visit New York without going to Lexington Candy Shop.
11:30am – The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) OR Guggenheim
Handily, Lexington Candy Shop is just a short walk from both The Met and The Guggenheim. Choose which one you’d like to visit, and spend an hour or two exploring before you then go to Central Park.
I personally am a huge fan of The Met – they have a beautiful terrace with stunning views over the city! And of course, for any Gossip Girl fans, you need to get a photo sitting on Blair’s famous steps 😉
1pm – Central Park
After your cultural time, walk through Central Park to get to your lunch destination.
You just can’t beat Central Park in the summer. It’s packed with people enjoying the sunshine, playing games, and enjoying time with their loved ones. There are buskers all over the park playing music, and it’s just such a vibe!
Spend some time relaxing on The Great Lawn, and then walk down to the Central Park Boathouse via Belvedere Castle and The Rambles.
2pm – Late Lunch at Central Park Boathouse (Loeb Boathouse)
Previously called Loeb Boathouse and now called Central Park Boathouse, this is a must-do when you’re in New York in the summer! Enjoy a Mimosa by the water and people-watch to your heart’s content.
4pm – New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is a really beautiful space, and is on the way from Central Park to Macy’s.
The walk from Central Park Boathouse to the library is around 40-minutes, but half of that is walking through Central Park and the other half is walking down fifth avenue, so the time goes quickly as it’s such an iconic walk and beautiful in summer.
5pm – Shopping & Wooden Escalator at Macy’s
If you have the time and don’t want to pop back to your hotel to get changed, head down to Macy’s on Herald Square to ride the famous wooden escalators.
Not all of the escalators are wooden though, so you need to walk through towards the back of the store to get to the wooden ones.
6pm – Drinks at The Rum House & Times Square
Now, there aren’t many places on or around Times Square that are worth visiting, but The Rum House is one that is absolutely worth stopping at. It’s my go-to when I’m in the Times Square area.
The cocktails are out-of-this-world good – I love the Sour Apple one called La Grande Pomme! – and the interiors are really dark and moody. It feels like a cross between a Parisian bistro and an old New York bar.
After your cocktail, walk through Times Square, get that classic photo, and continue on to a Broadway show!
7pm – See a Broadway Show or Concert
Most broadway shows and concerts in New York start at 7pm. I know broadway is a sorta love/hate thing, so if it’s your thing, absolutely book a show!
You can get discounted tickets on the day, but if it’s a show you really want to see, I recommend booking in advance to be sure you have a ticket.
Personally I always try and see a show that we don’t have in London, or one that has cast members I want to see.
As an example, I saw An American in Paris in 2016 because it wasn’t on in London, and I saw Merrily We Roll Along because Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe were in it!
If broadway isn’t your thing but you still want to see a concert, take a look at what’s on at the Lincoln Centre, or book a ticket for the cabaret at Café Carlyle, one of New York’s most famous cabaret venues.
10pm: Late Dinner at Monkey Bar
Head to Monkey Bar for a late dinner after the concert or broadway show.
Inside the Elysium Hotel on the Upper East Side, Monkey Bar is one of my favourite restaurants in New York, and is one of those places only locals really go to.
The food is incredible and the cocktails will make you want to stay there for hours.
Make sure you book a table in advance as Monkey Bar is a very popular place!
Day 3 – Saturday
10am – Brunch at Hotel Chantelle
Visiting New York in Summer without experiencing brunch is like going to New York at Christmas and not visiting the Rockefeller Centre tree.
Basically, you need to do it.
Book brunch at Hotel Chantelle for the ultimate bottomless rooftop brunch experience.
Their bottomless margaritas and great food means you’ll leave very happy!
12noon – Friends Apartment & Carrie Bradshaw’s House
Of course, what’s better than roaming around New York slightly tipsy from margaritas? I’ve done this and can confirm it’s very fun.
First, stop by Magnolia Bakery to get a red velvet cupcake.
If you’re a fan of Friend and SATC, walk 30-minutes through SoHo and the West Village to the Friends apartment. Then, just a 5-minute walk from the Friends Apartment is Carrie Bradshaw’s house on Perry Street.
If you’re not a fan, you can still do the walk – it’s a great way to see these areas!
Honestly it’s such a cute street and in summer the trees are all green and the street is super shady and pretty.
1pm – Color Factory NYC
Now this is one that’s still on my list, and I’m hoping to go when I head back to NYC in December this year!
Just a 10-minute walk from Perry Street is Color Factory, an immersive art gallery with air conditioning if it’s a hot day. As well as air-con, Color Factory celebrates the many shades of the city.
With 14 immersive art exhibits as stunning as they are colorful visiting Color Factory includes surprise giveaways and sweet treats!
2:30pm – Late Lunch at Jack’s Wife Freda
After enjoying the immersive space at Color Factory, walk to Jack’s Wife Freda on nearby Carmine Street for a late lunch.
I love Jack’s Wife Freda because they have a great selection of light dishes that feel reasonably healthy!
It’s a beautiful restaurant and every dish I’ve ever had there has been delicious.
4pm – Washington Square Park
After your late lunch, walk to Washington Square Park to see the famous spot from Where Harry Met Sally, and then head back to your hotel to relax and get ready for a night out.
7pm – Drinks at Bathtub Gin
Get dressed up to go out-out (heels are a must!), and get a taxi down to Bathtub Gin, in Chelsea. The bar, dinner spot, and party spot are all in the same area, so you can easily walk between all three.
Bathtub Gin is one of the best bars in Chelsea, with a fun, speakeasy vibe, and great cocktails…and of course, a bathtub to take photos in!
8:30pm – Dinner at TAO Downtown
Book dinner at TAO Downtown 6-8 weeks in advance. Enjoy exceptional sushi, sashimi, and melt-in-your-mouth black cod in opulent surroundings featuring their famous Giant Buddha.
This is the place to see and be seen, a mainstay in the New York nightlife scene that never goes out of fashion.
11pm – Night out at PHD Rooftop
After dinner, step next door into the Dream Downtown building, and head to the PHD Rooftop for party time! You’ll get the most epic city views while you’re dancing the night away.
Day 4- Sunday
You’ll fly home Sunday evening on a red-eye flight so you only have to pay for 4-nights in a hotel instead of 5-nights, so this is your final day in New York.
10am – Breakfast at Bubby’s, Tribeca
Bubby’s is one of my FAVOURITE brunch spots in NYC! It’s a must-do for first time visitors and perfect in the summer for those summer Tribeca vibes.
They honestly do the best pancakes I have ever eaten.
I mean look at them!
Read my review of Bubby’s NYC
12:00 – Brooklyn Bridge
After Bubby’s, walk the 20-minutes from Bubby’s to the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway.
Walk across the bridge (which will take about half an hour), get those famous photos, and when you get to the Brooklyn side of the bridge, walk down to the Time Out Market.
13:30pm – Light lunch/snack at Time Out Market New York
You’ll probably still be a bit full from pancakes, so just get a drink and something light from the Time Out Market and enjoy the views over Manhattan from their outside seating area – personally I love the Ess-a-Bagel bagels!
14:30pm – Subway back to Manhattan
You can then either get the subway (about 45-mins), or an Uber (25mins) to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt for one last epic observation deck experience before you leave New York City.
3:30pm – SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is really fun and SO cool, but very busy and chaotic as it’s veeery instagrammable.
It basically blends elements of art, technology, architecture, and thrill to take the concept of NYC “observation decks” to entirely new heights.
You’ve probably seen it all over Instagram and TikTok already, but honestly nothing really prepares you for how epic it is. With sweeping views across the city, there are also fun rooms with interactive art.
5pm – Early dinner at Burger Joint
After visiting SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, walk up fifth avenue to Burger Joint inside the Thompson Central Park for an early dinner before leaving for the airport.
The burgers at Burger Joint are honestly the best, and I love their milkshakes too!
It’s got a speakeasy vibe and is always full of locals as its so hidden away. I recommend it to everyone who visits NYC.
6pm: Get a taxi to JFK
Go back to the hotel and grab your luggage, and get a taxi or Uber to JFK around 6pm.
You wanna get there nice and early because the traffic can be awful, and also it can sometimes take a while to drop your bags and get through security and immigration.
11pm: Fly home!
I love the flights that leave JFK between 10pm-11pm. It means you’re ready to crash by the time you get on the plane, so you’re able to sleep the whole flight and wake up just before you land in London the following morning.
A Perfect Summer Long Weekend
Summer really is an amazing time to visit New York City.
The whole city is alive, and yes, while it may stink of garbage, it’s worth the smell to see the city in full bloom with bushy green trees and that summer feeling.
Keep an eye out for my Christmas in NYC guide – I’m going back in early December so will get one written for you when I’m home from that trip! 😀