Street view of Times Square neon signs and NYC yellow taxi

3 days in NYC: an itinerary for first-timers

Grab a slice of New York life in three days
By Casey Makovich

Visiting the Big Apple for the first time? There's so much to see and do, you'll want to get organized. Here's our guide to spending three days in New York.

If you’re going to be spending three days in New York City for the first time, you’re going to want to experience the essentials. Central Park. The Statue of Liberty. Pizza slices as big as your torso. Stunning panoramas that, up until now, you've only seen on TV or in the movies.

This sample 3 days in NYC itinerary includes:

  • Central Park
  • Top of the Rock
  • Madame Tussauds
  • Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO
  • 9/11 Memorial & Museum
  • Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

But what do you do first? This three-day New York City itinerary will help you get a taste of what the city has to offer, and have you going home feeling like you got the most out of your first visit.

Looking for things to do in New York City?

Trust us. Standing in line for a ticket and juggling entry slips can waste valuable sightseeing time. It can also get expensive if you're intent on seeing everything the city has to offer. With The New York Pass®, you get admission to more than 90 attractions in the city with an impressive discount, compared to paying at the gate of each attraction.

With three days to use your pass, you can take your time and experience the best of NYC at your own pace or visit as many sites as you want each day. A sightseeing pass can help save you money and time so you can spend more of it in the city. Sounds good, right?

✈️ Buy The New York Pass® ✈️ 

NYC itinerary: day 1

Let’s kick things off with a visit to one of the most New York places: Central Park.

A view of blossom trees in Central Park, NY
Central Park in the springtime

Take a tour of Central Park

If you've never taken a guided tour before, now's a good time to start. Not only are walking tours a great way of meeting new people, but local experts always offer a wealth of insight. This guided tour will reconfirm your 'Elite Tourist' status. Central Park, as a sprawling green oasis featured in countless movies and TV shows, provides no end of interesting and fun facts.

Visit the same spots used to film iconic scenes, take a walk over all of the bridges, and enjoy the gorgeous statues and fountains located all over the park.

👉Tip: Make a reservation beforehand for any tour, and get there about 15-20 minutes before it leaves.

🎟️Getting in: Central Park TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour tickets are included with The New York Pass®.

Rockefeller's Top of the Rock Observatory

Enjoy a 70-story ride up an elevator to the top of Rockefeller Center. It houses a three-story observatory giving you a 360-degree view of the entire city, so be sure to take pictures of yourself and the skyline. Make everyone jealous back at home. It's a win-win!

👉Tip: Look up - you'll see the crystal chandelier in the mezzanine that’s actually an inverted version of Rockefeller Center. Also, check out the Breezeway Step light display.

🎟️Getting In: Top of the Rock tickets are included with the New York Pass®.

Madame Tussauds in New York

Visit famous people from different eras. You’ll find exquisitely detailed life-like wax figures of actors, musicians, and other classic figures from history. It's also a great place to take photographs with celebrities and prank all your friends back home by pretending you met them in real life. 

👉Tip: Stop by the interactive exhibits on display like the amazing Ghostbusters Experience and Kong: Skull Island.

🎟️Getting in: Madame Tussauds New York tickets are included with The New York Pass®.

NYC itinerary: day 2

Let’s get out of Manhattan and explore one of the other boroughs.

Brooklyn has a vibe all its own and makes you feel like you’re stepping into a different world. Rub shoulders with young hipsters (the median age of a Brooklyn resident? A spritely 34.7 years) and eat a Tootsie Roll where it was invented - right here. And with over 700 arts and culture institutions in this borough alone, you won't be short of interesting things to do in New York. But, first things first:

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge and visit DUMBO

Take a guided tour of the Brooklyn Bridge; you'll want a guide full of stories about its history. Then head into DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), one of Brooklyn's trendiest neighborhoods.

Explore the wares offered by different vendors and check out the restaurants offering various styles of cuisine; there’s always some sort of event going on at any given time. You'll get an awesome view of Manhattan from here, so take as many pictures as you can!

👉Tip: Reconnect with your inner child by taking a ride on Jane’s Carousel.

🎟️Getting in: The Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour tickets are included with the The New York Pass®.

A view of Brooklyn Bridge, NY
Take a tour of the Brooklyn Bridge

Step into Williamsburg

If you’re able to tear yourself away from DUMBO, head over to Williamsburg for more Brooklyn exploration. Get a glimpse of some real New York street art, and stop by the various clothing boutiques in the neighborhood where you can find real vintage style.

Find out more about the history of Brooklyn and its evolution into a mecca for young, upwardly mobile people. Not everyone in the area is happy about gentrification. Hear both sides of the argument for and against the new side of the area.

👉We recommend: Visiting Mast Brothers Chocolate to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Walk through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Finish off the day by strolling through all the beautifully maintained gardens; you’ll find different types of plants and horticulture techniques in each one. Then, take a load off and enjoy some plant-based cuisine at the Yellow Magnolia Café.

👉Tip: if you’re there in April, visit Cherry Esplanade to see all of the gorgeous cherry blossoms in bloom. Stop by the Sakura Matsuri cherry blossom festival if it’s going on while you’re there.

🎟️Getting in: Brooklyn Botanic Garden tickets are included with The New York Pass®.

NYC itinerary: day 3

On the final day, we head back to Manhattan and finish things off in style. The choice is yours: go to the site of New York’s biggest heartbreak, or visit the biggest icon in the world.

Statue of Liberty view from the river
See the iconic Statue of Liberty

Take in the Ground Zero Museum Workshop

This workshop has images and artifacts documenting one of the worst days New York has ever experienced. You’ll hear about the stories behind these items, and get the chance to take home a piece of this history.

🎟️Getting in: Ground Zero Museum Workshop tickets are included with The New York Pass®.

Pay your respects at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

After leaving the workshop, head over to visit the 9/11 memorial, set up on the site where the Twin Towers once stood. View exhibits highlighting the differences in New York before and after the tragedy. You’ll also get the chance to hear directly from a survivor of that day.

🎟️Getting in: 9/11 Memorial & Museum tickets are included with The New York Pass®.

❗We'd recommend doing this or Ellis Island. Even though they're near each other in the Financial District, each site takes around four hours to walk around. Your feet will thank you!

Visit Ellis Island and the Statue Of Liberty

Get the arrivals-eye view of New York and see what immigrants saw: Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. You’ll take a cruise from Battery Park, getting the chance to view other NYC landmarks on your way to Ellis Island.

Once there, read up on the stories of the millions of people who made their way to America looking for a fresh start. Then take pictures of Lady Liberty herself, gifted to the US in 1886 by France to mark the abolition of slavery. Once there, don't forget to visit the Statue of Liberty Museum.

👉Tip: Take in the 10-minute Immersive Theater experience.

🎟️Getting in: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum tickets are included with The New York Pass®.

❗Tickets to the Statue of Liberty pedestal and crown are sold separately and require advanced reservations.

See the very best of New York

In just three days in NYC, you can immerse yourself in some of the most iconic sights and landmarks with The New York Pass®, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50%, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.  

✈️ Buy The New York Pass® ✈️ 

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Best Breakfasts in New York

Looking for the best breakfasts in New York? Of course you are. Whether it's the classic eggs, toast and bacon, or perhaps something with avocado, breakfast – as mom knows – is still the most important meal of the day. And with our recommendations for the best breakfasts in New York, it can also be the best. Sadelle’s Sadelle’s bagel tower will give you reason to live – or at least, to get through your day. It’s the ultimate you-can-take-your-grandma-but-you-can-also-take-your cool-cousin place to go for brunch or breakfast. You must order that bagel tower—the bagels are reasonably sized, not giant, so you won’t feel guilty if you eat, say, six. You’ll also want whitefish salad, or perhaps some smoked salmon. Get several sticky buns to start—yes, it’s that kind of place. It has just the right vibe of homey and trendy, so get those cameras ready – this will be all over your feed before you’ve had coffee. Definitely one of the ten best breakfasts in New York! Sadelle’s bagel tower is now a New York must-be-tried classic Barney Greengrass If you’re looking for one of the best breakfasts in New York, walk into Barney Greengrass. When you enter Barney Greengrass, the famous New York institution that’s been around since 1908, you’ll be greeted by scratched tables, piles of boxes, and narrow pathways. Anywhere else, that might be a sign to leave. Here, it’s a sign that you’re in the right place. The “sturgeon king” is the place to go for lox, eggs, and onions, bagels and cream cheese, potato pancakes, and classic matzoh ball soup (preferably all in one meal.) You’ll feel stuffed and comforted when you leave, but you should probably get half a pound of rugelach (crescent-shaped pastries) to take with you, just in case you want a nosh later. Boqueria One of the best-kept secrets at the buzzy Boqueria is their stellar breakfast. You can go with the prix-fixe option or put together your own spread. You’ll find the traditional (eggs, potatoes, toast) but why not try specialties like house-made chorizo, a tortilla Espanola, or Arroz Negro—black rice, avocado, poached eggs, spinach and fresh herbs? And definitely save room for the churros with chocolate. Whether on a sandwich or in your eggs, avocados are everywhere at breakfast CIinton St. Baking Company There are pancakes...and then there are the pancakes at Clinton St. Baking. Order the blueberry or chocolate chip – they’re so indescribably good, you’ll wonder what you’ve been eating all these years. Slather on plenty of the warm maple butter because... warm maple butter, duh. The fried chicken and waffles is also a solid choice, as is the Brioche French toast. But those pancakes...One caveat: Be prepared to wait. And wait. No matter when you go, there’s a line. It’s worth it. These are pretty much the best pancakes you will ever have, and by far one of the best breakfasts in New York. Impossible-to-resist fluffy pancakes are worth seeking out Westway Diner Sometimes you just want diner food. When that urge strikes at breakfast, head to the Westway Diner. This is the place to go when everyone wants something different. You and your BFF can get scrambled eggs and hash browns, Aunt Mary can have a waffle, and your sister can have the cheese blintzes with sour cream. The menu is extensive, the food is good, and the prices are bearable (it’s still New York, remember.) And just in case you feel like a walk on the wild side, friend shrimp and stuffed grape leaves are also available in the morning hours. Sarabeth’s Another of New York’s best breakfasts is at New York institution Sarabeth’s, which is beloved both for its inviting-yet-homey interior as well as the done-right comfort foods. At breakfast, the oatmeal is stellar, the fat and fluffy French Toast (their words) is, yep, fat and fluffy, and the omelets are delicious. Though the restaurant gives off a faint ladies-who-lunch vibe, just dive in and order the Four Flowers Juice (orange, pineapple, banana and pomegranate) and start your day off right. One of New York’s 10 best breakfasts includes oatmeal with a variety of mix-ins! Buvette The lovely Buvette is the place to go when you’re in the mood for Parisian vibes – or just avoiding your actual life by spending a long time sipping espresso and gazing into space. You can sample the dreamily named “Les Oeufs vapeur" (steamed eggs); “Oeufs Americaine" (is there is a hint of reproach in there?), or just be chic and nibble on an almond croissant. Don’t forget to sigh heavily and make lots of comments about your screenplay. Try an egg – or three – in one of New York’s stellar breakfasts Marlow & Sons When it’s time to feel impossibly hip, head to Marlow & Sons in Brooklyn. Of course it’s in Brooklyn. You can try the egg sandwich (cheddar, pickled chili mayo, and sautéed greens or salad). Or perhaps the egg and rice bowl? It’s filled with kimchi, greens, and furikake (a dry Japanese seasoning typically made with dried fish, seaweed, and sesame seeds.) You can also get a croissant or a muffin – but just know that your coolness factor will go down exponentially if you do. Head to Brooklyn to find one of the city’s best breakfasts Community Food & Juice When you think of the word “breakfast,” you probably think of the kind of food that’s served at Community Food & Juice. Try the biscuit sandwich with egg, cheese and sausage (you’ll never have a fast-food version again); the Eggs Benedict, or the oatmeal, although it’s hard to go wrong. It’s all served in a big, airy space that invites lingering--and linger you will. Definitely one of our picks for one of the best breakfasts in New York! Start your day right with a great breakfast before heading out exploring the city with The New York Pass®. You'll make great savings on attraction admission vs. paying at the gate.
Go City Expert
New York skyline
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One Week in New York City - 7 Days in NYC Itinerary

Got a week to explore NYC? We've got your itinerary covered. From dazzling viewpoints to vibrant neighborhood strolls, a week is enough time to get acquainted with the Big Apple.
Casey Makovich
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Cab Etiquette In NYC: All You Need to Know

We’ve all been there. You stayed out a little later than you planned, and you’re a little worse for wear. You need to go to bed, but the city’s unfamiliar to you. The public transport maps might as well be Jackson Pollock paintings. So you do what every single person does in films and TV shows based in New York. You raise your hand, and within seconds a yellow cab’s pulled up beside you. Hopefully you’re on your way in seconds and home safe and sound, but if anything seems off or you need help and advice, read on. Here’s what you need to know about cab etiquette in NYC. Can a cab driver ever refuse me service? My taxi is loud and uncomfortable. What can I do? A lot, thankfully. Riders have rights too, after all. If your driver is on a call or using their phone, they’re being super illegal. Feel free to remind them. If the cab is too hot or cold, depending on the time of year, you can also request they put the air con/heating on. And if their music is too loud, by all means, politely ask them to turn it down or off. Just don’t berate their choice of genre. However, if the driver refuses these, or any reasonable requests, you have the right to get out at any time. And remember to take down their medallion number if you want to make a complaint. It’s on their licence plate, the hood of the taxi, and on your receipt if you request one. What if I’m being loud, and making the driver uncomfortable? Should I stare at them creepily through the rear-view mirror? No. No, don’t. Why would you even...? How much should I tip? Tips are big business in New York, as they are in the rest of the US. But sadly you’ll be expected to pay over the odds in the Big Apple. 20% of the fee is the recommended amount. If you’re paying with card instead of cold hard cash, the amount of gratuity will automatically be added to the charge. It could go as high as 30%, so keep that in mind if you’re squeezing pennies. Of course, if you’re an out-of-towner and they’ve been helpful with info or recommendations, why not be a nice little human and show them your gratitude with money? Tipping’s the best way to thank them, but if you want to go above and beyond because they did, hop on the nyc.gov website and leave a glowing review, you selfless beauty. If the driver asks for cash, is it OK to use my card instead? Yes. Every taxi in NYC is required by law to take card, so if your driver says they don’t have a machine or that it’s broken, it’s a ruse. Persist, and victory will be yours. Drivers may also mention they’ve selected ‘Cash’ instead of ‘Card’ and that they can’t reverse the decision. This, too, is a ruse. Stay strong, and wait for the card machine. It’s simply a case of them pressing a single button to make it happen. Also get your receipt - it contains lots of vital information like their medallion number which you’ll need if you lose something in the cab, or want to make a complaint. That’s what you need to know about taxi etiquette in NYC. We hope these tips help. Of course, we’re always open to suggestions, so if you have any other top tips you’d like to add, let us know in the comments below! Stay safe, travelers. Has this cab etiquette in NYC blog satisfied your itch for all things New York? No? Still prefer public transportation? Sure thing, here's more about the metro system in NYC.
Dom Bewley

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