3 Days in New York City: The Best 18 Things to See

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Concrete jungle where dreams are made of! You all know the song. And after visiting New York City, I totally understand what Alicia Keys was singing about. There are so many amazing ways to spend 3 days in New York City! And so much to see and do!

I’ve always loved cities – the hustle and bustle, the people, and all the different cultures and attractions everywhere. I also had a bit of an obsession with the USA and especially visiting New York City, so I made a promise to myself that I’d go when I turned 21.

I’d never been outside of Europe at this point; scratch that, I’d barely left England! So I wanted this to be a great adventure and as soon as I stepped off the plane, it lived up to my expectations.

We visited New York in the middle of the summer. Even though we landed at 10pm, the heat hit me in the face as soon as I left the airport.

And the noise was deafening!

Cars were honking their horns and people were everywhere! Police were shepherding everyone out of the road, bellowing at taxi drivers to slow down and pedestrians to hurry up.

But I’ll tell you now, there is nothing better when you love New York City than to spend your first night in the city driving through Times Square at night! It was honestly amazing and I think I spent the whole journey with my face pressed up against the window.

Even after exploring the city for a few days, I just didn’t want to leave! So, if you’re planning your dream trip to NYC, here are 18 unforgettable things to add to your itinerary for 3 days in New York City. Trust me, you won’t want to miss these!

🡲 Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here are two of my favourite NYC experiences: The Vanderbilt Experience, and the One World Observatory. Plus, the hotel we stayed at during our time there.

The perfect way to spend 3 days in New York City

So, without further ado, here are the best things to do in 3 days in New York.

Empire State Building

One of the most famous New York landmarks, the Empire State Building is a must during 3 days in New York. Right in the heart of the city, the 86th floor is included in the New York City Pass. If you don’t have the pass, it costs $41 to go to the 86th floor and an extra $20 to get up to the 102nd-floor observation deck.

Standing at an incredible 1224 feet above Manhattan, the 360 views from the top are stunning. Plus, you learn a little American history too on your way up. The Empire State Building should be pretty high up your NYC itinerary and you can’t really leave the city without paying it a visit!

Times Square

Driving through Times Square in the back of a taxi just does not capture the true magnitude of this place! As well as being one of the best free places to visit in New York, there’s so much to do in Times Square!

From Madame Tussauds to Broadway Theatre, Comedy Shows to rooftop bars, bowling alleys and billboards literally everywhere! There are neon lights, people dressed as cartoon characters, shops, statues, street art, stalls selling hot dogs, caramelised nuts and loads more.

There are also lots of places to eat ranging from cheap street food to expensive restaurants and everything in between. Times Square is unquestionably one of my favourite places to explore in New York! We went during the day and I loved it so much, I insisted we came back at night and did it all again.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

The most famous New York landmark, this is a must-do and definitely one of the best things to see in New York.

You can actually see the statue for free if you catch the Staten Island Ferry, but the much better way is to pay Statue Cruises for the round trip to Liberty and Ellis Island.

You can also go up to the pedestal or crown of the statue but make sure you book this well in advance as tickets sell out super-fast! Tickets start at just $25 and you can just $3 more go to up to the crown.

Brooklyn Bridge

This is another of the city’s most well-known landmarks and one of the most scenic and the best things to see and do in New York. Brooklyn Bridge connects the two most famous boroughs in the city – Manhattan and Brooklyn.

It’s a really relaxing walk across, and nice to escape the concrete for a little. It also gives you great views of the city skyline which makes it a wonderful place for photography.

You can also stop in the middle and see the stream of cars, including New York’s infamous yellow cabs, whizzing by underneath you.

Central Park

Going to Central Park was a really strange experience for me and another of the great free things to see and do in New York City.

I’d been told that it’s a green woodland bang smack in the middle of a city and that’s literally what is! 693 acres of it to be precise.

It was so bizarre to walk off the busy sidewalks and find meadows, hills and forests. As well as this there’s Central Park Zoo, a castle, a carousel, a fountain that features in Sex and the City, an underground arcade, a lake, statues (including Alice in Wonderland and the Statue of Balto) and arches.

We decided to walk to Sheep Meadow.

On our way, we saw joggers, people playing sports and stalls dotted about selling chilled water and ice cream.

Sheep meadow is probably the place you’ve seen in photographs of Central Park. It was actually named after the sheep that used to graze there. It’s so relaxing to lie there with ice cream and a cold drink, underneath the city skyline. The meadow is so popular that there were many other people there doing yoga, eating picnics and sunbathing.

This is undoubtedly a great place to explore during 3 days in New York and necessary if you need to escape the madness of the city for a while!

World Trade Centre Observatory (Freedom Tower)

I have a bit of an obsession with high-rise buildings and one of the best things to see in New York is to admire the cityscape views. This one certainly didn’t disappoint!

Having overtaken the Empire State as the tallest building in New York, the World Trade Centre Observatory elevator shoots you up 102 floors in just 47 seconds!

The 360 view from the top shows the New York skyline from a different angle. It’s closer to the edge of Manhattan, which means great views of the Empire State on one side and the Statue of Liberty on the other.

There are ticket combinations available ranging from general admission at $35 to their dinner package at $90! Its location right next to the Westfield shopping centre and the 9/11 memorial and museum, means you can easily cross a few things off your NYC itinerary whilst you’re there.

Broadway

Similar to London’s West End, Broadway is a chain of 41 theatres in Midtown Manhattan. The road itself is one of the longest roads in the world, running 16.3 miles from lower Manhattan all the way to the Bronx.

The street originally became famous because it was one of the first streets in New York to be lit with electric lights and billboards. Today, Times Square has claimed this prize, but if you’re in New York City for a few days, Broadway is still one of the best places to visit.

The street has shown some of the world’s greatest musicals. Lion King, Wicked, Chicago, Jersey Boys, and Phantom of the Opera are some of the most famous. I definitely recommend seeing a musical in your 3 days in New York City. My personal favourite is Lion King, which I would easily watch over and over again.

Grand Central Terminal

I always remember this place as the flash dance scene from Friends with Benefits, which is one of my all-time favourite films! Grand Central Terminal is the main transport hub for New York City. Bustling with activity it is one of the most unique train stations in the world.

The architecture is truly something with the amazingly high ceiling and coupled with the station’s interesting history, makes it even more impressive. Also, with over 50 shops and 35 restaurants, you can do a LOT more here than just catch a train!

Washington Square Park

Situated in Greenwich Village, this is another place to sit and chill after a day’s exploring. Dangle your feet in the pretty fountain or sit on one of the benches surrounded by woodland trees. You can also catch the view of the Empire State Building through Washington Square Arch.

A different part of the city to watch the world go by, the park contrasts Times Square as the billboards are replaced with trees and woodland flowers.

But there’s still heaps of entertainment such as musicians, bands, dancers and magicians! If you need a slightly different woodland escape during your 3 days in New York City, Washing Square Park will be the perfect spot!

I also love the view of the Empire State Building through the Arch as it always reminds me of the intro to the FRIENDS TV show!

Museum of Natural History

A ‘Ross Geller’ or ‘Night at the Museum’ favourite this is, in my opinion, one of the best Natural History Museums in the World. It’s also easily another of the best places to visit in New York City. Being one of the largest museums in the world, you’ll need at least half a day to explore it properly.

Tickets cost between $13 and $23 depending on which option you buy. Their collections of artefacts, fossils, and animals are truly fascinating. The Museum contains around 32 million natural specimens along with the skeletons of some of the largest living creatures to ever walk the Earth. There are also fun dinosaur facts for any budding palaeontologist!

High line

Located in Chelsea, the High Line NYC is one of the world’s most usual city parks as it’s built on an abandoned, elevated railway. 30 feet above the city, it stretches from one side of Chelsea to the other. You’ll find some great views and fab photography opportunities along the walkway.

It was one of my favourite things to do in New York and there are also some great stories on plaques dotted about the park too. There were tales of Titanic survivors and information about what the community is doing for the environment and how they’re trying to make New York greener.

Plus, if you get hot along your walk, there are plenty of people selling ice lollies or bottles of water for just $1!

9/11 Memorial and Museum

Everyone should visit the 9/11 memorial and museum if they have 3 days in New York City. Located in Lower Manhattan, the memorial pays tribute to the lives lost in the terrible suicide attack of September 2001. It’s now an essential feature of the city.

It shows the true scale of this tragic attack, and it is really beautiful what they’ve done with the memorial. The marble has the names of all the victims engraved around the edge.

The museum costs $26 to enter and documents the impact the attack had on NYC and its residents. It’s truly a moving place but is undoubtedly one of the best things to see in New York City.

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Ever wondered where the iconic photos of the New York skyline against the ocean are taken?

The Brooklyn Heights Promenades, of course!

Take a trip here after walking the Brooklyn Bridge and spend some time sitting on a bench, relaxing and admiring the views. Another of the great free things to do in New York City!

Prospect Park

The Central Park of Brooklyn is another woodland park hidden away in a city. Another great example of what New York does best!

You can easily get lost among the lakes, woodland trails and waterfalls. Perhaps also pay a visit to the zoo, or carousel or explore the great 3-mile looped road track for all the runners and cyclists out there.

Rockefeller Centre

Another New York City skyscraper, I love the Rockefeller Centre. Of course, we had to go to the top!

It’s shorter than both the Empire State and Freedom Tower at just 70 floors. However, The Top of the Rock is certainly still one of the best things to do in New York.

The top has 3 observation decks (including an open rooftop), which give fabulous 360 views over New York City. It costs up to $38 to enter.

The Rockefeller Centre is particularly famous for its winter ice rink so, definitely pay a visit if you plan on going to New York at Christmas!

Coney Island

One of the reasons places like Barcelona are so popular is because it’s a city on a beach. It’s the best of both worlds and that’s exactly what you get with Coney Island!

Despite having a reputation as a bit of a tourist trap, you’ll be surprised at how much charm this beachside town has. There’s something here for everyone and at only an hour outside Manhattan, if you have 3 days in New York, it’s well worth a visit.

A few attractions at Coney Island include the famous Cyclone rollercoaster, a beach, a circus, and an aquarium. You’ll also find the longest boardwalk in the world stretching for 2.7 miles! If you go at the right time of year you can also see concerts, a mermaid parade or the world’s biggest hot-dog eating contest!

Watch a Baseball or a Basketball Game

To quote Joey ‘The Nick’s rule!’ and whilst we didn’t see the Nicks, I certainly agree that catching a sports game if you have 3 days in New York is a necessity!

It wasn’t basketball season when we went (it starts in October), so we decided to watch a baseball game instead. And who better to see than the team whose logo is on 90% of the world’s baseball caps – the New York Yankees!

The buzz of the crowd in the Yankee stadium was absolutely incredible. People were screaming and cheering and booing – even people shouting abuse at the opposing team. There were mascots and cheerleaders and games at the intervals played on the big screen that the whole crowd joined in with.

Baseball is a truly wonderful part of the American culture and I definitely recommend going to a game while you’re in the city. It’s an experience you won’t forget.

Shop til you Drop!

If you’ve ever wondered what the best shopping destinations in the world are, you don’t need to look much further than New York City!

As one of the fashion capitals in the world, the choices are endless. From Bloomingdales to Maceys, to huge H&M’s and high-end stores like Tiffany and Co and Michael Kors, there’s definitely something for everyone.

Plus, check out more tips on how to travel to New York on a budget here!

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