The best way to spend 2 days in New York City
As one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, New York is a buzzing and vibrant metropolis brimming with bright lights and the promise of big adventures.
One of the greatest things about it is its endless energy and accessibility, allowing micro trip travellers the chance to see the most iconic sights, eat the tastiest food and snap the best photos in the space of just a few days. With the clock well and truly ticking, September Withers shows us the best way to spend two days in New York City, starting from the moment you step foot in Manhattan.
Day 1
Morning
One of the most famous landmarks in the world, the Statue of Liberty, welcomes millions of visitors every year. Statue Cruises is the only official provider of tickets to the Statue of Liberty that can guarantee access to the inside of the monument where you’ll discover sweeping views of Manhattan.
Following a snap happy trip to Lady Liberty, Lower Manhattan provides a wealth of impressive architecture including the financial district’s opulent buildings on Wall Street and the mighty New York Stock Exchange on Broad Street. The National 9/11 Memorial and Museum on Greenwich Street is one of the most impressive and emotionally affecting historical centres of our time and worth visiting before heading to the ever bustling Brooklyn Bridge, which offers some of the most scenic skyline views in all the city.
Feeling peckish? The waterfront Seaport District NYC is moments away and boasts great restaurants for a sit down meal. Dig into hearty pasta and pizza dishes at Il Brigante or fresh, reasonably priced sushi at Suteishi.
Afternoon
Walk off lunch with a long stroll through Central Park: the “backyard” of New York City. At 843-acres, this beautiful park is swathed in luscious colours throughout the year from the vibrant greens of summer to the golden leaves of autumn.
Wander past Bethesda Terrace, the reservoir and the Hans Christian Andersen Statue before heading to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for an afternoon of culture that spans 5,000 years of world history.
Day 2
Morning
In the heart of New York City stands the Empire State Building at an impressive 443 meters high. Attracting more than 120 million visitors, honoured in countless movies and with unforgettable views of Manhattan and beyond from the 86th and 102nd floors, it’s an impressive feat.
Once back on ground level, meander towards Fifth Avenue: the best-known boulevard in the Big Apple. Home to many renowned buildings and shops including Trump Tower, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York Public Library and Saks, Fifth Avenue is the territory of the well-heeled society.
Afternoon
The American Museum of Natural History has the world’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils. With 32 million specimens and cultural artifacts in its holdings, it’s easy to lose track of time as you walk through rooms filled with dramatic dioramas of life-size animals and halls that depict the evolution of humans.
With time running out and with Times Square and the Theatre District still to be explored, jump in a yellow taxi to Midtown Manhattan. Times Square is as busy and dazzling as you might imagine with the glittering lights of nearby Broadway adding the ultimate sparkle to the end of two days in New York City.
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