There are always so many things to do and delicious places to eat in New York City that makes it the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. NYC is our favorite city on earth. There’s an energy in the air that just makes you so excited about life. Also the cookies are to. die. for. Whether you want to spend a weekend strolling museums or seeing shows on Broadway, NYC has something for everyone. If you’re looking for the best things to do in the city that never sleeps, here’s our guide to three days in NYC:
The ultimate guide to a weekend in nyc:
Day 1:
Stroll Through Central Park:
Visit the MET:
Not only does the Metropolitan Museum of Art house some of the most beautiful art pieces in the world, but the building itself is absolutely stunning. If you go during summer, be sure to go to the rooftop for a beautiful skyline views. They also often have a fashion exhibit with pieces from some of the world’s top designers and the pieces are always so stunning. Don’t leave without getting a classic Gossip Girl shot of you and your friends sitting on the steps. Another one of my favorite museums in the city is the Guggenheim and it’s just down the road from the MET. Right now they have a Hilma af Klint exhibit that is truly breathtaking.
Grab Lunch at Momofuku:
Start Your NYC Trip Off Right with a Cookie from Levain Bakery:
Eat Dinner at Jacob’s Pickles:
Stop by Times Square at Night:
I know a lot of people hate Times Square, because there are so many people and so much craziness going on, but personally I love it. I feel like it’s the perfect spot to feel how alive NYC really is.
LOOKING FOR MORE DELICIOUS TREATS IN THE CITY? HERE’S A LIST OF OUR FAVORITE TREATS IN NYC!
Day 2:
Wake up Early and Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge:
Spend Some Time Walking Around DUMBO:
DUMBO (which stands for down under the manhattan bridge overpass) is such a beautiful area to walk around and enjoy the views of the city. If you have kids (or even if you don’t), go on the Jane Carousel! It was built in 1922 and has by far the best views of any carousel I’ve ever seen. Take an taxi to get brunch at Maman or grab some pizza from Juliana’s for lunch.
Walk The High Line:
After you’ve crossed back over the bridge, make your way to the Highline. The Highline is an old railroad that’s been transformed into a beautiful park. This is one of our favorite things to do in the city. It has beautiful views and is so unique to NYC.
Day #1 Itinerary..is a little bit too ambitious. There is no way you can do the Park and the Met, right, in one day. Also, do MOMA — instead of the Met.
We try to share a lot of different options, so every one can choose to do what they’re most interested in. We also love the MOMA! There are so many amazing museums in the city!
Too much to try to do on all three days.
We love sharing lots of ideas, so everyone can take their trip at their own pace 🙂
These are all truly great ideas, but as others have mentioned, this isn’t a realistic weekend itinerary (despite the title of the post). There’s no way you could do that much in one weekend, so I would encourage anyone reading this to choose their favorites of the list but definitely do not go in thinking you’ll do it all!
I HIGHLY recommend the VIP Mastercard Tour at One World Observatory – you skip to the front of both the security and elevator lines, and the guided tour is really great! After the tour, you’re free to stay and enjoy the observation deck as long as you want! I also loved the cocktail bar in the restaurant – killer cocktails, great bartenders, and beautiful views!
If you’re looking for an Instgram-worthy place to grab a bite to eat, the Old Rose at the Jane Hotel is fantastic! It’s a gorgeous little restaurant with outstanding food (that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg – I had an appetizer, lunch, and a glass of wine for $30!)
Thanks for all your suggestions! I guess it depends on your pace, as this is a 3-day itinerary we’ve followed ourselves. We always try to err on the "more options" side rather than leaving our readers without an idea of what to do. Not everyone will be interested in all of the items on the itinerary. 🙂
We’ve never been to Old Rose, but we’ll absolutely add it to our list for our next visit!
I thought it was about sharing NY and not your personal life at every turn.
We can only share our personal experiences, because that’s all we know.
I have been to NYC a few times now and it is one of my favorite places in the US. You can definitely do all of this in the time being because I managed to do most of this the first time I was there. I guess it just depends on your pace and what you want to do. But NYC is one of those places you come back to and I definitely want to go on this cookie tour next time 🙂 thanks for sharing!
It’s our favorite city in the US too! Yes, NYC is definitely one of those places that can be taken at very different paces depending on what you want to do and who you’re with! We try to go back every year! And the cookies are definitely worth trying 🙂 Have a blast!
We’re traveling to NYC in September and are so excited! This guide has been super helpful! Do you remember what style of room you got at the Intercontinental? That view is AMAZING and we would love to have something like that when we visit! Thanks so much for posting this travel guide!