I’ve been thinking a lot about New York, which is almost certainly a sign that I’m keen to go back and explore more of this amazing city.  You might remember that I went a couple of years ago with my son, and the impression that trip made on both of us is still pretty strong today.

New York City

It got me thinking about what I would love to see if I had just one day in New York.  Because I already know the city, I’ve got a really clear idea of how I would spend 24 hours in NY and I wanted to share it with you just incase you were planning a flying visit to the city.

Start with Brooklyn Bridge

It bugs me to this day that we didn’t walk across Brooklyn Bridge, so the first thing I would do is catch the subway to the Jay St – Metrotech or Clark Street subway station.  It’s a short walk to the pedestrian entrance of Brooklyn Bridge and you can walk across to the Financial District in about 45 minutes.

Brooklyn Bridge

Go To Ground Zero

Visiting Ground Zero was one of the most moving experiences I had during our visit to New York, and I would add it to this 24 hour itinerary too.  If you’ve not been before, it’s an incredibly powerful experience.

teen Looking at cascading fountains 9/11 Memorial site New York City

Walk Down Wall Street

Wall Street is the most famous street in the Financial District due the wheelings and dealings that happen here on a daily basis and because of the 1987 film of the same name starring Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen.  If you want to see where it all happens, take a stroll amongst it’s imposing skyscrapers before the next stop on the list.

wall street new york

Head to Battery Park

Battery Park is a short walk away and is the perfect place to grab a famous New York coffee.  Take a seat and enjoy the view over the Hudson River and say hello to the Statue of Liberty before taking the subway to the next point of call.

Times Square

Times Square is like a magnet, and draws people from all over the world with it’s flashing billboards and and exciting shopping opportunities. It’s the perfect place for a quick selfie before heading to the famous Junior’s Cheesecake shop for an all American lunch followed by a slab of mouth watering cheesecake.

times square new york

Top of the Rock – Rockefeller Centre

If you want my advice as to where the best observation deck is in New York I would say the Rockefeller Centre every time.  Here you get unobstructed views over the city and you get a clear view of the Empire State Building.  You will also experience one of the fastest elevators in the world, reaching the the Top of the Rock in record speed.

views from top of the rockerfeller centre

Walk Through Central Park

For the next stop lets head to Central Park, and take a stroll with the many locals and tourists who visit this park everyday.  If you want to explore a little more ground hire a bike, or why not pop into Central Park Zoo and visit the animals.  Whatever you decide, it will be a stark contrast from the skyscraper surroundings you have come from.

central park new york

Guggenheim Art Museum

This is another attraction I didn’t get to explore when I visited New York the first time round so it has to feature on this travel guide for New York City.  The building in itself is completely unique, so the contents  inside are bound to be equally as exciting and stimulating.

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How to spend 24 hours in New York with this perfect one day itineray

Above 6 Roof Top Bar

New York lends itself so well to roof top bars, and it’s the perfect way to finish a busy day sightseeing around the city.  Above 6 is situated on the edge of Central Park and is one of New York’s hidden gems.  Head up top for a relaxing cocktail and enjoy the city lights while soaking up the suave ambience.  What a great way to end 24 hours in New York city.

What must see attractions in New York would you add for a perfect one day itinerary?  It would be great  to hear your suggestions in the comments below and I’d love it if you would share this post with your friends and followers too.

You might also enjoy 24 Hours in Berlin or 24 Hours in Amsterdam

One day New York Travel Guide - Things to do when you only have 24 hours in New York City and want to experience the best the city has to offer

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15 COMMENTS

  1. New York is great, but if you ever find yourself wanting to visit the south you should come to Raleigh. An underrated city for sure, it was voted #6 most adventurous in the USA. If your looking for things to do, you should check out also if you’re here in October, you won’t want to miss the Mordecai Haunted Ghost Tour. I’d leave the link but I don’t want it to look spammy lol. But truly it’s great!

    Love your blog!

  2. Would love to visit new York I have never been abroad but there are plenty of places I would like to visit

  3. I’ve never been to NY (one of my lucky daughters has been twice) it’s on my bucket list of places to visit, your blog post has made me want to visit even more now!

  4. I absolutely love the NY skyline, I would love to visit, I’m not surprised you want to go back and explore more of it, some great choices xxx

  5. Only having 24 hours in NYC is fun – it forces you to try and pack in as much as you can in the big city, and I’m always surprised at how much one can see so quickly! I haven’t spent as much time exploring lower Manhattan, which is on my list for my next visit.

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