First things first—before you start your 24 hours in NYC, you need to make sure you have comfortable shoes! NYC is a walking city and the best way to see it is on foot. With the itinerary below, you will definitely get well above your daily 10,000 steps! This is more of a walking guide, with the option to use the subway or a Taxi if needed (it’s tough to keep to a budget in NYC—walking helps!).

Also, the earlier you start your day—the more you will get to see! In addition, there aren’t as many people out in the early morning so you will be able to enjoy your morning sites without the crowds!

There are SO MANY things to do, see, and eat that there is never a one-size-fits-all itinerary for New York City.  Also, it is impossible to see everything in the city in one day. But a day trip is great when you are short on time. I’ve pulled together some of the biggest attractions that aren’t too time-consuming so you can see as much as possible on your day in the city.

If you have a few days in the city, feel free to spread this itinerary out to enjoy more of the things you want to see! You can also use this guide to simply get more acquainted with the city in general!

24-hours in NYC for the first timer

There are a few spots where you can start your day in NYC. Since there are many essentials clustered together, I’ve created a route that you can follow along to make the most of your morning, before heading downtown later in the day.

Start at Madison Square Park near the Flatiron building. From there, walk down Broadway until you get to Union Square (about 7-minute walk). From Union Square, head west down 14th Street. You can take the Subway (L line towards 8th Avenue, get off at 8th Avenue—about 10 minutes), or you can walk along 15th Street (about 20 minutes).

West Side

Once you’ve made your way to 9th Avenue, you have tons of options for breakfast. Chelsea Market houses numerous vendors that can appeal to everyone (and trust me, this place gets BUSY in the afternoon). The stores don’t open until 10 am but you can bet all of the breakfast spots inside will be open.

If you are a Starbucks fanatic, you may opt for the Starbucks Reserve Roastery instead. It’s right across the street from Chelsea market on 15th Street and 9th Avenue. There are only a few of these reserve locations across the world, so it is worth the visit if you like Starbucks (and don’t mind paying upwards of $10 for a drink).

Once you have your breakfast, you can take it for the road if the weather is nice. Make your way over to the High Line (entrance at 14th Street OR 16th Street). Walk north on the High Line towards Hudson Yards. This is about a 30-minute walk but you will be able to see so much of the High Line and the contrast between this park and the skyline is just amazing!

Once you reach the end of the High Line, you will arrive at Hudson Yards. The shopping and restaurants at Hudson Yards are pretty high-end but at least stop to see the Vessel, a new structure that is like a vertical park. You have to make reservations in advance to be able to climb the Vessel (2-weeks in advance), but if you aren’t able to do this, it is still an amazing structure to see!

Mid-Town

Next, you can make your way toward Mid-Town. This is where A LOT of the action is in terms of quintessential New York City sites. You can walk from Hudson Yards to Herald Square (about 20 minutes) or take a cab if you need a break from your feet (about 10 minutes).

Once at Herald Square, you will reach Macy’s and the Empire State Building. This Macy’s location is a New York icon, with everything from fashion, home goods, and restaurants inside.

A few blocks from Macy’s is the Empire State building. You can go to the top of the building for $36 a person, or admire it from the street. Next up—the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Station. Walk towards 42nd St and Lexington Ave (15-minute walk) to reach the Chrysler building. It is a beautiful art deco style skyscraper that is worth catching a glimpse of before heading into Grand Central Station.

After a 10-minute walk west on 42nd Street, you will reach Bryant Park. There are a few spots at Bryant Park that you can stop for a break and a bite to eat. If you are here during the holidays, you will hit the Winter Village market (warning—it gets very crowded here, especially on the weekends!). Either way, it will be a good stop to refuel before heading to the ALWAYS crowded Times Square.

Head one block west and then up Broadway to arrive at the action of Times Square. Take in all of the lights and larger-than-life advertisements in every New Yorkers favorite spot in the city. Just kidding—but it is a place that you have to see at least once in your life, so now is the time!

Once you’ve had your fix of Times Square, walk up 6th Avenue towards Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center. Again, if you are here during the holidays, this area will also be packed. If not, you can explore Rockefeller Center and maybe go to the Top of the Rock ($38), which is a great option because you can see all of the city’s iconic landmarks (including Central Park, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and Freedom Tower).

Next, make your way to 5th Avenue where you will see St. Patrick’s Cathedral and your favorite stores lining the street. Before you know it (about a 10-minute walk), you will reach The Plaza Hotel and Central Park.

Central Park

You are probably quite hungry by the time you arrive at Central Park. If you are on a budget and don’t mind sitting outside, grab a slice of pizza or a sandwich. Sit on a park bench and enjoy the views!

After your lunch break in Central Park, its time to head downtown! Depending on where you end up in the park will impact what subway you should take downtown. Generally, the subway is pretty reliable (and cheap!) so it is most New Yorker’s go-to method of transportation. Of course, you can take a cab but if you do opt for the subway—here are a few options:

From the East Side:

• 5th Av—59 St – take the R or W downtown to Whitehall Street-South Ferry
• Lexington Ave—59th St – take the 4 or 5 downtown to Bowling Green
• Lexington Ave—86th St – take the 4 or 5 downtown to Bowling Green

From the West Side:

• 59th St—Columbus Circle – take the 1 downtown to South Ferry
• 72nd Street – take the A or C downtown to Fulton Street

Downtown

Once you get downtown, there are a lot of landmarks clustered into a small area.  Make your way to the lower tip of Manhattan, Battery Park, to see the Statue of Liberty.  You can stop for a drink at the Oyster House at Pier A which has a great view of the water.

Next, make your way up Broadway, towards the Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues. Once you hit Wall St, you can walk down the street to see the historic buildings of the Financial District. Next, make your way over to Liberty Street which will bring you to the 9/11 Memorial and Freedom Tower.  For your next trip or day in NYC, I highly recommend getting tickets to the 9/11 Memorial Museum. It takes a few hours to experience all of the exhibits but is something that everyone should see.

If you wander around the World Trade Center, you will come across the Oculus—a train station, mall, and an underground network of tunnels to avoid the outside.  There are tons of shops and restaurants inside including an Eataly market and Apple store.

You can grab dinner somewhere around the World Trade Center, or you can head over to the east side to the South Street Seaport. This area has been recently renovated after experiencing significant damage from Hurricane Sandy. There are numerous cafes and restaurants in this quaint district and you will feel like you are anywhere but New York City.

So—you still don’t think you’ve seen enough of the city? Check back soon for an upcoming post that features my favorite things to do in NYC (hint: it involves a lot of walking and eating!).