Our New York trip
A 4 day itinerary, recommendations, outfits & top tips
So many people asked for recommendations from our recent New York trip so I thought I’d do a little round up to give you all the inspo if you’re planning a trip there soon.
New York is one of my favourite cities. There’s just something magical about it. From the bustly streets to the skyscrapers and the beautiful parks to the gorgeous food. It’s definitely not possible to see it all in one trip which is why I always wish that i’d lived there when I was younger, before any responsibilities. I should have just done it.
I had a chat with an Irish bartender while there who had lived in the city for over 20 years. He said the city has changed and he and his Columbian wife are moving to Columbia soon for a different pace of life. He said the city isn’t what it was and he feels less safe which is such a shame. Oh to have been a part of New York back in the 80s and 90s. Now that was the time to be living the New York life.
However, I’m still in love with the Big Apple and i’ll always take a massive bite out of it at every opportunity I can! From Tribeca to Brooklyn, to Greenwich Village to Midtown, in every corner there’s something to do, so sit back and i’ll give you my 4 day itinerary for a great all round trip to New York City.
I’m also going to add my outfits from my 16 piece packing reel I did before I went. It proved to be the perfect wardrobe for wandering the city. Scroll to the end for links to items.
Day 1
The Highline, Hudson Yards, Chelsea Market, Little Island, Greenwich Village, Washington Sq Park, Soho
Ok so day one - you’ve been awake since 3am due to the jet lag…but that’s not gonna stop you from exploring what this city has to offer. I recommend getting a good hearty breakfast as you’re going to need the energy! Friedmans is a great place to get a great breakfast (have the Nova Benny, it’s delicious), but you can order eggs any style, pancakes, French toast, granola etc.
After a good breakfast head over to The Highline for a leisurely walk amongst trees and plants. The Highline is a public park built on a historic disused rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. Saved from demolition by neighborhood residents and the City of New York, the High Line opened in 2009 as a hybrid public space where visitors experience nature, art, and design. A must do if you’re in NY.
If you join at the top, then you can wander around Hudson Yards. Home to The Edge, The Vessel and The Shed, this cutting edge development is seen as the future of ‘smart cities’. It is a 28 acre mixed-use development sandwiched between Chelsea and Hells Kitchen. There are two phrases to the development, one is open now and houses eight new buildings, public gardens, a huge shopping mall and a cultural centre. The 2nd phrase will include residential, office and retail space as well as a school. When completed it is said to host more than 55,000 workers on a daily basis.
Fun Fact:
Hudson Yards had to be constructed above 30 active Long Island Rail Road tracks, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak passageways, as well as the Gateway Tunnel. To do this, engineers devised a ten-acre platform to support the development. This ultra-complex platform (which includes special ventilation, cooling, stormwater retention, and plant-friendly “smart soil”) weighs more than 35,000 tons and uses more than 25,000 tons of steel.
Back onto The Highline, wander down a bit further where you can get off at Chelsea Market. An iconic culinary destination which is considered one of the greatest indoor food and retail marketplaces in the world today. It is a lively foodhall with many restaurants, deli’s and stores. Top tip: Plan your visit at lunchtime or when you’re hungry as you won’t want to miss out on the huge range of eateries based here.
Fun Fact:
Chelsea Market was constructed in the 1890s and was originally the site of the National Biscuit Company factory complex where the Oreo cookie was invented and produced.
From here you can either get back onto The Highline and continue your walk. The rest of the Highline will take you past Ground Zero museum, Sugar Factory and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
However, from here we deiced to pop over to Little Island which is a beautiful new public park, located in Hudson River Park, where all visitors can experience nature and art in a unique urban oasis on the Hudson River. This amazing space used to be Pier 54 which had been significantly damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Mega-mogul Barry Diller, in partnership with Hudson River Park Trust, reimagined the space to create an immersive experience and imaginative design that offers all New Yorkers and visitors a new public space that is whimsical, captivating, and restorative.
Fun Fact:
In 1912, the R.M.S. Carpathia brought survivors of the Titanic to Pier 54
From here you can walk down through West Village and Greenwich Village via Washington Square park where you can sit and rest your tired feet for a little while. Here people watching is a must, There are chess players, performers, dog walkers, children. It’s a hub for New Yorkers and is one of New Yorks most densely used green spaces. Famous for the iconic Washington Arch, the park is a gorgeous place to ge some much needed respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Fun Grisly Fact:
The park was once a burial ground and to this day the remains of 20,000 bodies rest under Washington Square.
From here, wander through the streets of Soho where you’ll find the best shops and eateries. Wander down Bleeker St and Spring St, have a look at the famous stoop outside Carrie’s apartment from Sex and the City. You can visit The Museum of Ice Cream, shop the quirky designs in MOMO design store, visit Dominique Ansel bakery (we forgot this and I’m gutted as it’s one of the things I wanted to do). You can even visit the first ever pizzeria in America, Lombardi.
Soho covers 25 blocks, so it’s a huge area to shop til you drop. You may need more time here than just a few hours.
Fun Fact:
Soho stands for ‘South of Houston Street’
Exhausted, we got a cab back to our hotel. Our feet needed a rest!
Day 2
Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty viewpoint, Financial District, Brooklyn Bridge, Dumbo & Ferry, Williamsburg
The Jet lag is getting slightly better, but we were still awake early. The tip is to try to stay awake as long as possible that first day you get there, problems occur when you have daytime naps or go to bed too early!
So day two and it’s another busy one. This time we got the subway down to Ground Zero and on to the Statue of Liberty viewpoint where you can get a good view of the statue. Top tip: If you want to get a bit closer but are not bothered about actually going to Ellis Island, then you can get the Staten Island Ferry for free which will take you from Whitehall St in Manhattan to Staten Island. It’s a 25 minute ride and will give you great views of the Statue of Liberty as well as views of the Manhattan skyline.
From here we walked through The Financial District, taking in the Charging Bull statue, Wall St and the New York Stock Exchange all the way to Brooklyn Bridge. From here we walked across taking in the skyline and dodging the many influencers in the wild trying to take their photos to look like they were the only ones on the Bridge! (Spoiler alert, they weren’t, it’s always packed unless you go at 5 am!)
Fun Fact:
When Brooklyn Bridge first opened, it cost a penny to cross by foot, 5 cents for a horse and rider and 10 cents for a horse and wagon. Farm animals were allowed at a price of 5 cents per cow and 2 cents per sheep or hog.
Across the other side and into Dumbo where you can take many iconic photos, or head over to Brooklyn Bridge Park for amazing skyline views. From here we took the East River Ferry to North Williamsburg (two stops). This ferry only costs $4 and takes you under both Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge giving you another great way to see that famous skyline. Top tip: download the NYC ferry app and from there you can buy tickets easily.
If you visit on a Saturday or Sunday after April 1st, then I highly recommend going to Smorgasborg. This is the largest weekly open-air food market in America, attracting thousands of people each weekend. It launched in 2011, as a spinoff of Brooklyn Flea (founded in 2008), and has since launched dozens of small businesses and attracted millions of visitors. The New York Times dubbed Smorgasburg “The Woodstock of Eating.” Smorgasborg has locations in Williamsburg, Prospect Park and the World Trade Centre as well as other locations across America.
Fun Fact:
Smorgasborg is a type of Swedish meal, originating in Sweden served buffet style with multiple hot and cold dishes of various foods on a table.
Williamsburg is definitely one of my favourite places in New York. A laid back, village feel with the most amazing vintage shops, cafes, eateries and general cool vibe! I just love wandering around, perusing the shops and stopping every now and then for a drink. After a busy morning we headed to one of my favourite coffee shops, Bakeri. Tiny, but perfectly formed, you’re lucky if you get a seat, but their sandwiches and cakes are worth a visit. The teens wanted to head to the vintage shops and one of my faves is 10ft Single by Stella Dallas. A huge space where you’re sure to find a vintage gem.
We were getting pretty tired and had already done about 20k steps, so we headed to the greatest steakhouse in town, Peter Luger. If you love steak, then this is the place to go. It was the best steak i’ve ever eaten, truly melt in the mouth, juicy goodness. And make sure you’re hungry because the portion sizes are huge. We got the 3 person steak between 4 of us and we still couldn’t get through it all! Make sure you book in advance as it’s always fully booked.
Fun Fact:
In 2022 Peter Luger lost its Michelin star straight out of Covid. Some thought it to be unfair as restaurants were all trying to recover. let’s see if they earn it back again. It’s still the best steak I’ve ever had!
Bellies full, we headed back to the hotel. Day two done. I need my bed!
Day 3
Guggenheim, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station, Summit One Vanderbilt
After two full on walking days, we wanted a slightly easier morning, so we headed down to our hotel restaurant for breakfast before getting an Uber up to the Upper east Side and the Guggenheim Museum. This beautiful museum is situated right by Central Park and is home to many Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and modern French masterpieces, including works by Degas, Manet, Van Gogh, and more. When we visited there were also exhibitions by Gego, Sarah Sze and Nick Cave but if you are visiting you can find all information about what’s on on their website at Guggenheim.org
Fun Fact:
The interior of the Guggenheim is painted nearly every day to make sure it’s looking it’s best. And the winding ramp inside is a quarter mile long.
After a cultural morning we headed into Central Park for a gentle walk. the sun was shining so it was the perfect day to take in the scenery and take a leisurely stroll down from Guggenheim all the way down past the reservoir, through to The Great Lawn and Belvedere Castle, down past Loeb boathouse and over to Conservatory water. Here we stopped, got a bite to eat and a drink and sat listening to a singer and the sounds of the park in Springtime. The perfect way to spend a few hours.
We then headed across to Strawberry Fields where there were many performers taking it in turns to play John Lennon songs. After which we headed down past the Heckscher ballfields, Gapstow bridge and out by The Plaza.
Fun Fact:
Strawberry fields is located in a section of Central Park that lies directly across from the Dakota Apartments where John Lennon lived at the time of his death.
At this point you may need a rest as that’s a lot of walking. But if you fancy some shopping, then walk down 5th Ave where you’ll find loads of shops and head to the Rockefeller Center for some more shopping and you can visit the Top of the Rock for a great view of the city.
We had booked the Summit One Vanderbilt experience in the evening as we wanted to see the views at nighttime, bt i’ve head that it’s amazing during the day too. I really recommend it as it’s an interactive experience with loads of mirrors and floating balls as well as incredible views across the city. The entrance is in the concourse go Grand Central Station, so the perfect time to see both. Definitely one to see, Grand Central Station has been featured in many film and tv productions including the famous escape scene in Alfred Hitchcock North by Northwest.
It was soon time to head to Summit One Vanderbilt where we were so excited to head to the top. The lift took us up 96 floors in seconds and we emerged to mirrored floors, walls and ceilings to the most spectacular view ever. The experience is over three floors and includes a room full of silver balls as well as a glass floor which is not for the faint hearted. Unfortunately you only get 30 seconds on the glass floor, which his not long enough in my opinion, especially for a family of 4.
On the top floor there is a cafe where you can get snacks and drinks and also an outdoor space where you can get more incredible views. Then it was back down to ground level and back to our hotel for a well earned sleep.
Fun Fact:
Summit One Vanderbilt is the 4th tallest building in New York and is sustainably built using mainly recycled materials.
Day 4
Flatiron, Bryant Park, Times Square, Broadway, New York Public Library, Empire State Building, MOMO
Day 4 and we’re all exhausted, but there’s so much to see in this city and God knows when we’re coming back, so we wanted to fit in as much as possible. You can do everything on a good breakfast though, so we strolled down 5th Avenue to The Empire State Building. If you have already been to the top of one of the skyscrapers, you don’t need to do the Empire State, but it’s definitely a must see if only to walk past it. We then walked across a couple of blocks to Sarabeths on Park Avenue for a good hearty brekkie. With our bellies full we walked through Madison Square Park to The Flatiron building which is one of those iconic buildings that you must see while in New York. Then a long walk up Broadway to Times Square taking in the lights and theatre district. Times Square is a place to see both during the day and at night, it’s definitely worth visiting at night too if your hotel is nearby.
Fun Fact:
Times Square was originally called Longacre square and only changed when the New York Times moved its headquarters there in 1904.
After all those dazzling lights a bit of peace is required, so just a few blocks away is the gorgeous Bryant park with it’s cafes and gorgeous lawns and tables and chairs. We sat and had a coffee while people watching before heading to the other side of the park to the New York Public Library. This beautiful building is worth a visit just for the lobby alone. Stunning sweeping staircases, marble and gorgeous painted ceilings. It’s a beauty.
The museums in New York are incredible and there’s so many from small to big and one of the top ones is MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art). Situated at the top of Midtown, MoMA is a must visit if you’re a lover of art. From Van Gogh, Picasso, Warhol and Dali, MoMA houses some of the most iconic paintings in the world. Getting a glimpse of Starry Night is near on impossible though - I recommend going out of peak hours if you want to get a good view.
Fun fact:
In 1959, a fire during an air conditioner installation killed one construction worker and destroyed MoMA’s iconic 18 foot long Monet Water Lilies painting. The triptych now on display is a replacement.
All this culture definitely got us hungry so it was time to head back to the hotel for a little rest before dinner with a view at our hotel rooftop bar.
Many rooftops don’t allow under 21’s in, but some do allow children in on a Sunday or before 6pm. It’s worth ringing ahead to double check before you book something. Also some bars don’t allow casual attire. I rocked up to one a few years ago with trainers on and they sent me away. A lesson learned!
So that’s my 4 day itinerary done. It’s worth getting a map out and plotting where you want to go because you may want to move some things around if there’s a particular area you want to spend more time in or don’t fancy going to. or there may be something I haven’t included that you fancy doing. Like spending more time in Brooklyn, Getting a helicopter ride over the city, getting some food in Little Italy or Korea Town or just wandering the Tribeca streets.
There’s so much to do in New York, that even though you can fit in so much in 4 days, you can never see and do everything. You’ll just have to come back again and again and again. That’s what I plan on doing.
I’m already saving up for next time!
Eateries
Theres thousands of amazing restaurants to eat in in New York. I suggest looking at Time Out of Conde Nast traveller who will give you great options depending on your likes. Here are a few of my faves.
Russ & daughters - best bagels in town
Calle Dao - Cuban and Asian fusion
Peter Luger Steakhouse - Brooklyn - Best steak ever
Katz Deli - Jewish deli classics
Refinery Rooftop restaurant - Not a huge selection but excellent food and great views
Bakeri - Great sandwiches and cakes
Joe’s Pizza
Johns of Bleeker St - Great pizza
Los Tacos No.1
La Esquina - Mexican
Atoboy - Korean
Dominique Ansel Bakery - yummy baked goods
Packing for 4 days
16 items that’ll see you through 4 days sightseeing
Travelling
I hate flying. I have horrendous restless legs and a bad back so sitting in a seat for 6 hours is not fun! Therefore comfort on the plane is key. I opted for baggy sweatpants, a vest and a little cardigan for layering. I wanted to take my heavy leather bomber jacket to NY, so I took this on the plane so it didn’t take up valuable kilos in my checked luggage.
Day 1
I knew there would be lots of walking so I wanted comfortable trousers that were still fashion led. I took my Tibi cargo pants and paired it with a lose roll neck sweater that is quite thin as I don’t want to overheat. I then threw over my Toteme extra light mac.
Evening 1
Keeping the same cargos on, I changed the top for a t-shirt (I have been wearing these incredible heavy weight ones from Novo London. The best t-shirt I’ve ever owned), then I added a blazer and some heels and I was ready to go for our first dinner in New York.
Day 2
More walking so I swapped out my cargo’s for wide leg jeans, added a white tee, leather bomber and then wore a sweatshirt over my shoulders in case it got chilly.
Evening 2
Again, I kept the same jeans on and just swapped out the tee for a nice top and added my blazer and heels.
Day 3
My black wide leg trousers are my most hard working item in my wardrobe, I wear them so much. They’re so comfortable but look slightly elevated, so perfect for walking around Guggenheim and Central Park. It was a really sunny day so I wore a short sleeve white shirt, my blazer and my Toteme Mac.
Evening 3
In the evening I swapped out the shirt for a nice top and added my leather bomber and heels.
Day 4
For our last day I decided to wear a skirt, but as I knew there was going to be lots of walking again, I avoided the chafing by wearing leggings underneath which also provided a bit of warmth. I added a belt to the skirt so that I could tuck my sweatshirt into it and added my Toteme Mac and trainers.
Evening 4
Last night out and I kept the same skirt on, and I added a t-shirt and a blazer and of course my heels.
