If you’re looking to spend 2 days in New York City, we have a fantastic itinerary for you. New York City is the city of dreams, a city that inspires the world. Visitors love the array of world-famous landmarks, delicious international cuisine, and vibrant energy like no other.
New York City is so international and diverse that there are an estimated 800 languages spoken on the streets of the city. Also, the city was the first capital of the United States, even before Washington D.C. There is so much to see in just two days, so you’ll need a good New York City itinerary, here is an excellent option for you!
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Two Days in New York: Where to stay.
MOXY NYC Times Square: The MOXY NYC Times Square is a superb location next to Times Square. It also offers an on-site restaurant, private bathrooms, free WiFi, and a roof deck bar with the Empire State Building’s views. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
Riu Plaza New York Times Square: The Riu Plaza New York Times Square is 100 yards from Restaurant Row. It offers a fitness center, the Theater Buffet, and all rooms have private bathrooms and TVs. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square South: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square South offers guests air-conditioned rooms, a fitness center, a restaurant, and all rooms come with a flat-screen TV, private bathrooms, and a desk. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
How to spend 2 days in New York, a detailed itinerary
New York in 2 Days: Day One
Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
The city first founded the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1870, and for 150 years, it’s been one of the world’s leading art museums; it is currently the fourth most-visited art museum in the world.
When you visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art you will see over 5,000 years of art from all corners of the globe. There are ancient Egyptian paintings, a collection of American modern art, and almost all of the European Masters.
Click here to book your Metropolitan Museum of Art Tour
Guggenheim Museum
The Guggenheim Museum is on 1071 fifth avenue and is one of New York City’s most popular tourist attractions. It is also one of New York City’s most famous architectural masterpieces, initially designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The museum exhibits modern and contemporary sculptures and paintings.
Click here to book your skip-the-line tickets to the Guggenheim Museum.
Central Park
What New York City itinerary does not have Central Park on it? The park is fantastic during all seasons, and you’ll get outstanding views of the New York City skyline from various spots.
The park consists of twenty-six baseball fields, eighty-five miles of pathways, and various lakes to sit and watch the ducks!
Rockefeller Center
The Rockefeller Centre is an excellent spot to check out art, and here you can see various murals, architectural styles, sculptures, reliefs, and carvings. It is a must-do on a 2 day New York City itinerary.
Also, if you’re visiting New York City around Christmas time, you’ll love the Rockefeller Christmas tree, which is 69 to 100 feet tall.
Top of the Rock (daytime)
What is the best view of New York City? That is a tough question to answer, but the Top of the Rock offers outstanding city views. It has the single best view of Central Park, and you get fantastic views of Midtown and Downtown Manhattan too.
There are three different observation decks at the Top of the Rock, the 67th and 69th floor have outdoor terraces with safety glass, but the 70th floor offers 360-degree views!
Book your timed-entry ticket here in advance to avoid the lines.
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is one of the world’s most famous libraries. It is the largest library system in the United States, holding over 88 million books, DVDs, and Ebooks. The Library serves over 17 million patrons per year.
The building dates back to 1895 is an excellent place to visit for anyone who has an interest in Manhattan architecture.
5th Avenue
5th Avenue is the world’s most famous and expensive shopping street. It offers an incredible array of world-class shopping options with an array of famous designers, such as Louis Vitton, Gucci, Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana.
There are nine museums on the avenue, leading to the nickname ‘museum mile.’ You can also see various attractions, including St. Patrick Cathedral, which is the most prominent Catholic Church in the United States.
Times Square
Times Square attracts over 50 million visitors yearly, and it is one of New York City’s most iconic attractions. Did you know that Times Square buildings must have a minimum amount of display lighting to preserve the area’s glitz and glamour?
If you’re heading to New York City over New Year’s Eve you can see the famous Times Square ball drop ceremony.
Broadway Show
Seeing a Broadway Show in New York is a must-do on a 2 day New York City itinerary. There are 41 theaters in New York City, and they are the heart of New York City’s creative culture. Broadway is also the longest street in the whole of New York City.
Over 12 million Broadway tickets are sold every year, and there are hundreds of different shows performed during the year.
New York in 2 Days: Day Two
Ellis Island
Ellis Island is a great spot to visit on your second day. The island has welcomed over 12 million immigrants to the United States throughout history and plays an important role in the American Dream.
Ellis Island is home to the National Immigrant Museum, a world-class museum that exhibits the history of United States immigration.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is the global beacon of democracy and liberty; it is the most famous statue globally. The statue was a gift that France gave to the USA in 1886.
You can visit the statue’s crown, but you’ll have to climb over 350 stairs to get to the top, or you can pay to take the lift most of the way. It is well worth it for the excellent 360-degree view from the top!
Click here to book your tickets to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
9/11 Memorial Plaza
The 9/11 Memorial Plaza is one of the saddest yet most inspiring attractions in New York City. The memorial pays tribute to the thousands of lives lost on September 11th, 2001.
It is a massive memorial, and you can see the names of all the victims inscribed around the monument. To appreciate the significance of 9/11, you must head here on a two-day in New York City itinerary.
9/11 Memorial Museum
The 9/11 Museum will give you more insight into the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers. You’ll find a mixture of archaeology, architecture, and history that showcase the attacks on that fateful day. It is often emotional but a superb experience.
The museum only opened in 2014, but it has attracted millions of visitors since. There is an excellent guided tour of this museum, or you can do a self-guided tour.
Click here to book your 9/11 Memorial Tour with Priority Entrance 9/11 Museum Tickets.
Walk Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the world’s most famous and largest cable-suspension bridges. During construction in 1883, over 20 people died because it was such an ambitious project.
The bridge is a National Historic Landmark and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
DUMBO Area in Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a fabulous neighborhood in the Brooklyn area of New York City. The Dumbo area (short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is a district underneath Brooklyn Bridge, which offers remarkable views of the Manhattan skyline.
You can see historical locations and a wealth of interesting architecture in the area.
Empire State Building (Night)
The Empire State Building is 1250 feet above the New York City skyline, and the views from the top are some of the world’s most iconic. There are two observation decks, one on the 86th floor and the other on the 102nd floor.
When you’re at the top of the building (102nd floor), you can see up to 100km away into New Jersey and Connecticut. It’s another must-do on your 2 days in New York City.
Click here to book your skip the line tickets to the Empire State Building.
Practical Information for your 2 -day New York Itinerary
When is the best time to visit New York
The best times to visit New York City are either November or December or between April and June. If you visit during the winter, you can expect freezing temperatures at times, but you’ll find fewer tourists and plenty of Christmas attractions, and a festive atmosphere. A fantastic time to visit is between April and June when the weather is warm and perfect for walking around the city.
How to get from the airport to the city center
Train: You can catch the train from JFK airport to the city center, and it costs around 7.25 USD in total. It is an easy way to get to the city center and relatively cheap, but it does take approximately 60 minutes.
Bus: The bus costs around 3 USD, but if you take the express bus to Manhattan, it will cost another 6 USD, bringing the price to around 9 USD. It takes approximately 90 minutes.
Taxi: A taxi ride between JFK airport and Manhattan will have a fixed-rate meter, and costs around 50 USD and takes about 45 minutes.
Private Transfer: Welcome Pickups are an excellent option because they offer a personalized service, with a driver who tracks the flight live to ensure punctuality.
How to get around the city
Subway: The New York City subway is one of the world’s best subway systems, and it is the most economical way to get around the city. It runs 24/7, 365 days per year, and is always available.
Taxi: A taxi is an excellent way of getting around the city, but it isn’t the most economical. Taxis are affordable if three or four people are splitting the fare and amount to not much more than the subway.
Bus: The bus is a great way to get around because it is cheap, easy, and great for anyone who cannot do a lot of walking. The Manhattan bus map has both subway maps and bus routes.