While a 3 day NYC travel guide is not nearly enough time to experience all that New York has to offer, this 3 day itinerary will help you see a huge part of NYC. My first time in New York City made such an impression on me that it will forever be one of my favorite cities. We spent a long weekend on our first visit over Memorial Day. The weather was perfect, the city was buzzing, the energy was off the charts — there is truly nothing like it. I fell in love with it all. In the city that never sleeps, there is always something to see or somewhere to be seen. But, the restaurants, theatre and the museums are what keep me coming back.

With so much to see and do, it’s hard to decide what are the must-see’s and do’s. My NYC travel guide details what I recommend and how I spent my first time in the city. This itinerary for NYC in 3 days is jam packed full of all the touristy things the city has to offer and some local recommendations. If this is your first time in NYC, you may choose to purchase the NYC CityPass or GoCity Explorer pass to save yourself some money while seeing all the NYC attractions of your choosing!

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NYC TRAVEL GUIDE

NYC DAY 1

Deciding where to stay in the city for your first time is a pretty much a no brainer. While there are multiple neighborhoods throughout the city to stay in (some of my favorite are Chelsea, East Village and SOHO), for your first time, you should stay close to it all in Midtown. Midtown NYC is located perfectly for easy access to all the iconic landmarks of New York while not being in the epicenter like Times Square. Arriving mid-day, we had a half day to get our bearings of the city.

For reference, we stayed at the Double Tree in Midtown and it was the aboslute perfect location for us as first timers in the city. I would recommend it for any first timer as well. You can check the availability of the Double Tree here or use the Booking.com search engine below.

burger joint

Hidden inside the Le Parker Meridien behind a maroon curtain is one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. Burger Joint should be your first lunch stop of the trip. It’s one of Blake Lively’s go-to burger spots and puts the term hole-in-the-wall on a whole new level.

For one of the best views of the city, head to the Top of the Rock. Located at the top of, you guessed it, the Rockefeller building. Some argue which of the two, Top of the Rock or Empire State building, has the better view. I personally like Rockefeller because it has an indoor and outdoor viewing of the city.

Be sure to get tickets in advance using the NYC city pass. Most NYC travel guides will promote some sort of pass, but after researching a few this is the one that I purchased. I highly recommend it for first timers because it allows you entrance into multiple landmarks around the city. We used it for Top of the Rock, 9/11 Memorial Museum and the MET. Plus, if you have more time in the city, you get access to a few other attractions! While most city passes are a hoax, the NYC city pass is definitely worth your money.

HAVEN ROOFTOP

Visiting NYC when the weather is nice would not be complete without a few rooftop bars. Our first of the trip was at Haven Rooftop. It sits atop the Sanctuary Hotel and the décor gives off a dreamy Cuban atmosphere.

NYC TIMES SQUARE AT NIGHT

What most people hear New York City, they think of Times Square. Fun fact, I don’t actually love Times Square. I think it’s a little over the top. But, it’s a staple on any visit to New York City! So, when you visit, because you HAVE to visit at least one, I always recommend friends and family view it at night. The people, the lights, the tourist traps! There really is nothing like it.

For dinner, head to Katz located in Lower Manhattan. This will show up on nearly everyone’s travel guide to NYC. It’s a New York staple and a must-eat at destination. It can be a bit confusing on your first outing. You enter and there’s really only one option on the menu — the legendary pastrami. They will give you a number on a piece of paper. Don’t lose this piece of paper — this for some reason is very important. Hold onto it as you pay at the register. Then, enjoy the delectable sandwich that KATZ has to offer.

mr. purple

Head to Mr. Purple for some after dinner drinks. There are a couple of rooftop bars that you’ll see show up a few times on my New York City posts. Mr. Purple is one of them. The rooftop bar is charming with their string up lights and pool deck loaded with people eager for a great view of the city.

NYC financial district

After a morning in the park, take the subway down to the Financial District. You’ll be heading from one end of the city to the opposite end so the easiest way to do that is by subway. The Financial District houses Wall Street, the NYC Stock Exchange, the famous Bull and where the twin towers used to stand. Look at how crowded this spot gets!

If you’re like me, you need a little afternoon coffee pick-me-up before some more walking. On your way to the bridge you’ll see plenty of coffee shops, but the only one you should stop for is La Colombe.

The Brooklyn Bridge is by far the most crowded tourist attraction we encountered. Even more so than Times Square. There were tons of people making it hard to walk at a decent pace. I would recommend getting there early if you want an undisrupted view. We got there mid-day…and so did everyone else.

After you’ve take in all the sights that the bridge has to offer, head back and make your way through Chinatown and Little Italy.

We ate at ACME for dinner. It’s located in NOHO area and it got a bit more hype than we experienced. It’s a cute French and Italian bistro. Instead, I would recommend Carbone. You’ll need a reservation pretty far in advance. Be prepared to spend some money but in exchange you get some of the best pasta and culinary experience ever. Or, if you’re in the mood for Thai cuisine and willing to wait, head over to Uncle Boons. Heads up, they don’t take reservations.

This is another rooftop spot that I adore. I can’t recommend it enough. Their outdoor patio is alive and well, offering some of the best views of the Empire State Building. Plus, their raspberry mojito’s are amazing.

After a night of drinking, you can’t end it without a slice from Joe’s. Another staple to any NYC travel guide is this New York style pizza by the slice. Plus, it’s open late. You can’t ask for anything better.

Grab a coffee to go and maybe another bagel before heading to the MET. Just seeing the MET steps fulfilled every Gossip Girl and MET ball dream I’ve ever had. Pretty sure you’ll find it on every Gossip Girl travel guide to NYC. The MET, located on the Upper East Side, is one of the largest museums that spans nearly every decade in history.

While entrance into the MET used to be free or on a donation basis, it now comes with an entrance fee (I think it’s like $20). You can use your NYC city pass to gain access. Be prepared to wait in another line, though. NYC is the city of waiting.