Danielle JeanjaquetSo, you’re planning a one day trip to New York City? Well, you’ll need a good night’s rest after this full day of activities!
NYC is the biggest city in America, so it’s safe to say that there’s an endless list of things to do, see, and EAT! You could spend months here and STILL not exhaust all of the amazing adventures the Big Apple has to offer.
If you only have one day in the city, not to worry. This affordable trip itinerary hits just about all the NYC highlights, with 9 official stops in about 11 hours of time (and there’s lots of bonus tips – and bathroom breaks – mixed in between).
Not gonna lie – this one-day New York City guide is a bit grueling. You’re covering a lot of ground in a short amount of time.
BUT, I promise, it’s absolutely doable. I created this itinerary for my college friends and me on our senior year Spring Break trip. You can ask them yourselves, that one day in NYC was pretty unforgettable! And pretty cheap.
Almost everything on this list is free!!
Still, you can easily pick and choose which parts of the itinerary seem most interesting to YOU! This is just a guide, after all – you can adjust to make your own dream NYC trip come true.
One more disclaimer before we jump in: this guide includes two rides on the Subway. What’s more authentic to NYC than a little journey on the Subway? However, if you’re not ready/able to take this underground adventure, feel free to hail a taxi or Uber ride instead.
This one day itinerary is not all walkable in one day, unless you are an Olympic champion in cross country, or immune to large foot blisters. I wouldn’t go for it.
So take that Subway, hail a taxi, or just stay in one part of the city for the day. You’ll have an amazing time either way!
STOP #1 | Start Your Day in NYC at Grand Central Station!
Whether you are arriving in town in the morning or walking over from your hotel, Grand Central Station is a good place to start your one day in New York City! This is the largest train station in the world, famous for its beautiful architecture and history.
I recommend starting your day here no later than 10:30am, if you want to get through the rest of the itinerary in one day.
Shout out to all my fellow Gossip Girl fans – don’t be ashamed to pretend you’re Serena van der Woodson returning from boarding school to take over the Upper East side. XOXO.
BONUS TIP!
Check out the Whispering Gallery on the lower floor of the terminal, located near the Oyster Bar restaurant. Put your ear next to one of the archways, and have a friend whisper sweet nothings to you from the arch that’s 30 feet diagonal to yours – you’ll be surprised how well you can hear them among all the hustle and bustle!
STOP #2 | New York Public Library
Take the 42nd Street exit out of the Grand Central Terminal and head two blocks south to the library’s main entrance on 5th Avenue. You can tell you’re in the right place if you see the marble lion statues on either side of the entrance steps.
It’s free admission – you just have to go through security. The library is filled with tons of cool rooms and exhibits, but I recommend stopping in these two places, at least:
- The Rose Reading Room: The ceiling and murals are breathtaking! But shhh, there’s people actually reading in here, so don’t disturb them!
- Their public restrooms: pretty clean AND pretty free.
STOP #3 | Rockefeller Center
For your next stop on your one day trip to New York, walk north up 5th Avenue to get to Rockefeller Center.
Feel free to do some window shopping (or real shopping) along the way! You’ll pass some of the world’s most famous luxury shops and flagship stores, including Barney’s, Michael Kors, Guess, and more!
You’ll find Rockefeller Center across from Saks Fifth Avenue (an iconic luxury department store). This is where you’ll find the home of the famous ice skating rink and the Rockefeller Christmas Tree during the holidays. There’s also plenty of shops to explore, AND a nice view of Radio City Music Hall too.
BONUS TIP!
While en route, turn around to face south – you can catch some views of the Empire State building!
Also, if you have some extra time and money, take a quick elevator ride up to the Top of the Rock observation deck for some insane birds eye views of Manhattan!
STOP #4 | Lunch!
Walk further north up Fifth Avenue toward Central Park to find some good eats. On your way, you’ll pass St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trump Tower, and the Gucci store. What more could you ask for?
There’s many places to eat in this area, but check out the Plaza Food Hall for a quick, affordable lunch with plenty of options for everyone in your group! It’s an upscale food court located on the lower level of the Plaza Hotel. There’s a lot of expensive eateries down there, but look for cheap eats closer to the back of the hall.
Vive La Crepe or Chi Dumpling & Noodles Bar are great options if you want yummy food that doesn’t break the bank.
STOP #5 | Central Park
You’ve just got to fit in a walk through Central Park while you’re in New York City for one day!
While you’ll never be able to make it through the entire park within this itinerary, take a quick stroll around the pond, visit the Gapstow Bridge, or enjoy the skyscraper views from an open bench.
You could even grab your lunch to go and have a picnic in the Park, if you’d like!
STOP #6 | The National September 11 Memorial
Next, the real traveling begins – we’re heading downtown to Lower Manhattan!
Depending on where you exit Central Park, find your way to the nearest subway station.
I HIGHLY recommend using the Citymapper app to help you navigate the subway routes.
We took the R line from 5 Avenue Station to the Cortlandt Street Station. It’s about a 30 minute ride – the perfect time to rest your feet!
Then it’s just a short walk up Greenwich Street to the Memorial.
This plaza is a beautiful tribute to those lost in the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. The Memorial is well worth the metro ride downtown – the twin reflecting pools will honestly take your breath away!
BONUS TIP!
For the coolest bathroom break you’ll ever take, head over to the Oculus, right across the Memorial plaza. You really can’t miss it – the giant, white spiky building serves as the World Trade Center’s transportation hub, and it’s absolutely worth the quick walk-thru.
STOP #7 | Battery Park
If you take the ‘scenic route’ to Battery Park, you can pass some pretty cool locations, like the New York Stock Exchange (Wall St.) or Trinity Church (Wall St. & Broadway).
For a quick snack or coffee break, I HIGHLY recommend Eataly – Downtown location! This yummy Italian market is located in the World Trade Center Mall (along with the Oculus from our last bonus tip). You can dine in, OR buy some goodies to take on the road with you.
Once you get to Battery Park, look out over the water and take in the views. From left to right, you can see Brooklyn, Governor’s Island, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and New Jersey – all from one spot!
STOP #8 | Times Square
Once you’ve seen enough of Lady Liberty, head over to the South Ferry Metro Station. From there you can take the 1 train up to Times Square – 42 St Station. It’s about a 20 minute ride.
Times Square is probably the most famous square in NYC, and you’ve got to experience all the hustle and bustle at least once! This is where you can go souvenir shopping, check out M&M’s World, or people-watch at Duffy Square.
This area is a MAJOR tourist destination, so just be mindful – watch out for pickpockets in those large crowds, and I would avoid anyone dressed up as a Sesame Street character, if I were you.
STOP #9 | Dinner & Drinks
There’s literally a million places to eat and drink around Times Square.
For an affordable option, I recommend getting some classic NY pizza for dinner!
I’m a fan of Ray’s Pizza on 7th & 49th St. Their cheese slice is to die for!
A lot of people also really love Patzeria Pizza on 46th St, a cheap eat that’s only $3 a slice.
BONUS TIP!
Planning on spending the night in the big city? Then you’ve just got to dedicate your evening to a Broadway show! If you are going to splurge on just one thing, this would be my choice. There’s truly nothing more spectacular than watching a Broadway musical or play.
Then, need to wind down before you finish your one day in New York City? Check out one of New York’s many rooftop bars!
For something close to Times Square, I really like Haven Rooftop. I’d definitely make reservations in advance. They have some yummy drink and dessert options, as well as some stunning city views. Their Solstice cocktail is delicious!
For something more family friendly, grab some cheesecake at Junior’s! There’s now two locations near Times Square: one on 45th Street, and the other on 49th.
They have a full-service restaurant, but there’s usually a long wait, so I recommend heading to the quick service bar outside, where you can easily snag some cheesecake-to-go!
And that concludes my affordable, one day in New York City itinerary!
If you’re planning on spending more than one day here, use that time to fully explore each of these areas of the city. You’ll be surprised what other hidden gems you might uncover.
Please feel free to leave a comment below with any questions you might have. Or, if you’re an NYC veteran, what places would you add to the list? Can’t wait to read your responses!
