8 New York City Highlights – A Must-See Two Day NYC Itinerary

We had only two days to see the New York City highlights, an impossible task, but we rose to the challenge. Maybe our planning was off, but we were trying to sneak in a visit between two US events that couldn’t be changed.

New York City is the largest major city by both population and population density in the United States. Made up of a diverse population, an eclectic workforce, and filled with visitors, even the task of defining the New York City highlights becomes a challenge.

We went for the classics. With only a weekend, we opted for what are probably the best-known sites, the ones you want to be sure to include. Then we set out to find tips and tricks to make visiting each of them easier.

Although we are best known for getting off the beaten path, there are times when we just want to see the classics.

Dividing our schedule into two days and one night, we made the most of it. Below is our New York City two-day itinerary, featuring what we consider to be the highlights of NYC.

First, let us inspire you …

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Note: Based on world conditions, we advise checking official channels including cancellation policies prior to booking. Also, with often reduced capacity, booking ahead becomes more important.

Our New York City two day itinerary

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New York City highlights: Day 1 

9/11 Memorial Pools, Museum, and One World Trade Center

Remembering the events of September 11 2001 is a solemn experience, but well commemorated by the city. The three main things to see are:

• Memorial Pools: At the memorial pools at Ground Zero, you will see the names of the nearly 3,000 victims. Visiting the memorial is free of charge. It’s an emotional and powerful display.
• Museum: Here you can see artifacts from the events of 9/11, and hear recordings from people who were there on the day.
• One World Trade Center: Originally called the Freedom Tower, construction was nearly finished when we visited. Standing at 1776 feet (including the spire), it is now the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Fabulous views of the city are seen from the 102nd floor.

Advanced bookings for the museum and the tower can save you time and guarantee your entry, especially in the busy seasons. Here are a few options.

• Take a five hour tour that includes a 90-minuted guided tour of the memorial, skip the line access to the museum, and entrance to the tower’s observation deck. There is an option for timed access to both the museum and the tower.
• Memorial museum skip the line entry.
• Observation tower skip the line entry.

Statue of Liberty and city skyline

Possibly the most iconic image in New York City, there are several ways to see the statue of liberty. We opted to sail by the front, rather than joining the crowds going up to her crown (not currently open). With more time, I am sure we would have chosen differently.

However, if you’re with us on this one, hop on the Staten Island ferry. This is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to see the Statue of Liberty. The best part – It’s free!

We could have done some exploration in Staten Island, but instead, we immediately took a free return ferry back to Manhattan.  

NYC Stock Exchange and surrounding area

Our self-guided walking tour of Manhattan took us north, our first stop, Wall Street. We were a bit flustered by the crowds and narrow streets but enjoyed the photography challenge.

Empire State Building

While it may not be the city’s tallest building any longer, it still boasts the highest 360-degree open-air vantage point in New York City. Located on the 86th floor, from here you will enjoy impressive panoramic views across six states.

One of the world’s most recognized buildings, it held the title of the world’s tallest building from 1931 to 1970 (today it’s the 43rd tallest in the world, while the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest). Of course, many still think of it as the building King Kong climbed. It’s also been featured in Sleepless in Seattle, Elf, and Independence Day, just to name a few movies.

Once inside, see the interactive museum on the second floor, the art deco lobby (Fifth Avenue), the Otis elevators, and art exhibits on the 80th floor.

Use your New York CityPASS for entry, or purchase skip the line tickets in advance.

New York City highlights: Evening into night

It was our first time in New York City, and we had chosen to spend our evening in Times Square. It’s a bit overwhelming but truly wonderful. We had chosen to stay at the Crowne Plaza hotel overlooking the excitement, so getting there was easy.

Had we been visiting New York for a long-term stay, we would have checked out some cheaper options that are right outside of the city, like The Condor Hotel in Brooklyn.

We headed out into the crowd. The beauty of New York City quickly faded into a blur of lights, colors, crowds, smells, and really loud noises. It never stopped.

They call it the city that never sleeps for a reason, but it never quiets down either. Sirens blare, music blasts, vendors shout for our attention which is overwhelmed in a sea of advertisements on huge, ever-changing LED billboards . . . Everywhere you turn your head.

There was no escaping the chaos. We headed to dinner, a few blocks off the main tourist area, but the noise didn’t seem to subside. We ate at Carnegie Deli (closed in 2016)

New York City highlights: Day 2

We headed to Central Park to see the famous park, enjoy American hot dogs from a street vendor, and visit two museums: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History.

American Museum of Natural History

Our first stop was the information counter of the American Museum of Natural History. (Also on the New York CityPASS or get tickets in advance.

This museum is the magical spot where they filmed the movie Night at the Museum, and we wanted to be sure not to miss a few of our favorite movie ‘characters’.

It turns out that while the movie utilizes the museum’s exterior, they built sets to emulate the interior. However, our sheet gave us the information we needed. Here are a few of our favorites:

Central Park

Taking the long way through the park, we enjoyed a peaceful atmosphere, in contrast to the noise of Times Square last night. Central Park is wonderful in the summertime. Bridges, a lake, trees, and street performers.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Next stop, the Metropolitan Museum of Art  (The Met), one of the world’s largest museums. Here, Jeff met up with an old friend.

While the collections spans 5,000 years, we seemed to focus our time on the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Use your New York CityPASS or you can get a skip the line entry ticket in advance.

Best deals and discounts for your travel planning needs

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Flights: When it comes to flights, we always start with Expedia.

Hotels: We use Booking.com to compare and book accommodations. Don’t miss Booking.com’s Getaway 2022 Deals that save 15% or more on selected accommodations. (T&Cs apply)

Other accommodations: If you prefer B&B or self-contained type lodging, check out VRBO.

Vehicle hire: RentalCars is like a rental car search engine with no hidden costs, that lets us find the best deals on car rentals worldwide.

Private Tours: We are big fans of ToursByLocals, and use them for nearly all cities where we want a private guide.

Packing Tips: Get a free copy of our packing light checklist when you sign up for our mailing list. (We pack light, yet have everything we need.)

Find more money-saving resources and T&Cs on some of the above, check our Travel Resources page.

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What are your New York City highlights?