How to Spend the Perfect 72 Hours in New York City

From century-old delis to Central Park, New York City offers everything all at once – our three-day itinerary shows you how to make the most of a long weekend in the City That Never Sleeps.

Concrete jungle where drea… and all that jazz. New York City is still as extraordinary as ever, coursing with the city’s signature fast-paced intensity. You’ll want to be everywhere at once in this concrete playground, where the only thing as sky-high as the rooftop bars are the possibilities.

Read on to discover how to spend 72 hours in New York City.

Where to Stay in New York City

If you want to feel deeply connected to New York, stay at The Plaza Hotel – its hallowed halls are soaked in the history of New York’s social scene. Keep things closer to Midtown – and MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) – with the lavish Baccarat Hotel, all glittering fine crystal and no expense sparred. Or take things in a different direction and check-in to Hotel Indigo Lower East Side to stick to Manhattan’s ultra-hip side.

Day One

Morning: Start your day like a New Yorker

If your hotel room isn’t ready, drop your luggage and head downtown to the Lower East Side. An essential way to kick off 72 hours in New York City is by walking into the legendary Russ & Daughters and constructing your perfect bagel from a dizzying number of options. This century-old deli is fussy, fast and consistently busy; filling options are near-endless, with several types of salmon, a dozen versions of cream cheese, and everything else you need to create the best bagel in New York.

Feel like something heavier? The world-famous Katz Deli is just a few doors down. If you can justify having a pile of pastrami for breakfast, few sandwiches can compare to Katz’s towering classics.

Midday: Trace the city’s untold stories

Take the short walk over to the Tenement Museum. The story of New York City is one built by immigrants and this oft-overlooked museum tells their story inside two historic tenement (apartment) houses.

Afternoon: Explore the magic of DUMBO

Check in to your hotel then head further afield and catch the subway to DUMBO. This trendy Brooklyn neighbourhood is named for its prime location (D.U.M.B.O – Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and holds many of New York’s greatest hits, including life-affirming views of Lower Manhattan on the other side of the East River, as well as the immense Brooklyn Bridge.

Your next stop on a whirlwind 72 hours in New York City is to grab some of its best pizza at Juliana’s and sit at the counter to watch pizzaiolos spin, stretch and bake these beloved pies. Alternatively, if your mood favours the unexpected, search for the hard-to-find Lucky Rabbit Noodles and squeeze into the tiny shopfront for some matzo ball soup dumplings and rich braised beef noodles.

Don’t forget to grab the quintessential New York photo. Peer down Washington Street, between Water Street and Front Street to catch the best shot of Brooklyn Bridge.

Evening: Say hello to Brooklyn’s neighbourly charms

Spend your time shopping around DUMBO. The Time Out Market is open until late and hosts dozens of stallholders selling everything from handmade jewellery to off-beat Brooklyn-made fashion.

If you’d rather look for other charming sights, climb the pedestrian bridge hidden behind 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and search for Brooklyn Heights. The upscale, family-friendly neighbourhood offers some of the most stunning views of Lower Manhattan, framed by rows of historic brownstone homes.

Look for the stately Greek Revival townhouse at 70 Willow Street. This is where novelist Truman Capote lived from 1955 to 1965, penning both Breakfast at Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood during his tenure.

When your appetite returns, head to 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and sit down to dine at onsite New American restaurant The Osprey. Similar to the rest of the hotel, this space gets its irrepressible beauty from smart biophilic design, with green spaces everywhere you look. The food is similarly clean and natural, with Australian chef Dan Churchill plating up beautiful dishes like crispy skin salmon and Tuscan rotisserie chicken.

Nightcap: End your night on a rooftop

Climb to 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge’s rooftop and sink some well-balanced cocktails at onsite bar Harriet’s while looking over a glowing Manhattan skyline. Or catch the Manhattan ferry and you’ll end up just streets away from Overstory – this swanky 63rd-floor rooftop bar is considered one of the world’s best, with unique cocktails and a wraparound terrace offering superlative views.

Day Two

Morning: Slow it down (you’ll speed it up later)

Start with a quick breakfast at your hotel and enjoy an early-morning soak at AIRE Ancient Baths. Time doesn’t exist in this Romanesque maze of pools buried underneath Tribeca, so soak up the wellness to shake off New York City’s characteristic chaos.

Midday: A hidden treasure uptown

Take the subway uptown to The Met Cloisters and continue the European theme in this castle-like structure. Dramatically set against a beautiful river backdrop, this underrated museum in the heart of Fort Tyron Park is dedicated to European medieval art with masterpieces from the Romanesque and Gothic periods.

Afternoon: Central Park

Take the subway back downtown and start at the Harlem side of Central Park. Check out the Great Hill with beautiful views down to Midtown Manhattan or, if you’d rather continue your art journey, walk on down to the Frank Loyd Wright-designed Guggenheim on East 88th Street.

Evening: Manhattan’s your playground

Turn the volume up with a classic Manhattan bar crawl that’ll keep you up all night. Take the subway to Lower Manhattan and work your way slowly back uptown. Pick your side: you’ve got Superbueno with incredible nachos and inspired takes on classic Mexican cocktails and the multi-award-winning Double Chicken Please in the East Village, or the pioneering cocktail bar Angel’s Share and world-famous Dante in the West Village, where a martini is mandatory.

Climb back up to Midtown to try the incredibly sophisticated cocktails in The Bar at Baccarat Hotel or hit up a Manhattan classic at Palm Court in The Plaza Hotel with its distinctive coloured dome and extensive wine list.

Nightcap: A song to end the night

Whatever your choice, all roads should lead to New York City’s definitive piano bar: Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel. End the night with a martini, a song, and a dozen new friends.

Day Three

Morning: Explore midtown

Start your morning with a jog in Central Park and discover the city’s many secrets. Take your time to walk around Midtown Manhattan and see many of the world’s most iconic cityscapes. Avoid the showiness of Time’s Square (you’ll return later).

Midday: A different side of New York

Catch a train out to historic Jackson Heights in Queens. Let the knowledgeable Turnstile Tours take you around New York’s best food trucks in this incredibly multicultural neighbourhood, from Bangladeshi delicacies to Egyptian, Mexican and Nepalese favourites.

Afternoon: Hop to the hip Williamsburg

The trendsetting Williamsburg neighbourhood is Brooklyn’s most coveted spot. Spend some time shopping the vintage fashion or sip your way across great wine bars like Sauced and The Four Horsemen.

Evening: Set the stage

Book into see the hottest thing on Broadway and then spill out onto the lights of Times Square. This is when the city really puts on a show. Climb those symbolic Red Stairs, marvel at the billboards, or even go as far as putting your own photo on one of said billboards.

Nightcap: Choose your style

End your whirlwind 72 hours in New York City with a late dinner. Go for something elegant and sumptuous, like seasonal-focused Italian eatery Scarpetta at The James New York NOMAD. (And don’t forget the creamy polenta.) Or eat like a real local at the East Village’s Miss Lily’s. This colourful diner serves the best Jamaican food you’ll ever have. End your time with a nostalgic walk through East Village before calling it a night, knowing you’ve really ‘done’ New York.

After more inspiration? Check out 7 of New York City’s Best Lookout Spots.