Shared itinerary · New York City, New York

New York City in 4 days

Four days in New York on foot and the subway: downtown from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Staten Island Ferry and Katz’s, midtown from Grand Central to Top of the Rock, uptown through Central Park, the Met, the Guggenheim and Harlem, then the High Line and Brooklyn at golden hour. 28 stops with times and notes, the cheap eats included.

Updated October 2026

Distance

60.3 km

Brooklyn Bridge → Peter Luger Steak House

Days

Stops

Each day of New York City in 4 days: route, stops and distance
Day	Route	Stops	Distance
Day 1	Brooklyn Bridge to Katz’s Delicatessen	7	10.7 km
Day 2	Grand Central Terminal to Her Name is Han	8	11.2 km
Day 3	Central Park to Red Rooster Harlem	6	11.1 km
Day 4	Chelsea Market to Peter Luger Steak House	7	27.3 km

Day 1: Brooklyn Bridge to Katz’s Delicatessen

10.7 km

Downtown on foot, the free boat, and pastrami.

08:00
Brooklyn Bridge

Sight

Walk it Brooklyn to Manhattan with the skyline in front of you. Before 9 the bike lane fights are over.

2.0 km · 15m walk to next
09:30
9/11 Memorial

Sight

The reflecting pools are free; the museum is timed, allow two hours if you go in.

218 m · 5m walk to next
11:00
One World Observatory

Sight

One tall thing per trip. This or Top of the Rock, not both.

1.6 km · 10m walk to next
12:30
Nom Wah Tea Parlor

Food & drink

Dim sum since 1920 on the bend of Doyers Street.

2.5 km · 15m transit to next
14:00
Staten Island Ferry

Activity

Free, 25 minutes each way, past the Statue of Liberty. Stand on the right going out.

623 m · 10m walk to next
16:30
Charging Bull

Sight

Then Stone Street’s cobbles for a beer.

3.7 km · 20m transit to next
19:00
Katz’s Delicatessen

Food & drink

Pastrami on rye. Keep your ticket. Cash tip the cutter.

Day 2: Grand Central Terminal to Her Name is Han

11.2 km

Midtown: the stations, the museums, the view, then 32nd Street.

08:30
Grand Central Terminal

Sight

The whispering gallery by the Oyster Bar. The ceiling zodiac is backwards on purpose, they say.

552 m · 8m walk to next
09:45
New York Public Library

Sight

The Rose Reading Room, free. Bryant Park is out the back door.

782 m · 8m walk to next
11:00
Times Square

Sight

See it once, in daylight, then leave.

193 m · 5m walk to next
12:00
Los Tacos No. 1

Food & drink

Adobada tacos at a standing counter.

1.2 km · 10m walk to next
13:30
The Museum of Modern Art

Sight

Starry Night on floor 5. Book a time even on free evenings.

408 m · 8m walk to next
16:00
Top of the Rock

Sight

The one with the Empire State in the picture. Sunset slot.

962 m · 8m walk to next
18:00
The Plaza

Sight

Walk up Fifth past St Patrick’s. Bethesda Terrace is 15 minutes into the park.

2.6 km · 15m transit to next
19:30
Her Name is Han

Food & drink

Koreatown. Barbecue, then noraebang on 32nd Street.

Day 3: Central Park to Red Rooster Harlem

11.1 km

Uptown: the park, the Met, the ramp, Harlem.

08:30
Central Park

Park & nature

The Mall, Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge. Rent a bike for the north loop.

1.3 km · 15m walk to next
10:30
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Sight

The Temple of Dendur, the rooftop in summer. Pick three wings, not thirty.

690 m · 10m walk to next
13:30
Lexington Candy Shop

Food & drink

A 1925 luncheonette. Egg cream.

582 m · 5m walk to next
15:00
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Sight

The ramp. Ninety minutes tops.

4.0 km · 20m transit to next
17:00
Apollo Theater

Sight

Amateur Night on Wednesdays. Sylvia’s for soul food down the block.

652 m · 10m walk to next
19:00
Red Rooster Harlem

Food & drink

Fried yardbird. Live music in the basement.

Day 4: Chelsea Market to Peter Luger Steak House

27.3 km

The High Line, then Brooklyn at golden hour.

09:00
Chelsea Market

Food & drink

Breakfast in the old Nabisco factory. Los Mariscos for tacos.

514 m · 8m walk to next
10:00
Whitney Museum of American Art

Sight

Hopper, and terraces over the river.

1.3 km · 5m walk to next
11:45
The High Line

Park & nature

Walk north on the old rail line to Hudson Yards.

893 m · 15m walk to next
13:00
Mercado Little Spain

Food & drink

José Andrés’ Spanish market under Hudson Yards.

7.4 km · 30m transit to next
15:00
DUMBO

Sight

The Washington Street shot of the Manhattan Bridge, Jane’s Carousel, the Time Out Market roof.

1.3 km · 15m walk to next
17:00
Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Sight

The skyline you know from the movies, at golden hour.

4.3 km · 20m transit to next
19:00
Peter Luger Steak House

Food & drink

Porterhouse for two, cash or debit only. Or Lilia, if you booked 30 days out.