This 10-day itinerary of New York City will help you see the Big Apple from every angle and has stops in every neighbourhood. On foot, by ferry, by bike and by helicopter… well, why not?
Tell us what you want to do and we will help you put together the perfect itinerary!Offbeat New York guides will be very happy to help you on your unforgettable vacation.
Day 1
To get your day off to a good start, climb to the top of the Empire State Building and marvel at its panoramic view. Then on to Madison Square Park for a look at the Flatiron Building and lastly Gramercy Park. In Union Square you can stop off for an organic lunch at Farmer’s Market. Recharge your batteries before exploring the East Village for a bit of shopping. Grab a game of chess in Washington Square Park (Greenwich Village) and if your poor legs can take it, go to High Line for a beautiful sunset over the Hudson River.
Book a tour of the 4 historic neighborhoods
Day 2
Start your day with a walk in Central Park when only joggers are out before making your way over to the opening of the MET (Metropolitan of Museum Art) so you can avoid the crowds. If you’re tempted to do other museums, the Guggenheim and the Natural History Museum are not that far away. Otherwise, go up West 67th St to take a look at the early 20th century red brick buildings. Take a break at Café Luxembourg and then enjoy a show at the Lincoln Center in the evening.
Day 3
Your day in Manhattan begins with the must-see Midtown sites – Grand Central Terminal, The Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue and finally the Plaza Hotel Park for a lunch. Then MoMA, the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, and as night falls, Times Square. A Broadway show will add a bit of pizazz to your evening.
Book a tour of Grand Central Terminal
Day 4
It’s day four and there are still so many famous sites to see. This time we’re in Lower Manhattan where you’ll get on the early ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Plan a picnic on the Western Waterfront before heading to Ground Zero where the 9/11 Memorial and the One World Trade Center Observatory await you. Take a late afternoon stroll in the South Street Seaport Historic neighborhood or go window-shopping in Soho. For dinner, TriBeCa or Chinatown will satisfy any appetite.
Book a tour of Lower Manhattan
Day 5
To the Lower East Side and Brooklyn ! To get off to a good start, there’s nothing better than diving straight into the heart of New York’s history as a melting pot. This is just one of the neighborhoods created by the different waves of immigration to the city over the years. Delicious food delights can also be found here! In the afternoon, cross the river to explore Brooklyn and its many neighborhoods you’ll no doubt fall in love with.
Book a tour of Bushwick and Williamsburg
Day 6
Another neighborhood, a different ambiance. This time we’re in Harlem, a neighborhood marked by New York City’s African-American history . It was still considered as a ghetto in the 1970s when the crime rate was very high. Today, Harlem is undergoing a major urban transformation to become one of the attractive places in New York. Known as the cradle of jazz music, we’ll discover the legendary Harlem clubs where huge artists such as Ella Fitzerald and Louis Amstrong played.
Credit photo : antoinelanne.com
Day 7
The Bronx was once very dangerous. Today it’s safer, if a little off-the-wall, and will pleasantly surprise you. Start the day with a tour of Mott Haven and Grand Concourse. Spend rest of the day sightseeing at the Zoo or the Yankees baseball stadium.
Day 8
Another neighborhood, a different ambiance in Queens. Take the metro and line 7 and start exploring this neighborhood where 150 languages are spoken. Stroll through the Flushing area and 2nd Chinatown, then spend the afternoon in the Astoria – once the capital of US cinema. Offbeat New York will take you on a whistle stop world tour!
Day 9
Today, we’ll dive right into one of New York’s 5 boroughs – Brooklyn. We’ll kick the day off in the right way with a bit of sport! To explore every nook and cranny of this New York City neighborhood, get on your bike and ride along the banks of the East River between the Williamsburg and Brooklyn bridges. It’s then on to Street Art in Bushwick and the hip neighborhood of Williamsburg.
Book a bike tour of Brooklyn Book a tour of Bushwick & Williamsburg
Day 10
On the last day, grab the chance to go on a shopping spree and bring back some nice souvenirs for you, your family and friends. New York is full of good places to enjoy yourself, just as much as places to lavish gifts on others!
More ideas
Coney Island
– Museums: New Museum, Guggenheim, Whitney, Ellis Island.
– Art and architecture: an outdoor film screening, Chelsea Art Galleries, the Chrysler Building, the Flatiron Building, and St. John the Divine Cathedral.
– Food: a hot dog on Broadway, a bagel at H&H, a pizza at Lombardi’s, a lobster roll at Chelsea Market, a cheesecake at Junior’s, brunch at Alice’s Tea Cup, and a cookie delivery at 3 a.m.
– Going out: a drink in a speakeasy, a Broadway show, a cocktail on a rooftop bar, theater in Central Park, and a beer at a microbrewery.
– Shopping: food at Chelsea Market, gifts from the MoMA boutique, fashion at Century 21.
– The unusual: a night in a tent, a walk in a hidden park, and search for an abandoned metro station, a treasure hunt with the kids.
– Sports: a bike ride with Offbeat New York between Williamsburg and Dumbo, and a tai chi class in the park, or go jogging in a group.
– Beaches: Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, Fire Island, Rockaway Beach.
– Up in the air: a helicopter ride !