New York 5-day itinerary
- Best for
- A first visit to New York with room for one extra neighborhood.
- Pace
- Four walking days and one day trip.
- Base
- Passes
- Estimated budget
- $400–$1,400
Day-by-day plan
Follow the stops in order. Walk times are estimates between nearby places.
- Day 1
Passes
Walk Passes in New York. Start at GoCity Pass, then New York Pass and New York CityPASS. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
GoCity Pass
2 passes are available from GoCity. The Explorer pass lets you can visit a set number of attractions, while the All-Inclusive pass which allows unlimited attractions for a set number of days. The Explorer pass cardholders have 30 days to use the card after visiting the first attraction; the All-Inclusive cardholders have the time-limit activate on the day of first use. Both passes allow holders to either print a paper-pass to scan, or to use an Android/iOS compatible phone app.
Stop 2
New York Pass
Also from GoCity. Grants access to over 50 top attractions with line skipping privileges. Passes are available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 days. You must obtain a ticket in each attraction. You can visit as many attractions as you want in the time period. Also includes a 140-page guide book, but is much better to organize your visits in advance on the internet.
Stop 3
New York CityPASS
Grants admission to 6 New York attractions within 9 days of first use for a much reduced rate. The attractions are the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art & same-day admission to The Cloisters, the American Museum of Natural History, Top of the Rock or the Guggenheim Museum, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ferry or Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum or the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
Stop 4
SoHo
SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street", is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 1970s, the neighborhood has been the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, art installations such as the Wall, and has also been known for its variety of shops ranging from trendy upscale boutiques to national and international chain store locations.
Stop 5 · 54 min walk
Iglesia del Dios de Proficia
Iglesia del Dios de Proficia on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.
Eat · The Brass Rail: The Brass Rail listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.
Browse New York tours - Day 2
City
Walk City in New York. Start at Latin American Pentecostal Church, then Rose of Sharon Holy Church and South Street Seaport. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
Latin American Pentecostal Church
Latin American Pentecostal Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.
Stop 2 · 6 min walk
Rose of Sharon Holy Church
Rose of Sharon Holy Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.
Stop 3 · 69 min walk
South Street Seaport
The South Street Seaport is a historic area and neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, centered where Fulton Street meets the East River, within the Financial District of Lower Manhattan. The Seaport is a designated historic district. It is part of Manhattan Community Board 1 and is next to the East River to the southeast and the Two Bridges neighborhood to the northeast.
Stop 4 · 4 min walk
South Street Seaport Historic District
The South Street Seaport is a historic area and neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, centered where Fulton Street meets the East River, within the Financial District of Lower Manhattan. The Seaport is a designated historic district. It is part of Manhattan Community Board 1 and is next to the East River to the southeast and the Two Bridges neighborhood to the northeast.
Stop 5 · 17 min walk
Pumphouse Park
park in Manhattan, New York City, United States of America
Eat · Court Street: Court Street listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.
- Day 3
City
Walk City in New York. Start at Congregation Shaare Zedek, then Chatham Square and South Baptist Church. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
Congregation Shaare Zedek
Congregation Shaare Zedek on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.
Stop 2 · 9 min walk
Chatham Square
Chatham Square is a major intersection in Chinatown, Manhattan, New York City. The square lies at the confluence of eight streets: the Bowery, Doyers Street, East Broadway, St. James Place, Mott Street, Oliver Street, Worth Street and Park Row. The small park in the center of the square is known as Kimlau Square and Lin Ze Xu Square.
Stop 3 · 33 min walk
South Baptist Church
South Baptist Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.
Stop 4 · 28 min walk
People's Home Church
People's Home Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.
Stop 5 · 25 min walk
Sung Tak Buddhist Temple
Sung Tak Buddhist Temple on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.
Eat · Sam Sunny: Cuisine: korean.
- Day 4
City
Walk City in New York. Start at Seventh Day Adventist Church of Union Square, then First Warsaw Congregation and Generoso Pope Catholic Center at New York University. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
Seventh Day Adventist Church of Union Square
Seventh Day Adventist Church of Union Square on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.
Stop 2 · 4 min walk
First Warsaw Congregation
First Warsaw Congregation on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.
Stop 3 · 16 min walk
Generoso Pope Catholic Center at New York University
Generoso Pope Catholic Center at New York University on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.
Eat · Moono: Cuisine: korean.
- Day 5
Day trip toward Metro New York
Leave New York for the day. Come back to the same bed.
Stop 1
Metro New York
Listed as a next stop from New York. Check the regional train or bus the night before.
Stop 2
New Jersey
Listed as a next stop from New York. Check the regional train or bus the night before.
Stop 3
Connecticut
Listed as a next stop from New York. Check the regional train or bus the night before.
Eat · Pack snacks from town. Do not count on a full menu at a small station.
Browse Metro New York day trips
Where to stay
Sleep near the walking base. Pick an area, then search hotels by neighborhood.
Passes
Walking this plan
Base here if you want GoCity Pass, New York Pass, New York CityPASS on foot.
Things to book
Tours and tickets that match this plan. Book anything that needs timed entry.
Budget
Rough mid-range spend for 5 days in New York, excluding long-haul flights. Hotel nights drive most of the range.
- Budget: about $400 (hostel/budget hotel, transit, street food)
- Mid-range: about $700 (3★ hotel, sit-down meals, a tour or two)
- Comfort: about $1,400 (nicer hotel, taxis, paid attractions)
Transportation
Get in
New York City ( for all airports) is well connected by air with flights from almost every corner of the world. Three large airports, and several small ones, serve the region. Kennedy International Airport ( ) and Newark Liberty International Airport ( ) are large international airports, while LaGuardia Airport ( ) is a busy domestic airport. All three airports are run by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Get around
thumb|upright=1.3|NYC Subway car interior thumb|upright=1.3|NYC Subway car exterior thumb|upright=1.3|The New York City Subway is the fastest and most convenient way to get around the city. However, it can get really, really crowded, especially during rush hour. OMNY is the contactless fare payment system for the MTA subway and bus lines. The system allows passengers to pay by "tapping" one of the following to a reader: * A contactless credit, debit or prepaid card, including American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, UnionPay or Visa.
Where to eat
Simple meal ideas near the day’s walking route.
The Brass Rail
The Brass Rail listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.
Court Street
Court Street listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.
Sam Sunny
Cuisine: korean.
Moono
Cuisine: korean.
Pedro's
Cuisine: mexican.
Boutros
Cuisine: middle_eastern;american;brunch.
Bubo
Cuisine: mediterranean;american.
Little Alley
Cuisine: chinese;shanghai.
Optional alternatives
Add one if a walking day finishes early. Don’t stack them onto the same afternoon.
Brooklyn Cyclones
The Brooklyn Cyclones are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, and play at Maimonides Park, just off the Coney Island Boardwalk.
Before you go
Questions
- Do I need a car in New York?
- No for this plan. The days stay inside walking range, then local transit to JFK. thumb|upright=1.3|NYC Subway car interior thumb|upright=1.3|NYC Subway car exterior thumb|upright=1.3|The New York City Subway is the fastest and most convenient way to get around the city. However, it can get really, really crowded, especially during rush hour. OMNY is the contactless fare payment system for the MTA subway and bus lines. The system allows passengers to pay by "tapping" one of the following to a reader: * A contactless credit, debit or prepaid card, including American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, UnionPay or Visa.
- Is 5 days enough?
- Yes if you want New York plus one nearby trip. Use the 3-day plan if you will not leave town.
- Where should I stay?
- Base near Passes so the first walking day starts at the hotel. Greenpoint Branch YMCA is a listed option, not a ranking.
- Where do I eat?
- Each day names one sit-down stop. The Brass Rail is on the list. Keep the rest as bakeries and market counters.
Other New York trip lengths
- Where to stay in New York
- Best time to visit New York
- eSIM for United States
- Travel insurance for United States
- Airport transfers
Daily stops compiled from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, and OpenTripMap. Updated 2026-08-25. Edited by Lina Varela.