New York City

New York 5-day itinerary

5 days in New York on foot. The plan moves through Passes, City, City, starting with GoCity Pass, New York Pass, New York CityPASS. No car.
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.

  1. Day 1

    Passes

    Walk Passes in New York. Start at GoCity Pass, then New York Pass and New York CityPASS. Stay on foot.

    1. 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.

    2. 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.

    3. 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.

    4. 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.

    5. 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
  2. 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.

    1. Stop 1

      Latin American Pentecostal Church

      Latin American Pentecostal Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    2. Stop 2 · 6 min walk

      Rose of Sharon Holy Church

      Rose of Sharon Holy Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    3. 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.

    4. 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.

    5. 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.

  3. Day 3

    City

    Walk City in New York. Start at Congregation Shaare Zedek, then Chatham Square and South Baptist Church. Stay on foot.

    1. Stop 1

      Congregation Shaare Zedek

      Congregation Shaare Zedek on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    2. 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.

    3. Stop 3 · 33 min walk

      South Baptist Church

      South Baptist Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    4. Stop 4 · 28 min walk

      People's Home Church

      People's Home Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    5. 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.

  4. 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.

    1. Stop 1

      Seventh Day Adventist Church of Union Square

      Seventh Day Adventist Church of Union Square on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    2. Stop 2 · 4 min walk

      First Warsaw Congregation

      First Warsaw Congregation on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    3. 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.

  5. Day 5

    Day trip toward Metro New York

    Leave New York for the day. Come back to the same bed.

    1. Stop 1

      Metro New York

      Listed as a next stop from New York. Check the regional train or bus the night before.

    2. Stop 2

      New Jersey

      Listed as a next stop from New York. Check the regional train or bus the night before.

    3. 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.

Full where-to-stay guide →

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)

Trip budget calculator →

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