What to see in New York in 3 days on your own – route, photo, description, map
New York is one of the most popular cities in the world, a visit to which will leave an unforgettable palette of impressions in the memory of tourists. The tireless, bright, dynamic and multifaceted metropolis charges its guests with incredible energy. He became the quintessence of amazing vitality and unlimited possibilities. This is a powerful financial outpost, the center of fashion and culture not only in the United States, but throughout the world. Legendary skyscrapers, numerous museums, theaters and galleries, picturesque park complexes, business districts and shopping areas are concentrated here. The abundance of various sights, historical monuments and iconic places of interest can turn the heads of even the most sophisticated travelers. For those who wish to enjoy all the advantages of the city, it is recommended to determine in advance
First day
First of all, tourists should get acquainted with the world-famous and legendary sights. This will allow you to feel the atmosphere of the largest metropolis in the world as much as possible. The program of the first day of the walk should include a visit to the iconic historical places of worship that make up the recognizable image of the city.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
It is impossible to visit New York and not see one of the symbols of the United States – the Statue of Liberty. The colossal sculptural monument has been attracting admiring glances of tourists for a century and a half. It rises on Liberty Island, which can be reached by ferry from Manhattan's Battery Park. The world-famous monument was presented by France to the American people in honor of the centenary of the declaration of independence from the English protectorate.
The statue is made in the image of an ancient Roman goddess, symbolizing freedom and democracy. She holds a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left. A diadem with seven rays flaunts on the head of a woman dressed in an elegant toga. The height of the monument together with the pedestal is 93 meters. At the foot of the statue lies a stolen chain.
A few hundred meters from the Statue of Liberty is Ellis Island. This piece of land in New York Harbor was until 1954 the main point of entry for migrants arriving in North America. An impressive building was erected on the island, crowned with four copper domes. Here, the registration of newly minted Americans who came from all over the world was carried out. Tourists will be interested in visiting the museum, which presents materials on mass immigration.
Battery Park
At the southern tip of Manhattan, a well-maintained Battery Park stretches between a spacious water harbor and the skyscrapers of the financial district. A picturesque green area of 10 hectares is replete with monuments of US military glory. This is one of the oldest recreation areas in the city. The park is named after the artillery pieces that protected the inhabitants of the metropolis from the sea from enemies. Here you can see a considerable number of memorials dedicated to American veterans and generals.
The park area is planted with sprawling trees and decorated with neat walking alleys with benches. An expressive attraction of this natural corner is a working farm that grows a variety of agricultural crops. Vegetable gardens against the backdrop of high-rise buildings make an original impression. Battery Park is adjacent to the ferry pier to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
Castle Clinton
In Battery Park is a squat round brick building with slit windows. This is an architectural monument of the early 19th century – Clinton Castle. The fortress was named after Governor D. Clinton. The construction of a defensive fortification was intended to protect New York Harbor from British troops. The military threat from the British had long since passed. The castle never had to participate in military battles.
For a long time the fortress was a social and entertainment center. Within its walls there was a beer garden, a concert hall and an art museum. From 1855 to 1890, the fort served as the first immigration center through which about 10 million immigrants from Europe passed. Today, the old building adorns the Manhattan area, built up with modern skyscrapers.
Ground Zero Complex
On the site where the twin towers of the World Trade Center, destroyed as a result of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, stood, the Ground Zero memorial complex is located. It consists of two huge square black pools. On the inner walls of the bowls, streams of water fall underground in a cascade, symbolizing the tears of America.
The names of 2,977 victims of the terrorist attack are engraved on the bronze parapets laid out around the perimeter of the pools-waterfalls. The memorial makes a painful impression. The complex was opened on the tenth anniversary of the tragic event that forever changed the world.
The Brooklyn Bridge
One of the outstanding sights is the grandiose Brooklyn Bridge. The structure stretches over the East River and connects the two most famous areas of the metropolis – Manhattan and Brooklyn. The architectural masterpiece was erected in 1883. The beauty of the world's first suspension bridge invariably evokes enthusiastic sensations. At the time of its opening, it was perceived by the world community as the eighth wonder of the world. The length of the structure is 1,825 meters.
Steel cables are stretched between two granite gothic towers-supports, the height of which reaches 80 meters. The Brooklyn Bridge is the city's most important transportation artery. It has six lanes for passenger traffic. There is a pedestrian and bicycle path above the carriageway. A walk along the bridge will remain in the memory of tourists as one of the brightest memorable moments of their stay in New York. From here you can see breathtaking views of the architectural ensembles of the city. With the onset of dusk, the building is lit up with colorful illumination.
Wall Street and Bronze Bull
The world-famous quarter of Wall Street is invariably associated with the financial power of the United States. This is the business center of the metropolis, where stock exchanges, banks and offices are concentrated. Here, the monetary pulse of the world beats, multimillion-dollar transactions are made and financial empires are created. Majestic skyscrapers rise along the street, forming an impressively narrow corridor.
Among the high-rise buildings of Wall Street, the stock exchange building stands out in particular. Its facade is decorated with monumental neoclassical columns and a pediment with sculptural compositions. The hallmark of the street is the huge monument of the Bronze Bull, erected in 1989.
The three-meter unique sculpture of an angry and unbridled animal radiates perseverance and confidence with all its appearance. The bull symbolizes the assertiveness of stock market players. According to legend, in order to achieve financial success, it is necessary to rub the horns, nose and testicles of a bull.
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a legendary skyscraper erected in 1931 on Manhattan Island at 350 Fifth Avenue. The grand structure with a wide base, massive ledges at the top and a slender spire was the first building in the world with more than 100 floors. The height of the skyscraper reaches 443 meters.
Unlike the modern architectural giants of New York, the gray stone facade of the Empire State Building is made in a classic style. Vertical stripes of stainless steel and numerous windows serve as the only decoration of the tower. The building houses offices of more than 600 companies. Observation platforms on the 86th and 102nd floors of the skyscraper are especially popular among city guests.
From a bird's eye view, tourists can enjoy panoramic views of the quarters, parks, bridges and architectural ensembles of the metropolis. At night, the Empire State Building is lit up with colorful lights. The unique lighting system is turned on during holidays, special events and sporting events held by the city.
Rockefeller Center observation deck
We recommend that you make an ascent to the three-level observation deck of the high-rise building of the Rockefeller Center. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the bewitching beauties of the city and appreciate the scale of grandiose buildings from a height of 266 meters. At the disposal of visitors there is a closed hall with glass railings and two open terraces. Panoramic platforms are located on the 67th-70th floors of the skyscraper.
All the iconic sights of Manhattan Island will appear before the eyes of tourists. It will be interesting to take a look at the picturesque facades of buildings that amaze with their original architecture. The platforms offer amazing views of Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, downtown, Brooklyn, New York Harbor, Jersey City and many other places in the metropolis. The greatest delight is the panorama of the night city, when the colorful lights of the illuminations are lit. A visit to the observation terraces will cost $37.
Broadway
It is impossible to ignore one of the longest, widest and oldest streets – Broadway. It stretches for as much as 25 kilometers and curves in wavy lines, breaking the perpendicular layout of Manhattan. This road existed even before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in America, and was an Indian trail winding through swamps and wooded hills. The street got its current name in 1664.
Broadway is world famous as the center of cultural and entertainment institutions. Here you can see countless theaters, on the stages of which popular musicals, show programs, classical and modern performances are staged. The theater quarter attracts with its majestic, colorful and shiny posters. Noteworthy are the Broadway skyscrapers erected at the beginning of the last century. For those wishing to have a snack or enjoy soft drinks, the doors of all kinds of bars and restaurants are open.
Times Square
At the intersection of 7th Avenue and Broadway is the main square of New York, where about 40 million tourists flock every year. This is the famous, vibrant and bustling Times Square, where you can feel the pulse of a huge city. The area consists of two elongated triangles. For many years, Americans have been celebrating the New Year here, organizing celebrations and holding noisy concerts.
The main property of the street are countless billboards. The square makes the greatest impression in the evening, when the riot of light from neon billboards sparkles with multi-colored lights. The famous quarter is built up with high-rise buildings, on the facades of which huge screens are placed. The most famous shops, boutiques, restaurants, cinemas, as well as offices of large companies are honored to be located in Times Square.
Second day
The second day of your stay in the “big apple” can be devoted to a cultural and educational program. Natural sights and magnificent museum complexes deserve no less attention than bewitching architectural ensembles.
central park
New York is famous for its Central Park Complex, which is the green lung of Manhattan. This is one of the most famous and largest parks in the world. An ennobled man-made island of nature and silence is spread among the seething stone jungle. A well-known landmark of the metropolis since 1857, it has been offering local citizens and visiting tourists a breath of fresh air.
Here everyone will find something to their liking and taste. On the territory of 3.4 km2 there are seven lakes and ponds of various sizes, long running and cycling paths, forests, spacious lawns and sports grounds. Walking along the winding paths along the well-maintained alleys, visitors to the park will meet a considerable number of interesting sights.
These are sculptural compositions and memorial monuments, a theater platform and a flower garden, a terrace with an arched arcade and fountains, a zoo and carousels. On a rocky elevation near the pond with turtles, a small Belvedere castle was erected from natural stones, which houses a meteorological observatory. A favorite place for people to relax is an impressive green field. In the warm season, you can have a picnic here and lie down on the grass.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art occupies a special place among the educational attractions of New York. It is the largest cultural and educational institution in North America. An extensive collection of achievements of human creativity is divided into thematic departments by continents and historical eras. The variety of exhibits is amazing.
The comfortable halls display paintings and sculptures, woodwork, ceramics and glassware, jewelry and clothing, religious and secular items, firearms and edged weapons, dishes and furniture, military armor and musical instruments, as well as many other ancient artifacts from around the world.. Of interest is the Egyptian Hall, where you can see sarcophagi, mummies, fragments of tombs and fragments of structures of ancient buildings.
No less fascinating exhibition is devoted to the cultural heritage of the Roman and Greek civilization. The museum recreates the interiors of French mansions of the 19th century. The exposition, which characterizes the art of Asia, is replete with antiquities. It presents delightful masterpieces of decorative casting, writing, ceramics and wood engravings. Art lovers will appreciate Aboriginal rock paintings, Byzantine icons, outstanding paintings by European masters and medieval stained glass windows.
American Museum of Natural History
The program of the second day of sightseeing in the metropolis should include a visit to one of the best scientific and educational institutions in the world – the Museum of Natural History. The grandiose collection of artifacts displays a comprehensive picture of the development of life on Earth. Numerous valuable exhibits invite viewers to go through centuries and millennia.
The collections are chronologically and geographically divided into such thematic expositions as the origin of man, precious stones and meteorites, minerals, flora and fauna. The pearl of the museum is the paleontological collection, exhibited in four halls of the complex. There are gigantic skeletons of dinosaurs, stuffed mammals, as well as sculptures of the ancestors of modern animals and birds.
Magnificent dioramas dedicated to the diversity of the planet's ecosystem are popular. They demonstrate one or another natural area with its characteristic flora and fauna. In one of the halls, visitors can get acquainted with the rarest precious stones, the number of which exceeds 100,000 copies.
Shining emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, rubies coexist with rock samples. It will be interesting to trace the path of human evolution and get acquainted with the organization of tribal communities of the indigenous people of North and South America. The museum's most popular exhibits include a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, a life-size figure of a blue whale, and a 20-meter Indian war canoe.
The third day
The tourist itinerary of the final third day can be devoted to viewing the expressive monuments of architecture. Modern and historical buildings amaze the imagination with their original designs. A visit to several park areas will diversify the walk, where you can relax.
Waterfront of the Hudson River
A pleasant experience is guaranteed by the promenade along the banks of the Hudson River. This is a wonderful park area with well-groomed alleys, green lawns and sprawling trees. Here you can hide from the bustle of the city and enjoy the majestic silence.
A walk along the embankment is accompanied by amazing views of the spacious water surface, the Statue of Liberty and Jersey City. For active vacationers, there are bicycle paths and sports grounds. There are benches and lampposts along the walking path. The park has a sufficient number of open areas ideal for picnics.
World Financial Center
In a picturesque location overlooking the Hudson River is a complex of high-rise buildings of the World Financial Center. These are glass and metal architectural giants, which are representative offices of well-known American companies. The complex consists of three prismatic towers of different heights. The facade of the buildings is lined with smooth dark glass and polished granite.
The protruding slabs of the outer walls strengthen the structure of the towers themselves, evoking the association of medieval fortifications. Tourists have the opportunity to visit the winter garden of the Financial Center completely unhindered. A spacious atrium and a gallery with a greenhouse connects the two towers. The graceful lace of the steel ceilings and the rows of slender tropical palm trees, which create a living green colonnade, are especially impressive.
World Trade Center
Among the modern architectural masterpieces of New York, the World Trade Center attracts attention. At 541 meters, the original tower is the tallest building in the United States and the Western Hemisphere. The building has 104 floors. It houses offices of international corporations, publishing houses, restaurants, shops and hotels.
The skyscraper was erected on the territory of the legendary twin towers, destroyed as a result of a terrorist attack. The facade is decorated with glass blocks. They are set at different angles, which makes the tower sparkle in the sun all day. The blue glass creates a visual illusion of the construction merging with the sky. The high-rise reinforced concrete building is crowned with a steel spire in the form of a stylized radio antenna.
There are observation decks on the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors of the World Trade Center. Visitors can expect an amazingly picturesque urban landscape of the metropolis. From a height of 382 meters, a magnificent view of all the recognizable sights of the city opens up, including the Statue of Liberty, Manhattan skyscrapers, parks, bridges, bays, islands and many other iconic places.
Building “Iron”
On a narrow stretch between Broadway and 5th Avenue rises an old triangular structure. This is the famous Iron House, built in 1902. Its height reaches 82 meters. The main architectural feature is that the structure consists of a powerful steel frame, which provides the structure with maximum stability.
The main mass of the building is made of soft brick and lined with terracotta tiles. The facade impresses the audience with its elegance. This is facilitated by classical ornate ornaments, bas-reliefs, stucco cornice and pilasters. The original appearance of the 22-story landmark attracts artists, photographers and filmmakers. Today, the Utyug building houses offices of commercial companies.
Madison Square Park
Next to the building “Iron” is a cozy public park Madison Square. A green oasis in the middle of the business center is a great place where tourists can relax under the shade of sprawling trees after a busy walk. Well-groomed paths meander between spacious grassy lawns and alleys with flower beds.
The square is chosen by squirrels, which live here in numerous flocks. Birds bathe in the fountain. One of the most popular burger establishments in the city, Shake Shack, is located on the territory of the park. Madison Square has a considerable number of monuments dedicated to US statesmen. From 1876 to 1882, it was here that the huge hand of the Statue of Liberty holding a torch was exhibited. This is how the fundraising for the erection of the pedestal of the future symbol of New York was carried out.
Pennsylvania Station
Pennsylvania Station is one of the busiest train stations in New York. It serves both intercity and suburban trains. The station occupies the underground level of the Pennsylvania Plaza office and entertainment complex, which is an ordinary structure of glass and concrete. The daily capacity of the station is more than 300,000 passengers. Underground are platforms, ticket offices and waiting rooms.
Until the middle of the 20th century, Pennsylvania Station deservedly belonged to the cohort of outstanding architectural monuments in the United States. It was a grand building with majestic columns, bright halls and high glass ceilings. In 1963, without prior public discussion, the structure was demolished. An office center was erected in its place, which aroused the indignation of the townspeople.
New York Public Library
Walking along Fifth Avenue, tourists can look into the public library, open to all connoisseurs of unique literature and impressive interiors. The luxurious monumental building of the book depository deserves attention. A magnificent masterpiece of architectural art of the early 20th century, built of white marble and brick.
Its façade is expressively distinguished by the main portal, decorated with three arches with majestic columns and six statues. The staircase at the entrance to the Palace of Knowledge is guarded by two marble lions, symbolizing patience and perseverance. The pride of the library is the main reading room. This imposing space of more than 2,000 m2 impresses with its pompous interior decoration.
The high ceilings are paneled with ornamental wood and painted with colorful frescoes. Arched windows and original crystal chandeliers provide the necessary lighting. The hall contains tables for reading and numerous open shelves with hundreds of thousands of book volumes.
Central station
The main gate to the metropolis is the Central Railway Station. About 750,000 passengers pass through its main hall every day. The station is the world leader in terms of the number of platforms (44 units) and railway tracks (67 units). A symmetrical majestic old building with an abundance of stucco, columns, arched windows, bas-reliefs and sculptural compositions is superbly located among the skyscrapers of Manhattan. This architectural monument was erected at the beginning of the 20th century.
The interiors of the station make a special impression on tourists. Getting into the lobby, passengers involuntarily fix their eyes on the vaulted high ceiling. It is decorated with snow-white stucco and picturesque frescoes depicting the starry sky. At the same time, the brightness of each star in the sky is transmitted by miniature light bulbs. Oversized arched windows let in sunlight through bars. Above the information desk, there is a clock in the form of a golden ball with four dials.
Chrysler Building
Among the skyscrapers of Manhattan, the Chrysler building, built at the dawn of the last century, stands out. The height of one of the expressive architectural structures of the city is 320 meters. The tower is made of a steel frame lined with light-colored masonry with small window openings.
At the corners of the building, you can see interesting sculptures – these are ferocious gargoyles and stylized metal wings. The interiors of the skyscraper are distinguished by elegant luxury. In the design of the interior decoration used precious woods. The Chrysler Building is famous for its world-famous crown, smoothly turning into a slender spire.
It consists of seven semicircular arched segments, erected one after the other. The ribbed facing of the crown is covered with stainless steel plates. Numerous triangular windows contrast with curved steel panels.
Columbus Square
The geographic center of New York is Columbus Square. This is the most important traffic circle in Manhattan, which connects Broadway with highways that run along Central Park. A marble monument dedicated to the great Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus stands on a round island.
The figure of the discoverer crowns the top of a 21-meter granite rostral column. The pedestal is decorated with bronze bas-reliefs depicting the ships of Columbus. Fountains, benches and flower plantings create a cozy atmosphere. Famous towers and skyscrapers rise up around the square.






















