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Tour Guide

Feel free to email me at shawn@yamtam.nyc if you would like to discuss any of this anytime.

Almost all points and attractions are reachable by mass transit and walking alone. Manhattan is arranged in a grid in the central area and this grid extends (somewhat radially) into Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Lower Manhattan, Northern Brooklyn, and Staten Island do not use a grid pattern at all. The grid in Manhattan has streets increasing as you go North and avenues increasing as you go West. Notable information and exceptions:

• Streets are about 260 feet apart, so 20 streets to a mile, or, for you metric system fans, 80 meters apart, and 12 streets to a kilometer, and run east to west
• Avenues are about 3 times farther apart than streets, so 6 avenues to a mile, or 4 avenues to a kilometer and run north to south
• Most streets and avenues are one-way traffic only. Some exceptions are Park Av, sections of 3rd Av (Houston to 23rd), Broadway (above 60th), 14th St, 23rd St, 34th St, 42nd St, 57th St, and 59th St.
• Manhattan is tilted relative to perfect North. Broadway actually runs approximately North-South, but cuts diagonally from 79th St on the Upper West Side to 10th St on the Lower East Side
• There is no 4th Av except from 14th St to 8th St (which is also called Astor Pl and St Marks Pl at various eastern points)
• 6th Av may also be called Americas or Avenue of the Americas
• Instead of 4th Av, from 14th to 130th St, you have Lexington Av, Park Av, and Madison Av between 3rd Av and 5th Av. Below 14th, it is 4th Av
• East of 1st Av is Sutton Pl starting at 53rd St which turns into York Av after 59th St. From 79th to 90th there is another avenue east of York, East End, where you can find Gracie Mansion, where the mayor lives while in office
• Above 60th St, 8th Av is Central Park West, 9th Av is Columbus Av, 10th Av is Amsterdam Av, and 11th Av is West End Av
• You can orient yourself quickly by remembering that York, 1st Av, 3rd Av, Madison Av, 6th Av, 8th Av, and 10th Av run north, 2nd, Lex, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th run south. Park runs in both directions.
• Below 14th St and east of 1st Av is an area called Alphabet City. The avenues are lettered starting from A nearest 1st Av and ending at D along the water.
• There are 3 highways that run along the edges of Manhattan. The FDR on the east works like a normal highway with exits every 1/2 mile or so. On the west, from the southern tip to 70th St, the West Side Highway is a 2-way major thoroughfare with exists every few streets. Above 70th, it becomes the Henry Hudson Parkway, which takes you up and out of Manhattan across the Henry Hudson Bridge.
• A family of 4 will spend less time and money on the train than ride shares or taxis for the vast majority of trips around the city between 5am and 11pm. Otherwise, depending on where you are, you might have a significantly longer trip on the trains
• Central Park is between 59th and 110th between 5th Av and Central Park West (8th Av). Inside are 60 miles of paths, a zoo, the Wollman Rink, and a dozen museums along the inside and outside edges.
• Within Manhattan and most of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, you are usually less than 10 minutes walking from a train station, and certainly less than 10 minutes to a bus stop.
• With the exceptions of East Harlem, East New York, Bushwick, Brownsville, and certain areas in the Bronx (Grand Concourse 130s to 180s), crime is not an issue, ignore what you hear on the news. You have a better chance of winning the 2nd or 3rd prize in the lottery than being a crime victim
• Trains are absolutely safe modes of transportation, contrary to all the media hype around subway crime. Even at 11pm. Again, avoiding the areas noted above
• Subway fare is $2.90 with unlimited movement within the system, and unlimited rides after you spend $34 in a week. You do not need to buy a metrocard, just use tap-n-go/NFC from your credit card or cell phone (like Apple Pay or Android/Google Pay)

Below you will find self-guided tours you can review and pick and choose what you want to see. There will be time estimates so you can plan for how long you'll need. The advice for someone who only has 2 full days in NYC will be very different versus someone with 6 full days. That said, even with a month, you would not come close to seeing all NYC has to offer, so get ready to build a "must-see" list and be prepared to trim down your itinerary as needed.

Lower Manhattan Tour

This covers the southern tip of Manhattan up to Houston St. This is roughly 21 hours. Splitting this up into 3 days of 7 hours each for all of it can work. But you only need to skip half the items to do it all in one long day. The SI Ferry and One World are best at sunset.

• Arrival Points: South Ferry (Staten Island Ferry), 1/R/W train to Cortlandt, 2/3/A/C/E to WTC, 4/5 to Bowling Green, J/Z to Broad St
• [60 min] If you did not come by SI Ferry, take a loop (you have to jog at the SI side to catch the return boat or wait 20 minutes) to see Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and city (without stopping)
• [90 min] Stroll Battery Park, stop in the Jewish Heritage Museum
• [15 min] Walk East to the Wall Street Charging Bull and grab a photo
• [15 min] Visit Bowling Green, oldest public park in NYC, almost 300 years old
• [90 min] Visit the National Archives
• [90 min] Visit the National Museum of the American Indian
• [30 min] Walk East through Stone St and visit Fraunces Tavern, oldest tavern in NYC, Washington planned the revolution here - double time for a meal, but you can grab a beer in 30
• [30 min] Walk North on Broad St to see the Stock Exchange, Federal Building, Fearless Girl, and Washington's statue
• [30 min] Walk West on Wall St to Trinity Church, burial site of Alexander Hamilton among other famous people
• [60 min] Walk North on Broadway then through Zuccotti Park to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. You need timed tickets for entry to the museum, but the memorial is open to the public.
• [90 min] Across the walkway is 1 World Observatory. You need timed tickets for entry. Try to get a time 60 mins before sunset
• [30 min] Across the street is the Oculus, an art installation around a mall
• [60 min] Walk West across West St to Brookfield Place and take a walk on the boardwalk outside the back. This is a mall, too, with a decent food court
• [90 min] Retrace your steps back to Liberty St (bordering Zuccotti Park) and walk all the way East to the water to see the South Street Seaport and Museum
• [15 min] Walk on Fulton St back to Broadway and go North to Woolworth Building. There are no tours anymore since the pandemic, but you can peek in, and definitely see the outside
• [15 min] Across the street is City Hall Park and City Hall
• [90 min] Just East of here is Brooklyn Bridge - walk 1/3 to 1/2 way across, take in the views, and return to save time, or go all the way, and take the subway back
• [15 min] Just North is the Municipal Building
• [15 min] Across the street, behind City Hall, is Tweed Courthouse, you may be able to pop inside
• [90 min] Hall des Lumieres is across from Tweed Courthouse, check events calendar
• [30 min] Head North up the Elk St alley to the African Burial Ground National Monument
• [15 min] Head East along Duane St to see Foley Square in Thomas Paine Park
• [90 min] Head East along Worth St and up Bowery to reach the Manhattan Bridge path
• [90 min] Head north on Bowery up to Delancy and go east to the Tenement Museum
• [30 min] Hop on the Queens-bound subway at Essex St to ride over the Williamsburg Bridge and back

Midtown Manhattan

• Visit Washington Square Park
• Visit Stonewall Inn and back
• Walk North up University to Union Square Park
• Keep walking up Broadway until you reach Madison Square Park & the Flatiron at 23rd St
• Walk up 5th Av to 27th St to visit the Museum of Sex
• Walk up to Herald Square at 34th St and 6th Av where Broadway intersects 6th Av
• Visit Empire State Building
• Visit Morgan Library
• Visit Madison Square Garden, Penn Station and Moynihan Hall
• Visit Hudson Yards, Vessel, Edge
• Visit Port Authority
• Visit Times Square
• Visit Bryant Park
• Visit NYPL
• Visit Grand Central
• Visit Rockefeller Center
• Visit Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
• Visit The Plaza Hotel
• Visit The 59th St Bridge
• Visit Roosevelt Island via Tram

Central Park

• Visit Central Park - no pedicabs, expensive horse drawn carriage, great place to bike or roller blade
  East to 79th: Hallet Nature Sanctuary, Gapstow Bridge, Wollman Rink, Zoo, Arsenal, Carousel, Bethesda Fountain, Model Boat Sailing, Row Boat Rental, Central Park Boathouse, Alice in Wonderland, Summer Stage
  West to 79th: Umpire Rock, Carousel, Dalehead Arch, Tavern on the Green, Cherry Hill, Strawberry Fields, Bow Bridge, Ladies Gazebo, Ramble Arch, Delacorte Theater, Shakespeare Garden, Belvedere Castle
  North of 86th: The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir has a 6-mile track circling it
  

Upper East Side Manhattan

• Visit Museum of the City of New York
• Visit Jewish Museum
• Visit Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
• Visit Solomon R. Guggeinheim Museum
• Visit Gracie Mansion Conservancy
• Visit Neue Galerie
• Visit Frick Collection
• Visit Metropolitain Museum of Art
• Visit The Obelisk
• Visit Ukrainian Institute of America
• Visit Asia Society and Museum

Upper West Side Manhattan

• Visit Columbus Circle - shops, statue
• Visit Lincoln Center
• Visit The Dakota
• Visit New York Historical Society
• Visit Natural History Museum

Outside Manhattan

If you must see a beach, Coney Island is a long ride to the end of the orange or yellow lines. But the reward, if you go there, is Luna park, baseball parks, and the aquarium, all very fun, plus Nathan’s famous, where the hotdog contest happens every July 4th.

Over in Queens (Astoria, N/W) is Museum of Moving Image, Broadway Museum, along with many restaurants, hookah bars, parks, and entertainment.

If you want to try to catch a sporting event, Yankee Stadium is easier to reach (Subway: green 4, orange B or D) but Citi Field (purple 7 or LIRR) may be faster if you’re in midtown. Getting to Barclays for Nets or UBS for Islanders. The Rangers play at Madison Square Garden above Penn Station.

In Queens, Flushing Meadows Park and the Queens Museum are great, and the Unisphere is nice.

Way uptown are the Cloisters and an actual castle.

Food

• [$] 53rd St and 6th Av - Halal Guys - gyro or mix over rice, world famous
• [$] 39th and 9th Av or 25th and 6th Av - 2 Bros Pizza - $1.50 slice
• [$$] 12th St and 8th Av - Corner Bistro - burgers, fries, tots, beer
• [$$] Houston and Ludlow - Katz - pastrami, fries, knish, roast beef
• [$$] 33rd St and 3rd Av - 2nd Av Deli - like Katz
• [$$] 36th St and 3rd Av - Sarge's - like Katz
• [$$] UES, UWS, or Penn Station - Pastrami Queen - like Katz
• [$$] 53rd St and 3rd Av - L'Entrecote - $35 steak, fries, salad, arrive 45 mins early
• [$$] Trinity Pl and Cedar St - Trinity Place - eat in a bank vault!
• [$$$] Au Cheval - Walker between Broadway and Lafayette - great burgers
• [$$$] Peter Lugers in Williamsburg

Herald Square

Home of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and of course, Macy's. The flagship has stood here since 1902, after moving up from 14th St. The 5-story building on the corner was built just to avoid giving up the claim to the "largest department store," but now displays a sign for Macy's on most of the facade. There are lots of other stores nearby, but do be sure to take the elevator in Macy's to floor 1 1/2 and ride the original wooden escalators which are still in use to this day. Penn Station is just 1 block West and the Empire State Building is 1 block East. The stretch of Broadway south of 34th St occasionally has various temporary installations of interest, such as inflatable obstacle courses. Take the orange B/D/F/M to Herald Square, but the red 1/2/3 to 34th St-Penn Station is fairly close. This is also the transfer point to PATH, which is how you'll get back to Jersey if you're staying there.

Times Square & Broadway Shows

The crossroads of the world is said to be where Broadway crosses 7th Av here in Times Square. Honestly, it is mostly a tourist trap. Do NOT give any of the people here more than $1. The ball drops on New Year's Eve from the Times Building at the South end. There are many shops and restaurants, and all of the Broadway shows are within a few blocks. See if you can score some cheap tickets at the Tkts booth, or enter all the daily lotteries for the shows to grab a pair of tickets for $40 each. Broadway shows run most days at 1-2 PM and 7-8 PM. It is very safe to be in the area after the night performance. Every train goes to Times Square except the brown and green lines, and the grey L.

SoHo

Named for being South of Houston, SoHo is the latest NYC premier shopping district with lots of boutique-style and upscale shops. Bounded by Chinatown's Canal St to the South, Bowery to the East and 6th Av to the West, Broadway runs through the middle. The Museum of Ice Cream is centrally located in this neighborhood. Take the green 6 to Spring St or the brown J/Z to Bowery, the orange B/D/F/M to Broadway-Lafayette St (yes, that Lafayette), the yellow R/W to Prince St, or the red 1 or blue A/C/E to Canal St.

Chinatown

Take the 1, A/C/E, N/R/Q/W, 6, or J/Z to Canal St (different points), F to East Broadway, B/D to Grand St. Between Broadway and Bowery, Canal St to Worth St is Chinatown. Lots of authentic Chinese cuisine and shopping, and plenty of knock-offs of luxury brands. At Canal and Bowery is the famous Five Points and the Manhattan Bridge and Arch. The Museum of Chinese in America is also on Centre St just north of Canal St.

Little Italy

Take the N/R/Q/W to Canal, R/W to Prince, 6 to Spring St or Canal St, J/Z to Canal St or Bowery, B/D to Grand St. Between Lafayette and Bowery, Kenmare St to Canal St is Little Italy. If you are here during the San Genaro Feast in September, this place is crazy. Lots of authentic Italian food and shopping and games. New Museum is just a little northeast of here and Museum of Ice Cream is a little northwest, both worth a visit.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is at 5th Av and 35th St. You can pay to take a ride to the top observation deck, but expect a wait and remember to take note of the model building in the lobby. The upgraded lights will have shows to certain music or choose fixed colors to commemorate various events that take place throughout the year. Take the green 6 to 33rd St (Park Av), the 4/5 to 42nd St-Grand Central (Lexington Av), the orange B/D/F/M or yellow N/Q/R/W to 34th St-Herald Square (6th Av), or the red 1/2/3 to 34th St-Penn Station (7th Av).

September 11th (9/11) Memorial Park and Museum

The 9/11 Memorial is near the southern tip of Manhattan. Take the blue E to the end of the line (WTC), red 1 to Cortlandt, red 2/3 to Park Place, blue A/C to Chambers or Fulton, yellow R/W to Cortlandt, brown J/Z to Fulton, green 4/5 to Fulton, or green 6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall. Also nearby is the World Trade Center and One World Observatory, Oculus, City Hall, Brookfield Place, Stock Exchange, Tweed Courthouse, Municipal Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Trinity Church, and The Woolworth Building

World Trade Center

The World Trade Center (One World Observatory) is near the southern tip of Manhattan. Take the blue E to the end of the line (WTC), red 1 to Cortlandt, red 2/3 to Park Place, blue A/C to Chambers or Fulton, yellow R/W to Cortlandt, brown J/Z to Fulton, green 4/5 to Fulton, or green 6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall. Also nearby is the 9/11 Memorial, Oculus, City Hall, Brookfield Place, Stock Exchange, Tweed Courthouse, Municipal Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Trinity Church, and The Woolworth Building

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is near the southern tip of Manhattan (and the northwestern tip of Brooklyn). Take the red 2/3 to Fulton, brown J/Z to Chambers, yellow R/W to City Hall, green 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall, or blue A/C to Chambers. Also nearby is the 9/11 Memorial, City Hall, Brookfield Place, Stock Exchange, Tweed Courthouse, Municipal Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Trinity Church, and The Woolworth Building On the Brooklyn side of the bridge, near stops are blue A/C at High St, orange F at York St, red 2/3 at Clark St, yellow R at Court St, or green 4/5 at Borough Hall.

Manhattan Bridge

The Manhattan Bridge is just North of the Brooklyn Bridge. Take the orange F to East Broadway, orange B/D to Grand St, brown J/Z to Bowery or Canal, green 6 to Canal, yellow N/Q/R/W to Canal, blue A/C/E to Canal, or red 1 to Canal. On the Brooklyn side of the bridge, near stops are blue A/C at High St, orange F at York St, red 2/3 at Clark St, yellow R at Court St, or green 4/5 at Borough Hall.

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are reachable by Statue Cruises only which leaves from the southern tip of Manhattan. Take the 1 to South Ferry, the R/W to Whitehall St-South Ferry, the green 4/5 to Bowling Green, or slightly further, the red 2/3 to Wall St. Also nearby is Fraunces Tavern, Stone Street, American Indian Museum, Jewish Heritage Museum, Skyscraper Museum, and the Charging Bull.

Museum of Natural History

The Museum of Natural History is at 79th St and Central Park West (8th Av). Take the orange B or blue C to 81st St-Museum of Natural History or the red 1 to 79th St. Central Park and the Children's Museum are also nearby, as is the Beacon Theater, New York Historical Society, and the famous Dakota residential building.

Metropolitain Musuem of Art

Not to be confused with the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center, the Metropolitain Museum of Art is at 5th Av and 82nd St along the edge of Central Park. Take the green 4/5/6 to 86th St. Also nearby is the Guggenheim, Neue Galerie, and the Jewish Museum.

Metropolitain Opera House at Lincoln Center

Not to be confused with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center is a cultural stalwart of New York. Alongside Geffen Hall and the Koch Theater, you can see many ballets and operas here during the season. Take the red 1 to 66th St or the blue A/C or orange B/D to 59th St-Columbus Circle. Also nearby are the Shops at Columbus Circle, Juliard, the Philharmonic, and Trump International.

Carnigie Hall

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice! Or buy tickets. By train, the orange F to 57th St, the N/Q/R/W to 57th St, the orange B/D or blue E to 7th Av (and 53rd St), or the red 1 to 59th St-Columbus Circle.

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is home to the Rockettes, Christmas Tree, Skating Rink, Radio City, St. Patricks, Atlas, Top of the Rock, MoMa, and the 5th Av shops. Take the orange B/D/F/M to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center, blue E to 5th Av/53rd St, or the green 6 to 51st St.

Bryant Park

Bryant Park is great all year around, but has a skating rink and Christmas village in the winter. Almost every train will get close except for the J, Z, or L. Grand Central is also nearby, which is the hub for Metro North regional rail and a hub for the Long Island Railroad.

Madison Square Park & Flatiron Building

The Flatiron is among the most iconic NYC buildings. Opened in 1902 as "Burnham's Folly" or the Fuller Building, it is only 22 stories tall, but you would recognize it immediately among a city full of skyscrapers triple the size. Across the street, Madison Square Park is home to the original Shake Shack (great burgers and shakes), but be ready for a long wait from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. The park has a few playgrounds and multiple events take place regularly throughout the year from music and dance to farmers and flea markets. Take the yellow N/Q/R/W to 23rd St, the orange B/D/F/M to 23rd St, the red 1 to 23rd St, or the green 6 to 23rd St.

Pennsylvania Station & Madison Square Garden & Moynihan Food Hall

Penn Station is below Madison Square Garden (not to be confused with Madison Square Park). Catch the Rangers (hockey) or Knicks (basketball) here. This is also the primary hub of the Long Island Railroad and Amtrak national train network. Almost every train will get very close to 34th St except for the brown, green, purple 7 and grey L. Be sure to see Grand Central Station as well, to understand what Pennsylvania Station used to look like until it was torn down in the 60s.

Grand Central Station & SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

Grand Central Station was one of the first buildings to be preserved by Jacklyn Kennedy Onassis after the destruction of the original Pennsylvania Station. Home to Metro North Railroad and the secondary hub of the Long Island Railroad (LIRR). Next door is SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, another opportunity to see the city from very high up, and an art experience as well. Take the green 4/5/6 or purple 7 or grey Times Square shuttle S. Note the small brown patch on the ceiling in the grand waiting area - the entire ceiling was this color from all the smoke and exhaust until it received a massive cleaning in the 80s.