Get the app

New York, United States

New York City

Spend two days before boarding Metro-North: the High Line, the Met and the Cloisters, and Lower East Side food. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 1 outdoor spot and 3 places to eat from our curated routes.

Plan New York City with friendsBrowse 9 places
New York City, New York, United States
Places
9

4 See · 1 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Hudson Valley by Rail

Best season
Apr – Nov

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

26°C / 79°F avg high

Coolest month
January

4°C / 38°F avg high

Wettest month
December

about 133 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in New York City

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in New York City across Midtown East, Upper East Side and Fort Tryon Park. 2 of them are free.

  • Grand Central Terminal in New York CityPhoto: Fcb981; Eric Baetscher (attribution required) · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Grand Central Terminal

    Beaux-Arts station with the celestial ceiling; Hudson Line trains to Beacon leave here.

    Tip Check the Whispering Gallery outside the Oyster Bar.

    • Midtown East
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Morning
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York CityPhoto: Hugo Schneider · CC BY-SA 2.0
    See

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art

    Vast art museum on Central Park; the rooftop garden opens in summer.

    • Upper East Side
    • $$$
    • 3 hr
    • Weekday morning
  • The Met Cloisters in New York CityPhoto: Sebas Inchauspe · Google
    See

    The Met Cloisters

    Medieval art in reassembled monastery cloisters above the Hudson.

    Tip Same Met ticket covers both sites within three days.

    • Fort Tryon Park
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Afternoon
  • Brooklyn Bridge in New York CityPhoto: Christian David · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Brooklyn Bridge

    1883 bridge with a pedestrian promenade over the East River.

    Tip Walk from Brooklyn toward Manhattan for skyline views.

    • DUMBO
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Sunrise

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around New York City.

  • The High Line in New York CityPhoto: Alessandro Henrique · Google
    Outdoors

    The High Line

    Elevated rail-line park with gardens and Hudson River views.

    Tip Walk north to south, ending at the Whitney Museum.

    • Chelsea
    • Free
    • 75 min
    • Morning

Eat

3 places to eat across Chelsea and Lower East Side, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Chelsea Market in New York CityPhoto: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0
    Eat

    Chelsea Market

    Food hall in the old Nabisco factory at the High Line's south end.

    • Chelsea
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Lunch
  • Katz's Delicatessen in New York CityPhoto: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0
    Eat

    Katz's Delicatessen

    Lower East Side deli since 1888 for hand-carved pastrami on rye.

    Tip Keep your ticket; tip the cutter for a taste.

    • Lower East Side
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Lunch
  • Russ & Daughters in New York CityPhoto: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0
    Eat

    Russ & Daughters

    Appetizing shop since 1914 for lox, bagels and smoked fish.

    • Lower East Side
    • $$
    • 30 min
    • Breakfast

Drink

1 bar or café in Midtown East for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • The Campbell in New York CityPhoto: The Campbell · Google
    Drink

    The Campbell

    Restored 1920s office of a tycoon, now a cocktail bar inside Grand Central.

    • Midtown East
    • $$$
    • 60 min
    • Evening

How to fit New York City into a trip

New York City is stop 1 of 3 on our Hudson Valley by Rail route. Follow it as-is or lift New York City into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

New York City month by month

Average daily highs run from 4°C / 38°F in January to 26°C / 79°F in July. December is the wettest month, with about 133 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. New York City weather and the best time to visit →

Near New York City

8 other destinations from our guides within about 150 km (93 mi), measured in a straight line.

New York City questions, answered

How many days do you need in New York City?

Our route notes suggest 2 days in New York City. On our Hudson Valley by Rail route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 4-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 12 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is New York City best known for?

Spend two days before boarding Metro-North: the High Line, the Met and the Cloisters, and Lower East Side food. Standouts on our list: Grand Central Terminal (Beaux-Arts station with the celestial ceiling; Hudson Line trains to Beacon leave here); The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Vast art museum on Central Park; the rooftop garden opens in summer); The Met Cloisters (Medieval art in reassembled monastery cloisters above the Hudson).

When is the best time to visit New York City?

Our Hudson Valley by Rail route is best Apr – Nov. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (26°C / 79°F), the coolest in January (4°C / 38°F) and the most rain in December (about 133 mm).

What are the best things to do in New York City?

Start with Grand Central Terminal, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Met Cloisters, The High Line and Brooklyn Bridge. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 outdoor spot, 3 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in New York City?

Our picks: Chelsea Market; Katz's Delicatessen (Lower East Side); Russ & Daughters (Lower East Side). Keep your ticket; tip the cutter for a taste (Katz's Delicatessen).

What is near New York City?

The closest destinations in our guides are DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights (about 2 km / 1 mi), Midtown Manhattan (about 5 km / 3 mi) and Brooklyn (about 6 km / 4 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan New York City with your crew

Open the Hudson Valley by Rail route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

Get TripsCircle

Plan around New York City

More in New York

More in United States

Plan it together

Plan New York City