Ultimate 3-Day New York City Itinerary (Kid Friendly)

Over the years, we have visited New York City with our children ten times, including “moving” to the city for three weeks in July 2022.

There is so much to do, and you can’t see everything in just one trip. Based on our previous visits, which include trips as a family and traveling with friends and extended family who have never been to the city, I have developed a three-day itinerary for touring The Big Apple.

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When planning your trip, it is best to group what you do by the different areas/neighborhoods. We walk a lot when we visit the city because it allows us to see things we may miss otherwise. It works best for us to stay in one area each day instead of crisscrossing back and forth.

It is also a good idea to make a list of the places you most want to visit to ensure you can work them into your itinerary. Cut it out or save it for another visit if it is unimportant. For example, I have included multiple observatories in the following itinerary. Some people may want to do all of them, and others may only want to pick one. Adjust your version of the itinerary based on your preference.

3 Days In New York City

Day 1 at a Glance
-Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
-Battery Park
-Bowling Green/Charging Bull sculpture
-NY Stock Exchange/Fearless Girl sculpture
-Federal Hall National Memorial
-Trinity Church
-9/11 Museum and Memorial
-One World Observatory
-Oculus for shopping
-Walk past St. Paul’s Chapel
-Walk through Chinatown
-Walk through Little Italy
-Walk to SoHo to shop
-Washington Square Park Greenwich Village

Day 1
Begin your day by visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. To visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island, you must buy a timed general admission ticket from Statue City Cruises.

This ticket will provide round-trip ferry service, access to the Statue of Liberty Museum and Grounds, and access to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

If you want to go inside the Statue of Liberty, you must buy a ticket that specifies pedestal reserve or crown reserve. These tickets are limited and sell out in advance.

Next, stroll through Battery Park, stop at the Sea Glass Carousel and then make your way to Bowling Green Park to see the Charging Bull sculpture. Once you have seen this infamous work of art, walk to the New York Stock Exchange and view the Fearless Girl sculpture.

Less than 500 feet away is Federal Hall National Memorial. This museum/memorial was the location of Washington’s Inauguration as the first president, was the home of the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch, and was where the US Bill of Rights was introduced in the first Congress. The museum is free to the public but is only open Monday through Friday.

After your stop at Federal Hall National Memorial, walk a block to Trinity Church Cemetery at Broadway and Wall Street, where Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, Angelica Schuyler Church, Hercules Mulligan, and Philip Hamilton are buried.

Next on the itinerary is the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. This is possibly one of the most moving and essential monuments/museums you should visit in your lifetime. Tickets for the museum sell out and should be purchased before your visit.

Located next door to the museum is One World Observatory, which is the observatory from the highest point in New York City. Timed entry tickets must be purchased to access the observatory. The Oculus, which is a shopping and dining destination, is also located near the 9/11 Museum and Memorial.

Once you are done at the World Trade Center complex, begin walking toward Chinatown and Little Italy. Along the way, see St. Paul’s Chapel, which is known as “The Chapel that Stood” during the attacks on September 11, City Hall, and the New York County Supreme Courthouse.

Explore the neighborhoods of Chinatown (we love to stop at Yunhong Chopsticks to buy new chopsticks as a souvenir) and Little Italy (Pep’s on Grand is our favorite wood-fired pizza, and Ferrara Bakery has the BEST cannolis and gelato).

A few blocks west is the neighborhood of SoHo, which is home to many boutiques and chain stores. After you have perused the shops, head north to Washington Square Park to see the infamous Washington Square Arch in Greenwich Village.

Day 2 at a Glance
-Edge and The Vessel at Hudson Yards
-Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
-Times Square & Broadway Matinee
-Radio City Music Hall
-Top of Rock
-Rockefeller Center
-St. Patrick’s Cathedral
-Shopping Fifth Avenue
-Grand Central Terminal
-SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
-New York Public Library
-Bryant Park
-Times Square & Broadway Show
-Empire State Building

Day 2

The second day begins at the observatory Edge, located at the Shops at Hudson Yards. Be advised tickets do sell out for Edge, so plan accordingly. Edge is unique in that it is a sky deck that makes you feel as if you are suspended in the air. A glass floor also allows you to look down 100 stories below you. Check out the Vessel after you are done. The architectural design is astounding.

After your trip to Hudson Yards, walk to the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. This museum is unique in that it is located on the former aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, which was used in World War II, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and as a recovery vessel for NASA.

The exhibitions are immense, as they are made up of real aircraft from all of the U.S. armed forces, the space shuttle Enterprise, and the submarine Growler. It is an experience you don’t want to miss.

If you are traveling with children, my advice is to walk to Times Square once you are done at the Intrepid to experience the sensory overload, visit M&M’s World Times Square, Hershey’s Chocolate World, Disney Store, and see a matinee of a Broadway Show. If you are not traveling with children, you may want to go to a show in the evening to experience the lights of Times Square and Broadway fully.

After the Broadway show, head towards Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue. Along the way, you can walk past Radio City Music Hall and stop at The Top of The Rock. Again, buying your tickets early for all observatories is recommended.

Top of the Rock is my favorite observatory because of its location. It is almost directly in the center of Manhattan and provides a unique view. The view at night during the holidays is spectacular as you can see a plethora of buildings lit up.

Rockefeller Center is the next stop. The iconic Rockefeller ice skating rink is another must-see tourist attraction. The rink is open for ice skating in the colder months, but recently they have had rollerskating during warm months when the rink would typically be closed.

After checking out the skating rink, peruse the stores in the area. If traveling with children, the LEGO Store Fifth Avenue, Nintendo New York store, FAO Schwarz toy store, and American Girl Place New York are must-stop shopping locations.

Across Fifth Avenue is the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The architecture is stunning both inside and out. Along Fifth Avenue is one of the most infamous shopping locations in New York City and the world. Browse high-end designers as well as flagship stores of familiar brands.

Make your way south on Fifth Ave to lead you toward the next destinations. Grand Central Terminal is a unique landmark that offers shopping, dining, and transportation. Located on the lower level outside of Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant is the Whispering Gallery. The low arches covered in Guastavino tile create an acoustical occurrence in which you can stand in opposite corners of the area and be heard by another person.

On the block next to Grand Central is SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, one of the city’s newest observation decks. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is unique in that it is an immersive art experience in addition to being an observatory. Purchasing your tickets in advance is recommended.

The New York Public Library Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a short walk away. This iconic structure is filled with history via the architecture and collections housed in the building. The main entrance is flanked by two marble lions commonly known as Patience and Fortitude, and along with the vast amount of materials located inside are the original stuffed animals that inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh stories.

Behind the New York Public Library Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is Bryant Park. This green space is filled with games, classes, art, and culture. In the summer, there are outdoor movie nights, and in the fall, the Winter Village opens, including an open-air market filled with shops, food, and an ice skating rink.

If you choose to see a Broadway show in the evening, Times Square and the bright lights of Broadway are blocks away from Bryant Park. If you already saw a matinee or are skipping the theater, the Empire State Building is a short walk south. Macy’s Herald Square can be a quick pit stop along the way if you haven’t had your fill of shopping.

The Empire State Building is probably the quintessential skyscraper in New York City. Learn about the building’s history through exhibits and view the city from both the 86th and 102nd-floor observatories. Tickets should be purchased in advance.

Day 3 at a Glance
-Strawberry Fields/Dakota
-American Museum of Natural History
-Explore Central Park Between Museums
-Metropolitan Museum of Art
-Explore Central Park

Day 3
Day three is spent uptown and is a little more relaxing, which is probably needed after two jam-packed days. It may be my favorite day, as it is full of art, culture, and green space. (I LOVE spending time in Central Park.)

Start at Strawberry Fields, which is a beautiful memorial to John Lennon. Even if you are not a Beatles fan, the mosaic is gorgeous, and it is a calming international peace garden that should be experienced. If you are a John Lennon fan, across the street is the Dakota, which is the building in which John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived, and unfortunately, the sight of his death.

Five blocks north is the next destination, The American Museum of Natural History. Filled with exhibits, fossils, and artifacts, the museum is awe-inspiring and provides a glimpse at how wondrous our world and beyond really is. The museum has timed entry, so pre-purchased tickets are required.

The Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life
American Museum of Natural History

After the Natural History Museum, stroll across Central Park and explore Shakespeare Garden, Belvedere Castle, and Turtle Pond. This route will lead you to your next stop, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Also known as The Met, this museum houses some of the world’s most well-known art, sculptures, and antiquities. Tickets can be purchased in advance.

If traveling with children, there are quite a few playgrounds in Central Park, but next to The Met is a unique play experience, the Ancient Playground. It is designed to mimic an ancient city and inspire exploration and imagination.

After The Met, it is time to return to Central Park to conclude the day. Being an 843-acre park, there are infinite sights to experience. By heading south, you can visit Conservatory Water and rent remote control boats from Kerbs Boathouse to sail on the pond while taking in a view of the park, skyline, Alice in Wonderland sculpture, and Hans Christian Anderson statue.

Next, walk to Bethesda Terrace to see the view and Bethesda Fountain. Adjacent is The Mall and Literary Walk, which is a perfect place to amble, sit, listen to music, and take in the beauty of the park and the people enjoying it.

The Central Park Zoo is another excellent place to visit, especially with children. It is a gem in the city that houses animal exhibits along a backdrop of nature and constructed wonder.