Itinerarly
One day in New York: a walking route in the best order
New York is too big to walk end to end in a day, but its two classic halves fit in one: Lower Manhattan in the morning, Central Park and Midtown in the afternoon. This plan follows the Complete New York audio tour in the Itinerarly app. Take the subway between the 9/11 Memorial and the Met; walk the rest.
At a glance: 7 stops, about 15.0 km in straight lines between them: walk Lower Manhattan and Central Park, and take the subway in between. About 2 h 20 of narration, plus the time you spend inside the sights.
Morning: Battery Park, Brooklyn Bridge, One World Trade Center, 9/11 Memorial
- Battery ParkWelcome to Battery Park, one of Manhattan’s most history-laden green spaces, located at the very southern tip of the island. This is the primary departure point for ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
- Brooklyn BridgeYou are looking at the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the world's most iconic engineering marvels. Completed in 1883, it was the first suspension bridge to use steel cables and stood as the world's longest at the time of its opening.
- One World Trade CenterThis is One World Trade Center, the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. Its symbolic height of 1,776 feet (541 meters) commemorates the year of American independence.
- 9/11 MemorialYou are standing at the 9/11 Memorial, a sacred space of reflection and tribute located precisely where the Twin Towers once stood. The two reflecting pools, featuring the largest man-made waterfalls in North America, fill the exact footprints of the fallen towers.
Afternoon: Met Museum, Belvedere Castle, Rockefeller Center
- Met MuseumWelcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, affectionately known as 'The Met'—one of the largest and most prestigious art museums in the world. Located on Fifth Avenue at the edge of Central Park, it houses over two million works spanning 5,000 years of human history.
- Belvedere CastleThis is Belvedere Castle, a whimsical neo-Gothic structure perched upon the highest rock in Central Park. Built in 1869 by Calvert Vaux, it was originally designed as a 'folly'—an ornamental lookout without windows or doors, meant purely for enjoying the views and the breeze.
- Rockefeller CenterThis is Rockefeller Center, a majestic Art Deco architectural complex envisioned by the Rockefeller family during the Great Depression. Often described as a 'city within a city,' it is world-famous for its giant Christmas tree and its iconic ice rink, which opened in 1936.
Only have an hour?
Take the Midtown Express tour instead: 3 stops, about 1 h: Times Square → Rockefeller Center → Central Park Gapstow.
Practical tips
- The 9/11 Memorial pools are free; the 9/11 Museum needs a ticket.
- Walk the Brooklyn Bridge early in the morning to avoid the crowds on the walkway.
- The subway and buses accept contactless cards and phones directly.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art is closed on Wednesdays.
- Belvedere Castle gives one of the best views over Central Park and is free to visit.
Do it with a story at every stop
This route is the Complete New York tour in the free Itinerarly app. It walks you from stop to stop and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese. See all the audio tours of New York.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you see New York in one day?
- You can see the main sights from the outside and visit one or two of them inside. This route links 7 of them in an order that avoids backtracking.
- What is the best order to visit New York's main sights?
- One efficient order is: Battery Park → Brooklyn Bridge → One World Trade Center → 9/11 Memorial → Met Museum → Belvedere Castle → Rockefeller Center. It is the order used by the Itinerarly Complete New York audio tour.
- Is there a free audio guide for New York?
- Yes. The Itinerarly app has 3 free self-guided audio tours of New York, narrated in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.