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I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for the concrete jungle. I’ve been traveling to New York for the last 12 years so I’ve covered a lot of ground! If you only have 48 hours in the Big Apple, this is your ultimate guide to NYC in a weekend.
It’s quite impossible to hit everything in just two nights, but I believe the key is to do enough where you feel like you’ve seen a good bit, but not so much that you wear yourself out.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
NYC In A Weekend : The Ultimate Guide
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, DAY 1, ARRIVE & DINE
Check-in to your hotel!
Since you’re only here for 48 hours, I’d recommend staying in Times Square because it is the most immersive experience! Nothing beats the bright lights of the sparkling billboards. Times Square truly is Taylor Swift’s song, “Welcome to New York” brought to life. Plus, the location is pretty central for the things you’d want to do/see over the weekend!
My favorite hotel here is the W Times Square. You can get a room with a killer view of the city, the Hudson River, or both. The staff is so kind and the bar and restaurant are awesome.
Time to get ready for a night out and head to the Meatpacking District for dinner and drinks!
Chelsea is such a cute neighborhood with some awesome shops, bars, and restaurants like Catch, Fig & Olive, Serafina, and the RH Rooftop. Restoration Hardware is always a fun location because the food is fabulous and the inside decor is to drool over. The rooftop patio is a BIIIIG vibe when the weather is nice, too.
After dinner, walk to Le Bain to catch the sunset. This rooftop at The Standard Hotel has a 360 degree skyline view. It’s the most gorgeous sunset of the city I’ve ever seen. Le Bain also turns into a disco night club with a seasonal plunge pool (hence the name) if you want to make it your late-night spot.
A couple other nightlife options could be:
Living Room Bar – at the W Times Square – It’s such a cool underground but elegant vibe, with neon lights that turn on at night. They have a DJ on the weekends which elevates the whole experience even more so you can hang there after a long day and simply stumble upstairs to bed.
The Skylark, Magic Hour, and The Fleur Room are some great swanky lounge/rooftop options to end the night with!
SATURDAY, DAY 2: BROOKLYN, BRUNCH & BROADWAY
One thing I’ve learned about New Yorkers is that brunch doesn’t happen between breakfast and lunch time like one may think. It for sure means sleep in and get up MAYBE by noon to make brunch. Nevertheless, brunch in NYC is a must.
Cecconis in DUMBO is my favorite brunch spot in Brooklyn. It not only gives all the best vibes with an amazing view of Manhattan, but it gives you an excuse to explore DUMBO in all its quaintness. My go-to every time is the Eggs Florentine and it does not disappoint.
After brunch, go take the famous DUMBO pics at the corner of Washington and Water Street, Jane’s Carousel, and really anything you can get on the Brooklyn Bridge!
If you have the time, grab a cocktail at Harriet’s Rooftop in the 1 Hotel in Brooklyn for some EPIC city views.
Time to get back to the hotel and get ready for a Broadway show! This is a must for any NYC trip, and there are so many good shows out right now. I saw Moulin Rouge on my last trip and the set design alone was worth it! Such an experience.
If you’d prefer to not see a Broadway show, you could go to a Jazz club like Django inside the Roxy Hotel!
Once the show is over, take a stroll through Times Square on your way back to the hotel. It’s a totally different experience at night, and the perfect place for your busy-city IG photo.
SUNDAY, DAY 3 CENTRAL PARK & WINDOW SHOPPING
Before you head out to your evening flight home, there’s still time to get a full day in! Take the subway or an uber up to 5th avenue towards Central Park and stop in Liberty Bagels. You can’t visit NYC and not get a bagel.
Walk with your bagel to Central Park and enjoy the beautiful day! You can even pack a little picnic setup and hang at Sheep’s Meadow in the park for a few hours! There’s always jazz musicians busking in the park which creates your ideal cinematic moment.
If you have time after the park, walk down 5th Ave, Madison Ave. or Park Ave. and window shop at all the stunning stores. Your wallet may be scared to death but they’re gorgeous to look at. If you go down 5th you have to stop in Ralphs for a coffee pick-me-up because it’s the cutest cafe.
ALTERNATE ENDING (another Sunday option)
Head to SoHo, walk around, and make your way over to Little Italy. It’s so sleepy on a Sunday morning and fun to pop in all the adorable shops and cafes. Stop in for a croissant and mimosa somewhere, or grab a bagel from one of the many shops in the area!
There is so much to do if you only have 48 hours in New York City, and many different itineraries you could create in just a weekend! If you follow this guide, you’ll absolutely have a blast no matter who you’re with!
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