Even if you only have one day to spend in NYC, it’s easy to fill those hours with plenty of activities, shopping and delicious eats. We suggest sticking to one or two neighborhoods if you have less than 24 hours to spare, and we decided that Midtown Manhattan and the immediate surrounding area is the perfect starting point for a visitor’s very first day in the City.
Explore the itinerary below. It was designed for adults looking for culturally rich experiences, top-notch entertainment and some of the most iconic dining the City has to offer.
Morning in Midtown
La Grande Boucherie. Photo: Melissa Hom
Have a Decadent Breakfast at La Grande Boucherie…
145 W. 53rd St.
If you want a fancy, leisurely sit-down breakfast, pop into La Grande Boucherie, where you can sit in the opulent dining room or snag a table at the greenery-flanked covered courtyard. The menu is stacked with classic French dishes, like a smoked salmon tartine, croque madame and omelet with goat cheese and spinach.
…Or Grab a Quick Bite at Rockefeller Center’s Black Seed Bagels
30 Rockefeller Plaza, Concourse Level
If you prefer a quicker yet just as tasty breakfast, grab a bagel at Black Seed. Try your choice of bagel with plain with cream cheese or stacked with their signature Classic 2.0, made with their pastrami-spiced lox, scallion cream cheese, pickled green tomato and red onion.
Walk southeast to Rockefeller Center (if coming from La Grande Boucherie).
Courtesy, NBC Studio Tour
Immerse Yourself in the City’s TV Lore with The Tour at NBC Studios
30 Rockefeller Plaza
This tour gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the most famous television shows are made, from late-night classics to iconic news broadcasts. As you move through real working studios, you’ll see sets, control rooms and the fast-paced world of live production, all while learning how writers, producers and crew bring shows to life. Take a sneak peak at the tour here.
Walk east to Fifth Avenue.
Photo: Lanna Apisukh
Shopping on Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue is one of the most famed shopping destinations in the world, with everything from flagship chain stores to luxury retailers you can’t find anywhere else. Start at Saks Fifth Avenue and work your way north, popping into (or window shopping at) famed spots like Tiffany & Co. along the way. End your journey at Bergdorf Goodman, the one-of-a-kind luxury department store that’s been a New York retail icon for more than a century. In the photo above, native New Yorker Michele Greene is pictured navigating Fifth Avenue while following her own one-day itinerary. Read Greene's account sharing her experience getting around the City with a disability.
Afternoon in Central Park and on Museum Mile
Walk or take a car from Fifth Avenue to Central Park’s Tavern on the Green.
Tavern on the Green. Photo: Marley White
Enjoy a Scenic Lunch at Tavern on the Green
Central Park at W. 67th St.
Originally built in 1870 as housing for Central Park’s 200 grazing sheep, Tavern on the Green became a restaurant in 1934 and was restored and reopened in 2014. It’s one of New York’s most beloved dining rooms and a lovely place to have lunch, whether you order the decadent steak sandwich or renowned Cobb salad.
Walk northeast through Central Park, stopping at some sights along the way, including the Literary Walk, Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, and Cleopatra’s Needle.
The Met. Photo: Brett Beyer. Courtesy, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Spend a Couple of Hours at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
82nd Street and Fifth Avenue
It’s no wonder The Met is one of the world’s most well-known museums—its collection spans more than 5,000 years of human creativity, from ancient civilizations to cutting-edge contemporary works. Yes, its 2 million square feet of exhibition space can feel overwhelming, which is why it’s best not to try and see everything. Choose two to three exhibits or a specific wing you’d like to explore and spend a couple hours admiring the artwork on display.
Walk south on Fifth Avenue for 45 minutes or take the M1, M3 or M4 bus, a 25 minute ride.
Evening in the Theatre District
If you have time: Pre-Dinner Drink at Madame George
45 W. 45th St.
This subterranean cocktail bar is helmed by beverage director Marshall Minaya, who makes some of the best and most creative cocktails in New York City. Stop into the swanky speakeasy for a drink before dinner, and you might even catch some live music.
Walk north on Sixth Avenue for seven blocks.
Courtesy, Mastro's Steakhouse NYC
Dinner at Mastro’s Steakhouse
1285 Sixth Ave. (entrance is on W. 52nd St.)
Dining at a steakhouse is a classic NYC experience, and Mastro’s is one of our favorites in Manhattan. Start with a delectable bite from the raw bar, like chilled crab cocktail or bigeye tuna, and a Caesar or wedge salad. The main event, of course, is the steak and chops menu, whether you spring for a bone-in ribeye or rack of lamb. The restaurant offers nightly live music—another reason we love this Midtown staple.
Richard Rodgers Theatre. Photo: Lucia Vázquez
See a Broadway Show
Catching a Broadway performance is a quintessential New York experience—it’s hard to imagine a visit to the City without seeing a play or musical. Whether you’re drawn to a high-energy hit like & Juliet or a long-running phenomenon such as Hamilton, you’ll have your choice of options from the incredible range of stories, styles and spectacles in Broadway’s theaters.
Find our suggestions for a 3-day NYC itinerary here, or browse our First Timer's Guide for more.