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Going to new york for a few days. There are so many guides and places to see.

What do you suggest I concentrate on.

Will be there for only 2 days.

Times Square, Fifth Avenue, China Town / Greenwich village should be more than enough for 2 days ..

Also dont miss out on getting a hotdog and/or pizza from the street vendors !!

NY is a great city, one of my favorites.

Don't forget to see Central Park, Ground Zero, and Wall Street. Taking a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is pretty amazing too.

I would recommend taking one of those cheesy guided bus tours for an afternoon. Once you've gone on that, you can focus on the places you'd like to see.

I also enjoy getting out of Manhattan -- Little Jamaica in The Bronx for example has a lot of character.

Hopefully you haven’t left yet.

Man that ain't much time!

Here is an "itinerary":

Arrive NY at 7:00 am. Take that flight and sleep on the plane (14 hour flight so stay awake for first 6 hours and sleep the last 8 hour).

Take cab from JFK to Manhattan. The cost is a flat fee of $45 plus toll ($5) plus tip ($10).

Leave bags at hotel (probably won’t be able to check in). Take the subway or cab to Battery Park. Subway is easier (and it is a New York experience), take the No. 4 (to bowling green) or No.1 to (south ferry) Each ride costs $2 and you need a “metro card’ which you will get from a machine –easy to follow – with cash or credit card or from the booth. I would suggest you get $20 worth of credit. The hotel will have a subway map if not you can get it at the station. Or you can print this: http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm . It is easy: you will be heading “downtown” as you will be staying north of battery part (it is at the tip of Manhattan).

Just get off at either station and the park will be right there. If you take the “wrong” exit and can’t see it just ask anyone but you can’t miss it. This is the harbor and from it you can see Elis island (where all immigrants pass thru in the 19th century) and you see the statute of liberty. At the water side there will be hundreds of people lining up to take the boat to the statute of liberty. I would recommend you do not go there because nowadays it takes hours to clear security, etc. Your best bet is to take the Staten Island ferry.

The Staten Island Ferry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staten_Island_Ferry) is at the other end of the park (it’s a small park) and it is where the subway station for the No. 1 train is located. Go upstairs and take the next Ferry to Staten Island. It is free! Stay at the back (stern) of the boat - closest to where you board (it’s a symmetrical boat). On the way there you will see an amazing view of the statute of liberty. Frankly it is a better view than you get if you were on the island itself (because once you are on the island you have to look up to see it (sort of like sitting on the front row of a large movie screen).

The ferry ride takes about 30 minutes. Either the same boat will return with passenger or they will ask you disembark and take the next one back. All you do is go out and back in. On the way back to Manhattan you will want to be on the front (bow) – depending on how windy and cold it is (should not be bad now). Look to your right (whatever the nautical term is – I know bow and stern) you will see the Verrazano Narrows bridge in the distance, also Governors Island and as you approach Manhattan, the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.

Just as you exit the South Ferry Terminal turn left and at the edge of the part, the street side not the water side there will be a stop for the Gray Line bus service. https://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightse ... uctId=1053 . You can inquire there about double-decker bus tours from there. I would recommend the “Downtown Loop” . Take the loop and return to where you first boarded. From there you have a couple of choices. You could walk up Broadway to wall street and then make a left an go see the World Trace Center Site (its become a “tourist” attraction and “lest we forget”).

By now you might want to head back to the hotel and check in. Depending on where you are staying you either take a cab. By now it should be mid afternoon. You will be tired so you might want to stop someplace for a coffee (or a drink) anywhere really. If you are up to walking you may want to go to central park. There are many entrances to the park but I would suggest you take a train to 59 Street (Columbus Circle). See map above. There is a huge fancy mall around the area. Walk on the park. It is great.

Alternatively take the train either to the Museum of Natural history http://www.amnh.org/museum/?src=toolbar on the West side of central park (C train to 81 street, there is a direct entrance to the museum) or the Metropolitan Museum of Art http://www.metmuseum.org/ on the East Side of the Park (the no “4” or “5” or “6” trains to 86th street). Lexington Avenue just walk eastwards towards Fifth Avenue.

From the museum take the subway to Times Square. You want to see Times Square in the evening. If you are at the Museum of Natural History take the “C” train “Downtown” to the “Times Square Station”. If you are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art take the “4” or “5” train to Grand Central Station. Before going out of the station follow signs for Metro North Commuter Railroad trains so you can see the inside of the station. It is a great space. Then walk out on the 42nd street side there will be signs. Once you are outside walk West (that is to your left) and go strait until you reach Times Square - it is where Broadway and 7th Avenue cross each other. On the way there you will see the main library at the NW corner of 5th Avenue and 42nd Street. Behind the library is Bryant Park which has cafes’ etc. (and now a skating rink in the winter). It is the place where they hold “New York Fashion Week” (nice restaurant at the end of it – attached to the library building)

Walk around Times Square and Broadway for a while. Lots of places to eat - many cater to tourists. If you want fancier fair head to 47th Street (Restaurant row) and be prepared to overpay. They cater to the theater crowd. Your chances of a table are better after 8:00 pm and before 11:00 pm.

Get a Good night’s sleep.

Next morning you might want to go to the Empire State building. It is on 5th Avenue and 34 Street. Take the train to 34 Street (better to take the “D” train as it is closer). Otherwise any train that stops on 34 street will do. Try to get there early as it gets crowded. You ride up to the 86th floor observatory and get a great view of the city. Of course this is weather dependent.

After the Empire State Building you might want to go see the “Flat Iron” Building on 23 and firth Avenue http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatiron_Building. Afterwards you can go have lunch at “Live Bait” on 23 between 5th and Park (4th Ave). It a funky Cajun place (New Orleans). The food is very good and you feel a bit like you are in a bar in New Orleans – nothing fancy. Alternatively you could go into the park (very small) they have a place call the “shake shack” thttp://www.shakeshacknyc.com/ they have the best burgers in town. Always a big line there but worth the wait. If you are a meat eater and want to try American BBQ walk west on 23rd Street just past the corner of 7th Avenue and go into “Rub” http://www.rubbbq.net/ and have some BBQ.

From 23rd Street you might want to head to the United Nations. This is located on 2nd Avenue and 41 Street. So the choice is a taxi directly there or another ride in the subway to 42nd Street (take the “F” train at the corner of sight Avenue). It will leave you at Bryant Park (see above) and then you walk East (opposite of the direction you headed when you went to Times Square) until you can go no further. The United Nations building will be on your left. They have tours, etc.

After the UN take a taxi back to Grand Central Terminal http://grandcentralterminal.com/pages/default.aspxand then take the 4 train to “City Hall” you can also take the “6” train there it will be the last stop on the “6” train. Once you are at street level look for all the other tourists and go to the Brooklyn Bridge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Bridge . You can see the first bridge tower from a clearing of the buildings. If not just ask around. Walk over the Bridge and you will be in Brooklyn. Be mindful of the cyclists half the bridge is for pedestrians and half for cyclist. Often absent minded tourists veer into the cyclist paths. Get off the bridge at the first exit on the Brooklyn side. It is on your left (it has a sign for the subway). Once down the stairs make a left. And walk down towards the water. You will see the Manhattan Bridge Tower looming in the foreground. Walk to Water Street and make a left. There is a bar and restaurant around the corner and next to it is a world famous chocolatier “Jacque Torres” (you might want to patronize). Keep going straight on Water Street. Beyond the choloteier and for the next 2 blocks there are only historic warehouses (some of which house theater companies). At the end, on your right hand side there is a famous and expensive restaurant (the River Café) with Fantastic view. But save the money and just walk to the pier next to it. Again, fantastic views.

If you are still up to walking some more then read the next paragraph. Otherwise the New York Water Taxi back to Manhattan. I would recommend you stay on. Coming attractions: a better view of Manhattan and the harbor. A walk on the Manhattan Bridge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Bridge and dinner in Chinatown .
http://www.explorechinatown.com/Gui/Exp ... town2.aspx

Ok once you are at the pier walk up the street. There Houses and restaurants on the left and petrol station on your right. Stay on the right and make a right just past the petrol station. Walk up the small hill you will go past a small park (a “dog run”) on your left follow by a playground. Just past the playground and on your right there are benches and then a path going right follow the path and you will be on the Brooklyn Promenade (Corniche we would say here). Great view of the Manhattan Skyline and the Harbor including the Statute of liberty. Walk along the promenade until you get to Montague Street it will be the street just before the end).

Walk along Montague Street until you reach the end of it. At this point either take the subway back to your hotel or walk over the Manhattan Bridge (turn left at the end of Montague Street). If you walk over the Manhattan Bridge you will end up in China Town. You might want to walk around Chinatown for a bit. Then you might want to head to Little Italy take Mulberry Street (at Canal) and walk towards Spring Street (this is Little Italy or whatever is left of it http://www.littleitalynyc.com/ ). At Spring Street walk left and you will be heading towards Soho http://www.nyctourist.com/soho1.htm. Soho starts just past Broadway (many shops, galleries, restaurants, etc.). From Soho take a taxi back to your hotel, airport, etc.

I think the above can be done in 2 days (well if you have to …..).

Good luck. You’ll love New York. I have a great time every time I get to go.

hahah concord i think your the master of 48 hour crazy trips .. does the above include drinking lots of redbull ?

There are shuttles that run very regularly that go right into Penn or Central Stations from the airports and it is only $8 or $10 -- a lot better alternative than a $50 taxi if you are on a budget.