NYC One-Day-Tour
Every year, some Portuguese people visit the US for the Annual Associação Regional Caldense Dinner. During their visit, it usually falls on me to tour them around New York City. Their schedule is typically busy, so they're usually only left with a day to see New York. Over the years, my itinerary has been honed and I am able to offer them a wonderful taste of New York City in one day, with relatively little walking. This is a quick NYC tour that is best suited for people who are here for only a few days.
Start off downtown. Take the Staten Island on the Ferry to and from Staten Island. They'll get a great view of NYC and of the Statue of Liberty. Don't get off in Staten Island because there is little to see. Once you return, walk through Battery Park, along the water to the West Side. You'll see the marina behind the World Financial Center. Cross over to the World Trade Center (although I still find it disturbing, visitors like to go there). Head over to Broadway and down to Wall Street. One block over, you'll see the NYSE. Take a picture next to the bull at the foot of Broadway, in front of the United States Custom House.
Walk over to South Street Seaport. Here you'll have an extraordinary view of the Brooklyn Bridge. If you're not OK with walking a lot, take a subway to the Village. If you're OK with walking, go up to City Hall Park. Then walk Park Row to Mott Street. In China Town, this is a narrow and extremely vibrant street. Walk up to Canal Street. At Canal Street turn right and you'll come to the ornate entrance to the Manhattan Bridge. To the left of the bridge, you'll see a Buddhist temple. Go in, make a wish, donate a buck, and get yourself a fortune.
Walk back down Canal and go up Mulberry Street to see the little that's left of Little Italy. Then walk up to the village. More to the West and you'll have the trendy shops of SOHO and some interesting boutiques. More to the East and you'll see the Lower East Side. When you cross Houston, you're in the Village.
Once you're in the village, you can grab lunch and take a break at a sidewalk cafe. Show them Washington Square in the early afternoon. Especially if they're visiting on a weekend and not during the winter, you're sure to find some street performers. Non-New Yorkers love this part. There isn't too much in particular to show them in the village, just walk them around for a while. Some recommended sights on the East Side (St. Marks Place & McSorley's) and on the West Side (the small streets with fabulous brownstones and if you're comfortable with your guests and think they'd get a kick out of it, the sex shops like the Pink Pussycat on West 4th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues...again non-New Yorkers find this interesting).
Next take the subway up to Central Park (specifically, the Southeast portion of the park). Most people will enjoy seeing the subway. I don't recommend walking up from the Village. I did it when touring people in April 2004 and it took far too long with little to see. The only attractions you'll miss are: Union Square and the Flatiron Building (which was built in 1902 and at 285 feet {87 meters} is considered the oldest skyscraper in New York). At first it may seem appealing to stay above ground to see Midtown Manhattan, but you will have time to see that later in the tour.
Go into Central Park and take a look at the Southeast portion of the park. You won't have time to see the whole park, but that portion of the park is one of the most beautiful. There's a nice pond there that contrasts spectacularly with the nearby high-rises. Again, if you're doing well on time and don't mind the walk, go up to the Bethesda Fountain and the nearby footbridge.
If it's before 2PM and your guests like museums, show them the Metropolitan Museum of Art before heading down 5th Avenue. However, if they'll be here a few days, save it for another day because it's too easy to get distracted and go off schedule. To give the Met the attention it deserves will take weeks. [Note: most NYC Museums are closed on Mondays.]
Take a stroll down 5th Avenue. As you begin the walk, you instantly come across the Grand Army Plaza with the horse carriages. In that plaza, they'll see Bergdorf Goodman (cool to go in and check out he outrageous prices), FAO, and The Plaza (...funny that the Plaza would be at the Plaza). Keep walking and you'll come across Trump Plaza, Sachs 5th Avenue, St. Patrick's & Rockefeller Center. Go in to Trump Plaza to see the indoor waterfall (it was under construction the last time I was there). Spend some time at Rockefeller Center / St. Patrick's. Finish off by walking down to the Empire State Building. Try to be there before sunset, because it gets really crowded at sunset. Then, if you don't mind the crowds, and you're there at the right time, stay for sunset.
Once it's dark, take your guests to Times Square. Here they'll see the lights, take photos, and buy souvenirs. Afterwards go to the Restaurant Row area area near Times Square for dinner. With all the selection, you're sure to find something your guests will enjoy. Plus, they'll get to see all the variety.
If you want to make a late night of it, take them out to Red Rock West, at 457 West 17th Street. It's a great place with dancing on the bar.
If your guests have more time, you may want to split the above sections into different days and spend more time at each.
Here is a list of NYC attractions:
Walk over to South Street Seaport. Here you'll have an extraordinary view of the Brooklyn Bridge. If you're not OK with walking a lot, take a subway to the Village. If you're OK with walking, go up to City Hall Park. Then walk Park Row to Mott Street. In China Town, this is a narrow and extremely vibrant street. Walk up to Canal Street. At Canal Street turn right and you'll come to the ornate entrance to the Manhattan Bridge. To the left of the bridge, you'll see a Buddhist temple. Go in, make a wish, donate a buck, and get yourself a fortune.
Walk back down Canal and go up Mulberry Street to see the little that's left of Little Italy. Then walk up to the village. More to the West and you'll have the trendy shops of SOHO and some interesting boutiques. More to the East and you'll see the Lower East Side. When you cross Houston, you're in the Village.
Once you're in the village, you can grab lunch and take a break at a sidewalk cafe. Show them Washington Square in the early afternoon. Especially if they're visiting on a weekend and not during the winter, you're sure to find some street performers. Non-New Yorkers love this part. There isn't too much in particular to show them in the village, just walk them around for a while. Some recommended sights on the East Side (St. Marks Place & McSorley's) and on the West Side (the small streets with fabulous brownstones and if you're comfortable with your guests and think they'd get a kick out of it, the sex shops like the Pink Pussycat on West 4th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues...again non-New Yorkers find this interesting).
Next take the subway up to Central Park (specifically, the Southeast portion of the park). Most people will enjoy seeing the subway. I don't recommend walking up from the Village. I did it when touring people in April 2004 and it took far too long with little to see. The only attractions you'll miss are: Union Square and the Flatiron Building (which was built in 1902 and at 285 feet {87 meters} is considered the oldest skyscraper in New York). At first it may seem appealing to stay above ground to see Midtown Manhattan, but you will have time to see that later in the tour.
Go into Central Park and take a look at the Southeast portion of the park. You won't have time to see the whole park, but that portion of the park is one of the most beautiful. There's a nice pond there that contrasts spectacularly with the nearby high-rises. Again, if you're doing well on time and don't mind the walk, go up to the Bethesda Fountain and the nearby footbridge.
If it's before 2PM and your guests like museums, show them the Metropolitan Museum of Art before heading down 5th Avenue. However, if they'll be here a few days, save it for another day because it's too easy to get distracted and go off schedule. To give the Met the attention it deserves will take weeks. [Note: most NYC Museums are closed on Mondays.]
Take a stroll down 5th Avenue. As you begin the walk, you instantly come across the Grand Army Plaza with the horse carriages. In that plaza, they'll see Bergdorf Goodman (cool to go in and check out he outrageous prices), FAO, and The Plaza (...funny that the Plaza would be at the Plaza). Keep walking and you'll come across Trump Plaza, Sachs 5th Avenue, St. Patrick's & Rockefeller Center. Go in to Trump Plaza to see the indoor waterfall (it was under construction the last time I was there). Spend some time at Rockefeller Center / St. Patrick's. Finish off by walking down to the Empire State Building. Try to be there before sunset, because it gets really crowded at sunset. Then, if you don't mind the crowds, and you're there at the right time, stay for sunset.
Once it's dark, take your guests to Times Square. Here they'll see the lights, take photos, and buy souvenirs. Afterwards go to the Restaurant Row area area near Times Square for dinner. With all the selection, you're sure to find something your guests will enjoy. Plus, they'll get to see all the variety.
If you want to make a late night of it, take them out to Red Rock West, at 457 West 17th Street. It's a great place with dancing on the bar.
If your guests have more time, you may want to split the above sections into different days and spend more time at each.
Here is a list of NYC attractions:
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Brooklyn Heights
- Buddhist Temple of America - 64B Mott Street
- Central Park
- Chinatown
- Chrysler Building
- Circle Line Full Island Cruise
- Cloisters
- Ellis Island Immigration Museum
- Empire State Building
- Federal Reserve Bank
- Flatiron Building
- Grand Central Terminal
- Greenwich Village
- Helicopter Tours
- Helmsley Building
- Herald Square
- Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum
- Jacob Javits Convention Center
- Metropolitan Life Ins. Building - 1 Madison Ave
- MOMA
- New York Life Ins. Building - 45-55 Madison Ave
- NY Stock Exchange
- Plaza Hotel
- Red Rock West
- Rockefeller Center
- Roosevelt Island Aerial Tram
- Saint Patrick's Cathedral
- SOHO Shopping District
- South Street Seaport
- South Street Seaport Museum
- Staten Island Ferry at South Ferry Terminal
- Statue of Liberty
- Subway
- Times Square
- Trinity Church
- United Nations (daytime tours)
- United States Custom House - 1 Bowling Green
- Washington Square Park
- World Trade Center (Ground Zero)
- Yankee Stadium
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