NYC in 5 Days

Night view of the Empire State Building from a rooftop bar across the street, Manhattan NYC, USA; picture by Anieka Travels

During the first week of December, I traveled to New York City for the first time in my life and stayed for five days in the heart of Manhattan with a friend. We were both so exhilarated to go, and once we were there we had the time of our lives. We did so much around Manhattan, but even then, we had only hit the tip of the iceberg of things to do in New York. Once our five days were up, I was sad to be leaving. Even now as I'm releasing this article, I have a longing for NYC.

To viewers who have never been to New York before, keep reading for insight into how to explore the city as a tourist on a budget, as well as how the city and the people function. I'll also be listing some must see attractions/neighborhoods that you must see as a first timer in NYC, as well as things I think tourists should know/prepare for like transportation, overhyped attractions, how to get into various shows like Broadway/Comedy Cellar, and the safety of Manhattan neighborhoods. I hope this blog inspires your travels to New York and helps you plan your very own New York trip.

Itinerary

Day 1: Friday

Times Square

Times Square in Manhattan, NYC; picture taken by friend

When we had arrived at our hotel, Pod 39, we were exhausted and crashed the second we got into the room. We didn't get out onto the streets of Manhattan until close to 5 in the evening. By then, it was already dark outside and had begun to rain quite heavily. Pod 39 is situated only a couple blocks from Midtown, which made walking to Times Square fairly easy and short. We did get pretty soaked walking in the rain without an umbrella, but we had a blast looking at all the billboards and being surrounded by city life. I thought Times Square was cool and very stimulating, but my friend, who is from Europe and had been dreaming of New York for years, thought it was slightly overrated.

Havana Central Cuban Restaurant

Cuban Street Corn & Mango Salmon at Havana Central in NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

Once we had taken our pictures and videos of the square, we searched for food. New York is an amazing city to experiment with food. The city is so diverse, you're bound to find something you haven't tried before. We found a Cuban restaurant called Havana Central, only a block or two away from Times Square. We made it in time for happy hour, so I indulged in the best mojito I've ever had. I tried street corn, and ordered a mango salmon dish served with yellow rice and beans. Although I tried many other cuisines while in New York, I think this meal had to be my favorite.

Broadway Comedy Club

Portrait with Broadway Comedy Club stand-up stage in background, NYC; picture taken by friend

We were on our way to a rooftop bar near the square, when we ran into a man selling two tickets to a stand-up comedy show at the Broadway Comedy Club. We were planning to see Matteo Lane at Comedy Cellar later in the week, but it wasn't certain that we would get in, so we decided to snatch these tickets too. We spent a few hours at the rooftop bar in order to escape the rain, before we attended the show.

For a two hour show, we had the pleasure of hearing 5 comedians perform and they were all so hilarious in their own way. Even when I didn't share the same humor, I was still able to appreciate their act. There was a two drink minimum, which was no problem for us, and the tickets were roughly $20. Overall, it was a fun spontaneous night, and even though we got a very late start to our day, we still did so much. I would highly recommend visiting Broadway Comedy Club for a huge laugh and a fun time.

Day 2: Saturday

9/11 Memorial & World Trade Center

9/11 Memorial Plaque with World Trade Center in background, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

Our second day, the weather was much better, with the sun peaking through the billowing clouds. So, after having brunch at the Allerton Club, a bar and lounge connected to the hotel, we walked over to Grand Central station to hop a subway down to the financial district. We were on a time crunch to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset, so we hurriedly made our way to the 9/11 Memorial and the World Trade Center. Although we were in a hurry, we still spent a lot of time respecting the victims of the 9/11 attack and reflecting on the atrocity that took place. We did not step inside the World Trade Center, but just briefly admired it from outside, before heading in the direction of Wall Street.

Wall Street

Wall Street in the Financial District of Manhattan, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

Have you watched the movie the Wolf of Wall Street with Leonardo DiCaprio? If not, you should before you walk along this famous street. We only walked along Wall Street until the waterfront and did not go inside the buildings. From the outside, the street looks so collected, calm, and pretty, hiding the scheming and manipulation within. Although I’m not an avid participant in the stock market, I could appreciate the hustle and bustle of business culture on Wall Street. I’m sure you'll find the Financial District just as invigorating.

Brooklyn Bridge

View of Wall Street from the Brooklyn Bridge, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

We successfully managed to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset, but by the time we reached the other side, it was dark. The bridge has some amazing views and at sunset, wall street looks gorgeous from a distance. I would recommend going at this time, however, we fought intensely to get through the slow moving crowds of people who were buying at street vendors and taking pictures. On the bridge, there is a separate level for pedestrians to cross with the cars driving underneath. On this pedestrian walkway, it is total chaos, with street vendors all along the perimeters, people walking to and fro, tourists taking pictures, big groups clogging the street, and even the occasional news reporter with their camera man. If you don't want to deal with crowds this crazy, I would suggest waking up bright and early for the sunrise, or late at night instead.

Ramen at Tsatu in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Vegetarian Ramen at Tsatu in Dumbo Brooklyn, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

Once we were on the other side of the bridge, we walked to Dumbo, Brooklyn, which is directly underneath the bridge right along the waterfront. We discovered this quaint Ramen restaurant called Tsatu. I had the most delicious vegetarian ramen I've ever had, and experimented with ordering saké for the first time. My friend and I each ordered a different one and tried a bit of each other's. It was a great experience, and delicious food.

Staten Island Ferry & Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

We caught a ferry going from Dumbo back to Pier 11 and then walked along the waterfront to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. We hopped on the ferry and sat on the right side of the boat to get a perfect view of the Statue of Liberty. Once we got to the other side, we went straight back into the ferry and rode back to Manhattan. I had been told by a friend before that seeing the statue wasn't worth it, but I wanted to see it for myself. Now that I've seen it, I can collectively agree that the Statue of Liberty is not the most fascinating attraction you can see in New York as a tourist. Once we got off the ferry, we walked straight to the subway and took it back to grand central, concluding our very eventful day.

Day 3: Sunday

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Entrance to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Upper Eastside, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

Our third day, it was back to the rain and gloom, however, it fit the mood because we had a whole day planned to be indoors. After getting dressed up in cute sophisticated outfits, we took the subway to the Upper East Side and walked around inside the Met. We waited in line for tickets and got sopping wet, but if you're not in the mood to wait, you can preorder tickets online on the Met's website. For students and seniors there is a discounted price, and if I'm not mistaken, people with a New York zip code can go inside without charge.

We underestimated how large the museum actually is and had to really limit ourselves to a select few galleries. We started with the Ancient Egypt Gallery, which was absolutely spectacular. Both of us were geeking out at every corner. There is also an Ancient Rome and Greece Gallery on the other side of the great hall, which I would recommend you check out as well. We then saw the Native American Gallery, the Music Gallery, and finished with the Contemporary and Modern Art Gallery before calling it a day. I of course couldn't stop myself from snagging a picture of me sitting on the Met stairs, inspired by the iconic Gossip Girl.

Le Botaniste

Interior design of Le Botaniste in Manhattan, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

We were originally going to grab a quick bite at the lounge in our hotel, but we stumbled across Le Botaniste, a vegetarian cafe with the most filling and delicious rice bowls. I tried a bunch of different appetizers and treated myself to their chocolate chia seed pudding, while my friend had a chili bowl. If you're vegetarian, I would recommend you check this place out. 

The Lion King on Broadway

Portrait in front of Minskoff Theater's Lion King on Broadway, NYC; picture taken by friend

The Lion King on Broadway was the only event we reserved in advance before we got to New York, and although it was quite pricey, it was a beyond amazing performance that literally brought tears to our eyes. It was so worth it. We were the second row to the back, and I had joked prior to the show that we would need binoculars, but we were able to see perfectly how gorgeous the costumes and set were, could hear the actors' beautiful voices clear as day, and could admire the impressive rotating sets throughout the entire show. The Lion King is performed at Minskoff Theater, which is very close to Times Square. We took an uber to the theater and afterwards walked around Times Square searching for food.

Dinner at Mitr Thai

Pad Kee Mao noodles and cocktail at Mitr Thai, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

I was very tempted to go to Havana Central and order my mango salmon again, but we continued on the experimental train and visited Mitr Thai, an authentic Thai restaurant that prepares dishes from all four regions of Thailand. Their menu is organized into four sections (Northeastern, Northwestern, Central, and Southern) with starters main courses and street food from each region. They also have the most delicious cocktails. I ordered the 46th Orchard, which has a perfect balance of apple and ginger, and I paired it with Kea Mao noodles, which were deliciously spicy and not too fishy. If you're a Thai food lover, I definitely recommend coming here to experiment with more regional Thai dishes.

Rockefeller Center & St. Patrick's Cathedral

Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

After our meal, we stopped at Rockefeller Center, where we took pictures of and admired the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink. There was a Christian Dior Christmas display across the street, which was attracting attention, and the iconic St. Patrick's Cathedral was a few buildings over. Being a lover of old catholic churches, I had to run over there and snap a few pictures. I would have loved to go inside, but they were closed and I didn't want to do that to my friend.

After admiring everything around the center, we stopped into some bars but they were honestly all a bust. Granted it was a sunday night, but everywhere we went it was quite dead or they were about to close. We did go to another rooftop bar, where we had a view of the Empire State Building before calling it a night. Our trip was nearing the end and we still had so much we wanted to accomplish.

Day 4: Monday

Central Park

Skating rink on the north side of Central Park, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

On our fourth and final day in Manhattan, we took a short stroll through Central Park, before making our way back to Times Square. There are ice skating rinks that you can take advantage of in the winter, and in the summer you can sit out on the great lawn with a picnic and hang out with friends. The park looked dead in the winter, but I  imagined the potential if the trees were green and there were flowers everywhere. If the weather allows it during your stay, definitely take a stroll through the park.

Jimmy Fallon Show

The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon at NBC Studios, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

Before we walked to Central Park, we stopped inside the Jimmy Fallon Show and reserved standby tickets to be in his live audience later that day. In the afternoon, we went back and stood in line for the chance of getting a seat. Unfortunately, no one was called from the standby list to join the audience. Although, Jimmy Fallon films multiple times a week for his show, and if you're a die hard fan, you might get lucky if you wait on standby every day. Scroll down to, “Facts You Should Know When Exploring New York,” in order to read about out how to get into the Jimmy Fallon show.

NYU Campus & Washington Arch Park

the Washington Arch at NYU Campus, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

After getting rejected at the Jimmy Fallon show, we made our way down into the subway and traveled to NYU. There we strolled around Washington Arch Park, admired the campus, and weaved through the various streets to sniff out some dinner. There was one street we went down that reminded me very much of the University District in Seattle, right next to the University of Washington. Walking through there I felt nostalgic as a UW alum. My inner gossip girl fan also appreciated seeing the University that Blair Waldorf and Dan Humphry attended. The campus is nestled between the craziness of Times Square and the World Trade's center, and is very easy to access no matter where you're staying in the city.

Dinner at Saigon Shack

Interior of Saigon Shack near NYU Campus, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

We decided to continue our train of experimentation at Saigon Shack, a small Vietnamese restaurant, located just a few buildings down from Comedy Cellar. When we were there, they didn't accept cards, but there was an ATM outside where we could pull some cash out and pay. The food was tasty, and the portioning was perfect. If you're on campus and trying to find some delicious Vietnamese, I would recommend you try Saigon Shack.

Matteo Lane at Comedy Cellar

Comedy Cellar stand-up comedy stage in Greenwich Village, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

I got to see Matteo Lane perform at Comedy Cellar! This was something that in my head, I didn't think would really happen. When my friend and I went online to reserve seats, all the seats had already been bought up, so we had to go before the show and put ourselves on a waitlist. There was an 8 pm showing and a 10 pm showing. We were prepared to hang around until the 10 pm show if we didn't get into the first one, but we were the second group called off the waitlist.

Although we were shoved in the very back of the venue with a pole blocking our view, we still got to witness the talented Matteo Lane work his magic. Comedy Cellar is THE most iconic comedy venue of New York City. So many amazing talented comedians have performed there, and it's a night that one doesn't soon forget. I would highly recommend bar hopping in the area and catching a show at the cellar while you're on your trip.

Day 5: Tuesday

Brunch at Wagamama

Japanese coffee and spicy salmon noodles at Wagamama in Midtown, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

Our fifth day was really just our travel day back to the airport. After we checked out of our room at Pod 39, we left our luggage at the bell room and got brunch at a japanese restaurant called Wagamama. I had a delicious salmon bowl and iced Japanese coffee. We passed by that restaurant many times on our way to other restaurants and attractions, while always making a note of it. When we passed it again that day, we decided to try it out and the food did not disappoint. I tried Japanese coffee, which was so tasty, and ordered noodles with grilled salmon.

The Dreaded Uber To Newark Airport

After we ate, we ran out of time and had to grab our luggage, and pick up an uber to take us to the airport. We must have booked the uber during rush hour traffic or something, because the price was 3 times the amount it had been to get to the city on our first day. Also, it ended up taking two hours to get from Manhattan to Newark Liberty. We both thankfully made our flights, but that is why it's important to always give yourself more time than needed to get where you need to go; especially when you're driving in New York.

Attractions I Didn't See or Want to See More of…

Christian Dior Christmas Show at Rockefeller Center, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

Top of the Rockefeller Tower

The top of the Rock, which is very close to Times Square and St. Peter's Cathedral, is one of the most popular observation decks on Manhattan island. From this observation deck, you have a view of the Empire state building, the skyscraper that makes the New York cityscape so unique. I was about to go to the top of the Rock on my last trip, but ran out of time. Maybe I'll climb to the top of it next time.

Summit One Vanderbilt Observation Deck

Summit One Vanderbilt isn't just an observation deck, but an entire three story artsy immersive experience, which transforms your perception of NYC. I would recommend coming here instead of Top of the Rock, if you're wanting something a little more than just an observation deck.

The Edge

This observation deck caught my eye because there are group yoga sessions sometimes on the glass balcony at the very top! I wanted to do this if we had extra time, but 5 days were not enough to get through all the attractions. I will be doing this the next time I find myself in New York, no matter what.

Little Italy

Apparently this area of Manhattan is overrated, but I did not have the chance to go when I was in NYC, and a friend of mine recommended that I go. I love Italian food, and with the centuries of Italian presence in New York, I will be visiting Little Italy the next time I'm on the East Coast.

China Town

With all the experimenting I was doing with foods in New York, it's surprising I didn't step foot in China Town. I have to come here the next time I'm in the city, and you should too! NYC's China Town is so iconic, you'd be missing out if you didn't go.

Soho

this neighborhood is well known for its shopping scene. If I had had the luggage space or the extra money to spend, I would have spent a few hours walking through Soho. The next time I'm in New York, I would love to explore this neighborhood and get small gifts for my family and friends back on the west coast.

Upper East Side

Unfortunately, I didn't do much exploring throughout the Upper East Side during my trip. The most I saw of the neighborhood was from my walk from the subway, to the Met, and back. I feel like this iconic neighborhood from Gossip Girl deserves some more of my attention during a second visit to the city.

Williamsburg Bridge

I walked along the Brooklyn Bridge on my last trip to get to Dumbo. I think it would be cute if I mirrored that excursion with a walk along the Williamsburg bridge during my next trip. 

American Museum of Natural History

I am a huge history nerd, and being a ginormous fan of the show Friends, I need to see the supposed place Ross worked at. It's right across the park from the Met. This famous museum would most definitely be made into an all day excursion. I'm not making the same mistake that I did at the Met.

Central Park

When I visited Central Park on my trip, it was the dead of winter when none of the plants were alive. We also had very limited time to explore. I want to come here sometime during the summer, dress up cute, and meet up with friends for a picnic on the great lawn.

Facts You Should Know When Exploring New York

Murray Hill from Pod 39, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

Transportation

Don't use ride share apps or taxis for transportation, but rather use the subway or walk instead. Traffic in New York City is awful, and in most cases, it is much faster to walk than to take a car wherever you go in the city. The city is very walkable, and with practically the entire population walking too, you'll feel very safe on the streets. My favorite mode of transportation in New York was the subway. There are metrocards you can purchase for a singular ride or a pass for one week/one month. Using the subway is much cheaper than taking the Ubers or Lyfts, doesn't take as long, and requires way less exercise than walking.

Jimmy Fallon Show is Free

Yes. you read that correctly. You don't have to pay to be on the Jimmy Fallon show. You just have to put in the work. On the first of every month, the Jimmy Fallon show releases their showtimes for the whole month on their website. There, you can select a show and reserve a ticket.

Getting a ticket on that website right when they release is extremely challenging, because you have to constantly be refreshing your device leading up to the time they release. Even then, the tickets might all sell out before you can get one. If you're not able to reserve one, don't fret. There is an alternate way to become an audience member.

If you arrive right when the Jimmy Fallon show opens in the morning, you can reserve a standby ticket for that day's show. For the rest of the day, you need to wait in line with your ticket and pray that one of the original audience members doesn't show up. If you're one of the lower numbers on the waitlist, you might have a chance of getting into the audience to watch one of his shows live.

This is all stuff my friend and I discovered after we attempted to get into his show, and miserably failed. It's a lot of work, but once you're in, it'll be an experience you remember forever.

Comedy Cellar

Located in Greenwich Village and founded in the late 1800's, this stand-up comedy club is the most famous comedy room in Manhattan. There are many big names in the world of stand-up who have performed at Comedy Cellar; you have to go at least once! Get tickets online at their website, or stand in a waitlist line before the show with the hopes of getting in like we did.

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

The MET is Massive!!!

Don't expect to walk through all the galleries within two hours, like I did when I went. I completely underestimated how massive this place was, and didn't plan enough time between getting out of the hotel and the Broadway show I booked later that evening. This could have easily been an all day outing, and I really didn't expect it.

The Statue of Liberty is Overhyped

A friend of mine told me this before my trip, so I didn't plan time out of my day to actually visit the island and walk up to the top of the statue. What I did do was take the Staten Island ferry, which is free by the way, and watched the statue from a distance, just to say that I'd seen it. That simple venture was enough for me, and even then, I felt like I could have done something else with my time than sit on the ferry.

Plan Your Meals around Happy Hour

Meals in New York get expensive, and trust me, you'll be doing a lot of eating. What I wish I did more of, was search up restaurants and bars that had happy hours and plan my meals around those times to save on money. It would have cost less, the portion sizes would have been smaller, and I would have been able to experiment with more cuisines.

Gratuity Can Already be Added to Your Bill

Pay attention to what you're being charged, so you know whether you've already tipped. This is something that increases the pricing of your food by extreme amounts, if you tip another 25% on top of the already added gratuity. For travelers coming to New York from other countries, the tipping culture in America is already extreme, but even more so in New York City. Where I’m from, in Seattle, it is common to tip around 18-20% of the bill on average. However, when I was in NYC, I felt pressured to tip 25-30% of the bill. This is why I would highly stress to check whether your bill already includes a gratuity, because if you then tip another 25% on top of that each time you go to a restaurant or bar, those expenses will add up very quickly.

Safety of NYC Neighborhoods

Street View of Financial District in Lower Manhattan, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

All of the neighborhoods that I list here are mainly on Manhattan Island, and are only neighborhoods that I walked through personally. There were a few neighborhoods which I was told to avoid, but I did not get to experience them myself and don't actually know how safe they are.

Tribeca

I walked through a small part of Tribeca on my way from the subway station to the World Trade Center, and I thought it was one of the safer areas of Manhattan. The streets were clean and organized, people were friendly, and I didn't feel in danger at any point. Due to the fact I wasn't present in the area very long, my perception of Tribeca could be inaccurate. I would like to walk through this neighborhood again on my next trip to the city.

Financial District

This area of Manhattan is so touristy and “businessy” that it's hard to feel unsafe here. When walking through Wall Street, you will see people dressed in suits and ties, as well as fellow tourists, who may or may not have seen the Wolf of Wall Street a little too many times. I highly recommend visiting this area of Manhattan, just make sure to dress to impress.

Dumbo, Brooklyn

I was only in Dumbo at night, after I had walked across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. For being in the dark and walking around with only my friend with me, I felt very safe, with many tourists around and few homeless or suspicious people out and about. I would really like to come back to Brooklyn while I'm in the daylight, so I can see it for what it is. Although, I wouldn't have missed the nighttime view of Manhattan even for a second.

Street View of Greenwich Village, NYC; picture by Anieka Travels

Midtown

This is the home of Times Square, St Peter's Cathedral, the Rockefeller Tower, and many other staple attractions of the Big Apple. Although there are a lot of tourists here, I wouldn't consider this area as safe as lower Manhattan. Be wary of pick-pocketing here, as well as other forms of crime, due to the high traffic of tourism. There will be people trying to steal from you, scam you, harass you, etc., so stay aware of your surroundings while you are traversing through these highly populated areas. With that being said, I never had any sketchy experiences walking around Midtown, and wouldn't label this neighborhood as dangerous, as long as you're careful and take precautions.

Murray Hill

This neighborhood was where our hotel was. Murray Hill is only a few blocks away from Midtown and Times Square, which makes it a perfect area to find accommodations in. I'll say that, like Midtown, it is not the cleanest part of Manhattan. Murray Hill was my first introduction to the city and I was definitely not impressed by what I saw. I thought it was a great location for a hotel and it definitely wasn't unsafe. However, if I compare it to Dumbo, Wall Street, or Tribeca, I wouldn't rank it as high.

Upper East Side

Imagine the tv show, Gossip Girl, when walking through the Upper East Side. This neighborhood of Manhattan is for the rich, which means it's maintained and predominantly safe. Although I didn't walk through too much of the neighborhood, except for the strip between the subway and the Met, I would also rank this neighborhood high on the safety meter. The next time I'm in Manhattan, I'll stay longer in this neighborhood exploring and shopping. I would recommend you check it out; especially if you were ever an avid Gossip Girl viewer.

Portrait on the rooftop of Pod 39, NYC; picture taken by friend

That's all I have for you about New York City. My first experience of the city that never sleeps was a dream come true, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. I will definitely be back within the next couple years to write future articles about this amazing energetic American city.

This article was a long one, so if you have read everything, I’m so appreciative of your attention. Like always, thank you for reading, and I hope the information in this article taught you a bit about NYC, for your own trip to the Big Apple.

Now go out and explore to world!

Love,

Anieka ♡