Heading to the Big Apple? You can follow our 4 Days in NYC and copy our travel itinerary! We've got where to eat, where to stay, and lots of things to do in New York City over the course of four days.
What's the best city to spend your 50th birthday in? New York City, of course!
One of my favorite places in the world, NYC is an amazing place to visit. I've been here on solo trips, on girls' trips, on work trips, and with my husband for a couples' getaway. No matter your reason for visiting, it would be difficult not to have a great time here.
The city is fairly easy to navigate, and there is always so much to do and see.
Living on the West Coast, it's a little more challenging than the rest of the country for weekend travels. However, as my 3 Days in NYC guide will prove, it's absolutely do-able!
In fact, even if you just have a long layover, you can do a LOT in just 5 hours in NYC!
This 4 day New York itinerary gives you a glimpse of what's possible in a limited amount of time. Ready to plan your next trip to the Big Apple? Let's dive in!
Jump to:
- How to use this NYC travel guide
- Tips for visiting New York City
- New York City itinerary: day one
- New York City itinerary: day two
- New York City itinerary: day three
- New York City itinerary: day four
- Happy travels!
- Where to stay in NYC
- Where to eat and drink in NYC
- What to do in NYC
- More New York City attractions to visit
- More New York City travel guides
How to use this NYC travel guide
In this guide, you can follow our personal 4 day itinerary for my 50th birthday weekend in NYC. Use it as a guide for ideas, tips, and jumping point for your own trip to the Big Apple!
- Use the Table of Contents links above to jump ahead to a specific section of the guide.
- Find helpful insider tips in blue boxes, labeled TIP💡.
- Check out direct links to each place mentioned - plus a few more from previous trips to New York - toward the bottom of the guide.
Have any questions? Leave a comment at the bottom of the blog post and I'll try to answer it as soon as I can!
Tips for visiting New York City
I love New York City any time of the year! But in general, the best time to visit New York City is spring and fall. The weather tends to be milder during the months of April through June, and then again in September through October. It can be oppressively hot and sticky during July and August, and the harsh winter months of December and January can make sightseeing challenging.
Three airports service New York City: John F Kennedy Junior Airport (JFK Airport), La Guardia Airport, and Newark Airport (Newark, New Jersey). I prefer flying into JFK from the West Coast, mainly because of flight availability on our preferred airlines. But La Guardia is the closest to city center (7.3 miles) and Newark is the second closest (9.9 miles) from city center. JFK is 12.8 miles from city center.
If you're visiting New York City in late February or early March, pack lots of layers. On the plane, wear your warm, wind-resistant puffy jacket, jeans or lined pants, comfortable sneakers or boots. Then pack a mix of long-sleeved shirts, winter dresses, blazers, and sweaters. Don't forget to pack a hat, scarf, and gloves.
New York City is a very walkable city, and seeing the city on foot is a great way to explore. Taking the subway is relatively easy to navigate, and public transportation is more cost effective than taking a cab or ride share. That said, if it's winter, and you're short on time, there are plenty of Uber and Lyft rides available.
New York City itinerary: day one
Day One is mostly a travel day to New York City. Followed by checking into our hotel, then checking out a wine bar and a NYC institution around Grand Central station.
Travel day!
We flew out of Portland International Airport (PDX) to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). When possible, we prefer to fly Alaska Airlines within the United States. When traveling to New York, I prefer to fly into JFK Airport. But I've flown into La Guardia and Newark. Really, it just depends on where you will be staying in the city.
Find the best flights with cashback here:
Check into our hotel
For this trip, we stayed in MidTown Manhattan, at the Westin Grand Central hotel. I'm a Marriot Bonvoy member, and paid for three nights at the Westin Grand Central hotel with my Marriott Bonvoy points. The only cost was taxes and fees, so it was a really great deal for us.
Pros: close to the Theatre District, so it's great if you are here to see a Broadway show. Friendly front desk staff, decent sized rooms compared to many NYC hotels, helpful concierge.
Cons: farther away from a lot of the cool neighborhoods, restaurants, bars. Tiny lobby with no lounge space, no room service, and no in-room fridge.
Drinks and second dinner at Grand Central Oyster Bar
After settling into our hotel, we had a thoroughly disappointing dinner experience. It was at a wine bar I had been super excited to check out. It is owned by one of the top chefs in the world, and associated with one of the best restaurants in the world. But since I try to keep it positive here, we're going to forget about that truly awful wine bar.
So let's skip ahead to our next stop: Grand Central Oyster Bar. A New York City institution since 1913, this great spot is located in the Grand Central Terminal. The Oyster Bar is the perfect place to sip a cocktail or two and grab a bite to eat.
You have a variety of dining experiences to choose from: the main dining room, the oyster bar, the spiraling white counters, the Canopy Bar & Cocktail Lounge, and Saloon Bar & Grill.
Tip 💡 if you're visiting from out of town, head right after you enter through the main doors and grab a seat at one of the white counters or at the oyster bar across from the counters.
New York City itinerary: day two
For Day Two in New York City, we're spending time around Central Park and the Upper West Side.
Fuel up with breakfast
We skipped breakfast, but if you have time, check out these breakfast spots near the Museum of Modern Art: Little Collins or La Grande Boucherie.
Spend the morning at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is one of my favorite museums in the world, and one of my favorite things to do on any New York trip. Plan to spend at least a full hour here. If you are a modern art enthusiast, plan for up to two hours.
While Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Starry Night is one of the larger attractions housed here, you'll find dozens of other famous paintings throughout the museum. Be sure to check out the Mark Rothko room, the Picasso room, and the Matisse room. Pollock, Magritte, Chagall, Klee, Miro, Monet, Manet, Gauguin, and more well-known artists as well as emerging artists all have art at MoMA.
Buy your timed ticket online in advance:
Lunch at Bad Roman
We made reservations for lunch at Bad Roman, and it was amazing! Located right off of Columbus Circle, a short walk across from Central Park, Bad Roman is a large lively restaurant. It's kid-friendly, and great for small groups.
We enjoyed the lobster mango salad (their salads are HUGE!), wild boar papardelle, and the tartare.
Walk around Central Park
No visit to New York City is complete without a lap or two around Central Park. It's one of the best places in this beautiful city.
The oldest public park in the United States, Central Park is about 2.5 miles long and 843 acres. It's located right in the center of Manhattan, near the famous Upper West Side. During the winter months, you can rent ice skates and enjoy some winter skating in the park's Wollman Rink (pictured above) and Lasker Rink.
To enter Central Park: you'll find 23 entrances to the park from the Upper West Side, along 63rd and 110th Streets. There are also four entrances at the north end of the park, at 110th Street.
Dinner at Marea
Seafood lovers will enjoy a dinner at Marea restaurant. This beautiful fine dining restaurant and bar is across from Central Park and near Columbus Circle, on West 59th Street, between Broadway and 7th Avenue.
The service here is impeccable, the wine list is impressive, and the menu is a seafood lover's dream. We enjoyed the red prawn tartare, the lobster risotto, gamberetti, and donuts.
New York City itinerary: day three
Day Three in NYC is spent around the West Village and Midtown West. For our trip, it was my actual birthday, and I would recommend all of these places for a birthday visit to New York!
Fun immersive experience at The Color Factory.
You don't have to be a kid to enjoy The Color Factory! This interactive, immersive art experience is a great place for families. But it's also a fun date day spot and activity with friends!
Plan for one hour to an hour and a half to go through the whole experience. You'll follow a path that takes you through 12 interactive experiences. And there are little snacks along the way!
Lunch at Little Spain in Hudson Yards
After The Color Factory, move up north a bit to Midtown West. At Hudson Yards, you'll find lots of lunch options. We loved our lunch at Queensyard on a previous visit. On this trip, we fell in love with Mercado Little Spain.
Located downstairs of Hudson Yards, Little Spain is a 35,000 square foot ode to all things Spain. There are multiple restaurants, bars, shops, and kiosks, all centered around a market (mercado). It's a great place to walk in for lunch, but if you are here around dinner time, try to make an online reservation in advance to ensure you get a spot.
We loved all of the tapas and the Spanish wines we ordered at Little Spain's La Barra restaurant.
Scenic stop at The Edge at Hudson Yards
Either before or after lunch at Little Spain, take a trip up a few flights and check out some of the most stunning New York city views at The Edge. While I love the Empire State Building, The Edge observation deck offers the best views of the city. And, it has more space for people to roam, which is a great idea for those of us who get anxiety being crushed in crowds.
Then be sure to take a pic in front of the iconic structure known as The Vessel (pictured above) outside of Hudson Yards. Currently, the interior is closed to the public, but be sure to check out their website for updates.
Dinner at Via Carota
We ended my birthday at Via Carota, in the West Village. This neighborhood hot spot was the number one recommended restaurant by fellow food industry friends. And, it did not disappoint!
The pastas are made with love and shine in their simplicity. The Insalata Verde is perfect to share between two people. And the wine list features some fantastic Italian wines.
Tip💡 Walk-ins are welcome, but this is a popular restaurant that has long wait times. They have limited reservations online which open up 30 days in advance, at 10am daily.
New York City itinerary: day four
Day Four is a return home day. We had a later flight, so we had time for lunch and one more museum stop.
Lunch at Osteria Laguna
We stumbled upon Osteria Laguna out of sheer convenience: it's directly across from the Westin NY Grand Central. But it's now a restaurant I highly recommend to anyone visiting New York City.
The service is friendly and punctual, and the dining room is warm and inviting. We ordered the lobster ravioli, chicken caesar salad, and calamari. It was a wonderfully enjoyable last meal in NYC.
Visit the Guggenheim Museum
If you haven't been to the Guggenheim Museum, I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary. We've been to the Guggenheim before, and it's always a treat to visit again and again. Designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the museum is built like a snail. You walk around in a circular path toward the top, with exhibits all along the way.
Book your timed entry tickets here:
Fly JFK to PDX
Thanks to my Priority Pass, we were able to relax in the Alaska Airlines Lounge before our flight! The Alaska Airlines lounge at JFK Airport is located in the Mezzanine directly above and after security. If Pedro is working, tell him we said hello. He's the best!
Happy travels!
I hope our 4 Days in NYC itinerary inspires your future travels to New York! Here are quick links to all of the places menioned in this article, along with a few other faves from previous trips.
Where to stay in NYC
Westin Grand Central
212 E 42nd St, New York, NY
212-490-8900
1 Hotel Central Park ((featured in 3 Days in NYC)
1414 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
Where to eat and drink in NYC
Bad Roman
10 Columbus Circle, 3rd Floor, New York, NY
Dinner: Nightly 11am - 5pm
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am - 3pm
Brunch: Sat-Sun 11am - 3pm
Grand Central Oyster Bar
89 E. 42nd Street, New York, NY
Daily: 11:30am - 9:30pm
Little Spain
10 Hudson Yards, New York, NY
Daily: 11am - 10pm
Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY
Lunch: Daily 12pm - 2:45pm
Dinner: Sun-Thurs 5pm - 11pm; Fri-Sat 5pm - 11:45pm
Manhatta
28 Liberty St, 60th Floor, New York, NY
212-230-5788
Lunch: 11:30am-2pm
Dinner: Sun-Thurs 5pm-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-10:30pm
Osteria Laguna
209 E 42nd St, New York, NY
212-557-0001
Daily: 12pm-10pm
Petrarca (featured in 3 Days in NYC)
34 White Street, New York, NY
212-625-2800
Daily: 11:30am-10pm
Queensyard (featured in 3 Days in NYC)
20 Hudson Yards, New York, NY
212-377-0780
Dinner: Daily 5pm-9pm
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11am-3pm
Brunch: Sat-Sun 11am-3pm
Upland (featured in 3 Days in NYC)
345 Park Ave South, New York, NY
212-686-1006
Dinner: Sun-Thu 5pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-3pm; Sat-Sun 11am-3pm
Via Carota
51 Grove Street, New York, NY
Mon-Fri: 11am - 11pm; Sat-Sun: 10am - 11pm
What to do in NYC
Central Park
Daily: 6am-1am
Bryant Park (featured in 3 Days in NYC)
Midtown Manhattan between 40th and 42nd Streets & 5th and 6th Avenues
Jan-Apr: 7am-10pm
May-Sep: 7am-11pm
Oct-Dec: 7am-10pm
MoMA
11 West 53 Street
212-708-9400
Sun-Fri: 10:30am-5:30pm; Sat: 10:30am-7pm
Guggenheim
1071 Fifth Avenue
Daily: 10:30am–5:30pm
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue
212-535-7710
Sun-Tue, Thu: 10am-5pm; Fri-Sat: 10am-9pm; Wed: Closed
The Color Factory
251 Spring Street
Sun-Thu: 9am-7pm; Sat-Sun: 9am-8pm
Walk the High Line (featured in 3 Days in NYC) - The High Line is a public park built on a 1.45-mile-long elevated rail structure. It runs from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street on Manhattan’s West Side.
More New York City attractions to visit
There are countless more wonderful places in New York City to visit if you have time. Other popular tourist attractions that we've been to and recommend:
- Empire State Building (featured in 5 Hours in NYC)
- Times Square (featured in 5 Hours in NYC)
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Statue of Liberty
- Ellis Island
- One World Trade Center (featured in 3 Days in NYC)
- American Museum of Natural History
- Rockefeller Center
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Want more New York City travel tips? Check out more attractions, hotels, and sights to see:
If you visit, please be sure to let them know that you read about it on Urban Bliss Life! And if you snap some pics, tag us @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.
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