What to do in New York in a Weekend
Writing a plan of things to do in New York over a weekend is a challenge, it's impossible to fit in everything we want to suggest for food, sights, and adventure. Despite this, we've put together some of our top recommendations. One thing's for sure: you can rest assured that you'll have no shortage of things to do and sights to see in The Big Apple, so have at it!
Day 1: Visit New York’s Central Park
Big trips can leave you tired and, after landing in a city as busy as New York, it can be tricky to catch your breath. To relax and recharge, Central Park can be a great place to centre yourself. The Great Hill and East Meadow are perfect for picnics, or just to chill out with some local food. New York-style treats like bagels with cream cheese, chopped cheese sandwiches, and pastrami on rye are just a few famously tasty ideas.
After a little recovery, a short walk to the south end of the park down 7th Avenue can take you to the bright and brilliant Times Square. Here in 'The Crossroads of the World', you can take in the iconic, towering billboards and roam around any of the many shops and museums, like Madame Tussauds.
Day 2: Take in New York’s history
Starting with your second day means your first full New York breakfast. Nothing beats the deliciously simple, authentic American diner breakfast with bacon, eggs, toast, black coffee, and waffles.
With a full belly, the city calls with infinite sightseeing potential. For the classic approach, the Empire State Building, and a tour to see the Statue of Liberty are popular choices to cross off your bucket list. Museum enthusiasts could also consider the Metropolitan Museum of Art, home to one of the broadest collections of astounding creative works in existence. For a more naturalist take, the American Museum of Natural History finds a place as one of the world's preeminent scientific and cultural repositories. Be sure to fill up between museums, these take hours to cover even if you're moving quickly.
At night, a ticket to a Broadway show is the perfect choice for first-class musical enthusiasts, or a steakhouse dinner/rooftop bar might be more your speed. If you want to dance the night away, West Village and Hell's Kitchen will keep your feet moving all night.
Day 3: Your last day in New York
On your last day in the City that Never Sleeps, we hope you found at least a wink because we're not done yet! Rounding out a final day might first involve some recovery, so again, we'd recommend a hearty breakfast. This time, why not go with a New York hotdog from a cart? It might not be breakfast food, but try to find a New Yorker who hasn't taken the breakfast hotdog route once or twice!
To chill out before you need to catch your flight, consider a coffee or two in one of New York's many smaller parks like Bryant Park or The Battery. To cap off the experience, a simple walk through the streets to absorb the city's character can be the perfect way to end your time in the City of Dreams. Consider buying a nicknack along the way, and remember to take the infamous New York traffic into account when planning what time to head to the airport.
In order to discover the beautiful landscapes of the surroundings, you can always rent a car in New York and travel the open road.
Frequently asked questions about flights to New York
How can I request assistance for children travelling alone?
Support for children travelling alone depends on the airline you've booked tickets with and their policies. Check policies carefully before you purchase tickets if possible, and visit their website for a full list of child travelling support services. If offered, you should be able to contact the airline directly to get everything sorted out.
How can I travel with an assistance dog?
How and whether you can travel with an assistance dog depends on the policies of the airline you booked with. Check the websites of the airlines you're considering booking with first to see if they allow assistance animals. If they do, you should be able to contact them directly through official support channels to organise help.
How do I find cheap flights to New York that have flexible change policies at Opodo?
To find cheap flights to New York, search for flights on our search engine, then click on the 'Cheapest' tab that filters results by cost. You can select an option to explore to go to the next page which lists various flexible ticket plans, their costs, and what's included within.
How can I book cheap hotels on Opodo in New York?
Opodo offers sorting functions to determine the best deals when you're sorting out your flights and hotel to New York. You can book these together when searching with us by using the 'Flight + hotel' search tab. Going through this process shows the cheapest flights and a list of hotels with the option to filter your results further.
What baggage do I need to check on my flight?
Checked baggage will depend on your airline and their weight/size limits. Find these when you book your ticket, or later on the host airline's website. Certain devices and items like those with batteries require carry-on and can't go in checked storage.
How can I check in with Opodo?
You can check in with Opodo by taking your ticket to the associated airline desk at the airport. Some airlines like British Airways and Emirates let you check in online before the flight to save time. Check your ticket and your host airline to see if that's an option for you.
Do I need to pay a cancellation fee if I cancel my flight from my departure city to New York?
Cancellation fees depend on the airline's policies and the type of tickets you've booked, though cheaper tickets will tend to have higher cancellation fees. To check whether your cancellation will come with a fee, check the policies of the airline you booked with.
How do I know if my flight is eligible for compensation?
Flights with Opodo are eligible for compensation if the following occurs:
- The flight was at least three hours late in arriving at its final destination.
- The reason for the delay was in the control of the airline. Bad weather is not something an airline can choose, but messing up staffing would be.
Airport code
JFK
The IATA code for the arrival airport on flights to New York City is JFK
Most popular airline
Norse Atlantic UK
Most popular airline with flights to New York City
High season
December
According to search data from our customers, December is the busiest time to fly to New York City
Low season
January
According to search data from our customers, January is the least busy time to fly to New York City
All you need to know about New York
