One day is simply not enough at New York, one of the greatest cities on earth.

However, if one day is all that you can afford to spend for whatever reason, I am giving the essentials that will help you truly experience the soul of New York. It would also give you an idea of life in the city while covering the most touristy things to do.

Although I have tried providing the best possible order of activities, it really is up to you and you can create your own itinerary after going through my suggestions.

You could even book one of the many day tours of New York to ensure you don’t miss any of the major landmarks and your transportation is taken care of.

Note that if you are spending Christmas in New York or will be in the city during the holiday period, do check out our post on that topic to make the most of your time.

Must-Do Activities if you have only One Day in New York

These are the essential must-see places in New York City. You can travel between them using the Subway which is the quickest and cheapest way to commute within New York.

Brooklyn Bridge Walkway

DUMBO with Brooklyn Bridge Walk

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic bridges in the entire United States.

Walking across the bridge is an absolute must-do for tourists. Not only do you get to soak in this historic bridge that started operating from 1883, you get to see the famous New York skyline include the Statue of Liberty at a distance.

Now you can walk across the Brooklyn Bridge either from Manhattan side or Brooklyn side.

Every local recommends you walk the bridge from the Brooklyn side to get the best views of the city landmarks.

I suggest to take the subway to Brooklyn and first visit DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). This itself is one of the most popular tourist attractions with Jane’s Carousel and Pebble Beach nearby.

Spend some time in DUMBO and take the underpass stairway that leads to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway.

From here, you can begin a leisurely stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge. Note from the start to end of the walkway is about 1.6 miles. So be ready to walk a lot but believe me, it’s totally worth it.

Statue of Liberty Cruise

The Statue of Liberty represents everything that The United States of America is all about.

When in New York, you need to experience this colossal symbol of freedom and liberty.

Typically, it would take anything from 2 to 5 hours to check out Liberty Island and Ellis Island including the Statue of Liberty observation deck.

However, when you have only one day in New York, you may want to simply take a Statue of Liberty cruise and witness this magnificent structure from the wonderful waters of Hudson River.

The cruise takes about 50 minutes in total and provides breathtaking views for photo opportunities. You get to see a lot of New York’s famous islands, skyline and waterways via the cruise.

This should be next in your list after you have completed the Brooklyn Bridge walk.

Note the actual ferry time from Manhattan to Statue of Liberty is not too long. However, what takes time is the long queues with thousands of tourists visiting the landmark each day.

So, if you feel you have the time and the queue isn’t too long, go ahead and take the ferry and visit Liberty Island to get up-close with the State of Liberty.

One World Trade Center or Empire State Building or BOTH

To me, the One World Trade Center is so much more than the tallest building in America.

It is the rebuilt World Trade Center and represents hope, resilience and strength of humanity. It is where you salute New Yorkers and what USA represents to the free world.

As a tourist, you have to visit the One World Trade Center and just sit and comprehend what had transpired here.

You can visit the observation deck on the 102nd floor and get a bird’s eye perspective of New York City.

About 21 minutes away from the One World Trade Center by subway is the Empire State Building. Another incredible landmark of the city.

You have a choice here. Choose to spend all of your time at the One World Trade Center, or cut your time in half and visit the Empire State Building.

The observation deck at the Empire State Building is unique as it offers both closed and open observation spaces.

Most suggest that if you are doing Empire State Building, try the observation deck at evening hours as it gives a better view of the fully lit New York skyline. It is also open till quite late in the night till 2 am.

One World Trade Center observation deck is open from 9am to 9pm daily.

Grand Central Station

Next, I suggest visiting the Grand Central Station.

I can’t think of any other station in the world that is as famous as Grand Central Station in New York.

The interiors and décor of this railway terminal is simply grand. Check out the place, observe New Yorkers going about their daily lives and get a feeling for life in the city.

This is a short stop so make the most of it while you are there.

Fifth Avenue

When you are at the most famous city in the world, you obviously need to take a walk on its most famous street.

Fifth Avenue is a world of its own with some of the world’s best landmarks that have been featured in umpteen number of movies, shows and documentaries.

You can check out the iconic Plaza Hotel, The Rockefeller Center, New York Public Library and The Cathedral of St. Patrick.

Be prepared to walk around and see these incredible attractions of New York City.

Central Park

Honestly, if it was up to me, I would spend a whole day in Central Park.

This is one of the most wonderful locations in New York and do take a lot of time here if possible.

Central Park is huge with so many things to do. You can prebook a guided walking tour. You could take a pedicab or horse carriage ride. You could even rent bikes or e-bikes to check the best of Central Park.

Whatever you do, I do suggest for some time, find a great spot and just sit to admire life in New York.

Times Square

Another landmark of New York that is probably the most famous in its category in the world.

Times Square is as iconic as it gets with its famed commercial intersection and entertainment options.

You also have Broadway with its 41 theatres running some of the most popular shows you can watch.

Just walk around Times Square marveling at all the neon signs, catch a show if you have the time, try one of the many eateries serving the most popular dishes of New York and revel in the craziness of the location.

Times Square is best visited in the evening after 6pm.

Final thoughts

Everything about New York is grand. It’s landmarks some of the most famous attractions in the world.

While you can spend a lifetime in the city and not be able to see everything, try doing as much as possible in whatever time you do have in New York.

It will be one of the best days of your life.