New York in 3 days

The city you've already seen on screen 1,000 times. Better in person, every time. Best time to visit: April-June and September-early November. Average daily budget: $180 to $350 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: West Village, Brownstones, tree-lined streets, the city's most photogenic blocks.

Morning: MoMA on a quiet weekday morning. Open at 10:30am sharp. Top floor first.

Afternoon: Explore West Village, Brownstones, tree-lined streets, the city's most photogenic blocks.

Evening: Sunset walk on Brooklyn Bridge. Start in Brooklyn, walk toward Manhattan. Better light.

Eat: Plain slice at Joe's (Greenwich Village)

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Lower East Side, Old-school delis, dive bars, the city's best late-night food.

Morning: A Broadway show with day-of TKTS tickets. Lines move fast. 50% off, no planning needed.

Afternoon: Explore Lower East Side, Old-school delis, dive bars, the city's best late-night food.

Evening: Pizza slice at Joe's, then Lucali for dinner. Two ends of the NY pizza spectrum, both essential.

Eat: Pastrami on rye at Katz's

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Williamsburg, Brooklyn's coolest corner. Cafés, vintage, sunset on the East River.

Morning: Roosevelt Island tram for the East River view (locals' secret).. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Williamsburg, Brooklyn's coolest corner. Cafés, vintage, sunset on the East River.

Evening: Walk the High Line into Hudson Yards. An elevated park on an old rail line threading the West Side, with planted gardens and skyline views. Start at Gansevoort, end at the Vessel and Hudson Yards, best mid-morning or at sunset.

Eat: Shake Shack original burger at Madison Square Park

Hidden gems

Roosevelt Island tram for the East River view (locals' secret).
Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn for a peaceful afternoon walk.
The Met Cloisters, uptown, medieval art in a real monastery.
Russ & Daughters Café for the best bagel and lox in the city.

Getting around

The subway is your best friend. Get OMNY: just tap your phone. Walk Manhattan when the weather's good. Avoid taxis in midtown (traffic). Citi Bike is great for downtown loops.

Safety

Very safe in tourist Manhattan and most of Brooklyn. Standard big-city awareness on the subway late at night. The biggest risk to your trip is overpacking your itinerary.

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