NYC by myself for 4 days - what to do?

[SoTiredNeedHoliday]

I haven't been for years - looking for hints on what to do and where to go as a solo tourist.

I often spend a few days each summer in NYC by myself. I tend to base myself in the Meatpacking District at it feels rather more residential than a lot of other parts of NYC. Just practical things like getting a light breakfast with a coffee without having to spend a fortune.

The Whitney is free the first Friday in each month (although check I’ve got that right!). Chelsea Market right by you as is the High Line and Little Island. You’re also close enough to walk to the West Village / Greenwich and just potter. Even if you’re not major fans, Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment and the Friends apartment building are in really lovely neighbourhoods.

Pasti’s is a good shout for dinner. Gets very busy and loud so I always feel fine eating there by myself. If the weather’s nice then the sidewalk restaurant at The Gansevort Hotel is great for people watching. Serafina is a chain - decent well cooked food, not ridiculously expensive, but this is New York.

I also love The Met and The Natural History Museum. If you’re up by the NHM then go to Zabar’s for the most amazing bagels. It’s an Upper West Side go to.

Oh and check out what’s on at The Lincoln Center if you like dance, opera, plays etc. I went to see a ballet performance by Juilliard students there - it was $20 and blooming brilliant!!

@CountryQueen We had seen a few of those sights before and a few don’t interest me. Each to their own. We went after walking over the Brooklyn Bridge but it’s not an area we would go out of our way to visit. A few of the things you list would not make it onto my long list for NY.

God this is my dream

I'd:

Go and see Coney Island
Do The Met
Chinatown
Walk the Brooklyn bridge
Free ferry to Staten Island
Walk around the village, get a coffee and people watch
Perhaps the Sopranos tour

No I’m sure, and I agree that some of the places wouldn’t be on my list, we’re all different. It was the description of the financial district being “in an out of the way area” that had me laughing 😆 I mean, Wall Street?

OP I loved the library, I could’ve spent a lot longer there had I been alone. I’d probably do something a bit cheesy fun and classic NYC too, the subway out to Coney Island for a lobster roll from Paul’s Daughter or a Nathan’s Famous hotdog!

@SoTiredNeedHoliday If there's nothing specific you want to see on Broadway then you can book on the day. I used the todaytix app.

If you want to walk the Brooklyn bridge then catch the subway to Brooklyn and walk back to manhattan so that you're walking towards the view of the skyline.

The Frick Collection is a small art museum by Central Park.

There are various foodhalls - I think if you search for urbanspace - that I liked to eat at solo. Good selection of food and didn't feel weird eating by myself.

@CountryQueen Who goes to Wall Street though? It is a long way from Central Park and the Met! A long way! It’s not very close to where op is staying either. Plenty of other places are.

Erm, pretty much everyone 😂

You’ve not been to Trinity Church or Federal Hall? The Charging Bull has a constant queue!

From the OPs hotel in TriBeCa it’ll be around a 20 minute walk to those sights, less even depending which hotel.

I’m a bit confused as to what Central Park and the Met have to do with anything but if she were to walk to those it would take a whopping 2 hours without a break!?

Quite possibly you need to look at a map but you can’t get much closer than TriBeCa to the places I listed. I can’t think which “plenty other places” are closer off the top of my head

We were just there last week. Spend hours in the metropolitan museum and still didn't see everything. Go to moma, also another full day nearly. Walk around central park, go to strawberry fields where there are usually people singing Beatles and John Lennon songs, tjen cross the road to look at the creepy dakota building. We had brunch booked in tavern on the green but ended up canceling it so that will be one for the next trip. For food you can't beat a diner or a deli. It's not near you but one we went to near our hotel was carnegie diner, opposite carnegie hall. Highly recommend and according to the internet the breakfast there is amazing. If you're going to the 9/11 museum, the guided tour is definitely worth it. Very interesting but also depressing. I didn't like the oculus, thought it felt creepy. The weather was wet and miserable but I think it's better now and actually spring time. You're so lucky, I'd love to go on my own without being limited by a complaining teenager who hates walking 😄

Oh we also did the summit at one vanderbilt on this trip which was pretty good. A bit gimicky but had an amazing view of the empire state building from above it.

I was took myself off to a rooftop bar called Gallow Green - it is part of a quirky theatre in Chelsea called the Mckittrick Hotel. . Felt very comfortable there as a lone middle aged woman with my Kindle! I walked the High Line from the Hudson Yards end until one of the Chelsea exits and had a lovely drink at Gallow Green and then wandered into the Meatpacking district for food and a mooch early evening.

This is a good site to have a nosy: https://www.getyourguide.com/new-york-city-l59/new-york-city-high-line-hudson-yards-walking-tour-t216939/?ranking_uuid=21b3ee61-d021-475b-b521-c4f39e21bdc0

I did that last month! Is that when you were there? Great show.

Everyone goes to Wall Street? No one has mentioned it except you. I’ve no huge interest in the buildings you mention. I’m more into art and culture.

The Fearless Girl statue outside the NYSE bought a tear to my eye. If you are down by all the 9/11 stuff then I’d go and see it.

So I've been and loved it. Thank you for all the suggestions. I did loads of walking which was part of the fun.

I did the below:

• hired a bike and rode leisurely around Central park
• walked around upper west side and sat in a lovely cafe for afternoon tea
• walked around time square and looked in a few sops (been there before a bit too touristy for me)
• navigated the subway myself 🙌🙂
• walked the Brooklyn bridge
• went to Dumbo and walked along the river
• went to Brooklyn Heights and walked the promenade
• went to Little Island and walked around the park,its small but lovely
• walked the highline enjoying the sun
• went to Hudson yards and had a coffee outside
• checked out the Hudson yards shops
• went to midtown and did some shopping
• walked Soho and pottered around
• visited Chelsea markets & general meat packing area
• walked the east village and Greenwich village (love it there)
• went to some good restaurants but also ate at some small places but food was lovely
• went to 9/11 gardens / memorial
• didn't do the museums as weather was great and I did those when I was there in 2019

Sounds like a good trip. I’m planning for next month. I’ve been several times so don’t rush around but try to do a museum and a walk. Aiming for the Tenement Museum and Brooklyn Bridge this time. Might book a show, if anyone has recommendations? And somewhere nice for lunch in mid-town. 🗽