Finally, a year after getting my visa approved, I was able to accomplished my travel plan to visit United States of America. I spent 5 days in the diverse and fast paced city of New York. Let me share to you how I spend my 5 days in NYC. My itinerary are mostly sightseeing of the famous New York tourist spot that usually fits for first time traveler in the Big Apple.
It was a long flight, my longest as of the moment, a total if 18hrs including my 3hrs layover in Dubai. Luckily, i got extra seat beside me on both onward and return flight making it a little more comfortable than usual. BTW, i love the Airbus A380, better legroom and most especially it is very quiet even you are seating on the end part of the cabin.
Arrival
New York has three service airports, John F Kennedy (JFK), Newark Liberty (EWR) and La Guardia (LGA). JFK is the most common arrival point and i choose this as this has more available transfer options to reach Brooklyn where my hostel is located. For a detailed comparison of the three airports to help you decide where to arrive, check this blog https://blog.tortugabackpacks.com/nyc-airports/
In JFK, after you exit the plane, follow the path based on your travel document/Visa type. I walked through the lane of B1/B2 visa holder.
You will then need to use the Automated Passport Control kiosk/machine to declare the information needed by the US Customs and Border Protection. It’s paperless now.
Follow the on-screen instructions in the machine – scan your passport, scan fingerprint, answer the custom declaration questions, take picture and print your receipt. Viola. Go to the next step with the Immigration officer.
Once with the IO, you will then be asked some basic questions about your travel, just answer honestly and confident and you will hear that “Welcome to the USA, enjoy your vacation”.
After IO, proceed to baggage claim area to take your luggage. Note that there may be random inspections of customs before you finally exit the terminal. I was not called for further inspection – thank God.
Transfers
There are several options you can choose to reach Manhattan and Brooklyn from JFK. – taxi (Regular taxi, Uber, Lyft), bus or the subway. If you are on a budget like me, subway is our best bet.
Subway
Take the AirTrain. From the arrival halls, there are clear signages to get to AirTrain. Determine what station of AirTrain you want to go for your subway transfer.
- Jamaica Station which connects to Line J/Z passing Brooklyn up to Downtown Manhattan or Line E crossing Queens to Midtown Manhattan
- Howard Beach connects to Line A, this can take you to Uptown Manhattan with stops along Brooklyn as well
AirTrain fare is 5USD. You will only pay upon exit, so don’t search for ticket machine in JFK terminal. Take your Metrocard from any of the machine after you exit the AirTrian. For new Metrocard, you need to pay additional $1. You can also top up your Metrocard with 2.75 flat fare for subway, so total is $8.75. This is your cheapest option. Travel time is about 40-60mins. It may be difficult to take subway with big luggage, but i was able to manage it.
Yellow Cab, Uber, Lyft
The more convenient way to reach Manhattan is by taxi. Yellow cabs are readily available just outside the arrival hall. Uber and Lyft is also available if you have internet connections. The fare to Brooklyn is around $40-$50 and $60-$70 to Manhattan
Shuttle Bus
Shared shuttle service is also available. I personally didn’t got the actual price for this option when I’m in JFK, though several blogs I’ve read mentioned around $30 per person. Take note that this is a shared service so it may take a while for dropping other passengers.
Airport Express Bus
If you will be staying in Midtown Manhattan, this is also a good option. A direct bus from JFK to Grand Central Terminal. Trip is only between 11am to 7pm. Fare is $19.
Accommodation
Ok. Next. Where to stay?
I really wanted to stay in Midtown Manhattan but my budget says I cannot.
I found the hostel that suited my budget and preference in Brooklyn – NY Moore Hostel. Booked a bed in a 4Bed Dorm. They have single beds instead of the normal bunk beds you usually get in most hostel. And the room is really spacious with our own private toilet and bath. There are two subway lines near the hostel, less than 10min walk, and can bring you to Manhattan in less than 30mins. Check out other reviews in Tripadvisor and booking.com
Here are some of the photos of NY Moore Hostel. 
If budget is not a problem, you can find a lot of good hotel in Manhattan. Click the search button below and choose your preference.
Insider tips:
Choose an accommodation with ratings 7 and up and just few minutes walk to subway station.
For cheaper accommodations, check in the area of Brooklyn and Queens.
What to do? – 5 Days New York Itinerary
For a budget traveler like me, this city can really hurt my wallet, but it is still possible to visit New York on a budget, even if you’re a solo traveler. There’s plenty of affordable and FREE things to do, that will help keep your costs down without taking the fun out of the city. This New York itinerary are mostly things or locations that i visited free.
Day 0.5 (Midtown Manhattan)
Lol. Since I landed JFK at 9am and reached my hostel by 12nn, let us make this day as 0.5
After settling my things and refreshed a little bit, luckily I was able to have early check in, I followed my planned itinerary for this day.
- Grand Central Terminal
- New York Public Library
- Get a photo op with Chrysler Building
- Stroll along 5th Ave
Grand Central Terminal
I will not miss the chance to visit this famous train station that I have seen in many Hollywood movies like Superman, The Avengers, Men In Black to name a few. Aside from that, this is a historic NYC landmark not just as a transportation hub but also a place for shopping and dining. Also to experience the hustle of the station during rush hour. And of course to see its amazing architecture.
To check more about What to See in GCT, follow this link https://www.grandcentralterminal.com/what-to-see/
Click to see map. Address: 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, United States
Reminder: Tripods are not allowed inside the terminal as this might cause obstruction to commuters. I used a flexible mini tripod that I placed in the corner or some ledge to get a good picture, making it sure I’m not being an obstruction.
New York Public Library (NYPL)
Well, I’m not a bookworm. Lol. I included this in my itinerary because the same with Grand Central Terminal, I always like to see buildings with beautiful architecture. NYPL features a number of attractions like the Astor Hall, the Rose Reading Room, and the McGraw Rotunda ceiling. And if you really want to get to experience the library, you can also register your name on their website to get access to their large collection of books.
From Grand Central Terminal, NYPL is just 6mins walk. Entrance is FREE. For the ultimate library experience, you could take the 11:00 am building tour and the 12:30 pm exhibition tour.
Address: 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018, United States
Chrysler Building
One of the iconic building of New York. So why not get a photo op. If you want to get a good view of the building, go to East 44th Street corner 3rd Ave. 5mins walk from GCT or 10mins walk from NYPL
Map of Day 0.5
Day 2 (Liberty Island and Lower Manhattan)
Today I’m recharge though still struggling with some jet lag. Start the day early to see the Statue of Liberty and explore lower Manhattan
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Charging bull and Wall street
- Oculus
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum
Liberty Island
Probably the one of the most iconic symbol not only of New York but of the whole USA is the Statue of Liberty.
There are several ways to see the statue;
- one is to buy a NY City Pass that gives you access to the Liberty Island and Ellis Island including the ferry ride. This is the option i used.
- buy directly a ticket online in https://www.statuecruises.com.
- There is also the FREE Staten Island Ferry that passes by the Liberty Island and gives you a great view of Statue of Liberty from a distance.
- Head to Governors Island for $3 round trip ferry and get unobstructed view of the statue.
Address: Battery Park Ferry Terminal, New York, NY 10004, United States
Ellis Island Immigration Museum
This is usually included if you buy a Statue of Liberty Cruise. This is another island just beside Statue of Liberty that has an Immigration Museum. The museum is dedicated in sharing the experience and stories of immigrants who wish to enter United States. Ellis Island is their first stop. The museum offers guided tours as well as audio guide for your self discovery tour. It has several interactive displays that shows the process of how immigrants are check prior to entering US mainland.
Charging Bull and Wall Street
This is just a quick stop to the most famous bull, hoping my stocks becomes bullish as well. Ahaha. From Battery Park where you get off the ferry, Charging Bull us just a few hundreds meters. Beware that hoards of tourist are coming here to take a selfie. Passed by the Wall street, the Financial District, before heading to my stop. FREE photo stop.
Address: Broadway Street/Bowling Green
Oculus
From Wall Street, walk along the Broadway Street towards Uptown then turn left to Dey St and you will see immediately the Oculus. Or you can take the subway and get off at Cortlandt Station. No entrance fee, absolutely FREE.
9/11 Memorial and Museum
Just across the Oculus is the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. If you have the NY City Pass, which i highly recommend, you can go directly into the security screening line. Food is not allowed inside the museum. After the security screening, go down the escalator and start your musuem tour. There is available guided tour for $20. Audio guide is also available in App Store and Google Play. Be reminded that taking pictures in the open hall is allowed but not in the Exhibition Hall that displayed artifacts of the incident.
Maps Day 2
Day 3 (Brooklyn and Broadway)
As most tourist spot tends to be crowded especially around 10am, getting there early is always a good idea if you want to get a picture without too much photobomber. With the help of jetlag, again I wake up early around 6am , eat breakfast and gear up for another day. My itinerary for 3rd day
- Brooklyn Bridge
- DUMBO
- Broadway, Aladdin the Musical
- Time Square
- Walk along 7th and 8th Ave – window shopping, coffee break, pasalubong
Brooklyn Bridge
From my hostel, there are no direct subway line to get to Brooklyn Bridge but bus is available. The distance is not that long however due to frequent bus stops, it took around 40mins to reach the bridge. From the nearest bus stop (Brooklyn side), you need to walk about 10mins to reach the Brooklyn Bridge. There is Pedestrian Walkway and Bicycle lane in the middle of the car lanes that start from Tillary Street and Adams Street.
I was on the bridge about 8:30am and was able to get some good photos without the crowd. Be mindful in taking photos because even you are there early, pedestrians, joggers and cyclist are still passing by. There are some bench along the walkway where you can just sit and relax while enjoying the cool breeze and the view.
If you are coming from Manhattan side, I recommend to cross the bridge to Brooklyn side as this will have a better view with skyline of Lower Manhattan in the background.
DUMBO
Another famous photo stop in Brooklyn is DUMBO short for Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Dumbo’s is known for its cobblestone streets and brick warehouse buildings that accommodate independent boutiques, high-end restaurants and trendy cafes. This is usually packed with tourist but since it was showering when I get there, I get the chance again to get a photo without crowd. This location Looking closely, you will see the Empire State Building framed perfectly under the bridge.
Address: Water St cor Washington St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
After getting that Instagram shot, you can grab a quick brunch or coffee in one of the café along Washington Street or Front Street. If you still have time, unlike me plus it was already pouring that time, you can continue your photo walk down the riverside. It’s another beautiful photo stop with where you can get Manhattan skyline together with Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge in one frame- Check it on my Day 5
Aladdin the Musical and Time Square
Its already pouring and I was soaking wet. I don’t have any umbrella or raincoat so I decided to went back to the hostel to change. My Aladdin ticket is by 2pm and I need to be in the New Amsterdam Theater at least 30mins before. You can also buy an evening Broadway ticket if you prefer to spend your afternoon into other activities.
The Aladdin Musical is amazing. Genie is the best. The flying carpet is magical. Costumes and choreography are amazing.
Insider Tips:
- Check theater seating plan view before purchasing seat. For New Amsterdam Theater, there is a virtual seat view for you to choose better seat.
- I prefer center mezzanine as this gives better view and not far.
- If you want to get discounted ticket, check TKTS booth in Times Square
I also suggest Check out Joe’s Pizza in Broadway before or after the show. It’s one of those NY pizza parlor that has been visited by several Hollywood celebrities and one of its branch was shown in Spider-man.
Times Square
They say, you didn’t go to New York if you didn’t visit Times Square. Yes it’s touristy but its worth to visit for new experience. You can window shop down the long line of stores along 7th or 8th Ave, dine, watch- just watch- street performers, people watch and of course watch those giant LCD screens that illuminates Times Square.
Day 4 (Flexible Day)
My last two days were more flexible than the first 3 days as i only have 3 priority location and activity list to tick.
- Top of the Rock
- Chill in Central Park
- Visit museum
And this day I was also scheduled to meet my high school barkada who are already based in USA, so my day depends on what they/we like to do – it’s more spontaneous. But since our meeting is by 10am, I still have time to visit another NY spot early morning.
Flat Iron Building
Another iconic building you can take a selfie is the Flat Iron in 5th Ave. near Madison Square Park.
Unfortunately, the building is undergoing some renovations and its covered with nets and scaffolding.
Address: 175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010, United States
Central Park
Maybe the most famous park in the world and one of the most filmed locations that you can even take a movie tour in this park. You can easily spend few hours walking around here to break from the busy streets of New York. And its totally FREE.
The park is huge, so if you have a limited time like me, just pick one or two location to see and explore. I just walk around Bethesda Fountain and Literary Walk.
The HighLine and Chelsea Market
Solo travel ends now. I’m now with my friends. We decided to go to Highline- walk, chat, walk and chat. Oh we also stop some time get some photos. This is FREE
The Highline is an old rail road that is now converted into an elevated park. Prepare to walk because its long. Its about 2.3km long from the 12th to 30th Street. If you want to visit the Vessel, the “newest” attraction building in New York, it is located at the end of the Highline near 30th St. Or like us, cut it half and visited the Chelsea Market to grab some snacks.
SOHO
Hollywood star hunting in SOHO.
Like DUMBO, SoHo has cobblestone streets and charming building with cast iron stairs. Its atmosphere make the district unlike any other area in Manhattan. It is also known shopping district for fashion and art scenery that is why I was told it is just usual to see some Hollywood celebrity walking around and doing some shopping. But nahhh, we didn’t see any. Hahaha.
Btw, since we love pizza, we stop again in one well known pizza parlor, the Prince’s St. Pizza. Check it out also.
Top of the Rock
My plan was to get to the top by 5pm to be able to experience both daylight and night, however, when i was already trying to book my preferred time, the earliest available slot is 7pm. No choice. Booked.
If you have to choose one rooftop building to get a 360° view of Manhattan, I recommend Top of the Rock (TOTR). TOTR is included in City Pass but you still need to prebook your desired entry time. Booked your time online by 4:30 or 5:00pm at least a day before. Getting there by those time gives you the chance to see Manhattan on daylight, sunset and at dark with New York city nightscape.
Insider Tip:
- Getting to the TOTR as soon as it opens gives you more freedom to shoot without the hassle of the crowd especially if you want to get a solo picture.
- The second level on the side of Central Park has the least crowd at night
- The top most level has the unobstructed view, but sometimes can be the most crowded. Just circle around the 3rd level away from the escalator and you will find lesser people. Visitors usually build up just right after the escalator
- Tripods are not allowed as per TOTR security policies, however I brought my mini tripod with me and had no issues with the security screening. I was also able to use it while shooting at night to get more stable shot.
Day 5 (Last Day in NYC)
Oh my… It’s my last day in the city that never sleeps.
Plan
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Visit American Museum of Natural History
- Meeting with barkada
But the plan was mixed up. Ahahahah. I thought we will meet by lunch time, but it turns out, it will be 10am to lunch time. Still hoping I can visit the museum after lunch, but again, catching up with your friends after almost 10 year is difficult to cut short. So decided to finally cancel my museum visit and instead enjoy my last time with them with the bottles of beer and tequila. Ahahahaha. It was indeed a good switch.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Since i missed this on my Day 3 because it was raining, I made sure that i can still squeeze this in my last day. And its a beautiful sunny day. Perfect for my photo shoot. Another FREE location
Chinatown
If you really want to get cheap souvenirs, this is the right place to go. We also had our lunch here in Chinatown.
Catching up with Friends
We ended up staying in a bar near The HighLine – Brass Monkey.
So if you will have your full 5th day to spend, I recommend to visit a museum to add your in New York itinerary. There are several great museum in midtown Manhattan that can certainly suits your interests.
- American Museum of Natural History – offers science and history. An educational experience for both adults and children. AMNH displays a great collections of artifacts, from dinosaurs to ocean life to outer space.
- Guggenheim Museum – the first museum in the world established by the Salomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. It houses one of the most influentual modern art collections in the world.
- Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) -he largest museum in New York and also the most-visited. Discover its art collections and its masterpieces.
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) – one of the best museums in New York City, and it’s free on Friday’s from 4-8 PM.
SUMMARY OF NEW YORK ITINERARY
Day 0.5
- Grand Central Terminal
- New York Public Library
- Get a photo op with Chrysler Building
- Stroll along 5th Ave
Day 2
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Charging bull and Wall street
- Oculus
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum
Day 3
- Brooklyn Bridge
- DUMBO
- Broadway, Aladdin the Musical
- Time Square
- Walk along 7th and 8th Ave – window shopping, coffee break, pasalubong
Day 4
- Flat Iron Building
- Central Park
- The High Line
- Chelsea Market
- SoHo
- Top of the Rock
Day 5
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Chinatown
- Museum Day
For budget guide, visit my Facebook page Lakwatserong Kimiko, or follow the link this NYC Budget Guide for 5 Days.
For other sample itineraries, click here
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