At the heart of New York City lies Manhattan, a borough that most people immediately think about when the city is mentioned in conversation. Although its enormous skyscrapers and world-famous landmarks dominate the city, there are plenty of hidden gems and historic areas to explore while spending one day in NYC.
The island of Manhattan was purchased by the Dutch in the 17th century, but it was originally settled by the Lenape people. What came to be known as New Amsterdam was later renamed New York when the British took control of the area, and since then it has continued to expand. The unique neighbourhoods in Manhattan were shaped by the waves of immigrants that came to New York in the 19th and 20th centuries, which can still be seen through the various cuisines and cultures throughout Manhattan.
The layered history of NYC is what makes it such a vibrant place to visit. Even if you’ve been before, you’ll come across plenty of new corners and unique spots to visit, and there’s always new restaurants and food crazes hitting the city too. Here’s how you can spend one day in NYC, including a few main attractions and unique alternatives.
How to spend one day in NYC
Breakfast at Black Seed Bagels
The first thing to do when spending one day in NYC is to fuel up at breakfast. There are endless places to eat in Manhattan, but if you want something that’s quick and substantial, then you’ll want to stop at Black Seed Bagels. This bagel shop is known for its unique blend of Montreal-style and New York-style bagels, and there are plenty of options to choose from.
We tried two of their locations, in Chelsea Market and in the Rockefeller Center, and both of them didn’t disappoint. Their hand-rolled bagels are expertly made, with different variations such as everything bagels, sesame bagels, and seasonal twists. Black Seed Bagels is a great spot to come for a breakfast bagel, but you also have the option to build your own if nothing takes your fancy from their menu.
Enjoy the views from the Top of the Rock
One of the best views in NYC is from the Top of the Rock, at the Rockefeller Center. This also happens to be a very busy attraction in Manhattan, so if you want to enjoy it without the crowds then the best option is to book your ticket for when it opens at 8am. It’s the perfect time to take photos as the lighting is much softer than midday. From the very top observation deck, you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the city’s skyline, including Central Park and the Empire State Building.
There are multiple terraces to enjoy at the Top of the Rock, each on different levels, so there’s lots of space to walk around and take in the views from every angle. Before heading up on the elevator, you’ll also be treated to a short video about the history of the building.
Chinatown food tour
If you want to enjoy as much food as possible during your one day in NYC, a food tour is the way to go. Almost every neighbourhood in Manhattan has its own food tours, but for a really authentic experience you need to try the Chinatown Food Tour run by Ultimate Food Tours. This is their most popular tour, and after spending 3 hours learning about the history of Chinatown and eating the food here, it’s easy to see why.
Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area, and he had a tablet with him so we could see older photos of Chinatown and the immigrants who first arrived here. During the tour, we stopped at several locally run eateries that we probably wouldn’t have noticed if we were walking around Chinatown on our own. All of the food was incredible and the portions were big too. The fried dumplings were a personal favourite of mine, and we were able to try some delicious noodles to start things off. Make sure you add this Chinatown food tour to your itinerary while spending one day in NYC!
Statue of Liberty
No trip to NYC is complete without at least laying eyes on the Statue of Liberty. It was gifted to the US from France to mark their alliance during the American Revolution and to symbolize their shared democratic ideals. The statue was unveiled in 1886 and it quickly became a beacon of hope for immigrants arriving to the city via Ellis Island. In 1983, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If you’re visiting Manhattan on a budget, the alternative to buying tickets to go to Liberty Island is to hop on the Staten Island Ferry which will take you past the island and give you incredible views of the city skyline – all for free! If you do want to visit the Statue of Liberty in person though, the best option is to book the earliest ticket available to beat the crowds and enjoy the island in peace.
Explore a couple of Lower Manhattan neighbourhoods
Spending just one day in NYC means you’ll need to plan out your itinerary ahead of time and choose which neighbourhoods you’re most interested in. There are a lot of places in Lower Manhattan to explore, from Tribeca and SoHo to lesser known neighbourhoods such as Nolita. We spent a lot of time walking around Nolita, Little Italy, and Chinatown as they’re all very close to each other.
It may be worth checking out Greenwich Village too if you’re looking for a more relaxed vibe as it features historic streets, cozy cafes, and boutique shops. Wherever you end up, you’ll no doubt have a fantastic time walking around.
Try some of New York City’s best tacos for dinner
After going on a food tour for lunch, you won’t be hungry until later in the evening. While spending one day in NYC, you most likely won’t want to waste time sitting inside a restaurant when you can be out exploring the city instead. If that’s the case, then you’ll want something quick to eat, which is why street food is the perfect option.
There’s a lot of street food in Manhattan to enjoy, but if you’re in the mood for some tasty, authentic Mexican tacos, then you’ll definitely want to add Los Tacos No. 1 to your itinerary. They have a few locations around the city, including one in Hudson Yards, very close to the iconic Vessel structure. This taqueria features tortillas made from scratch with delicious meats grilled on a vertical spit.
The carne asada tacos are topped with colourful salsas, and the atmosphere is great too. We tried one of each taco variation and loved every bite of them. They’re also not too expensive considering the quality, so it’s a great place to eat if you’re visiting NYC on a budget too.
Walk around Times Square
Visiting Times Square at any time of the day is an experience that you need to have at least once. During your one day in NYC, you can either visit Times Square during the day, when you’ll find plenty of street performers and other activities taking place, or during the evening, when the iconic billboards are lit up and everything seems more magical. Regardless of the time of day you visit, you’ll find it very crowded, but you can always pop into a shop to escape the crowds for a while and do some shopping. Visiting Times Square is one of the top things to do in Manhattan at night.
Grab a late night snack at Schmackary’s
Before heading back to your hotel, you may want to indulge in a late night snack. Just a short walk from Times Square is Schmackary’s who feature more than 100 rotating flavours of cookies. They have classic flavours such as chocolate chip and peanut butter cup, but their quirky flavours such as funfetti and sweet corn are what a lot of people come to try.
We ordered a couple of their cookie flavours, and some of them were a little too sweet for our taste buds (like the funfetti cookie), so keep that in mind when you’re choosing which cookies to sample from Schmackary’s. They also offer nation-wide shipping if you want to try them from the comfort of your own home.
Where to stay in Manhattan
After spending a very long one day in NYC, you’ll want somewhere that’s convenient to stay. Paramount Times Square – A Generator Hotel is located less than 5 minutes away from Times Square, and it’s also just a short taxi or metro ride away from Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, which is helpful if you’re travelling by train. This budget-friendly hotel in Manhattan offers both dorm and private rooms, and it has a beautiful reception and lounge area complete with a bar and live music on weekends. The price you pay for the location really can’t be beat.
How many days to spend in NYC
There’s really no correct number of days to spend in NYC. There are almost endless things to see and do here, even if you’re only planning to explore Manhattan. We spent a total of five days visiting the city and barely had enough time to see the main attractions due to the amount of time it takes to get around Manhattan on the metro. If you can only spare one day in NYC, you’ll still be able to see a couple of the main attractions though, and since NYC is the city that never sleeps, you can also do some things at night in Manhattan as well.
If you have any questions about spending one day in NYC or things to do in the different neighbourhoods in Manhattan, please feel free to reach out. You can get in touch via email or by filling out the contact form. You can also find more travel tips and inspiration on my Instagram and TikTok pages.
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