The best travel experiences happen when you balance planning with flexibility. Here's a 3-day NYC itinerary that combines must-see attractions with authentic local discoveries.

Before You Go: Essential Planning

Transportation Strategy: Book your LaGuardia Uber shuttle through the app instead of taking taxis or regular Ubers. You'll get a clean Sprinter van with AC, power outlets, and comfortable seats straight to Midtown for a fraction of the cost (regular Ubers run $95+, taxis around $80).

Create Your Custom Google Map: Before your trip, spend time building a custom Google Map with restaurants, shops, bars, and attractions that interest you. This isn't a rigid schedule - it's your downtime decision-making tool for when you have extra energy or time.

An aerial view of New York City with the Empire State Building directly in the center forefront and a hazy background with the skyline of the Financial District buildings

Day 1: Arrival Day

Morning/Afternoon

Land at LaGuardia, take Uber shuttle to Port Authority (47th & 8th)
Pro Tip: If you fly into any of the other NYC airports, I recommend taking the subway into the city!
Walk to hotel and check in (if available)
Rest period - Don't underestimate jet lag; recharge for a better evening

Pro Tip: The Uber Shuttle routes gets you to Manhattan efficiently without the premium Manhattan taxi rates.

Evening

Sunset drinks at your hotel's rooftop bar (if you’re lucky to have one!) for city orientation. If you don’t have something in hotel, use your Google Map 😉 to find a cocktail bar close by.
Dinner at Zoob Zib Thai or explore nearby restaurant options - trust your instincts over rigid reservations
Early night to prepare for full exploration days

Day 2: Upper East Side Culture & Baseball

Morning/Afternoon

Coffee at 787 Coffee (30th & 8th)
Subway to Metropolitan Museum of Art (Upper East Side)
Pro Tip: With over 2 million artifacts, the Met can't be "done" in one day. Pick 2-3 specific galleries beforehand (Egyptian Art, European Paintings, Arms & Armor, etc.), see those first, then wander. This prevents museum fatigue and ensures you actually remember what you loved instead of everything becoming a blur.

Lunch Strategy

After the Met, grab portable sandwiches at a local spot such as Wrap n Run (78th & Lexington)
Take lunch to Central Park for people-watching and recharging
Pro Tip: This 30-minute break is essential between cultural attractions & a generally busy day with lots of walking

Afternoon

Visit The Frick Collection - intimate counterpoint to the Met's grandeur
Walk back through Central Park (grab ice cream if the mood strikes)
Return to hotel for rest period before evening activities

Evening

Take subway to Citi Field for a Mets game, or choose alternative evening entertainment (Broadway show, comedy club, rooftop bars)
Return to hotel area - hotel bars often provide great opportunities to meet fellow travelers, or explore nearby nightlife

Day 3: West Village & Brooklyn Exploration

Morning:

Grab coffee at a corner bodega (sometimes authentic beats Instagram-worthy)
Subway to West Village
Breakfast at Murray's Bagels with outdoor seating for people-watching

West Village Wandering:

Stroll to Washington Square Park
Browse Goods for the Study (local shop) along the way
Coffee break at Stumptown Coffee
Sit in Washington Square and observe local life
Quick stop at Strand Books (great for bathroom breaks and browsing) on the way to the Subway to Brooklyn

Brooklyn Adventure:

Subway to DUMBO, Brooklyn
Walk to Pebble Beach for Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge views
Head to Brooklyn Bridge Park to catch ferry to North Williamsburg
Explore artist flea market and local plant & paper shops (real Brooklyn creativity without tourist crowds)
Lunch at Teddy's or similar neighborhood spot

Afternoon

Return to hotel for rest time (perfect for recharging, watching TV, or planning evening activities)
Pack and prepare for departure

Final Dinner

Capizzi for a special but unpretentious final meal (or that place you’ve passed a couple times that catches your eye)
Schedule airport transportation, especially if you have an early morning flight!

Pro Tip: I always recommend giving yourself some breather time before you go back into “normal” life, so early Sunday flights are usually my go to option. Also, always remember to schedule your ride the night before! The last thing you want is to be panicking at 4:30am trying to find a ride to the airport.

A view of lower Manhattan's skyline from the water during sunset with the reflection of the setting sun on the skyscrapers and the sky turning purple in the background

Planning Strategies That Actually Worked

The Google Map Game Changer: I spent time before the trip creating a custom Google Map with shops, restaurants, bars, parks, and attractions I'd researched. This wasn't a rigid itinerary - it was my secret weapon for downtime decisions. When we found ourselves with extra time or energy, I could quickly pull up the map and see what interesting options were nearby. This eliminated the "what should we do now?" paralysis that can waste precious travel time.

Strategic Activity Planning: Instead of cramming every moment, I chose 2-3 major activities per day and left the rest flexible. This approach meant we never felt rushed or disappointed about missing something, and we had energy to say yes to spontaneous discoveries. The loose structure gave us confidence without constraining us.

Transportation Research That Paid Off: That LaGuardia Uber shuttle wasn't just convenient - it was financially smart. With regular Ubers running $95+ and taxis around $80, plus no practical public transit route from LaGuardia, the shuttle service at a fraction of the cost felt like winning the NYC arrival lottery.

The combination of these three strategies - flexible research, intentional pacing, and smart logistics - created the perfect framework for authentic exploration.

Busy Manhattan street with many stop lights down the center of the photo, tall buildings framing the photo and street with yellow taxis and pedestrians navigating the street

Key Tips for NYC Success

If this resonates with your travel style, here's how to recreate the approach:

Create a flexible research map. Spend time before your trip building a custom Google Map with restaurants, shops, bars, and attractions that interest you. This isn't a rigid schedule - it's your downtime decision-making tool for when you have extra energy or time.

Build in strategic flex time. Schedule 2-3 anchor activities per day, but leave gaps for wandering and discovery. This pacing prevents burnout while ensuring you hit your must-sees.

Research transportation shortcuts. That LaGuardia Uber shuttle saved both money and stress - sometimes the less obvious option is the smartest choice.

Plan strategic fuel stops. Knowing where to grab good, portable food keeps energy high and budgets reasonable.

Mix neighborhoods. Manhattan and Brooklyn offer completely different energies - experience both.

Say yes to local interactions. Whether it's hotel bar conversations or asking for recommendations, people make places memorable.