The Ultimate Guide for A Weekend in Manhattan

How to spend less than 48 hours in the city that never sleeps

GRL WRLD
4 min readFeb 1, 2023

My cousin recently moved to New York City, and when I went to visit him, we realized there is an overwhelming amount to see, eat, buy, and eperience. I left from Baltimore, Maryland at 7 AM on a Saturday, then got home by 9 PM on Sunday. This is what we did to fit everything in!

New York City has a unique culture and lifestyle that can’t be captured or experienced in a couple days — that’s what’s so amazing about the city! This itinerary hit a lot of cool spots, but I highly recommend visiting more than once to really understand why so many people can’t seem to stay away.

Korean ceremonial instruments in the MET

Day 1:

Breakfast — Jewish Deli Bagels and Sandwiches

When I arrived in the city, my cousin took me to a local deli for breakfast. fair warning to those not accustomed to the chaos of the NYC deli: we waited in line for about an hour. New York City has a strong Jewish community, and Jewish delis are beloved with a rich history. Many of these delis will sell out of bagels by noon!

High Line

The High Line is a railroad track turned park that goes above the streets. You get to see clear views of the skyline, look down on cars, and the best part — you don’t have to stop and wait for traffic lights! There are places to stop and get gelato, pizza, and hot dogs on the High Line as well, so you can stop for a casual lunch before coninuting the day.

The Edge

At the end of the high Line, you will reach Hudson Yards. Hudson Yards has plenty of high end shops, restaurants, and bars. The Edge is the highest outside deck in the Western Hemisphere, giving 360-degree views of the city. There is a section of the deck that has a glass floor you can look into as well! Just be sure to reserve your tickets before going.

The Vessel

The Vessel is a large structure at the base of the mall and the Edge. It is one of the many reasons Hudson yards is so iconic, and they sometimes shpw outdoor movies out front.

The ball game screened below the Vessel.

Day 2:

Time Square

A trip to NYC wouldn’t be complete without some shopping in Times Square! Nearby is a street lined with plenty of delicious Korean Barbecue spots — this one even has a Michelin Star! Craving something “New York”? Head to the nearest corner and get a slice of pizza, a pretzel, or a hot dog. Take a walk down broadway, head to the M&M Store, or just bask in the giant screens surrounding you hung on the buildings.

Trinity Church

If you’re a theatre buff like me, a trip to New york City (the greatest city in the world) would not be complete without visiting Trinity Church. Founding father Alexander Hamilton is buried here, as well as Angelica Schuyler. if you are religious, you can also make a donation to the church and light candles for rememberance or intention.

Central Park

I did not truly understand how large Central Park was until I was inside of it. You can grab lunch, go on a boat, take a bike ride, or walk around enjoying nature. There are plenty of artists and food vendors as well.

The MET

The MET is inside of Central park. They have an extensive collection of art, historical pieces, and for an additional fee you cam check out the MET Gala exhibit.

Family — Style Italian Dinner

One of my most memorable meals was when my cousin and partner joined me for an italian style dinner in Times Square. We had walked about 10 miles that day, seeing everything we could, and ate 2 dishes clean (note family style Italian restaurants are designs where it serves 2–4 people per dish). New York has a large and proud Italian community, so finding an amazing Italian place isn’t hard.

Wrapping up:

In total, I walked about 20 miles. All of this can be done easily by taxi, Uber, or subway as well! I walked so I could enjoy the sights of the city, as well as save a couple bucks.

There is so much I still want to share (The Intrepid, Ivan Ramen, Statue of Liberty, Financial District) that I will have to add to another post.

What have you done? What did I miss? Let me know!

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GRL WRLD

Hi there, I’m Rylee! Korean born, Maryland raised. Writing about stuff, things, bits, and bobs that make me feel some type of way.