One Week in New York: What You Really Shouldn't Miss

One week in New York sounds like plenty of time – until you first stand in front of the subway map and realize just how big this city is. We have been to New York ourselves and filmed there for our YouTube channel. This guide gives you a practical day-by-day plan organized by neighborhood, everything you need to know about entry, airport transfers and the subway, plus honest notes on costs, free highlights and the mistakes first-timers tend to make.

What do you need to enter the US?

If you hold a German passport (or one from another Visa Waiver Program country), you don’t need a visa for a holiday. You do need three things: an electronic passport (e-passport), an approved ESTA and a return or onward ticket. A German ID card, a temporary passport or a children’s passport is not enough to travel on an ESTA.

The essentials on the ESTA (as of October 2026):

• Cost: 40.62 US dollars since October 16, 2026 (previously 40.27 US dollars). The fee is adjusted for inflation every year.
• Validity: two years or until your passport expires, for any number of stays of up to 90 days each.
• Timing: US authorities recommend applying at least 72 hours before departure. We’d do it right after booking your flight.
• Where: only on the official website, esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Plenty of agency websites look official but charge considerably more.

Keep in mind: anyone who has been to Cuba on or after January 12, 2021 cannot travel on an ESTA and needs a visa, and the same applies after trips to certain other countries. The final decision on entry is always made by the border officer at the airport, and according to the German Foreign Office, officers may also inspect your phone and laptop. Since the rules have changed more often recently, check the current travel advice shortly before you fly.

How do you get from the airport into the city?

New York has three major airports. Flights from Germany usually land at JFK or Newark (EWR), less often at LaGuardia (LGA).

Airport	Cheapest option	Cost (approx., as of October 2026)
JFK	AirTrain to Jamaica, then subway (E, J or Z)	8.75 + 3 = 11.75 US dollars
JFK	Taxi to Manhattan	flat 70 US dollars plus tolls, surcharges, tip
Newark (EWR)	AirTrain Newark and NJ Transit train to New York Penn Station	17.25 US dollars (AirTrain included in the ticket)
LaGuardia (LGA)	Bus, e.g. the Q70 “LaGuardia Link”, to the subway in Queens	depends on your connection

With luggage, the AirTrain-plus-subway route works but isn’t exactly comfortable. If you land late in the evening or carry a lot of bags, take a taxi from the official taxi stand, and ignore anyone offering rides inside the arrivals hall.

How does the subway work with OMNY?

The subway is the fastest way around the city. Since January 4, 2026, a ride costs 3 US dollars no matter how far you go. You pay with OMNY: just tap a contactless credit or debit card, your phone or your smartwatch on the reader at the turnstile. Transfers between subway and bus within two hours are free.

The best part is the weekly fare cap: if you always pay with the same card or device, you pay no more than 35 US dollars within seven days, and every further ride in that period is free. So there’s no need for a weekly pass. Make sure each person pays with their own card or device, otherwise the cap won’t work for both of you.

Two things that confuse newcomers: many entrances only lead to trains in one direction (“Uptown” or “Downtown”), and express trains skip many stations. Take a quick look at the signs before you tap in. Which cards work best for paying in the US is covered in our article on paying abroad.

What does a good one-week New York itinerary look like?

Our most important advice: plan each day around one neighborhood. You’ll spend less time in transit and actually experience the areas instead of just ticking off sights.

Day 1: Arriving in Midtown

After a long flight, keep it easy. Stroll through Bryant Park, step into the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal and head to Times Square in the evening, when the billboards are at their brightest. Staying awake until evening usually helps you beat jet lag faster.

Day 2: Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty

Start early at the southern tip of Manhattan. Either take the official ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, or ride the free Staten Island Ferry, which passes the statue. Then visit the 9/11 Memorial, wander through the Financial District and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge in the late afternoon.

Day 3: Brooklyn

The bridge drops you right into DUMBO, the neighborhood with the famous view of the Manhattan Bridge framed by brick warehouses. Down by the water, Brooklyn Bridge Park puts the Lower Manhattan skyline right in front of you. In the afternoon, head to Williamsburg for small shops, street art and cafés.

Day 4: Central Park and museums

Central Park is bigger than most people expect. Set aside half a day, for example from the southern end up to the Reservoir. Pair it with one of the major museums on its edges: the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the east side or the American Museum of Natural History on the west side.

Day 5: High Line, Chelsea and the West Village

The High Line is a park built on a former freight rail line that runs for many blocks through the West Side. Start at Hudson Yards in the north and walk south. Along the way you’ll pass Chelsea Market, an indoor food hall packed with stalls. Spend the evening in the quieter streets of the West Village and Greenwich Village.

Day 6: Midtown classics and the view from above

Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and St. Patrick’s Cathedral are all close together. Book an observation deck for the late afternoon so you see the city in daylight and as the lights come on. A Broadway show makes a great end to the day.

Day 7: Queens or a buffer day

Keep one day free for whatever you had to postpone or want to see again. If you still have energy, head to Queens: the waterfront in Long Island City offers a wide view of Midtown, and Flushing has a huge choice of Asian food.

Which viewpoints are worth it?

For the view from above, you can choose between several paid observation decks: the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, Summit One Vanderbilt, Edge at Hudson Yards and One World Observatory at One World Trade Center. Prices depend on the day and time, and sunset slots are the most popular. Compare current prices directly on the operators’ websites.

Our take: from Top of the Rock you can see the Empire State Building – from the Empire State Building, obviously, you can’t. For most trips, one observation deck is plenty.

Which New York highlights are free?

New York is expensive, but some of its best experiences cost nothing:

• Staten Island Ferry: runs around the clock, about 25 minutes each way, with views of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline.
• Brooklyn Bridge: the walkway across the bridge, best early in the morning or in the evening.
• High Line: the park on the old elevated rail line on the West Side.
• Central Park: walks, picnics and paths around the lakes.
• Brooklyn Bridge Park: the waterfront promenade with skyline views.
• Grand Central Terminal: the historic main concourse.
• 9/11 Memorial: the two outdoor memorial pools (the museum charges admission).

How much does a week in New York cost?

To be honest: New York is one of the most expensive destinations in the world. Apart from your flight, hotels are the biggest expense. In Manhattan, the average room rate in the first half of 2026 was around 337 US dollars per night, with big swings from month to month.

Item	Guide price (as of October 2026)
ESTA	40.62 US dollars per person
Hotel in Manhattan	about 337 US dollars per room and night on average
Subway and bus	no more than 35 US dollars per person per week
Restaurants	menu price plus 8.875% tax plus 18–20% tip
Hotel extras	taxes and fees per night on top of the room rate

Keep in mind that prices on menus and in shops in New York almost never include sales tax. When dining in, add an 18 to 20 percent tip; card terminals usually suggest fixed percentages. Check the bill first, though: for larger groups, a gratuity is sometimes already included.

Tip: If you want to save on accommodation, look at hotels in Brooklyn or Long Island City in Queens close to a subway station. With the 35-dollar weekly fare cap, your daily ride into Manhattan is already covered.

Is a sightseeing pass worth it?

Several passes bundle admission to observation decks, museums and boat tours. Whether one pays off depends entirely on your plans. Write down the paid attractions you definitely want to do, add up the individual prices and only then compare. If you follow an itinerary like ours with plenty of free highlights, you often end up with just two or three paid tickets – and then individual tickets are usually cheaper.

For the Statue of Liberty, buy your ferry tickets only from the official ferry operator. Some sellers charge more or sell boat trips that never actually dock at the island.

When is the best time to visit New York?

Spring (roughly April to June) and fall (roughly September to November) are generally considered the most pleasant times to visit: mild temperatures, long walks and, in fall, colorful trees in Central Park. Summer is often hot and humid and winter is cold, though the city is beautifully decorated in December. Around the holidays at the end of the year, hotel prices rise significantly.

Which mistakes should you avoid in New York?

• Applying for your ESTA through an agency: it costs you extra for nothing. Use only the official website.
• Cramming too much into one day: distances are bigger than the map suggests. Plan by neighborhood.
• Forgetting tax and tip: at restaurants, add a good quarter on top of the menu price.
• Paying for two with one card: only one of you gets the subway fare cap.
• Buying the wrong Statue of Liberty ferry tickets: only the official operator docks at Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
• Uncomfortable shoes: even with the subway, you’ll walk many kilometers every day.

Our vlogs from New York and Florida

We have been to New York and filmed vlogs there (in German). You’ll find all videos and articles about the city on our New York page, and our full collection under Videos. If you’d like to combine New York with some sunshine: we’ve also been to Miami and Orlando.