1

I have not lived in NYC since I went to school about 15 years ago, but here are few suggestions

Staten Island Ferry. Great view of the city, especially lower Manhattan, Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor. I would recommend going over in the day time, send an hour or two on Staten Island and then return at night for great views of the city. Staten Island Zoo admission rates $8 adults/$6 seniors. Best part about Staten Island Ferry is the price. It is FREE. http://www.siferry.com http://www. statenislandzoo.org/

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. You wrote that you like history and architecture, well this has it. While the price is $25, it also includes admission to the Cloisters museum and gardens, if you go the same day. Also, the Met policy used to be that the admission price was a “suggested” price. I note that on their website they ask you to pay full price so it may still be the case. http://www.metmuseum.org/visit/hours-and-admission
Although they have a lot of art exhibits, they also have a lot of historical artifacts on rotating display. One thing that I liked to visit was a temple called The Temple of Dendur that I believe is on permanent display. (http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/100004628)

The Cloisters museum and gardens is a branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe, was assembled from architectural elements, both domestic and religious, that date from the twelfth through the fifteenth century. (Taken from the website http://www.metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters/) It is well worth the trip up to the upper west side by public transportation (subway/bus).

The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine at 1047 Amsterdam has history, architecture and it is free. http://www.stjohndivine.org/index.html. They have guided tours but check the schedule. I am not sure about the price.

A full day could include in order, The Cloisters, Cathedral of St John the Devine, Metropolitan Museum, Staten Island Ferry. Start of the Cloisters at 9:30Am and then work your way down Manhattan by public transportation. The only fee you would have would be $25 (if that) leaving you $35 for meals and transportation.

By the way, you can buy a 7 day unlimited Subway/Bus pass for $29. At $2.25 a ride ($5.50 for express buses), you would more than save money on 4 day trip.

2

If you like ethnic food and strolling around ethnic neighborhoods, I'd suggest taking the subway to the Jackson Heights/Roosevelt Avenue area in Queens (it's a major stop). South American (Peruvian, Colombia, Ecuador .), Indian, Thai ....

Day 2, great idea to visit Brooklyn. The most interesting neighborhoods for you might be Dumbo, Carroll Gardens, Sunset Park.

3

Day three must be a weekend or holiday Monday, since that is when the ferry to the island runs.

I question your ability to get all these days done as planned, but it's not terrible.

I'd go with xTop of the Rock at night. It sounds like you're wavering on the idea to begin with, and it's cheaper, less cramped (regardless of crowds) and has more open views.

That is so horrendously full it's not even funny. The Met alone can easily take up the whole day. (And also qualifies as an "obvious tourist item.")

4

bzooka,

To be sure the schedule to do all would be a full day, but with the MET open to 9PM some nights and skipping all the art exhibits, which OP did not want, it is doable. I have done it. although it was 15+ years ago and I finished the return from Staten Island at 9PM. Spending 2 hours at each and an hour travel/meal time in between, you could finish at 10PM. The OP is only in NYC 4 days. They could also do the Met in conjunction with a day at Central Park

5

Thank you for all the replies.

I've never heard of the Cloisters Museum, I shall certainly do some more research on it, though i am a little wary that coming from Europe and going to a Museum in America on european architecture, might be a bit like taking coals to Newcastle.

I didn't know that about Governors Island. Alas we are there mid-week. Nevermind, by the sounds of it, I'm better off spending a full day in Brooklyn instead, so not going there actually frees up sometime.

6

Cloisters is also good for the park surrounding it. Great views over the Hudson River. Don't take a bus. Ick. Take an express A train.

I'm not sure why there is a debate on the Met since OP is not interested in art.

If it hasn't already been mentioned, The High Line is great (I always suggest start at the southern end, it is better IMO - you can add it to day one), check out the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, the African Burial Ground, the Riverside Park along the Hudson is a nice alternative to Central Park, Transport Museum (add to Brooklyn day).

The Air and Space Museum is good IMO, it has a Concorde and should have a Space Shuttle by the time you arrive and a submarine and lots of planes.

7

Like your agenda, but Day 2 may be a bit aggressive. It's a long trek out to Coney Island (1.5 hours from midtown) and you may be too tired for the park slope area after. If it were me and I only had four days I would skip Coney Island and instead walk over Brooklyn Bridge, explore Dumbo, brooklyn bridge park, carroll gardens, cobble hill area and then go to Park Slope/Prospect Park in the PM and get some tasty food in Park Slope. Or reverse that as Brooklyn Bridge is cool at night and Cobble Hill area also has great food. I'm not a huge Coney Island fan, so I may be biased :)

Love the highline and chelsea market.

I love the NYC night view and recommend it. I much prefer the night view from top of the rock though.

8

Cloisters is lovely, but but keep in mind its WAY uptown in the opposite direction of the palces you are visiting. The Cloisters museum is really nice too.

There are amazing resturants in the east village you will find all kinds of paces to eat below 14st- along 1ave /2 ave/ave A. I love to eat at Yuca Bar on 7st & Ave A. Or try The Hummous Place on 1 st between Ave A & 1Ave. Theres a bunch of korean/japanese noodle/ramen places to eat on 8st bet 2&3ave.