3 Days in New York, Staying Downtown: A Lower Manhattan Itinerary

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Quick answer

If you're planning a 3 day New York itinerary and staying in Lower Manhattan, do it in this order: day one on foot around the 9/11 Memorial, the Oculus and One World Observatory (open 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily), with dinner on Stone Street; day two on the water, with the Statue of Liberty ferry from Battery Park or the free Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall, then the Seaport in the afternoon; day three across the Brooklyn Bridge in the morning and uptown after lunch on the 2/3 or 4/5 from Fulton Street. Downtown works as a base because most of day one and two happen within a 15 minute walk, and the trains out of Fulton Street get you everywhere else.

The Lower Manhattan skyline from the harbor, with One World Trade Center in the middle.

Most first-time three day plans for New York start in Midtown and treat downtown as a day trip. We'd flip it. Staying in the Financial District means the harbor, the 9/11 Memorial, the Seaport and the Brooklyn Bridge are all walks rather than train rides, and the one thing downtown isn't (a short hop to Midtown) is solved by the 2/3 or 4/5 out of Fulton Street.

We're at 17 John Street, so this is the order we actually suggest to guests who have three days and haven't been here before. Day one is on foot around the World Trade Center site. Day two is on the water. Day three crosses the bridge in the morning and heads uptown after lunch. You'll walk a lot, which is the point, and you'll be back within about 15 minutes of your suite whenever you want a break.

One practical note before you start: three days in this city goes faster than you think. Book the two ticketed things (the Statue of Liberty ferry and One World Observatory) before you fly, leave the rest loose, and don't try to add Midtown to day one.

Day 1: The World Trade Center site, then Stone Street

  • 8:30 AM

    Breakfast near John Street, then walk west on Fulton

  • 9:15 AM

    The 9/11 Memorial pools

  • 11:00 AM

    The Oculus and Brookfield Place

  • 1:30 PM

    One World Observatory

  • 6:30 PM

    Dinner on Stone Street

Day 2: On the water, then the Seaport

  • 8:45 AM

    Walk down to Battery Park for the Liberty ferry

  • 9:30 AM

    Liberty Island and Ellis Island

  • 2:00 PM

    Lunch back on land, then the Seaport

  • 6:00 PM

    Cook in, or eat in the neighborhood

Day 3: Brooklyn Bridge in the morning, uptown after lunch

  • 7:30 AM

    Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

  • 9:00 AM

    Coffee in DUMBO, then back over

  • 12:30 PM

    Uptown on the 2/3 or 4/5 from Fulton Street

  • 7:00 PM

    Last night, back downtown

Book your stay at 17John