Oooh, my fave place....been there loads, last time was for 2 weeks a year or so ago.
Do top of the Rock at night. If you book the Empire State this time of year, it can be drizzly and foggy and you won’t see anything.
Visit Freedom Tower.
Hell’s Kitchen is amazing for food and dead cheap.
Definitely a carriage ride around Cebtral Park if you’re with the missus.
Be aware of scammers in Times Square.
If you have time, grab a show on Broadway.
I would get a cab from Newark/JFK, it’s a set price (75 dollars last time) plus tip, and it’ll be the only time you’ll use a yellow cab if it’s only a short stay.... no need to book one, there’s hundreds outside the airports.
Ask local New Yorkers for good bars/restaurants, they’ll be all too happy to tell you, and it avoids the overpriced places that the tourists use.
Drinking in NYC is expensive.
Macy’s is crap.
Don’t buy street food from the food carts, it used to be cheap but you’ll get ripped off good style now, last time I was there I had a heated argument with some food vendor who wanted 25 dollars for a hot dog when it should be 2 dollars.
Try a Philly cheesesteak.
Chelsea village, little Italy and Harlem is well worth a visit....some great food there.
Get a 2 or 3 day hop on hop off bus pass if it’s your first time, they are invaluable, and you’ll learn about Manhattan.
Go to the meat packing district, great bars and cafes.
Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn, there’s a bar/ Restraunt on the pier at the end( turn right and back on yourself, follow signs to Brooklin Bridge Park) and the views of Manhattan at night are stunning.
Walk back over at night.
Dont stop for guys selling cd’s, they’re a pain in the arse.
Visit the Bronx using the number 4 train.
Wear good shoes.
Beware when you get your bill at bars and restaurants, sometime the tip is included. Otherwise, budget 15% on top.
When buying stuff, NYC adds a city tax ( used to be 8%) on purchases, but you can get a card from Macy’s that says you’re a tourist.
Do the Staten Island ferry to see the Liberty. It’s free.
Go to a an authentic NYC diner for breakfast.
On the fly, you can get a slice off pizza and a drink for a dollar, handy to re fuel when walking.
Ellen’s diner is poo, and a rip off. Full of tourists and you’ll pay top dollar for crap food.
Go to the hotel where home alone was filmed, just opposite Central Park on the south side.
Don’t eat in Times Sq, but visit the NYPD there, it’s comical.
Take a camera.
Go down 5th ave at night, you’ll see break dancers/ performers in the street, it’s epic.
Visit Grand Central Station, and have a glass of wine or oysters at the bar when you go in. Expensive, but worth it.
I could think of a thousand things to do.... it won’t be your last visit for sure.
There’s loads more, but that’ll be enough for 5 days.
Enjoy, it’s a brilliant city.