A Layover in New York – 24 hour guide

On my first trip to New York I arrived at 6am. Bleary-eyed and just stopping off for 2 days on my way to Las Vegas. New York was an assault on my senses, and I loved it.  New York will envelop you, embrace you, and shake you to life. If you get a chance, visit for a week or more, but at the very least, have a layover in New York. You can fall in love with this city in a very short time indeed – 24 hours is all you need.

Where to stay in New York

If you’re just having a couple of days in New York, then I recommend staying centrally – simply so that you can walk everywhere. Midtown is a safe bet, between Central Park to the north and Bryant Park to the south. From Hell’s Kitchen to the west and Murray Hill to the east. If I were staying for a week, I might well choose Williamsburg in Brooklyn – it is super trendy and just over the river from Manhattan.

On my first visit, I stayed at a horrible hotel near Times Square. The location was amazing, but the hotel smelled like stale Chinese food. My room hadn’t been remodelled since the 1930s, and had been painted so many times I swear it had shrunk half to it’s original size.  It’s now a lovely 4-star Hilton – what an improvement! On a recent visit we stayed at the 3-star Gallivant Times Square on 48th Street. Our room was spacious, modern and we enjoyed being on a higher floor away from too much noise.

Your first bite of the Big Apple

If you are only in New York for a layover for a day or two, it’s important to get the most bang for your buck time-wise. I find that the open-top bus tours are a good way to see as much as possible in a short time, and also to orientate yourself. Manhattan is vast, so there is no way to walk everywhere. Using the subway and taxis is your alternative to a bus tour, both are easy to navigate and pay for. See my full 4-day guide to New York for more info.

Things to do on a layover in New York

Breakfast like Audrey

First off, grab yourself a bagel and a coffee. Walk to Tiffany’s jewellery store at 727 5th Avenue. Stand outside and dream of all the diamonds. If you want the full ‘Audrey Hepburn experience’, wear a beautiful Givenchy dress and do this at dawn! This famous jewellery shop is fascinating to visit, even if you aren’t in the market for any jewels.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met is one of my favourite museums in New York. On my first stopover here, it was one of the first places I visited. Enjoy the many rooms of Italian Renaissance paintings, and an incredible range of art from around the world, dating back 5000 years. I remember falling quite in love with a Caravaggio there – so much so I didn’t want to leave. Be sure to check out the rooftop bar on top of the Met Fifth Avenue too – it has a fabulous view of Central Park.

The High Line

If you have time for one outdoor activity, it has to be walking The High Line. This vibrant walkway was built on an old overground railway track, based on a similar one in Paris – the Promenade Plantée. The walkway begins near the 34th Street-Hudson Yards Subway Station, and ends in Greenwich Village (or vice versa). Along the way there are stunning views across New York and the Hudson.

Celebrity spotting

New York is pretty good for celebrity spotting – it is, after all, a star-studded city. Hang out in the West Village long enough and you’re bound to spot someone famous. The posh grocery store Dean & DeLuca is frequented by the rich and famous often too.

My encounter is one that I will always remember. I was walking down Fifth Avenue when I suddenly noticed Robin Williams was standing next to me waiting for the crosswalk signal. We wandered down the street together, but I didn’t want to look like a stalker idiot, so I just walked along side him, minding my own business.  At one point he looked in my direction, so I just nodded. I didn’t want to be graced with the same look he gave to a fellow pedestrian who bugged him for a photo.  It was a lovely 5 minutes of my life.  RIP Robin.

Pick a Skyscraper

There are so many skyscrapers with observation decks in New York. While the One World Trade Center is a good option, as it is the tallest building in the USA, plus you can visit the 9/11 memorial at the same time. My favourite will always be the Empire State Building – it was revolutionary for its time, and has been in so many iconic movies, I have a soft spot for it!

Food to try in New York

If, like me, you like your food, New York is a smorgasbord! I went armed with a list of ‘must-try’ foods and played food bingo around NYC – it was so much fun. The famous New York bagel. A Nathan’s Hotdog (I recommend you visit Coney Island for this). A knish (a delicious fried dough with a potato filling, served with mustard) – they are available from one of the thousands of street vendors in NYC. Other foods on my list included a Katz’s pastrami sandwich, and a $1 slice of pizza. Needless to say, every time I go to New York I need my stretchy pants by the end of it!

There are so many more amazing things to do in New York. Biking in Central Park, or seeing the view from the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center…

… come back for longer next time!

A layover in New York : 24 hour guide

There’s no way a layover in New York is long enough to fully appreciate everything NYC has to offer. However, you sure can get a big gulp of this city in a short time. The buzz of the city, the art, culture and diversity on offer; and don’t forget the delicious food! New York is a great springboard to exploring more of the USA. Both a gateway and a brilliant destination on its own, New York is definitely one of my favourite US cities. Dig in!

Why not use New York as a jumping off point for a bigger USA road trip? How about Route 66! I can help you plan your itinerary!

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF Lens 50mm 1:1.8 STM; an iPhone6s; and a Canon AE-1 film camera.