24 Exciting Hours in Midtown Manhattan

I visited Midtown Manhattan for the first time as an adult in October 2021. We were there for a friend’s wedding, but I took advantage of the time to see as many of Manhattan’s highlights as I could in the short time I had available.

We had a full day to ourselves before the wedding to tour Midtown Manhattan. It was a busy but manageable day walking around the city seeing some of its most iconic sights.

If you find yourself in Midtown Manhattan with just a day, let this itinerary serve as your guide!

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Midtown Manhattan Stop #1 – Times Square

On my way to Central Park for an early morning run, I took some time to meander a bit in Times Square. There wasn’t anything in particular I was looking for. I just wanted to see this world-famous square without thousands of people milling about.

It was surprising how being mostly empty actually detracts from the experience. People talk about how overcrowded Times Square is (and they’re right), but as I saw later on, the people are part of the experience for better or worse.

Regardless, it’s worth stopping here early in the morning so you can take your time looking in the windows of the different shops and admiring the buildings and billboards.

Breakfast at Best Bagel & Coffee

I wish I could say I was a bagel connoisseur and that without a question Best Bagel & Coffee has the best bagel of all time. However, I’ve never lived somewhere where bagels are a cornerstone of its food scene like it is in New York City. Yet despite that, I do love a good bagel, and I can honestly say the one I had at Best Bagel & Coffee was the absolute best bagel I’ve ever had.

They were so good we actually went back two more times during our four-day trip! (I came to learn after Michelle proofread this that she actually went back three times. Do I begrudge her for that? Yes. Yes, I do.)

These bagels had such a perfect texture. They were chewy and dense with an amazing flavor. As if the bagels themselves weren’t already perfect enough, the workers here applied a generous amount of cream cheese. They definitely knew the way to my bagel-loving heart.

Best Bagel & Coffee can be found at 225 West 35th Street. Try a rosemary bagel with blueberry cream cheese!

Midtown Manhattan Stop #3 – New York Public Library

At this point, I began my actual self-guided sightseeing tour. I chose this route because the New York Public Library was closest to my hotel. From there, I went clockwise until the Empire State Building. Modify this walking route as needed based on where your Midtown Manhattan hotel is located.

With my morning run over, it was time to start sightseeing through Midtown Manhattan in earnest. My first stop was the New York Public Library on 5th Avenue. This is the main branch of the New York Public Library system. You may also see it referred to as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

I’ve wanted to see the exterior of this library ever since I was a child when I was watching Ghostbusters every other week. That opening shot where they pan over the two lion statues is such an iconic movie scene from my youth.

Actually seeing these two lions on either side of the library’s stairway was enough to give me goosebumps. I spent a solid 10 minutes just walking back and forth looking at these statues from every possible angle. Had Bill Murray walked up the stairs at that exact moment I could have died a happy man.

I didn’t plan on entering the library. However, now that I was here, I figured why not. I’m glad I did! The architecture and decorative motifs inside are stunning to look at. In addition to that, there are several rooms you can access with old photographs of New York City to enjoy.

It’s free to walk in at any time while the library is open, but you do need timed tickets for the permanent exhibit showcasing some of the library’s highlights.

The New York Public Library Main Branch is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 to 6:00.

Midtown Manhattan Stop #4 – Bryant Park

Bryant Park is located right behind the New York Public Library making it an easy next stop. They were busy setting things up for the Christmas season when I visited. On the one hand, it was only the day before Halloween which made this a bit odd. On the other hand, it was nice to get a brief glimpse into what Manhattan is like during the holiday season.

The shop stalls were all set up already providing some nice stores to peruse. Unfortunately, workers were still busy creating the ice skating rink and putting up any decorations. I wasn’t expecting Christmassy things at all, so I wasn’t too disappointed.

Bryant Park offers a variety of activities throughout the year as well as sections devoted to different board and lawn games. Check out Bryant Park’s website for daily event schedules.

Midtown Manhattan Stop #5 – Rockefeller Center

Just seven blocks north from the New York Public Library is the legendary Rockefeller Center. This was the highlight of the walk for me.

I didn’t know what to expect from Rockefeller Center. Honestly, I thought it was just the building. So, when I turned into the plaza and was greeted by a stretch of several empty pools with art deco statues of mythological beings, I was instantly awestruck at just how attractive Rockefeller Center was. The area leading to the main building was also decorated with various autumnal flourishes and Day of the Dead ornamentation creating a lovely seasonal flair. The buildings along the sides of this thoroughfare were adorned with interesting art deco plaques that screamed 1920s New York City.

As I approached the main square of Rockefeller Plaza, I could see they were starting to put together the famous Christmas ice rink. Meanwhile, there was a Day of the Dead festival happening right in front of the centerpiece building. Another bizarre seasonal mishmash. I walked through the festival, listening to mariachi music as Mexican-flavored aromas wafted through the air from different vendors.

My favorite part of Rockefeller Center was actually outside of this main square a little farther up back on 5th Avenue. There’s another smaller plaza with an imposing statue of Atlas carrying the world with the Rockefeller building in the background. To me, this was the highlight of all the art deco artwork encountered along this walk. It felt the perfect metaphor for New York City.

You can pay $40 to ascend the skyscraper here for views of New York City. Tickets can be purchased here.

More New York City Content: My Takeaways from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Midtown Manhattan Stop #6 – St Patrick’s Cathedral

Directly across from the Atlas statue in Rockefeller Center is St Patrick’s Cathedral. The facade is the most interesting part of this cathedral. It looks like any Gothic Catholic cathedral you would see in Europe only somewhat smaller.

The similarities end there. The interior feels like a modern church (which, to be fair, it is). It’s not that it wasn’t impressive on the inside, it’s just that it felt and looked new. For my taste, it was too bright and too clean.

There were a handful of nice paintings and mosaics, so I do think it’s worth popping in for a quick walkaround considering it’s free to visit.

After you’re done with St Patrick’s Cathedral, head east two blocks. Turn right onto Park Avenue to continue this walk.

Related: Finding God and Gold in St Mark’s Basilica

Lunch at Urbanspace

At this point in the day, you may be starting to get hungry. A convenient stop along this walking path is Urbanspace next to Grand Central Station.

Urbanspace is essentially a food hall/pop-up vendor market. There are currently seven different locations in New York City. This particular Urbanspace hosts eight different vendors. At the time of this writing, food options here include an artisanal sandwich shop, sushi, coffee/tea, Mediterranean, vegetarian, pizza, Japanese and Italian sandwiches.

I only stopped for tea because I wasn’t particularly hungry after my large bagel in the morning. I did enjoy sitting along one of the walls and looking to see what everyone else was eating, though.

Urbanspace is located between just in front of Grand Central Station if coming south along Park Avenue. It has multiple entrances depending on which direction you are coming from.

Midtown Manhattan Stop #7 – Grand Central Station

Walking into the main hub of Grand Central Station was like walking into a bygone era. It’s kind of like any big train station until you look up.

The first thing you see is the ornate clock in the center of the room at the information desk. I say room, except it feels much more like a palatial ballroom with its sheer size and the two arcades on either side lit up by cylindrical chandeliers and framed by large, bronze framed windows. Then there’s the ceiling.

The ceiling is art deco like so much else in Manhattan. For me, this style never got old, especially not in Grand Central Station. The ceiling in here is made to look like the nighttime sky with dark golden outlines of astrological formations. Along the base of the arched ceiling are more copper framed windows with purple floodlighting.

It’s easy to understand why so many people are looking up in this terminal with their phones. It’s quite the captivating scene.

Midtown Manhattan Stop #8 – Chrysler Building

Another short stroll away on W 42nd Avenue – it is kind of shocking how close all these iconic buildings are to one another – is the Chrysler Building.

Built in 1930, the Chrysler Building was the tallest building in the world until the building at my next stop, the Empire State Building, eclipsed it. Like almost all the other architecture on this itinerary, art deco is the main design style of this building.

The Empire State Building is perhaps the more famous of the two, but the Chrysler Building is easily the more attractive in my opinion. The design of the top floors and spire is so elegant contrasted with the Empire State Building’s straightness.

I only visited the outside of the building. If you’re interested, you can enter the Chrysler Building’s lobby to view some more art deco interior design and artwork.

Midtown Manhattan Stop #9 – Empire State Building

The final stop on my mini-architectural tour of Manhattan was the Empire State Building. This is one of the most recognizable buildings in America (though I bet, like myself until about 15 minutes prior on my walk, many confuse it with the Chrysler Building). The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world from 1931 to 1970 when it was surpassed by the World Trade Center’s North Tower.

The height was impressive in the way that any skyscraper is impressive. Asides from that, I was kind of underwhelmed after having just seen the Chrysler Building. Sure, the top of the building is emblematic of Manhattan, but it just seemed like a taller, less memorable version of the Chrysler Building. Dare I say it was almost boring?

What is unique about the Empire State Building compared to its compatriot in the Manhattan skyline is you can take an elevator to either the 86th or 102nd floor (out of 103) to drink in views of New York City and beyond. Personally, I was content with only looking at the building from the outside.

The cost to go to the 86th floor is $44 and the cost for the 102nd floor is a staggering $77. You can purchase tickets here.

Dinner at Becco

For dinner, we made reservations at Becco’s, an Italian restaurant in Manhattan’s theater district. Becco’s is owned by Lidia Bastianich and her son, Joe. If you’re a PBS viewer, you may recognize that name from a number of different programs over the years hosted by her. She is also the author of multiple cookbooks and winner or nominee of many awards.

That’s all well and good, but was the food good? Yes! In addition to a menu of standard Italian food prepared in modern ways, their claim to fame is their Sinfonia di Paste (Symphony of Pastas). For $30, you get unlimited servings of three different pastas that change daily.

We each had the three pastas. It sounds a little Olive Garden-y, but it’s so much better than anything served in that chain of Americanized salty garbage. It’s also a little pricy for pasta. However, you can expect higher prices because it’s Manhattan. I thought it was pretty reasonably priced all things considered.

Reservations for Becco’s are recommended. Visit their website or call 212-397-7597 to book a table.

Midtown Manhattan Stop #10 – A Broadway Show

I couldn’t go to Manhattan and not see a Broadway show. This is one of those things you have to do when visiting New York City.

It’s like there is a kind of buzz in the air that sets Broadway apart from other venues. We’ve seen plenty of musicals; none of them compared to what it felt like seeing one on Broadway. There is just a certain aura about Broadway with all the lit-up marquees that makes it feel somehow special.

We went to Broadway to see Hamilton for a second time. Our first viewing was in London, so it was fun getting to see it in the city where it started. It was a different cast in a different building from where this cultural phenomenon began, yet it still felt like seeing it on Broadway was how it was meant to be seen.

No matter what you plan to see, make sure to purchase tickets early. Broadway shows tend to sell out early, particularly for popular shows or in busy tourist seasons. Purchase tickets online as soon as you know when you’ll be in Manhattan.

Wrapping Things Up Back at Times Square

With our Broadway show over, it was time to head back to the hotel. We had to pass through Times Square one last time, though. We could have avoided it, but I was intrigued enough by seeing at night to brave the crowds.

And crowds there were. There must have been at least 1,000 people there despite it being in autumn of 2021 when Covid was still prevalent. I understand why many people, especially local New Yorkers, hate Times Square with the mass of tourists that congregate there at all times.

Yet, despite that, I was truly awestruck. There was an organic energy in the square with the crowd seeming to sway and flow together as one. Lighting up the crowd from above were digital billboards all around showing their constant advertisements for this and that. The entire scene was mesmerizing.

I went back to Times Square almost against my better judgment. It was worth doing at least this one time. Even the most cynical tourist may find themselves wide-eyed the first time they enter Times Square at night.

Resources to Book Your Trip to Manhattan

Whether you’re looking for tours, hotels or flights, here are some tools to help get you started planning your trip to New York City!

Look for activities and tours offered through GetYourGuide or Viator!

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