The following itinerary lets you get a taste of the Big Apple over a long weekend without becoming overwhelmed. If you have more than a few days, consider adding in one or more Day Trips.

Day 1

Start your day early with a visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Grab a slice or a simple lunch from a vendor’s cart to enjoy in the High Line Park and take in the latest art installation. Browse through quirky boutiques and galleries or take a self-guided walking tour through Greenwich Village, SoHo, or other unique Lower Manhattan neighborhoods before finishing the night off in one of the area’s top restaurants or hot Chelsea clubs.

Day 2

Spend the morning at the Museum of Modern Art, before dipping into beautiful Central Park. When the park ends at 59th Street, continue south on 5th Avenue, shopping or window-shopping along the way. At night, brave the Times Square madness to take in a Broadway show and dinner in the Theater District. Visit the Empire State Building, open until 2 a.m., to end the day with the lights of the city laid out before you.

Day 3

In the morning, hit the Upper West Side to pay a visit to the iconic blue whale at the American Museum of Natural History, stock up on road trip goodies at Zabar’s, or swap sides of the park to fill your classic art tank at the Guggenheim Museum or Frick Collection on the Upper East Side. Check for free evening concerts at Manhattan School of Music, like Café Jazz featuring student jazz combos in an intimate setting or the school’s impressive 19-piece Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra.