2 days in New York: itinerary with prices (2026)
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Two days covers New York's core sights: one day for the harbor, the 9/11 Memorial and Lower Manhattan, one day for Central Park and Midtown's museums and observation decks. Each day below leads with a stops table — entrance fee, time needed and a note — for a plan at a glance.
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Quick answer
New York's subway runs 24 hours and reaches every stop on both days, so neither day requires a car or rideshare budget. Prices are adult admission for 2026 — the Statue of Liberty ferry and the Empire State Building both benefit from booking online in advance, since both can involve long same-day lines.
Day 1 — Lower Manhattan and the harbor
The morning ferry from Battery Park reaches both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on one ticket, and the 9/11 Memorial and Brooklyn Bridge are both close enough to cover on foot afterward, before heading uptown for sunset at the Empire State Building. Day 1 confirmed entrance fees total $70 per adult — the 9/11 Memorial's outdoor plaza is free, and only its museum carries a separate, unverified ticket price.
| Stop | Entrance | Time needed | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island ferry | $26 | 3-4 hrs | Departs from Battery Park; the first ferry of the day avoids the longest lines |
| 9/11 Memorial & Museum | Ticketed — check official site | 2-3 hrs | The outdoor memorial plaza is free; only the underground museum requires a separate timed ticket |
| Brooklyn Bridge walk | Free | 1-1.5 hrs | Walk from the Manhattan side for Lower Manhattan skyline views on the way back |
| Empire State Building | $44 | 1-1.5 hrs | Base online price for the 86th-floor Main Deck; a $5 booking fee applies at checkout and timed entry is required |
Day 2 — Central Park and Midtown
Central Park in the morning leads naturally into the Met on its eastern edge, then south into MoMA, Top of the Rock and Times Square for the evening. Day 2 confirmed entrance fees total $60 per adult across the Met and MoMA — the Met's $30 is the fixed price for visitors who don't live in New York State, and Top of the Rock prices its timed tickets by date — check the official site.
| Stop | Entrance | Time needed | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Park | Free | 2-4 hrs | No gates — enter anywhere along the perimeter |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art | $30 | 2-3 hrs | Fixed price for visitors who don't live in New York State; NY residents and NY/NJ/CT students may pay what they wish |
| Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) | $30 | 2-3 hrs | NY State residents enter free Friday 5:30-8:30pm; visitors 16 and under always free |
| Top of the Rock Observation Deck | Ticketed — check official site | 1 hr | Timed entry required; tickets are priced by date on the official site |
| Times Square | Free | 1 hr | Best after dark, when the signage is lit |
What 2 days in New York costs
Core entrance fees with confirmed 2026 pricing total $130 per adult across both days — the Statue of Liberty ferry, the Empire State Building, the Met and MoMA — or $135 all-in with the Empire State Building's mandatory $5 booking charge at checkout. The 9/11 Memorial Museum and Top of the Rock are priced separately by their operators — check their official sites when you book.
| Item | Price (2026) |
|---|---|
| All core entrance fees with confirmed pricing (2 days) | $135 / adult incl. the $5 Empire State booking charge |
| Free-only version (skip every paid site) | $0 — Central Park, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge, 9/11 Memorial plaza |
| 9/11 Memorial Museum ticket | Ticketed — check official site |
| Top of the Rock Observation Deck ticket | Ticketed — check official site |
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FAQ
- Is 2 days enough for New York?
- It covers the harbor, the 9/11 Memorial, Central Park and the Met/MoMA/Times Square cluster in Midtown described above. Add a third day for Brooklyn neighborhoods, a Broadway show, or extra museum time.
- How much do entrance fees cost in New York?
- The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry is $26, the Empire State Building is $44, and the Met and MoMA are $30 each (the Met's $30 applies to visitors who don't live in New York State). Central Park, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge and the 9/11 Memorial's outdoor plaza are all free.
- Do you need to book tickets in advance in New York?
- Yes for the Statue of Liberty ferry and the Empire State Building — both use timed entry and can sell out on busy dates. The 9/11 Memorial Museum and Top of the Rock also require timed tickets booked through their own official sites, which show current prices by date.
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