The Big Apple, the City that Never Sleeps, or simply NYC should be on everyone's bucket list. It's a city known to all, and a place everyone wants to experience at least once. To bring some order to the myriad of possibilities in this metropolis, I've outlined our travel itinerary. Five days in New York—how do you make the most of it?

new york DAy 1

We start this city trip with an iconic experience to truly feel like you're in New York. Take the subway to the southernmost tip of Manhattan; the station is called South Ferry. From there, walk to Whitehall Terminal and take the ferry to Staten Island. You'll sail past Lady Liberty and get a phenomenal view of New York's famous skyline. There's not much to do on Staten Island itself, so take the next ferry back. The trip takes about 20 minutes and is completely free. Upon returning to Manhattan, stroll through Battery Park. Here, the kids can play at the Battery Playscape, ride the SeaGlass Carousel, or relax with you on a bench.

Next, take a leisurely walk through Wall Street, preferably past the famous Charging Bull, towards The National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The museum is near the Reflection of Absence memorial, dedicated to the events of 9/11, and is certainly worth a visit. Before reaching the 9/11 Memorial Museum, pass through the Oculus Center, a subway station and shopping mall that's also an architectural marvel. Don't miss it and keep your camera ready! Then, at the North Tower Pool (part of the Reflection of Absence memorial), cross the street and enter One World Trade Center. Taking the elevator to the Observatory promises a breathtaking view of the area you've explored today.

Extra: Want to visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island? Definitely do it! The boat departs from Battery Park (near the playground), and it's best to buy tickets in advance to avoid long lines. If you have many highlights on your wish list, the Liberty and Ellis Island tour is also part of the Go City Pass (or Sightseeing Pass) offerings. The ferry departs from this point.

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new york DAy 2

Time to explore another neighborhood of Manhattan: Chelsea, baby! The subway takes you everywhere (get off at the station closest to Little Island), and in less than 8 minutes from 14W Street, you'll reach Little Island, aka Pier 55, a small island on the Hudson River. From there, just cross the street to Chelsea Market, where you can wander among boutiques and food stalls. The variety of food is indescribable, and there's something for everyone—a food market with a super cool vibe. After Chelsea Market, head to the High Line, an old elevated railway track now serving as a park and walkway. The High Line is about 2 kilometers long, and you can walk it towards Hudson Yards. There, you'll pass by The Vessel, which unfortunately can't be entered anymore, but it’s right across from The Edge, one of the coolest observation decks in the city. The platform's floor is partly made of glass, giving you a view straight down at the city life beneath your feet. End the day at Times Square, of course. At dusk, the lights come to life, and there's always something happening. For the kids, a visit to the M&M shop is guaranteed fun!

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New york DAy 3

Vandaag trekken we in de richting van Central Park voor een dagje in de groene long van de stad. Je kan er fietsen huren en van de ene kant van het park naar het andere fietsen (wist je dat het park een lengte van bijna 4 km heeft en de fietslus makkelijk 10km is?) Onderweg stoppen we aan de verschillende playgrounds, een dekentje meenemen voor een picknick, een bezoekje brengen aan Central Park Zoo of lekker relaxed wat rondwandelen. In de zomer kan je er trouwens ook bootjes huren! Bezoek je graag een museum dat ook met kinderen leuk is om te doen? Zoek niet verder! Een bezoekje aan Central Park is perfect te combineren met the American Museum of Natural History dat aan de westkant van het park ligt. Wij deden in de voormiddag het museum, na de middag staken we over naar Central park en daarna via 5th Avenue en wat (window?)shopping naar Top of the Rock. Want die uitkijkpunten over de stad blijven fenomenaal!

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new york DAy 4

On day 4, we leave Manhattan and head to Brooklyn. The subway makes it easy to get there, with the most convenient stop being High Street - Brooklyn Bridge. From here, you can easily explore this charming neighborhood. Start at Washington Street for the iconic photo of the Manhattan Bridge, then head to Jane’s Carousel for a ride on a century-old carousel with a view of the Manhattan skyline, followed by a short walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.

Time Out Market is ideal for a delicious lunch. After lunch, visit Pebble Beach to toss some stones into the water (what is it with kids and throwing stones?) and reflect on the amazing spot you’re in.

A visit to Brooklyn probably won’t take the whole day, so you’ll have time to take the subway back to Manhattan. An unmissable icon is the Empire State Building, our children’s favorite observatory. This preference is undoubtedly influenced by the photos and stories of King Kong. The Empire State Building is definitely the most atmospheric way to end a day full of NY vibes!

find our route on Google Maps!

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new york DAy 5

New York in 5 days means your last day has arrived. On this final day, we’re going full force for culture at the MoMA. Visiting a museum might not sound very kid-friendly, but when you’re in NY, you have to visit at least one of the iconic art havens. We chose MoMA because the kids had discussed some of the artworks in school (Warhol, Van Gogh, Picasso…), which allowed us to share some fun anecdotes. To conclude your trip, we recommend visiting SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, arguably the coolest viewpoint in the city. Be aware: it can get quite crowded, but that's to be expected with such Insta-perfect spots!

Are you planning a trip to New York with your kids? Hopefully, the above itinerary will be helpful. If you have any additional tips for visiting New York with children, feel free to drop them in the comments below. That way, we can all help each other travel better with our families!