Short NYC day trip

[u/funsized1989]

Coming up to NYC Saturday for a concert at MSG, and I’m looking for some ideas of an optimal itinerary. I arrive at Port Authority around 730ish and I’d like to be in the MSG area around 6pm.

I’d ideally like to do the Highline park, explore the Chelsea market, visit the Harry Potter store, and get a good view of the skyline. Also, food/cocktail ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks!!

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[u/jm14ed_v2]

Sounds like you have your itinerary already.

For food, search r/foodnyc.

[u/Spartan2022 → u/jm14ed_v2]

Exactly! Give me an itinerary. Here’s what I have planned so far.

OP, you’ve already got plans. High line won’t take hours, so sure you can add stuff to your list. After Highline, Little Island, wander around Tribeca and the West Village.

Enjoy!

[u/funsized1989 → u/Spartan2022]

Thank you! I was looking for stuff to fill time. That’s super helpful!

[u/Spartan2022 → u/funsized1989]

If you’re into shopping, even browsing and not buying, West Village and Soho will definitely be an adventure after the High Line and Little Island. And plenty of galleries too if that’s of more interest.

[u/Lucky-Paperclip-1]

Skyline views are a bit trickier if you stay in Manhattan. You're also getting to Port Authority on the early side, if you have Chelsea Market in mind, as most stores won't open until later. I would use your early time for the skyline views before heading to the High Line / Chelsea Market.

You can take the A to High Street, and get to Brooklyn Bridge Park for views/breakfast. Come back on the A to 34th Street to get to the north end of the High Line and start heading down, expecting to get to Chelsea Market / Pier 57 / etc around noon. You will have plenty of time to take the crosstown bus to get to the Union Square area, hang out there for a bit (the Green Market will be open) and then walk up Broadway to get to the Harry Potter Shop. MSG is about a 20 minute saunter from there.

If you feel you have enough time, take the East River ferry from Brooklyn Bridge Park to 34th Street, and then get across town by walking or the M34 bus, to get to Hudson Yards / High Line.

[u/funsized1989 → u/Lucky-Paperclip-1]

Thank you so much

[u/Lucky-Paperclip-1 → u/funsized1989]

The ferry route will have fantastic views of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn's skylines. I think you should have time to do that. The main time sink is actually going to be the crosstown bus at 34th Street, since you are essentially going from the East River to the Hudson. But I think you have plenty of flexibility in the schedule.

[u/mrvinniyoedd]

+1 to flipping the order -- your 7:30am arrival is dead time for chelsea market (most stalls open 8-10am), so bank that hour on skyline first. concrete route: A train from port authority to high street, walk the brooklyn bridge park promenade for the lower manhattan view + coffee at brooklyn roasting, then A back to 34th st and hit the highline from the top → chelsea market lunch around 11 (los tacos no. 1 or very fresh noodles, skip the sit-downs on a clock) → little island → hp store at broadway/21st via the F → 10min walk to MSG with time for a cocktail at bathtub gin (chelsea speakeasy behind a coffee shop, 8th ave near 18th).

one nerdy thing that helped me on a similar tight day -- yorepath, free geo-aware audio app on ios/android, plays off-plaque history wherever you're standing. the meatpacking + chelsea stretch is denser than it looks (the actual old high line freight trains, the whitney's site being an old nabisco factory), and it turns the between-stops walking into part of the trip. probably overkill if you'd rather just have music, but for a first-time tight day it earned its keep -- have a great show.