How to Spend Two Days in Lower Manhattan

There’s so much to do in Lower Manhattan, two days here will only begin to scratch the surface. But if that’s all the time you’ve got, you can still pack a lot in — everything from historical sites to essential museums to local haunts should be on the agenda, plus you’ll have time to explore more of the New York Harbor.

What to See if You Have Two Days Downtown

1. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (Castle Clinton National Monument)
2. Charging Bull and Fearless Girl (1 Bowling Green, Broad Street between Wall Street and Exchange Place)
3. Trinity Church and the Federal Reserve (89 Broadway to 33 Liberty St.)
4. Fraunces Tavern (54 Pearl St.)
5. World Trade Center Site, 9/11 Museum, and One World Observatory (180 Greenwich St.)
6. Brookfield Place (230 Vesey St.)
7.  Perelman Performing Arts Center (251 Fulton St.)
8. Governors Island 
9. The Seaport
10. Mercer Labs (21 Dey St.)
11. Century 21 (22 Cortlandt St.)
12. Seaglass Carousel (Water and State streets)
13. Joe’s Pizza (124 Fulton St.)

Here’s what to do and see:

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Day One: The Classics

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First Stop: The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (Castle Clinton National Monument)

Start your trip with a morning visit to Lady Liberty, one of New York’s most iconic landmarks and a global symbol of freedom and democracy. There are only two ways to purchase tickets: online at www.statuecruises.com or in-person at the box office at the ferry terminal at Castle Clinton. (No other ticket seller can get you access to the actual statue, so don’t bother giving them your money.) 

Once you’re on the island, wander the grounds, walk up the statue if she’s open, and pop into the museum, which features Lady Liberty-related photos and memorabilia including her original torch. 

The same ferry will take you to Ellis Island, once the main access point for immigrants entering the Land of Opportunity in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Relive their experience at the formidable Immigration Museum, which helps tell the story of how the United States became the cultural melting pot that it is today.

Second Stop: Charging Bull and Fearless Girl (1 Bowling Green, Broad Street between Wall Street and Exchange Place)

After the ferry drops you back at Castle Clinton, head over to Bowling Green and take a picture in front of the famous Charging Bull. Sculpted by artist Arturo Di Modica, the bull mysteriously appeared one night in front of the New York Stock Exchange. Later, it was moved to the north point of Bowling Green, and has since become a symbol of Wall Street’s optimism. 

Your next photo opp is the Fearless Girl statue, a bronze sculpture by Kristen Visbal and a symbol of female empowerment. Initially, she bravely stared down the Bull at Bowling Green, but has since been moved to Broad Street, where she faces the New York Stock Exchange. No visit to Lower Manhattan is complete without stopping by the New York Stock Exchange, the largest stock exchange in the world and a major cultural symbol. While access to the building’s interior is limited to special tours, the facade, public IPO celebrations and surrounding attractions are worth the visit.

Third Stop: Trinity Church and the Federal Reserve (89 Broadway to 33 Liberty St.)

Walk up Broadway until you hit Trinity Church, which  was, at the time of completion in 1846, the tallest building in Manhattan. Today, it’s famous for its graveyard, which serves as the final resting place for the likes of famous New Yorkers Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton. If visiting on a Sunday, keep your ears open for the sounds of church bells ringing throughout the streets of Lower Manhattan. The church’s steeple houses the nation’s only 12 change-ringing bells which rotate 360 degrees.

Continue up Broadway and over on Liberty to  pass the Federal Reserve bank of New York, where monetary policy has been made for more than 100 years.

Trinity Church

Fourth Stop: Fraunces Tavern (54 Pearl St.)

Stroll back down Broad Street and over to Pearl to lunch at the historic Fraunces Tavern. The tavern opened its doors in 1762, and became a gathering place for the Founding Fathers. It’s also where George Washington gave a famous farewell speech to his Continental Army officers in 1783, after British troops had left New York. Today, you can dine on classic American bar food in this historic setting.  

Fifth Stop: World Trade Center Site, 9/11 Museum, and One World Observatory (180 Greenwich St.)

At the World Trade Center site, you’ll find the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. The museum requires a two-hour visit, one that will take you through permanent exhibitions commemorating the September 11 attacks. 

Next, head to One World Trade for a SkyPodElevator ride up to the One World Observatory, which starts on the 102nd floor. There, you’ll be treated to a bird’s eye view of the city from the top of the tallest building in the western hemisphere — the panoramic view covers up to 45 miles in all directions, glimpses of New Jersey included.

Sixth Stop: Brookfield Place (230 Vesey St.)

With both underground and overground entrances, Brookfield Place is downtown’s escape for fashion, food and art along the Hudson River. Its palm tree-filled Winter Garden and marble grand staircase provide a calming backdrop for an exclusive collection of shops, public exhibits and some of the city’s most talked-about food purveyors and restaurants. You can grab a quick, quality to-go dinner at the Hudson Eats food hall, or relax and dine at one of the sit-down restaurants on the ground floor. Most have waterfront patios with Hudson River views.  

Brookfield Place

Seventh Stop: Perelman Performing Arts Center (251 Fulton St.)

Catch a show at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC), which opened in 2023 on the World Trade Center campus as a home for theater, music and dance, across three different fully customizable theaters. And the lobby is home to the buzzy Marcus Samuelsson restaurant Metropolis, which honors culinary hits from the five boroughs. 

Or, grab a nightcap up high at Manhatta, a Danny Meyer restaurant perched on the 60th floor of the 28 Liberty St. skyscraper, or at the Bar Room at the Beekman, located inside the restored, 19th-century, 10-story atrium of the Beekman Hotel (123 Nassau St).

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Day Two: Live Like a Local

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First Stop: Governors Island 

Now that you’ve seen the hits, it’s time to live like a local and get out on the water. Start your day with a free ferry ride to Governors Island, departing from the Battery Maritime Building (10 South St). This 172-acre island served as an Army and Coast Guard base for two centuries, and two remaining military forts are still open to the public as part of a National Monument. There’s also a 43-acre public park that includes the longest slide in New York City, and seven miles of bikeable, car-free paths. After getting active, unwind at QC Spa, which has panoramic views of the downtown skyline. 

Another option for getting out on the water is booking a private sailing charter through Tribeca Sailing, which offers two- and three-hour tours that showcase sights like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Governors Island.

View from Governors Island

Second Stop: Lunch at the Seaport

Hop back on the ferry and return to the mainland for lunch in this historic neighborhood. The cobblestone streets and old-timey storefronts recall its maritime and mercantile past, and though it’s a popular spot for tourists, locals still flock to the area’s bars and restaurants, as well as itsshops, restaurants, the South Street Seaport Museum and Pier 17, an open-air event venue. You can grab lunch at the  Tin Building, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s magnificent food hall, or opt for local faves like farm-to-table eatery Malibu Farm or nearby Industry Kitchen.

Third Stop: Mercer Labs (21 Dey St.)

Explore 15 interactive exhibits at Mercer Labs, a new museum where artist Roy Nachum blends art and technology to create an otherworldly escape in the middle of Lower Manhattan. The exhibits incorporate projections, 4D surround sound that you listen to while blindfolded, light installations and 3D videos. We recommend setting aside at least two hours for your visit here. 

Fourth Stop: Century 21 (22 Cortlandt St.)

Once you’ve had your fill of immersive animation, stop by Century 21, Lower Manhattan’s legacy department store. You can peruse sunglasses, bags and other discounted designer goods in search of a bargain, like real New Yorkers have been doing for generations. 

Century 21 on re-opening day

Fifth Stop: Sunset Stroll Toward the SeaGlass Carousel (Water and State Streets)

Head back to the Battery, where you’ll find the SeaGlass Carousel, a gorgeous merry-go-round featuring big glass fish that recall the Battery’s past life as the original home of the New York Aquarium. The carousel is typically open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and costs $6 to ride. Children 12 months and younger ride for free.

Sixth Stop: Joe’s Pizza (124 Fulton St.)

No trip to Lower Manhattan is complete without a classic New York slice. Wind your way back up to Fulton to grab some pizza at Joe’s, which is open late and whips up a perfect pepperoni pie. 

Finally, if you don’t feel like planning all of this yourself, consider one of downtown’s walking tours.