One-Day Itinerary

Starting at City Hall Park, this tour takes you through Lower Manhattan’s most important architectural landmarks and must-see sights.

Start at City Hall Park, making your way past the Woolworth Building, one of the city’s most important architectural landmarks. Directly across from the Woolworth Building, and a century apart, stands New York by Gehry, a stunning example of modern architecture and a testament to the change taking place in Lower Manhattan. Continue to St. Paul’s Chapel, which dates back to 1766 and is the only surviving pre-Revolutionary church in Manhattan. The chapel is also an important part of recent history. On 9/11, St. Paul’s served as a refuge for many of those affected by the tragedy.

Head south on Broadway to see plaques embedded into the sidewalk depticting the city’s traditional tickertape parades along the route they took. Turn right at Cortlandt and arrive at the legendary department store Century 21.

Return to Broadway and continue right on Liberty St. to the World Trade Center Site. The complex includes The National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the Reflection Pools. Time and date specific reservations are required to visit the museum. While in the plaza, make sure to look up. At the northwest corner, stands the newly constructed One World Trade Center, America’s tallest building and the symbol of a revitalized district. You can also see Santiago Calatrava’s World Trade Center Transportation Hub, now taking shape nearby. Featuring a striking winged oculus design, the building is a must-see for any architecture buff.

Returning to Broadway, pass Isamu Noguchi’s red cube sculpture and Mark Di Suvero’s abstract Joie De Vivre on both sides of the street. Continue south to the corner of Wall Street where you will find Trinity Church, the tallest building in Manhattan at the time of its completion in 1846. The tranquil churchyard is home to the gravesites of famous New Yorkers Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton. Enjoy a quiet moment before heading east onto Wall Street.

The world-famous destination is at once the capitol of capital, a frequent movie set and the location of some of New York’s most famous attractions. At the corner of Wall and Broad stand two must-see sites: the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall. You can’t miss Federal Hall — a huge statue of George Washington prominently guards the front. Inside is a small, informational museum dedicated to the nation-shaping events of postcolonial New York, including the first U.S. Congress and Washington’s inauguration as America’s first president in 1789.

Starting at around 4 p.m., the restaurants and bars that line Stone Street buzz with local workers celebrating the end of the work day. Located just a few blocks away from the modern high rise buildings of Wall Street, Stone Street remains a  cobblestone testament to New York’s Dutch past. Along with drinks, the street offers plenty of places to eat. Whether you’re up for just drinks or some food too, grab a seat and settle in for a true New York night.