3 Hours in New York City
There are amazing, incredible, beautiful cities all over the world but no city has as many songs written about it, films based in it or novels written about it. Half of which are practically a love letter to New York City itself. Hello? Sex and the City? It’s more than the city that never sleeps. It’s the Big Apple. It’s the city of everything. And with so much to do, why would you sleep?
My time in New York City was short. Humorously short. 3 hours?? But it was an exciting three hours I will cherish until my next visit. Hopefully longer than 3 hours.
New York City was our last stop on the cruise and something I had been looking forward to. As soon as we were ready the morning of our arrival, we went out on the deck to watch our final docking. I highly recommend sitting out to take some photos of NYC if you are ever leaving or coming to New York by ship. You get some great views of the city and don’t have to go to the top of a skyscraper or ride in a ferry like everyone else.
Since we had an afternoon flight to SFO that same day (my moms decision, not mind), we decided to do a bus tour of the city that would drop us off at the airport after 3 hours. We thought this was the most time effective and easiest way to see the highlights. If we didn’t go with a bus tour, we would have to find a place to store our luggage, figure out transportation to all the places, plus return to our luggage before going to JFK. It was too risky.
9/11 Memorial 
We saw some great things in New York City, but unfortunately we couldn’t see everything. This was due to, of course, time constraints as well as part of the city (where central park is) being closed off due to some international union conference or something. I guess that’s something to keep in mind when traveling to New York. It’s a major city and roads get closed off all the time. I’ll remember to stay longer and use the subway next time. 😉
Have you been to NYC? Did you love it or hate it? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments.
-Ayla ♥
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something haunting about NYC right now…
Is it weird that I kinda wish I could be there right now? lol ghost towns are kinda cool
Three hours in NYC?? For some reason, I’d read your post as three days! NYC is a compact city, but it would take a lifetime to unfold every nook and cranny of this US epicenter. Looks like you’d gone on a foggy day; the photos look really atmospheric! Hope you can return and take your time exploring more of the city. 🙂
Thank you! Yes, it was a cloudy day with on and off rain. Hopefully it’s not my last time in NYC!
Great snaps, Thanks for visiting my Page too. How can I join the blog community!
Thank you! If you are on desktop, it shows on the right side of the screen where you can follow my blog & join the community ❤️ I tried going back to your page to follow but it’s showing me your site isn’t available
Great pictures! Three hours is pretty impressive!!
hahaha thank you!
I visited NYC during Memorial Day weekend last year. I loved it, and would definitely go back.
I bet the weather was a lot nicer than when I went haha
It was mostly sunny, but the day I visited Ellis Island, it was raining, haha.
We had some rain but it was light luckily.
Such a beautiful city. Lovely photos, too (despite the weather)! Greetings from Spain!
Thank you 💕
Very nice, as well as your general layout.
Thank you!
You saw a lot in 3 hours!!
We definitely tried to 😅
This is the next place in my bucket list but I don’t know when that is happening now. Thanks for sharing, giving me a glimpse of the place.
Yeah, planning trips right now feels impossible 🙁 Thank you for the nice comment 🙂
You were lucky to have even 3 hours in NYC. The crowds around the Wall St. bull say it all. We won’t be seeing anything like that for a very long time. Enjoyed your photos!
Yes! It can be so crowded and hectic in NYC when there’s fellow tourists. Thank you!
I love NYC. Been there twice and I don’t mind going back again ❤️
You managed to squeeze in lots of places in 3 hours. Haha!
Thank you! haha I would have loved to see more though. Next time XD
I ventured in NY on a foggy day for the weekend and yet seemed too less to explore .. 3 hours for all the places you got to see is impressive 👍🏽
Hahah thank you!
I spent 3 days in NYC and that wasn’t enough (there was a day visiting my dad’s cousin so I really only had 2 days to take in the sights). It really is a magical place, and while I know it has its share of problems, I want to go back and experience more. It was creatively invigorating to be there.
I agree. So much to see and do in this city. 5 days – 1 week would be ideal for me.
I can honestly say that New York is one of my favourite places in the world! I spent 5 days there in February this year and it wasn’t enough time. Can’t wait to return someday. Your pictures are stunning btw!
Thank you so much! It’s one of those cities you can visit multiple times and it feels like a new experience every time you visit haha
Great photos. Makes me miss NYC.
Thank you <3
One of the best days of my life, visiting NY ❤️ With this post, you remind me of my time spending there, and it’s amazing 😍
It’s so magical hehe <3
3 hours! I thought my 3 days was short! But you seem to have seen so much, a little taster for another future trip, thanks for sharing 😊
Yes, exactly XD Thank you for taking the time to comment!
I went to New York in 1997 when twin towers were still intact. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me while working for an MNC. My uncle and Aunt, who are settled in NJ, took me around to all the well-known tourist destinations. I was so dazed that I felt I was moving in a dream. My relatives kept insisting that I stay on for some more time, but I couldn’t and didn’t want to take that risk, with my 10-month-old daughter back home to return to. My colleagues wanted me to go with them to Niagara too, but that’s a place, I think, you should visit with your own family. If God willing, I might visit there with my husband and daughter some time in future.
It’s funny, I also had an experience where I felt like I was moving in a dream. I think it’s because i’ve seen and heard about it so many times and actually being there in person didn’t seem real. Thank you for your lovely comment 🙂 I hope you visit Niagara Falls in the future <3
Thanks for your reply and your best wishes.
There is absolutely no place quite like NYC. <3
I agree <3
Thank you for taking me home for a brief minute. I miss NYC terribly and worry for my friends there daily with COVID.
I loved NYC. It’s a shame your visit was as short as it was though, hopefully you’ll get back there and be able to enjoy more of it 🙂
Thank you <3
This is so awesome Ayla! I’ve always kinda underrated bus tours but this is an eye opener.
New York is such a big city. Is it true what they about it being fast paced?
Yes, it was pretty fast paced. Especially on a bus tour hahah
Do you shoot film? These are great photos very raw & noir. Thanks for your like on our post. I really enjoyed this one myself!
Hi! I shoot images on a canon dslr 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to check out my post <3
Wow you still saw a lot though! I’d love to visit New York City hopefully at some point though when we don’t know just yet!
Hopefully everything goes back to normal soon so you could visit 🙂 it’s an amazing city for photography
Love NYC 😍
hi ayla
great page
thank you!!
are you in nyc now
New york on a rainy day, is a mood. Hope you enjoyed what looked like a short but eventful
3 hour tour!! ☔️☔️☔️
Such a mood <3
I loved your blog. Please do check me out on on my page Sunshine and Smile. https://ritikasunshineandsmile.wordpress.com/
I write travel stories there. If you like it do give me a follow.
Followed your blog <3
❤️
Great photos! And seems like you had a lovely introduction to the city. It’s been on my bucket list for so so long, hopefully I’ll visit one day.
Thank you! <3 It should be on everyones bucket list haha
Wow this is cool! NYC absolutely looks amazing by the pictures. I hope I get to go there someday too.
You certainly spent your 3 hours productively with your camera. Great set of pictures.
Thank you!
My son moved to Brooklyn a few years ago and it’s been incredible to have an excuse to visit and spend time in NYC. I adore it, almost as much as I love Paris. I could just walk all day and explore, or spend all day at the Met. Or sit in the Reading Room of the Library. Or stroll through Central Park. The possibilities are endless. Glad you made the most of your short time there!
I can relate to all that. I love Paris as well. Strolling around incredible cities is so much fun. I love feeling like i’m walking in the presence of something extraordinary. I hope I have a child who moves to NYC hehe
I would love to visit NYC… Even for these 3 hours… 😍
Haha! It was better than nothing!
Hello Ayla! I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you on the tag called 10 Of My Favorite Feelings. I hope that you accept this, if not it’s totally fine. 🙂 You can check it out here https://icantwink.wordpress.com/2020/06/13/10-of-my-favorite-feelings/
Love this post! And your photos! 🙂
Thank you!! 🙂
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Beautiful snaps. Looks simply amazing
Thank you so much!
There’s a certain vibe to this city that got me hooked instantly! I hope you get to go back and spend more time there. Though I’ve been there more than once, I’d jump at any opportunity to go back again! Great images <3
Ugh, I agree! You can feel magic in the air hahah Thank you for the lovely comment <3
Lovely picture, a great city , thnx to share this lovely post
Thank you 😊
I’ve been to so many places in the world, but surprisingly, New York City is not one of them. I had plans to go in 2020, but I may have to postpone until 2021; we shall see. Great post!
New York City is essential! Even if you end up hating it, you gotta say you’ve been at least once hahaha Hopefully we can travel safely again very soon!
Haha you’re absolutely right. I have a long list of places to visit once I make it up there. In the meantime, I’m just focusing on places it’s easy to socially distance at but still get some much-needed R&R. And agreed, I’ll be glad when we can travel freely once again!
Well, at least you’re still finding good places to travel during this crazy time haha but I’m definitely looking forward to traveling freely again too. Soon, hopefully 🤞🏼
I’ve only been to New York City once and it was over eight years ago- I need to go back soon (when it is possible again), it feels so magical to me! Great pictures Ayla!☺️
Thank you so much! I hope we’ll get to visit a second time soon ☺️
I went to NY twice . The second trip was a good one. Got to see Statue of Liberty up close in the island it stands . Food is amazing. Didn’t like the subway, liquid stuff were dripping from the ceiling. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
I never went into the subway but I’m not surprised. The subways in the Bay Area can be sketchy too so maybe NYC Subway won’t phase me 😂 Do you have an NYC post on your blog?
I did so many years ago. Didn’t seem relatable to what life has been now. Perhaps I can revisit old memories & brew some inspiration out of it.
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Love your photos!! I haven’t been to NYC in 10 years! I’ve got to go back!!
Thank you!! <3
Been to NYC back in 2009. Ground Zero, Hot Dog, NYSE, My 1st Burger King Whopper. Lots of memories 🤗
I didn’t try a nyc hot dog! Haha would you recommend it? I hear the pizza is good too.
Been years now.. When I cruise back to nyc, will recommend a few places.
Thank you 🙏🏼
Would love to someday visit the NYC. Its in my bucket list!
Wonderful clicks.
I hope you visit! Thank you!
For a 3 hour bus tour, you got some great shots!
It could have been even more! Haha but thank you 🙂
One of my favorite cities. We saw most of it on one of those cool double decker buses. But it certainly took more than three hours! Definitely hope to get back there soon! There’s so much to explore!
I did a double decker in London and Rome. So much fun. Yes!! A LOT to see in NYC 😅
I was in NYC with my parents when I was 16. Too young to enjoy the nightlife, which was their favourite part of the city. I returned for a 3 day tour with a group of high school students. We had organized a business studies theme tour. I was very impressed with the city then. It was much cleaner and people seemed friendlier after 9/11. My daughter and I are due for a girls’ trip there. By the way, I see you love coastal destinations. Check my blog in summer of 2013. We did an epic trip through the Canadian maritimes.
The wasn’t thinking about it at the time but the city looked clean when I was there too. Sadly I didn’t stay to see the nightlife but that’s something I definitely want to do. Time square, roof top bars 😍
Thank you! I will need to do that 🙂
I always wanted to rent a bike and ride across the Brooklyn bridge, see sights by ferry and walk the Highline. West Village. And, of course, the food tour!
Food tour?!?!? Omg, yes. It’s probably crazy expensive tho knowing NYC restaurant prices LOL
I am impressed with what you were able to see in 3 hours in a city jam packed with so much to do/see! I have been there a few times and feel like I’ve only scratched at the surface. I enjoyed it! It wouldn’t be my go to place due to the large amounts of people and stinky smell surrounding the city, but definitely one for the books. I agree on the subway, it is a must for getting around! Forget a rental haha. I love your photos! It’s cool you got to see the city view from a ship.
We were lucky the day we went it was rainy and it was early afternoon so it wasn’t crowded everywhere haha The bull statue was probably the most crowded for some reason 😂 hmm 🤔 nyc wasn’t smelly to me. I’ve been in worse smelling cities in Europe lol
Thank you so much 😊
Impressive! I love Manhattan! I used to make regular trips to the Big Apple every year, not now anymore, alas! I also took a tour of the borough once, by ship, and listened to the stories the guide had to say, amazing! Thanks for sharing your lovely photos !
Oh, wow! What a blessing to visit so many times!
I haven’t heard of the borough tour before. 🤔
Thank you for your lovely comment! 🙂
Ayla, I was looking at this site last night, but it was late and I got tired, and I forgot to post. Your photography skills are mesmerizing! (Or maybe I’m just enamored by the East Coast. I’ve never been there before.) Do you always shoot towns and cities? Or is that just where you’ve been going most recently?
Keep up the good blog, and keep traveling.
Cheers,
Rob
Hey, Rob! Thank you so much <3 I've mostly been going to cities but I do love taking landscape and nature photos as well. :)
You should plan an outdoorsy nature trip next!
Hopefully soon! When it’s safe to travel or California isnt so smoky lol
Well if you’re going somewhere rural, I’m not convinced it’s all that dangerous to travel. Living in a rural part of California myself, I must say that life here and the level of precaution needed is much, much different from life in the Bay or LA. And I mean…there’s not much (if any) coronavirus on an empty or near empty trail when you are out in the country, and even when you bump into people it’s pretty easy to social distance when in the expanse of nature. But yes. The smoke is insane right now, and I am absolutely sick of it! I’m trapped indoors right now and binging netflix due to all of the smoke around me, no different from the original coronavirus lockdown… Definitely getting out of here and up to Oregon and/or the Washington coast in a few weeks to get some reprieve. You seem really kind! Take care of yourself, Ayla.
I’ve heard that. I work with some people who went out of town and said it was totally normal and masks werent required anywhere in some cities. That was last month.
Ugh, yes. The smoke is horrible. My throat is so sad lol Stay safe! Take some extra breaths of fresh Washington air for me. 🙂
I never being NYC. You give a chance to travel with you with posting nice pictures and information.Thank you!It is a lot to me.
Aww thank YOU! I hope you get to visit it yourself someday 🙂
Glad you enjoyed my hometown! Amazing, isn’t it?
Yes! Must have been such a unique experience to grow up in NYC vs the suburbs.
I love NYC, but I only spent a day there. Definitely need to visit a few more times bc it’s a massive place.
Same! NYC has endless amounts of things to do and places to explore.
Love NYC and also the fact that I’m not the only one enjoying only a few hours there. Smart to take that bus!
It’s not ideal but better than nothing! lol Hope to visit again for a longer time ❤️
First of all, thank you for liking my post on the NYC subway. You packed a lot of lower Manhattan on your 3 hour tour. Hopefully you’ll get to do more the next time you’re here. Definitely take a tour of the 5 boroughs. There’s more to New York than just Manhattan. Sorry Sex In The City DOES NOT represent New York. Many of us work in Manhattan but we live in what’s called, “The Outer Boroughs”. As for food, yes some of our restaurants are expensive, but go to the places that LOCALS not tourists go to. For your next visit to New York, I would suggest doing the Brooklyn Bridge and exploring Brooklyn, as well as taking the subway . There’s so much to do here, a week just won’t cut it
Unfortunately when we went a lot of roads were closed off due to a united nations meeting so I could have seen even more! haha I definitely want to go back and see more of New York and New York City! Maybe after all the covid restrictions are lifted there.