Itinerary Summary
Three New York days cover a full Met day - the rooftop and the Temple of Dendur - then MoMA for Van Goghs Starry Night and Monets Water Lilies plus the Guggenheim, and the Whitney with the Chelsea gal…
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1
New York arrival and a first look at Midtown
11:00
2h
AirTrain and subway into Manhattan
Take the AirTrain to Jamaica and switch to the E train for Midtown, which takes about an hour door to door. The AirTrain surcharge is paid at the station, and the subway runs all night.
📍 JFK Airport to Manhattan
17:00
2h
Midtown orientation walk and dinner
Walk from the Public Library to Grand Central and back along 42nd Street to fix the map in your head. Eat at a Midtown diner, and pick up a week transit pass if you plan several museum days.
📍 Midtown Manhattan
💡 Pro Tip: JFK, Newark and LaGuardia all connect to Manhattan by public transport in about an hour. Entry rules depend on your passport, so check the United States visa section. The East Coast is UTC-5, or UTC-4 from March to November. Museum tickets are cheaper online, and some museums offer pay-what-you-wish hours.
Days 2-6 are member-only
Members get the complete day-by-day plan with timing, transport and on-the-ground tips.
Budget Breakdown
AccommodationUS$92035%
Manhattan and DC hotels, 5 nights
Food & DiningUS$52020%
Pizza slices, bagels and half-smokes
Remaining cost categories are member-only
Members see the full breakdown for flights, hotels, food, tickets and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need timed tickets for the Met, MoMA and National Gallery?+
The Met and MoMA sell timed-entry tickets online and it is worth booking the slot you want, especially at weekends. The National Gallery and Hirshhorn in Washington are free and generally do not require timed passes, though special exhibitions may. Check each museum's site the week before you travel.
Can I take photos inside New York and Washington museums?+
Rules vary by museum. Most allow handheld photography without flash in permanent collections but ban tripods, selfie sticks and flash. Some special exhibitions prohibit photography entirely. Food and drink are usually restricted to cafes. Check the signs at each entrance rather than assuming one policy applies everywhere.
How do I travel between New York museums and Washington on this route?+
The Amtrak Acela runs New York to Washington in about 3.5 hours, arriving at Union Station near the Mall. Book ahead for the best fare. Within New York, the subway connects the Met, MoMA, Guggenheim and Whitney, while the DC museums are a short walk or Metro ride apart.
What budget should I allow for a six-day New York and Washington museum trip?+
This Comfort plan costs roughly $2,240-2,990 (about EUR 1,950-2,600) per person excluding international flights. Museum tickets in New York are the main variable, since DC's Smithsonian and National Gallery are free. Add the Acela fare, mid-range hotels and meals, and expect higher prices in spring and autumn.
Attractions in This Guide
Guide at a Glance
- Duration: 6 days
- Budget: Comfort · approx. $2,240–2,990 (≈ €1,950–2,600), excl. int'l flights
- Difficulty: easy
- Best for: Art & Museums
Budget Spreadsheet
Download the customizable budget template for this itinerary.
Unlock Budget DownloadPrint / Save as PDF
Open a print-ready version, then choose Save as PDF in the print dialog.
Unlock Print / PDFYou May Also Like
- San Francisco, Napa & Los Angeles: West Coast Shopping in 8 DaysUnited States · 8 days · Upscale · approx. $3,290–4,490 (≈ €2,860–3,900), excl. int'l flights
- East Coast Classics: New York, Washington & Niagara in 10 DaysUnited States · 10 days · Comfort · approx. $3,740–5,230 (≈ €3,250–4,550), excl. int'l flights
- Yosemite Hiking: Half Dome & Mist Trail in 6 DaysUnited States · 6 days · Comfort · approx. $1,940–2,690 (≈ €1,690–2,340), excl. int'l flights