Arrive at Penn Station bus depot and orient yourself; store any luggage in a locker or use a nearby luggage service (e.g., Penn Station Luggage Storage) so you can move easily through the afternoon.
Lunch at Penn Station area: grab a fast sit-down or counter meal at Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner (2 blocks away) for a classic NYC deli experience, or try Friedman's for a quicker seasonal menu.
Walk to the 7 train at Hudson Yards or take the 1/2/3 subway from Penn to South Ferry (allow ~30-40 minutes travel time) heading downtown toward Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty from the shore.
Arrive at Battery Park; stroll the waterfront promenade, pause at Castle Clinton and the SeaGlass Carousel area, and find a good viewpoint for photos of the Statue of Liberty.
Take the Staten Island Ferry (free) from Whitehall Terminal for a close water-level view of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan skyline; round-trip ride is ~50-60 minutes including waiting and travel.
Return to Battery Park/Whitehall area; if time allows, enjoy a quick coffee at Blue Spoon Coffee Company or a quick snack at Pier A Harbor House's takeaway window.
Head back uptown to Midtown — take the subway from South Ferry (R/W from Whitehall or 1 from South Ferry) toward Times Square/42nd Street; travel time ~25-35 minutes depending on connections.
Arrive in Times Square: soak in the lights and energy, pop into flagship stores (M&M's World, Disney Store), and stroll through the pedestrian plazas for classic NYC photo ops.
Walk east up 42nd Street to 5th Avenue (or take the MTA one stop) and begin window-shopping along 5th Avenue — visit Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman (view from the street), and enjoy holiday window displays if still up.
Explore more of 5th Avenue: stop at St. Patrick's Cathedral for a quick look inside, then continue to Rockefeller Center to approach the iconic plaza and the famous holiday tree.
Arrive at Rockefeller Center: admire the skating rink and the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree; take photos, soak in the decorations, and if you prefer, go inside Top of the Rock for another skyline view (allow extra time if you want this ticketed experience).
Walk (or take the subway/cab) west toward Hudson Yards/Edge; allow ~20-30 minutes transit from Rockefeller Center depending on mode of travel.
Arrive at The Edge (30 Hudson Yards). If you have prebooked tickets, head straight to security and elevators; peak sunset crowd builds early so arrive with time to spare.
Enjoy The Edge observation deck: step out onto the outdoor sky deck, take in sweeping views of the Hudson River and Manhattan at sunset, and use the angled glass floor for dramatic photos.
Dinner nearby: dine at Mercado Little Spain (Hudson Yards) for Spanish tapas and a lively atmosphere, or choose Queensyard at Hudson Yards for seasonal modern British cuisine with river views.
Finish dinner and make your way back to Penn Station — allow ~20 minutes by subway or 15-25 minutes by cab depending on traffic; factor time to collect stored luggage if any.
Depart from Penn Station bus depot for your onward travel. If you have extra time, pick up a coffee or snack at an on-site kiosk before boarding.