New York City Broadway, Museums, and US Open Itinerary

Morning

Start at The Metropolitan Museum of Art when it opens at 10 a.m.; arriving close to opening is the best way to enjoy the Egyptian galleries and European paintings before the crowds build. Give yourself about three hours, but choose a few wings rather than trying to conquer the entire museum. General admission is around $30 for adults, with tickets valid for three consecutive days at The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters; check the museum’s calendar before going.

Lunch

Walk north along Fifth Avenue to Café Sabarsky inside Neue Galerie, on 86th Street. It is a lovely, slightly old-fashioned stop for Viennese coffee, pastries, or a light lunch, with typical spending around $20–40 per person. The café is popular and does not take reservations, so expect a wait at peak lunchtime; if you only want coffee and cake, that usually moves more quickly. Allow about an hour, then continue north or take the M1, M2, M3, or M4 bus a few blocks toward Carnegie Hill.

Afternoon and Evening

Spend roughly two hours at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, where the interactive digital pen makes the exhibitions especially enjoyable rather than purely observational. The museum generally opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. on most days, with later hours on select evenings, so confirm the August 30 schedule and reserve timed admission if offered. Afterward, walk east to Central Park Conservatory Garden for a calm 45-minute stroll through its French, Italian, and English-style sections; the Vanderbilt Gate entrance at Fifth Avenue and 105th Street is the most convenient. Finish with an early, casual dinner at Pastrami Queen on East 77th Street, budgeting about $20–35 per person. Order the pastrami sandwich to share if you want to sample the deli’s rich, old-school style, and keep dinner around 5:30–6 p.m. so you are not rushing later in the evening.

Morning

Leave the Upper East Side around 8:00–8:15 a.m. and take the 4, 5, or 6 subway downtown to Grand Central–42 St; allow roughly 20–35 minutes door to door. Start at Ess-a-Bagel in Midtown East around 9:00 a.m. for a filling breakfast—expect about $10–20 per person, and order ahead if the line is long. Afterward, walk a few minutes to Grand Central Terminal for a relaxed look at the Main Concourse, celestial ceiling, and Beaux-Arts details. The terminal is open daily, and 45 minutes is enough unless you want to browse the shops or food hall.

Afternoon

From Grand Central Terminal, walk west along 42nd Street to Bryant Park, about 15 minutes. Spend 45 minutes among the gardens, tables, and public art; it is a good place to slow down before the evening theater schedule. If you want coffee, grab something nearby and sit outdoors rather than adding another formal stop. Keep the afternoon deliberately light—you will have been on your feet since breakfast, and the Broadway theater’s seating time is more comfortable when you are not rushing.

Evening

Have an early dinner at Le Grande Boucherie around 4:15 or 4:30 p.m. The grand Art Deco dining room on West 53rd Street is close to the Broadway Theatre, and a 90-minute meal gives you time for steak-frites, seafood, or a lighter French brasserie dish; budget approximately $50–90 per person before drinks and tip. Walk to the Broadway Theatre afterward and arrive by about 6:15 p.m. for the 7:00 p.m. performance of The Great Gatsby. Build in time for security, ticket scanning, and finding your seats; the show runs roughly 2½ hours, and theaters generally do not admit latecomers until a suitable pause.

Morning

Start at Maman in Midtown for coffee and breakfast, allowing about 45 minutes and roughly $15–30 per person. Arrive around 8:30 a.m. so you can settle in before heading to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) when it opens at 10:30 a.m. Reserve timed admission in advance; general admission is typically around $30 for adults. Give yourself about two and a half hours, focusing on the modern-art highlights and a few galleries that appeal to you rather than trying to cover the entire museum. The fifth-floor collection is especially good for iconic works, while the sculpture garden offers a useful breather.

Afternoon and Early Dinner

Walk east toward St. Patrick’s Cathedral after the museum—roughly 15 minutes along 53rd Street—and spend about 30 minutes inside. The cathedral is generally open to visitors during the day, though services can limit access, so keep your visit quiet and check the posted schedule at the entrance. Continue south to Gabriel Kreuther near Bryant Park for an early pre-theater dinner around 4:15 or 4:30 p.m. Allow 90 minutes and budget approximately $75–150 per person before drinks and extras. This timing gives you a comfortable buffer for the theater while still leaving a little room to stroll through Bryant Park afterward.

Evening

Head to the Lyric Theatre for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, arriving around 6:15 p.m. for the 7:00 p.m. performance. The theater is at 214 West 43rd Street, only a short walk from Gabriel Kreuther, but allow extra time for bag checks and the busy Times Square sidewalks. The production runs about three hours, including an interval; after the show, use the nearby 42nd Street subway stations or walk a few blocks north before calling a taxi or rideshare, when traffic around Times Square is usually less frustrating.

Morning

Take the 7 train east from Grand Central–42 St or Times Sq–42 St, aiming to leave around 8:00–8:30 a.m. for Mets–Willets Point; allow 35–50 minutes, plus time for the walk and tournament security. The station is immediately beside the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, but entry can be slow when several sessions begin at once. Have your digital ticket ready, bring an empty refillable water bottle if permitted under current tournament rules, and avoid bringing a large bag—security policies are strict and can change.

Afternoon

Spend most of the day following matches at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center; six to nine hours is easy to fill, especially if you move between the larger courts and outer courts. During a match break, walk through Flushing Meadows–Corona Park to the New York State Pavilion, the wonderfully weathered remnant of the 1964 World’s Fair. It is only about a 10-minute walk from the tennis center and takes roughly 30 minutes to see; the surrounding park also provides a useful breather from the crowds and stadium noise. Keep an eye on the time, since the walk back and venue re-entry procedures may take longer than expected.

Evening

After tennis, take the 7 train one stop to Flushing–Main St and walk a few minutes to Tangram Food Hall for dinner. Give yourselves about an hour to browse the stalls, with plenty of choice for a group and a typical spend of $20–45 per person. This is a convenient post-match option, but Flushing is busiest at dinner, so expect queues and consider splitting up to order from different vendors. Afterward, return west on the 7 train; trains can be crowded after the evening session, so allow at least an hour door to door back to Midtown.

Morning

Take the 7 train eastbound from Manhattan to Flushing–Main Street, leaving around 9:00 a.m. Allow 60–75 minutes today, since the ride, transfer timing, and tournament-area security can all add up. From the station, walk about 15–20 minutes through Downtown Flushing and Flushing Meadows–Corona Park to the Queens Museum. It usually opens at 11 a.m.; check the day’s hours before leaving, and allow roughly 1½ hours. The highlight is the Panorama of the City of New York, an astonishing miniature view of all five boroughs that makes a particularly good orientation for the rest of your New York trip. Admission is generally pay-what-you-wish, though a modest suggested contribution is appreciated.

Afternoon and Evening

Walk back through Flushing Meadows–Corona Park to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for another full day of US Open tennis. Plan on six to nine hours, with plenty of time for wandering between courts; wear comfortable shoes, bring an empty refillable water bottle if tournament rules permit, and use sunscreen, since the grounds can feel intensely sunny in early September. Food inside is convenient but expensive, so consider carrying a small snack that complies with current entry rules. After the final match—or earlier if you have had enough—walk back toward Downtown Flushing for dinner at Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao. Allow about an hour and roughly $25–50 per person for soup dumplings and Shanghainese dishes; expect a wait at peak dinner time, but it is a satisfying way to end a long tennis day. Check the restaurant’s current closing time and takeout queue before leaving the grounds.

Morning

After arriving in Chelsea, begin at Chelsea Market for about an hour of coffee and a light breakfast. It opens early, but individual vendors keep their own schedules; allow roughly $15–30 per person. Browse the food hall rather than committing to a heavy meal—you have a full museum visit and dinner ahead. From here, it’s a pleasant 10-minute walk west through the Meatpacking District to the Whitney Museum of American Art. Reserve timed tickets in advance; plan about 2½ hours for the collection, with extra time for the outdoor terraces and excellent views over the Hudson River. General admission is typically around $30, though prices and hours can change.

Afternoon and Early Dinner

Walk south through Hudson River Park to Little Island, the distinctive elevated park at Pier 55. Forty-five minutes is enough for a relaxed loop, flower beds, and skyline photographs; admission is free, though timed reservations may occasionally be used during busy periods. Return toward Chelsea afterward and have your early dinner at Cookshop, a well-regarded neighborhood restaurant centered on seasonal American cooking. Budget approximately $50–90 per person, and reserve ahead—aim for about 4:30 or 4:45 p.m. so dinner stays comfortable rather than rushed.

Evening

After dinner, head to the theater for Schmigadoon!; because the exact venue should be verified against your tickets, leave Cookshop by about 5:45 p.m. and allow 20–30 minutes for the walk or a short subway/taxi connection. Arrive around 6:15 p.m. for the 7:00 performance, giving yourself time for security, restrooms, and concessions. The show should run roughly 2½ hours; keep your ticket handy for the theater address, since Broadway-area venues can be several blocks apart.