A Day in Lower Manhattan, NY

With so much to see and do on a trip to NYC, it can be hard to pin down a realistic itinerary.  I spent one morning and afternoon exploring just lower Manhattan, and so I will describe here how I did it and everything I saw.  Of course, if you only have a few days you may want to pick just a few things from the list below to see and then move on to other parts of the city, but there is plenty to do in lower Manhattan for a one day outing, if you so choose. 

For those unfamiliar with the area, New York City is comprised of five boroughs, the central one being the island of Manhattan.  Manhattan itself is divided into neighborhoods, and we are focusing here on just the lower section of Manhattan, which contains the 9/11 Memorial/Oculus, the Wall Street area, Battery Park, South Street Seaport and City Hall/Brooklyn Bridge.  It is easy to get to by public transportation (try using the phone App “NYC Subway” to help you get around). 

I arrived at the Oculus in the morning from New Jersey having taken the PATH train (there is also an App for this public transportation system, called “RidePATH”, if you are staying in New Jersey).  After that, I walked the entire itinerary below.

The Oculus

The soaring white wings of the Oculus building look to me like a bird landing after having flown down from the Freedom Tower, located close behind it.  It’s a beautiful structure both inside and out.  It was designed by Spanish architect Santiago CalatravaIt, who intended it to look like a dove leaving a child’s hands.  It was built specifically to honor 9/11 victims, with a retractable glass ceiling that opens for two hours on every 9/11 anniversary, allowing the daylight to flood the building.  It is positioned so that the sun lines up with the passage through the ceiling at the exact time that the second Twin Tower fell, at 10:28 a.m.  The word “Oculus” means “eye” in Latin, and the building is so named because its oval shape looks up at the skies above.

The Oculus is also a transportation hub, the location both of the New Jersey Transit PATH trains as well as the Fulton Center on the 2^nd floor which has 10 subway lines.  It’s a good spot to return to when you’re ready to move on to other parts of the city.

Inside the Oculus there is shopping on each floor and places to eat.  I like to get a quick bite for breakfast or lunch at Epicierie Boulud on the ground floor, then meander my way up to the street level. You’ll find shops here like Apple, Boss, Stuart Weitzman, Sam Edelman, Sugarfina and Kate Spade, just to name a few, all located here in support of the building.  In the adjacent building Eataly is a great Italian specialty foods store where you can also get amazing pizza and pasta to eat.  For a list of all the shops at the Oculus, events and more, see Oculus in NYC.

Once on the balcony at street level, you’ll get a chance to snap a great picture with the interior of the Oculus behind you.

For an accommodation suggestion, a nice hotel that I spotted nearby is the The Millenium Hotel.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum

For someone who was in NYC on 9/11 and saw the plume of smoke rising out of the first tower that was hit, the full realization of the horror of what happened that day coming upon me later, visiting the 9/11 Memorial is always moving and always emotional.  A massive waterfall that descends into the ground is surrounded by a metal plaque with the names of all the victims engraved in it.  The mood is forever somber, and as I gaze into the cascading waterfall, I feel the souls of those we lost that day flowing in perpetuity.

To best learn what happened that day, after viewing the memorial also visit the museum, which houses artifacts from the wreckage, but also offers tours and several media exhibits that tell the story. 

For tickets and information on tours, you can visit their website at 911memorial.org.

Trinity Church

From the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, you can walk down Fulton street to Broadway, and then head south on Broadway towards Trinity Church. There are a couple of places to grab a bite along the way.  One that stands out is the La Parisienne cafe located on your left if you turn onto Maiden Lane, but it can be crowded.  While walking down to Trinity Church, you may want to check out the nearby Century 21 department store, a neighborhood favorite for decades and newly reopened, or sit down and rest for a while in Zuccotti Park, site of the Occupy Wall Street protests of 2011.

Trinity Church is an Epsicopal parish, with a churchyard where famously Alexander Hamilton is buried, and includes the St. Paul’s Chapel and churchyard across the street as well.

Its history began in 1697 just after the Dutch settled the area, and Trinity Church has been an integral part of the community ever since. 

The church is open and free to the public from 8:30am – 6:00pm, and the churchyard is open from 8:30am – 4:00pm.  To find information on virtual tours, a map of the churchyard, a calendar of worship services, concerts, and community events, see Trinity Church. 

Wall Street

Take a left on Wall Street to walk past the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). 

Due to security concerns, it is no longer open to the public, but you can view the building and take pictures with the bronze statue “Fearless Girl” located right across from the NYSE. 

There’s a touristy gift shop further down the street if you’re looking to get some souvenirs. 

From Wall Street walk down Beaver street, to get a shot of the famed Delmonico’s steakhouse on the corner.  If you can afford getting a steak here, it would be a meal of a lifetime.

Continue on down Beaver street to Bowling Green to view the bronze statue of the Charging Bull, a financial icon.  Be prepared to wait in line to take pictures with it!

If you’re hungry, walk back down Beaver street and hang a right onto Williams street to Leo’s Bagels.  This is the place to get your New York bagel and schmear.  My favorites are either a toasted sesame bagel with scallion cream cheese, of course your classic lox sandwich with red onion and capers, or an egg and cheese on an everything bagel.  You might also want to try whitefish salad, with lettuce and tomato on a plain bagel.  The options however are endless, to see the menu go to Leo’s Bagels.

Make a right on Pearl Street which will take you down to the Fraunces Tavern, the oldest and most historic bar in NYC.  This used to be the watering hole of the founding fathers, and George Washington bid farewell to his officers here at the end of the Revolutionary war.  There is even a museum on site in the building.  I had a fine meal of fish and chips at the restaurant on St. Patrick’s Day.  Coming back here in the evening and getting a craft beer or a whiskey is a must do.  

For a lively scene in the historic district, make a right on Broad street over to Stone Street, a cobblestoned street dating from the 1600s where the city’s very first breweries were located.  Today it’s lined with restaurants and pubs, and definitely comes to life at night, whether you catch the after-work or weekend party crowd. 

Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty

Head down Water street towards Battery Park and the location of the ferries to the Statue of Liberty.  Along your walk you will go past the S&P Global building, which has a balcony garden which is open to the public with views of the skyscrapers surrounding it and the East River.  I like to stop here and rest my legs while taking in the view of the forest of steel skyscrapers around me.

If you want an economical bite to eat, during the week there is a food hall across the street from the S&P Global building called Urban Space, where for around $20 you can get some really great food, especially for lunch.  Urban Space has food halls and markets throughout NYC, for more information see Urban Space.

On a nice day Battery Park is a pleasant green space to sit down and rest your legs.  I took a bagel sandwich from Leo’s Bagels to go and ate it in Battery Park on one of the lawn chairs strewn about for the public. Green spaces like this are a refuge when in the city, especially on a hot , sunny day when you’re looking for a bit of shade.

Around Battery Park you will notice the immensely long lines to get tickets for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.  To help you plan your trip, see the National Parks and Recreation website for more information on tickets, ferries etc.  There is no charge to see the Statue of Liberty or visit Ellis Island, but you do need to reserve timed tickets, and there is a charge for the ferry to get there. 

I noticed a “viewpoint” to the statue behind the View restaurant and beer garden nearby, but it was under construction.  That might be a quick option in the future if you just want to take a look at the statue from a distance.  I also hear many people take the free Staten Island Ferry which has a station just to the left of Battery Park, and sails right by the Statue of Liberty, allowing for great free picture taking opportunities.

South Street Seaport

I walked back up Water street, taking in a last look of all the historic and modern buildings packed into the street side by side. Walking downtown all day can make you feel a little dusty, so heading out to the waterfront is refreshing. In about 15 – 20 minutes you will reach the South Street Seaport, a newly renovated area to hang out in by the waterside. 

For another accommodation suggestion, along the way I noticed what looked like a great hotel, the Hyatt Centric Wall Street.  I imagine a nice way to end the day later on is to return to the Highwater Rooftop Bar at 120 Water street. Also on Water street is the famous The Dead Rabbit, three stories of Irish pub space in a building that dates from 1828.

Once at South Street Seaport, make sure to visit the Tin building by Jean-Georges. 

Inside it has some great eateries, the Fulton Fish market, and really cute boutique markets. 

I got a chicken salad here which I ate at an outside table overlooking the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Other things to check out on a visit here is the South Street Seaport Museum, where among other things you can get tickets to sail around Manhattan in a Schooner boat, and the shops and restaurants lining Fulton street.  I particularly like McNally Jackson Books, an independent bookstore with a great selection and a cute coffee shop next door.

In the summer there are plenty of concerts and events going on here.  For more go to The Seaport NYC.

Head all the way down Fulton street back to Broadway and make a right to head over to the City Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge. 

On the way, I stopped at the Greenwich Village institution, Joe’s Pizza, which has a location on Fulton street. It was packed so I got my huge NYC size slice of pizza to go, found a spot out on the side walk, and ate quickly. It was worth it.

City Hall and The Brooklyn Bridge

You may be interested in walking by the court houses that surround City Hall, especially the steps of the NY County Supreme Court on Centre Street, which is the view of City Hall one most likely sees in pictures of the area or in the news.

Otherwise, you will easily see the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge on the right as you head down Park Row. 

It’s free and open to the public. I simply crossed the street and began to walk across the bridge.  Towards the end of the day and into the evening it will be very crowded, but the views no less spectacular.  It will take about 30 – 50 minutes to walk across one way, depending on how fast you are able to go. 

You may want to end your day exploring Brooklyn on the other side.  For my trip this day, I walked back to City Hall and headed west back down to the Oculus where my day began. 

However you decide to structure your visit, hopefully this itinerary has inspired you to delve a little deeper into what this section of Manhattan has to offer.

Top 7 Things to See in Lower Manhattan

1. The Oculus
2. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum
3. Trinity Church
4. Wall Street area and the NYSE
5. Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty
6. South Street Seaport
7. City Hall and The Brooklyn Bridge

Date of trip:  May 2024