The Perfect 2 Days in NYC: A Solo Female Traveler’s Guide to Manhattan
My NYC Pinterest board also had a collection of earthy matcha lattes and vibrant flowers blooming during the spring season all over NYC parks. But that’s beside the point. New York City has a charming way of living in our imagination, even long before we’ve ever set foot on the bustling streets. And when you do finally book that flight, it’s even better than you could imagine!
If you’re like me, you’ve probably built a growing Pinterest board of New York City scenes.
The vibrant yellow taxis that decorate the streets, the floppy NY-style pizza with numerous toppings, the jaw-dropping observation decks with Manhattan views. They’re all there.
My NYC Pinterest board also had a collection of earthy matcha lattes and vibrant flowers blooming during the spring season all over NYC parks. But that’s beside the point.
New York City has a charming way of living in our imagination, even long before we’ve ever set foot on the bustling streets.
And when you do finally book that flight, it’s even better than you could imagine!
I recently spent an unforgettable 2 days in NYC exploring the city as a curious, bright-eyed solo female traveler – my first time visiting Manhattan as a solo traveler – and I had the incredible opportunity to stay at NYC’s best boutique hostel, Now Now NoHo, a capsule hotel/hostel hybrid in the heart of NoHo that makes every solo traveler feel like the star of a movie set in the Big Apple.
This wasn’t my first time visiting New York City, but it was my first time visiting solo. I came home with not only a need to book another flight and go back, but also the perfect two-day NYC itinerary for solo female travelers!
Read more to understand why Now Now is the best affordable hotel in NYC for solo female travelers and discover the perfect NYC weekend itinerary for the adventurous, pizza-lovin’ explorer!
Why Now Now is the Best Hotel for Solo Female Travelers in NYC
Capsule Style Rooms: Space is real estate in Manhattan and the Now Now Hotel in NoHo knows how to perfectly optimize it. Rooms at this solo travel hotel in NYC are single occupancy, capsule-style and compact…no more or less than you need while visiting the city solo.
Women’s Only Floors: At the Now Now Hotel, women and non-binary people have the option to book on a women’s only floor, designed to make solo female travelers feel right at home in the heart of downtown Manhattan.
Luxury Vibe for An Affordable Price: In a popular city where affordability is rare, Now Now sets a precedent for budget-friendly travel in NYC. Each sleeper cabin is designed with a luxury vibe, offering visitors a comfortable robe and slippers, highlighting elegant yet minimalist decor, and fostering a relaxing ambiance…all for a solo traveler approved price!
Shared Spaces to Meet Other Travelers: Now Now’s secluded rooms within a collection of social shared spaces create the perfect balance between a traveler’s outgoing persona with the introvert persona. You can be as social as you’d like at Now Now, meeting other travelers in the shared lounge, or seek quiet relaxation in the privacy of your own cabin.
Clean Bathrooms: Elegance meets functionality in the shared bathrooms of the Now Now Hotel. Like a traditional hostel, guests can take advantage of the shared showers and toilets on every floor, but the decorative tile work and the expansive mirrors make this shared space feel like a luxury setting.
Perfect Location: In the heart of downtown Manhattan, Now Now is in the perfect location for solo travelers wanting to discover the local side of NYC. NoHo is home to incredible cafes, awe-inspiring museums, and a collection of boutique shops. And steps away from iconic neighborhoods like SoHo and the West Village, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the action in NYC.
2 Days in NYC
A Solo Female Traveler’s Weekend Itinerary in Manhattan
I’ve visited NYC several times now, but my first time visiting as a solo traveler was INCREDIBLE in part due to my stay at Now Now! Here’s my detailed itinerary for a weekend in NYC!
Day 1
Eat, Create and See Manhattan from Above
Morning: Start at Now Now’s Doorstep
Day one of your NYC weekend itinerary starts right from the steps of the Now Now Hotel.
This boutique hotel’s prime location in NoHo puts it right in the heart of the city’s best cafes and breakfast restaurants.
Coffee connoisseurs will enjoy the nutty flavors offered at Buddy Buddy, right next door to Now Now.
Matcha enthusiasts will love the earthy, rich subtleties of 12 Matcha (get there early to avoid the line!).
The options for a casual sip to start your day are endless.
In my opinion, the best way to explore Manhattan is on foot…so what better way to discover one of NYC’s best neighborhoods than to book a guided food tour of the West Village?
If you’re like me and you're easily influenced by social media, you’ll love the Viral Food Tour of the West Village, which features NYC’s most viral eats, including Apollo Bagels, L’Appartement 4F, and L’Industrie Pizza.
The food bloggers were onto something when they recommended many of these viral spots…I LOVED exploring the West Village alongside an NYC local with a big appetite like me. Were these viral spots worth the hype? Absolutely! But you’ll have to confirm for yourself on your solo weekend trip to NYC.
A food tour is not only a great way to discover the local-approved eats in NYC, it is also a great way for solo travelers to meet other explorers with the same passion…EATING!
Afternoon: Get Creative
You’ve eaten your way around the West Village, now it’s time to get creative!
Olfactory NYC is the perfect place to design your own personal perfume, the perfect souvenir from your trip to Manhattan. With two locations near Now Now – one in the West Village and one in SoHo – this sensory experience is the perfect addition to your NYC weekend itinerary.
I’ll admit, choosing base fragrances made by the top perfumers in the world was quite a challenge, but I settled on a soft scent with hints of vanilla and magnolia flowers. This 45-minute experience was so much fun, the perfect activity in NYC for solo female travelers.
Once your personalized fragrance has been tried and tested, spend some time walking around SoHo to window shop.
Mulberry Street, with its collection of boutique clothing stores and eclectic shops, is the perfect place to look for more NYC souvenirs. I really loved the patch collection at Patches and Pins. For a collection of pink NYC clothing, Mure + Grand is a women-owned store with locations all over Manhattan.
Evening: An Unforgettable NYC Skyline
Whether it’s your first time visiting NYC as a solo traveler or not, there’s one thing that should be included in every NYC itinerary: a visit to one of NYC’s incredible observation decks.
There are five popular observation decks in NYC and I’ve visited most of them. My top recommendation for solo travelers wanting to experience NYC from above is to book tickets to the Summit One Vanderbilt immersive experience.
Steps away from the Now Now Hotel is one of many NYC subway lines, the perfect affordable way to get from lower Manhattan to all parts of the city. To get to Summit One Vanderbilt, catch the 4 or 6 train from Bleecker Street to Upper Manhattan.
Showcasing a collection of immersive exhibits including a “hall of mirrors” overlooking the awe-inspiring Manhattan skyline and a “bubble room” with floating silver beach balls, this one-of-a-kind experience offers visitors a chance to discover the city skyline in an artistic way.
Plan to experience sunset at Summit One Vanderbilt and watch as the city lights up as darkness falls.
Catch the subway back to NoHo and walk to Joe’s Pizza on Carmine Street, a less busy alternative to the popular location in Times Square. Ooey gooey NY-style pizza? I can’t think of a better way to end day one of your NYC weekend itinerary!
Day 2
Brooklyn Blooms, Vintage Finds and a Memorable Sunset Spot Morning: Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
You’ve enjoyed a restful sleep in your comfortable cabin at Now Now Hotel, now it’s time to try a classic NYC bagel to start the final day of your 2 days in NYC!
I have several bagel recommendations for the big eater visiting NYC solo. My first is a local favorite, a classic bagel shop that gives the “viral” bagels a run for their cream cheese. Russ & Daughters is a classic Jewish deli serving unforgettable smoked salmon, caper and scallion cream cheese bagel (among other mouthwatering eats!). Located steps away from Now Now on Allen Street, this bagel mecca is a must for your NYC weekend itinerary.
If you want to add another viral bite to your list of NYC viral foods, head to Leon’s Bagels on Mulberry Street, a walk-up-and-order (if there’s no line!) bagel shop serving classics like a traditional bacon, egg and cheese. My breakfast sandwich from Leon’s Bagels satisfied my bagel craving, a viral spot worth the hype.
Treasure awaits those who venture beyond the bustling streets of Manhattan!
Day two of this NYC weekend itinerary will take to you the incredible Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. No matter the season, this expansive garden offers something unique for every traveler. If you plan to visit in mid- to late April, visit the cherry esplanade to witness unbelievable cherry blossoms decorating the lawns pink.
Late April also offers incredible tulip varieties – my favorite flower, and therefore my recommended season to visit NYC – throughout the gardens (visit the Shakespeare Garden and the Fragrance Garden).
Summer at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens makes for the perfect season to picnic. A good book is the best company a solo traveler can have, don’t forget to bring yours!
Afternoon: Eat and Thrift in Brooklyn
Manhattan is widely known for its amazing food scene, but Brooklyn proves to be a worthy competitor offering a similar variety of local restaurants, fine dining experiences, and delectable quick bites.
For lunch, head to the Dekalb Market Hall in Brooklyn for the opportunity to experience a collection of cuisines from around the world all in a single space.
Dekalb Market Hall is home to a New York classic, Katz’s Deli, famous for their “legendary” pastrami sandwich (I can confirm, it was legendary!). Visiting NYC’s oldest deli in Brooklyn’s premier food hall is a smart hack for avoiding the notoriously long lines at the Manhattan location.
Walk or bike to the scenic Brooklyn Flea Market which is situated just under the Brooklyn Bridge. Showcasing a collection of vintage finds including old digital cameras, leather jackets and antique artwork, the Brooklyn Flea is the perfect place for any solo female traveler who enjoys thrifting. This market is open on weekends from 10am to 5pm.
I loved discovering local artists, finding subtle jewelry to add to my collection and testing out the digital cameras!
Expert thrifters will enjoy an additional stop on this unofficial thrift: Urban Jungle, a thrifter’s paradise. Alongside the popular vintage store, L-Train Vintage, Urban Jungle has racks of vintage denim, fur coats, costume wear and other consignment clothing.
To get to Urban Jungle and L-Train Vintage, you can either take bus 57 from Jay Street or head back into Manhattan and take the L-Train (so that’s how it got its name…).
When you find a pair of vintage Levi’s and a perfectly-fit denim jacket, you know you’ve found the jackpot. I loved browsing the racks at Urban Jungle and L-Train Vintage.
Manhattan Alternative: If you don’t want to venture out of Manhattan, check out the Maker’s Market at Bryant Park. During the spring months of April and May, this centrally located park hosts a collection of pop up stands featuring local artisans and small businesses!
Evening: DUMBO Park at Golden Hour and Dinner in Chinatown No NYC itinerary is complete without a skyline view and Brooklyn delivers some of the best!
Start at DUMBO Park, a popular spot among locals and tourists to enjoy warm weather during the spring and summer seasons!
Steps away from DUMBO, Empire Fulton Ferry Park has a breathtaking view of the Brooklyn Bridge which perfectly frames the NYC skyline…a fun photography composition, perfect practice for the traveler who bought the vintage digital camera at the Brooklyn Flea!
Harbor View Lawn, part of the Brooklyn Bridge Park, has a great view of Lady Liberty.
Time passes rather quickly when you’re watching as the colors shift from warm tones to city lights. As the sun sets, reflect on your perfect solo weekend trip and start thinking about planning your next one!
The last stop on this NYC weekend itinerary is a Chinatown restaurant known for its delicious hand pulled noodles. 1915 Lanzhou Hand Pulled Noodles was a highlight of my solo trip to NYC, therefore I must urge you to add it to your itinerary! In the heart of Chinatown on Mott Street, a short walk from Now Now, this restaurant might go down as the best noodle bowl I’ve ever had. Expect a short wait at this popular Chinatown restaurant (it’s absolutely worth it!).
To wrap up your solo weekend in NYC, walk through Chinatown and Little Italy back to Now Now. Lights will guide your path as you head back to NoHo!
Ready to plan your unforgettable solo trip to NYC? Book your cabin at Now Now and start your Manhattan adventure on Bowery Street!
By Bella Allen (Beauty and the Bucket List)