Following up on my previous post, here is the second part of my NYC Day 2 itinerary. From the southern tip of Manhattan—including Wall Street—I crossed over to Brooklyn to explore DUMBO and the Brooklyn Bridge. I then wrapped up this pretty packed day with dinner at the original Shake Shack in Madison Square Park.
If you missed the earlier part of the day, you can read it here: NYC Day 2 Itinerary – First Half
Table of Contents
Wall Street
Wall Street is the financial hub located in Lower Manhattan, specifically referring to the street running from Broadway to South Street.
In the 17th century, this area was a Dutch colony known as New Amsterdam. To defend against British invasions, the Dutch built a wall here, which is exactly where the name “Wall Street” comes from. Later, when the British took over, they renamed the city New York and tore down the wall, but the name stuck around.
At first, it was just an ordinary street, but after the New York Stock Exchange was established in the late 18th century, it transformed into the heart of American finance. Following the post-WWII economic boom, the global financial center shifted from the UK to the US, giving Wall Street its current prestige.
Aside from its significance as the world’s financial center, there isn’t actually a ton to see, but the Charging Bull statue is a famous landmark. The bull thrusting its horns upward resembles rising stock prices (a bull market). It was installed with the hope of a stock market recovery after Black Monday.
Legend has it that rubbing the bull’s testicles will make you rich, so there’s always a massive line of people waiting to take a photo—and the bronze there is polished to a bright shine from all the rubbing! The line seemed to move quickly, but my schedule was tight, so I just took a look and moved on.
Battery Park
Battery Park (officially known as The Battery) is located at the southernmost tip of Manhattan, famous as the departure point for ferries to Liberty Island (where the Statue of Liberty is). You can also see Castle Clinton, which was used as a fortification against the British. Today, it serves as a museum and the ticket office for the Liberty Island ferry.
- Opening Hours: Daily, 7:45 AM – 5:00 PM
- Admission: Free
Walking along the promenade at the edge of the park, you can spot the Statue of Liberty in the distance. However, it looks quite small from here, so don’t get your hopes too high. Personally, I found the Korean War Memorial located next to Castle Clinton much more impressive.
How to Ride the NYC Subway
After visiting Battery Park, I took the subway to get from Manhattan to Brooklyn. Riding the NYC subway is not that difficult, especially now that the OMNY system is fully rolled out.
In the past, you had to buy a physical single-ride ticket or refill a MetroCard, but today, OMNY makes it seamless. You can simply tap any contactless credit card, debit card, or your smartphone (like Apple Pay or Google Wallet) directly at the turnstile.
At the time of my trip, the subway fare was $3.00 per ride, and free transfers were allowed within 90 minutes. The OMNY system also features a weekly fare cap—if you tap the same card 12 times in a seven-day period, the rest of your rides for that week are entirely free. Honestly, there is no need to overcomplicate it; as long as you have a card that supports contactless payment, you are good to go.
That said, a regular home-country bank card may charge foreign transaction fees every time you tap, so using a travel-focused card with the OMNY readers is the best option for international tourists.
DUMBO
DUMBO stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.” True to its name, it’s the neighborhood located directly under the Manhattan Bridge. Situated in northwest Brooklyn, it’s famous for its art galleries, cafes, and flea markets. But the most famous spot of all is Washington Street, where you get that iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge.
Before I actually went there, I thought, “It’s just a bridge between two buildings, what’s the big fuss?” But the true charm of this viewpoint is that the Empire State Building is perfectly framed right between the bridge’s pillars. Note that Washington Street has a slight incline, so if you want to capture this exact shot, you need to walk a bit closer towards the bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge
Completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge is the world’s first steel suspension bridge, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. By using steel cables, it overcame the technical limitations of its time and is considered a masterpiece of civil engineering.
It’s also known as one of the oldest bridges in the US, featuring a distinctive, wide pedestrian walkway set above the opposing lanes of traffic. Walking through the network of cables while taking in the panoramic view of Manhattan is a truly impressive experience.
You can, of course, cross from Manhattan to Brooklyn, but the Manhattan skyline is far more spectacular. So, I highly recommend walking from Brooklyn towards Manhattan. You’ll get clear views of the iconic Empire State Building and even the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
The best time to visit the Brooklyn Bridge is right around sunset. Watching the sun go down over the Manhattan skyline, turning the sky into a canvas of dusk colors before the skyscrapers light up the night—it really makes you want to sing a hymn to New York.
Finding the pedestrian entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge can be a bit tricky. From the Manhattan Bridge viewpoint, keep walking south down Washington Street. You’ll eventually go under an overpass where you’ll find a set of stairs leading directly up to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway. Check Google Maps for the exact coordinates.
Shake Shack
The finale of my NYC trip for the day was the original Shake Shack. I didn’t actually plan to go there; I was just walking back to my accommodation in Times Square from the Brooklyn Bridge, sat down on a bench, and checked Google Maps. Turns out, the original Shake Shack was right in front of me, so I stopped by!
Shake Shack was born out of an urban renewal project to revitalize Madison Square Park in New York. What started as a simple hot dog cart in 2001 has grown into one of the most successful burger franchises in the world, with countless locations globally.
Given Shake Shack’s premium branding and its location in the middle of Manhattan, the prices aren’t exactly cheap. But adding the special significance of it being the very first location, plus the vibe of eating at an outdoor park table, the burger tasted exceptionally good. I stumbled upon it by chance, but if you’re a Shake Shack fan visiting New York, it’s definitely worth going out of your way to visit.
- Opening Hours: Daily, 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Final Thoughts
In this post, I shared my busy Day 2 afternoon itinerary in NYC, covering everything from Wall Street to DUMBO, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the original Shake Shack. I also included some tips on how to ride the subway and find the Brooklyn Bridge entrance, so I hope this helps you out when planning your trip!
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