USA in 10 Days

Complete Itinerary: New York, Washington DC & Boston

Day 1-5: New York City (5 days)

Day 1: Statue of Liberty ($24 ferry + pedestal, $24.30 crown access - book months ahead!), Ellis Island Immigration Museum (included). Afternoon: Battery Park, Wall Street, 9/11 Memorial (FREE).

Day 2: Empire State Building ($44-79 depending on time), Times Square (FREE), Broadway show ($50-200). Walk High Line park (FREE elevated park).

Day 3: Central Park (FREE - bike rental $15/hour), Metropolitan Museum of Art ($30 suggested donation), American Museum of Natural History ($28).

Day 4: Brooklyn Bridge walk (FREE, go early 7am), DUMBO neighborhood photos, Brooklyn (Williamsburg hipster area, street art).

Day 5: Fifth Avenue shopping, Rockefeller Center ($40 Top of the Rock), St. Patrick's Cathedral (FREE). Evening: rooftop bar with skyline views ($15-25 drinks).

Day 6-7: Washington DC (2 days)

Train NYC-DC (3h, $50-150 Amtrak - book ahead for deals). DC: ALL major museums FREE (Smithsonian)!

Day 6: National Mall: Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, WWII Memorial (all FREE). Smithsonian Air & Space Museum (FREE but timed entry - reserve online).

Day 7: Capitol Building (FREE tour - book 3 months ahead), White House exterior photo, Smithsonian Natural History Museum (FREE). Evening: Georgetown neighborhood dinner.

Day 8-10: Boston or Philadelphia

Option A - Boston: Train DC-Boston (7h $80-200) OR fly ($100-250). Freedom Trail walk (FREE 2.5 miles), Harvard campus, Fenway Park ($20 tour). Lobster roll $25-35 must-try!

Option B - Philadelphia: Train DC-Philly (2h $30-80). Liberty Bell (FREE), Independence Hall ($1, book ahead), cheesesteak at Pat's/Geno's ($12-15), Rocky steps (FREE).

Transportation

• NYC Subway: $2.90/ride, 7-day unlimited $34
• Amtrak trains between cities: Book advance for 50% savings
• DC Metro: $2-6 by distance, day pass $13
• Uber/Lyft widely available in all cities
• Walking is best in NYC - distances deceiving on map!

Food

• NYC pizza slice: $3-5 (classic cheap meal!)
• Deli sandwich: $10-15
• Diner breakfast: $12-18 (huge portions)
• Mid-range dinner: $25-45 per person
• Coffee: $3-6 (Starbucks everywhere)
• Tipping: 18-20% MANDATORY at restaurants (included in final bill calculation)

Language and Culture

Language: English (American accent). Very diverse - many languages spoken.

Tipping: 18-20% restaurants, $2-5 per drink at bars, $1-2 per hotel bag. NOT optional!

Tax: Prices shown WITHOUT tax. Add 8-10% sales tax at checkout. Hotel taxes 10-15% extra.

Best Time to Visit

• Spring (Apr-May): Perfect weather, cherry blossoms DC, reasonable prices
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Hot humid, very crowded, expensive - but best weather
• Fall (Sep-Oct): Excellent weather, fall colors, manageable crowds
• Winter (Nov-Mar): Cold, snow possible, cheap hotels, empty museums - bring warm coat!

Money-Saving Tips

• Buy MetroCard NYC - unlimited rides way cheaper than single tickets
• DC museums ALL free (Smithsonian) - huge savings!
• Happy hour deals 4pm-7pm - half price drinks + food
• Street food vendors: hot dogs $2-3, pretzels $1-2
• Free walking tours (tip guide $10-20)
• CityPASS saves 40% on major attractions if visiting many