How do I get around New York City?

The New York City Subway is the fastest and most convenient way to get around — 472 stations covering all five boroughs, running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Use an OMNY contactless card or tap your bank card — $2.90 per journey, capped at $34/week. The Staten Island Ferry (free — the finest view of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline) is the best free activity in New York. Yellow taxis are iconic but expensive ($3 base fare + $0.70/mile). Uber and Lyft are cheaper. Walking is the best way to explore Manhattan — the grid system makes navigation easy. The PATH train connects Manhattan to New Jersey ($2.75).

Do I need a car in the American Southwest?

Yes — a car is essential for exploring the American Southwest. Las Vegas is the best base — car hire from Las Vegas is cheap ($30–60/day) and the roads are excellent. The Grand Canyon South Rim is 4.5 hours from Las Vegas; Zion is 2.5 hours; Bryce Canyon is 4 hours. The classic Southwest road trip (Las Vegas → Grand Canyon → Zion → Bryce Canyon → Monument Valley → Arches → back to Las Vegas) takes 7–10 days and is the finest road trip in the USA. Petrol (gas) is cheap in the USA ($0.80–1.00/litre). The America the Beautiful pass ($80/year) covers entry to all national parks — essential for a Southwest road trip.

What is the best way to see the Grand Canyon?

The South Rim (open year-round) is the most accessible and most visited part of the Grand Canyon — the finest viewpoints (Mather Point, Yavapai Point, Desert View Watchtower) are all on the South Rim. The North Rim (open May to October) is less visited and more remote — the views are arguably finer, but it is 4.5 hours from the South Rim by road. The best way to experience the canyon is on foot — the Bright Angel Trail (the most popular trail, descending from the South Rim to the Colorado River — 9.5 miles one-way, 3,000m descent) is the finest. A helicopter tour (from $200 per person) gives the most dramatic perspective. A rafting trip on the Colorado River (7–18 days, from $3,000 per person) is the most extraordinary experience.

What is the best time to visit the American Southwest?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best times to visit the American Southwest — mild temperatures (15–25°C), fewer crowds, and the landscapes at their most beautiful. Summer (June to August) is the most popular but also the hottest — temperatures in the Grand Canyon can reach 40°C at the canyon floor, and Zion and Bryce Canyon are extremely crowded. Winter (December to February) is the least visited — cold (0–10°C at the rim, below freezing at night) but beautiful, with snow on the canyon rim. The Grand Canyon is open year-round. Zion is open year-round but the Narrows may be closed in winter due to high water. Bryce Canyon is open year-round — the hoodoos are extraordinary in the snow.

7-Day USA Itinerary: New York City & the American Southwest

This 7-day USA itinerary combines two of America's greatest experiences — New York City and the American Southwest. Days 1–3 cover New York's iconic highlights. Days 4–7 explore Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce Canyon — the finest concentration of natural wonders in the USA.

Days 1–3: New York City

Day 1: arrive at JFK or Newark. Take the AirTrain and subway to Manhattan ($8.25). Check in to your hotel. The Brooklyn Bridge (walk across from Manhattan to Brooklyn — 1.3 miles, 30 minutes — extraordinary views of the Manhattan skyline). DUMBO (the most photogenic neighbourhood in Brooklyn — the Manhattan Bridge framed by the cobblestone streets). The Brooklyn Bridge Park (the finest park in Brooklyn — extraordinary views of Lower Manhattan). Evening: the High Line (an elevated park on a disused railway line — the finest urban park in America). Chelsea Market (the finest food hall in New York). Day 2: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (take the ferry from Battery Park — the most iconic experience in New York, $24 — book in advance). The 9/11 Memorial and Museum (the most moving memorial in the USA). The One World Observatory (the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere — extraordinary views, $44). The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the finest art museum in the Western Hemisphere — allow 3 hours minimum). Central Park (the most famous park in the world — the Bethesda Fountain, the Bow Bridge, and Strawberry Fields). Day 3: Times Square (the most visited tourist attraction in the world). The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA — the finest modern art museum in the USA — Picasso, Warhol, Pollock, $30). The Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock observation deck — the finest view of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, $40). Fifth Avenue (the most famous shopping street in the world — Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., and the Apple Store). Evening: a Broadway show (book tickets in advance — the finest theatre in the world).

Days 4–5: Las Vegas & the Grand Canyon

Day 4: fly from New York JFK to Las Vegas (5.5 hours, from $80 one-way). Check in to a hotel on the Strip. The Las Vegas Strip (the most surreal street in the world — 4.2 miles of extraordinary casino resorts, from the Bellagio to the MGM Grand). The Bellagio Fountains (the most spectacular free show in Las Vegas — a choreographed water and light display set to music, every 30 minutes in the evening). The Fremont Street Experience (the original Las Vegas — a covered pedestrian mall with a spectacular LED canopy light show). Day 5: day trip to the Grand Canyon South Rim (4.5 hours from Las Vegas by car — hire a car or take a guided tour). The Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World — 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and 1 mile deep. The South Rim (the most accessible and most visited part of the canyon — Mather Point, Yavapai Point, and the Desert View Watchtower are the finest viewpoints). The Bright Angel Trail (the most popular hiking trail in the Grand Canyon — hike down to the 1.5-mile resthouse for extraordinary views, 3 miles return, 3 hours). Return to Las Vegas for the night.

Days 6–7: Zion & Bryce Canyon

Day 6: drive from Las Vegas to Zion National Park (2.5 hours). Zion is the most visited national park in the USA — a dramatic canyon of red and white sandstone cliffs, carved by the Virgin River. The Angels Landing hike (the most famous hike in Zion — a 5.4-mile round trip to a 1,488m summit with extraordinary views — requires a permit, $6, book in advance). The Narrows (the most unique hike in the USA — wading up the Virgin River through a slot canyon, 1 mile wide at its narrowest — extraordinary). The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (the most scenic drive in the park — 6 miles through the canyon, served by a free shuttle bus). Overnight in Springdale (the gateway town to Zion — excellent restaurants and accommodation). Day 7: drive from Zion to Bryce Canyon (1.5 hours). Bryce Canyon is the most otherworldly landscape in the USA — a vast natural amphitheatre of thousands of orange, red, and white hoodoos (tall, thin spires of rock). Sunrise Point (the finest viewpoint in Bryce Canyon — extraordinary at sunrise). The Navajo Loop Trail (the finest short hike in Bryce Canyon — 2.2 miles through the hoodoos, 1.5 hours). Drive to Salt Lake City (4 hours) or Las Vegas (2.5 hours) for onward flights.

Frequently Asked Questions

USA Itinerary New York City Grand Canyon Las Vegas Zion National Park Bryce Canyon USA 7 Days America Travel

Share this guide

Back to all guides