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One Day in Queens Itinerary (Planned by a Local, With a Map)
👉 Jump to: Where to Stay | One Day in Queens | Map | Tips | Get Printable Version
While most tourists focus on Manhattan and Brooklyn for their New York City trip, the borough of Queens deserves its flowers for some of the best attractions, food, and hospitality throughout the urban jungle.
My planned day in Queens will take you along the East River for a waterfront stroll, visit world-class museums, and dine on the best Greek food outside the Mediterranean in Astoria.
Spending a week in NYC? Check out my 5 Day New York City Itinerary to help you plan your entire trip. Without further ado, let’s get into your 1-day Queens itinerary.
Where to Stay if You Only Have One Day in Queens
For a 1-day visit to Queens, these are my top picks for where to stay:
- 💵 Budget – Hyatt Place Long Island City
- 🛏️ Mid-Range – LIC Hotel
- 💎 Luxury – Boro Hotel
- ❤️ For Couples – Boro Hotel
- ✈️ Near LaGuardia Airport – Holiday Inn Express & Suites Woodside LaGuardia Airport
- ✈️ Near JFK Airport – Marriott New York JFK Airport
- 🏖️ Near Rockaway Beach – The Rockaway Hotel
- 💎 Closest Manhattan Luxury – Four Seasons Hotel New York
- 🛏️ Closest Manhattan Mid-Range – Fitzpatrick Manhattan
- 🌉 Closest Brooklyn Option: Henry Norman Hotel
For more, check out my full guide to where to stay in New York City.
One Day in Queens Itinerary
🖨️ Get a printable version of this itinerary
9:00 AM – Breakfast & Gantry Plaza State Park
The perfect start to a day in Queens is a stroll along the East River at Gantry Plaza State Park, ranked as one of our picks for the best New York State parks to visit. But first, you’ll want a bite to eat and a coffee order to go.
Since the park spans 12 acres, I’ll advise a few spots close to the water’s edge. Stepping Stone Café offers a limited menu of mainly pastries, but delicious coffee to go. Somedays Bakery has a broader menu of croissant sandwiches, scones, and dessert.
If you’re craving a proper breakfast, I highly recommend Café Henri for French bistro-style brunch. The restaurant is a bit further inland, but still only a 10-15 minute walk from Gantry Plaza State Park.
👉 Pro Tip: Long Island City is the ideal neighborhood to book a hotel for easy access to Queens and Manhattan. However, if you’re coming from Manhattan, take the 7 train to the Vernon Blvd./Jackson Avenue Station. It’s the first stop after Grand Central in Manhattan, and you’ll have an easy walk to the waterfront.
It’s worth mentioning that spring, late summer, and fall are the best times to visit. While Manhattan has more things to do indoors, you’ll get the most out of Queens when the weather is suitable for outdoor activities and plenty of walking.
With your coffee in hand, take a long stroll along Gantry Park and check out the impeccable views of Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building, and the United Nations from afar. The manicured gardens, playground facilities, and greenery are a breath of fresh air, contrasting the usual buzz of city streets.
If you want to take a quick detour after your walk, consider stopping by one of Long Island City’s breweries. Since the area formerly consisted of industrial warehouses, many of these buildings have been converted into breweries offering plenty of space for large groups.
Focal Point Beer Co. is a great spot to take a break outdoors when the sun is shining. If it happens to rain (fairly common), Fifth Hammer Brewing Company has plenty of space indoors, as well as alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks. Both locations are family and pet-friendly during daytime hours.
12:30 PM – Lunch & Museums
After spending a relaxing morning by the water, it’s time to head to nearby Astoria for lunch, local shopping, and a museum.
To get there, you’ll hop on the 7 train at the Hunters Point Ave. station heading towards Flushing-Main Street, Queens (don’t get on the Manhattan-bound line). Ride the train for three stops to Queensborough Plaza, where you’ll get off and transfer to the Astoria-bound N or W train.
I recommend getting off at the 36th Avenue or Broadway station stop in Astoria so you’re within walking distance of my top lunch picks.
Mrs. Georgia, located on 31st Avenue, offers incredible Eastern European dishes and has my favorite Georgian dumplings. DiWine, also on 31st Avenue, is my favorite stop for pizza. Cafe Triskell on 36th Avenue made my list of best restaurants in New York City, an authentic French bistro spot known for its savory crepes, all made by French chef Philippe Fallait.
Now it’s time to choose a museum, and Astoria is home to two of the best museums in New York City: The Museum of the Moving Image and The Noguchi Museum.
The Museum of the Moving Image is located on 36th Avenue, very close to Cafe Triskell, if that was your choice for lunch.
Highly interactive, this incredible museum features original screenplays, drawings, and manuscripts from famous cinema such as The Sopranos, The Muppets, Sesame Street, Mrs. Doubtfire, and more. You can spend 2+ hours here learning the entire process of filmmaking in a very family-friendly setting. The interactive displays and games will keep children occupied.
Your second option is the Noguchi Museum, a sculpture and design museum and garden founded by Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi in 1985.
I recommend visiting here if you’re a fan of intricate stone and woodwork, as the museum has a large collection of rotating exhibits showcasing Noguchi’s extensive collection. The outdoor garden is more of a sanctuary, with a zen atmosphere that won’t feel like you’re in New York City.
You can expect to spend about 1.5 hours here viewing the interior and exterior sculpture pieces. If you’re interested in more sculptures, consider making a quick stop at Socrates Sculpture Park, just a minute walk across the street. Located on the East River and always featuring a new multi-media installation, this is one of Queens best hidden gems.
A worthy detour is a quick trip to Lockwood, a local company with a vintage clothing store, paper shop, and gift store. Astoria takes great pride in supporting local businesses, with many stores being family-owned. Lockwood has a fantastic selection of trinkets and gifts from candles to kitchenware, for yourself or to give as a gift.
All three shops are on Broadway, so you can feasibly pop in for 30 minutes! Lockwood has a few other locations throughout Queens and Brooklyn.
5:00 PM – Astoria Park & Dinner
Before dinner, you’ll want to spend the evening catching the sunset at Astoria Park, with 59.96 acres of sprawling greenery under the trees, a track, playground, walking paths along the East River, and New York City’s oldest and largest swimming pool.
Since the park is roughly a 30-40 minute walk from both museums, feel free to take an Uber there if you need a break from walking.
The tranquility of the park is the perfect end to the day. With a long stretch of trails on the water, I recommend downloading the Citi Bike app and enjoying a long bike ride near the water’s edge.
New York City requires plenty of walking, and the weather can change on a whim with little warning. To be prepared for what to bring, check out our comprehensive New York City packing list.
There’s one thing that’s an absolute must in Astoria: have an authentic Greek dinner. Astoria is home to some of the best Greek restaurants you’ll find in the United States.
With an abundance of options throughout the neighborhood, I’ll offer my personal favorites in terms of ambiance, food quality, and popularity. They are:
- Broadway: Aliada or Bahari Estiatorio
- 30th Avenue: Nisi Estiatorio
- Astoria Blvd: Anassa Taverna Astoria
- Ditmars Blvd (Close to Astoria Park): Taverna Kyclades or Telly’s Taverna
The food quality is excellent at all locations. Be sure to order some classic Greek dishes. I always enjoy the saganaki, halloumi, tzatziki, and baklava for dessert. Aliada has my favorite lemon potatoes, and one salmon order at Taverna Kyclades is large enough for two people!
If you still have some energy after dinner, feel free to grab a drink at one of Astoria’s best cocktail bars, well-known for community, ambiance, and great drinks. Honey Fitz and Rosalie’s on Broadway are always full of life, and Mosaic on 24th Avenue feels like a vintage living room with couches and dim lights.
Prefer a movie night? Regal UA Kaufman Astoria on 36th Avenue is just down the street from the Museum of the Moving Image, offering multiple showtimes for Hollywood’s latest blockbusters.
1 Day in Queens – Itinerary Map
Queens 1 Day Itinerary Planning Tips
Tip #1 – Familiarize yourself with the subway system
While New York City’s subway system is vast and affordable compared to other modes of transportation, it can be challenging to navigate for first-time visitors. Getting to Queens requires transferring train lines, especially if you’re staying in Manhattan or Brooklyn. Download the Google Play app for the easiest breakdown of different routes.
Tip #2 – Book a Manhattan hotel near 59th & Lexington Ave
If you’re staying in Manhattan and spending a lot of time in Queens, be sure to book a hotel near Lexington & 59th Street. The train will get you to Queensborough Plaza in about 10-15 minutes, where you’ll be able to take the N or W line to Astoria, or the 7 train to anywhere else in Queens.
The Four Seasons Hotel New York is one of the most luxurious hotels in Manhattan, while Hotel Fitzpatrick offers a comparable guest experience at a more affordable price point.
Tip #3 – Try to plan your Queens trip for spring, summer, or fall
With so many things to do in New York City, you’ll want to plan according to the season. This guide is heavily dependent on suitable weather for walking, so be sure to consider that when booking.
Spring and fall are the best times to visit, with summer being a great time to visit Rockaway Beach to escape the heat. The winter months, from early January to late March, will limit outdoor activities.
Tip #4 – Step out of your food comfort zone in Queens
Queens is the best borough for international cuisine. I would argue it’s the best area in the city, maybe even in the world, for sampling different dishes.
Since my guide covers one day in Queens, I focused on Astoria’s Greek restaurants. However, the extensive food scene allows you to “eat all over the world.”
For future reference, Jackson Heights is known for its Nepali and Indian cuisine, Flushing for Chinese and Korean dishes, and Roosevelt Avenue for Latin American street food. Queens is the most ethnically diverse area in the world [source], so the food scene can’t be understated.
Tip # 5 – Practice extra safety in quieter neighborhoods
While New York City is safe to visit, certain areas in Queens can be quieter compared to Manhattan. Long Island City and Astoria are safe at all hours, but practice extra caution on Steinway Street late at night.
If you venture out further, be mindful of Roosevelt Avenue’s bustling bar scene and the quieter streets of the Bushwick/Ridgewood border. These areas are generally safe, but can be more residential with a lower police/tourist presence.
Tip # 6 – Take the ferry to Manhattan from Long Island City
If you need to get to Manhattan from Queens, I highly recommend taking the ferry from Long Island City. Departing every 25-30 minutes during peak hours, the ferry takes you to East 34th Street in under 10 minutes. The ferry departs from Gantry Plaza State Park’s ferry dock. You can check out the routes and schedules for more information.
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Thank you for reading, and I hope you feel prepared for an adventurous day in Queens! Planning on spending another day in Manhattan? Check out my one-day in New York City guide to hit all the major attractions.
