The 14-mile walk “from the tippity top of Manhattan to the tippity bottom of Manhattan” is known as the Broad City Challenge. This ambitious walk was popularized by the Comedy Central sitcom Broad City (the show that made Ilana Glazer famous). Whether you’re a Broad City fan or not, the Broad City Challenge is a great way to see New York City while testing your limits and walking shoes.
When to go
The best time to conquer the Broad City Challenge is during the spring and fall, when it’s not too hot or too cold. The sweet spot is in the spring when the days are warmer and the days are longer, giving you more daylight.
The essentials
The most important thing to bring on your 14-mile walk is a comfortable pair of sneakers made for walking or running.
Because you’ll be walking for many hours, you’ll want to pack light. A small crossbody bag (like the Uniqlo sling bag) or backpack can hold all your essentials for the day. Bring a reusable water bottle to fill up at parks and cafes, and don’t forget to bring sun protection (hats, sunglasses, sunscreen).
The timing
The challenge takes about 8 to 12 hours to complete, depending on your walking pace and how many pit stops you make. It took my friends and me 9 hours to make it from Dyckman in Inwood to Battery Park in FiDi, with stops for snacks and beers along the way. Plan to be out of your house for 12 hours to give yourself time to eat lunch and dinner.
If you want to avoid walking at night, start your day early at 8 a.m. We started at 12 p.m. and got home around 11 p.m. after enjoying a celebratory dinner in The Seaport.
The average walking pace is 2.5 to 4 mph, so theoretically, you could complete the challenge in as little as 4 hours. But the beauty of the Broad City Challenge is stopping along the way while you get to know New York City.
The route
The tippity top of Manhattan is off the 215 subway stop on the 1 train, but your adventure should start at the Dyckman stop on the A train. The A train at Dyckman will drop you off near The Met Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park. The hike to the Met Cloister is uphill, so you’ll make up the extra steps from starting at 200th instead of 215th.
After walking up to the Met Cloisters, you’ll walk down Manhattan until you reach Battery Park. The most direct route is down Broadway, but you’ll want to veer off track to hit points of interest and walk through Central Park.
Pit Stops
The Met Cloisters
This museum on a hill features The Met’s collection of European medieval art. The Cloisters was built to emulate a religious monastery, typical of medieval times. Rooms with ancient art surround a quaint courtyard with a garden. It’s especially lovely in the spring when the flowers are in bloom.
A visit to the Met Cloisters will take less than an hour. (Honestly, you can do it in 30 minutes.) Tickets for residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are pay-as-you-wish. The suggested donation is $30 per person, but we only paid $5. Non-residents will need to pay the full 30, but if you go with at least one New Yorker, you’ll be covered because they only ask for one proof of residency.
El Flordita in Washington Heights
Floridita Restaurant or El Floridita serves delicious Cuban-Dominican fusion food. It’s located on 177th and Broadway, just past the George Washington Bridge. Grab an order of ham croquetas and empanadas for the road to enjoy on your walk. You won’t find croquetas or empanadas in the glass case, so ask at the counter. It’s kind of a “if you know you know” vibe. Bonus points if you can order in Spanish.
The Hungarian Pastry Shop in Morningside Heights
Around 120th Street, you’ll reach the Columbia University campus. The Hungarian Pastry Shop is an Ivy League hangout on 111th, right before Central Park. In the cafe, you’ll find students working on papers over coffee and treats. You can grab some cookies or a traditional Hungarian strudel to enjoy at the church gardens across the street.
Central Park
The best place to take a well-deserved break is in Central Park. You can kick off your shoes and lie in the grass for as long or as little as you like. A walk through Central Park adds greenery to your adventure.
Times Square
No matter how much New Yorkers try to avoid Times Square, a walk down Broadway will take you right through it, so brace yourself for the worst.
Bryant Park
A block away from Broadway, you’ll run into Bryant Park. It’s a nice detour to escape the craziness of Times Square.
This is a great place to use the bathroom in Midtown. The public bathroom can have a long line, but it’s very well-maintained — there’s literally classical music playing in the bathroom.
We stopped at the Talea taproom nex to Bryant Park for a beer. Talea is a woman-owned brewery from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with multiple taprooms in the city. It’s a great place to cool off and order a refreshing, fruit-forward brew.
Prince Street Pizza in Soho
You can’t walk 14 miles in Manhattan without getting a slice of pizza. Take a delicious detour to Prince Street Pizza in Soho. Prince Street is known for its square grandma slices. You can expect a line, but it’s worth the hype.
Chinatown
From Soho, you can walk straight down Broadway, but I recommend going through Chinatown, especially if the sun has already set. The lit-up lanterns and colorful signage of Chinatown are charming at night.
If you aren’t already full, there are so many casual grab-and-go spots to get dumplings or rice rolls from. For a food tour of Chinatown, check out this guide.
Charging Bull
Right on Broadway, you’ll run into Wall Street’s Charging Bull. Even late at night, tourists line up to take photos with the bull. Once you see the bull, you’re just steps away from the finish line at Battery Park.
Battery Park
The final stop and end to your walk is Battery Park. Lady Liberty will be lit up in the distance to congratulate you on finishing the Broad City Challenge. You did it!
Celebrate your success
A good area for dinner after your adventure or a celebratory beer is The Seaport. Fair warning, it’s another 15-minute walk back up Manhattan to reach it, but you could always take a cab.
Looking for a way less challenging NYC walking tour? Check out this Chinatown Food Crawl.
There’s a lot more to New York than the city. Check out these New York state guides from an NYC local:
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