10-20 and 24-70.
The long lens would only be useful to pick out details. I used a 55-250 to grab the flatiron building and the top of the chrysler building (both atop from the skyscrapers). No point taking the nifty, its only a stop better than the 24-70.
Do take a gorillapod if you have one, you can use it on top of the rock. You can get a ticket for there that lets you go up twice in a day - go up day and night.
I went up the empire state for sunset, so got both night and day up there too.
Both are open until the early hours, so plenty of time. They give very different views so its worth doing both of them.
B&H if you are feeling spendthrifty, even if you aren't its worth going for a quick look around.
If you are in times square walk south on Broadway until you get to Macys at 34th (you won't miss it!) now turn west (away from the empire state) along 34th for 2 blocks, you'll see the green window shades on the opposite side of the road as you get to 9th.
Look around your hotel lobby, I found a little card that promised a free gift with a purchase, I got a small duffle bag.
USS Intrepid has the space shuttle on board at the moment - worth a look just for the ship and aircraft anyway. I assume its re-opened after Sandy.
Remember to walk Brooklyn Bridge.
The ferry that takes you to liberty island and ellis island is about $15 I think, free entry to both, the statue was closed when I went but I think you have to pay to get to the very top ? not sure.
If you wish to go to the WTC site you need to book ahead, tickets are free (although I think there is an entrance charge for the museum - was not open when I was there).
I walked as much as possible - no point sitting on a train when you are exploring a city! But the subway system is dead easy to figure out. You can buy a "pay as you go" kind of ticket. I forget what its called but you buy a card and put say $10 on it and then just use it until you've had $10 worth of trips.
