First Timer’s Guide to New York City
You’re finally doing it! You’re thinking about booking your bucketlist trip to the Big Apple, the city that never sleeps! Now what? Planning a trip to New York City can be overwhelming. There’s so much to see and do, and so much ground to cover. Here’s my first timer’s guide to New York City:
When is the best time to visit New York City?
Each season in NYC is so different, and magical in its own way. You’ll probably want to experience the city in all four seasons, but the temperatures are drastically different, so this is something to keep in mind. I’d suggest Spring (April/May) or early Fall (September/October). The temperatures in Spring and early Fall are similar, in that they can reach as high as 70 to 75 degrees, with chilly (but bearable) evenings in the 40’s to low 50’s. It won’t be too warm nor too cold, the temperature is just right. Visiting in the early Spring (April) will also allow you to enjoy sakura season, or if you visit in late October/early November, you can catch the beautiful foliage! Of course, Christmas in New York is like no other, but you need to prepared to handle freezing temps (10’s to high 30’s).
How long do you need to visit?
This can be tricky. New York City is massive! There is something for everyone, so the time you need can vary. Definitely, a layover won’t cut it. To get just the main and most famous attractions in, you may be able to squeeze them in a weekend, but you’ll have to be willing to spend the entire day out. Allow 5-7 days to enjoy the major landmarks without too much pressure to jam pack everything. If you have the time available, definitely spend two weeks to explore a lot more beyond the typical tourist attractions.
The Five Boroughs
Most people think of New York City as just Manhattan, but NYC is made up for five boroughs — Manhattan (also known as New York), Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island. This is why I suggest two weeks when visiting the city, because there’s lots to see in every borough. When planning your trip, make a list of the sights you want to check out. It’ll be easier to visit sights in one borough each day, than trying to travel around to different boroughs all in the same day. Staying in a borough outside of Manhattan may also be a bit cheaper, so that’s something to keep in mind as well!
Which airport should I fly into?
There are two main airports in NYC: John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia International Airport, which are both located in Queens. Most international flights will arrive into JFK though, as the airport is much larger compared to LaGuardia. Flights into JFK will probably be cheaper, but it doesn’t hurt to compare prices. In terms of distance, if you’re staying in Manhattan, LaGuardia will be a closer option (the M60 bus goes direct into LaGuardia from Manhattan). If you’re staying in Brooklyn, JFK will be a closer option, as you can take the A train directly to the AirTrain.
Another option you may want to look into if you’re staying in Manhattan is Newark-Liberty International Airport. Every now and then, flying into Newark may save you some money, but keep in mind that this airport in located in New Jersey. Getting from Jersey to NYC can be pricey, so make sure to factor that in. You may want to keep Newark as a last resort.
Where to stay?
Of course, the majority of the sights on your list will probably be located in Manhattan. It’ll be convenient for you to stay in Manhattan, perhaps in Midtown or Lower Manhattan. However, accommodation in these areas can be pricey, so consider staying in Brooklyn or Queens, which are easily accessible by train. Long Island City in Queens is just across the river from Manhattan, as are the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO.
How to Get Around
No need to rent a car! In fact, renting a car will probably give you more of a headache, as parking around NYC is very difficult unless you’re willing to pay crazy prices to park in a garage. Unless you’re planning to stay further away from the boroughs, like in Long Island for example, don’t rent a car. Even if you are staying further away from the 5 boroughs, you can always take Amtrak trains/ Long Island Railroad which connect to the subway stations.
The absolute cheapest and easiest way to get around NYC is by taking the subway. There are over 400 subway stations spread out over all the boroughs except for Staten Island. A ride each way is $2.75, and you can load any amount of money on a MetroCard, which will make for a nice souvenir from your trip. Recently, the MTA has added tap & go features on buses and subways, so if you have the feature on your credit cards or cell phone, you don’t have to worry about forgetting or losing your Metro Card.
**Taking the subway can save you lots of travel time, but keep in mind that it can be overwhelming. Looking at a map can be even more confusing, as there are so many lines and many of them do intersect. If you’re taking the subway for the first time, it can be confusing knowing which train to take in what direction, especially since the uptown and downtown trains will often be on the same platform. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions at the booths inside the station. Also, download the Rome2Rio and MyMTA apps to help you plan ahead.
Our subway system is also not perfect. Traveling during rush hour and on weekends may add some travel time, as signal problems are common and a lot of track maintenance is done on weekends, taking some stations out of service (it’s all part of the New Yorker experience). Also, if you’re visiting from Europe, you may be accustomed to more cleaner and sophisticated subway stations. While some of our stations are well known, many of them are not the cleanest, and you will find often homeless people either sleeping in the stations or on empty train cars.
Buses are also part of the MTA system, but not the fastest mode of transportation, as you can often get stuck in traffic. A bus ride will also cost $2.75.
You may have already been eyeing the famous yellow taxis .. but keep this as your last resort. This will be the priciest method of transportation, as the meter runs every minute. If you’re riding through NYC traffic, you can end up with a very hefty bill. Uber and Lyft are also common, but again, rides can add up.
There are also ferries you can take for free, like the ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island (there’s no train into Staten Island). You can also take ferries from Brooklyn to Manhattan, which is also a great and cheaper alternative to the pricier sunset boat rides in Manhattan.
If you’re visiting Roosevelt Island, you can also take a cable car from Manhattan (worth $2.75) for a unique perspective overlooking the Queensboro Bridge and the rest of the city.
Places to Visit
With all the movies filmed in NYC, you will have so many places on your list to visit. If you’re limited on time, make sure to visit these landmarks first:
- Central Park (best time to visit is in Spring or Fall)
- Empire State Building
- Grand Central Station
- Rockefeller Center
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- Statue of Liberty
- Times Square
- Brooklyn Bridge
- 9/11 Memorial and the Oculus
If you have a bit more time, check out some of my favorites: The Vessel, The Edge, Top of the Rock, Riverside Park, Williamsburg Waterfront, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, the Met Museum and the Met Cloisters, the New York and Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Coney Island, the High Line, Roosevelt Island
You can also venture out beyond the five boroughs and explore the rest of New York State. If you love some history, check out these beautiful historic estates around New York: https://mybucketlistjourneys.blog/10-historic-estates-in-new-york-you-should-visit/
If you want to experience a grand shopping experience, check out the biggest store in the world with 11 floors of shopping: Macy’s on 34th St. You can also window shop along Fifth Avenue, or if you have some coins, you can treat yourself!
Tips from a New Yorker
New York City is a busy city, and most of us are on the go constantly. People will be nice most of the times, but if you need directions, your best bet is to ask a worker in the station booths. Sometimes, if we’re running late for work or just on the go, we may not have time to stop for directions.
Don’t take impatience personally. If you’re walking around slowly near the subway stations entrances or while crossing the street, we may get a bit annoyed. Again, we’re just used to a fast pace.
In busy areas like Times Square and the subway, take care of your valuables. Like any big city, pickpocketing can happen.
Being the city that never sleeps, walking around at night is not unsafe like it would be in other parts of the world. There’s always something going on. However, always be mindful of your surroundings. If taking the subway at night, get in subway cars with other people around.
New Yorkers don’t always have time to sit down for lunch, so enjoy one of NY’s staple on the go foods: hot dogs, pretzels, and that good ol’ dollar slice pizza!
Don’t eat at all the “tourist trap” restaurants. Many of these places can be quite expensive due to the location (like many restaurants in Times Square) and the quality of the food is not that great. Ask around or do some research online for the best restaurants as recommended by locals.
If you’re a first time visitor to NYC, welcome! I hope this guide helps! If you have any more questions let me know in the comments! Visited NYC before? What were some of your favorite things to do?
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