New York City Travel Guide

Views can be seen from the top of the One World Observatory, Rockefeller Center, or Empire State Building. Start your museum tour at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is located on the northeastern side of Central Park. Then, make your way north several blocks to the Guggenheim Museum and eventually to the Museum of the City of New York, one of the best venues to study the Big Apple’s history.

Visit Little Italy for cannolis and Chinatown for dim food. Visit a jazz club in Harlem, look around the numerous independent art galleries in Chelsea, go shopping on Fifth Avenue, and see the Statue of Liberty.

You could explore Central Park’s zoo, carousel, lakes, and ice rink on your own for the whole day. A variety of gardens and meadows are great places to people-watch and, on lovely days, host spontaneous musical performances. Going on a trip in the summer? Be sure to review the Shakespeare in the Park schedule.

Do you favor live music, movies, and sports? Visit Yankee Stadium to see the New York Yankees, Citi Field to watch the New York Mets, or Madison Square Garden to watch the New York Knicks. Find the websites for the movies and TV series you enjoy. Just a few of the movies that have been filmed here include Seinfeld, Sex and the City, “When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “Serendipity,” and “Home Alone 2.”

While there are many attractions in New York, some of the more intriguing ones are almost certain to be the ones you happen upon by accident while traveling to another location. You can find whatever you’re looking for in New York. Simply don’t try to accomplish everything in a single trip.

Time Zone

Eastern Standard Time

Ideal Time to Visit

Summer is one of the best times to visit New York since it is a city that is constantly celebrating something. The season for outdoor concerts is well underway. The city’s parks are full of free movies and theatre productions, there are always street vendors around, and there are always street fairs. But at train stations, it can get hot, there can be a lot of people waiting, and the temperature can rise in the city’s high-rises. If you think this sounds miserable, go between Thanksgiving and New Year’s when it’s cooler and the department store displays are decorated for the season. The three main outdoor ice rinks in Manhattan are open at this time, Rockefeller Center is decorated with a massive Christmas tree, and the holiday light displays are the most extravagant you’ve ever seen.

Facts to Consider

New York is a city made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. The majority of the city’s tourist destinations are in Manhattan, with a handful also located in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.

In Manhattan, there is no need to drive. The city has a robust public transportation infrastructure that makes it simple to travel by subway, bus, cab, and foot to almost everywhere. While there are many Uber and Lyft options, parking can be difficult and pricey. In the meantime, the metro is always open.

The city of New York moves quickly. Remember to stand on the right side of the escalator so hasty commuters can walk on the left while you move aside to check your phone.

The New York City subway system is one of the largest public transportation systems in the world. It runs on Staten Island and connects Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Cost each trip is $2.75. For $33, a seven-day pass that covers both trains and buses is offered.

Buses: A network of buses makes it simple to go to locations that are infrequently served by adjacent train stations as well as to LaGuardia Airport in New York. Bus fares for one person are $2.75. A seven-day transportation pass that covers both trains and buses costs $33. Buses might be useful, but occasionally traffic can make them simple to outwalk.

In good weather, using a ferry is one of the greatest methods to get between the boroughs of New York. Staten Island, the eastern side of Manhattan, the western shore of Brooklyn, and Queens are all connected via ferries. Each ride costs $2.75. On New York ferries, passes for the subway and buses are not accepted. Staten Island Ferry rides are uncharged.

Taxis: Cabs are readily available throughout Manhattan, but can be a bit elusive in some areas of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Northern Manhattan and the outskirts of Manhattan are served by green taxis. Look for a cab with its light on, then raise your arm to hail it. All cabs in New York City must accept credit cards and have meters.

Best Hotels

The Plaza

Address: 768 5th Ave., New York, NY 10019

This hotel is for you if money is no object and you’ve always wanted to stay in a castle. It is located across the street from Central Park’s southern boundary and was constructed to mimic a French château. The Plaza is a favorite location for filmmakers. It was used to film “The Way We Were” with Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand and “Home Alone 2” with Macaulay Culkin. The Plaza, which is renowned for its afternoon tea service, had a $450 million makeover in 2008.

The Peninsula New York

Address: 700 5th Ave., New York, NY, 10019