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New York · United States
New York
Everyone arrives with a Manhattan checklist. The trips people remember are the ones that spent a day in Brooklyn or Queens instead.
Stays from €195 a night
The place
What New York is actually like
Manhattan's grid makes New York the easiest big city in the world to navigate: numbered streets run east–west, avenues north–south, and twenty blocks is a mile. Below 14th Street the grid dissolves into the older, more interesting tangle of the Village, SoHo and the Lower East Side.
The outer boroughs are where the city actually lives. Brooklyn alone would be the fourth-largest city in America; Queens is the most linguistically diverse place on earth. Both are minutes from Manhattan by subway and both reward a whole day.
New York is expensive, but its two greatest pleasures — walking and eating — scale down beautifully. A $4 slice, a bench in Prospect Park and a free ferry to Staten Island is a genuinely excellent afternoon.
Timing
When to visit
Honest seasonality — including the months we would not recommend.
- Busiest
Apr – Jun
Best overall
Mild, green, and the city is outdoors again. Rates climb through May.
- Balanced
Jul – Aug
Hot and humid
Sticky and sometimes oppressive, but hotel rates soften and rooftops are in full swing.
- Busiest
Sep – Oct
The best month is October
Clear, crisp and the parks turn. The single most reliable window of the year.
- Quietest
Nov – Mar
Cold, with December excepted
January and February are the cheapest months by a distance. December is the opposite.
Neighbourhoods
Where to stay in New York
Each area suits a different trip. Pick the one that matches yours.
Lower East Side
Downtown energy, great bars, and better value than anywhere else below 14th
- Nightlife
- Food
- Value
West Village
Low-rise, tree-lined and the prettiest part of Manhattan
- Couples
- Walking
- Restaurants
Midtown East
Central, well connected and where the honest hotel value in Manhattan sits
- First visits
- Business
- Transport
Williamsburg
Across the river with the best Manhattan skyline view and its own scene
- Design hotels
- Repeat visits
- Nightlife
Stays
Popular hotels in New York
Live prices from our accommodation partners for a sample three-night stay.
Things to do
What to do in New York
- Walk the Brooklyn Bridge toward Manhattan at sunrise, not the other way
- The Met, then straight into Central Park through the back
- The Staten Island Ferry — free, and the best Statue of Liberty view there is
- Smorgasburg or Prospect Park on a Saturday
- A jazz set at the Village Vanguard or Smalls
- The Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side
Eating and drinking
- A pizza slice standing up, folded — anything else is a tourist tell
- Bagel with cream cheese and lox, from a shop with a queue and no seats
- Roosevelt Avenue in Queens for the best street food in the country
- A martini in an old midtown bar that has not changed since 1962
Book ahead
Tours, tickets and day trips
Practicalities
Things worth knowing
Tap in with your phone
OMNY has replaced MetroCards. Tap a contactless card or phone and the weekly fare caps automatically.
Tipping is not optional
18–22% at table service, and card readers now default to prompts. Budget for it — menu prices are not the price.
Sales tax is added at the till
Around 8.875% in the city, never shown on the shelf price.
Book the observation decks with timed slots
Top of the Rock, Edge and Summit all sell out at sunset, which is the only slot worth having.
Orientation
New York at a glance
Questions
New York FAQ
How many days do you need in New York?
Five nights is the point at which you can do the Manhattan highlights and still give a full day to Brooklyn or Queens, which is what makes the trip.
Which airport should I use?
JFK has the AirTrain to the subway and the widest international network. Newark is often cheaper and faster to reach lower Manhattan. LaGuardia is closest but mostly domestic.
Is a tourist pass worth it?
Only with a dense museum-and-observatory itinerary. If your plan is mostly walking, parks and eating — which is the better plan — it will not pay back.
Is the subway safe?
Yes, and it runs 24 hours, which no other major US system does. Normal urban awareness applies, particularly on late-night platforms.
Elsewhere
