New York is maybe not the best place to start a family or a serious relationship but it is definitely a cool place for doing business and having a lot of fun. It attracts so many tourists with numerous sites and an interesting combination of skyscrapers, industrial sites, and gardens.
New York has a plethora of places to surprise theatre-goers, art lovers, and sweet teeth. For more ideas, check our previous post in which we share the most romantic places in the city for travelers.
What to do in New York?
To name a few places, we recommend enjoying the calm and relaxing atmosphere of Central Park, Bryant Park, The High Line, and Brooklyn Botanical Garden. If you feel hungry for art, go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Radio City Music Hall, and the Guggenheim. Theatre lovers should definitely book tickets to the Metropolitan Opera House, Apollo Theatre, or any of the Broadway theatres.
If you are more about industrial beauty, head for Grand Central Terminal. This nice train station is located in midtown Manhattan and attracts many tourists who want to take a look at its architectural beauty and grab a snack (quick and easy in a cafe or sophisticated at the Oyster Bar). Empire State Building will give you tremendous views of the city and can become a perfect start and end of your day trip around the city.
And if you want to feel the vibe of the city, go to Times Square of course.
When to visit New York?
New York has something to offer to tourists in any season. So, whatever part of the year you choose to travel, it will be good.
In winter the average temperatures are quite cold (40°F to 42°F), but cold weather also means cheaper hotel fees and beautiful Christmas decorations.
Spring is so charming. Trees start to blossom, streets get lively and full of people. If you choose spring, make sure you take an umbrella with you.
Average summer temperatures are 77°F to 82°F, which makes it a nice hot season to explore the city. Humidity is quite high. But still, summer is the most popular season with visitors.
Autumn is getting cold again but still remains beautiful. Remember that Autumn also brings Thanksgiving day and a lot of tourists, so plan your visit carefully not to get in the crowd.
What to eat in New York?
The city has a diversity of nice places where you can eat and get an incredible experience. You will find here both small cute cafes and exquisite restaurants. What are the must-tries? Though it may sound too simple, you should try NYC-style pizza. You should try Joe’s Pizza and Grimaldi’s Pizzaria, where you can even take pizza in slices.
Another thing to try is a bagel which can go with cream cheese and different flavors). Bagel Bob’s and Ess-a-Bagel will be very good options.
In New York, you can find numerous very expensive restaurants with quality food. If you are ready to pay, make a reservation at Eleven Madison Park or Le Bernadin. If you expect cheaper prices, try Butter and Scarpetta.
New York is also famous for its bars and breweries, which you shouldn’t neglect if want to feel the taste of the city. Rooftop bars will surprise every city guest and let you enjoy New York from the top.
How to get around the city?
Be ready to walk a lot. New York is a busy city with much traffic all day. So, even if you like driving, it is still a good idea to get around the city on foot. You will see many people walking during the rush hour. However, mind that walking at night in less populated areas can be dangerous, and then it is better to take a taxi.
A distributed system of the subway will assist you on the way well. Though buses are also affordable and comfortable, they still struggle with cars and cabs on the roads, so the subway is probably a preferred means of transport. Subway works 24/7 and is rather cheap (about $3 per ride). To navigate the subway, use letters and numbers and don’t pay that much attention to the color (color can be the same for different lines).
Try to avoid renting a car. You will spend too much time in traffic jams.
As alternative ways of enjoying the city, you can go on a boat tour or even check the views of the heights on board the helicopter.
New York is a densely populated city that welcomes diversity. Though it has gained a bad reputation for being unsafe, it has changed a lot today. Keep close to areas that are well-lit and are not isolated, and you will be fine.
