Your guide to New York
New York highlights
Showstopping views
See the city’s twinkling lights from the Top of the Rock Observation Deck or photograph sunsets from the Brooklyn Bridge. Whenever you book your hotels and flights to New York, the views across this city never fail to impress. At One World Observatory, sip curated cocktails after zipping up 102 storeys in 47 seconds in SkyPod Elevators.
Gourmet galavanting
New York is one big tasty treat, with every conceivable cuisine on offer. Try soul food in Harlem and slurp noodles in Koreatown. Gourmands can tick off Michelin-star menus and celebrity chef venues, along with iconic restaurants that have been on the scene for decades. Order thick-cut pastrami at Katz’s Delicatessen, where the movie ‘When Harry Met Sally’ was filmed.
Spotlight on museums
For museum hoppers, New York is a dream. Admire the Gothic Revival-style building of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which houses one of the world’s premier collections of American and European art. The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim is only a five-minute walk from The Met. And in the American Museum of Natural History, a life-size model of a blue whale and a floor dedicated to dinosaurs thrill the kids as much as the history buffs.
New York: Know before you go
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Currency | United States dollar ($) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) and UTC-4 (EDT) |
| High season | June - August |
| Low season | January - February |
Find the best time to go to New York
Weather in New York
March – May: Spring weather in New York is famously unpredictable. Expect anything from March snowstorms to May heatwaves and everything in between.
June – August: Summers are hot and humid with average highs in the 20s°C. If you notice the magical appearance of street corner umbrella vendors, a rainstorm is about to hit.
September – November: With its warm days, chilly nights and colourful foliage, New York in autumn is like the set of a Nora Ephron film. Pack your favourite cosy jumper.
December – February: With average lows below freezing, winters are cold. But they’re also full of Christmas lights and lots of outdoor ice skating rinks.
Events in New York
NYC Pride (June): Going strong since 1970, the annual Pride march in Greenwich Village is one of the largest LGBTQ+ events in the world.
The US Open (August to September): More than a million people flock to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens each summer. There’s no better place to watch the sport’s best players and soak up the only-in-NYC vibes.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree (December to January): Live performances and celebrity appearances celebrate the lighting of this iconic Christmas tree. Stand before its 50,000 colourful lights to feel the Christmas spirit and enjoy some of the city’s best people-watching.
The best neighbourhoods in New York
Queens
Visiting Long Island City’s Gantry Plaza State Park for unforgettable views of the Manhattan skyline is just one of the perks of staying in Queens. This diverse borough constantly tempts your taste buds with cuisine from all over the world. When you’re not eating, hop between attractions including the Museum of the Moving Image and the historic Bowne House, one of the oldest homes in the city.
Good for: International restaurants, museums, parks
Brooklyn
This young, hip borough is where to stay in New York if you want to experience the city’s creativity minus the foot traffic. Slower-paced than Manhattan, Brooklyn is home to trailblazing wine bars, iconic vintage shops, unconventional art venues and a dining scene that’s not afraid to push the envelope. Don’t leave without taking a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge, the city’s finest.
Good for: Theme parks, families, beaches
Bronx
New York’s only mainland borough is a lively mashup of food, music and culture. Learn about the birth of hip-hop with a musical tour of the South Bronx, or fill up on global cuisines from Latin and soul food to Italian. Vibrant street art, live music and night markets make the Bronx fun to explore, with plenty of riverside parks to relax in.
Good for: Parks, street art, hip-hop history
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan offers many different neighbourhoods rolled into one. Explore historic brownstones and cosy cafes in the West Village, or discover some of the city’s most talked-about restaurants in Tribeca. Find world-famous cocktail bars and hidden speakeasies in the Lower East Side, or shop till you drop in SoHo. Visiting in summer? Don’t miss the sandy beach in Hudson River Park.
Good for: Trendy restaurants, nightlife, brownstones
Midtown
There are iconic attractions around every corner of Midtown, from the Empire State Building’s sweeping views to Times Square’s bright lights. Art and culture fans will love the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Shoppers can get lost in historic department stores like Sak’s and Bloomingdale’s on Fifth Avenue. And foodies will love Grand Central Market, packed with international and NYC delicacies.
Good for: Landmarks, museums, shopping
Upper Manhattan
Upper Manhattan is a cultural kaleidoscope, with everything from historic jazz bars to lively street fairs and restaurants serving every cuisine you can think of. In Harlem, stroll the streets that inspired artists like Langston Hughes and Josephine Baker, then discover music history at the National Jazz Museum. Craving some green space? Rent a bike and pedal along the Hudson River Greenway.
Good for: Jazz music, green space, Black history
Things to do in New York
Family friendly things to do
Eat ice creams along Coney Island Boardwalk and feel like a giant at the miniature world of Gulliver’s Gate. For more things to do with family in New York, check out the Brooklyn Children’s Museum and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! If the kids have energy to burn, visit Williamsburg’s Domino Park which features a playground and bocce and volleyball courts.
Shopping
Leave room in your luggage (and your budget) to go shopping in New York. Splurge on Madison Avenue’s designer fashion and get retail therapy in the iconic stores of Fifth Avenue. Canal Street is a bargain hunter’s delight with its animated vendors and colourful stalls. For a more bohemian vibe, head to West Village and browse artsy souvenirs.
Take in the culture
Admire greats like van Gogh and Picasso at Manhattan’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). For new art and ideas, visit sister institute MoMA PS1 in Long Island City. Let the famous spiral ramp guide you through the Guggenheim's modern and contemporary displays, or board a boat to Ellis Island for The Statue of Liberty Museum.
Nightlife
From swanky clubs to sultry speakeasy jazz and cheesy karaoke tunes, the nightlife in New York captures the essence of the city that never sleeps. Club hop in the Meatpacking District or hang out in the trendy dive bars of the Lower East Side. Enjoy a drink in the wine bars of Hell’s Kitchen before catching a show at Theatre Row.
Places to eat
Whatever your taste buds crave, restaurants in New York serve it up. Chelsea Market is at the heart of its namesake foodie neighbourhood, where tacos lead to churros and fine wines. From Little Italy to Chinatown and Koreatown, international restaurants abound. Wear your stretchiest pants to taste your way around Astoria’s scrumptious Greek and Egyptian menus.
Free things to do
Stick to your budget with all the free things to do in New York. Wander around iconic Central Park in Manhattan, explore outdoor art at Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens and build sandcastles at Coney Island’s Brighton Beach. To see the sights from a new angle, hop on the free Staten Island Ferry. Enjoy views of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and Financial District skyscrapers.
Get ready for New York
Budget
The Big Apple is home to more billionaires than any other city. Still, budget trips to New York City are doable. Inexpensive meals are easy to find for about 30 US dollars ($). You can order a domestic beer for around $8 or a cappuccino for less than $6. Though this is a walking city, taxis are plentiful. A short ride will cost about $11.
Day trips from New York
A day trip up the Hudson can be a welcome escape from the concrete of the city. Walk the grounds at Storm King Art Center to see large-scale modern sculptures. Then continue north for a more intimate, indoor experience with modern art at Dia Beacon. Or hop on the Long Island Rail Road and head east to Montauk for its surfable beaches and boho chic shops.
Getting around New York
Getting around New York on foot is a breeze, especially in Manhattan and Brooklyn. But riding the subway is quick and convenient. Get a MetroCard or use the OMNY contactless payment system to take advantage of mass transit. You can also catch buses or ferries for a more scenic option. Or use the Citi Bike sharing system to travel by pedal power.
