New York holidays

People live lifetimes in the Big Apple without experiencing a fraction of its galleries, parks, pizza joints, cocktail bars and Broadway shows. Holidays to New York are filled with endless possibilities. With eight million residents spread over five boroughs, you’ll never run out of things to do, whether it’s devouring dumplings in Chinatown, catching a Yankees game or watching the sunset from the Staten Island ferry. Our best advice: Save your sleep for the flight home.

New York holiday 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

Holidays to New York are 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, holidays to New York are a dream. Admire the Gothic Revival-style building of The Metropolitan Museum of Art that 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.

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The best neighbourhoods in New York

Hunter's Point South Park

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 Bridge

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

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

The Oculus

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

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

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.

Plan your holiday to New York

Budget

The Big Apple is home to more billionaires than any other city. Still, cheap holidays in 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.

FAQs about New York holidays

English is mostly what you'll hear when chatting with locals. From friendly greetings to colourful local lingo, you'll probably add a few new words to your vocabulary during your city break in New York.
With an average rainfall of 14 cm, July is the rainiest month to go on a New York holiday. When the weather turns, venture indoors and make the most of the city's art exhibits, cafes, shopping centres and more.
Organise your New York holiday for January and you'll be there when conditions are at their coolest. -6ºC (21ºF) is as cold as it gets.
With temperatures reaching a high of 30ºC (86ºF), July is the hottest month in New York.
New York is generally considered a safe destination for travellers, especially within the many tourist areas. As with all travel, pack your common sense and you’ll likely be just fine.
Whether you're a go-big-or-go-home traveller or a wherever-the-road-leads explorer, the cost of your city break in New York will be shaped in part by your plans. You'll want to factor in everything from activities to meals, as well as your New York flights and hotels.
The United States dollar (USD) is the official currency. From buying souvenirs to tipping, keeping a little cash handy during your trip to New York is a good idea.
New York impresses in all seasons, with outdoor concerts in summer, dazzling Christmas festivities and the gorgeous gardens of spring and autumn. For cheap holidays in New York, aim for the low season from January to March.
Many top attractions are within walking distance of each other in Manhattan, so it’s possible to enjoy a quick city break in New York. To explore all five boroughs, opt for at least seven days.
Whether your thing is shopping, art, or anything else, there are tons of things to do in New York. Statue of Liberty and Central Park are only a glimpse of what this city has in store.