10 Travel Tips for Visiting New York City
Visiting New York City will be one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life. That's because this cosmopolitan center is not only home to many points of interest, but it's also diverse and incredibly exciting to see.
Numerous films were shot here and, as you may know, many celebrities live in New York today – for example, you can visit Robert De Niro's penthouse walking through Lower Manhattan or check out Madonna's house walking on the Upper East Side.
No wonder New York is called “the city that never sleeps!”. It has an adventurous nightlife, incredible food and offers 24/7 entertainment available to its visitors. If you are traveling to New York, you will never be bored.
Before we delve into the main topic, let's see why visiting New York should become one of the main goals in your life. Then we'll teach you how to prepare for your trip to New York City and make sure you have an amazing experience!
Why should I visit New York City?
New York City has a lot to offer. There are lots of things to see and foods to try and never get bored. In fact, you can fall in love and never want to leave, so be careful!
Here are the top reasons to visit New York this year:
- You can visit the most famous museums and art galleries in the world. Don't miss the Guggenheim, MMAT and the Museum of Modern Art.
- You can walk on Broadway and see popular shows. This 21-kilometer street is clustered around Times Square. Who knows, you might be lucky enough to get tickets to see a show.
- Admiring skyscrapers is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The World Trade Center and the Empire State Building are two must-see attractions , argues Amanda, a dissertation services specialist and travel enthusiast.
- Taste international and experimental food . Check out Dominique Ansel's Cronuts in Soho or Frankel's Delicatessen in Brooklyn!
- Stroll through different neighborhoods and see what life is like in NY. New York is extremely diverse and full of life at the same time. Discover Chinatown, the Theater District, and walk through Brooklyn. Queens is another amazing area.
- Listen to live music and dance! You can meet celebrities watching live music and stand-up comedy shows. All take place at night, so be prepared to spend the entire night in the city.
- Walk through Times Square and feel the energy! The neon lights and tight crowd will make you feel like you're in a movie set.
- Visit Central Park. You will have to spend at least 4-5 hours here to get the full experience.
- Cross the Brooklyn Bridge and watch the sun rise. This bridge was completed in 1883 and is 1.13 miles long. Watching the sunrise/sunset from here is amazing, don't miss the opportunity.
Top 10 Travel Tips: What's the Right Way to Visit New York?
1. You must use public transport when visiting New York
The best way to get around New York is by public transport . There's no better way to visit, even if you're excited to drive or be patient on the road. All this will only take a long time if done by car. You must learn to navigate the subway and trust me, it's nothing complicated.
Never, ever rent a car in New York. Traffic is impossible, you will be stuck at a traffic light for 15-20 minutes, let alone driving through Times Square. Plus, New York City drivers are pretty crazy, so your best bet is to take the subway. You can use Google Maps to check your location or use another app like Citymapper.
2. Don't eat in Times Square
Visiting Times Square is an amazing experience, but avoid eating out here. The food is extremely expensive (in my humble opinion). Another important tip, try to avoid restaurant chains. It makes no sense to visit such a cosmopolitan city just to enjoy McDonald's, Olive Garden or Red Lobster. You can do this anywhere!
If you want a complete New York culinary experience, check out restaurants like Carbone, Catch NYC, Peter Lugers, Pietro Nolita, Old Homestead Steakhouse or Chelsea Market. Check that there is an 'A' rating on the window of the restaurant you have chosen, as this means the premises are clean.
You should also check out the best pizza and bagels places in New York since you're here. You can't visit New York and not eat a traditional New York bagel. Your best choice for bagels would be the Brooklyn Bagels in Chelsea.
3. Tipping is an unwritten rule
It's important to know how New York servers survive – not getting a raise, but tips. Business owners in New York don't offer their employees more than the minimum wage, which is somewhere around $5-6 an hour.
You can't make a living on that pay in New York, so servers live on tips. Somehow, tipping became an unwritten rule in the city. Go to 15-20% of the bill to make sure you're tipping enough.
4. Debunking a Myth: "All New Yorkers are Rude"
This is not true. New Yorkers are amazing people when you get to know them. However, they are rushing to get from point A to point B and may give the wrong impression.
If you spend some time here, you'll find that New Yorkers are stressed - but they are very good people. Mingle with New Yorkers over a New York pizza. You will notice the difference!
5. Watch out for tourist traps
Tourist traps are installed everywhere in this city, so be sure to avoid them – you don't want to get ripped off or robbed right now, do you? Avoid buying from people on the street, no matter what they promise.
Some of them can “take you to a Kevin Hart show” for $10, while others can sell you “real Gucci bags” for $20. These offers are scams and should not be taken seriously. A real Gucci bag costs around US$300 and a Kevin Hart show…. approximately the same!
6. Being harassed is common… unfortunately
Ladies, I'm sorry to break this for you, but… be strong, you'll probably get harassed in New York. Not all men (but most men) in New York City have the impression that whistling and pointing fingers is natural. They are learning – step by step – that this is an insult, but you have to be patient.
Try not to get too upset, let them do their thing. You don't want to pay attention or get involved with these people. Put on your headphones and ignore them! However, be prepared for such reactions when passing a construction building.
7. Learn New York Slang
Learning popular New York slang is a must. Here are some of the words you might hear (but have no idea what they mean):
When meeting someone, the address is usually in this format, “meet me on 28th between 8th and 9th.”. That means meeting me on 28th street between 8th and 9th avenue.
As you may already know, New York is also called “the city”, so know that when people refer to it that way. Don't get confused.
No north or south when explaining where you are going – just east side, west side of uptown or downtown.
One block = one street, two blocks = two streets, etc. Two blocks away basically means two intersections away.
8. Diners are for breakfast and lunch only
Don't go to a diner or a “Diner” for dinner, even if the name might confuse you. Your best bet is to choose a diner for breakfast or lunch. Plus, there are better places than a diner to have brunch in town, so look for the best ones. TripAdvisor has a list you can check.
9. Shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes. Did I say shoes?
Yes, shoes are extremely important in New York. For some reason, people will check your shoes and judge you by your appearance. I know, totally superficial, but it happens, so you better hear from me. In any case, you might want to look elegant as you walk down Broadway anyway, right?
10. Enjoy free activities in New York!
Free activities are best – am I right? Take the free walking tour of New York, walk through Brooklyn, stroll the Brooklyn Bridge, check out Long Island beaches or spend time in Dumbo. There are so many things to do here that you won't get a chance to sleep!
The 10 best travel tips for visiting New York City are:
- You must use public transport when visiting New York
- don't eat in times square
- Tipping is an unwritten rule
- Debunking a Myth: "All New Yorkers are Rude"
- Watch out for tourist traps
- Being harassed is common… unfortunately
- Learn New York Slang
- Diners are for breakfast and lunch only
- Shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes. Did I say shoes?
- Enjoy free activities in New York!
concluding
New York is an unforgettable experience. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, an amazing way to spend the summer. Hope you are ready to live this adventure.
