New York
The city that never sleeps is one of the most amazing cities in the world. There’s nothing you can’t do or see here. From amazing museums and art galleries to theater/restaurants and numerous skyscrapers, everything about New York is amazing. It’s big, crowded, and fast-paced but also full of little neighborhood. Every culture, language, and food is represented here.
You can spend a lifetime exploring and never really see it all. This is the city that has something for everyone; there are a few fun activities available that you probably didn't think of.
Want to fly on a trapeze or learn to surf? What about making wine or ride a horse? New York City has it.
You can even sit in the audience for popular TV shows and the tickets are free (you just have to be patient and determined).
New York City is one of the most amazing places in the world!
Currency in New York
The currency in the New York is the Dollar. Although NY is a place where debit and credit cards are widely accepted, you will certainly need cash here. Be sure to continue breaking larger denomination notes into smaller denominations so you always have one-dollar notes for those small tips.
Statue of LibertyPlaces to visit
One of the greatest cities in the world, New York is always a whirlwind of activity, with famous sites at every turn and never enough time to see them all. Some people come here to enjoy the Broadway shows; others come specifically to shop and dine; and many come simply to see the sites: The Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, historic neighborhoods, and numerous world-famous museums. Many of the best places to visit in New York are within walking distance of each other, or just a short ride away, making this city a delight for sightseeing.- Statue of Liberty: The Statue of Liberty was France's gift to America. Built in 1886, it remains a famous world symbol of freedom and one of the greatest American icons. It is one of the world's largest statues, standing just under 152 feet tall from the base to the torch, and weighing approximately 450,000 pounds.For those who choose not to climb the 154 steps to the crown, the pedestal offers panoramic views of the harbor and downtown New York City. Guided tours of Liberty Island are offered throughout the day by Park Rangers and a self-guided audio, offered in nine languages, tour is included with a ferry ticket to the island.
- Empire State Building: The Empire State Building is one of New York's most famous landmark buildings and key tourist attractions. The 381-meter-tall, 102-storey building was the tallest in the world until the 1 World Trade Center tower rose higher, 41 years later. Topped with a mooring mast for airships, the Empire State Building immediately became a landmark and a symbol for NYC when it opened in 1931.On a clear day, visitors can see New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. There are two observations decks in the tower, on the 86th floor and 102nd floor. Both offer impressive views and interesting facts about the building’s extensive history and importance. The Empire State Building has made appearances in over 250 films and was named “America’s Favorite Architecture.” It is open daily from 9:30am until midnight and tickets can be purchased at the counter or online.
- Central Park: A walk, peddle, or carriage ride through the crisscrossing pathways of Central Park is a must-do on anyone's New York City itinerary.In winter, you can even lace up your skates and glide across Wollman Rink. This huge park in the city center, a half-mile wide and 2.5 miles long, is one of the things that makes New York such a beautiful and livable city.There are also plenty of outdoor activities to entertain visitors including catch and release fishing at the Dana Discovery Center, rowboat rentals from the Loeb Boathouse. The park boasts six miles of paved roads open only to joggers, bicyclists as well as skateboarders and inline skaters. Central Park is also especially friendly for families with playgrounds and the Tisch Children’s Zoo.
World Trade Center - Times Square: With over 39 million visitors annually, Times Square is the world’s most visited tourist attraction. The bright lights and big city feel of this commercial intersection have iconified this spot as “The Crossroad of the World.” Today, Times Square is a major center of the world’s entertainment industry. The annual New Year’s Eve ball drop, which began in 1907, has been a staple of the square’s allure. This is the location of New York's New Year's Eve Celebrations and the famous "ball drop" at midnight, when the square and surrounding streets are filled with people. Times Square is busy and perpetually crowded but has its own unique appeal. Bleachers set up at one end are a great place to take a break and appreciate the scene.Formerly Longacre Square, Times Square was named in 1904 after the New York Times tower. The newspaper first posted current headlines along its moving sign, the first of its kind in the world, in 1928.
- Brooklyn Bridge: The Brooklyn Bridge, with its Gothic-shaped arches and suspension cables, is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and has inspired generations of poets, songwriters, and painters. The Brooklyn Bridge, built between 1869 and 1883, is one of the oldest and most recognizable suspension bridges in the world. It spans 5,989 feet and connects Manhattan to Brooklyn across the East River. More than 120,000 vehicles, 4,000 pedestrians and 2,600 bicyclists cross the bridge every day. If you are not up for walking the whole distance, at least go as far as the first pillar, where there is a viewing platform, and you can see one of the granite towers up close.From the bridge are beautiful views over Manhattan, the East River, and beyond to the Statue of Liberty. Biking over the bridge is another option, but pedestrian traffic is often very heavy, and cycling can be slow and challenging on busy days. Be aware that the access to the bridge begins well back from the water's edge.
- Fifth Avenue: Ranked as one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world, Fifth Avenue is a prime destination for visitors with a taste for luxury.The section of Fifth that crosses Midtown Manhattan between 49th and 60th Streets is lined with high-end shops including designer showrooms and prestigious department stores. Cartier, Tiffany, Bergdorf-Goodman, the famous Apple Store Fifth Avenue, and of course Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as many others line this posh avenue. The section of Fifth Avenue between 82nd to 105th streets on the Upper East Side is referred to as the Museum Mile. Nine museums are situated along this stretch of Fifth including the Guggenheim and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Brooklyn Bridge - Rockefeller Center: When it comes to New York attractions, Rockefeller Center is on almost all tourist's itineraries. a complex of 19 buildings built by the Rockefeller family, offers a behind-the-scenes look at some of New York City’s greatest treasures. The center-piece of this center is the 70-story 30 Rockefeller Plaza, an Art Deco skyscraper that offers awesome views over Manhattan from the famous Top of the Rock Observation Deck.The "deck," as it's known, includes three floors, located on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors.These buildings have housed many major corporations over the years including General Electric and are home to the NBC studios.You can buy a Top of the Rock Observation Deck Ticket in advance. After Thanksgiving, a huge Christmas tree is erected in front of the skating rink, lighting up the complex for the holiday season. Another point of interest in this area is the famous bronze sculpture of Atlas in front of the International Building. It's a popular subject for photographers.
- Grand Central Terminal: Grand Central Terminal, often called Grand Central Station, is a fantastic Beaux Arts building, and it's definitely worth popping in to take a look at this famous landmark. Grand Central Terminal has been dubbed the “world’s loveliest station” and is one of the top tourist attractions in New York City. The cavernous Main Concourse is home to the impressive clock made of pearly opal glass. Visitors are also treated to the elaborate astronomical ceiling decorations originally conceived in 1912.The building first opened in 1913 as a terminal for the subway and train stations. Inside, you can't miss the Grand Staircase, where you can stop to gaze out over the concourse. The beautifully restored ceiling here shows a celestial scene. Vanderbilt Hall just off the main concourse, which was originally constructed as a waiting room, now hosts the annual Christmas market and special exhibitions. The elegantly restored Campbell Apartment was meant to replicate a 13th-century Florentine palace, but now hosts tourists and commuters in its cocktail lounge.
- High Line: The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above Manhattan’s West Side. The park is maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line, which fought for the preservation and transformation of the rail line into green space. Every month there are new fun and diverse activities for visitors. These include stargazing, tree tours and art tours along with season specific events such as the Haunted High Line Halloween in October. Some of the park’s attractions include naturalized plantings and splendid views of the Hudson River. The High Line also integrates cultural attractions into its design with architecture and art installations.
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum: The World Trade Center's twin 110-story towers once dominated the Manhattan skyline but were destroyed by suicide-piloted jetliners on September 11, 2001, with a tragic loss of life. Where the two towers of the World Trade Center once stood, now stand two square reflecting pools, each one acre in size. Known as the National September 11 Memorial, the area is a moving tribute to the almost 3,000 people killed as a result of attacks on September 11, 2001 and also the six people killed in the earlier World Trade Center bombing in February, 1993. The names of those who died are engraved in two bronze panels flanking the Memorial pools. The pools are each nearly an acre in size and mark the footprints of the Twin Towers that once stood on that site. The National September 11 Memorial Museum serves to educate the public on the implications of the attacks through multimedia displays, archives, narratives and a collection of artifacts.
Things to Do
New York City offers visitors endless options of things to do, from visiting museums and landmarks to taking guided tours and exploring on your own. There really is no chance to get bored during your stay. There are some things that you just can't miss on your trip. The Staten Island Ferry, MoMA, the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and Times Square are essential for any visitor. Yet, you may want to toss in a few things that the locals prefer. For instance, Top of the Rock's observation deck offers a view that rivals the Empire State Building.
- Visit Trinity Church: A colonial-era church, this is where many of the founding fathers of America worshiped. It’s free to enter, and the surrounding graveyard has many of the original leaders of the country, including Alexander Hamilton, who was the first secretary of the treasury.
- Bus Tours Through NYC: There’s not much more fascinating for newcomers to New York than simply perusing the city’s streets. You can visit many interesting spots in a short period of time by taking a bus tour.With one of the popular Hop On Hop Off Big Bus New York Bus Tours, you’ll get a chance to see many of the top buildings, tourist attractions, and locations that the city has to offer.
- Battery Park: Named Battery Park for the old batteries (cannons) that defended the city, stop here for music and street performers, people-watching, relaxing, and all other park-related activities. You can also explore the ruins of the old fort that kept watch over the city.
- Madison Square Garden: Another can’t miss destination in New York is The World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden. Some of the most famous concerts and events have happened here, many of which you can see highlighted in the MSG’s Defining Moments exhibits.The Garden is also home to the New York Rangers NHL team and the New York Knicks NBA team. Sports fans will be interested in knowing how the floor transforms from a basketball court to an ice rink.
- Wall Street: Take a photo with the famous bull and then walk to Wall Street and see where all those bankers destroyed the economy. There’s heavy security in the area, but you can sit and watch people whiz in and out of buildings on their way to cause some other financial disaster.
- American Museum of Natural History: As one of New York’s most beloved and top museums, the American Museum of Natural History is equal parts fun and educational.Attracting millions of visitors every year, the American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest museums in the world. It’s located on the west side of Central Park, so it’s easy to build into a larger itinerary, too.It includes more than 40 different permanent exhibition halls, and explores extensive subjects in the planetary, geological, biological, and anthropological sciences.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art: is one of the foremost collections of fine art in the world. It is huge and, if you want to see it all, spend at least a full day. You’ll find a lot here! The museum is open from 10am-5:30pm with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays.
- The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum: Those interested in maritime history should head to the banks of Hudson around Midtown to visit the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum – which features an aircraft carrier turned museum.The Intrepid was established as a museum in 1982, but previously the structure served as an aircraft carrier both in the Pacific Theater of World War II and in the Vietnam War.Exhibits at the museum explore the vessel’s service history as well as general exhibits on naval history of the 20th century.
- Museum Hop: While the MET is a category of its own, New York City has dozens of museums worth visiting. The Natural History Museum, the MoMA, and Guggenheim are just three of the big ones. There are 11 museums on the museum mile near Central Park that would take days to really see. Pick the ones you want to see the most and visit those unless you have weeks in New York to see them all.
- The Top of the Rock Observatory: This observation center is located at the top of Rockefeller Center, which is an extensive complex of 19 different buildings located between 48th and 51st Streets in Midtown.The Rockefeller Center itself is an important sight to see in the city, but those who arrange a trip to the top of the observatory enjoy a panoramic view that includes noteworthy NYC skyscrapers like the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, the Chrysler Building and more.
What to Eat
Without a doubt, New York is the food (and foodie) capital of America. With each wave of immigration, the city adds new cuisines to its ever-expanding palate; the result is a melting pot of flavour and experimentation unlike anywhere else on earth. Read on to discover the top 10 things to try in New York City.- Bagels: A New York style bagel is always boiled in water that has had barley malt added, which gives a bagel its signature taste, texture, and leathery skin. The bagels are then traditionally topped with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion or garlic, or everything bagel seasoning, or are left plain or brushed with an egg wash. These are the traditional flavors of NY style bagels, there are also newer, less traditional flavors such as cinnamon raisin, and other sweet bagels.
- Hot Dogs: Hot dog is a grilled or steamed sausage sandwich where the sausage is served in the slit of a partially sliced bun. It can also refer to the sausage itself. Typical condiments include mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, relish, and cheese sauce, and common garnishes include onions, sauerkraut, jalapeños, chili, grated cheese, coleslaw, bacon, and olives.
- Pizza: New York-style pizza is traditionally hand-tossed,consisting in its basic form of a light layer of tomato sauce sprinkled with dry, grated, full-fat mozzarella cheese; additional toppings are placed over the cheese.These large wide slices are often eaten as fast food while folded in half (like one would fold a cardboard box) from the crust, as their size and flexibility can make them unwieldy to eat flat. Folding the slice also collects the abundant oil in the crease, and allows the slice to be eaten with one hand.Many claim the city’s tap water – funnelled in from upstate reservoirs – is the secret to the slice’s flavour and texture.
- Pastrami Sandwich:is a meat product of Romanian origin usually made from beef brisket, and sometimes from lamb, or turkey. The raw meat is brined, partially dried, seasoned with herbs and spices, then smoked and steamed. With layers of kosher cured beef served on rye bread and accompanied by crisp gherkins– is another immigrant creation that has inspired intense competition between delis and their devotees over the years. Whether you’re a fan of pastrami or not, a trip to a family-run NYC Jewish deli is a great way to see New Yorkers in their element.
- Cheesecake:Cheesecake is a sweet dessert consisting of one or more layers. The main, and thickest layer, consists of a mixture of soft, fresh cheese (typically cream cheese or ricotta), eggs, and sugar. If there is a bottom layer, it often consists of a crust or base made from crushed cookies (or digestive biscuits), graham crackers, pastry, or sometimes sponge cake.Cheesecake is usually sweetened with sugar and may be flavored in many different ways. It may be flavored by adding vanilla, spices, lemon, chocolate, pumpkin, or other flavors to the cheese layer. Additional flavors and visual appeal may be added by topping the finished pie with fruit, whipped cream, nuts, cookies, fruit sauce, chocolate syrup, or other toppings.
- Clam chowder: is any of several chowder soups containing clams and broth. In addition to clams, common ingredients include diced potatoes, onions, and celery. Other vegetables are not typically used, but small carrot strips or a garnish of parsley might occasionally be added primarily for color. A garnish of bay leaves adds both color and flavor. It is believed that clams were used in chowder because of the relative ease of harvesting them. Clam chowder is usually served with saltine crackers or small, hexagonal oyster crackers.
- Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches:Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches are particularly popular in New York City. The sandwich is typically made with bacon, eggs (typically fried or scrambled), cheese and bread, which may be buttered and toasted. The sandwich is often served as a breakfast item with coffee. BEC is sometimes used as an acronym for the sandwich, as is BE&C.
- Pretzel: pretzel is a type of baked pastry made from dough that is commonly shaped into a knot. The traditional pretzel shape is a distinctive symmetrical form, with the ends of a long strip of dough intertwined and then twisted back onto itself in a particular way.Salt is the most common seasoning for pretzels, complementing the washing soda or lye treatment that gives pretzels their traditional skin and flavor acquired through the Maillard reaction. Other seasonings are cheeses, sugar, chocolate, cinnamon, sweet glazing, seeds, and nuts.
- Craft beer: Since passion for craft beer began sweeping America in the 1980s, New York has seen a boom in artisanal breweries producing time-consuming, labour-intensive beer that earn them die-hard fans. So, take a break from your trip, relax in a tavern and enjoy a pint of fine New York craft beer.
- Italian ice: is a sweetened, finely granulated frozen dessert made with fruit (often from concentrates, juices, or purées) or other natural or artificial food flavorings. It is derived from the Sicilian granita, a related dessert which was brought by Italian immigrants to the United States. Common flavors include lemon, cherry, orange, watermelon, blue raspberry, mango, strawberry, and blackberry, with numerous other flavors available.
Hot Dogs
Pastrami Sandwich
PizzaAccommodations
There aren’t a lot of hotels in this city and to top it all, they are quite expensive. Where you stay is going to depend on which borough you prefer and how much you want to spend. There are lots of Restscene options in New York City so for more hostel suggestions, be sure to check out our website for more hotels. If you want to stay somewhere with a view of Central Park, you'll find great hotels to choose from Restscene.com as well.How to Get Around New York City
- Subway: New York and its boroughs (and parts of New Jersey) are really well-connected by the subway. You can get to wherever you need to go, or close to it, with public transportation.
- Bus: If you can’t get to where you’re going by subway, the bus will get you there.
- Ferry: The Staten Island Ferry is a staple of morning commuters and will take you to and from Staten Island. It operates 24/7, and it’s free!
- Bicycle: You can bike just about anywhere in New York City, especially if you want to explore the big parks like Central and Prospect. There are about 10,000 bikes all over the city, so you’re always within reach!
- Taxis: Taxis are definitely not the cheapest option for getting around New York City. The minimum fare starts at $2.50 USD, with an additional $0.50 USD for every fifth of a mile or for every minute, depending on how fast you’re going.
- Ride-Sharing: Uber, Lyft, and Via are way cheaper than taxis and are the best way to get around a city if you don’t want to take a bus or pay for a taxi. The shared/pool option (where you share a ride with other people) offers even better savings.
When to Visit New York
Figuring out the best time to visit really depends on what you want to do on your trip. New York City is a great destination year-round, but each season has its own perks (and disadvantages).Winter is great for visitors who want to experience the wonders of the holiday season in New York City and don't mind the cold weather. If you can wait, January sees the crowds dwindle. It's a great time to get discounts on travel and other things as well as pick up tickets for Broadway shows that are normally sold out.
Spring is a good choice if you want to enjoy New York City outdoors without the heat of summer but are willing to bring an umbrella for seasonal storms. The city comes alive in spring, and it's the perfect season for walking tours. Events start to get into full swing as well; for example, April is the time for the Tribeca Film Festival and the Cherry Blossom Festival, and both the Mets and the Yankees have opening days in late March or early April each year.
Summer is great if you want to take advantage of free events in New York City, despite the heat. Naturally, it is the busiest season because everyone's out of school and on vacation, but that just means there's more going on. Free summer concerts are one of the highlights and they can really help you stick to your travel budget.
Fall is a favorite time of year in New York City for many people, but deals can be hard to find. September and October are the best because the summer rush is over, but the holidays have not yet begun. It's perfect for walking tours, getting into places quickly, and simply enjoying a venue when it's not at full capacity.