United States
New York City Travel Guide
Five boroughs, one subway map, and no shortage of first-timer mistakes to avoid.
Updated November 5, 2025 · By Jordan Blake
New York is easiest to enjoy when you pick a well-connected base and understand the airport options before you land. Here's a practical planning guide.
Quick overview
Travel essentials
Currency
US Dollar ($)
Language
English
Timezone
Eastern Time (UTC-5 / UTC-4)
Best time to visit
April–June and September–November
Flight time
7 hrs from London, 5.5 hrs from Los Angeles
Power plug
Type A/B, 120V
Pick the right base
Best areas to stay in New York City
Midtown Manhattan
$$$Best for first-time visitors
Times Square, Broadway, and easy subway access to most boroughs. The classic, convenient — if busy and pricier — base.
Chelsea / Greenwich Village
$$$Best for independent travelers
Tree-lined, walkable streets with excellent restaurants, the High Line, and a calmer pace than Midtown while staying centrally located.
Brooklyn (Williamsburg/DUMBO)
$$Best for value & local atmosphere
A short subway ride to Manhattan with generally better value, standout food scenes, and some of the best skyline views of the city.
Upper West Side
$$Best for families
Quieter, residential, and close to Central Park and the Museum of Natural History — a favourite with families.
Book smarter
Recommended hotel search
Hotels & Accommodation
Booking.com
4.6· TrustpilotBest for: Largest selection & free cancellation
Huge inventory with flexible, no-prepayment rates
Hotels.com
4.3· TrustpilotBest for: Loyalty rewards & last-minute deals
Collect-10-nights-get-1-free rewards program
We may earn a commission if you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
Arriving
New York City airport to city centre
AirTrain + Subway (JFK)
~60 min to Midtown · $
Cheapest option from JFK; connects to the subway at Jamaica or Howard Beach. Not ideal with a lot of luggage.
Taxi (flat rate from JFK)
~45–60 min (traffic dependent) · $$
Yellow cabs charge a flat rate from JFK to Manhattan, plus tolls and tip — predictable even without pre-booking.
Private transfer / car service
~45–60 min · $$
Pre-booked sedans or SUVs from all three airports (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark) — useful for groups or late arrivals.
Getting around
Car rental in and around the city
Skip renting a car for Manhattan itself — parking is expensive and the subway covers the island efficiently. A car becomes genuinely useful for trips upstate, to the Hamptons, or along the New England coast; picking up at the airport on departure avoids city parking entirely.
Car Rental
DiscoverCars
4.6· TrustpilotBest for: Comparing all major rental brands at once
Full insurance add-on and free cancellation on most cars
RentalCars.com
4.2· TrustpilotBest for: Airport pickup availability worldwide
Backed by Booking.com's global supplier network
We may earn a commission if you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
Staying connected
eSIM recommendations
US carrier coverage in NYC is excellent. An eSIM avoids expensive international roaming charges and lets ride-hail and subway apps work from touchdown.
eSIM & Connectivity
Airalo
4.6· App StoreBest for: Simple app-based eSIM install for 200+ countries
Pay-as-you-go local & regional data packages
Holafly
4.4· TrustpilotBest for: Unlimited data without worrying about caps
Flat-rate unlimited-data eSIM plans
We may earn a commission if you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
Plan ahead
Things worth booking in advance
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Ferry tickets with pedestal or crown access sell out days ahead in peak season.
See available toursTop of the Rock or Empire State Building
Timed tickets avoid the longest queues, especially around sunset, the most popular viewing slot.
Browse tours & activitiesBefore you go
Practical travel tips
Practical tips
- Buy a reloadable OMNY card (tap-to-pay) or use a contactless card/phone directly on the subway — no need for a physical MetroCard anymore.
- Tipping 18–20% at sit-down restaurants is standard, not optional.
- JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark serve different airlines — double check which airport your flight uses before booking a transfer.
- Broadway tickets are often cheaper same-day via official lottery and rush ticket systems than through resellers.
New York City FAQs
How many days do you need in New York City?+
Four to five days covers Manhattan's highlights plus a bit of Brooklyn — first-timers often underestimate how much walking is involved.
Which NYC airport is most convenient?+
JFK and Newark have the most international routes; LaGuardia is closest to Manhattan but mainly serves domestic flights.
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