So you’re visiting New York City? Are you nervous about your first time being in the Big Apple? Well, it’s a good thing you stumbled on this article because today, I am going to tell you the most important New York City travel tips you need to know before visiting! I am a local who has actually lived in Manhattan, worked in the city, and even attended college here, so I have a plethora of information to share with you!
So, wipe your worries away knowing these 25 tips come from a local with a mission of helping you experience the best of the city (without looking like a tourist)! And even if you still look a little bit like a tourist, that’s totally ok!
1. NYC is Best Navigated by Public Transportation
If you didn’t know, now you know the best way to get around NYC is by good ol’ fashioned public transportation! Traffic here is insane, I kid you not. You can be stuck at the same traffic light for over 10 minutes and driving through Times Square…kill me!
Make sure to get familiar with using the Subway! It’s $2.90 per ride. Also, use the same credit card for your whole ride if you tap and pay!
You can take the buses, too. However, I’ve always found the subway to be much better. If you are heading to Staten Island in a hurry, there is the Express bus, or you can take the Staten Island Ferry for free, which I would recommend doing regardless if you want to see great skyline views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
If you don’t want to jump on the subway, you can, of course, hail a cab just like you see in the movies. Stand in or by the street with your hand up when you see a cab coming by.
Or you can use Uber or Lyft. I’ve found these tend to be more affordable. I’ve never had a problem with cabs running the meter, but it never hurts to check.
2. Don’t Rent A Car
DO NOT rent a car in New York City! As I mentioned before, the traffic in the city is horrible, there is nowhere to park, and if you find a garage, it’s super expensive! Also, drivers in the city are crazy!
Additionally, because NYC traffic is so bad, you can usually get to your destination faster by walking or taking the subway.
Travel tip: Besides the Google Maps app, you can also use Citymapper for the subway, which I find to be more helpful.
3. See Times Square, but Don’t eat in Times Square
Even though locals avoid Times Square, as first-time visitors to the Big Apple, Times Square is a must-see, but do not, I repeat, DO NOT eat in Times Square! It’s overpriced for subpar food!
Think about restaurants in your hometown city. The biggest tourist attractions tend to have meh food. If you have time, Times Square should be seen during the day and then again at night to get a real feel for it. Thankfully, it’s free!
There can be some exclusions from places in Times Square, like Carmines, but overall, I’d choose to eat elsewhere. Don’t worry; I have a list of restaurants for you below! While discussing Times Square, I also recommend visiting both during the day and at night!
4. Don’t Eat at Chain Restaurants
Another one of my top travel tips I want you to know is to avoid eating at a chain restaurant unless it’s Eataly or a famous 5-star restaurant! The Big Apple is known to be a culinary gem with tons of amazing places to eat that are NOT Red Lobster, Fridays, Olive Garden, or The Hard Rock Cafe.
You can literally find cuisines from around the globe in New York City.
Also, if you do plan to eat at a nice restaurant, remember to make a reservation!
Some top restaurants to eat at include:
- Peter Lugers: AMAZING and Famous Steak House in Williamsburg (Only accept cash).
- Carbone (Italian)
- Old Homestead Steakhouse in Meatpacking
- Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse – Nice during the holidays
- Pietro Nolita: Italian and Instagrammable
- Katz’s Delicatessen: Classic Jewish Deli
- Chelsea Market
- Stone Street – Nice during summer days
- Catch NYC
- China Town
- Keen’s Steakhouse
- Gallagher’s Steakhouse
When choosing a place to eat, also make sure to look for an “A” rating in the window. This “A” rating means that the Board of Health believes this is a clean establishment!
5. Pizza, Bagels and Egg Sandwiches are Life
Now that I’m incredibly hungry, you should know that Pizza, Bagels, and Egg Sandwiches are like a religion for us New Yorkers! As a first-timer in New York City, it is important for you not to leave without having these necessities!
Pizza
New York Style Pizza is generally sold by the slice, and there are so many different slices to choose from! OH, and if you don’t want people staring at you like you are an alien, do not, I repeat, DO NOT, eat your pizza with a fork and knife! Just sayin. Actually, if you learned anything from these NYC travel tips – let it be this, lol.
Pizza is meant to be folded down the middle if it’s a triangle slice. If it’s a square slice, just hold it in your hands!
Also, we call a cheese slice a plain or regular slice in New York (but they’ll understand if you say cheese). So, you can walk up and say, “Can I have two regulars.”
Some Pizza Spots are:
- 2 Bros (super cheap) – if you’re on a budget
- Joe’s Pizza – One of the Best
- L&B Spumoni Gardens – if you’re in Brooklyn
- Ignacio’s – if you crossed the Brooklyn Bridge. They have really good personal pies
Bagels
When it comes to bagels, you won’t find any better than in New York! Enjoy a big giant fluffy bagel with loads of different cream cheese spreads, or have an egg sandwich! The secret to our bagels is actually the soft water.
The most popular egg sandwich is bacon, egg, and cheese (BEC); however, for vegetarians, I usually get egg white, spinach, and mozzarella cheese. My favorite bagel place is Brooklyn Bagels in Chelsea. I have tried the trendy places all over the internet, and I still go back to them.
Other popular bagel places include:
- Ess-a-Bagel (Bagels are good, but don’t care for their BEC)
- Russ & Daughters
- Murray’s Bagels
- Tompkins Square Bagels
6. Tipping is Important
As a girl who was a waitress in Midtown trying to pay my way through college, I can’t stress this enough. I know this can be annoying, but, unfortunately, business owners refuse to pay restaurant workers a normal living wage. Therefore, they have to live off tips.
Tipping is generally 15-20% of the bill. If the tip was already included, it will say so on the receipt! Usually, wait staff prefers being tipped in cash, however, you can still tip on your credit card.
If you get food from stands, however, you don’t need to tip; just when you have someone serving you.
7. New Yorkers Aren’t Really Rude
Hear me out! For some reason, New York has this image of being full of rude people, but that’s really not the case! If you were to ask for help from a “stable” looking human on the streets, most people will be more than happy to help you!
In general, New Yorkers are just known to be in a rush, like things fast-paced, potentially overworked, or stressed. City life! Plus, I am a New Yorker, and I am not rude, so there! Also, with so many people crowded in the city, it’s just easier not to make eye contact with people.
New Yorkers do have some pet peeves that could bring some rudeness out, but as long as you know these travel tips, you shouldn’t run into any trouble!
8. Sidewalks Have Their Own Traffic Rules
So, as I just mentioned before, New Yorkers tend to be in a rush, and the city is crowded. Therefore, sidewalks need to run optimally!
Firstly, never, never, ever just stop walking if you are on a busy sidewalk! You would basically be like a car, blocking all the traffic for no reason. If you must stop, find a place off to the side or up against a wall.
Also, you will realize the sidewalks will have 2 lanes of people traffic. Make sure you stay on your right side, and if you are not walking fast, make that all the way to the right! This is also the same for escalators. If you plan on not walking up it, make sure you stay to the side so others can pass by.
If you are in a big group, do not take up the whole sidewalk by lining up next to each other. When walking the streets of NYC, just strut confidently down the sidewalk, and you will blend right in!
9. Real New Yorkers Don’t Wait for Walk Signs
I love taking people to Manhattan and crossing the street. The usual reaction is OMG, what are you doing?! But in the city, we cross the street at the intersection when no cars are coming, no matter what color the light is.
Also, New Yorkers stand a few feet in the street while waiting for the cars to finish passing. No, we don’t have a death wish; we clearly just have no patience!
If you do wait for the walk sign and stand on the sidewalk while waiting, New Yorkers will immediately know you are likely a tourist.
Of course, if you don’t feel safe, it’s totally fine to just wait for the walk sign. I would never want anything bad to happen to you!
10. Beware of Buses, Cabs and the Bike Path
Add buses, Cabs, and bikes to your growing list of travel tips! When I say beware of buses, taxis, or even bikes, it might not be what you think!
These people are like drunk drivers swerving down the street! I can’t even count how many times I’ve almost seen accidents with their crazy driving! And you best watch out for that bike path because they will run you over!
11. Finding Bathrooms Can Be Difficult if You’re Not a Customer
If you are in need of a bathroom, it’s best to use one at the next restaurant you eat at. Most places will not allow you to use the bathroom unless you are a customer.
However, some free places you can find bathrooms are at Starbucks, Penn Station in the Long Island Railroad terminal, New Jersey Amtrak, or Grand Central. They tend to get cleaned more often. I’ve used the Penn Station restrooms more than I can count, and you can use this map for help!
I’ve also heard others recommend just walking into a hotel like you own the place, and they likely won’t question you, but I’ve never tried this one! You can also try an app called Flush. It shows you where you can find bathrooms nearest you.
12. NYC is Dirty
This is one of the tips not everyone will want to tell you. I hate to say it, but it’s true. The city is dirrrtyyy! You will never catch me touching anything without a bottle of Purell! I’d avoid touching rails, especially in the subway!
Also, don’t be surprised if some streets smell like total garbage or weed. Sorry friends, but this is just the reality of a big city. On the plus side, at least our cigarette culture is not as strong as in Europe, but weed is now legal, so if you are traveling with children, just know you may smell it.
13. Avoid Empty Subway Cars
Picture this, you swipe your metro card, wait at the platform, and see this empty subway car pulling up. You think YES, now I don’t have to bump shoulders with strangers!
But what you actually get is a car with no air-conditioner, smells of a dirty locker room mixed with urine, and has what appears to be an unstable individual.
Now you know why you need to avoid empty Subway Cars! Is this always the case, NO, but it’s always best to just follow the crowd in this instance! You will not regret knowing this tip, I promise.
14. Avoid Tourist Traps
I’m sure you’re saying to yourself, well, obviously, I know to avoid tourist traps, but what are they?! Some of the most common tourist traps in the city are people trying to sell you anything on the street.
Whether it be tickets to a comedy show to see Kevin Hart for $10 bucks (this doesn’t happen too often), “Real” Louis Vuitton bags for $20, or free entry to places, it’s likely a scam.
The bags are never real, and the tickets are usually fake.
Walking through Times Square, and they pull you in for a picture? I can promise you it’s not out of the goodness of their hearts. After the photo, they will harass you for a tip. Just tell any random people walking up to you on the street, “No Thanks!”
15. To my lady travelers – Don’t be Surprised if you’re Cat Called
To all my ladies! Unfortunately, men in here think it’s totally ok to whistle, call you names and try and stop you to talk and it’s totally not ok, however, I haven’t figured out a way to stop it.
I simply put my stunna shades on and walk by like I don’t have a care in the world, and I can’t hear what anyone says! If you are walking by a construction site, it’s way more likely to happen.
16. Use Bank ATM’s
This tip is another important one you may not think of. So, do you want identity theft? I think not! Therefore, it’s safest to withdraw money from a bank ATM.
Some of the most common banks you will see around New York City are Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, TD, and Capital One. Just avoid those random ATMs in the back of a shack of a store!
17. Learn Your NYC Street Terminology
You can’t visit New York City without knowing some NYC slang and how to not get looked at with 100 heads. For some extra NYC fun, here are some New York accent words – but don’t try and imitate us. We might not like that.
However, I have no problem ordering your Caw-fee or showing you the Dawgs in the park! Remember, if you’re from the UK, biscuits are not a sweet treat here, they are called cookies!
How New Yorkers Give an Address
When New Yorkers give an address, we generally give the cross streets instead of a full address unless it’s a super popular destination like Times Square or Rockefeller Center.
So, for example, if I were at the Fashion Institute of Technology, I’d say I’m on 7th and 27th Street, or I’m on 27th between 7th and 8th Ave. Once you look at a map, it will make more sense!
New York City is called “the City”!
Another one of my favorite tips that I’ve sprinkled throughout this article is when people ask you where you are, you say the City! We don’t call “the City” NYC or Manhattan, just plain and simply the City!
Learn the Way the Streets Run
The City basically runs on a grid of North and South and East to West. There aren’t many curving streets. Also, just about every street and avenue are one-way streets. They mostly switch directions on every other street or avenue.
For the most part, it’s all numerically numbered. The further up you go, the higher the numbers. The further down you go, the lower the numbers go until you get downtown. Then, they turn into street names.
On the West Side, the Avenues will be the highest, and going towards the East, the Avenue numbers will go down.
East Side, West Side Uptown, Downtown
Speaking of navigation, there’s the Westside, Eastside, and Downtown or Uptown. There’s no North and South when explaining where you are or going. For some reason, we couldn’t make it simple and needed to change up the lingo.
The Meaning of a Block
When a person tells you your destination is a couple of blocks down, blocks are streets. So if you walk down from one street, 28th to 27th, that is one block.
18. Diners are Best for Breakfast and Lunch Food
You can’t visit New York City without going to at least one diner. Believe it or not, Diners can’t be found in many places around the USA.
So when you sit down at the diner, it’s important to know while diners serve dinner food, diners are best for breakfast and lunch foods!
Another cool thing about dinners is that the menu is pretty customizable! You can switch from regular eggs to egg whites, change any of the fillings to your omelet, the sides, or even cheese! They may charge additional for the substitutes, but at least you can get exactly what you want.
And Diners are usually open 24/7 for those midnight snacks! I personally like the Tick Tock Dinner by Penn Station and the New Yorker Hotel. A popular Diner tourists seem to love is Ellen’s Stardust Diner, but locals don’t eat here.
19. Shoe Game is Important
I get you to want to look stylish while walking the streets of New York City, but this might be one of the more important tips. I urge you to wear comfortable walking shoes because you are going to be walking A LOT!
If you want cuter shoes for photos, I’d suggest throwing them in your bag to change out! During the winter, make sure to have warm boots that have waterproofing.
20. Make Sure to Get Outside the City
When people travel to New York City, they forget there is more to New York than just the city, so my tip to you is to get out of the city!
Whether you hang out in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Dumbo, Brooklyn after crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, go wine tasting, or hit the beaches out on Long Island, it’s worth getting out of the city! Even a day trip to Coney Island during the summer is nice.
While there is really no place like New York City, New York State does have tons of other awesome things to do! I have lived on Long Island, and my husband was born and raised here, so I have a special love for the area. If you are visiting during the summer, a day trip to Montauk or at least Long Beach (45 minutes by LIRR) is really nice. The best beaches in NY are on Long Island, for sure!
21. Check Out at Least One Observation Deck
This is probably more of a tourist thing to do, but the views from the observation decks are really incredible! As a local, I can’t believe it took me so long to go to the Top of the Rock or even the Empire State Building. You have already seen some sprinkled photos I’ve taken from observation decks throughout this post.
So yeah, make it to an observation deck, whether it be Top of the Rock, One World Trade (One World Observatory), Empire State Building, The Edge, or the Summit One Vanderbilt.
22. Don’t Rule Out an NYC Sightseeing or City Pass
If you are planning on seeing a lot of attractions during your visit, I’d consider looking into the NYC Sightseeing, NYC City Pass, and the GoCity PASS. If you didn’t already know, NYC is extremely expensive! By getting one of these passes, you should be able to save some considerable dough!
All the passes work great, so when deciding on the pass, it really depends on what you want to see and how long you plan to stay.
Each pass offers different attractions, so you can pick the one that checks most of your NYC Bucket List boxes! NYC Sightseeing Pass Here | NYC City Pass Here | GoCity PASS
FYI: I am an affiliate partner with the passes above, but I have personally used them, so I can do as much as possible in the city! If you use one of the links, I may earn a small commission and will be grateful for it!
23. Visit at Least One Museum
I know museums can be expensive, but if you visit, try to make it happen! Whether that be the MET, the MOMA, etc, it’s worth it. Sometimes museums even offer free entry, or if you have one of the above passes, you visit will be included.
I personally love the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET), and if you have children, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is also a good one!
24. See a Broadway Play
If you have time in your itinerary, make sure you hit a Broadway play! It’s a spectacular experience, and sometimes you can even get a discount on the tickets!
Now, if you want to see the top plays, getting a discount is rather hard, but you can always show up at the box office early or check with a TDF location. Some top shows to see include Wicked, The Book of Mormon, The Lion King (great for kids), and Hamilton. There are also off-Broadway shows that are equally great.
25. Take Advantage of Free things to do in NYC
And finally, one of my favorite New York tips is to take advantage of all the free things the City has to offer! Food alone can cost you an arm and a leg, so this is your chance to save money a little while still seeing tons of the City! Some of my favorites are walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, strolling through Central Park, and walking the High Line.
Popular Q&A
With all of this being said, one of the most common things people wonder about New York City (especially first-timers) is if New York City is safe. Just like any big city, it is important to watch your surroundings.
Is New York City Safe?
I lived, went to school, and worked here for 5 years, and have been a New Yorker for over 15 years. My whole family (Brooklyn & Staten Island) and my husband’s family (Long Island) are from NY and still live there. None of us have ever had a problem yet. Thankfully pick-pocketing is not that popular (unlike many big European Cities).
In general, I’ve always felt pretty safe. The one big caution I’d take is to not walk alone late at night. Additionally, neighborhoods like Chelsea, Midtown, Soho, Central Park, the Upper East Side, and the Village tend to be great areas to be around.
Another caution I would add is around the migrant hotels and shelters.
Is it Expensive?
Well, it’s pretty expensive, especially food. Most items on a menu will usually be above US$ 10, and that is generous, especially in recent times. You can expect to spend at least $20 USD per person on a meal. At a nice restaurant, it will likely be over $30 for a dinner plate.
However, there are tons of ways to visit on a budget, including eating pizza, getting halal food at the street vendors, staying at hostels or outside of the city, and doing a lot of free activities.
How Much Money do I need?
This completely depends on your travel style. A hotel room is going to be at least $150 a night. Most hotels also have what they call a resort fee, which is extra on top of the room rate.
You can figure each meal will be at least $20 per person unless you get quick snacks or bagels. Then you have a 7-day metro card for $34 or $2.90 per ride. Additionally, there are attractions, mainly observation decks and museums.
Giving yourself extra room in your budget is all I can say. There are tons of souvenir shops around, and I can’t promise you won’t buy something lol.
Do I Need to Bring Cash
Generally speaking, almost everything can be done with a credit card. Smaller shops may ask you to pay a minimum to use a credit card, but it is pretty rare places won’t accept a credit card (aside from Peter Lugers). A new thing we have been seeing in the City, however, is that some vendors are charging you more to use a credit card.
Oh, and not all places accept mobile wallets or tap cards yet, so make sure to have your physical cards with you.
Tipping in Cash is usually preferred, but again, you can put it on a card. I never carry cash and have yet to have any real issues. I have always heard of many international visitors to New York City using the Revolut card. It offers 28 in-app currencies and acts like a debit card connected to your bank. I’ve personally never tried it, but it seems many like it.
What are the Pharmacies and Grocery Stores?
If you are looking to buy food, snacks, or general stores, you can go to CVS or Duane Reade for first aid, makeup, snacks, etc, and Bodegas. For grocery stores, there are Whole Foods, Gristedes, Dean and Deluca (fancier food market), and Trader Joe’s.
Getting to NYC from the Airport
I see this question come up almost every day, but don’t worry, it is pretty easy! So, you have several options.
Taking the subway will be your most affordable option, and you will find signs coming out of the terminal to catch the subway. However, if you pack large bags, the subway can feel daunting.
Your other option is using Uber or Lyft. I do this if my friends or family can’t pick me up. The airport will have free wifi for you to connect to if you’re from out of the States.
Additionally, you can take a car service or Yellow Cab. This is generally around $60 – $70 USD. If you take a Yellow Cab, you will have to wait in line at the airport.
How Cold is it in the Winter?
This is another common question when people consider visiting in the winter. To be honest, it really depends. Every year is different, and the weather has been crazy. So my best travel advice for you would be to check the weather about 1 week before visiting.
January, February, and March will be the coldest months, and most likely to snow. November can feel like Fall weather in the 50s or below freezing. Generally, you can expect November and December to be around 45 degrees on the high-end and below 32 degrees on the cold end. Again, just check the forecast before you come.
In a worst-case scenario, there are tons of places to go shopping to grab yourself some warm clothes, including Macy’s. Additionally, if it is brutally cold or raining, check out the best things to do in NYC on a Rainy (or cold) Day!
Review
Aren’t you so glad you have finally made it to the bottom of these travel tips? I hope that these tips not only help you have the most amazing time in the City but also help you feel like you have a little bit of NYC in you! NYC is one huge melting pot, after all!
If you found this Guide helpful, I’d love it if you could share it below!