New York City

Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums

New York City is the largest city in the United States, with roughly 8 million people spread across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. Most first visits are based in Manhattan, where you can walk Central Park, see a Broadway show and visit museums such as the Met and MoMA. The city is also a food capital, from pizza slices and bagels to restaurants serving nearly every cuisine. Brooklyn and Queens are worth a second look. The subway runs all night. Three major airports serve it and trains arrive from Boston, Philadelphia and Washington. A first visit works best with four or five days.

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City

$$$+

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.6

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	9

Read details

5/5

English is the primary language spoken throughout New York City, and visitors will find that all services, signage, and communications are conducted in English. The city's diverse population also means that many residents are multilingual.

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Last update: Oct 18, 2026

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New York City Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

"Best for" scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

"Your personal" scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

"Suited for" badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travelers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Exceptional for city culture and iconic sights. Visit world-famous museums, enjoy Broadway theater, explore diverse neighborhoods, try global food and take in skyline views from parks and skyscrapers.

Place score

9.5

Best at:

Large cities

Fine dining

Museums

Architecture

Art

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

✡️ 10

Kosher

🌈 9

LGBTQ+

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD)
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for New York City, United States

❄️

Jan

❄️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌦️

Jul

☀️

Aug

☀️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	May - June, Sep. - Oct., Dec.
Shoulder season:	March - April, July - Aug., Nov.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Holiday season late November to early January: Rockefeller Center tree, markets, highest hotel prices and crowds

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the fourth Thursday in November

New Year's Eve in Times Square: area closed to traffic from midday, entry only through security checkpoints

Don't miss

🏙️ Admire skyline views from the Top of a skyscraper
🎭 Watch a Broadway musical in the Theater District
🌃 Visit Times Square at night for unforgettable neon views
🗽 Take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
🖼️ Explore art masterpieces at the Metropolitan Museum
🌳 Take a relaxed walk through Central Park
🍕 Taste authentic New York-style pizza

You've been here?

Why travel to New York City?

Within a few subway stops you can go from Times Square to the Brooklyn Bridge, from a Chinatown market to a rooftop view of the skyline. Central Park alone is about 1.5 sq mi and has lakes, a zoo and open lawns. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are in the harbor and ferries go out to them from Battery Park. Museums are a second reason to visit. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the American Museum of Natural History each take a full day. Broadway and off-Broadway theaters stage dozens of shows every night and same-day discount booths help with prices. Live jazz, comedy and concerts are other options for evenings. Food is another reason. Jackson Heights and Flushing in Queens have some of the best regional Asian and Latin American cooking in the country. Brooklyn has waterfront parks and Coney Island's boardwalk. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons. Summer is hot and humid and there can be snow in winter. Plan four or five days for a first visit, since the sights are spread across several boroughs.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Statue of Liberty
2 Brooklyn Bridge
3 The Metropolitan Museum of Art
4 MoMA
5 9/11 Memorial & Museum
6 Times Square
7 Empire State Building

🎡Places for activities

1 Bronx Zoo
2 Yankee Stadium
3 Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
4 Central Park Zoo
5 Madison Square Garden
6 Chelsea Piers
7 Circle Line
8 St. George Ferry Terminal

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Central Park
2 New York Botanical Garden
3 Brooklyn Botanic Garden
4 Prospect Park
5 Riverside Park
6 Bryant Park
7 Battery Park
8 Hudson River Park
9 Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

🛍️Shopping

1 Chelsea Market
2 Brookfield Place
3 Westfield World Trade Center
4 Macy's
5 Bloomingdale's
6 The Shops at Columbus Circle
7 Canal Street Market
8 Astor Place Greenmarket

🎈Events

New Year's Eve in Times Square
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
New York Fashion Week
Tribeca Film Festival
New York City Marathon
Fourth of July Fireworks
St. Patrick's Day Parade
Pride Parade
Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village
SummerStage Concerts

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Tap the same card or phone each ride so the weekly cap applies.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge toward Manhattan so the skyline stays in front of you.
Book timed tickets ahead for the big museums and the Statue of Liberty ferry, since they sell out in busy seasons.
Sales tax and tips are added after menu prices, so budget about a quarter more at restaurants.

How to travel to New York City

Three airports serve the city. Kennedy International (JFK) in Queens has the most international flights. The AirTrain links it to the subway at Jamaica and Howard Beach, which makes the trip to Midtown about an hour. A taxi from JFK to Manhattan has a flat fare. LaGuardia (LGA) in Queens has no rail link, so most visitors take a bus to the subway or a taxi of about 30 to 45 minutes. Newark (EWR) in New Jersey is connected by AirTrain to NJ Transit trains that reach Penn Station in about 30 minutes. Amtrak trains arrive at Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station from Philadelphia in about 1.25 to 1.5 hours, from Washington in about 3 hours and from Boston in about 4 hours. Metro-North serves Grand Central from Westchester and Connecticut. Long-distance buses use the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Driving in isn't recommended because of tolls and traffic.

Access summary

From JFK (JFK): AirTrain + subway/LIRR to Manhattan, about 40–60 min.
From LaGuardia (LGA): Taxi, rideshare or bus to Manhattan, about 30–60 min.
From Newark (EWR): AirTrain + NJ Transit train to Manhattan, about 30–45 min.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in New York City

Midtown Manhattan has the most hotels and the best subway access, which suits a first visit with many sights to cover. Times Square is convenient for Broadway but loud and crowded. The Upper West Side and Upper East Side are calmer and are next to Central Park and the big museums. Lower Manhattan and the Financial District are quiet at night and close to the Brooklyn Bridge and harbor ferries. Prices are high everywhere and rooms are small. Brooklyn neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn or Long Island City in Queens often cost less and are a short subway ride from Midtown. Book early for the December holidays, the fall season and big events such as the marathon in early November. Taxes and fees get added to hotel rates, so check the final price.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Pod Times Square

8.8

InterContinental New York Times Square By IHG

8.1

HI New York City Hostel

8.8

TRYP by Wyndham New York City Times Square / Midtown

7.9

NEW YORKER BY LOTTE HOTELS

7.5

Radio City Apartments

8.8

Sofitel New York

8.8

DoubleTree by Hilton New York Times Square West

7.4

YOTEL New York Times Square

8.0

Washington Square Hotel

8.8

Explore more accommodations

How to get around New York City

The subway is the main way to get around. Manhattan's grid also makes walking easy, with streets going east to west and avenues going north to south. Many sights are within about 1 mi of each other. You don't need a car and parking is costly.

Subway and buses:
The subway runs 24 hours a day. Tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstile and rides are capped at $35 over seven days, so frequent riders stop paying after that. Buses fill the gaps between subway lines and take the same payment, especially crosstown in Manhattan. Check live service changes since weekend track work reroutes lines often.

Taxis:
Yellow taxis and app rides are plentiful but slow in traffic. The city also charges a congestion fee in the zone below Midtown.

Ferries and bikes:
Ferries link Manhattan with Brooklyn, Queens and Governors Island. Citi Bike rentals work for short trips along the waterfront.

Food in New York City

New York is one of the best eating cities in the world, with food at every price. Classic picks include a plain slice of pizza, a bagel with cream cheese and lox, a pastrami sandwich and halal cart platters on street corners. Chinatown, Flushing and Jackson Heights have excellent Chinese, Korean, Indian and Latin American cooking at modest prices.

Table service is expected to include a tip of about 18 to 20 percent. Popular restaurants fill up, so reserve a few days ahead for dinner. Food halls such as Chelsea Market and delis cover cheaper meals. Vegetarian, vegan and halal choices are widespread and most menus list allergens if you ask.

Our personal travel story

How I got a skyline view in New York without the crowds

By Simon Harjes

A story from: November 2024
Last facts review: Oct 8, 2026

When I got to New York, I had one goal: to see the skyline from above at night. I read that most people go up the Empire State Building. It's the classic choice. But then I thought about it more: if I'm up there, that's the one landmark I won't actually see. So the search began and it led me to Edge at Hudson Yards. The observation deck alone is pretty pricey just for a look around, but I discovered they also run a restaurant up top and managed to snag a dinner reservation last minute.

We weren't right at the window (second row, but still a great view) and honestly the food was excellent on its own. The restaurant was just one floor above the observation deck and if you book a table there, entry to the observation deck is included for free and you get a vip-feeling when bypassing the elevator queues to get up. So after dinner we went down to the observation deck. It was surprisingly uncrowded, maybe 40 or so people scattered across the terrace. There was some quiet music playing and we got to enjoy the view without fighting anyone for the spots to take photos.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when traveling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customize this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+31 %

Daily expenses in New York City are around 31% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

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This place also uses US Dollar, so no money exchange necessary.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when traveling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	$146	$290	$721
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	$80	$150	$300
🍝 Food per day	$55	$128	$373
🚕 Transportation per day	$11	$12	$48

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	$55
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	$24
🍟 Fast food combo	$14
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	$21
☕ Cappuccino	$6
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l / 16 oz	$8.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	$3
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	$28
⛽ Gas, 1 l / ¼ gal	$0.90

Other

🎞️ Movie ticket	$21
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	$160
🤧 Cold medication	$23
💇 Basic haircut	$40

Safety information overview

General safety

Violent crime is low for a big city and tourist areas stay busy late. Pickpockets work Times Square and crowded subway cars, so keep bags closed and avoid empty cars late at night. Heat waves and winter storms are the main weather risks.

Health & Medical

Medical care is excellent, with many major hospitals and urgent care clinics across the boroughs. Costs are very high for visitors, so travel insurance with medical cover is essential. Pharmacies are on most blocks. Summer heat is the main health risk.

Accessibility

Many older subway stations have stairs and no elevator, though newer ones are step-free. Buses are all low-floor and have ramps. Sidewalks have curb cuts and most museums and theaters are accessible. Check the MTA's elevator status before you ride.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink in New York City and is well regarded for its quality. It comes from upstate reservoirs. Restaurants serve it free on request and public fountains and refill stations are found in parks and many public spaces.

Packing recommendations for New York City

📷

Camera

👟

Comfortable walking shoes

🚰

Reusable water bottle

Universal power adapter

💳

Credit card with no foreign transaction fees

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Temperature:	26 – 36 °F
Water temp.:	42 °F
Rain:	2″ (Some rainy days)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists

Summary:	Coldest month, outdoor sightseeing is unpleasant
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Water temp.:	40 °F
Rain:	2″ (Some rainy days)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists

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Temperature:	34 – 46 °F
Water temp.:	40 °F
Rain:	3″ (Moderate rainy days)
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Temperature:	44 – 58 °F
Water temp.:	45 °F
Rain:	3″ (Moderate rain nearly daily)
Crowdedness:	Many tourists

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Temperature:	54 – 68 °F
Water temp.:	52 °F
Rain:	3″ (Moderate rain nearly daily)
Crowdedness:	Many tourists