New York
First time in New York City? What to know before you go
First-timers should base in Manhattan for 4–5 nights, walk one neighbourhood per half-day, and use the subway instead of taxis. Book the Statue of Liberty ferry and Broadway only from official sellers. Skip if you have under 48 hours: pick one borough and one museum instead.
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GuideNew York
Key facts
- Nights for a first trip
- 4–5 in New York, per the US trip plan
- Best months
- Apr–Jun and Sep–Dec; Dec is cold but festive
- Getting around
- Subway and walking; no car needed in Manhattan
- Airport transfer
- AirTrain + subway from JFK; NJ Transit or bus from Newark
- Book ahead
- Statue of Liberty ferry, Broadway shows, popular museums' timed slots
- Typical daily spendcheck
- US$150–300 per person excluding hotel (2026 estimate)
- Tipping
- 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars; US$1–2 per drink at the bar
Top picks for a first visit
Group the city by neighbourhood and do one area per half-day. Manhattan below 59th Street holds most first-trip sights; the subway connects them in 10–25 minutes.
Book the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry from the official operator only, and reserve Broadway seats through the show's official box office or its authorised seller. Third-party resale adds fees and risk.
- Half-day 1: Lower Manhattan — Statue of Liberty ferry, 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street.
- Half-day 2: Midtown — Grand Central, Times Square, an observation deck at sunset.
- Half-day 3: Central Park and the Upper East Side museums.
- Half-day 4: Brooklyn Bridge walk, then a neighbourhood in Brooklyn.
| Pick | Price (2026 estimate) | Hours | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island | Ferry ticket from about US$25 adult (check) | First departures morning, last return late afternoon (check) | Subway to Bowling Green, then ferry from Battery Park |
| The Met | About US$30 adult (check) | 10:00–17:00, closed some Mondays (check) | 4/5/6 to 86th St, walk into Central Park |
| Central Park | Free | Open daily, 06:00–01:00 (check) | Any of several subway stops along its edges |
| 9/11 Memorial and Museum | Memorial free; museum about US$33 (check) | Morning to evening, hours vary by season (check) | A/C/E, 1/2/3, R/W to Fulton St or Cortlandt St |
| Grand Central Terminal | Free to enter | Concourse open daily, roughly 05:15–02:00 (check) | 4/5/6/7 or S shuttle to Grand Central |
| Top of the Rock or Edge | About US$40–50 (check) | Day into night; sunset slots sell out (check) | B/D/F/M to Rockefeller Center; 7 to 34th St–Hudson Yards |
| Brooklyn Bridge walk | Free | Any time; sunrise and evening are quieter | 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall |
| Broadway show | About US$80–200 face value (check) | Evening performances, plus midweek and weekend matinees | Subway to Times Square or 50th St |
Map and orientation
Manhattan runs north–south. Avenues run north; streets run east–west, and numbers rise as you go north. Fifth Avenue splits east from west, so an address like 200 W 44th St sits west of Fifth.
Distances are walkable in the grid: about 20 blocks to a mile (1.6 km) north–south, and a long avenue block is roughly three short street blocks. The subway is fastest for anything over about 20 blocks or across a river.
Approximate centre points for planning: Times Square 40.7580, -73.9855; Central Park south edge 40.7680, -73.9819; Battery Park 40.7033, -74.0170; Brooklyn Bridge 40.7061, -73.9969. All approximate.
| Area | What it is for | Subway |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Manhattan | Statue of Liberty ferry, 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street | 1/2/3, 4/5/6, R/W, A/C/E |
| Midtown | Times Square, Grand Central, Broadway, observation decks | 1/2/3, 7, B/D/F/M, N/Q/R/W |
| Upper East and Upper West Side | The Met, Central Park, American Museum of Natural History | 4/5/6, B/C, 1/2/3 |
| Brooklyn | Bridge walk, DUMBO, Williamsburg | A/C, F, 2/3, L |
Practical tips
Pay with a contactless card or phone on the subway and buses; fares are capped per day and per week, so you rarely need a separate pass. Trains run all night, but late-night waits are longer.
Tipping is expected at sit-down restaurants and bars: 15–20% on the bill, or US$1–2 per drink if you order at the bar. Counter service usually has a tip screen; it is optional.
Sales tax is added at the till, so the shelf price is not what you pay. Hotel rooms carry a separate city tax and a nightly fee at many properties.
From JFK, the AirTrain connects to the subway and to the Long Island Rail Road; from Newark, take NJ Transit or an express bus into Manhattan. Allow 60–90 minutes door to door.
Book timed entries for the busiest sights and expect airport-style security at some of them. Carry ID; some venues and bars ask for it.
- Wear shoes you can walk 10–15 km in; pavement time adds up fast.
- Carry a refillable bottle — tap water is safe to drink.
- Stand right, walk left on escalators.
- Check for street closures and parades before planning a Midtown day.
When to go
April to June and September to December are the strongest windows: mild temperatures, long daylight and the full sightseeing calendar. December is cold but the holiday lights and markets are the draw; expect the highest hotel rates of the year.
July and August are hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms; January and February are cold, with occasional snow and the cheapest room rates outside the holidays. Late November through early January is the busiest and most expensive stretch.
Weekends are busiest at the big sights. A Tuesday or Wednesday morning is the easiest time for the Statue of Liberty ferry and the major museums.
| Season | Weather | Crowds and cost |
|---|---|---|
| Apr–Jun | Mild, 10–25 °C | Busy; rates high in May and June |
| Jul–Aug | Hot and humid, 25–35 °C | Busy; afternoon storms |
| Sep–Dec | Mild to cold, 0–25 °C | Busiest and priciest from late Nov to early Jan |
| Jan–Feb | Cold, -5 to 5 °C | Quietest and cheapest outside holidays |
Questions people ask
First time in New York City? What to know before you go?
Base in Manhattan for 4–5 nights, plan one neighbourhood per half-day, and use the subway. Book the Statue of Liberty ferry and Broadway from official sellers only. Bring walking shoes and expect tax on top of listed prices.
How much does it cost in New York City?
Budget roughly US$150–300 per person per day excluding hotel (2026 estimate): subway about US$3 a ride, museum tickets US$30–50, a casual meal US$15–25, a sit-down dinner US$40–80 plus tax and tip. Hotels run US$200–500 a night (check).
What is the best time to visit New York City?
April to June and September to December for mild weather and full opening hours. July and August are hot and humid; January and February are cold but cheapest. Late November to early January is the busiest and most expensive period.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialNYC Tourism + Conventions
- officialMTA – New York City Transit
- officialNational Park Service – Statue of Liberty
- officialThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
- official9/11 Memorial & Museum
- secondaryWikivoyage – New York City