Visiting New York City for the First Time

New York City offers so many tourist attractions and sights that your first time can seem overwhelming. Check out our guide to spending your first visit to the big apple.

NYC – The Basics

There are five boroughs (regions) in New York City. They are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. A majority of the tourist attractions are in Brooklyn or Manhattan.

The city and attractions are safe, however you should always use safe travel procedures, including never traveling alone at night. Police are common and can help if you have any issues or concerns. Do not leave bags, cameras, or expensive items laying around and do not wear expensive jewelry or show off a lot of cash to avoid attracting unwanted attention.

Public restrooms are not common, so if you need to use one, look for a McDonalds or Starbucks (we usually go to a Starbucks). You do have to purchase an item to use the restroom though. Most major attractions like the statue of liberty do have restrooms available.

Almost every restaurant, shop, and attraction takes credit card. Some street venders and some restaurants do not accept credit card. Be aware, people selling secondhand watches, bags, or other items are probably not going to take credit cards, but you should also probably avoid them anyway.

When should you go to New York City?

Every season offers something unique, so there really isn’t a bad season. In the summer there are a number of free concerts and in Central Park. In the winter and early spring you can ice skate in Central Park or at the Rockefeller Center.

Summertime and Christmas break are the busiest times in NYC. We recommend taking a long weekend in late April or early May, or anytime in the fall. Crowds will be smaller, and you will spend less time in lines.

Taxi, Uber/Lyft, or Subway?

The subway is the most common form of transportation in NYC. The subway goes to almost every stretch of the city and stops are a plenty. To ride the subway you do have to purchase a metro pass. There are unlimited week and month metro cards available. If you are visiting three or more days, getting the unlimited week metro card is likely going to be worth it.

You can purchase a pass at any metro station with cash, or debit or credit card. You need to purchase a new metro card, and then a week or month pass.

The subway system can be confusing and complex, don’t be afraid to ask an officer, or metro attendant for help. Google maps is a great phone app to help you determine which subway train to take and which stop to get off at. Subway lines are labeled with letters or numbers and each direction of the line is named by its last stop, so make sure you are going the right direction before getting on the train. Also multiple trains use the same platforms, so make sure it is the right train before getting on.

If the subway seems too complex, scary, or just gives you anxiety, don’t worry. Taxis, Uber, and Lyft operate in NYC and are abundant. They are going to cost more to travel through the city, but easier to handle.

Hotel or Airbnb?

For your first visit to NYC a majority of people like to stay in the Times Square area. While this is a great place for access to some of the tourist attractions, prices can be outrageous at times.

Hotels and Airbnbs are exist throughout the island of Manhattan, so really the decision comes to what option you are most comfortable with. Do not expect a big hotel room or a large airbnb room, as most rooms in Manhattan area probably only big enough for a bed and maybe a table. Our favorite hotel in Manhattan is the Hotel Indigo Lower East Side, however, we have also used Airbnbs when hotel rates were too high.

Hotels and Airbnbs in Brooklyn or Queens will be cheaper, but you will have to travel to Manhattan for most attractions (which the unlimited metro card is helpful).

Sights and Tourist Attractions

Attractions below are broken out by area to help plan your trip. Many of these do require advance reservation or ticket purchases.

Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange.

Lower Manhattan

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island – Probably the most well known attraction in New York City. Purchase tickets at least a few months in advance during less crowded times and at least three months in advance during busier times. Tickets are purchased through the Statue Cruises. You can enter the pedestal (which includes an information museum), or just walk the grounds. Tickets for the crown are only available when the crown is open to visitors. You will go through a lot of security and are not allowed to bring bags or purses with you. There are lockers for rent available near the ferry entrance to store your items. Give yourself at least 3 hours to explore the statue, grounds, and Ellis island.
9/11 Museum and Memorial – The museum is located underground and houses pieces of the tragic event. There are memorials for each tower at the site. Give yourself at least two hours for the museum and memorials, longer if you plan to do the audio tour.
One Trade Center – The tower was built after 9/11 and was built to be the tallest building in the USA. The tower offers an observatory deck up on the 102nd floor with sweeping views of the city.
Wall Street, the Stock Market, and Federal Reserve – Just south east of the 9/11 Memorial is the Financial District. Many companies offer tours of Wall Street and the Federal Reserve offers its own tour.
Chinatown – A handful of blocks packed with souvenir shops and Chinese food are a fun otherworld experience in the heart of NYC. The shops are great for finding cheap souvenirs.

Checking out the Empire State Building from the top of Rockefeller Center.

Midtown

Time Square – Times Square is probably the top or second item on your list to visit. Best viewed at night, Times Square is a such a unique place. Almost every inch of every building is covered in bright and glittering ads, enough to make you think it is still daylight at times. There are tons of restaurants, shops, and even attractions lining the Times Square area. Give yourself at least an hour to walk the Times Square area to take in the sights.
Broadway – Most of the broadway shows are located in venues that surround Times Square. Some companies also offer backstage tours of broadway shows and theaters. Unless you are going to see a super popular show, you can purchase heavily discounted broadway tickets from the TKTS booth located in Times Square.
Empire State Building – Located in the middle of the skyline of NYC, the observation decks offer some superb views day and night of the entire skyline. There are observation decks at the 86th and 102nd floors. Be aware you may have to wait in line for hours to get to the top, so give yourself at least 3-4 hours to enjoy the entire experience.
Rockefeller Center – The Rockefeller Center offers ice skating in the winter, and also boasts a great observatory from the 70th floor. The Top of the Rock offers great views of Central Park, especially during the fall foliage. There are also the NBC Studio tour and the Radio City Music Hall tour available.
Madison Square Garden – Home of the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers, the arena is also host to a number of concerts.
Grand Central Terminal – You have probably seen the terminal in a lot of commercials, movies, or tv shows. The terminal is full of shops and food. Stop by and take a picture with the famous clock or just people watch as everyone hustles to their next train.

Central Park and Upper East Side

Central Park – This is probably one of the top items on your list to see in NYC. The park is so big that once you get a few blocks in, you won’t be able to hear the hustle and bustle from the city. There are a number of things to do in Central Park, so give yourself at least a few hours to walk through the park.
Guggenheim Museum – Located east of Central Park, the Guggenheim is known for some of its famous art work and its unique architecture. For art fans, this is a definite stop.
Museum of Natural History – Located on the west side of Central Park, the museum is floor after floor of history. Most of the museum are permanent exhibits, but a few exhibits are temporary. The museum is great for kids and adults alike, but plan to spend at least a few hours wandering the halls.
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Bridge – One of the many bridges that connect Manhattan to the world, you can walk across the bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn or vice versa. The bridge is a long and high over traffic. Be aware of bicycles and other pedestrians. Give yourself at least a few hours to walk the entire bridge. If you only want to take some pictures of the bridge in the background, check out the Brooklyn Bridge Park or Empire Fulton Ferry Park on the Brooklyn side. These give you a great backdrop of the Manhattan skyline with your bridge pictures.
Coney Island – Located at the southern tip of Brooklyn, the park is an amusement park with food, venders, and rides. There is also an aquarium and beaches to swim.
Prospect Park – If you are staying in Brooklyn, the park is definitely worth checking out. There are a number of trails and activities within the park.

Other Areas

Yankee Stadium/City Field – During the spring, summer and a portion of the fall you can catch a New York Yankees game or a New York Mets game. For Yankees tickets click here and for Mets tickets click here.
The High Line – The High Line is a former freight train line that was converted to a walking park with art and nature. The high line is runs north to south on the west side of Manhattan and is accessible from a few different points along the line.
Washington Square Park – The park is located inside the Greenwich Village area of NYC. The arch is fairly famous on its own after being in numerous movies, tv shows, and commercials. The area is a great place to have a seat, people watch, or take some souvenir pictures.

Hopefully this guide helps you plan your first trip to NYC. As always feel free to contact us with any questions or comment below.