It’s on the bucket list for many people. New York City in America is one of the most visited cities in the world.
Famous for shopping, museums, food and fashion, tourists can’t get enough of The Big Apple.
Brought to life in iconic movies such as Taxi Driver, King Kong and Big, and TV shows like Sex and the City, Friends and Succession, the buzz is like nowhere else.
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If it’s your first time, here’s everything you need to know.
Best time to visit New York
While there’s always something going on and plenty to explore, New York does get freezing cold in the winter and steamy hot in the summer.
For that reason, spring and autumn might be more comfortable to visit. Spring is April and May and autumn is September and October.
Having said that, big events including Independence Day on July 4, and the lead up to Christmas, when you can see the Rockefeller Christmas tree and ice rink, are also popular.
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Best museums in New York
If you’re into your museums and art galleries, you’ll be delighted to see some of the world’s most famous in New York City.
Top options include the Metropolitan Museum of Art (famous for hosting celeb-packed Met Gala), Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and The Solomon R Guggenheim Museum.
The American Museum of Natural History, known from film, A Night at the Museum - is great for families.
Also don’t miss the The 9/11 Memorial and Museum, at the site where the twin towers once stood.
For something different, head to Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum, on board aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid.
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How does the subway work in New York City
The easiest and cheapest way to get around New York City – after walking – is by subway. The network is extensive and you can see a map at MTA.
You can tap on using a credit or debit card. However, if you want to avoid currency exchange fees, you can get a Metro card.
They’re sold at vending machines at stations. However, they are being phased out to be replaced by the OMNY card. Find out where to buy one here.
A typical trip is $4.45 ($US2.90) and there is a weekly cap of $52 ($US34.) Children under 112cm travel free. You tap on when you enter the subway.
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You don’t have to tap out when you leave. Buses and ferries are another way to get around, and there are on-street Citi bikes.
Famous yellow taxis are also abundant, and you need to look at the light on the top to see if they’re available. If only the numbers in the middle are lit, then that cab is waiting for you to flag it down.
You should tip 10 to 20 per cent of the fare, according to official guidelines. You can also use Uber and Lyft.
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New York City attractions and what to see
First time visitors should definitely check out the Empire State Building, see a Broadway show, visit Times Square, wander Central Park, see the Statue of Liberty (you can see if on the Staten Island Ferry if you don’t want to go to the actual monument) and take photos at Brooklyn Bridge.
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Other places to go include The Summit One Vanderbilt for epic views, an open top bus tour to see many sights in one go, and a river cruise to see Manhattan from the water.
Wall Street, home of the world’s financial hub is also popular, while Chinatown is great for food.
Best shopping areas include Fifth Avenue and SoHo, as well as famous department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s.
For the Sex and the City fans, Carrie’s apartment is at 66 Perry Street in the West Village.
Then there’s the nightlife, with everything from trendy clubs to dive bars and Irish pubs to visit.
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How many days do you need in NYC?
From a day to a month, you won’t be short of things to do.
We’d suggest if you’re going all the way from Australia, five days or so would be ideal.
NYC best neighbourhoods
New York City is made up of five boroughs. Manhattan and Brooklyn are the most famous and you’ll want to stay in either of these.
The others are Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. Each borough then has neighbourhoods.
Most of what you’ll want to see as a tourist will probably be in Manhattan.
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While it’s easy to get around on the Subway, Midtown, the West Village, the Financial District, SoHo, Chelsea and the Upper East and Upper West Sides are some of the best places to stay.
Tipping guidelines
Tipping is a big thing in the USA. Since the pandemic there had been reports of the amounts you need to tip exploding.
Even some cafes such as Starbucks are now asking for tips, while 9Travel was miffed to be asked to tip for a take-away cookie at hot spot Levain Bakery.
However, there are official tipping guidelines from NYC Tourism. Here’s what they recommend – and while you can tip on your card you’ll also need some cash handy too.
- Hotel doorman: $US2–$5 for hailing a cab.
- Porters and bellhops: $US1–$2 per bag.
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- Housekeeping: $US2–$5 per day.
- Bartenders: At least $US1 tip for every drink, or 15 to 20 per cent if you’re paying a bill at the end.
- Taxi and ride share drivers: 10–20 per cent of the total fare.
- Waiting staff in restaurants: 15–20 per cent of the total bill.
“The higher end has become more of the norm”, NYC Tourism says, adding “this is the one place where you really must tip; unless you’ve had awful service, staff may look askance at anything less than 15 percent.”
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NYC sales tax
Another thing to remember in New York City is that sales tax of almost nine per cent, is added to most things.
A total of 8.875 per cent goes on clothes over $US110,
It’ll go on top of your restaurant bills, theatre tickets, everything except some groceries, diapers and prescription drugs.
Best pizza in NYC
Do not miss pizza in NYC. The city is famous for pizza slices, usually eaten by the slice from a paper plate in a scruffy take away.
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Joe’s Pizza always comes recommended, and photos of celebs visiting adorn the walls.
Other tasty NYC pizza shops mentioned by locals on Reddit include John’s, Lucia Pizza of Soho, Scarr’s Pizza, L’Industrie Pizzeria and Totonno’s.
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