16/10/2023
helpful tips for visiting New York City
Post Overview: Helpful tips for visiting New York City for the first time
If you’re visiting New York City for the first time you might be wondering about helpful New York City travel tips. I’ve lived in the Big Apple my entire life and have definitely learned a few tips and tricks about properly visiting the Big Apple.
As a local, I can tell you that we truly appreciate folks that do their research before visiting New York City for the first time. Kudos to you for striving to be a responsible visitor!
I want your trip to New York City to be as enjoyable as possible and would like to share my personal recommendations and New York City travel tips. This is the exact list I share with my own family and friends, read on for everything you need to know.
Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (The best neighborhoods for first timers +2 to avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s our favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
Helpful New York City Travel Tips
So I went to New York City to be born again. It was, and remains, easy for most Americans to go somewhere else and start anew. I wasn’t like my parents. I didn’t have any supposedly sacred piece of land or shoals of friends to leave behind.
KURT VONNEGUT
helpful tips for visiting New York City
Travel Tips for New York City (Let’s Talk Transportation)
A taxi might be cheaper than Uber or Lyft
If you’re flying into JFK don’t make the assumption that an Uber will be cheaper than a taxi. Taxis from JFK offer a flat rate to Manhattan, which is often cheaper than taking an Uber or Lyft.
The flat rate is $70 (+$5 rushhour surcharge weekdays between 4pm – 8pm), plus 15-20% tip. All told, I typically pay around $80-100 to get from the airport (steep prices but this is New York, baby!)
Getting to Manhattan from the other two airports (LaGuardia and Newark) might be cheaper using Uber because taxis will charge standard meter rates. If you’re curious, here’s the standard meter fare for taxis in NYC.
If helpful, I take the subway into the city 90% of the time unless I have a lot of luggage with me. It’s cheap and pretty easy to figure out using Google Maps.
Further Reading: Getting to New York City from the Airport
New York City Travel tips
St. Patrick’s Cathedral | New York City Travel Tips
NYC travel tips for hailing a taxi
Hailing a taxi seems romantically easily in movies, but in real life it might require some elbow grease. Here’s some tips for hailing a taxi like a true New Yorker:
Look at the light on top of the cab, if the middle light is on then the cab is free to hail. If the end lights are on then the cab is carrying a passenger.
When you see an empty cab you can flag it by standing on the curb and raising your hand in the direction of the cab (make eye contact with the driver). They’ll pull over to pick you up, but take note: taxis cannot stop at bus stops.
Also, you may notice green cabs in New York City –the green cab program was launched to address a discrepancy in ride availability outside of Manhattan (the most popular area in NYC). As such, green cabs are not allowed to pick up passengers within Manhattan (unless you’re in Harlem). You can read about the green cab program here.
Tips for hailing a taxi in New York City
Hailing a taxi | Travel Tips for New York City
The 7-day metro card is typically worthwhile
More often than not, the 7-day metro card is worthwhile, especially if you plan to take the subway from the airport. The pass is only $33 (+$1 activation fee) and gives you seven days of unlimited access to the efficient subway system. If you choose to forgo purchasing the metro card you will be charged $2.75 every time to hop on the subway, which adds up faster than you think.
Whenever my friends and family visit me in NYC, this is the first thing I recommend they purchase.
The subway is the best way to get around
A lot of people love to hate on public transportation (this isn’t unique to the Big Apple), but the subway is truly the best way to get around. In fact, sometimes the subway is also the fastest way to get around because of the notorious traffic.
Here’s a few things to keep in mind while using the subway during your first visit to New York City:
Avoid empty trains: There’s typically a reason they’re empty – the AC might be broken, their might be a terrible smell or an individual causing a ruckus.
Don’t hog seats you aren’t using. If you brought a large item onboard place it in your lap. If you’re taking the subway during rush hour you probably won’t find a seat, in which case make sure to hold on to the handrails because sometimes the train jerks out of the station.
Know the difference between express trains and local trains. Local trains stop at every stop while express trains skip a handful of stops. Google Maps does a great job telling you which train to hop on, follow the directions careful.
Don’t stress catching the wrong train. Getting on the wrong train is not ideal, but it happens and at worst you’ll lose some time. Simply get off at the next stop and hop on the train going in the opposite direction (or follow the directions on your phone).
Travel Tips for New York City
The subway is a great way to get around NYC | Things to know before visiting New York City
The New York City Ferry is a GREAT way to rest your legs
One of my favorite things to do with first time visitors to NYC is to take them on the NYC Ferry. The NYC Ferry is part of the public transportation network within NYC, so the rides are only $2.75 per person (same fare as the subway).
Riding the ferry is a great way to rest your legs while soaking up incredible views of NYC. Just keep in mind that this is an official mode of transportation and not a tourist attraction.
Therefore, if you need to get from one waterfront to the next, hop on! I especially love the short route between DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and Wall Street.
best things to do in New York City with kids
The New York City Ferry | New York City Travel Tips
Download an offline Google map before you visit NYC
One of the most important New York City travel tips is to download an offline map (using Google Maps) before your first visit to NYC. It’s a free service and pretty easy to do. There’s seldom any cell service in the subway and having access to a map while you’re en route is invaluable.
Ask for directions if you’re lost (yes, really)
New Yorkers get a bad rap for being rude, but we’re not — we’re just busy. Speaking from personal experience, please don’t hesitate to approach locals and ask for directions if you’re lost. Find someone that looks approachable (isn’t glued to their phone or walking at blazing speeds) and approach them.
The key is to get right to the point, rather than trying to exchange pleasantries (sounds strange, but trust me).
When you approach a New Yorker say something along the lines of “Hello, I’m looking for the New York Public Library, can you point me in the right direction?” No small talk needed.
More often than not, it gives us great joy to help people out (we want to be a good representation of the place we call home!). Plus, nothing makes you feel more like a New Yorker than knowing where to point people without picking up your phone — it’s a win-win for all. 😉
Tips for visiting NYC for the first time
The High Line | Visiting New York City for the first time
Helpful New York City Travel Tips
“I love New York, even though it isn’t mine, the way something has to be, a tree or a street or a house, something, anyway, that belongs to me because I belong to it.”
– TRUMAN CAPOTE
Comfortable walking shoes are non-negotiable
One of the most important tips for first time visitors to New York is to bring comfortable walking shoes. Most of my out-of-town visitors average 15,000 – 20,000 steps per day, simply because there’s so many great things to do in New York City.
The subway is efficient but sometimes it’s better to walk between places to absorb more of the city. There’s no denying that the skyline is euphoric and the streets are always buzzing with energy. Bring your most comfortable pair of shoes because you’ll be getting those steps in, I guarantee it.
If helpful, here’s the only walking shoes I purchase.
Visiting NYC for the first time
New York City Travel Tips
The best views of the city are from Top of the Rock
I dare you to show me a more mesmerizing skyline than New York City’s. And if you’re looking for the absolute best view of New York City, it’s hard to beat the Top of the Rock Observation Deck, especially at sunset.
Visitors can access three separate indoor/outdoor observation decks on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors. The subsequent panoramic views from this iconic building makes this one of the most popular observation decks in NYC. As such, you can expect crowds practically every hour of the day.
But trust me when I tell you the crowds are worth it. The large glass panels offer unobstructed views the NYC skyline, unlike some of the other observation decks in NYC that use fencing — an inexcusable offense!
From Top of Rock you will see the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Flatiron Building and the One World Trade Center.
Further Reading: 18+ JAW-DROPPING Views of New York City (For All Budgets)
Treat the sidewalk like a highway
Nothing bothers a New Yorker more than a person that stops smack-dab in the middle of the sidewalk. It’s inconsiderate and you’re guaranteed to garner eye rolls. There’s two ways you could inadvertently hog the sidewalk: walking side-by-side in a large group and stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, effectively preventing access.
If you don’t want to look like a tourist during your first visit to NYC, make sure you step to the side of the sidewalk if you need to stop.
New York City travel tips
Treat the sidewalk like a highway | Tips for visiting New York City for the first time
Eat at the local joints
One of the best things about living in the Big Apple is having access to the epic food scene. NYC is a foodie’s paradise so one of my biggest New York City travel tips is to avoid chain restaurants altogether. You’ll be in the land of carbs (pizza, bagels and pasta!). Take advantage of the awesome local joints for all your meals in NYC.
Further Reading: 15 Mouthwatering NYC Bagels that Validate the Hype
Best bagel and lox New York City
Eat at local spots | Tips for visiting New York City for the first time
Tipping is expected in New York City
Since some of these tips for visiting New York City apply to foreign visitors, it would be inexcusable to skip a quick recap of the tipping system in America. Unlike most foreign countries, tipping at restaurants is expected in the US. The rule of thumb is 20% and anything below 15% risks coming off as insulting.
My rule of thumb is as follows: If I sit down at a table I expect to tip 20%. If I’m grabbing something from a counter (like a bagel, etc.) I’m not expected to tip. However, I’m so used to tipping in NYC that it’s hard to leave without tipping wherever I go, but use your own discretion.
New York City is expensive
I know, understatement of the century, right? But bear with me. New York City is the 7th most expensive city in the world. Let that sink in. Expect everything to cost more, from your daily coffee to a meal at a restaurant. The highest sticker shock tends to occur with cocktails, it’s not uncommon for a single drink to clock in around $18-22 before tip.
As such, one of my New York City travel tips is to make sure you budget accordingly before visiting New York City for the first time. It’s too easy to get carried away and end up spending more than you planned. Make a list of your top 5-10 can’t-miss spots, but don’t expect to experience everything in one go (unless your budget allows, of course).
To that end, you can most definitely visit New York City on a budget because some of the best things to do in NYC are completely free. For example, spend an easy-going afternoon at one of the 15 most iconic parks in New York City and you’ll instantly see why folks enjoy living here so much.
Travel Tips NYC
New York City Travel Tips
Try to find a hotel outside of Times Square
Most people visiting New York City for the first time end up staying near Times Square. It’s hard to blame them because there’s a plethora of hotels to choose from, deals to be had! But the problem with Times Square is that it’s a tourist trap to the nth degree. In my opinion, it takes away from the overall experience because it’s always so noisy and loud.
