New York

New York travel guide overview

New York City packs world-class museums, skyline views, iconic neighbourhoods and endless food into five very different boroughs. This New York travel guide will help you decide how many days you need, where to stay in Manhattan or Brooklyn, which sights are worth booking ahead and how to get around by subway without stress.

Best time to visit New York

April to June and September to November are the best times to visit New York, with mild weather and beautiful light. July and August are hot and humid, while December brings festive crowds and holiday shopping. January and February are cold but cheap, and great for museums and Broadway shows.

Where to stay in New York

Midtown Manhattan is convenient for first-timers, close to Times Square, Central Park and major transport hubs. The Lower East Side and East Village suit a younger, nightlife-focused trip. For a quieter, more local base, stay in Williamsburg or DUMBO in Brooklyn and take the subway or ferry into Manhattan.

Top things to do in New York

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise, spend an afternoon in Central Park, and visit either the Met or MoMA. See the skyline from Top of the Rock or the Edge, catch a Broadway show and eat your way through a neighbourhood or two. Free ferries to Staten Island offer a great Statue of Liberty view without a ticket.

• Buy a CityPASS if you plan several major attractions
• Book Broadway seats via TodayTix for last-minute deals
• Ride the free Staten Island Ferry for skyline views
• Explore one neighbourhood per day rather than racing the boroughs

What and where to eat in New York

New York is a food capital: bagels and lox for breakfast, dollar pizza slices for lunch, dim sum in Chinatown and a proper steak or omakase for dinner. Explore food halls like Chelsea Market and Time Out Market, and skip the chains in Times Square in favour of neighbourhood joints.

Getting around New York

The subway runs 24/7 and is by far the fastest way across Manhattan and into Brooklyn or Queens. Use a contactless card or phone to tap in with OMNY. Yellow cabs and ride-hailing are useful late at night, but traffic is slow at rush hour. Walking is the best way to feel the city.

A simple 5-day New York itinerary

Day 1: Midtown — Times Square, Rockefeller Center and a Broadway show. Day 2: Central Park and the Met. Day 3: Downtown — Statue of Liberty ferry, 9/11 Memorial and the West Village. Day 4: Brooklyn — bridge walk, DUMBO and Williamsburg dinner. Day 5: MoMA, High Line and Chelsea Market.