New York City is probably the only required stop for anyone visiting the United States for the first time. Unlike most other major US cities, the majority of the famous attractions in New York City are quite clustered together so you can actually see a lot each day. The place has a reputation for being expensive and that is definitely true when looking for accommodation, but many other things can actually be surprisingly affordable.
On any serious traveler’s list of the greatest and most important cities in the world, New York City just has to be seen and experienced to be believed. It’s a cliche, but almost every new arrival will marvel at the ‘energy’ you feel in this huge city that is packed with so many famous things in one small area.
| Population | 8,400,000 |
| Area | 19,000,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-5 |
| Currency | US dollar |
| Airports | John F. Kennedy International (JFK), LaGuardia International (LGA), Newark International (EWR) |
The famous attractions are expensive but a few of them are not well suited to most visitors and the city is jammed with free and cheap things to do. If your time is short you should consider doing one of the Circle Line cruises, which are the fastest way to see most of the famous buildings as well as the best close-up view of the Statue of Liberty on every cruise. For those who want to see all the most famous sights in a short time, we break down if the New York Pass is a good deal.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 56.00 - 150.00 |
| 152.00 - 344.00 |
| 206.00 - 510.00 |
| 313.00 - 435.00 |
| 461.00 - 730.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 40.00 - 66.00 |
Drinking in NYC is expensive but if you self-cater with some beer or wine before you go out it keeps things from getting out of hand. Great and cheap meals are quite easy to find as long as you get out of the main hotel districts. Check out our cheap New York City tips for information on keeping costs down.
| Budget breakfast | Hotels in NYC rarely include breakfast, but it's always easy to find a deli or bagel shop for a fast and cheap meal. | $4.00 - $7.00 |
| Budget lunch | Big slices of cheese pizza are around $3 each, and filling sandwiches start around $4. | $7.00 - $10.00 |
| Budget dinner | Cheaper and faster options are available, but a budget restaurant meal in this range is easy to find. | $12.00 - $20.00 |
| coffee (cup) | Coffee is cheap in a deli, and quality and prices are higher elsewhere. | $1.00 - $2.00 |
| Pint of beer | Especially in Manhattan, getting drunk is expensive. Self-catering cans start around $2 each if you look around. | $6.00 - $9.00 |
Strange as it may sound, the best tour of New York City is probably the famous Circle Line Tour, which is a boat ride that circles part or all of Manhattan in just a few hours. The city is so densely packed that you can actually see much more of it from the water than you can from between the huge buildings themselves. Each Circle Line boat also takes you up close to the Statue of Liberty for the best views and photos.
The double-decker hop-on, hop-off bus tours of Manhattan are another great way of seeing many of the top attractions in just a few hours. You’ll have to deal with street traffic, which can be a bit frustrating, but being able to hop off in key parts of the city can easily make it worthwhile.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38 | 26 | 4.1 |
| February | 41 | 28 | 3.1 |
| March | 50 | 35 | 4.4 |
| April | 61 | 44 | 4.3 |
| May | 71 | 54 | 4.7 |
| June | 79 | 63 | 3.8 |
| July | 84 | 69 | 4.6 |
| August | 82 | 68 | 4.2 |
| September | 75 | 60 | 4.2 |
| October | 64 | 50 | 3.8 |
| November | 53 | 41 | 4.4 |
| December | 43 | 32 | 3.9 |
New York City weather follows the classic seasons pretty closely. Summers are almost always hot and often humid, but pleasant days are usually mixed in every week or two. Winter can be quite cold but even when it snows it’s usually cleared away quickly in Manhattan. Spring and fall are most people’s favorite seasons to visit since temperatures are usually pleasant and free of extremes.
It sometimes rains buckets in NYC but whenever rain starts you’ll suddenly see vendors selling $5-or-less umbrellas out of nowhere. Finding fast shelter is always easy as well, so you shouldn’t need to pack for heavy rain.
| 21 Mar | 6:58am | 7:08pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:24am | 8:30pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:42am | 6:56pm |
| 21 Dec | 7:16am | 4:31pm |
New York City has a reputation for being very expensive, and especially as a place to sleep it deserves that reputation. But once you have that handled you can actually get by on a fairly low budget, especially if you spend time away from the cheesy Times Square area. Do yourself a favor and choose from our recommended New York City hotels and hostels, where you’ll have a few great choices instead of a huge list of uncertain ones.
Especially if you’ve only got a few days in the city, it’s best to pay a bit more and stay in one of the nicer and more convenient neighborhoods in Manhattan itself. You can save a bit of money by staying in Queens, Brooklyn, or even New Jersey, but you’ll also spend hours each day going back and forth. Again, avoid the Times Square area if you can and you’ll probably have a better time.
Hotels in New York City are cheapest from mid January through March, but relative bargains are possible almost any time of year. Booking as far as possible in advance is usually the best strategy, though sometimes prices do come down as the dates approach if rooms are not booked and demand is weak.
Hotels outside of Manhattan are cheaper than ones on the main island, but for most people it’s worth paying for the convenience of staying near all the action, since commuting back and forth can drain lots of time and energy.
Star ratings in New York City can seem arbitrary in many systems so don’t assume that a cheap 4-star hotel is nicer than a more expensive 2-star hotel on the same block. Rooms tend to be surprisingly small, and street noise can be a problem, so it’s a good idea to read reviews you can trust before you lock in a place.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| 56.00 - 150.00 |
| 152.00 - 344.00 |
| 206.00 - 510.00 |
| 313.00 - 435.00 |
| 461.00 - 730.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 40.00 - 66.00 |
Unless you are coming from very nearby, you’ll almost certainly be flying into New York City. There are three major airports that are each within an hour or so of Midtown Manhattan by public transportation. The largest is JFK Airport and it handles most of the long-haul international flights.
LaGuardia Airport is a little closer to Manhattan, but not necessarily more convenient for transportation. Newark Airport in neighboring New Jersey is the farthest of the three, but the transportation options are pretty efficient and it often has the cheapest fares of the three.
One of the greatest things about New York City is that you can walk between so many of the famous attractions and neighborhoods. It’s also safer than many people realize. The famous Subway system is the fastest way to go longer distances, although the equally famous yellow cabs are a thrill that can be worthwhile if the traffic isn’t too bad.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| AirTrain from JFK to Manhattan | 16.00 |
| Taxi from JFK to Manhattan | 52.00 |
| Shuttle bus JFK to Manhattan | 22.00 |
| Subway ride with unlimited transfers | 2.00 - 3.00 |
| Shuttle bus LaGuardia to Manhattan | 12.00 - 16.00 |
| Taxi from LaGuardia to Manhattan | 26.00 - 35.00 |
| 3km taxi ride in Manhattan | 4.00 - 10.00 |