Travel

21 Crucial Tips for Your First New York City Trip

New York is unlike any other city. If you're planning your first visit, your expectations may not match reality. Here are 21 insider tips to help you navigate the Big Apple.

benFebruary 11, 20250 comments

There's no place quite like New York. When you visit for the first time, you might have preconceived notions from TV and movies, but the real experience often differs.

We relocated here three months ago and have received plenty of guidance from long-time residents, yet we're still discovering new things daily. We'll keep updating this list throughout the year. Here's what we wish we'd known before arriving.

All illustrations in this post are by Nathan Pyle, our new favorite artist!

21 TIPS FOR VISITING NEW YORK

1. Best Time to Visit

New York is perpetually crowded, but crowds surge during major holidays. To avoid the masses, skip those periods. Summer is also busier, hot, and humid; aim for spring or fall. If you don't mind cold, winter is great because fewer people visit.

2. The City is Easy to Navigate

NYC comprises five boroughs, but locals usually refer to Manhattan when they say "the city." Surrounded by towering buildings, it's easy to feel lost, but getting around is simpler than it seems. Keep these tips in mind:

The layout is mostly a grid.
Horizontal streets are numbered, with lower numbers at Manhattan's southern tip.
Vertical streets are called Avenues, and they span longer blocks.
Google Maps is reliable.
Don't hesitate to ask for directions.

3. The Subway is Easy Too

Many people find the subway intimidating, but it's well-marked and straightforward. Here are some guidelines:

Despite using a MetroCard, nobody calls it the metro—it's the subway or train.
The subway is often faster than a cab or Uber.
Google Maps works well for subway directions too. Whenever I thought I knew better than the app, I was wrong. Screenshot directions before entering the station, as GPS and service can be spotty underground.
Know your direction: downtown means lower numbers, uptown means higher numbers.
Pay attention when entering: some entrances only lead to one platform side (e.g., downtown). You'll usually need to cross the street for the opposite direction. That tripped me up the most!
Allow extra travel time. Regardless of transport, expect traffic, delays, or stalled lines. For trips under 30 minutes, add 10 minutes; for 30-60 minutes, add 20.
Trains run less frequently late at night and on weekends—be prepared to wait.
Watch for signs indicating schedule or stop changes.
If you see an empty subway car while others are packed, don't assume you've found a secret. Locals likely know something's off—like broken AC or a bad smell.
During rush hour, pack in and don't expect personal space. We avoid it when possible due to flexible schedules.
In a crowded car, take off your backpack and hold it between your legs—that's valuable space. Don't occupy a seat with your belongings; put them on your lap.
Let people exit before boarding. Line up along the platform away from the doors.

You have options when buying a MetroCard. The simplest is to add money; each ride deducts $2.75. Or buy an unlimited pass for a set number of days. Since we live here, I calculated when unlimited is worth it. Here's the breakdown:

The same card can hold both money and time.
Most machines allow adding either.
Each ride costs $2.75.
If you'll ride 13+ times in a week, buy the 7-day unlimited.
If you'll ride 47+ times in a month, buy the 30-day unlimited.

4. Don’t Stop Walking

New Yorkers move quickly, and suddenly stopping on the sidewalk is a sure way to annoy them. The city has a rhythm—try not to disrupt it. We've seen plenty of frustrated locals. If you need to take a photo or check directions, step aside. I'm terrible with directions and often feel disoriented leaving a stop. Which corner am I supposed to be on? It always amazes me how many people just keep walking and know exactly where they're going.

Also, if you're in a group, don't block the sidewalk. Leave room for others to pass. The same goes for stairs and escalators: if you're slow or want to stand, stay on the right. The left lane is for passing.

5. Never Trust a Puddle

Puddles in New York can be deceptive. I've stepped into a few thinking they were shallow, only to have my entire foot submerged. Thank goodness for waterproof shoes. Also, avoid standing too close to puddles and watch for cars. Remember that movie scene where a car splashes a huge wave of water? That happened to us.

6. It’s Not That Dangerous

New York has a reputation for being unsafe, and our parents regularly check on us. But overall, it's a very safe city. Like any big city, there are sketchier areas, but because streets are always bustling, walking around is generally fine.

Just keep an eye on your belongings in tourist-heavy spots—that's where scammers and pickpockets target clueless visitors. Use common sense and you'll be fine.

7. Bode-what? What’s a Bodega?

Bodegas are on nearly every corner in NYC. They're unique to the city and don't really exist elsewhere in the US. Picture a small grocery store combined with a sandwich shop crammed into a tiny space. They often have a random assortment of snacks, sometimes a flower shop attached, and some are famous for their sandwiches. They're handy for quick supplies. If you're still unsure what distinguishes a corner store, deli, or bodega, here are 11 ways to tell if it's legit.

8. When You See It, Use It!

Public bathrooms aren't easy to find. Bodegas don't have them, and most restaurants require you to be a customer. So when you spot a public restroom, use it before you're in a pinch. Locals have their favorite secret spots. Should we do a post on this or risk annoying all the locals?

9. Have a Plan to Get To and From the Airport

New York has two main airports: LaGuardia and JFK International. They're chaotic, and figuring out the best way into the city can be overwhelming. A few tips:

Allow plenty of time. During peak hours, traffic can add 30-45 minutes.
For a cab, use official yellow taxi stands. Avoid unofficial cabs—they may overcharge.
Uber or Lyft work from the airports but can be pricey.
The cheapest option is public transit. From JFK, take the AirTrain to Howard Beach to connect to the subway. From LaGuardia, the M80 bus goes to Manhattan.

10. Know How to Hail a Cab

Hailing a cab is an art. It rarely looks like it does on TV, but with a few tips, you'll master it. First, stand close to the street, maybe even step onto the road if safe. Second, watch the lights on top: if the light is on, someone's already inside. "Off duty" lights mean don't bother. When you spot your target, raise your hand and be ready to jump in when they stop.

11. Save Money Sightseeing

Sightseeing in NYC doesn't have to be expensive. Check the New York CITYPass if you plan to visit major attractions. There are also plenty of free things to do.

12. Pay What You Like Pricing

Several museums in New York operate on a pay-what-you-wish basis. They usually don't advertise it prominently, instead showing a suggested donation. But if you're on a budget, you can pay just a dollar or two. We have a full list of those places. Don't be surprised if you get a few dirty looks, though.

13. Don’t Limit Yourself to Manhattan

Most tourists stick to Manhattan, especially the central part. But there's plenty to explore in Manhattan itself, and even more in the other boroughs. Brooklyn and Queens are nearby and offer a completely different vibe.

14. One and Done

Don't spend too much time at tourist hotspots like Times Square. There's so much to see and do in the city. If you've never been, definitely go once to witness it, but unless you're catching a Broadway show, use your time exploring elsewhere. The same goes for most other tourist spots.

15. Central Park is HUGE

Central Park is an exception—it's massive. Most people crowd the Mall and Bethesda Fountain, forgetting to explore other parts of the 800-acre park. There's a tribute to John Lennon, a reservoir, the Ramble, a waterfall, and more. Even friends who've lived here for over a decade haven't seen every corner.

16. Think Weekdays, not Weekends

Weekends bring huge crowds to popular spots like the High Line. If you want to visit major attractions, go during the week to avoid ridiculous crowds.

17. Go Early or Go Late

Similarly, try visiting very early or very late. Things start getting crowded late morning and stay busy through midday.

18. Look Off Broadway

If you want to see a show, don't limit yourself to Broadway. Great theaters are scattered throughout the city. Check out Playwrights Horizons, the Public Theater, and Signature Theatre, to name a few. You can get discounted Broadway tickets through TKTS. The main location is in Times Square, but to avoid lines, go to TKTS at Juilliard.

19. Get Used to Waiting

There are many restaurants in NYC, but also many people! If you don't have reservations, expect to wait for dinner. A 45-minute wait during peak hours is common.

20. Big City, Small Neighborhoods

Despite being a huge city, New York has distinct neighborhoods and villages, each with its own character. You could spend an entire day exploring just one. Here are a few we've been checking out:

Lower East Side (LES) – bars, restaurants, nightlife. We liked Drexler's, especially during happy hour.
Chelsea – art galleries and Chelsea Market
Chinatown – great for dim sum and cheap eats!
Midtown – some friends live here, so we've been dining and hanging out a lot. It's close to Central Park, Broadway, and tourist attractions.
SoHo – pop-ups and shopping
Greenwich Village (the Village) – hip bars, cafes, shops, and Washington Square Park
Hell's Kitchen – amazing food, including our favorite ramen.
Long Island City (LIC), Queens – rock climbing! We live in the more industrial part of LIC, where many high-rises are under construction, but we love being near Brooklyn Boulders and Cliffs. The Manhattan skyline views are incredible.

21. Pack Right

Packing appropriately for New York is crucial. We've put together a guide for surviving winter in NYC, but here are year-round tips:

Bring comfortable walking shoes. You'll be on your feet a lot.
Always dress in layers. Regardless of season, you'll move between indoors and outdoors frequently. Temperatures shift dramatically, so layers let you adjust.
You'll likely use your phone heavily, so bring an extra charger.
Backpacks are handy for keeping everything together while freeing your hands. We love our new Peak Design backpack for camera gear and more. Plus, you can secure zippers against pickpockets.

What do you think of this post? Was it helpful? For more NYC tips, check out our previous articles: The Ultimate NYC Bucket List, 99 Places to Eat in NYC, 11 Top Free Things to Do in NYC, and 25 Fun Things to Do Indoors in NYC.

If you enjoyed the illustrations, check out Nathan Pyle's book NYC Basic Tips and Etiquette.

PIN IT FOR LATER

ESTHER + JACOB

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 50 travel blogs worldwide. They believe adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city each year and are currently in NYC.