Visiting NYC for the First Time: 33 Essential Things to Know

New York City is a place I know very, very well. My mom grew up in the Big Apple, and I still have family who live there, meaning that I aim to visit every year. I’ve been there over 15 times in total, throughout my life, meaning that I’ve seen just how much the city has changed over time. 

Having grown up in another big city myself—London—I know all too well how overwhelming it can be to plan a trip to a city the size of NYC. If you’re visiting the Big Apple for the first time, you probably have lots of questions—and today, I’ll aim to help you fully prepare for your trip to NYC. 

Not preparing for your trip can ruin your experiences and perception of NYC, and that’s what I will help you avoid. In this guide, I’ve listed the most important things to know when you visit New York City for the first time. You’ll also find links to my other NYC guides to help you plan your adventure even further. 

1. New York City Is *Big*: Base Yourself in Manhattan

NYC is the largest city in the US by population, and getting around takes some time. I remember once staying in an outer part of Queens, and it took an hour to get into Manhattan each day. This, as it goes, was a terrible idea. 

On a future trip, I went with my girlfriend—who was visiting NYC for the first time—and we decided to book a hotel in Manhattan. We were close to Grand Central Station and within easy reach of everything we wanted to do, and as a result, we had a much more enjoyable trip. 

Most of the popular things you’ll want to do in the Big Apple will be in Manhattan, which is why it makes total sense to base yourself here. Ideally, I recommend booking accommodation somewhere further down than around 79th Street. 

For example, we stayed at the Prince Kitano Hotel on 38th Street and Park Avenue. Besides being well-located, the hotel was well-soundproofed and had all the amenities we needed. The area is also, most importantly, very safe—and there are lots of other hotels in that area. 

While staying in Manhattan is more expensive, it’s worth paying more for the convenience of being close to everything you want to see. If you want more tips to plan your trip, I’ve written a full guide on the best things to do in Manhattan, too.

2. Read Hotel Reviews Thoroughly Before You Book

New York City has a wide variety of hotels for all kinds of budgets and needs. You will likely have different requirements from someone else reading this article, and I therefore recommend reading the reviews before booking any hotel. 

For example, I’m very sensitive to noise (which, in NYC, is kinda hard to avoid 🤣). As a result, I wasn’t happy with staying just anywhere. We specifically looked for a hotel with good soundproofing, which is why we booked the Prince Kitano. 

We also wanted an area that felt safe. For me, personally, I don’t want to be somewhere “sketchy”—even if it’s not dangerous per se—which is why I chose not to stay at certain accommodations that otherwise ticked our boxes. 

Your comfort levels will vary, though; I live in Copenhagen now, so I’m not really used to seeing that stuff anymore lol. If you live in another US city or are visiting from a less safe country, your perceptions will likely be different. 

On the flip side, we didn’t care about having breakfast included. Our plan was to basically eat whatever took our fancy as we explored the city, which is precisely what we did. 

When reading the reviews, I recommend sorting them from worst to best. Some reviews won’t be a big deal to you; for example, we visited in the winter on our most recent trip, so I wasn’t bothered about air conditioning. If we had been there in the summer, I would have chosen this as a parameter. 

3. If You Can, Avoid Flying Into or Out of JFK Airport

Many flights to NYC will arrive at JFK Airport, and in some cases, you might have no choice but to use it. But if you do have the option, I’d recommend flying into LaGuardia, Newark, or—if you’re really lucky—Stewart Airport. 

For international flights, I generally fly into Newark Airport these days. While some people are vocal haters, I actually like it. Getting into NYC by taxi is admittedly time-consuming at peak hours, but the train is very straightforward and not too expensive. 

4. Central Park Is Best Visited First Thing in the Morning

Central Park is my favorite park on the planet, and it should be one of the first places you visit while you’re in New York City. But if you want an even better experience, I suggest going there first thing in the morning. 

Firstly, the lighting in Central Park is glorious in the early morning on a sunny day. If you’re into photography, you’ll find plenty of picture-taking opportunities. On top of that, it’s relatively quiet; you’ll mainly be around locals going for their morning walk or run. 

Most importantly, though, dogs are allowed to be off-leash between 06:00 and 09:00 each day. You will see plenty of very good boys running around, making it the perfect way to start your day if you’re a dog-lover. 

5. You’re Not Going to See Everything in One Trip

Even though I’ve been to NYC over 15 times, I still haven’t completed my bucket list of things I’d like to do in the city. As a first-time visitor, you will probably have lots of experiences you’d like to enjoy—but I suggest prioritizing the absolute musts. 

New York City has an endless number of things to do. When you visit, you will discover new opportunities that you didn’t previously know existed. So, it’s pretty much impossible to do everything you want to on one trip—especially if you’re not visiting for very long. 

Make a list of the activities and experiences you would regret not doing, and prioritize these. Then, make a second-tier list of things you’d like to experience if you have more time. That way, you can get the most out of your trip.

6. Try to Spend Some Time Outside of Manhattan

Although Manhattan is where you’ll spend the bulk of your time on your first trip to NYC, the Big Apple has plenty of surprises in its four other boroughs. So, I recommend spending at least a bit of time elsewhere in the city to get a glimpse of what life in New York City is like outside of its main island. 

Brooklyn is one of the easiest places to spend time outside Manhattan, and controversially, considering my family is from Manhattan… I actually prefer Brooklyn 🤭. The Brooklyn Brewery is worth visiting if you love craft beer, and the Brooklyn Bridge Park offers lovely views toward Lower Manhattan. 

Domino Park, meanwhile, is a great place to take in the NYC skyline at sunset. I recommend walking across the Brooklyn Bridge to get to Brooklyn—ideally, you should do it early in the morning. 

In addition to Brooklyn, Queens has lots of excellent food places. For example, Astoria has lots of Greek restaurants. 

7. For the Most Part, the NYC Subway Is Safe and Efficient

NYC has a pretty decent subway system, though it definitely needs a facelift and upgrade, in my opinion. Tickets are pretty affordable, too, and the New York City Subway will get you pretty much everywhere you need to be. 

For the most part, the NYC Subway is safe. Many stations certainly feel run-down, but during the day, it’s fine to ride the trains.

I will say, though, that I personally don’t feel so comfortable riding the Subway late at night. Again, your mileage may vary, depending on where you’re from—but I’d rather get a taxi if I’ve been out late. Maybe my London grit has just left me 🤷🏾‍♂️. 

The Subway is also mostly efficient, but it can sometimes feel like guesswork later in the day. For example, I’ve been on the train and had random cancellations multiple times. 

8. NYC Has Become More Cashless in Recent Years

When I was younger, carrying cash around in NYC was an obligation. I also remember as recently as 2018 when I would visit and have issues paying by card in some places. But on my last few visits, I have not needed to carry cash around at all. 

For starters, you can pay for the NYC subway by tapping your contactless card on the turnstile reader. Gone are the days of needing to carry around a physical MTA card, which—admittedly—I kinda miss. 

When paying at most stores and restaurants, you can also use your card in most instances. Carrying some cash is useful if you’re visiting smaller establishments, but I haven’t needed to use physical money for a while in NYC. 

If you’re based in the US, you can use the same card you normally would at home. Since I live in Europe, I use Wise instead—which allows me to pay for items in USD. You can sign up for a free Wise account here. 

9. Times Square Isn’t Worth Spending Much Time Around

I do my very best to avoid Times Square these days because I’ve seen it so many times and frankly, it’s my least favorite part of New York City. However, I do think it’s worth briefly visiting if you’ve never been to the Big Apple before. 

The signs look cool, but other than that, there isn’t much of a reason to linger around. Unless, I guess, you want to show up really early on New Year’s Eve to watch the ball drop at midnight. We, however, decided to just watch it on TV at our hotel instead. Let’s just say that my grandmother isn’t a big fan of it, either. 

You may also want to spend some more time around Times Square if you wish to do some shopping in one of the nearby stores. But once you’ve taken your photos, my advice is to basically go anywhere else—and you’ll have a much better time. 

10. Beware of Scammers in Fancy Dress

Speaking of Times Square, let’s talk about the scammers here. They’re easy to recognize because they’re walking around in fancy dress. 

As you marvel at the hyperstimulating neon signs that glorify consumerism all around you, you may see someone dressed as Elmo, Super Mario, or something else approach you and want to take a photo. After doing so, they will then ask you for money—and they can be quite aggressive, too. 

If they ask you to stop for a photo, keep walking. The same goes for the fake monks and anyone trying to hand you CDs. I thought the latter being made a meme online would’ve stopped them, but evidently not. 

Basically—don’t take free things from anyone.

11. … and Taxi Scams, for That Matter

This has only happened to me once in my many visits to NYC, and when I look back, it was so obvious what was happening. But at the same time, we had been traveling from Finland that day—and the whole journey from a rural town to Helsinki and then London took over 16 hours. Needless to say, my brain was not working very well by the time we landed in NYC and cleared border control. 

Anyway, going into what I thought was the sanctuary of our taxi, we headed to Manhattan. I got bad vibes from the driver beforehand, to be honest, and I should have listened to my gut instinct. Maybe I’ve become too Scandinavian and I’m a bit too trusting now, who knows.

When we reached our destination, the meter said $39. However, the taxi driver said not to pay at the official card terminal and instead asked me to pay $125 on his phone. As soon as I tapped my card, I realized what had happened—but by then, it was too late. I also failed to get a chargeback from my bank. 

Pay for taxis via the official meter only, and do not pay via their phone—even if they insist. As I mentioned, this has only ever happened to me once; most NYC taxi drivers are honest people just trying to do their job. However, it’s something worth keeping in mind. 

12. New York City Is, by and Large, Safe for Tourists

If you watch videos on social media or believe the news headlines, you’d think that New York City is a warzone. The reality when you’re there, however, is much different. I’ve traveled to NYC throughout the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s, and it feels objectively safer than it used to.

Most violent crime in NYC does not target tourists, and most of it also happens in places that are impossible to accidentally stumble into. In the main touristy areas, especially in Manhattan, you will be very safe. There’s also a visible police presence in the most popular parts of town.

As always, your biggest problem will be petty crime. However, you can limit your chances of becoming a victim by taking basic precautions—such as not keeping your phone and wallet in easy-to-reach places. 

Of course, New York City is the biggest city in the US. If you go looking for trouble, you’ll find it. But for the most part, you’ll be safe if you act like you would in any major city. There are multiple places in the US where I have felt less safe than NYC, to be honest. 

13. Book Tables at Popular Restaurants in Advance

NYC is one of my favorite food cities on the planet, and besides visiting family, the main reason I come here so regularly is because it’s *that* good. You can find pretty much everything you want here, and there’s always something new to try. 

As one of the world’s great foodie destinations, restaurants are unsurprisingly often packed. If you find a place that you absolutely know you’d like to visit, book a table in advance. This is especially important for busy periods, such as around New Year’s. 

Many places to eat will let you book a table on their website if you need a reservation beforehand. If you’re out and can’t get a seat, you’ll almost certainly find somewhere else great to eat if you just keep walking. 

14. Many Subway Stations Have Different Entrances for Different Lines

Once you get the hang of it, the New York Subway is quite easy to navigate. However, one of the biggest points of confusion is that stations often have different entrances—on different avenues—for different lines. 

59th Street is a good example of this. You can enter the subway via Columbus Circle, which is on the west side of Central Park. However, you will also find entrances on the east side—including one on Lexington Avenue and another on 5th Avenue. 

These entrances and exits usually serve different lines, and it can be quite frustrating to figure out. Google Maps will be your best friend here. 

15. Make Time to See NYC’s Skyline From Above and the Water

New York City has the world’s most recognizable skyline, and it’ll almost certainly be on your bucket list when you visit. There are so many great places to see it, and I recommend doing so from multiple angles. 

I also recommend seeing the skyline from the water, especially if you want to see the Freedom Tower and the rest of Lower Manhattan. For example, I really like Circle Line—and they have a cruise that goes around Manhattan.

There are plenty of other viewpoints in NYC, too, such as the observation deck at The Edge.

16. Summer in NYC Can be Unbearably Humid

NYC is worth visiting year-round, but if you can, I recommend avoiding the city during the peak summer months. It can be unbearably humid and hot here; the number of skyscrapers essentially act as a greenhouse. 

I remember spending a full month in NYC during the summer of 2009. While amazing, of course, trying to experience the city with a massive afro—in that weather—was… interesting, to say the least 🤣. 

While many buildings in the city are air-conditioned, it’s quite hard to go out and explore during the day when it’s so hot. If you have no other option, I still think NYC is so cool that you should still go—but if you have alternative choices, October and November are nice times to be in the Big Apple. 

17. Store Prices Exclude Tax

One of the biggest things that used to trip me up in NYC was that store prices do not include tax. As someone who lives in Northern Europe, you generally pay the price that you see here. 

In NYC, however, this is not the case. When you go shopping, what you see is exclusive of tax. When dining at a restaurant, the price also does not include tax. 

Tax is calculated when you pay. While not a huge amount, it’s still something to keep in mind. You can learn more about sales tax in New York here.

18. … and Tipping at Restaurants Is Expected

This won’t be a surprise to readers from the US, but if you’re visiting NYC from another part of the world, this is something to keep in mind. When in New York City, tipping is expected.

When waiting at restaurants, you can tip between 15% and 20%—depending on the level of service you received. If you are really happy, you can always tip more. You should also tip your housekeepers at the hotel, too, along with taxi drivers and other service staff—such as tour guides. 

You’ll get an option to add a tip when you pay by card in restaurants, cafés, and whatnot. Simply choose your preferred option and pay the full amount. Some establishments will ask you to add the tip to your receipt and take the money out of your account later. 

19. New York City Is Very Expensive

You probably didn’t need me to tell you this, since New York City regularly ranks as one of the world’s most expensive cities. But yes, I’m afraid, it’s true—a trip to NYC will set you back a decent chunk of money. 

Accommodation, in particular, is expensive. When we stayed in Midtown, for example, we paid $2,000 for five nights. This was above average, since we stayed in a nice hotel and were also in a popular area. But generally, we found it hard to find anywhere worth staying for less than $150 per night.

Eating at restaurants will also cost a lot of money; in many cases, you’ll pay $25+ for your meals. If you eat at really nice restaurants, it will cost a lot more. Again, this will be relative to where you live; I’m in Copenhagen, where this is average, but it’s very expensive compared to Eastern Europe. 

You’ll also need to factor in money for tours, souvenirs, and whatnot. I would say that around $1,000 is a good budget for spending money if you have five days in the city. You could definitely get around with less, though, if you aren’t interested in expensive activities.

20. … but You Can Still Have Lots of Fun on a Budget

While some things in NYC are eye-wateringly expensive, it’s still possible to have fun if you have a bit of a tighter budget. For example, local eateries away from the tourist trail are often very good value for money. If you step a few blocks away from where most people go, you can find great food for a fraction of the price. 

You will also find many great things to do in NYC that are either free or cheap. For example, you can easily spend a full day in Central Park. I also recommend visiting the 9/11 memorial, which doesn’t cost a cent. 

21. GoCity’s NYC Passes Is Worth Using if You Plan to Visit Multiple Attractions

I’ve used GoCity’s passes in multiple cities, including New York City and Stockholm. Since the main attractions in NYC are very expensive and add up quickly, I think both of GoCity’s passes for the city—the Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass—are very good value for money. 

With the Explorer Pass, you can choose 5-7 attractions you want to visit. These include the Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building. If you’d like to see even more, you can get the All-Inclusive Pass—valid for 1-3 days, depending on your choice. With this, you can visit as many of the included attractions as you want—including the Intrepid Museum (which I strongly recommend doing!). 

You can compare GoCity’s NYC passes here. If you’re planning to visit four or more attractions, I strongly recommend considering one. 

22. Expect to Stand in Queues for Major Attractions

New York City is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet, and millions of people flock here each year to see all the iconic sights. Unsurprisingly, this means that pretty much every major tourist attraction will have large queues. 

This is particularly true for the Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building. While annoying, it’s part and parcel of the experience. You can limit this by going earlier in the day, though you still won’t fully eliminate them. 

Depending on where you visit, you may also need to go through security checkpoints. This is the case at the Top of the Rock, for example. 

In some cases—such as when you visit the Empire State Building—you can book skip-the-line tickets. While more expensive, it at least means you won’t have to wait so long. 

23. You’ll Sometimes Need to Book Time Slots

While we’re on the topic of tourist attractions, you often have to book time slots for the most popular places to visit. The cost of your ticket will also sometimes depend on when in the day (or evening) you book. 

Do these far enough in advance so that you can access the destinations you want at the times you wish to. We once showed up to one place without doing this, which was—needless to say—a foolish choice. 

24. NYC Has Some Lovely Waterfront Areas

In recent years, New York City’s waterfront areas have undergone major regeneration. Nowadays, you will find some lovely places to walk along the East and Hudson Rivers. I mentioned Domino Park earlier, but you should also visit Roosevelt Island if you have some time; the cable car here is pretty cool, too. 

Elsewhere, Battery Park at the tip of Manhattan is a nice place to walk around. Elsewhere, Little Island Park—close to Hudson Yards and the High Line—is worth visiting. 

Definitely allocate some time to exploring these waterfront areas if you happen to be in the immediate area anyway. Despite being in the heart of the city, they often feel laid-back. 

25. New York City Is Very Different From the Rest of the US

This is perhaps quite obvious, as many major cities are different from the rest of the countries they’re in. But at the same time, I should mention that NYC is very unique. Never mind compared to the US; NYC is completely different from the rest of New York State. 

New York City has its own culture, and when you’re here, it’s impossible to feel like you’re anywhere other than NYC. The first time I went outside of the city—which was to visit Philadelphia—I was shocked at how different it was. 

While I recommend focusing the bulk of your time on a first trip in NYC to the city itself, you should also definitely consider visiting other parts of the US in the future. Even though I’m half-American, I still haven’t gotten close to exploring most of the country. 

26. Try to Spend as Much Time as Possible in NYC

Any time in NYC is better than no time there, and if you’re visiting for the first time, I recommend spending around five days in the city; I’ve written a full itinerary to help you out, in that respect. If you can spend longer, though, that’s even better.

This will, of course, depend on factors like how much annual leave you have and your budget. But truthfully, you could spend a week or two in the city without getting bored or even feeling the need to leave. 

You can still have a great time on a short weekend trip, but I definitely suggest staying longer if you possibly can. 

27. … and Definitely Don’t Leave Without Having Pizza Somewhere

Of all the food worth trying in NYC, you can’t leave without having pizza. You will find pizzerias throughout the city, thanks to New York’s large Italian population. And in my honest opinion, there’s no such thing as bad pizza in NYC. 

Once you’ve walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, for example, I suggest stopping for food at Front Street Pizza. It’s close to the DUMBO viewpoint of the Manhattan Bridge, and the portions here are… generous, to say the least. 

Wherever you are in NYC, though, you’re never too far away from amazing pizza. My suggestion is to walk around and visit any place that you think looks particularly appealing. 

28. Navigating NYC Is Surprisingly Easy, Despite Its Size

Trying to get around New York City can seem very daunting if you’re not used to big cities, but it’s actually quite straightforward. Like many American cities, the grid system of streets makes it quite difficult to get lost. As someone who has lived in Europe their entire life, I can appreciate this even more. 

Many of the streets are numbered, too, meaning you can often find your way back to the start if needed. Plus, Google Maps and Apple Maps both work quite well in NYC, in my opinion. 

Some parts of NYC can be a bit more confusing to navigate. For example, the streets in Lower Manhattan are more akin to European streets than American ones. 

29. New York City Is Very, Very Busy

You will very quickly learn why New York City is known as “The City That Never Sleeps”—it’s more than a fancy slogan. There’s always something going on in the Big Apple, and it will feel like sensory overload for people not used to cities like this. 

There are countless noises in NYC, from honking horns to sirens, and the bustling energy is especially obvious in the main parts of Manhattan. I’d recommend avoiding the Subway at rush hour for this precise reason. 

While NYC does feel chaotic, you can also find quieter places throughout the city. I mentioned Roosevelt Island earlier, for example, which is my favorite place to get away from the crowds. 

30. Christmas in NYC Is Just as Magical as You Expected It to Be

Maybe it’s because I spent most of my Christmases in NYC as a kid, but there’s no city on the planet that feels more “Christmas” to me. This is even more true when you consider how many Christmas movies are filmed here. 

If you ever have the opportunity to visit New York City for Christmas, take it with both hands. The hype is very much justified, and even if it doesn’t snow, the atmosphere at this time of the year is something different. 

Besides NYC simply being an enjoyable place to visit at Christmas, you can also get very good deals on shopping after Christmas Day and in the lead-up to the New Year. While flights and hotels are often more expensive, it’s worth the extra money.  

31. No Two Visits to the Big Apple Are the Same

New York City is not a “one-and-done” place. No matter how many times you visit, every trip will be different. Even if you do the same things, this is still true. 

NYC is a city in constant evolution. New food places pop up all the time, and you’ll also uncover gems you didn’t know previously existed. Depending on when in the year you visit, the vibe will also be very different. 

My top recommendation is to use your first trip to NYC as a “feeler” trip. Get an idea of what you do and don’t like. When you come back, you can then revisit your favorite spots and get an idea of what isn’t worth visiting. 

32. Do NYC the Way You Want To

For cities like NYC, I think there’s a pressure to do them a certain way. But like Paris and similar places, I believe that you should visit in the way that you want to—and not what someone else has said. 

NYC is not a city where you mindlessly tick places off the list. In my opinion, it’s the type of place you need to immerse yourself in and let your mind take you where it wants to go. The best way to visit is by doing what excites you. 

For example, I really enjoy photography, food, and museums. However, I don’t care so much about fine dining and fancy cocktail bars. These are nice to visit sometimes, but they’re not the main reason I travel. For you, however, you might want to do those things. 

Taking the pressure off and not conforming to what others say is the best way to experience the Big Apple. By all means, research places you want to go before (if I didn’t think that, I wouldn’t have a travel blog 😅). When you arrive, though, don’t be afraid to try new things. 

33. NYC Is Gritty and Sophisticated in Equal Measure

One of the main reasons I find NYC so appealing is that it’s such a multifaceted city. On the one hand, you have upscale cocktail bars where buying a few drinks feels like you have to take out a mortgage to do so. But on the other hand, the city has an honest grit and a sense of being somewhere that people actually live. 

For you, this means that you will find basically everything you want in NYC. On top of that, you will also notice that some parts of the city are cleaner and dirtier than others. The number of contrasts can overwhelm some people, but I do recommend visiting with an open mind. 

Once you allow yourself to settle in and observe how everyone lives around you, visiting New York City is even more of a rewarding experience. 

Final Thoughts

New York City is one of my favorite places on the planet, and even if I didn’t have family living there, I am certain that I would still visit regularly. Planning your first trip can be daunting, but once you have an idea of what to expect and do, you’ll have a much better adventure than would otherwise be the case. 

Now that you’ve read this guide, you should have a decent enough understanding of what to expect when you first get to NYC. Hopefully, you’ll now also feel better-equipped to avoid common pitfalls—such as scammers and the like. You can always read my other NYC guides to help plan your trip even better. 

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