First time in New York? Tips for your first visit

New York is a city in the east of the USA where you can effortlessly spend a week or longer. However, not everyone has that time available. For an initial introduction, I recommend setting aside at least four full days. And even with four full days, you will have to make choices.

Do you have fewer days? Then it only becomes harder to make choices. You can still see a lot, but you will probably be limited to the most famous highlights such as Times Square, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, the 9/11 Memorial, and one or two viewpoints.

With four to five days, you will already get a better picture of the city. You will then have time to discover different neighborhoods, walk through Central Park, visit museums, and you can go to other boroughs.

We ourselves stayed in New York for six days, four full days and two half days. That was enough to visit many famous places, but at the end of the trip, we still had a list of places we would have liked to see.

You can visit New York all year round. Every period has its own charm. In spring, the trees in Central Park are in bloom, autumn brings beautiful fall colors, and in December, a special Christmas atmosphere hangs over the city.

We visited New York in late May. Unfortunately, we had a few days of heavy rain showers, but also a day when it was quite warm. As several New Yorkers told us, the weather in New York can often be quite extreme. When it rains, it can rain really hard. And when it is warm, temperatures can rise considerably.

Personally, I found late May to be a lovely time to visit New York. Although the rain was far from pleasant, the temperatures were generally agreeable. In hindsight, I even think the rain helped us in some way, because we walked considerable distances. If we had had to cover those same distances in the middle of the summer heat, it probably would have been a lot less pleasant.

Of course, that doesn't mean you should avoid New York in the summer. However, it is good to keep in mind that the heat in the city can feel quite intense, especially if you plan to do a lot of walking and have a packed schedule.

New York consists of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The bronx en Staten Island.

For a first visit, I recommend focusing primarily on Manhattan. This is where you will find a large portion of the city's most famous landmarks. Think of Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, the High Line, the 9/11 Memorial, and Wall Street. All these highlights are located in Manhattan and are easily accessible by subway or even on foot.

That doesn't mean you should skip the other boroughs. Brooklyn, for example, is worth a visit and offers beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline. However, for most travelers, Manhattan is the most logical base for a first city trip to New York.

Your choice of accommodation has a significant impact on your city trip. Naturally, you first need to decide which part of the city you want to stay in. For a first visit, I would personally stay in Manhattan. That way, you are close to the famous sights and can quickly reach other places in the city by subway.

Do keep in mind that staying overnight in New York is not cheap. Hotel prices in Manhattan can rise considerably. Therefore, do not be surprised by prices starting from €300 per night for a basic hotel room in a convenient location. During busy periods, prices can be even higher.

Also pay close attention to the total price of a hotel. In New York, taxes and other surcharges are often added on top of the room rate. A hotel that seems attractively priced at first glance can end up being much more expensive per night. Therefore, always check the final price before booking.

It pays to compare rates regularly and keep an eye on prices.

We ourselves eventually stayed in Hotel Alameda Highline. This hotel is located within walking distance of the High Line and not far from Edge at Hudson Yards. A subway station is about a ten-minute walk away, and there is a supermarket around the corner. For a first visit, we found this to be a pleasant base for exploring different parts of Manhattan.

For 5 nights, we paid just under €800. On top of this, there were various surcharges.

You can get around the city in various ways. The metro is the most used and easiest option for many visitors and takes you quickly to almost every neighborhood. Additionally, you can use the bus, a yellow taxi, or an Uber. Cycling is also possible via shared bikes such as Citi Bike.

However, you will find that you also do a lot on foot. While walking, you discover the atmosphere of different neighborhoods and often come across nice shops, restaurants, and well-known locations along the way.

In New York, we primarily used the subway and our walking shoes. The subway proved ideal for covering longer distances, while we subsequently explored a neighborhood on foot as much as possible. Taxis and Uber are widely available, but due to the extensive subway network, we hardly used them.

One thing we honestly misjudged beforehand was the number of steps we would take daily. New York sometimes looks manageable on the map, but the distances are often greater than you think. Even if you use the subway a lot, you still walk quite a bit.

We had planned our days quite full and wanted to see as much of the city as possible during our first visit. As a result, we took between 23.000 and 30.000 steps a day. Those are considerable distances, and I realize that this is not feasible or desirable for everyone.

By the end of every day, we were quite tired, and after four full days in New York, our legs were certainly feeling it. At the same time, that is kind of part of a city trip like this. There is simply so much to see that you automatically walk a lot.

My tip? Bring comfortable walking shoes and don't plan too many activities in one day. You will probably cover more kilometers than you expect.

Due to movies, series, and news reports, some people have the impression that New York is an unsafe city. However, we did not feel unsafe for a single moment in New York. Of course, New York remains a global city, and it is wise to stay alert, just as in other major cities. Watch your belongings, avoid deserted places late at night, and use your common sense.

We walked a lot, used the subway, and visited various neighborhoods. In doing so, we did not encounter any unpleasant situations. In fact, many New Yorkers were helpful and friendly.

As in any large city, there are neighborhoods where you might feel less comfortable at certain times. However, most visitors primarily spend time in tourist areas in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. Even in the evening, these areas felt safe to us.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make during a first visit to New York is trying to see everything. The city is simply too big, and there are too many sights to tick off in a few days. Therefore, make a list in advance of places you really want to visit or activities you want to do. Check the map to see if these locations are not too far apart. This way, you avoid traveling from place to place and wasting a lot of time moving around.

Set priorities in advance. View it as an initial introduction and accept that you cannot see everything. That will ultimately make your visit much more relaxed.

We had made a list in advance of the sights we wanted to see during our first visit to New York. Because we knew we couldn't do everything, we deliberately set priorities. Our list included, among other things:

• The 9/11 Memorial and Museum
• Central Park
• Statue of Liberty
• Visiting an observation deck
• Dumbo
• Brooklyn Bridge
• Boat tour around Manhattan
• Highline
• Natural History Museum
• Times Square

It is usually not mandatory, but booking in advance can save you a lot of time. Queues can get quite long, especially at popular attractions and observation decks. Additionally, some attractions use time slots, meaning you cannot always enter immediately without a reservation.

We made use of a Go City Pass with five attractions. Via the app, we were able to reserve various activities in advance and choose a time slot immediately. This ensured that we spent less time waiting and could plan our days better.

Especially if you are only in New York for a few days, I recommend checking in advance which attractions you want to visit. That way, you avoid popular time slots being fully booked or having to wait unnecessarily long upon arrival.

An additional benefit of booking in advance is that you can better determine what your day will look like. Especially in a city with as much to do as New York, that can be quite helpful.

For many travelers, a visit to an observation deck is part of their first visit to New York. From a great height, you truly get a good sense of just how enormous the city is. There are various observation decks to choose from, and each viewpoint has its own charm.

The best-known observation decks are the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Edge, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt en One World Observatory. Although you have an impressive view from all of them, the experience differs considerably. For instance, the Empire State Building is primarily known for its iconic status, Top of the Rock offers a beautiful view of Central Park and the Empire State Building, while Edge impresses with the glass platform that juts out over Manhattan. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt focuses not only on the view but also on the experience with mirrors and light effects, while One World Observatory offers a unique view of Lower Manhattan and the harbor.

We chose Edge, Top of the Rock, and the Empire State Building. Decide in advance which observation decks you really want to visit. For a first visit, one or two observation decks are often sufficient for most travelers.

You will probably use your phone more often than you expect during a city trip to New York. From navigation and payments to booking attractions. Here are a few handy apps that will make your trip a lot easier.

• Eric's New York AppWe purchased various walking routes via this app. The routes lead you past well-known and lesser-known places in the city and contain a lot of background information along the way about buildings, neighborhoods, and sights. A fun way to discover New York at your own pace.
• RevolutWe used Revolut for dollar payments. The app provides insight into your spending and prevents you from having to think about exchange rates with every payment.
• Go cityBecause we used a Go City Pass, this app was very handy. Here we could view attractions, make reservations, and find our tickets.
• Google MapsIt might be stating the obvious, but we used this app daily. Not only for navigation, but also to save interesting locations, bookmark restaurants, and plan public transport routes.

A trip to New York requires slightly more preparation than a city trip within Europe. Therefore, check well before departure whether you have everything arranged.

• ESTA application: for a trip to the United States, as a traveler, you need a valid ESTA. Apply for this well in advance of departure via the official website.
• PassportEnsure that your passport is valid for the duration of your stay in the United States. Always check the current requirements before departure.
• eSIM or data bundleInternet is incredibly handy on the go for navigation, metro connections, reservations, and communication. We used an eSIM so that we were online immediately upon arrival. Order your eSIM here now.
• Credit or debit cardIn New York, you can pay contactless almost everywhere. However, check in advance whether your debit or credit card can be used outside Europe. Some bank cards do not work in the United States, even if you have set them to 'worldwide'.
• CashAlthough you can pay by debit or credit card in many places in New York, it is handy to bring a small amount of cash. Should a debit card unexpectedly not work, you always have an alternative on hand. Additionally, some restaurants and shops charge a small surcharge for credit card payments.
• Travel InsuranceMedical costs in the United States can run high. Good travel insurance is therefore not an unnecessary luxury.
• Attraction reservationsCheck in advance whether attractions you want to visit operate with time slots.
• Comfortable walking shoesYou will probably be walking quite a few kilometers, so comfortable shoes are a must.
• Power BankDue to navigation, taking photos, and using various apps, your phone's battery often drains faster than normal.
• A general planDon't try to see everything. Make a list beforehand of the highlights you really want to visit and build your itinerary around that.

New York has three major airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). Which airport is most convenient depends mainly on the price of your flight ticket and the location of your hotel.

We flew to JFK ourselves and found it to be a great airport for a first visit to New York.

After a long flight, you probably want to get to your accommodation as quickly as possible. Fortunately, there are several ways to travel from JFK Airport to Manhattan. You can choose a taxi, private transfer, Uber, Lyft, or a shuttle bus. Those looking for a more affordable way to travel can also use public transport.

To get to the metro or train, use the AirTrain. This is an automated train that connects the various terminals at JFK Airport and takes travelers to public transport connections. Travel within the airport area is free on the AirTrain. However, if you wish to travel to Jamaica Station or Howard Beach Station to transfer to the metro or train towards Manhattan, you will pay a surcharge of $8,50 per person. Children under five travel free.

From Jamaica Station, you can transfer to the E Line towards Manhattan. This subway stops at 14th Street and Chambers Street, among others. If you travel via Howard Beach Station, you can take the A Line towards Manhattan. This stops at Fulton Street and 34th Street-Penn Station, for example. From Penn Station, you can easily travel on to other parts of the city.

We ourselves opted for Izzy Gets Bizzie, a private transportation service in New York. After a flight of over seven hours, we appreciated not having to immediately figure out how public transport worked. Upon arrival, we were picked up at the airport and taken directly to our hotel in Manhattan.

Although this option is more expensive than the subway or AirTrain, we found it a relaxed way to start our city trip. Especially if you are traveling to New York for the first time, it can be nice to have the first leg of your journey taken care of.

There is also plenty to discover in New York in the culinary field. We had already gathered quite a bit of inspiration beforehand via YouTube videos by food bloggers and series like Somebody Feed Phil. We immediately saved nice restaurants and eateries to Google Maps, so that we always had a list of options at hand while on the road.

However, we soon discovered that eating in New York can be quite pricey. Some well-known hotspots certainly appealed to us, but ultimately proved less attractive when considering the price. For example, we would have loved to try a pastrami sandwich at Katz's Delicatessen. With prices approaching 30 dollars and often long lines, we eventually skipped it.

We tried to strike a good balance between unique dining experiences and affordable options. For instance, we ate at Chelsea Market, where we had to pay quite a bit for a relatively small meal. We also enjoyed a hamburger at Black Tap, Chinese food at Wo Hop in Chinatown, and grabbed some takeout from Whole Foods Market on one occasion.

We also varied our breakfasts. For instance, we started the day at a typical American diner, ate a well-filled bagel, had breakfast at Brasserie Cognac, and visited Time Out Market. One of the most unique experiences was Ellen's Stardust Diner, where the staff walks through the restaurant singing.

For lunch, we often kept it a bit simpler. A slice of pizza at Joe's Pizza, a hot dog on the street, or something from the supermarket often turned out to be more than enough. Of course, we would have liked to try many more restaurants, but ultimately, we didn't want to spend our entire budget on food.

Normally, during a city trip, I like to seek out a beer bar to sample local craft beers. But after intense days, we were in bed relatively early. Because it was my birthday, we did visit Milk & Hops. The selection of craft beer here was fine, although the prices for a good glass of beer in New York are quite a bit higher than we are used to in the Netherlands.

New York is not known as a cheap destination, and let's be honest: a city trip to the Big Apple can really run into the costs. At the same time, you have a lot of influence on the final price. You can make it as expensive or as cheap as you want.

To give you an idea of ​​what we spent during our trip, we have listed a number of expenses:

• Flight tickets: an average of €564 per person via KLM/Delta from Amsterdam. We shared one checked suitcase between two people.
• HotelFor five nights, we paid €791 excluding local taxes and any resort fees.
• MetroA ride costs approximately $3. If you use the same debit card or smartphone consistently within seven days, you automatically benefit from the OMNY cap. After twelve paid rides, you travel for free for the remainder of those seven days.
• Go City PassWe opted for a pass with five attractions and paid €141 per person for it.
• Transportation from the airportFor this, we opted for a private transfer. The cost varies depending on the provider and the number of people you are traveling with.

In addition, you must of course take into account daily expenses for food and drink. You can make food and drink as expensive as you want. A simple bagel or a quick lunch often costs between $10 and $20 per person, while dinner at a restaurant will easily set you back $25 to $50 per person, excluding tip. A craft beer at a bar costs an average of $10 to $16, and a cup of coffee often costs $4 to $8.

My advice? Set a rough budget in advance and leave some extra room for spontaneous expenses. An unexpected lunch, that special viewpoint, or that one musical often make a city trip to New York extra special.

In New York, tipping is customary and is almost always expected in restaurants and diners. You will often find a suggested tip amount on the bill, usually based on percentages of 15%, 18%, 20%, or sometimes even 25%.

For normal to good service, a tip of 18% to 20% is customary. If the service was exceptionally good, you can choose to give a little more. A tip of 15% is often seen as the minimum.

Take this into account when determining your budget. As a result, the final cost of a lunch or dinner may turn out higher than you expect beforehand.

New York is a city you really have to experience for yourself at least once. Everyone knows the images of Times Square, Central Park, and the Manhattan skyline. Yet, it is only when you walk around yourself that you realize how big the city truly is.

At the same time, New York will not be the perfect destination for everyone. Personally, I noticed that I sometimes felt a bit overwhelmed by the crowds and the fast pace of the city. I also occasionally missed the spontaneity I experience in other destinations, such as unexpectedly sitting down on a terrace somewhere without immediately checking the prices.

Am I glad I visited New York? Absolutely. It is a city that makes an impression and one I would recommend everyone experience at least once. At the same time, this trip also confirmed once again that my personal preference leans more towards destinations with a bit more peace, nature, or a less hectic atmosphere.

Perhaps that is precisely what makes New York so special. It is a city you have to experience for yourself to discover what you think of it.