CityDetailed guide

New York City

Most populous city in the United States

Photo: Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

New York (known as "The Big Apple", "NYC," and often called "New York City") is a global center for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and trade. The bustling, cosmopolitan heart of the 4th largest metropolis in the world and by far the most populous city in the United States, New York has long been a key entry point and a defining city for the nation.

Sights and activities

From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.

GoCity Pass
See
2 passes are available from GoCity. The Explorer pass lets you can visit a set number of attractions, while the All-Inclusive pass which allows unlimited attractions for a set number of days. The Explorer pass cardholders have 30 days to use the card after visiting the first attraction; the All-Inclusive cardholders have the time-limit activate on the day of first use. Both passes allow holders to either print a paper-pass to scan, or to use an Android/iOS compatible phone app. Attractions include Top of the Rock Observation, Rockefeller Center Tour, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Museum of Modern Art, NBC Studio Tour, movie tours, and cruises. Also included with the card are shopping, dining, and additional attraction discounts. The biggest attraction not included is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their newsletter may offer significant sales.
Details
New York Pass
See
Also from GoCity. Grants access to over 50 top attractions with line skipping privileges. Passes are available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 days. You must obtain a ticket in each attraction. You can visit as many attractions as you want in the time period. Also includes a 140-page guide book, but is much better to organize your visits in advance on the internet.
Price
Prices are given as adult price/child (ages 4-12) price. 1 day: $134/$99; 2 day: $199/$159; 3 day: $274/$199; 4 day: $299/$224; 5 day: $339/$244; 7 day: $379/$259; 10 day: $469/$299
Details
New York CityPASS
See
Grants admission to 6 New York attractions within 9 days of first use for a much reduced rate. The attractions are the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art & same-day admission to The Cloisters, the American Museum of Natural History, Top of the Rock or the Guggenheim Museum, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ferry or Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum or the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
Price
$132 adult, $108 child ages 6–17
Details
Brooklyn Cyclones
Do
Play Minor League Baseball (South Atlantic League- North Division) at Maimonides Park (Subway: D, F, Fd, N, Q at Coney Island–Stilwell Avenue). They are an owned and opereated High-A affiliate of the Mets, one of the surviving Short Season A teams that moved to full-season play in 2021.
Details

Getting there and around

Getting there

By train
Amtrak operates to Popular trains leaving during rush hours can fill up quickly; it is a good idea to make reservations online, or via phone, and pick up your ticket using a credit card or your…
By boat
New York City has always been one of the world's most important passenger sea ports, and arriving by ocean liner or cruise ship remains an extraordinary and stylish method of arrival.
By bus
S. Some buses offer wi-fi, outlets and even business-class style luxury.
By car
While most people would advise against entering New York City by car (see the "Get around" section below), it is accessible by a number of highways:

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Getting around

By ferry
By taxi
Taxis are widely available in New York, but due to surface traffic, it is often quicker to take the subway — or in Midtown Manhattan, to walk.
By car
No one in New York drove; there was too much traffic.
By bicycle
Using a bicycle in New York City is common among New Yorkers and tourists alike.
On foot
For shorter distances, there is no better way of getting around New York than hitting the sidewalk.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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LaGuardia Airport

New York · International · LGA

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Read before you go to New York City

Articles and travel topics about New York City and United States.

Travel tips

NYC Transit and Neighborhood Guide: Navigating Like a Local

How to master the NYC subway with OMNY contactless pay, dodge airport transfer traps and explore iconic Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods.

Oct 16, 20267 min read

Travel tips

How to Save Money Booking Multiple Hotels on One Trip

Splitting a city stay between two hotels can cut costs, save hours of travel and buy you a night of luxury. Here is how to do it well.

Oct 12, 20267 min read

Nature & adventure

US National Parks Pass and Permits: A Practical Guide

How to use the America the Beautiful pass, navigate timed-entry reservations and win hiking permits across America's top national parks.

Oct 16, 20267 min read

Itineraries

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway: California Route 1 Guide

How to plan the classic California Highway 1 road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, navigating Big Sur closures, coastal stops and vehicle tips.

Oct 16, 20266 min read

Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

BoroughsNew York City consists of five boroughs, which are five separate counties. Each borough has a unique culture and could be a large city in its own right.

UnderstandNew York City is a major global center of international finance, politics, communications, film, music, fashion, and culture, and is among the world's most important and influential cities.

TalkEnglish is the primary language spoken by most New Yorkers, although it is common to hear other languages from around the world.

Get inNew York City (NYC for all airports) is well connected by air with flights from almost every corner of the world. Three large airports, and several small ones, serve the region. John F.

Get aroundOMNY is the contactless fare payment system for the MTA subway and bus lines. The system allows passengers to pay by "tapping" one of the following to a reader:

SeeLike most of the great world cities, New York has an abundance of great attractions—so many, that it would be impossible to list them all here.

DoNew York boasts an enormous number and variety of theatrical performances.

LearnNew York City has a number of learning opportunities.

BuyIt is not a lie: New York City is one of the world's most expensive cities. One survey revealed that the city is the most expensive city in the world for expatriate workers.

EatNew York has, as you might expect of the Big Apple, all the eating options covered and you can find almost every type of food available and every cuisine of the world represented.

DrinkLast call can be as late as 4AM, although many establishments will let you stay beyond that, especially in the outer boroughs. It is not uncommon to be locked in a bar after 4AM so people can keep drinking.

SleepNew York has some of the most expensive accommodations in the world.

ConnectFree WiFi is available in city parks and many public libraries.

Stay safeNew York is the safest large city in the United States, and its crime rate per person is lower than the national average and the crime rate of many small towns.

CopeThe quality of tap water in New York City is considered to be among the best in the world (unless you are in an old building with outdated plumbing).

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "New York City" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "New York City", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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