Travel Tips for New York City, New York, United States

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 5/5 for solo female travellers

New York, New York! It is brilliant, diverse, famously congested, iconic, bustling, exciting, cultural and historic. This city is hard to beat, and there is nowhere else like it in the world.

I lived in the Big Apple for over a year, and I’ve visited 6 times aside from this, so there are lots of tips I can give for those planning to visit this amazing place.

New York City is the largest city in the United States, and it has 5 boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. 

In this piece, I will give advice mainly for things to do and see in Manhattan, and it will be directed at first-time visitors.

I would recommend visiting for 7-10 days if you really want to soak it all in and get as much out of your trip as possible. I travelled alone throughout the city a lot of the time and felt safe, including late at night as this is the city that never sleeps.

How to get there

From Ireland, you can fly direct to Newark Airport or John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport from Dublin (the flight length is close to 8 hours) and Shannon (about 7 hours 30 minutes).

It is possible to fly from Cork Airport to NYC, but there will more than likely be a stop-over.

Language, Currency & Weather

English is the most commonly spoken language in New York, however there are around 800 languages spoken across the city. The currency is the US Dollar, but I primarily used my visa debit card or Apple Pay.

In my opinion, the best time to visit New York City is spring, autumn or Christmas – despite the cold, you cannot beat the atmosphere or decorations.

I found summers in New York City horrific as they are very warm and extremely humid (mainly July), with temperatures reaching over 30 degrees Celsius. The humidity makes it difficult to walk around and explore. However, this weather can be great if you’re travelling to the beach or The Hamptons.

In winter, temperatures can drop to -10 degrees Celsius, so if you’re travelling around this time then it’s important to bring warm clothing. 

Public Transport

The public transport system in New York City is called the Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) and it runs the subway as well as bus services. In my opinion, the subway is a fantastic way to get around the city, and it’s really easy to use.

It serves the five boroughs of the city, and runs services to the Jamaica and Howard Beach Stations in Queens (where you can hop on the AirTrain to JFK airport).

I would recommend buying a 7-day unlimited ride MetroCard at any of the stations, and this can be used on the subway and on buses. You can also pay via your mobile if you are making a single trip.

Where To Stay

Accommodation in New York is expensive so be prepared to spend some money, especially if you’re staying in Manhattan.

I used to live in Queens, so this is my favourite spot to stay when visiting the city. Not only is it quieter at night (Manhattan is quite loud and it can be hard to sleep), but it also feels like a city within a city.

I last visited New York in September 2023 and stayed at the Boro Hotel in Long Island City, Queens. This is a fabulous hotel with great food and service, and the location is excellent (only a few minutes from Manhattan).

If you do want to stay in Manhattan, I would recommend the DoubleTree by Hilton in the Chelsea or Wall Street areas, as well as the Hyatt Place in Chelsea.

For something a bit more reasonable, check out Madison LES Hotel or SoHo 54.

There are lots of hostels to choose from, but make sure to do your research. West Side YMCA is on the Upper West Side and seems to be good for those who are on a budget.

It’s very important to properly research where you want to stay in NYC, as some areas are not as ‘friendly’ as others.

Where To Go & What To Do

There is LOTS to do and see in NYC, so it’s hard to pick just a few activities. It also depends on the time of year you visit.

For first-time visitors, I would recommend a tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, the Edge Observation, One Vanderbilt and the 9/11 Museum and Memorial. I would also pay a visit to Chinatown, Little Italy, Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central, the Chelsea Market and take a walk along The High Line.

The Friends Experience, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) are also on my list, as well as a visit to One World Trade Center, a walk or cycle around Central Park (in winter I would recommend booking ice skating tickets at Wollman Rink) and a coffee in Bryant Park.

In the evening, walk around Times Square and go see a show/musical on Broadway or drop by a jazz club. If they are available, book tickets to see a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, or take a trip to Governors Island.

I would also recommend booking a day tour which brings you to the five NYC boroughs, so you see more of the unusual locations of the city.

At Christmas, stop by to see the lights of the Rockefeller Tree and Saks Fifth Avenue, Dyker Heights, Bryant Park, Central Park, Hudson Yards and Washington Square Park.

If you have a few days to spare in summer, take a trip out to The Hamptons on Long Island. This is the playground of the rich and famous, with lots of beaches and wineries.

What & Where To Eat

New York is one of the best foodie cities in the world so it’s extremely difficult to pick out the best spots or neighbourhoods. For this reason, I will only list my top places in Manhattan.

In terms of WHAT to eat, grab a New York pizza slice or hot dog on almost any street corner in Manhattan, or try New York cheesecake in nearly every diner. New York bagels are among the best in the world, so try one at Russ & Daughters on the Lower East Side.

Another staple is the corned-beef sandwich, and what better place to try one than in Katz’s Delicatessen in lower Manhattan (like the famous scene in When Harry Met Sally). Try the legendary New York cronut from Dominique Ansel Bakery in Soho.

In my opinion, to get a real taste of the city’s unique cuisines and flavours, book a Chinatown and Little Italy food tour, as well as one around Hell’s Kitchen.

For breakfast or brunch, visit La Grande Boucherie on West 53rd St, Westway Diner on 9th Ave or The Penrose on the Upper East Side. For coffee and a pastry, stop by Alimama Tea in Chinatown or Frisson Espresso in Hell’s Kitchen.

Meanwhile for dinner, stop by Boucherie Union Square in the Flatiron District, Olio e Più in Greenwich Village, Carbone just off Bleecker St, Torrisi in the Puck Building, Rezdôra on East 20th St, 4 Charles Prime Rib in the West Village and COTE Korean Steakhouse on West 22nd St.

For a drink, I would recommend a rooftop bar like Overstay in the Financial District (make your booking in advance as they are really hard to get), Panorama Room on Roosevelt Island (great jazz music), Nubeluz in the Flatiron District, Dear Irving in Hell’s Kitchen and The Ready in the East Village.

I am always adding to my list of top food spots across NYC, but these are my favourites for now.

Have fun in NYC!