In this general guide you will be able to see: All the key points of the city that you cannot miss; tips about food, transportation, attractions, free tickets to museums; tips for Broadway tickets; free toilets; useful apps and much more.
MUST VISIT
Although down below we leave you the direct links to the guides of each neighborhood, here you can find an express guide with some of the must do to live NYC to the fullest:
- Cross the bridge on foot or by bike to BROOKLYN AND WILLIAMSBURG.
For one of the best views of Manhattan with the Empire State, stop at Washington St and Water St.
With an ice cream from the well-known Ice Cream Factory in hand, explore the narrow streets of Dumbo and walk along the pier.
If you want to do some shopping stop by the Flea Market or Fulton Street.
If you're craving for a burger, Shake Shack is the best.
Have a cold beer on the terrace of: Ides – Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn.
When the sun is going down, go to the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge and enjoy the sunset with all the views of the city. And to go back to the city, you can do it from there as the access is very comfortable, or take a "ferry" taxi (which is much cheaper than the normal one) and return by water with that unforgettable image of the sunset.
If you're still in the area at night, or choose to return one night to Brooklyn, stop by Union Pool for a drink.
- Another way to stroll along the HUDSON RIVER to get a view of the city from the water is to do it for free on the Staten Island Ferry that leaves from The Whitehall Terminal at 4 South Street, Manhattan. It is a walk that lasts approx 40min. It is best to do it at sunset.
- Visit neighborhoods like GREENWICH VILLAGE. One of the prettiest in NYC.
If you are a Friends lover, stop by to see the facade of the building where the main characters of the TV show supposedly lived; is located at Bedford St. and Grove St.
There on Bedford St. you can buy a very tasty sandwich at the well-known Café Ino.
To shop for clothes, stroll walk Bleecker St.
And better if you do it with a cupcake in hand from Magnolia Bakery.
Between Greenwich and the East Village, you'll walk through the typical neighborhood where Woody Allen films his movies, getting lost in the little streets that have that magic air.
Find out about the pubcrawls that are held in the neighborhood.
End the day with a burger from The Spotted Pig (order a side of their special fries!)
- Go through CENTRAL PARK
It is best to do it by bike, especially in autumn and spring.
If you get the New York Pass, it includes a bike for 1:30 a.m. free at a place one block from the park.
Have lunch at The Boathouse Outdoor Bar and take a ride on the lake in their boats.
Inside the park you'll see the famous: Strawberry Fields. It's nice to stay for a while listening to an artist who is always out there paying music in tribute to The Beatles.
- Tour the areas of TRIBECA, LITTLE ITALY and CHINATOWN.
Being in Tribeca, walk along Pier 25. It is one of the piers of the Battery Park City renovation project.
If you're already hungry you can have lunch at Robert De Niro's Tribeca Grill.
In Chinatown, the best way to shop is to walk along Canal St. On Saturdays you will see all the vendors on the street with imitation suitcases and handbags. For Chinese food, all the places are on Mott St.
When you get to Grand Street you will already be in Little Italy. The main street is Mulberry, between Canal St. and Houston St. If you haven't eaten yet and are craving some delicious pasta, we recommend stopping by Buona Notte.
- Go to see the FLAT IRON Building and eat something at Eataly.
Right at the junction of these streets, in front of the Flat Iron you will see Madison Square Park.
Book lovers: Go to Astor Place, it is a two-block street (which later continues as St. Marks) where there is a huge bookstore: Barnes & Noble. You'll find books and magazines of all kinds.
End the day at the 230 fifth Rooftop Garden. One of the most beautiful rooftops in all of NYC; In addition, you can see the Empire State in the background. It is best to go in the afternoon and stay for the night. To see the sunset and the illuminated city.
- Go up the EMPIRE STATE. You have to book a ticket first. It is best to go in the late afternoon too, to see the sun set with the city in the background.
- At the intersection of 42 and 6th Av. we find the BRYANT PARK. From this park you will see the renowned black and gold building (American Standard Building) and next to it the Empire State Building which, due to an optical effect, appear to be together and be of the same height. We recommend doing a picnic in the park.
- GRAND CENTRAL Station… you have to go here! It has a hidden bar called The Campbell Apartment and a highly recommended Oyster bar in the basement.
Another secret to keep in your #GuestTravelTips: It has a hidden tennis court and you can book a time to play!
- Go up the TOP OF THE ROCK. Book your ticket for late in the afternoon and almost when it is about to get dark to see the sunset and the city (with the Empire State) illuminated.
- Go to TIMES SQUARE at night.
- Walk along 5TH AVENUE.
- Visit the HIGHLINE, MEATPACKING and CHELSEA.
The Highline is a public park that was built on the old train tracks. It is more than 2 km long and runs from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street in the western part of New York and between 10th and 12th avenues. The best thing to do is, from time to time, go down and go back up.
-The stairs are at Gansevoort St, 14th St, 16th St, 18th St, 20th St, 23rd St, 26th St, 28th St, 30th St and 34th St.
-Elevators are at Gansevoort St, 14th St, 16th St, 23rd St and 30th St, and ramp at 34th St.
-If you have to go to the bathroom, you will find them on Gansevoort St, 16th St and 30th St.
If you get off at 14 you are already in the Meatpacking District area. While here, it is best to go along 9th Av. and Little West 12th St. You will find Pastis Restaurant, several abandoned warehouses that today are the most renowned restaurants in NY, such as Florent and Buddha Bar.
If you go down the Highline towards 15th street, you have the well-known Chelsea Market. In 1890 the building was a cookie factory, and now they remodeled everything and made several places to eat and buy things (groceries).
If you are a bagel lover, stop by: Barney Greengrass on Amsterdam Av. and 86th St.
You can end the day at another of the best rooftops in NY, Le Bain at the Standard Highline (it's in the Meatpacking area). Don't forget your ID, they usually ask for it and don't wear very casual clothes (they don't ask you to be elegant but you won't be able to enter in shorts and flip-flops either).
Or, if you like jazz, you can't miss going to the Smoke bar!
- Visit THE VESSEL monument.
- Walk through SOHO / NOLITA. Especially for shopping.
There are lots of restaurantes to recommend here, like:
-For breakfast/brunch: The Butcher's Daughter
-For lunch or dinner: Thursday Kitchen.
-For dinner: The Mercer Kitchen or Raoul's (a great French option!).
Visit Washington Square Park, where you will find the Washington Arch, the marble arch that commemorates the centenary of George Washington's proclamation as president. This area of the park is also nice to walk. It is the NYU area, very residential, very quiet. Beautiful!
If you have time, go to Cooper Square and you will see a little street that starts there called St. Marks. That is where Alphabet City starts. There are a lot of vintage and small author restaurants.
- Enjoy a night of JAZZ in Harlem. Or else, there's a good bar in Greenwich: Blue Note.
- See a BROADWAY show. At the end of this guide we leave you a tip for cheaper tickets!
For more information, we leave you the specific guides for each neighborhood, so you will be able to go into depth about everything there is to do in each one of them:
WILLIAMSBURG:
BROOKLYN:
SOHO/NOLITA:
CENTRAL PARK:
DOWNTOWN/FINANCIAL CENTER:
GREENWICH AND WEST VILLAGE:
TRIBECA, LITTLE ITALY AND CHINA TOWN:
THE HIGHLINE, MEAT PACKING AND CHELSEA:
MIDTOWN, TIMES SQUARE AND 42ND STREET:
FOOD
WHOLE FOODS: For shopping, this option is a natural supermarket that has everything. There is one in front of Central Park, just in front of Columbus Circle.
You also have options such as: FOOD EMPORIUM, AMAZON GO STORE, TRADER JOE'S, among others.
For RESTAURANT AND BAR recommendations, you can visit the specific guide for our favorite #GuestBites, HERE.
TRANSPORTATION
FROM THE AIRPORT: The taxi has a fixed price to any point in Manhattan. This price does not include tolls or tips (represent 15/20%).
Shuttle: there are some companies that take you door to door (eg Super Shuttle). But it takes several people at the same time, so it can take a little longer.
SUBWAY: Being more than 5 days, it is best to buy the unlimited weekly pass (NY Pass, for example).
Keep in mind that if you take the Express line, it does not stop at all stations. You can see which brakes are marked on the subway map. The truth is that in NY you will use the subway a lot since using a car is NOT an option, traffic and parking are impossible.
If you get the weekly pass, note that you also have discounts for other attractions!
If you already know that you are going to want to do several attractions such as: museums, climb the Top of the Rock, visit the Empire State, etc. We recommend you take it out since not only do you save money, but in many places you don't have to wait in long lines. In addition, it includes free rental of a bike for 1.30hs. We provide you with the link: https://www.newyorkpass.com/En/?aid=12&gclid=CM-vqeff5coCFYYEkQodj4gKsQ
BUS: All the buses in the Manhattan district begin with the letter M, those in Queens with Q, and so on with each one.
In Manhattan, buses usually make a journey along a main avenue to return along the parallel.
FAIRS
The best are in Brooklyn!
In Beacon's Closet they sell used and vintage clothes but they have been dry-cleaned.
Address: 88 N 11th St. Brooklyn
Brooklyn's Flea Market is a classic. Opens on sundays.
MUSEUMS
The MET has a program called "pay what you wish" available every day. There is a non-obligatory suggested price but you can pay what you want... be it something or nothing. If you go, don't forget to visit the terrace that overlooks Central Park! (it's closed in winter).
At the Guggenheim you pay what you can on Saturdays from 5:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
The MOMA has free admission on Fridays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Check the pages of the other museums as they all have fixed days and times for free admission.
If you like fashion, the FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) has a free museum with a permanent collection of clothing and accessories.
USEFUL APPS
YELP: To find everything; restaurants, hairdressers, bars, deliveries, take outs, electricians, spas, service stations, car workshops and more. It also allows you to make reservations.
TRIPOSO: You can download offline maps. It has data on the main attractions and also what they call "hidden gems", those not so popular places that are worth knowing.
VISIT A CITY: It also allows you to download offline maps.
CULTURETRIP: Made by tourists who love NYC. They put together plans by theme and tell you stories about this great city.
GIRLS IN NEW YORK: By Andy Clar, NYC expert!
ATTRACTIONS
FOR SIGHTSEEING: http://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing/
Address: It is located at 49 W. and 45th Street. In any case, you will see men dressed in red with brochures everywhere near Times Square. They are the typical 2-story bondis: Downtown Loop is the bus that goes south and Uptown Loop is the bus that goes north, to the Harlem.
IF YOU LIKE MUSIC:
-It is very important that you buy the Time Out card as soon as you arrive, since it is weekly and has good data on what is happening that week in NYC in every aspect.
-Also visit: lepoissonrouge.com/
-And, for some more mainstream music at Madison or Webster Hall: http://www.websterhall.com
Check this site for shows! Madison Square Garden and Radio City: http://www.thegarden.com
STATUE OF LIBERTY: It is not necessary to pay for a ticket. You can go with the free ferry in a 40-min journey. There are tours that charge you to go and get off but is not worth it. With this ferry you can see it from the water, up close and without paying a penny. It works 24 hours a day and there is always place. To get there, you have to go to the Whitehall Ferry Terminal.
OTHER TIPS
FREE BATHROOMS: Big stores like Macy's, Bloomingdales, Crate & Barrel, have bathrooms that you can enter without having to consume anything. In addition, all 5-star hotels have a bathroom on the ground floor that you can access without being a guest.
WATER: If you are going to eat without much budget, ask for tap water which is for free and you can ask for addition of ice and lemon. You don't have to sit down to eat, if you go through a restaurant and ask for water they have to give it to you!
BROADWAY TICKETS: Buy the ticket at half the price at TKTS (Broadway & 47th st. Tel 212- 768 1818). It is located in Time Square just down the typical giant red stairs. Sometimes, 2 hours before the show starts, if there are any tickets left, they sell them off very cheap. Check this according to the number of days you have left to go see a show, because you may not get it at the last minute.
Tickets are also sold to see some show without a seat in a quite cheap price, but they have limited capacity.