New York City travel guide
United States
Five boroughs, hundreds of neighbourhoods and a subway that runs all night. New York is best taken one district at a time, on foot, with plenty of stops to eat.
Essentials
- Language
- English; Spanish and many other languages widely spoken
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Plugs
- Type A and B, 120 V
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: around 18-20% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and a similar share for taxis.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $100-160, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $250-400, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in New York City
- Lower East Side: old tenement streets, delis, small music venues and late bars.
- Williamsburg: across the river in Brooklyn, with waterfront parks, cafés and skyline views.
- Harlem: brownstone blocks, soul food, churches and the Apollo Theater.
Getting around New York City
Tap a contactless card or phone at the OMNY readers for the subway and buses. Walking is often quicker than a taxi in Midtown traffic.
Best time to visit New York City
April to June and September to November, between the humid summer and the cold winter.
Top things to do in New York City
- Walk the Brooklyn Bridge from the Brooklyn side, so the Manhattan skyline is in front of you the whole way
- Follow the High Line, a park built on an old elevated railway, from Gansevoort Street up to Hudson Yards
- Book a guided tour of a restored tenement flat at the Tenement Museum on Orchard Street
- Spend an afternoon in Central Park between Bethesda Terrace, the Ramble and the Reservoir path
- Catch a late set at a Greenwich Village jazz club such as the Village Vanguard
What to eat in New York City
- Pizza slice: a thin, wide slice sold by the piece, folded in half to eat on the move
- Bagel and lox: a chewy boiled bagel with cream cheese and cured salmon
- Pastrami on rye: hand-cut smoked beef piled high in a Jewish deli sandwich
- Chopped cheese: a bodega sandwich of minced beef, onions and melted cheese on a long roll
Day trips from New York City
- Beacon: a Hudson Valley town with the Dia:Beacon art museum and river hikes, about 90 minutes by Metro-North train
- Coney Island: the boardwalk, beach and old amusement park at the end of the subway line, about an hour from Midtown
- Rockaway Beach: surf, sand and beach food stands, around an hour by subway or NYC Ferry
Local etiquette
Keep moving on busy pavements and step aside before stopping to check your phone. On the subway, let people off before you board, and do not take up a seat with your bag.
Staying connected
Prepaid SIMs and eSIMs from the major US carriers are easy to buy, and free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, libraries and the LinkNYC kiosks on the street.
Staying safe
Watch for pickpockets in crowds around Times Square and on packed trains, and expect costumed characters there to ask for money after a photo. Late at night, ride in a carriage with other passengers.
A local tip
Ride the free Staten Island Ferry for a view of the harbour and the Statue of Liberty.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in New York City on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in New York City for advice. We are new here, so if you live in New York City, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about New York City
- What currency is used in New York City?
- New York City uses the US dollar (USD).
- What is the emergency number in New York City?
- In New York City, call 911.
- When is the best time to visit New York City?
- April to June and September to November, between the humid summer and the cold winter.
- How much does a day in New York City cost?
- Roughly $100-160 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $250-400 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in New York City?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in New York City without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.