New York City

shradhamis
Jul 5, 2024
8 min read

Updated: Jul 8, 2024

Introduction

A city that doesn't need any introduction. New York is really a place of wonder, filled with excitement and amazing architecture, views, food and a fantastic blend of cultures. At every corner, you see something new. It's one of those places that is a juxtaposition of scenarios; the pristine, with the harsh realities of an overpopulated city to name one. I've been back to NYC several times now and I've always loved the city. For me, it's the blend of cultures all working in harmony together, making it work with New York style! NYC is one of those places though that you can never cover in one visit, but hopefully this guide will give you some tips on the best places to visit for a first trip, with recommendations from New York locals included. One thing I do recommend, fly into Newark Airport in New Jersey over JFK. Newark is a much nicer airport and a smoother experience compared with the chaos of JFK.

Pricing

As with any major American city, New York can be both inexpensive and luxury its' own way. Food, transport and even some excursions can definitely be done on budget in NYC, but I've always found accommodation to be quite expensive if you want to stay someone fairly centrally located. It depends on your budget and purpose for the trip. If you're travelling for a few days, I would recommend staying somewhere more central to Manhattan so that you are right at the heart of the excitement. If you're there for a longer trip, you can afford to stay on the outskirts of the city in areas such as Brooklyn (Williamsburg / Greenpoint) or New Jersey (Hoboken). The connectivity in New York is amazing, from the subway to the Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak systems, public transport is very affordable in the city and outskirts.

Accommodation

There are plenty of options for accommodation in the city. I'm lucky enough to have family who live in Manhattan so I've both stayed with them, along with hotels in Times Square in other visits. We're doing our research to help expand this list with curated options based on the best guest reviews. Watch this space.

Doubletree Hilton Times Square West - a fantastic location, with a respected hotel group. Located right round the corner from Times Square, this hotel gives you the best location to explore the city and especially some of the night life because you're staying so close to the heart of the city. We stayed for 7 nights which was £1,218 (without breakfast) but this was split between two people. I would always recommend not paying for a hotel breakfast in major cities because you always have the option of fabulous local deli's and cafe's nearby.
Hampton Inn by Hilton Times Square - another great option in a very central location. We paid using points but the price can start from £150 / night to £250 / night depending on the time of year you're visiting.

Sightseeing / Experiences

There is an endless list of activities and excursions in a city as vast as New York. From the classic sights, to unique markets and walks, there's something for everyone. Each time I've visited, I've found something new to see and do. Here's a round up and some tips on the best time to visit as well.

Rockerfeller Centre - out of all the many skyscrapers in NYC, the Rockerfeller Centre (Top of the Rock) is a must visit and I recommend going up to the view point at night so that you get the illuminated view of the city and the Empire State Building in your photos. Top of the Rock tickets start at $40 / £31. The Rockerfeller Centre also has a myriad of shops & restaurants within the lower levels, along with the NBC Studios. If you head to the NBC store, you can also get put on standby for access to some of the tapings that are held in the studios. On my third visit, we managed to get in as standby to the Seth Meyers show which was a pretty epic experience, and it's free!
Empire State Building - though I haven't done this myself, it's another tried and tested observation deck option in NYC. Tickets start from $50 / £39 or it's included in the City Pass which is a sightseeing pass you can purchase that covers the majority of the main attractions across the city.
One World Trade Centre - Another fantastic observatory that gives you views across the whole of Manhattan due to its unique positioning towards the bottom of Wall St. Tickets start from $44 / £34, though there are options for small savings if you end up choosing to go during the evening.
High Line - undoubtedly one of my favourite things about New York is this converted stretch of elevated rail line that is a fantastic example of public realm conversions in a densely populated city. Running majorly on public donations, the 1.45mile long park has art exhibitions, cafe's, exquisite views along with running a series of public programmes for everyone to get involved in. It's free, it's glorious, and it's 100% worth a visit.
Brooklyn Bridge / Dumbo - It's a long walk, but one I certainly enjoyed. If you go early in the morning, it's actually lovely to see the commuters and groups of people exercising. And of course, you can't miss the instagram spot in Dumbo. If you want to visit here, make sure you do go early to get a clear photo. The iconic location is on Washington Street, but take your time to explore some of the streets that run parallel as well.
Brooklyn Larger Tour - On my first trip to New York, we ended up in Brooklyn and booked the Brewery Tour at Brooklyn Lager. It was a great experience, and of course getting to try new and different beers is always a fun activity! Tickets start from about £18 so not an activity that will break the bank.
Domino Park - for open space / park lovers, Domino Park in Brooklyn offers a wonderful view over the hudson river and is a great spot for a picnic of sunset watching. Just remember, drinking in open spaces in NYC is prohibited so don't get caught out on this rule!
Central Park - not that it needs much selling, but Central Park really is a fabulous expanse of green public realm. With great running / walking routes, seating areas, lake based activities and just a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, it's a must visit.
Hudson Yards - an area that in most recent years has been redeveloped with some significant investment. The key visual attraction is the Vessel, design by famous Architect Thomas Heatherwick. Unfortunately, this attraction has been closed for over two years but is set to re-open later this year (2024) with further safety features added. Regardless, it's an impressive sculpture to go and view. Hudson Yards as an area also prides itself on being extremely sustainable so read up about how they have incorporated circular economy into the development.
Helicopter Tour - this is a luxury, but such a great way to get that iconic view of the NYC skyline. I booked this through Groupon during my first visit in 2015 and it was with a company called Manhattan Tours. The experience was fantastic from start to finish, and at the time it was £165 for two people. Obviously this will be more expensive now but the birds eye view of Lady Liberty, New York Islands and the skyline is well worth it in my opinion.
The Edge - one of the newest observation decks, located in Hudson Yards, the Edge gives you a different view point of the city. I recommend going for the first slot because you can usually catch sunrise which is pretty spectacular over the city. Tickets start from $40 / £31 and you must book before you go because it does get very busy.
Governors Island - something I discovered thanks to my cousin during my last visit, Governors Island is a large island located just off the edge of Manhattan and can be accessed via ferry from the Battery. Tickets for the ferry only cost $5 / £3.90 round trip and once you're on the island, you can explore the art exhibitions, cafes, pop up street food outlets and even stay on the island if you book a glamping experience. This is definitely on my bucket list for the next trip!
The Guggenheim - as with most large cities, there are hundreds of museums and galleries you can visit. NYC certainly doesn't have a shortage, but I personally loved the Guggenheim given it's unique architecture. Obviously check out what exhibits they have on before visiting, but tickets start from $18 / £14. If you buy the NYC City Pass, access is included.
Little Island - NYC certainly does all it can to introduce these amazing public parks where it can. A man made structure, Little Island is a public access park which hosts events as well as being another oasis in the craziness that is the city.

Food

I think if there is a mecca for food, then New York City is it. You can get pretty much any cuisine you can think of, and all done to a really high standard and very authentic. It's one city that you can really gorge on delicious food all day long. Here are my favourites based on visits over the years, but of course you could find some of the best food you've eaten just around a random corner.

Boqueria - my absolute all time favourite spanish restaurant. A wide range of tapas and everything is utterly delicious. If you're a big group going, then the chef's menu is a great option as you get a selection of food chosen by the chef rather than having to fight between you to decide what to eat! It's a chain so there are quite a few outlets across NYC.
Jacobs Pickles - I'm a big lover of american pancakes and fried chicken so this place is just heaven for me. Paired with some southern classics, Jacobs Pickles is a very affordable place for a great brunch that is very tasy and filling.
Deluxe Green Bo - there's no end of great options for chinese food in NYC but this is a firm fav of mine. Generous portions and authentic food. Just make sure you have cash on you as it's a cash only place.
Bar Hugo - the first rooftop bar I ever visited in NYC and it has amazing views over the hudson river, especially at sunset. A good selection of beers / spirits and cocktails too.
Paulie Gee's Slice Shop - you can't go to NYC and not sample NYC pizza. Paulie Gee's, in Brooklyn, is a great option because you can just order a slice (don't be fooled because these are giant slices) and choose a couple of different options. Hot honey pepperoni is my choice every time.
Chelsea Market - if you want somewhere with a lot of food options in one place then Chelsea Market is great. You can wander around the independant little stores, grab some lunch, and then head over to Little Island to relax in the afternoon.
Kati Roll Company - for Indian food lovers, check out this kati roll place which just hits the spot after a couple of beers!
Nami Nori - I adore sushi and somehow end up eating it at least once on most of my holidays. Nami Nori, recommended by my cousin, is in Brooklyn. Go for the rolls which are all made fresh in front of you and you can't go wrong. As it's sushi, it's definitely on the pricier side for a meal but worth a visit if you love sushi.
Arlo Williamsburg - after you've had your fill of sushi, head to the Arlo for an after meal tipple. A nice rooftop bar which has a pool too if you're planning on attending during the day.
Bills Bar & Burger - a pretty typical american diner style place but a good spot for a burger and fries if you're touring the Rockerfeller anyway. It's one of the few places I've actually had a good prawn burger.
Carlo's Bake Shop - you've got a few choices of location for this, with outlets in Hoboken and Manhattan but if you love cake, then you must go. I love the strawberry shortcake which is some of the lightest cake I've had in my life, filled with fresh sweet cream. I'm drooling now, just thinking about it.
Venchi - if you're planning on lounging in central park, then grab some gelato from Venchi first because it's utterly glorious!