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Voykit pocket guide · United States
New York
New York City
New York is a subway-and-walking city: do one area per half-day, take the park and museum in the morning and downtown early, and never plan two neighbourhoods more than 40 minutes apart for the same slot.
Manhattan looks small on a map and is not: its sights are 20–40 minutes apart by subway, queues and security lines eat the mornings, and the airports are 45–90 minutes away in traffic. Trips go wrong when a first-timer books three neighbourhoods in a day, arrives at a museum at noon on a weekend, or plans a tight airport ride at rush hour. Four clusters cover a first visit; add Brooklyn or a day trip only with spare days.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- New York City
- Best months
- Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Sep · Oct · Nov
- Time zone
- America/New_York
- Stay
- 2 days: Midtown + Central Park, downtown early
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry $40 in small bills for tips. Prices are shown before sales tax (about 8.9%); hotels add taxes and fees.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–140 excl. bed · Mid $140–250 excl. bed · High $250+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly; local prepaid SIMs are sold in phone shops and airports.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · City services and non-emergency help 311
- Plugs
- 120 V, US-style two-pin sockets (types A and B).
- Tipping
- Expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 per drink at a bar, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hail, and $2–5 a day for hotel housekeeping.
- Water
- Tap water is safe to drink and tastes fine.
- Toilets
- Cafés, hotels, department stores, the public library and Grand Central; buy something in a café to use the toilet.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Slice of pizza | $4–6 |
| Coffee | $4–7 |
| Subway ride | about $3 |
| Beer in a bar | $8–12 |
| Museum ticket | $25–35 |
| Hot dog from a cart | $4–6 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- EWR to Midtown: a licensed cab or ride-hail car, 40–75 minutes, or the NJ Transit train to Penn Station — the risk is border queues and tunnel traffic.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- JFK to Midtown: a yellow cab or ride-hail car at the official pickup, 45–90 minutes depending on traffic — the risk is border queues and rush-hour traffic, not the cab rank.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall (Penn Station) | Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and NJ Transit | Subway and walking; Times Square is 10 minutes |
| Grand Central Terminal (Grand Central) | Metro-North to the Hudson Valley and Connecticut; Long Island trains at Grand Central Madison | Walkable to Bryant Park and Midtown |
| Port Authority Bus Terminal | Coach buses and NJ commuter buses | A short walk to Times Square |
| JFK Airport (JFK) | International flights | Taxi flat fare about $70 plus tolls; AirTrain and subway about 60–90 min |
| Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) | International and domestic flights | AirTrain and NJ Transit to Penn Station about 30–40 min |
| LaGuardia Airport (LGA) | Domestic flights | Taxi or bus and subway; no direct rail link |
Typical fares
- JFK to Manhattan, yellow cab
- About $70 flat plus tolls and tip, 45–90 min
- Subway or bus ride
- About $3, tap contactless
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside a neighbourhood; use the subway between clusters and taxis or ride-hail late at night and with bags.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside a neighbourhood and the grid in Midtown |
| Subway | About $3, tap contactless (OMNY); weekly cap about $34 | Between clusters |
| Bus | Same fare as the subway | Crosstown routes and step-free rides |
| Yellow taxi | Metered; a surcharge applies below 60th Street (check) | With bags or late |
| Ride-hail (Uber, Lyft) | Shown in the app; surge in peak hours | Late night and airports |
| Ferry | About $4 for the NYC Ferry; the Staten Island Ferry is free | Waterfront rides and skyline views |
| Bike (Citi Bike) | About $5 for a single ride or a day pass around $20 (check) | Flat parks and waterfronts |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass needed for a short stay: tap a card at the gate (fares are capped weekly). Taxis and ride-hailing add up fast in traffic.
- Late at night
- The subway runs 24 hours but late-night service is slower and less frequent; check the app for your line.
See and do
01Central Park and Bethesda Terrace
The city's green centre.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 1.5–2 h · 40.7739, -73.9713
02The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A museum you can spend a day in.
Hours: best Weekday morning · Price: about $30 · Time: 2–4 h · 40.7794, -73.9632
039/11 Memorial and Museum
A place of remembrance.
Hours: best Weekday morning · Price: Free; museum about $33–36 · Time: 1–3 h · 40.7115, -74.0134
04Brooklyn Bridge walkBrooklyn Bridge
A skyline walk to DUMBO.
Hours: best Sunrise or after 18:00 · Price: Free · Time: 1 hHours: best Sunrise or after 6:00 PM · Price: Free · Time: 1 h · 40.7061, -73.9969
05Grand Central Terminal
A grand station with a free ceiling.
Hours: best Outside rush hour · Price: Free · Time: 30–60 min · 40.7527, -73.9772
06Washington Square Park
Musicians and an arch.
Hours: best Late afternoon · Price: Free · Time: 30–60 min · 40.7308, -73.9973
07A slice at Joe's
The classic New York slice.
Hours: best Off-peak · Price: $4–6 · Time: 20 min · 40.7304, -74.0021
08Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
The gateway to the country.
Hours: best First ferry · Price: about $25–30 · Time: Half day
09The High Line
A park on old rails.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 1 h
10A Broadway show
The classic night out.
Hours: best Evening · Price: $60–250+ · Time: 3 h
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn (Bridge, DUMBO, Prospect Park) | Subway 15–30 minutes | Half day |
| Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island | Ferry from Battery Park; tickets are timed | Half to full day |
| Hudson Valley (Beacon and Dia Beacon) | Metro-North train about 1 h 30 | Full day |
| Philadelphia | Amtrak or NJ Transit about 1 h 15–1 h 45 | Full day |
| The Hamptons or Montauk | Train or car, 2–3 h each way | Full day |
| Governors Island | Ferry about 10 minutes from Lower Manhattan | Half day |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe's Pizza (Carmine Street) | A cheese slice · West Village | $4–6 | Budget |
| Ess-a-Bagel (Third Avenue) | A bagel with cream cheese · Midtown East | $5–9 | Budget |
| Halal cart or street cart | Chicken over rice · Midtown corners | $8–12 | Budget |
| Corner Bistro | A burger and a beer · West Village | $15–30 | Mid-range |
| Fraunces Tavern | A pub lunch · Lower Manhattan | $25–55 | Mid-range |
| Chelsea Market food stalls | Tacos, lobster rolls and more · Chelsea | $12–30 | Mid-range |
| Grand Central Oyster Bar | Oyster pan roast and oysters · Grand Central | $40–90 | Splurge |
| Michelin-starred restaurants | Tasting menus · Midtown, Village, Lower East Side | $200–500+ (check) | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate in US dollars before tax and tip. Addresses and hours change; check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | $40–80 dorm bed · $150–250 double | Lower Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn | Hostels and small hotels |
| mid | $250–450 | Midtown and Lower Manhattan | Chain and boutique hotels |
| splurge | $600–1,500+ | Midtown and Park Avenue | Luxury hotels |
Per room per night in US dollars, 2026 estimate, before taxes; hotel taxes and fees add about 15–20%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hi / Heycasual and universal |
| Thank you | Thankssaid constantly |
| Excuse me (to pass) | Excuse me / Sorryuse it on the subway and the pavement |
| How much is it? | How much is this?prices are usually shown |
| To this address, please | To [address], pleasegive the cross street too |
| The check, please | Can I get the check?US usage |
| To go | For here or to go?a common question at counters |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Pavements: Walk to the right and do not stop suddenly; step aside to check a map.
- Subway: Let people off before you board; move to the middle; offer your seat.
- Tipping: 18–22% at restaurants; $1–2 a drink; round up taxis.
- Crossing: Wait for the walk signal, though locals often cross on a gap.
- Queues: Form an orderly line at counters; do not cut.
- Small talk: Friendly but brisk; a quick hello is common.
Red lines
- Do not pay a street 'guide' or 'tour' seller before you see a price.
- Keep voices low at the 9/11 Memorial.
Scams and watch-outs
- Unlicensed cab drivers offering rides inside the terminal: use only the marked taxi queue or an app.
- Costumed characters in Times Square who pose for photos and then demand money.
- Free 'friendship' bracelets or CDs pressed into your hand followed by a demand for payment.
- Street ticket sellers for shows, sightseeing buses or 'free' tours: buy from the official box office, TKTS or the operator.
- Three-card monte and 'lost' phone games on busy streets: walk away.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover. Skip: A second museum; two big stops are enough.
- 08:308:30 AMCentral Park and Bethesda Terrace
- 10:3010:30 AMThe Met, two wings
- 13:001:00 PMLunch and Grand Central
- 15:303:30 PMBrooklyn Bridge walk
- 18:006:00 PMA slice in the Village
2 days
The usual New York stay. Skip: A same-day Statue ferry and a museum.
Day 1 — Park and the Met
- 08:308:30 AMCentral Park
- 11:0011:00 AMThe Met
- 14:002:00 PMRest
Day 2 — Downtown and the Village
- 08:308:30 AM9/11 Memorial
- 11:3011:30 AMBrooklyn Bridge
- 14:002:00 PMPizza and Washington Square
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- NYC Tourism + Conventions: www.nyctourism.com/
- ESTA application (US Customs and Border Protection): esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
- Wikivoyage — New York City: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_York_City
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
New YorkNew York City
To [address], please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Brooklyn BridgeBrooklyn Bridge walk
Write your consulate's phone number below; consulates are mostly in Midtown East.
English is the everyday language; Spanish and Chinese are also widely heard.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/new-york). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.