New York City is one of the best US cities to visit. I don’t think there’s any debate. From iconic attractions to some of the best restaurants in the world to the arts and everything in between, the city that never sleeps always delivers when I visit. In this New York City Travel guide, we’ll cover everything to see and do along with places to eat and drink. Sit back, relax, and soak in what this incredible city has to offer.
New York City Things to Do
The city is loaded with landmarks that are worth checking out. Some of my favorites include a visit to the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock Observation Deck for elevated views of the city, Oculus Center, Grand Central Terminal, Union Square, The Strand Book Store, Broadway Show, and 9/11 Memorial and Museum. These inside attractions are ideal when the weather isn’t cooperating.
Moving to outside attractions there’s nothing like a slow walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, lower Manhattan views from the Statue of Liberty, a walk through Central Park, Washington Square Park, Chinatown, Little Italy, the Central Park Zoo (great for kids), and walking the High Line.
Best New York City Restaurants & Bars
Some of the best food in the world can be found in New York City – think Italian, soul food, southeast Asian, steaks, French, Chinese, Mexican, sushi, Eastern European, Japanese, burgers, delis, pizza, Indian, Caribbean, barbecue, and Middle Eastern.
Restaurants at the top of my list include Blue Smoke, Balthazar, Katz’s Delicatessen, Little Prince, John’s of Bleecker Street, Emmett’s on Grove, Joseph Leonard, Dolly Varden, burger joint, Jams, Sarabeth’s, Ruby’s Cafe, JG Melon, and Seamore’s.
Bars I can’t go without are Dante NYC, The Marlton Hotel, Orient Express Cocktail Bar, Porchlight, Melody’s Piano Bar, and Bemelmans Bar. Pro tip – get to Bemelmans early to avoid the crowds.
New York City Hotels
World of Hyatt has been my go-to hotel loyalty program for several years now primarily because of the value you can unlock as an elite member. Some of the top New York City Hyatt hotels include Park Hyatt New York, The Beekman, and Thompson Central Park New York.
Marriott is my backup hotel loyalty program. I like but don’t love the Marriot Bonvoy loyalty program but Marriott’s hotel footprint is so large there’s nearly a hotel in every city I visit. Top New York City Marriotts include St. Regis New York and The Ritz-Carlton New York.
New York City Travel Guide Tips
The New York City subway is your friend. Lyft and Uber rides in New York City are expensive even for short rides. One way to cut down on transportation costs is to ride the subway. Apple Pay works great for paying for a subway ride making it easy to get around.
LaGuardia and Newark are the two closest airports to the city. It’s easy to catch a Lyft and Uber into the city from either airport. However, I recommend flying into the airport mid-morning and mid-afternoon to avoid rush hour traffic into the city.
Restaurant wait times are insane. It’s nearly impossible to get a reservation during peak travel dates. Pro tip – when traveling during peak travel dates, put your name down when a restaurant opens and come back later to eat dinner.
New York City Travel Guide Ideas
The holidays in New York City (Thanksgiving and Christmas) get busier every year. We’ve been visiting New York City in early December for years and it’s clear the crowds pick up every year making it difficult to see the sites you want to see.
Instead of visiting during peak travel times target the shoulder months of late spring and early fall. The weather is nice, crowds are manageable, restaurant wait times are reasonable, and hotel award availability is better.
Everything You Need to Know About New York City
Break down New York City by what you want to do inside versus outside. You clearly can’t see everything in one trip but it’s possible to check a few attractions each visit.
Inside attractions include The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock Observation Deck, Oculus Center, Grand Central Terminal, Union Square, The Strand Book Store, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
Outside attractions include the Brooklyn Bridge, lower Manhattan views from the Statue of Liberty, a walk through Central Park, Washington Square Park, Chinatown, Little Italy, the Central Park Zoo (great for kids), and walking the High Line over multiple visits.
Eater, Michelin, and the New York Times haven’t done me wrong when it comes to recommending restaurants and bars. Their recommendations are generally spot on. Reference their guides when choosing where to eat and drink.
Flying into LaGuardia or Newark is your best bet to cut down travel time between when you land and when you get to your hotel. I’ve had long commutes due to traffic when flying into both airports. However, flying in mid-morning and mid-afternoon works best.
Public transportation saves you a mountain of cash compared to ride share. The New York City subway system can be confusing (hell I got confused during our last visit) but be patient with it to reap the benefits of lower costs.
Conclusion: Your New York City Adventure Awaits!
In conclusion, this New York City Travel Guide covers the basics when it comes to visiting one of my favorite US cities. New York City has a nearly endless list of attractions to see and restaurants and bars to eat and drink at. Continue visiting every year like we do to appreciate the magic the city has to offer.
