Best York Guide Need to Know 2024
New York is unique. Few cities in the world – if any – are such a clear tourist attraction for tourists. But at the same time, it is clear that to travel to the Big Apple you must be clear about some aspects. In this guide to New York we are going to tell you everything you need to know to organize your trip:
- New York airports and how to get to the city
- Basic information about the city, such as the best places to stay, the ever-important topic of safety in New York, and how to get around the city
- The districts of the city that you should prioritize on your first trip through the city, or if you are repeat visitors and need to broaden your horizons
- The best of the best things to see and do in New York
I hope it helps you!
Guide to New York: New York airports
Flights to New York are not what they used to be. Nowadays, it is possible to find very good prices and more and more low-cost airlines, such as Norwegian or Level, are offering destinations outside Europe at low prices. The key is to look for it in advance and avoid the high seasons (Christmas and summer, above all) if you want to save as much as possible. But for 300-400 per person round trip from one of the major Spanish airports, it is possible to land in the Big Apple .
Remember that to enter the United States you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA). You can fill it out online through the official website and we don’t think it will be complicated, but you should be careful. They ask you a lot of personal questions and it is valid for 2 years . We are not experts in customs so we recommend that you read all the requirements carefully, always from official websites, such as the one we have linked above.
Once you arrive in New York, you should be clear about what you need to do. The Big Apple has 3 different airports , two of them located within the city limits and a third in the neighboring state of New Jersey:
- JFK Airport : Located in the Queens district, it is the busiest of the three. Most international flights to Europe – along with Newark – arrive at this airport. It is fairly well connected to Manhattan through a train system that operates within the airport (AirTrain) and which allows you to reach the subway. With this you can get to wherever you want.
- LaGuardia Airport : Much less important, since it only has flights to destinations within the United States or Canada, LaGuardia has worse connections. It is also within the borough of Queens.
- Newark Airport : The only airport outside the city, Newark Airport is located in the state of New Jersey, just a few kilometres from the city. It is heavily used by low-cost airlines, such as Norwegian, and by United Airlines , which operates through a hub at the airport.
Basic information about New York
New York is the most populous city in the United States with more than 8 million inhabitants and nearly 20 million in the metropolitan area, which extends across neighboring states and makes it one of the most populous cities in the world.
Despite what it may seem, getting around New York is not a nightmare, as it is in other North American cities such as Los Angeles. The Big Apple is one of the cities with the greatest public transport infrastructure in the world. The method par excellence, not only for its vigor but also for its charm, is the New York Subway , one of the largest in the world. More than 20 lines and 450 stations that connect practically all areas of the city, especially Manhattan. In any case, once you arrive in this area, you will be able to do many of the activities on foot.
As in all cities of this size, security in New York is important. The Big Apple is not a dangerous city by any means, on the contrary. In recent years, progress in terms of security and crime reduction has been overwhelming. But even so, caution is necessary .
In Manhattan, you should be careful, above all, of petty thefts from unsuspecting travellers on the subway or in the busiest areas, but in general, the entire district is safe . Most areas of Brooklyn and Queens are also completely safe, except for certain neighbourhoods, which are not at all touristy, such as Bedford Stueysant, East New York, Brownsville or South Jamaica. In the case of the Bronx, we at uk cheapest flights advise against visiting it unless it is with the Contrasts Tour .
In such a vast city, finding accommodation in New York can be a real pain. Space is at a premium in the city and you have to pay for it. Hotel rooms are generally expensive and not very spacious unless you have a deep pocket.
We recommend looking for accommodation in New York in Manhattan as the first option . It is the safest and most touristic area and you have all the monuments just a stone’s throw away. Times Square – the hotel area par excellence -, around the Flatiron Building or in Downtown are ideal areas to stay. In the surrounding districts there are also interesting areas, such as Long Island City (Queens) or Downtown Brooklyn and Williamsburg (Brooklyn).
New York City Travel Guide: The Boroughs
New York is made up of five different boroughs : Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. Each of them is very different, although each has its own attractions to a greater or lesser extent.
Manhattan is sometimes called the “city within a city.” If New York had a capital, it would be Manhattan. This is where the main monuments, the most touristic areas, the offices, the company headquarters and the New York Stock Exchange are located. A wealth of cultures, it goes without saying that you will need many days to get to know it thoroughly.
Brooklyn is the quintessential residential neighborhood in New York and the most populated of all. It is also the second most attractive for tourists. Once you cross the Brooklyn Bridge, the DUMBO area has become one of the most visited in the city. As a result of the gentrification process, industrial buildings have been converted into sought-after lofts and trendy restaurants. In the adjacent Brooklyn Heights , you can see the typical low-rise New York houses that appear in all the movies. Something different happens in Williamsburg , one of the most hipster areasof the city, where the more urban side of the district is still maintained.
The largest ethnic enclaves in the city have been established in neighbouring Queens , with Flushing’s Chinatown standing out in particular . Next to it, one of the best-known landmarks of the district is Flushing Meadows – Corona Park , where the famous Unisphere is located . In the south, on the Rockaway peninsula , you can visit the New York beach in its purest form.
New York City Travel Guide: What to See and Do in the Big Apple
A cat has 7 lives and you need 7 lives to get to know New York . Whenever we write articles recommending certain things to see in New York, we lie, not voluntarily, but because it is impossible to cover an unfathomable city.
However, it is always possible to get close. For a first trip and if you don’t have many days, it is best to focus entirely on Manhattan . This city alone has enough attractions to keep you busy for a week and not even consider getting bored.
In this article we recommend a lot of things to do in New York , which I’m sure will be very useful for your trip.
Downtown Manhattan
In the southern part of Manhattan, known as Downtown , is where the city’s financial district is located. New York is the largest financial center in the world and it shows. Impressive skyscrapers that house offices and bank headquarters. Among them are the two largest stock exchanges in the world, the NYSE and the Nasdaq , as well as the famous figure of the bull , whose testicles bring wealth.
But if there is one thing that makes this area recognizable, it is because it is home to the 9/11 Memorial and the museum that was built after the 9/11 attacks. From these, the reborn One World Trade Center also emerged , becoming the tallest skyscraper in New York . The SoHo and Tribeca areas , once undesirable, are now two of the most luxurious and modern in the city.
If you want to know the history of the New York Skyline and the main skyscrapers of the city, don’t miss our article!
In Chinatown and Little Italy you can get a taste of the city’s “ethnic enclaves”, areas of the city that, following mass immigration in past centuries, have brought together people of the same origin. Chinatown, which is always expanding, retains part of its more traditional character, while in Little Italy they say that the Italian origin was lost long ago. Whatever it was, it is worth visiting.
Of course, don’t forget that the ferry to Staten Island leaves from Whitehall Terminal , offering one of the best views of the Downtown skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty . And the best part? It’s completely free.
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown is the perfect place to find everything a tourist could want. Fifth Avenue , the city’s most famous artery, runs through the entire district, and is home to some of the city’s most famous landmarks. From St. Patrick’s Cathedral , one of the city’s most important religious buildings, to large luxury stores and iconic skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and Trump Tower .
On this same avenue is the New York Municipal Library , known for a scene from Ghostbusters , a lesser-known but equally essential visit. If there is one building that we, in particular, cannot do without, it is the Flatiron Building , a true architectural gem from the early 20th century.
Along with the Empire State Building , the other best-known observatory is the Top of The Rock , located in the Comcast Building at Rockefeller Plaza, a group of buildings with an iconic skating rink – only in winter – and the golden Statue of Prometheus.
The other tourist attraction that you cannot miss in Midtown is Times Square . Neon lights, One Times Square and giant advertising billboards make tourists not seem to look up or down. Next to this, the Broadway Theaters provide the most cultural touch.
Grand Central Terminal , the Macy’s in Herald Square and the UN headquarters are also must-see attractions for any self-respecting tourist. In addition, one of the areas with the most attraction in recent years is Hudson Yards , a gigantic area of skyscrapers built on nothing, whose icon is The Vessel , an architectural work made up of different floors and connected by stairs.
Uptown Manhattan
The entrance to Central Park marks a turning point. The Upper East Side is home to what is known as the Museum Mile, the best of the best art galleries in the city. The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) is possibly the jewel in the crown. A true cultural giant containing works by all the European painters ever known.
The Guggenheim is another of the greats. Its building, the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and declared a World Heritage Site, takes all the praise, but the truth is that its collection leaves no one indifferent. Alongside these museums, luxury brand boutiques and residential buildings crown one of the most exclusive areas of the city.
On the other hand, the Upper West Side is less touristy. The main attraction is the Museum of Natural History , one of the most visited in the world and a paradise for lovers of technological museums and life-size figures of animals and dinosaurs.
In the north, the Harlem area is another place not to be missed. We do not recommend going further than 125th, as it can be a bit crowded. The gospel masses and the legendary Apollo Theater are something that few visitors to New York want to miss.
Other districts
New York is not just Manhattan. If you have more days in New York, or you are not a first-timer, Brooklyn and Queens also have many attractions. In the former, I would dedicate a day or two to getting to know the main neighborhoods, including Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Williamsburg and Downtown, passing by the Brooklyn Museum and Prospects Park and reaching Coney Island . In Queens, Corona Park should be the centerpiece of any visit.
