Travel guide
Weather & Climate
Temperatures °C : Average highs of 29-31 (°C) in summer, 4-6 (°C) in winter
Best time to visit: NYC has four distinct seasons, so summers are hot and humid whilst winters will have snow. Spring and autumn are more comfortable, but summer has many free activities and December is full of festive cheer.
New York is best for
Shoppers: Buy your Christmas gifts along Fifth Avenue.
Art enthusiasts: Marvel at the Metropolitan Museum’s Roman antiquities and Egyptian mummies.
Theatre fans: Catch a Hollywood celebrity in a Broadway musical.
Fast facts:
Language: The language spoken in New York City is English.
Currency: The currency used in New York City is the US Dollar ($).
Local time: New York City is 5 hours behind GMT/UK time.
Fly: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is located in Queens, 26km southeast of central Manhattan. Newark International Airport (EWR), in New Jersey, is also 26km from midtown Manhattan.
Flight time from UK:7 hours 40 minutes.
Tourist Information: Further New York City tourist information can be found at www.nycgo.com.
Visa / Health:
Before your holiday to New York City, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa for recommendations and advice on visas and health.
Getting around
By foot: The attractions, restaurants and shops of Midtown and Lower Manhattan are best reached on foot.
By tourist bus: Open-top, hop-on/hop-off buses are a great way for visitors to see the sights.
By bus and metro: Metrocards for busses and Subway can be purchased for pay-per-ride or unlimited travel. All journeys are the same price no matter how far you travel. Buses require exact change or a Metrocard.
By bicycle: A bicycle-sharing scheme (Citibike) offers thousands of bicycles at hundreds of docking stations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
By taxi: You can hail a taxi from the street. Cab drivers accept cash or credit cards, and 10-15% tip is expected.
Events
Independence Day: Several fireworks extravaganzas take place on July Fourth. Crowds line the riverbanks for the largest show, which includes fireworks launched from barges in the Hudson and East rivers.
New Year’s Eve Ball Drop: Be prepared for below-freezing temperatures, huge crowds and hours of standing in one place. But it’s worth it for the live entertainment and festive atmosphere of Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: On the fourth Thursday of November, New Yorkers begin Thanksgiving Day celebrations with a parade of marching bands and huge hot-air balloons that ends at Macy’s department store.
It’s true that The Big Apple never sleeps; energetic, romantic and full of incredible sights, you’ll never be stuck for things to do in New York. From history, art and culture to incredible food and drink and world-class shopping, our guide to New York is essential reading before you go.
Places to go
A walk across the famous mile-long Brooklyn Bridge is a great way of getting the best view of this iconic city. Once you reach Brooklyn, you can soak up the indie vibes in Williamsburg with its trendy shops, cafés and galleries, explore local flea markets, or relax with a drink in a boho bar.
There are some New York attractions you simple can’t afford to miss: check out the views from the top of the Empire State Building, tick off the Flatiron Building, the Waldorf Astoria, and the Chrysler Building, or explore some of New York’s modern architecture at the Museum of Modern Art and One World Trade Centre. Don’t forget a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where you can marvel at the exhibits as well as the huge columns and steps.
Attractions
A trip to New York isn’t complete without a visit to the Statue of Liberty. Book a ferry to Ellis Island and get up close to the big lady herself, a gift from the French and the first thing millions saw as they sailed into New York through the centuries. Once you’re back on the mainland, why not stop off for a bite to eat in Times Square before heading for Central Park? In the winter months there’s a huge open-air skating rink here, while in the spring and summer it’s the perfect spot for a coffee or picnic in the sunshine.
New York has plenty to keep kids of all ages entertained. Take them to Central Park Zoo or the Bronx Zoo, head for Madame Tussaud’s wax works or explore the Rose Centre for Earth and Space. The American Museum of Natural History is a must-see for budding stargazers, with a planetarium and an IMAX theatre screening space shows.
Things to do in New York
Statue of Liberty
A visit to the iconic Statue of Liberty is an absolute must while you’re in New York. Catch one of the regular ferries from Battery Park and take …
Visiting Central Park
One of the city’s most beloved landmarks, New York’s Central Park is almost a destination in itself. As well as the simple pleasure of enjoying …
The Guggenheim Museum
New York’s place as a leading light in the art world is undisputed, and a visit to the Guggenheim Museum is at the top of many people’s list of …
Times Square
As you look up at the brightly coloured billboards and listen to the buzz of people and traffic, there’s no mistaking you’ve arrived in Times Square.
Helicopter Rides
See the iconic New York skyline from above as you take flight on an unforgettable helicopter ride across the city.
High Line
Visit New York’s one-of-a-kind elevated park and see the city’s sights from above with a walk along the High Line.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
While in New York, make sure you visit the world’s largest museum of its kind, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is more commonly known as the …
Ground Zero
Pay your respects to the victims of the 9/11 attacks on New York as you walk through the poignant memorial at Ground Zero.
Top of the Rock Observation Deck
See the iconic New York skyline from the best observation deck in the city, Top of the Rock.