To ask for New York travel tips?

[ethelfleda]

DH and I are looking at planning a trip to New York. Problem is, we don’t know where to start!!
Whereabouts should we stay? Would 5 nights be enough? What is a ‘must do’ that’s also not too touristy? Not bothered about Statue of Liberty or Times Square - but do need to eat a hot dog from a stand and visit the museums!
What did you enjoy the most about New York?
Thinking of going next Autumn.

I think 5 nights is plenty. We stayed in West 57th St and found it perfectly central and close to everything we wanted to see. I really enjoyed the boat trip around Manhattan - although it was bloody cold (October) but really we just walked and walked and then walked some more. I think you'd do well to get a DK guide - we found that very useful.

I've only done New York once but my main tip would be to stay in Brooklyn not Manhattan. It's half the price and the subway is very efficient. You can be in times square in half an hour.

Do top of the rock instead of empire state. Cheaper and you get a great view of the empire state from in.

Must sees:
a Broadway show
Staten Island ferry past the statue of liberty (free and views just as good)
Central Park (hire a bike)
walk the length of Broadway to get a flavour of all of Manhattan
walk the High Line
go to Radio City Music Hall if near Christmas
the Met and/or Guggenheim.
Soak up Times Square, esp at night.
Tenement Museum (choose a tour and pre book - fascinating 19th and 20th century immigrant history.)
Vinegar Hill in Brooklyn - like an abandoned time warp.
Traditional little 50s style diner on Lexington Avenue. Can't remember the name but it's quite famous, you'd find it.

If you like art the Museum of Modern Art is fantastic.

Walking the whole of the length of the highline is v. NY thing to do.

Central Park has lots of interesting things in it but I'd plan a route as it's large and you can easliy get lost if you don't have a map.

I wouldn't bother about a hot dog from a stand - there are far too many great bars and restaurants for substandard roadside food.

Empire State building is super touristy but there is a reason why its so iconic. Worth doing I'd say if its your first time.

Went in May. Was there 5 days Stayed at the Royalton near Times Sq as it was central.

Paid to go up One observation tower. Saw 9/11 memorial fountains. Didn't bother with the museum. Went on free Statin Island ferry for Statue of Liberty.

Went in Grand central station to the whispering wall. Got bus to Jersey gardens shopping. Watched theatre show and went to the cinema. Had afternoon tea at Le Pierre restaurant. Had horse and carriage ride in central park.

Saw Empire state, Chrysler Building, new york times, Rockefeller centre, Hudson yards.

Went to Juniors and Ellen's diner.

Went to Times sq

How much are you planning to spend?

We really enjoyed the Brooklyn end of the Brooklyn bridge very relaxed feel compared to Manhattan and excellent views.
Roosevelt Tramway and Roosevelt Island for good views looking back at Manhattan
Central Park
Get a metro card for the subway
Top of the rock Sun and Moon ticket so you can see the views in the daytime as well as at night.

We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria. We wanted to stay at one of the nicest and famous hotels in the city, it was nice but being in the financial district there was nowhere to eat so we'd stay somewhere else in future. I liked the Grayline bus tours around the city, fab for jumping off and on wherever you fancy.

Watching this thread - we’re staying at the knickerbocker in january for my 30th... without the kids!!! Woooo!

Going to do The High Line, library, grand central all quite close to the hotel so that should be easy.

Other than that 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oooo I went for the first time this year and totally fell in love with the place! We have friends who live there so got lots of tips..

Don't do top of Empire State.. instead book a table at 5pm at the rainbow rooms bar at Rockefeller... enjoy cocktails and food while watching sunset over the city.. amazing views which includes view of the Empire State lighting up. I emailed and booked a table a couple of months before I went, they reserved me a table right next to the window... it was fabulous!

Walk the highline... it's free.. a disused railway up high between the buildings that's been turned into a park. We went to Chelsea market first for a potter round and lunch (it's a really nice food market.. think borough market London) the highline starts really near to there. Highline is less than 2 miles long so a nice afternoon walk.

Get to the Staten Island ferry to see Statue of Liberty... it's free (don't be conned by a tout flogging paid for boat trips outside of the terminal) when you get on, go to the right side , race to the end of the boat, go down stairs and grab a window seat for the best view!

Definitely do 911 museum. There's. Massive queue.... but on the other side of the building from the queues there are 3 ticket machines in the wall which look like ATM machines.. very short queues for those! Not sure why but people don't seem to realise they are there! You book a time slot on the machine for your entry to the museum... get the ticket and while you wait for your time slot you can get your hotdog from a street vendor! 😁

Def do a west end show.. we did Book of Mormon which was hilarious but if you are easily offended by literally any subject then it might not be for you! Short walk away Just off Times Square is Gallaghers steakhouse... OMG the best steak I've ever had in my life! And real old school classic New York.. highly recommend!

We like just wandering round the streets in Chelsea/Greenwich.. gorgeous buildings, nice but not overly expensive bars...

Hire bikes to ride round Central Park... it's massive!!

It's amazing! Enjoy!

Ooh and Times Square in the day time is a shit hole but worth a wander through at night

Stay at the Casablanca hotel, it’s amazing!

Or any of the ‘Library’ hotels if you prefer a different area. All fabulous.

Oh evenings we’re going to do a sports game and a comedy night. Other than that we want more unusual stuff as we’ve done most of the tourist stuff already.

Are you on Facebook? There’s a group called “NYC the place to be” it’s a great site and covers everything. I lived just outside NY for a year but still found this group extremely helpful. Enjoy it’s a fantastic city.

Biggest tip... take comfortable shoes!!! Everyone wears trainers or pumps... didn't see one person in Carrie Bradshaw heels! You'll do a lot of walking.. be comfortable!

We stayed across river in Long Island, so much cheaper and fantastic views across the river at night 😍 New York looked amazing lit up at night!!! Hotel had a sky bar on the roof so cocktails overlooking Manhattan was immense!!!

our hotel had a free shuttle bus there and back hourly from 7am to 11pm so we used that, we did take the subway across once which was easy enough too.
We went across one morning early and go into the city for 0730... amazing how quiet the roads are- then the hustle and bustle of rush hour watching from a coffee shop. Love it!

Top of the rock.. not Empire State Building.

Walk everywhere... we did..: except downtown to financial district for the 9/11 memorial. Get there early in the day before the crowds hit, very impactive. We didn’t do the museum but walked all around the area, somber but well worth a visit.

Food typically was expensive, but we kept to off the track dinners which brought it down massively.

Avoid the rides in Central Park..: really expensive to take a ride through it...: we again walked a lot of it..::

Enjoy it’s amazing! I can’t wait to go back!!

5 nights is plenty! We went in May so was pleasantly warm.

We stayed mid town which was nice walking distance or short Uber to wherever we wanted to go.

Also Times Square ridiculously early in the morning- no one is around it's great.

Top of the rock- you then can see Empire State in your view

Central Park

Death avenue

Walk and Uber (we didn't use subway so don't know what to recommend) take comfy shoes!

Brooklyn bridge- again do this early as it's not busy at 7am

We did 9/11 but very sobering

Sky bar at night

Bryant park for outdoor evening dinner

Grand central. Walked in and straight back out but nice to see.

And a city tour bus.

Hard Rock Cafe

Statton island ferry is free and you can see the Statue of Liberty.

Be prepared to spend A LOT and embrace it. It's busy - and tiring but so much fun!

Do a helicopter ride! Without doubt the best thing we did :) and it had no doors so you could hang your feet out (if you wanted to lol) have an amazing time! it really is surreal being there xx

All of the above, and you will struggle to get a taxi between 5 and 6pm, it’s when the drivers change over shifts. Oh, and if you’re flying back on a Friday, add another hour to your commute to the airport, traffic is a nightmare!

Kate’s Deli, pastrami sandwich
With latkes with sour cream

9/11 museum is absolutely amazing, was our favourite day there!

Definitely Top of the Rock over Empire State Building too!

My top three to do:

Walk the High Line
Visit The Tenement Museum (check out the tours online in advance and book)
Take the Circle Line (a tourist boat trip around Manhattan which is great for getting a idea of where everything is and the guides are really knowledgable).

Walk everywhere!

Stay in Williamsburg
If doing a show go to that specific theatre and buy
Book lounges at airports!
Chelsea highline for a wander
Starbucks roastery is Roth a peak
All the normal NYC stuff

NB if Williamsburg eat at cafe Colette, sweet chick and drink sunset at the wythe sky bar