New York holiday in May/June ...How long for?

[Viveladifference]

I'm planning on going to NY with my sons who are late teens and early 20s. Showing would you recommend staying for? (no more than a week!) And what is really worth seeing? Thank you!

I went for a month once and still didnt see it all...!!...jet lag is bad so maybe go 9 days if you can....agree about times sq....crap....i heard its expensive city to visit now....i went when it was $2 for a pound so found it very cheap. enjoy.

The tour of the UN is excellent. Highlight of our last visit with teens. Times Square has to be done if you’ve never been before. Mine liked spotting various movie locations, they would easily just have spent the whole time wandering around doing that.

@VariationsonaTheme

The tour of the UN is excellent. Highlight of our last visit with teens. Times Square has to be done if you’ve never been before. Mine liked spotting various movie locations, they would easily just have spent the whole time wandering around doing that.

UN tours are currently suspended due to Covid.

@AvonCallingBarksdale

Expensive, crime ridden, touristy dump full of chain restaurants where no resident New Yorker goes unless they absolutely have to. It's overcrowded, dirty, stressful and horrible. BUT if you have to go, go very, very early or very, very late when no one is there *@allfurcoatnoknickers* is it really that bad? Or is it the London equivalent of Leicester Sq/Piccadilly Circus? We’re going in July en route elsewhere so have 3 days in NYC and worried now that we’re too near TS

It's very much Leicester Square. Locals avoid it, tourists feel they have to go and no-one really understands the appeal.

Staying near there is fine. Sure it's very touristy buy it's handy for theatres and much of Midtown etc. Just avoid the crazies and don't get sucked in to taking photos of street performers / cartoon characters etc. Lots of scam artists / pickpockets about. Same rules apply as they would in London's West End.

It's more like Piccadilly Circus than Leicester Square in that if you're walking from A to B you'll quite likely walk through it even if you're not really aiming for it. It's not a destination in itself but while you're passing through you can look around you and say "gosh it's just like it is in the movies".

@AvonCallingBarksdale PPs are both right. Especially the bit about the scam artists and pick pockets. But as long as you don't hang about and walk with purpose, you'll be fine .

We went for 5 days in 2016. Did all the touristy bits. Absolutely loved it. My favourite city.
My tip: buy a 3 day red bus ticket. You can hop on and hop off as you wish and it'll take you to all the main tourist spots.
I absolutely loved Ellis Island. Found it very atmospheric and moving.
Ground Zero to pay your respects - we didn't do the museum as had a 10 month old in a buggy, but it gives us a reason to go back.
Times Square is fine as a passing point on the way to a destination but don't plan to spend time there.
Go off the beaten track for meals. Ask locals where they go. We found an amazing restaurant with unlimited coffee and breakfast for about $3 each. A real contrast to Pershings Square that cost us about $25 for breakfast one morning!
Grand Central Station, look at the ceiling. You'll see a black tile in the ceiling. That's how it looked before being cleaned up. Try the whispering pillars - Google if you don't know about it. Your teens will love it!
Oh I'm getting all jealous. Need to start planning my next trip!

Have been a good few times. Personally I think Chelsea and Greenwich Village are the nicest areas to stay & think they would suit you. The subway system is fantastic and will get you anywhere you need to go.

I've always wanted to go to New York for my 40th. I'll have three teenage boys by that time.
I specifically want to see Central Park (no idea why ), I haven't seen it mentioned here, is it worth it? Or nothing special, just a park?! Haha

@workworkworkugh It's a park, but a really beautiful one with lots of interesting stuff in it. But also bits that are basically like a giant football pitch. You need to do a bit of research oh where you go, otherwise you'll just see a lot of people having a coffee and walking their dogs .

The website has lost of info: www.centralpark.com/

There was a recent thread on here where a poster was really put out that Central Park was a park (also appalled that Macy's was just a shop), which was an unintentionally hilarious read.

I did 5 days in NYC in May which was enough, I was knackered and ready for a holiday by the end of it!

I used to live in NY and we visit regularly. My favourite things are:

• The Met - an obvious recommendation, but it's like the National Gallery and the British Museum rolled into one and it's HUGE, so you won't see it all in one go;
• MoMA, if you like modern art;
• another shout out for the Tenement Museum;
• a guided walk around Greenwich/West village is a great way to really appreciate it - it's nice just to wander too, but you'll get such a lot of interesting info with a guide;
• Strand books;
• walk the High Line south to north and go to Hudson Yards and up The Vessel;
• Ground Zero for the amazing memorial - very moving, dignified and beautiful;
• Circle Line tour is a good way to rest your weary legs and see Manhattan from the water and/or visit to Liberty and Ellis Islands, although you'll get lots of info about the immigrant experience from the Tenement Museum, so you don't need to do Ellis Island as well unless you want to;
• personally, I'd avoid Ellen's Starburst Diner - it's full of tourists. On our first morning we always head out to a 24 hour diner and grab a full American breakfast with eggs, pancakes, waffles, coffee, etc - much more authentic!
• Times Square is indeed horrid and avoid the people in costumes who will try to get you to take your picture with them and charge you. There is, however, a huge Old Navy there, which I like to take a browse in;
• eat Chinese food in Chinatown;
• just walk and soak up the NYC atmosphere. I always walk MILES when we're there. My favourite buildings to look out for are the Flatiron Building (5th Ave & Madison Sq Park) and the Chrysler Building (Lexington Ave and 42nd St).
• spend a week if you have the time.

@Viveladifference

Thanks for the tip-off about AirBNB! *@HundredMilesAnHour*

There are a lot of (registered) hotels which offer a suite set up with kitchen. It's a safer bet.

I loved the Highline, Greenwich village, Tenement Museum, people watching in Central Park. Second the idea of doing your tall building at the end of the day so you can go up and see dusk fall across the city.
Times Sq is a shithole but your first view of all the screens and lights at night is still mindblowing, even if you just pass through it in a cab.

Ellis Island at that time of year was incredibly busy and long, hot queues for everything, especially the boats. Staten Island Ferry would be a good compromise, though it was interesting actually going into the bowels of the Statue of Liberty.
I also liked the Greenmarket (farmers market) in Union Sq though you're obviously limited on what you can bring home.

At least 5 days

I went with DH a couple of years ago. We spent 5 nights which was enough. We were shattered by the end of it! We got city passes that gave you express entry to main attractions (no queuing for tickets), so we went to the 9/11 museum, Statue of Liberty, Empire State, Top of the rock, the Met. We took advantage of the jet lag and were at most things for when they opened! We stayed in The Empire, not cheap but a nice hotel and a good location off Broadway. It was featured in Gossip Girl so you did get people doing the tours! Another thing we did was go to a Rangers game. DH likes ice hockey, I wasn’t too fussed but actually it was great fun! Get to see Madison Square Gardens too. Bit touristy but Hard Rock Café was fun, the burgers are immense. We got about on the subway, it was pretty straightforward and not too expensive. It’s also worth walking back across the Brooklyn Bridge for some epic views.
I agree about Times Square, we got accosted by a “rapper” who wanted to give us a “free CD” but then wanted $10 in return, when we declined he yelled at us and called us names Pass through briefly at night. We were underwhelmed by the experience there. Shopping was also not as amazing as everyone suggested, exchange rates meant nothing was actually cheaper.
Overall it was a great experience, I’d go back but maybe with my sister next time!

If you have seven days instead of five you don't need to rush around quite so much, so you won't be so exhausted! It's nice to have time to hit the lesser attractions too - things like the Brooklyn Museum (or just go over to Brooklyn for a wander around Cobble Hill), or get the A train up to the The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park. If you only have five days you're so busy rushing around doing the big ticket things that you don't have time to do those extra lovely things that might actually give you the best memories, because they're a lot less crowded. You'll be tired the first 2-3 evenings too and won't enjoy going out for dinner as much as when you're more adjusted to the time difference, so the second half the week you'll be feeling better.