New York!

[Neodymium]

I’m going to New York in September for a week with a friend. She has a 4 day event to attend there. I won’t be going to the event with her, so I’ll have loads of time to tour round on my own during the day. What is the best things to do/see? also keeping in mind I will be looking round on my own most of the time (I’m a very small female - so dh and my kids are worried about me being mugged or something by myself). So I want to stick to safer places. Not sure about the subway - if I would be safe on the subway on my own?

Yes perfectly safe on the subway - although all life will be there and the oddballs all a bit more “extra” than you would see in say London or Manchester. But during the day it is busy with people just doing their thing.

If you are sticking to Manhattan then it will be teeming with people all day and all night. No more likely to be mugged etc than in any large city. Times Square is manic and horrid so avoid - I could see it would be easy to pickpocket someone who had an obviously open bag/wallet in back pocket.

Dont walk about looking like an obvious tourist - but having said that New Yorkers don’t walk about clutching their bags close to them - most of them seemed to be distracted by yabbering or looking at their mobiles! Biggest hazard these days seems to be men on very fast e-bikes who cut across traffic lights, go the wrong way up 1 way streets.

Things to do? Too many! What do you enjoy?

Walking - high line, Brooklyn Bridge
Museums - so many but recommend Metropolitan Museum of Art (huge, go early) and MoMa

Avoid Empire State Building,Times Square

@Tootingbec why avoid Empire State Building? It seems to be one of the major things everyone talks about.

I live in Australia I have been to London and found it crowded and overwhelming but I had my kids to watch so that added to it. Where I live there isn’t big crowds all the time 😬.

i do like museums. I was also thinking a broadway show if there is one during the day. I like walking, I was thinking maybe a walking tour but not sure which one. I like shopping. I don’t really know. I feel like I’ve heard of places in NY and seen then on shows like friends. But no idea what’s actually good to see.

@Neodymium I do like museums. I was also thinking a Broadway show if there is one during the day.

Here is one bit of lore that you will find useful - Broadway matinees are typically performed on Wednesday (and Saturday) and the Metropolitan Museum is closed on Wednesday, so that works out for you.

Do you know what neighbourhood you will be staying in?

There are walking tours for different interests - history, food, architecture, e.g. There are also stores for every taste - little boutiques, huge department stores.

You will be safe on the subway just because it's so crowded, but don't stand near the edge of the platform, and don't hesitate to move away from anyone who looks dodgy. The subway will get you where you want to go, but it's not a garden party.

One important thing to know is that September could have some cooler days, but might still be extremely hot and sticky.

There's really so much. Do some research on what's available according to your personal interests and you should have a great time!

Totally fine but if you don’t like the subway take the small ferry it goes to Brooklyn, DUMBO, Wall Street (near 9-11) memorial, Roosevelt island…..it’s also much less confusing and you get great views.

I would thoroughly recommend the Empire State Building. We did it 15 years ago on 4th July with kids and on the recommendation of our Yankee hosts bought the fast track passes as it was likely to be busy. My now adult kids still remember the fab jump the queue and the view from the top ..

As an alternative to Empire State Building one Vanderbilt- you go to the 91st floor of a building that is all glass, even the floors. Hated it (scared of heights!) but everyone else was blown away and I’m smiling with the Empire State Building behind me in one picture 😅.

We also walked over the Brooklyn Bridge.

For food, best pizza Johns of Bleaker street- there’s pictures of celebrities that came in all over the walls, it’s apparently the world’s best pizza (try their meatball sandwich too though!!). Five guys apparently best for burgers but we had some fab burgers everywhere in the us😅!

If possible Get a metro card for the subway

Enjoy!!

@ShrubRose i think we are staying in Long Island city

That will be subway journeys, then. It's across the East River from Manhattan. I'm not familiar with the area, but people say it's convenient to Manhattan. On Google maps it's about 40 minutes to the Metropolitan Museum.

I just came back - went with my son for 5 days.
for Broadway shows, TodayTix app was great. You can sign up for “rush” tickets which go on sale at 9am, and much cheaper than we saw at the TKTS booths. I’m told the hop on/off buses are good but we ran out of time. We did a boat cruise which gave us a good view of Statue of Liberty and other interesting buildings along the river. We loved Empire State Building.

we didn’t get to Central Park but would have liked to.

New Yorker here, feel free to ask me anything.

Off the top of my head, I would suggest in no particular order the 9/11 Memorial and Museum (buy your ticket online), the Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and Radio City Music Hall’s stage door tour.

Book lunch or dinner at Union Square Cafe. It’s gorgeous, the food is fabulous and the service is lovely.

Thanks for coming to see us.😃

@Neodymium

You might enjoy a hop-on hop-off bus - you can see a lot in a relatively short time and go back later to the places you liked best.

I did this when I was there.

https://www.bigbustours.com/en/new-york/new-york-routes-and-tour-maps

@MissConductUS thanks I definitely want to go to some museums. I’m a real science nerd. Is there anywhere to avoid (as a single female traveller?

You can apply to do a big Apple greeter walking tour, they are free and you can just say what area you are interested in.

Most of the tourism locations are in Manhattan, which is generally quite safe, with the exception of East Harlem, in the far northern section of the island. The outer boroughs have the worst neighborhoods. I did a quick google and found this spot on.

https://en.uhomes.com/blog/most-dangerous-neighbourhoods-in-nyc

Edited to add, that if you're a fellow science nerd, the Museum of Natural History is a must. It has a planetarium attached which is fabulous, and you can buy tickets for both at the same time.

https://www.amnh.org/research/hayden-planetarium

The NY Hall of Science is more kid focused, but still fun.

https://nysci.org

And as I mentioned last night, I'd definitely include a visit to the Intrepid. You get to tour an aircraft carrier, a submarine and a space shuttle. They have a lot of great exhibits.

https://intrepidmuseum.org

Always book your tickets online to avoid the queues.

Let me know if I can help with anything else.

Another alternative to the Empire State Building is doing the Top of the Rock. I really enjoyed both, but on balance I preferred the Top of the Rock as that way you get a lovely view of the Empire State, which of course you don't if you're up the Empire State! Also great views of Central Park. We pre booked so no queue - all very easy. Have a great time, it's such a wonderful city!

Empire State Building, top of the rock or one Vanderbilt for great views - you only need to do one.

9/11 museum is worth doing and the tours are very good. Very sobering - book in advance online.

chelsea market is nice for a spot of lunch, albeit touristy and if you do Statue of Liberty early, timings/locations work well. You can finish the afternoon with the high line walk but I’d rather hop on a subway and spend the afternoon in Central Park - you can hire a bike which is a fun way to explore.

I love Bryant park - loads of nice places to eat nearby if you’re not lucky enough to be there for the holiday market which starts in October I think.

The Met is amazing, see something on broadway if you can but mostly walk as much as you can, it’s a fab city.

If you like shopping, check out the Beacon's Closet and Housing Works thrift stores - they're really high quality and a totally different experience to charity shopping in the UK. I got loads of great stuff while over there. Brooklyn Botanical Garden is lovely if you need to decompress away from the city noise and smells. Tours at the Tenemant museum are brilliant for an insight into life for new arrivals in New York in the 19th-20th centuries. Mulberry Street is nearby with lots of lovely independent shops. New York Public Library and Grand Central Station are worth visiting for the architectural splendour; NYPL has a great giftshop and GC has a wonderful food hall. Have a brilliant trip! They're near each other so you could do both in a morning. Have a great trip!

@MissConductUS definitely going to the natural history museum!

thanks everyone for the ideas I’m going to go through and make a list of everything and then run it through chat gpt to make me an itinerary!

Couldn't recommend the Empire State Building more it’s iconic and on a clear day amazing views.

I’ve been twice both times felt safe in manhattan. Central Park is huge and lots to see. Walk over the Brooklyn bridge and get the water taxi back. Boat ride around Statue of Liberty and Ellis island museum. Grand central station. Times Square has to be seen but only once for 5 minutes.
I would struggle to navigate on my own but I’m useless at directions.

@Pinkchilli im useless at directions too I will have google maps!

Ha, a matter of taste perhaps as we adored Empire State Building and Times Square (which as an 80s/90s kid just felt like being in every film & movie set - iconic!) but agree Top of the Rock is amazing too.

We loved Grand Central too, also iconic and great food and drinks.

Brunch and Central Park!

Brooklyn Bridge is a must.

Some sort of boat on the Hudson.

9/11 museum.

I just thought I'd post the link to set it in your mind.

Union Square Cafe

It's in a lovely central location in midtown, right by Union Square Park. There's a subway station in the park as well. It's our favorite special occasion place to eat in the city. Book online as table fill up long in advance.

It’s a few years since we went but we preferred top of the rock to the Empire State Building because you get a view of ESB! The highline was good, we also took the cable car to Roosevelt island and the United Nations was also really interesting. Also really enjoyed wandering around Central Park. We had hop on hop off bus passes for a couple of days, Sunday was fine, Monday was awful and we spent ages waiting in traffic. We went to the Statue of Liberty on our first morning as we were up early due to jet lag, got there about an hour before the first boat and were second in the queue, by the time we got back the queue was about 3 hours!

I’ll be going to times square I’m sure as my friends event is there, and I will probably go with her first day to drop her off and then go off on my own.

thanks for advice about the other buildings. I’ve always heard of people going to the Empire State Building but I didn’t actually know why anyone went there 😂. Mainly from friends, when they show people round they go there.

I was in NYC with daughter in March and we never felt unsafe. It's like any other big city, you keep your wits about you and you will be fine. Used the subway during the day no problem, noticeably police presence. Times Square similar.

Top things to do - Empire State is a must-see not sure why people said to avoid as the views from the top are great but book in advance. Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty. Highline, Chelsea Market, Little Island (all in the same area). Central Park. Bagels, pizza.