First Time Visitor Guide to New York
New York City is one of the most exciting places to visit. As a first time visitor, however, it can be a bit overwhelming. This guide will help you plan your trip, including booking flights, finding a place to stay, and determining which sites are worth visiting.
Flights to NYC Depending on where you are flying from, it is possible to find flight deals to NYC. Check travel websites such as Expedia, Orbitz or Kayak to compare prices for different airlines. There are often deals on flights to New York from London, or other major cities. Most flights in NYC land at either John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark, which is located in New Jersey. A few flights land at LaGuardia Airport, but it is much smaller than the other two. From the airport, you will need to take a taxi to your hotel.
Where to Stay Hotels in NYC are notoriously expensive. If you can find a room for less than $200 USD per night, then it is considered a bargain. Hotel rooms in the city are typically seem very small to out-of-towners, because space, of course, comes at a premium. Before selecting a hotel, you should consider what kind of experience you want to have. Do you want to be in the middle of it all and be able to walk to Broadway shows? Then you might consider staying in Times Square, as many tourists choose to do. If you want a more hip downtown experience, stay in a boutique hotel in SoHo or the Lower East Side, There, you'll be able to walk to many cool restaurants and bars and experience what it's like to be a local.
What to Do For a first time visitor to NYC, there are several must-see attractions. Take a ride up the elevators of the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Center to experience the full panorama of the skyline. Spend an afternoon walking around the winding paths of Central Park. You should also visit at least one museum, such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) or the Metropolitan Museum. If you love to shop, visit the famous Macy's on Herald Square or stroll down Fifth Avenue and gaze into the many designer shops.
Many tourists also enjoy taking a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, which offers impressive city views and photograph opportunities. Another option is to take a boat tour on the Circle Line so you can see Manhattan and the outer boroughs from many angles on the Hudson and East Rivers. Or you can take a trip on the Staten Island Ferry for free. If you must see the Statue of Liberty, take a ferry to visit and climb up, and also stop by Ellis Island and check records for ancestors.
Finally, one of the best parts about visiting NYC is enjoying the many different restaurant options. NYC is famous for its pizza and Italian food, but there are restaurants representing just about every ethnicity. Don't worry, you'll walk more than enough to offset all of the eating!
