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I was born in Manhattan and call New York City home. But since I didn’t spend my school years in the city, I felt like I was learning how to be a New Yorker in the first few years that I came back to New York City.
It was sort of like being a first time visitor to the city. And as I lived life in NYC, I learned a few of these essential things to know before visiting NYC that I’m sharing with you so you can leave feeling like a New Yorker too.
Getting Around
1. Prepare to walk a lot.
New Yorkers walk everywhere. My health app says I walk an average of three miles a day, and I don’t consciously try to walk any more than I need to. From the subway to the office to the gym, home, grocery store and everywhere else I need to be, as a local, walking is the best way to get there. Same for exploring and going from destination to destination on your list of things to do while visiting New York City. Plus, you can see more when you walk.
On the same note, New Yorkers are fashionable but you won’t typically see people wearing crazy heels or impractical shoes. I swear by any shoe made by Sorel. I own a pair of their shoes for every season and walk all over the city with them without any discomfort. Each pair is stylish yet functional. My go to for winter is their riding boot that’s waterproof and keeps your feet warm and their sandals for summer even with three inch heels are great for walking.
2. Learn how to use the subway.
While walking is one of the best ways to get around, you should also take the subway for long distances and for getting to Manhattan from the airport. Just try not to travel on the subway during morning and evening rush hours when locals are commuting to and from work to their homes. Train cars can get very packed and it’s not a fun experience.
Speaking of experience, taking the NYC subway is truly an experience. Check out our ultimate NYC subway guide to learn how to use it, including pricing and other random tips you may need like the unwritten rule of not looking anyone in the eye, even though you might see the most bizarre things you can think of while riding the subway.
Read More: The Ultimate NYC Subway Guide for Tourists by a Local
Where to Stay
3. Carefully consider where to stay.
When I travel anywhere in the world, where I chose to stay usually holds a large weight on whether the trip was enjoyable. The location and neighborhood you chose to stay in is really important. If it’s your very first visit to NYC, I recommend staying somewhere close to iconic New York City landmarks, like Times Square at the historic and centrally located Knickerbocker Hotel.
You can also base where you’re going to stay on what you plan on doing. Are you planning on seeing several Broadway shows? Check out the Ameritania Hotel right by all the theaters and also walking distance to Central Park and Fifth Avenue shops. Prefer to stay somewhere quiet, near world famous museums and among a residential area? Check out The Mark on the Upper East Side. Want to spend a lot of time exploring the oldest part of NYC and the Financial District? Stay at Hotel W New York Downtown.
What to Pack
4. Pack appropriate clothes depending on the season.
New York City experiences all four seasons – fall, winter, spring and summer. If you’re coming in winter, a warm winter coat is essential, in addition to hats, scarves and jackets. And no matter what season you visit, make sure you have those comfortable walking shoes. Check out our New York City packing list for details on what to bring for each season.
Remember to always check the forecast before you pack. There might be an exception to our average temperatures. We’ve had random relatively warm days in the middle of winter. And also consider where you’re traveling from. If you’ve lived in Florida your whole life and aren’t used to brutal cold winters, you may need more layers than someone who’s lived in a cold destination their whole life.
Read More: What to Wear in New York City: NYC Packing List
5. New York City forecast: the weather app typically doesn’t lie.
I’m one of those people who checks the weather a lot. Typically when the forecast in New York City says it’s going to rain in the morning for example, it usually will, so plan accordingly. It’s unlike places like Edinburgh when the forecast says it’s going to rain but then it doesn’t. (And when it does say it’s going to rain at a certain time it doesn’t until a few hours later…) New York City for the most part won’t surprise you in that aspect, so check the forecast before deciding whether to bring an umbrella or what to wear before heading out.
NYC Travel Tips
6. New Yorkers aren’t rude.
New Yorkers are just really focused. When we have to get somewhere, we will walk fast and don’t have time to stop. If you do need help or need directions, ask someone who doesn’t look like they’re in a hurry and generally, the person will be nice and help you out. Also, try not to bother anyone who has headphones on.
Also please stand on the right if you’re not walking up or down an escalator. And also while walking on the sidewalk, please don’t stop in the middle. Stay to the right side of the street, don’t randomly stop in the middle and if you’re in a large group, try not to take up the entire sidewalk and you won’t get any angry looks from a passerby.
7. New York City is generally safe.
As with all cities, practice common sense. As a woman, I feel generally safe everywhere I go but even though I’m comfortable and familiar with the city, I still take precautions. If I don’t feel safe on one street, I’ll make sure to walk somewhere else. Also, you’ll notice almost everyone uses their phones while walking. I’m guilty of this too, but be careful when looking down on your phone and crossing the street.
What to Do
8. Don’t feel like you have to see everything.
When it comes to things to do, if this is your first visit to New York City, you likely have a long list. Don’t feel like you have to see everything. There’s so much to do that even I haven’t been able to see everything and I live here.
Feeling overwhelmed with the vast amount of things to do will only make your trip less enjoyable. Consider the number of days you have in the city and plan accordingly. Also don’t forget to factor in travel time. It’s a big city so if you want to get from point A to point B, add in the time it’ll take to travel when you’re considering how much you can do on that day.
9. You should do the ‘touristy’ things.
I tend to stress doing local things and not touristy things when I travel. But really, sometimes I just want to see the touristy things and there’s nothing wrong with that. Especially if it’s your first trip to New York City, you should do all the touristy things. Go to the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Times Square.
Locals (myself included) will say they never go to Times Square (trust me, you wouldn’t want to if you lived here), but if you’re a visitor, go! There’s nowhere quite like Times Square. You’ll see people from all over the world and may even hear a different language spoken everywhere you turn.
Read More: The Essential New York City Bucket List for First Timers (Plus a Printable Checklist!)
10. New York City is more than just Manhattan.
If you have more time to spare and have done all the touristy things, venture out to other boroughs. New York City is made up of five boroughs. Typically when someone thinks about New York City, they think Manhattan. This is where most of the iconic sites are. But there’s also tons to see and do in the other four boroughs, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.
In Brooklyn, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and spend time in DUMBO or go cafe hopping in Williamsburg. And in Queens, there’s a diverse range of restaurants (it’s the most diverse borough in NYC) and even breweries. Meanwhile, the Bronx has several historic homes and even a park dedicated to American author Edgar Allan Poe. And Staten Island is home to NYC’s oldest continuously working family style farm. Visiting other boroughs also allows you the opportunity to see Manhattan from a perspective other than a viewpoint like the Top of the Rock. You can see Midtown Manhattan from Long Island City or a view of Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Heights.
Read More: 45 Unusual Things to Do in NYC
11. New York City is expensive.
While the city may be expensive, there are so many things you can do for free in NYC. Museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET) and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) are $25 per person for admission, and those admission fees can add up. But if you take time to plan, you can take advantage of free museums and certain hours when museums offer free or pay as you wish admission.
You can also save money by purchasing a New York City tourist pass. There are several out there (I’ve outlined each to help you decide which is best for you) and for first time visitors, I recommend getting the CityPASS since it includes the essentials – the Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Top of the Rock (or Guggenheim Museum), Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (or Sightseeing Cruise) and 9/11 Memorial & Museum (or Intrepid Museum.)
Read More: 100 Free Things to Do in NYC
12. Buy tickets and reserve activities in advance.
The CityPASS not only saves you money, but also time. If you get any of the tourist passes, you won’t need to wait in line since you’ll already have the ticket. Even if you don’t get a tourist pass, you can still book tickets online in advance like for the Empire State Building or museum admissions.
Along the same lines, avoid disappointment by reserving a table at popular restaurants that you really want to dine at in advance. And also on another note, you’ll notice restaurants have either an A, B or C displayed usually outside on their windows or near the entrance. These are letters received from sanitation inspections, A being the highest rating.
Read More: Which New York City Tourist Pass Should You Get? Is it Worth It and Comparisons…
13. Clean public restrooms exist, if you know where to find them.
After hours of exploring, you may find yourself needing to use a restroom. Not all stores and cafes have restrooms available to the public. You will be able to find one at a Starbucks, but just don’t expect it to be too clean… but clean public restrooms do exist around the city. If you’re by a museum, a lot of them will have one in the entrance areas that you can use without needing to pay for admission. Public libraries are dotted around the city and you can find restrooms there (might not be very clean, depends on the library) along with large markets like Eataly and department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue. Also, make sure to go when there’s one available at a restaurant you’re at or your hotel.
What to Eat
14. Tipping is standard and expected.
It’s standard and expected to tip at least 20% at a restaurant. Some restaurants will have the percentage and total amount already listed for you at the bottom of the receipt and will even suggest up to 22% nowadays. Tipping also goes for drivers – whether it’s on a ride sharing app or a yellow taxi. Also, it’s nice to tip the hotel bellhops and attendants who help you with your bags at your hotel, around $1-2 a bag. Also along the lines of additional fees, don’t be surprised when there’s sales tax added to your receipt of 8.875% for items that you purchase in New York City. (Though if you purchase clothing or footwear under $110, it’s exempt from sales tax in New York City.)
15. Avoid chain restaurants.
I think you could live in New York City and eat out for every meal during your entire lifetime and not be able to eat at every single restaurant and cafe in the city. There’s endless amounts of restaurants offering various cuisines from all over the world. Whatever you feel like eating, you’ll likely find it in NYC. So if you’re visiting, skip McDonald’s and go to a restaurant unique to NYC.
There is an exception to this though. If you’re traveling from overseas and New York City is the only destination you are visiting in the USA, it may be your only chance to try an American chain restaurant like Olive Garden or Red Lobster.
But if you’re traveling from another city in the US and have access to an Olive Garden or Red Lobster, skip it and try other restaurants. Even department stores in NYC have great restaurants!
Read More: 7 Best Department Store Restaurants in NYC
