New York is one of the most iconic cities and it’s packed full of things to see and do. However, with more than 300 square miles worth of city, it can soon become overwhelming if you’re not prepared.
Therefore, before you arrive, take some time to read over the following tips for getting the most out of a trip to New York City.
Plan Well in Advance
Spontaneous trips can be fun, but it doesn’t really work in New York. Everything in New York is far too expensive to be leaving it to the last minute, and that includes accommodation. The best way to get the most out of your trip is to plan your schedule your itinerary in advance but allow for making spontaneous visits to attractions you may have missed.
You should also plan your travel arrangements. Fortunately, New York is a well-connected city and can be reached from almost anywhere. For example, if you’re traveling from Washington, you can get a bus from DC to NYC. You can easily book a bus DC to NYC online where you will find cheap tickets.
Use Public Transport
New York has an incredible public transport infrastructure, but it’s highly recommended to avoid it during rush hour; fill this time with a well-planned attraction or take a walk through Central Park instead. As well as avoiding rush hour, you should steer clear of empty subway carriages because there must be a reason nobody is in there.
Circling back to traveling into New York, you should avoid arriving in the city at rush hour because you’ll have an awful time trying to reach your accommodation – traffic moves extremely slow in New York.
Visit Restaurant Bathrooms
New York is renowned for its lack of public toilets, which can be problematic. Therefore, to avoid being caught in an awkward situation, always use the toilet whenever you’re in a cafe or restaurant. Even if you don’t need to go, you never know when the next opportunity will be.
Experience All of the Food
There’s a reason New York is associated with so much incredible food like bagels and pizza, and that’s because they do it extremely well. Although, some would argue that there’s something in the water that makes NYC food taste great. Therefore, during your visit, make sure you make the most of the countless street vendors serving up everything from pizza and hot dogs to cheesecakes or even eggs benedict.
Avoid Chain Restaurants
You can find chain restaurants anywhere in America, so steer clear of them and take in all of the unique flavours New York has to offer. No matter where you’re staying in New York, there’ll be a brilliant restaurant nearby. For example, Ugly Baby on Smith Street serves up an incredible menu of Thai food that will push your heat tolerance to the limits.
Tip at Restaurants
Tipping is considered a mandatory social convention in America, and New York is no different. Typically, if you’re visiting a restaurant with table service, be ready to part with an additional 15-25%. When sitting in at a cafe, leave between $1 to $5 depending on the experience you’ve had. Although tipping isn’t a legal requirement, you can be expected to have wait staff chase you out of the restaurant to find out why you didn’t tip.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge stretches over the East River to connect Brooklyn and Manhattan, and it’s one of the most incredible tourist spots in the city. While you walk across the bridge, which is completely free, you can take in the stunning views. However, make sure you prepare for the drop in temperature by taking a jacket with you – even in the summer.
Walk Fast Everywhere
New York is a fast-paced city, so you better be ready to pick up the pace when you’re walking. Granted, this may be your first time in New York and the sights are awe-inspiring, but make sure you take them all in from the sidelines. If you walk slowly in New York, you’ll most likely annoy the locals, which is something you don’t want to do.
Visit Museums
New York is home to some of the greatest museums on the planet, and that’s no understatement. For example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art displays an enormous range of works including practically every single European Old Master. Not only are the museums interesting, but many of them are free, which can help you save your money for seeing alternative attractions.
Benefit from Happy Hours
If you’re in New York and want to go out drinking, then you better have deep pockets. That is unless you’re hitting the bars during happy hour, when you’ll find glasses of beer or wine for less than $10. To explore the best happy hour venues in NYC, check out this article. Alternatively, pop onto Google Maps and read the reviews – New Yorkers tend to be honest with their opinions.
Less Is More In New York
New York is so big that you won’t get everything done in one visit, so don’t even try. To avoid spoiling your experience, don’t put too much into your schedule. It’s best to enjoy a handful of experiences properly than rush through countless attractions and have a miserable time. Remember, New York isn’t going anywhere, and you can always come back.
Dress Comfortably
There’s a lot of walking to be done in New York, so make sure you’re dressed comfortably. In particular, we recommend leaving the high heels at home because you’ll only end up swapping them for something more suitable.
New York is a completely different world, and it can be intimidating if you’re not prepared, but you’re covered now after reading the tips above. Before you go, make sure you plan your trip and learn how to act like a local, which means walking at a fast pace, leaving tips, and getting stuck in with the delicious foods.
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