New York City: The Best Tips for Your Trip

Planning a trip to New York, the largest city in the USA, and not quite sure what to expect? No worries! With the following tips, you’ll be well-prepared.
But here’s something you should know right from the start: Don’t be frustrated if you don’t have time to see all the sights in New York during a single visit – it’s simply impossible.

1. THE BEST TIME TO VISIT NEW YORK CITY

You can visit New York City year-round – the best time to go depends entirely on your personal preferences.
The city’s climate is moderate, meaning you’ll experience all four seasons, though with noticeable temperature extremes. The transitional seasons, spring and fall, tend to be brief.
Summers can get extremely hot and humid, while winters are often bitterly cold and windy.

We recommend visiting in spring or fall; April, May, September, and October typically offer the most ideal weather.
Fall, especially, brings the beautiful “Indian Summer”, with mild temperatures and colorful foliage.

In spring and fall, average temperatures hover around a pleasant 20°C, while in summer they can reach up to 27°C and winter drops to around 3°C.
If you’re traveling around the holiday season or New Year’s, keep in mind that the weather isn’t ideal for sightseeing.
Manhattan also tends to be very crowded during this time, and accommodation prices are at their highest.

On our visit in early May, we enjoyed plenty of sunny, pleasant days, though evenings and nights were still quite cool.

2. THE IDEAL LENGTH OF STAY FOR NEW YORK CITY

Like the best time to visit, the ideal length of stay depends on your personal interests. We recommend setting aside at least 5 to 7 full days – or more, if possible.
That way, you’ll have enough time to explore the city’s most famous sights and really take in the vast, impressive city at your own pace.

Of course, you can also visit New York in fewer days. However, you may feel rushed as you move from one attraction to the next, possibly missing out on the authentic experience of this fascinating city – which would be a real shame!

If you’re interested in what sights we explored during our NYC trip, check out our article New York City: 15 Sights You Must See.

3. THE TIME DIFFERENCE

The time difference between Central European Time (CET) and Eastern Standard Time (EST) (the time zone for New York) is 6 hours.
This means that when it’s 12 pm (noon) in Central Europe, it’s only 6 am in New York.
Keep in mind that during Daylight Saving Time, the difference shortens to 5 hours, as both regions adjust their clocks in spring and fall.
For example, during the summer, if it’s 12 pm in Central Europe, it’s 7 am in New York.

GOOD TO KNOW

For your trip to the USA, you’ll need a power adapter, as plug types A and B are used. These are different from the plug types commonly used in many countries around the world.
You can find a suitable adapter here: Travel Adapter USA.

4. ENTRY & ARRIVAL

Arriving by Plane

If you’re flying to New York City, you’ll have several international airports to choose from. Flight times vary depending on your departure location, typically taking about 9 to 10 hours from Europe, and less from nearby parts of North America. Websites like skyscanner.com or other flight comparison platforms can help you find the perfect flight for your trip.

To enter the USA, you’ll need a valid passport. Citizens from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program must also apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) for tourist stays. The application costs $21 and should be completed online at least 72 hours before departure.
The ESTA is valid for two years and allows multiple entries of up to 90 days each.

For longer stays or additional requirements, check with your local government’s travel advisory or the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.

Arriving by Car

If you’re visiting New York as part of a U.S. Road trip, arriving by car is no problem. However, finding parking in the city can be quite challenging.
Our tip: When booking accommodations, check if parking is available and whether it’s included in the price.

You don’t need a car to get around New York City, so it’s a good idea to budget for parking fees if you’ll be in the city for several days.
If your road trip starts in New York, it may be wise to pick up your rental car right before you leave the city to avoid costly parking fees.

That said, it’s still a good idea to book your rental car in advance online. Websites like rentalcars.com make it quick and easy to find the right vehicle.

5. GETTING AROUND NEW YORK CITY

It takes over an hour to walk from the Empire State Building to Wall Street. This example serves to give you a sense of just how vast Manhattan really is – much more so than you might initially think. So, during your stay, you’ll most likely rely on public transportation, especially the subway.

Taking the Subway in New York

New York’s subway, also called the MTA, operates 24/7, seven days a week. With over 1,355 kilometers (842 miles) of track, it’s one of the largest subway systems in the world.
To help you navigate the complex ticketing system, here’s a quick guide:

• Single Ride Ticket: Without a MetroCard, each ride costs $3, and you need to purchase a ticket from a machine before each ride.
• Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard: Each ride costs $2.75 with this option.
• 7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard: For $34, you can ride as much as you want – highly recommended for a longer stay.

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Tip: The MetroCard is a reloadable card that costs $1, available at all metro station machines.
When purchasing, you’ll be asked for a ZIP code. Enter 99999 to let the system know you’re not a U.S. resident.
You can reuse the MetroCard on future NYC trips, too.
We think the MetroCard is a great deal – it pays for itself after just 12 single rides.

• Be mindful of which subway train you board, as trains are divided into Express and Local services! Express trains only stop at major stations, while Local trains stop at every designated station along the route, which makes the trip longer. Express trains are marked with a diamond symbol, while Local trains display letters or numbers in a black circle. ‍
• Pay attention to the entrance of the subway station to ensure you're heading in the right direction! A sign marked "Uptown" indicates that all subways at this entrance travel north, while a sign marked "Downtown" means the trains are heading south. If the entrances aren’t directly next to each other, you'll usually find the opposite entrance on the other side of the street.
• You can find an offline subway map at mta.info. We often used Google Maps for route planning; it reliably showed us the easiest and likely fastest subway connection.
• Subway trains run every 2 to 5 minutes during peak times, every 10 to 15 minutes during non-peak times, and every 20 minutes or so at night.

Taxi, Uber, Bolt & Lyft in NY

The iconic yellow taxis, or "Yellow Cabs", are part of New York's character. Hailing one is easy: if the “vacant” light is on, the taxi is free, and you can signal it with a hand wave.
Once seated, give the driver your general destination, then specify the exact address just before arrival.

Credit card payment is standard and convenient – and don’t forget to tip around 15%! During rush hours, finding a free taxi may take a little longer since most are already taken.

In addition to the classic Yellow Cabs, cheaper options like Uber, Bolt, and Lyft are popular as well. These rides require the corresponding app to book.
For routes where the subway wasn’t convenient, we often chose Uber.

6. HOTELS & ACCOMMODATIONS

New York City has a vast range of hotels and other accommodations.
However, if you’re looking for a certain level of comfort, it’s best to budget a bit more, as New York has some of the most expensive accommodation rates in the U.S.
You’re sure to find a suitable place for your stay on well-known booking platforms like booking.com or Airbnb.

We were very pleased with our accommodation – a spacious apartment in Brooklyn that we booked through booking.com. The location, amenities, and value for money were excellent.

Before you spend too long searching for a place to stay, here’s an important tip: in a city like New York, you’ll probably spend very little time at your accommodation since you’ll be out exploring most of the day. We initially thought a lot about what we wanted in our accommodation, but we later realized that most of the features we considered important weren’t necessary, as we were out in the city from early morning until late at night.

7. BEFORE YOU GO: TIPS TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY

Are you a spontaneous traveler who likes to go with the flow? In a city like New York, that’s possible – but it can also be costly.
So, we recommend planning a few things in advance, even if you prefer to keep things flexible, to save time and money during your trip.

1. Buy Tickets in Advance
   For many NYC attractions and museums, tickets are cheaper when purchased online through the official website in advance. This can also help you skip the often long queues at ticket booths.
2. Use Sightseeing Passes
   If it’s your first time visiting the city, a sightseeing pass may be a good idea. These passes work like a discount booklet: you pay a one-time fee that initially seems high, but it covers entry costs for many included attractions. Research the attractions you want to visit and choose the right pass – there are many options.
   When you add up the official admission prices, you’ll quickly see that the sightseeing pass price is much lower in total.
3. Create a Rough Sightseeing Plan
   In a sprawling metropolis like New York City, getting from one place to another can take time. To use your valuable time efficiently and avoid unnecessary detours, plan your sightseeing by neighborhood or region. Get an overview of where the sights are located and plan your days accordingly. Once there, you’ll still have the flexibility to adjust.
   You’ll see that besides the attractions you’ve chosen, there are many more fascinating things to discover.
   So, it’s wise not to schedule your days too tightly, leaving room for spontaneous adventures.

8. TRAVEL INSURANCE

Health Insurance

Medical expenses in the USA aren’t covered by most national health insurance plans. So, private travel health insurance is a must-have.
Some credit cards include private travel health insurance, so check if yours does.
If not, consider using Check24 or other comparison sites to find the best travel health insurance for you.
Travel insurance is typically inexpensive per year and worth every penny in an emergency.

Tip: Be sure your insurance includes full coverage with no cap on limits and that it covers repatriation in the event of a serious illness.
Also, save all receipts for medical treatments and any medications you pay for upfront, so you can file a claim with your insurance company.

Luggage Insurance

Unfortunately, luggage or individual valuables can sometimes go missing during travel.
Since we had costly items like cameras and drones, we purchased additional luggage insurance for the trip.
This insurance also usually costs a small fee per trip or year and is invaluable in case of loss. Find the best luggage insurance for you on check24.de.

Tip: For high-value items, it’s crucial to get full coverage with no limits!

Have you been to NYC before? We’d love for you to share your highlights, experiences, and tips in the comments!

Planning a road trip through the USA? Then check out our other posts below for inspiration:

• Washington D.C.: 12 Must-See Sights in the U.S. Capital
• Washington D.C.: The Best Tips for Your Trip
• New York City: 15 Sights You Must See
• Chicago: 13 Highlights & Tips for the Windy City

Enjoy browsing and planning!

USEFUL LINKS & RECOMMENDED TRAVEL GUIDES FOR YOU

• The Right Travel Adapter for the USA
• Find affordable rental cars at rentalcars.com
• Find affordable flights at skyscanner.com
• Discover the best accommodations
• The Bus & Subway Line Network
• The Best Travel Guides for New York
• Unique Excursions to Experience in USA

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Note: This blog post contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or purchase something through these links, we earn a small commission. There is absolutely no change to the price for you.