New York City
United States of America
- Statue of Liberty
- Central Park
- Empire State Building
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Brooklyn Bridge
About New York City
New York City, where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic, is the most populous city in the United States. It began in the 17th century as the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam and, across its five boroughs, is now a centre of finance, culture and media.
The Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the skyscrapers of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge are its best-known landmarks.
How many days do you need?
Allow at least four days on a first visit: one for Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty ferry and a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge; one for Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art; one for Midtown, Times Square and an observation deck; and a fourth for Brooklyn or the High Line and Chelsea.
Where to stay
- Midtown Manhattan — Close to the main sights and many subway lines; busy and crowded.
- Lower Manhattan — Near the ferries and the Brooklyn Bridge; quieter in the evening.
- Brooklyn (Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn) — Restaurants and parks, a short subway ride from Manhattan.
From the airport to the city
The city has three major airports. From JFK (Queens), AirTrain JFK runs to Jamaica (LIRR and subway) or Howard Beach (A train). From LaGuardia (LGA), the free Q70 LaGuardia Link bus connects to the subway. From Newark (EWR) in New Jersey, AirTrain Newark links to the rail station, where NJ Transit or Amtrak trains run to Penn Station in Manhattan.
Getting around
The subway runs 24 hours; on subways and buses you pay by tapping a contactless bank card or phone on OMNY readers. Manhattan's street grid makes walking easy.
Good to know
- Only authorised Statue City Cruises ferries go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island; the pedestal and crown require advance reservations.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art is closed on Wednesdays.
- Tipping is customary in restaurants and taxis. Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries need an ESTA. The currency is the US dollar.
Useful links
- NYC Tourism + Conventions nyctourism.com
- MTA (subway and buses) new.mta.info
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (airports) panynj.gov
When to go?
Best time to visit for the weather: May–October. The warmest month is July (average high 80 °F); the wettest is December (5.6 in).
Monthly climate
| Month | Avg. high °F | Rain in | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39.2 | 4.47 | Cool or rainy |
| February | 39.6 | 3.92 | Cool or rainy |
| March | 45.0 | 4.74 | Cool or rainy |
| April | 54.0 | 4.55 | Cool or rainy |
| May | 63.0 | 3.99 | Good |
| June | 72.5 | 4.04 | Good |
| July | 79.5 | 5.08 | Good |
| August | 79.2 | 4.54 | Good |
| September | 73.9 | 4.01 | Good |
| October | 64.2 | 5.05 | Good |
| November | 53.4 | 3.91 | Cool or rainy |
| December | 44.6 | 5.61 | Cool or rainy |
Source: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), 2005–2024 monthly averages of daily high temperature and total rainfall. Values are estimates for an area of about 50 km and may differ from the city-centre weather station.
Public holidays 2027
- New Year's DayJanuary 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. DayJanuary 18
- Washington's BirthdayFebruary 15
- Memorial DayMay 31
- JuneteenthJune 19
- Independence DayJuly 4
- Labour DaySeptember 6
- Columbus DayOctober 11
- Veterans DayNovember 11
- Thanksgiving DayNovember 25
- Christmas DayDecember 25
Sources: date-holidays and python-holidays open data projects; for Northern Cyprus, its public holidays law.
Practical info
- CurrencyUS Dollar ($)
- Dialling code+1
- Plugs & voltageType A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz
- Emergency911
- DrivingOn the right
Sources: IEC plug types, Wikidata, Wikipedia; unverified details are left blank.