Travel · City guide

New York

The city that has everything, from Broadway and bagels to some of the world's greatest museums.

Reviewed October 2026. Times and rules change, so check before you travel.

When to go

April to June and September to November. December brings the lights and the cold.

Getting in from the airport

From JFK, the AirTrain links to the subway and the Long Island Rail Road. From Newark (EWR), the AirTrain connects to trains into Penn Station. From LaGuardia (LGA), the free Q70 bus connects to the subway.

Where to stay

Midtown

Times Square, theatres and the big observation decks.

Greenwich Village

Brownstones, jazz clubs and Washington Square.

Lower Manhattan

The 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street and the ferries.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Food, bars and views back over Manhattan.

What to book ahead

Spend an afternoon in Central Park, then visit The Met.
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge towards Manhattan.
Ride the free Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty.
Pick one observation deck (Top of the Rock, Edge, Summit or the Empire State) and book a timed slot.

Tickets & tours in New York ↗

Local tips

UK travellers need an approved ESTA before flying.
Tip 18–20% at restaurants; sales tax is added at the till.
Tap a contactless card on the subway (OMNY).

Staying connected

Get a United States eSIM before you fly and you'll have data the moment you land. How eSIMs work.

eSIM for New York ↗

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

More city guides

BCN

Barcelona

Spain

PAR

Paris

France

AMS

Amsterdam

The Netherlands

ROM

Rome

Italy