City Facts - New York City - Ze Wandering Frogs

When to go:

There is no real good or bad time to go to New York – just a different experience. Of course, some months are more comfortable than others. Winter can be particularly cold and snowy, making visiting rather tricky. The Indian Summer months of September to November can be uneasily warm and humid, but colors around the city are gorgeous, with fall colors in Central Park and around. Spring and Summer would be a good times to visit, though these would also be the busiest.

Local Transportation:

MTA Subway is the way to go. With 468 stations and 24 subway lines, you can always find a line close to you. We did not take a taxi once and never walked more than 15 minutes to find a station. Sticking to the subway allowed us to walk around Manhattan, head to Brooklyn, and even reach Coney Island. Operating 24 hours a day, the subway is ideal for late nights, though check ahead of time as not all station entrances are open at all times. Metrocard is a very convenient way to pay – you can recharge as you go and use it for transportation from and to JFK airport.

Safety:

For such a big city and populated boroughs – Manhattan has, after all, the third-largest population of New York City with over 1.6 million – walking around at all hours was pretty safe. Taking the subway in the late evenings and walking around in the early mornings, we did not feel in any danger once. Of course, we were careful and did not wander in sketchy areas, but nonetheless, we did not encounter any scary situations, did not see any scams or robberies, and were not accosted by any homeless. We did some poorer areas, less fancy and which could have appreciated some fresh coats of paint, but nothing that impacted a trouble-free city sightseeing.

Food & Water:

Water is safe to drink, even if not sometimes not best tasting. Of course, coffee corners and tea shops can be great alternative options. Food choice in New York is endless, from food trucks, Italian pasta, and pizza, Chinese dumplings, and Michelin-star-rated restaurants. More here on Manhattan for Foodies.

Currency & Methods of Payment:

Good old US Dollars, of course! Cash, credit, or debit cards are accepted everywhere.

New York City Lodging

Hotels in New York City are notoriously expensive and even more in a holiday season like Christmas. It was hard to find a room for less than hundreds of dollars. We made a reservation through Airbnb and landed a room in a small apartment on Lower East Side. The area is very safe and packed with several restaurants and coffee houses. For budget accommodation, check these Best Hostels in NYC. But if you are looking for something unique in NYC, there are plenty of upscale hotels! Even NYC hotels with heated indoor pools! How cool is that! Especially if you are traveling to New York in winter, soaking up in a heated pool after a long day strolling through the busy city streets – can’t get any better than that!

New York City Travel Tips

Walk everywhere, and explore narrow streets and neighborhoods.
Visit the same places – twice. Once during the day, to get a feel of the city. Then again at night, to enjoy the skyline.
Touristy attractions are, well, touristy, but for good reasons – unique, grandiose, historical, and as such, must-see.

Have you been to New York City? What was your preferred thing to do in NYC? Share with us your adventures!

If you are looking for more NYC trip ideas, check these posts NYC by Night, and Holiday Season in New York City

For more US travel ideas, check out our posts about Alaska, California, Hawaii, Montana, and Florida.

Stay tuned for more adventures
from our travel around the world!

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