New York City Travel Tips

New Yorkers Are Friendlier Than You'd Imagine

New Yorkers have a notorious reputation for being rude, short-tempered, easily aggravated and just plain ol' mean. However, as a New Yorker myself, I disagree! Collin Quinn said in his Netflix Comedy Special, “What’s rude to the rest of the country is polite to us, and vice versa.” New Yorkers have their own sense of what’s polite and rude. They walk and talk fast, and usually don’t have the time or energy for small talk. However, New Yorkers are surprisingly helpful when they see someone in need. Be it a lost tourist who needs directions, giving pocket-change to the homeless or just lending a hand to someone who is obviously having a rough day. New Yorkers don’t like to be stared at, especially while riding the subway, but they are open to conversations and will go out of their way to help folks with advice, directions or local tips. This city is full of characters, people who are completely unique and free to be their most authentic selves. They come alive when they feel relaxed, and in social settings, like bars. My number one travel tip while visiting New York City is to not be afraid to strike up a conversation with a New Yorker. You’ll laugh and learn in ways you could never have expected before.

The Five Boroughs

Understanding what the Five Boroughs are and how they are connected to one another is a must in NYC. The Five Boroughs include: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island. New Jersey is not included. Nor is Harlem - instead, it’s a neighborhood in Northern Manhattan. The city is also comprised of a series of islands. Manhattan is an island all to itself, and is connected to the other boroughs via bridges and tunnels (except for Staten Island, which we will get to in a bit).

As mentioned above, the Bronx is located directly north of Manhattan. Most people commuting between these two boroughs usually take the subway. The Green (4 5 6 trains) and Red (1 2 3 trains) lines are the most popular trains to take between the Bronx and Manhattan, but the Orange and Blue lines also exist. Jennifer Lopez’s debut album On the 6 was to represent her daily commute from the Bronx to Manhattan. The Bronx is not an island, and is directly connected to Westchester County in New York State.

Queens and Brooklyn are part of the same island, which is also shared with Long Island. Long Island is not part of New York City, but the Island as a whole is connected to Queens and Brooklyn. Despite the fact that Brooklyn and Queens are the same piece of land, commuting between these two Boroughs can be tricky. The G-Train is the only subway line that can be taken directly between Queens and Brooklyn. Other train lines between Queens and Brooklyn travel through Manhattan first.

There’s a lot to experience in both Brooklyn and Queens, such as street festivals, cultural events, endless options of ethnic food and restaurants, shopping, parks, beaches, sports arenas, concert venues and museums. These Boroughs are definitely worth visiting and experiencing. Ask your Fora Travel Advisor to help you with itinerary ideas at these locations.

Staten Island is its own island, located directly south of Manhattan, and south-west of Brooklyn. It's a mostly residential borough with a more suburban neighborhood style of houses and shops. The majority of New York City’s police officers are known to live on Staten Island, and it has some enjoyable beaches to visit in the summertime. The Staten Island Ferry departs from lower Manhattan and has regular-running ferries throughout the day for commuters. The ferry is a 25-minute ride, and free! That’s right, you can ride the Staten Island Ferry and get a great view of Lady Liberty and the Skyline all for free. The ferry schedule is dependent on weather conditions, holidays and more. Be sure to check in advance to find the right time in taking advantage of this great insider travel tip.

Note: I don’t advise taking the Staten Island Ferry during rush hour or extreme weather conditions, especially if you want to treat it as a sightseeing experience.

The Grid

Manhattan, and even parts of the outer boroughs are designed in a grid-like fashion. Meaning, the streets run in vertical and horizontal lines, creating square city blocks, and dividing the lines of north, south, east and west. New York City can be intimidating to first-time visitors, or even folks who have visited the city more than once. Understanding the basic layout of how the streets are designed will help you to get over some of that initial intimidation.

In Manhattan, the higher and larger the number of a street is, the further north it is. For instance, 42nd Street is further north than 35th Street. When it comes to avenues, the higher the avenue number, the further west it is. Meaning, 6th Avenue is further west than 2nd Avenue.

The Bronx is situated directly north of Manhattan. The grid in the Bronx operates similarly to the grid in Manhattan, with the higher numbers running further north than the lower numbers. However, many of the street and avenue names in the Bronx are not numbers, but names or words. The grid doesn’t exist entirely throughout the Bronx, and the streets can be a bit more circular in certain neighborhoods.

In Brooklyn, however, the streets run opposite to Manhattan’s streets. So the higher the number of a street in Brooklyn, the further south you are. That means that 86th Street in Brooklyn is further south than 71st Street. The avenues are opposite to Manhattan as well, meaning that 4th Avenue in Brooklyn is further west than 6th Avenue.

Queens is a bit of a free-for all. The grid in Queens exists in certain neighborhoods like Astoria and Jackson Heights, but once you get deep into Queens, like Flushing, then the streets are more roundabout and it can get hectic even for New Yorkers. Once you have a basic understanding of the grid, and how the streets run, you will already feel more confident power-walking down those sidewalks.

Transportation

Now that we’ve discussed the layout and geography of New York City, let’s talk about how to navigate around these five boroughs. Most New Yorkers take public transportation and walk. While most tourists take taxis and complain about the expensive pricing. I suggest buying a MetroCard and hopping on the Subway! It’s often times quicker than taking a taxi due to the never-ending traffic (especially during rush hour), and you get to experience city-transport like a local. I especially don’t recommend taking taxis during heavy rain, snow or when the roads are icy.

Walking is something you need to be prepared to do while in New York City, especially up and down stairs. Many subway stations are not wheelchair accessible, and if you have babies or toddlers in strollers, be prepared to lug them up and down the subway stairs. Cabs are not equipped with car seats either, so keep that in mind. When walking in New York City, be sure you’re going in the right direction to avoid extra walking from having to backtrack. Once you understand how the grid works and spend some time studying the subway map, you should be well-prepared to navigate this Urban Jungle. Again, New Yorkers are usually friendly to tourists in need of directions or advice, so don’t be shy to ask for help.

Need to Know

The Weather

Whenever I travel, I always check the weather and weather patterns of the season or destination I plan to visit. With the rise of climate change, it can be hard to be fully prepared for the weather, but having a general idea of what the weather will be like during your visit to New York City can make or break your trip (like any travel destination). Especially because you will be spending so much time outside by default, in terms of walking and navigating the streets. New York City experiences extreme heat and humidity in the summer, followed by brutal sub-zero temperatures accompanied by snow, wind, hail and icy sidewalks in the winter. Rain can happen at any point during the twelve months, as every season is a potentially rainy one in New York City. Making sure that you have the right clothing and footwear is vital. Having an umbrella on you at all times, even in the summer months is advised. Having extra clothing items on you (a scarf, sweater, jacket, etc.) is also advised, especially if you will be spending most of your time or day away from your hotel.

Seasonal Activities

With the weather, comes seasonal activities. If you are traveling to New York City during late November to early January, check out the myriad of holiday markets, especially in Union Square and Grand Central Station. If visiting the city during the summer months, trek out to South Brooklyn to visit the original Luna Park at Coney Island. There are cultural street festivals dispersed throughout the year. For instance, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, which always happens on the second Sunday in June. The Greek Independence Day Parade, which happens on a Sunday in late March. Restaurant Week happens twice a year in New York City, typically once in the winter and once in the summer. High-end and expensive restaurants offer a fixed-price menu of two to three courses for a very good rate. Taking advantage of cultural and seasonal events during your trip to New York City can really amp up your experience. Consult your Fora Travel Advisor for their insider travel tips when visiting New York City.

Shopping

New York City draws tourists and travelers alike from all corners of the world, for all sorts of reasons. However, most people can agree that shopping is an enticing allure for many visiting the Big Apple. Going to outlet stores like Century 21 or Filene’s Basement can offer designer labels at very handsome prices. If you’re into vintage clothes or don’t mind sifting through thrift stores, New York is full of them. Sometimes you can find barely-worn designer clothes at places like The Salvation Army, the American Red Cross or other second-hand shops. These shops can be found throughout all five boroughs, and a quick Google search or chat with your Fora Travel Advisor can help direct you to your shops of choice. In the United States, department stores often offer sales during National Holidays like Memorial Day or Labor Day. If you’re in New York City during one of said holidays, then you can be sure to find discounts and sales at your favorite name-brand stores.

Pedestrian Paradise

It’s no secret to anyone that New York City is a predominantly pedestrian city. Pedestrians have the right of way no matter what - it’s just the social law of the land. New Yorkers can come off as rude to tourists when barreling down the street at cheetah-like speeds, but every tourist should understand that they are a guest in this city and need to adapt to the ways of the Concrete Jungle. A major New York City travel tip I have is to get out of the way of New Yorkers. If you want to stop and awe at the skyscrapers and billboards, take in the sights, sounds and sensations of the city, don’t do it in the middle of the sidewalk; step to the side and out of the way of the locals. If speed walking isn’t your thing, be sure to walk at your own pace while not obstructing the path of those who are rushing to get to work or the train, etc. New Yorkers are busy, and more often than not, in a rush, so it's best to keep that on your radar.

Shoe Repairs and Shining

Since New Yorkers use their feet as vehicles, shoe repair shops and shoe-shining stations are still massively prevalent throughout the Five Boroughs, but especially in Manhattan. If you have any shoes that are broken, spoiled or in need of repair, bring them with you on your next trip to New York City. This is a unique New York City travel tip that you probably won’t hear anywhere else. New Yorkers wear through their leather shoes pretty quickly. Heels are prone to getting broken on sidewalk grates, and holes or cracks can appear in any pair of shoes. Shoe repair shops are there to save the day. Most shops require three to four days minimum for repairs. I would seek out a shoe repair shop at the start of your trip, depending on the length of your stay, to make sure your shoes are all patched up before your departure. Shoe shine stations are also quite antiquated in most parts of the U.S. but not in New York City. Grand Central Station is the most famous shoe-shining spot of them all. Business professionals waiting for their trains in between their commutes can be spotted sitting in throne-like chairs while reading the New York Times.

Nature Exists in this Metropolis

New York City is not solely composed of concrete, brick and steel. Parks and beaches exist here, too. The city's most famous park is, of course, Central Park, which should be experienced by everyone visiting. I also suggest visiting Astoria Park in Astoria, Queens. It’s about a twenty-minute Subway ride from Midtown Manhattan, and comes alive during the summertime. Free outdoor movies, jazz and comedy nights are weekly events during the summer months here. Prospect Park in Brooklyn is massive as well. If you get deep enough into this Park, you will feel like you are in a wooded wonderland, instead of one of the world’s most thriving Metropolises. The summertime also brings forth a number of events, including open-air markets, music festivals and more. Fort Greene Park is another favorite park located in Brooklyn, with a great cultural vibe of African art exhibits and Hip-Hop, Soul, Jazz and Reggae concerts in the summertime.

Manhattan can become a sweatbox in the summer months, and everyone could use some relief from it. Visiting some of New York City’s beaches like Coney Island in South Brooklyn, The Rockaways in South Queens or Orchard Beach in the Bronx can offer some relief from the summer heat. The beaches are not home to the world’s cleanest of waters, but New York City offers beach experiences you’ll never forget. It’s mostly locals who patron these beaches, so you’ll be able to escape the tourist traps and soak up a local side of New York City while soaking up the sun. Most of these beaches can be reached by public transportation.

NYC Breakfast and Lunch Options

I know that the breakfast buffet or free breakfast included in your hotel accommodation can be a tempting option. But, another New York City travel tip I have is to start your day like a local by going to any bagel shop, and indulging in the delicacies. Any flavor of bagel and fillings imaginable exist in most of New York City’s bagel shops. I lived in the Greek neighborhood of Astoria for several years, and went to a Greek-owned bagel shop most mornings before jumping on the train. My go-to breakfast was an onion bagel stuffed with green-olive cream cheese. A bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwich is another popular breakfast option for most New Yorkers and can be found at any bodega (mini-market or deli).

Most restaurants offer a reduced-priced menu or even special deals for lunchtime. Asian restaurants (Japanese, sushi, Thai and Chinese cuisines) are especially known to offer great lunch pricing options. These lunch specials are not hard to find. Ask the receptionist at your hotel what they recommend; a New Yorker on the subway where they prefer to go for lunch or consult your Fora Travel Advisor to recommend some of the yummiest lunch spots that won’t break the bank.

Expect Language Barriers

English is the official language in the United States, but this is not always the case in New York City. Many people who live in New York City come from other countries. They find comrades from their homeland to create their own neighborhoods and businesses, and English is simply not needed for them to thrive. Expect to meet folks who only speak Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese and any other language during your trip out. Knowing a bit of Spanish, especially, can get you a long way in this town. Also bear in mind that language is not the only form of communication, and a lot can be communicated with non-verbal forms of language. Smiles go a long way, and most people who don’t speak English are equipped to work around any interaction through other forms of communication. Be patient, and understand that learning a new language is difficult and time-consuming for most. There’s usually someone nearby who is bilingual and can translate if need be

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to New York City. In need of further inspiration? Check out Gianna Quattrini’s trip report, Best Ski Resorts in New York.