Visitor guide to New York
Getting around, where to stay, staying safe, and what things cost.
Getting around
Live MTA status →Subway. The fastest and cheapest way across boroughs, running 24/7 across 472 stations. A ride is $3.00, tap-to-pay only — the MetroCard was retired in early 2026, everything runs on OMNY now (a bank card or phone works directly at the turnstile). The week caps at $35 after 12 rides. Full breakdown: the subway, explained.
Taxis & rideshare. Yellow cabs are iconic but not cheap; Uber and Lyft are everywhere. Only use official yellow or green cabs or a licensed rideshare — never an unmarked car offering a ride. Expect surge pricing at rush hour and tip 15–20%.
Walking. Manhattan's grid makes navigation easy — avenues run north–south, streets run east–west — and most attractions cluster close enough together that walking beats a cab for anything under a mile.
Where to stay
Browse hotels →Midtown Manhattan
Close to the major attractions with the best subway access and the most dining density. Also the most crowded and the most expensive.
Brooklyn (Williamsburg, DUMBO)
A real neighborhood feel, strong restaurant and bar scene, and Brooklyn Bridge views — usually more affordable than Manhattan, a longer ride from most attractions.
Upper West Side
Residential, near Central Park and Museum Mile. Quieter than Midtown and family-friendly, with its own strong dining and shopping.
Lower Manhattan
Near Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial, and the ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Quiet on weekends since it empties out with the office crowd.
Safety
- Keep valuables out of sight, especially on the subway
- Use official yellow/green cabs or a licensed rideshare app
- Keep 911 (emergency) and 311 (city services) handy
- Leave a bag unattended, even for a moment
- Accept a ride from an unmarked car offering one
- Walk distracted by a phone near street corners and curbs
- 911 — police, fire, medical
- 311 — non-emergency city services
Money & tipping
A rough daily budget, per person: $100–150 covers a hostel bed, street food, free activities, and the subway; $200–350 covers a hotel, sit-down meals, and a paid attraction or two; $400+ is the luxury-hotel-and-fine-dining range. Sales tax is 8.875% and isn't included in displayed prices — most clothing and footwear under $110 per item is exempt.
- Restaurants: 18–20%
- Bartenders: $1–2 per drink
- Taxi/rideshare: 15–20%
- Hotel porter: $2–5 per bag
- Housekeeping: $2–5 per night
- Coffee/quick service: $1 or round up
The small stuff
- Free Wi-Fi at LinkNYC kiosks, many cafés, libraries, and subway stations
- 120V/60Hz, Type A/B plugs — bring an adapter if arriving from abroad
- Tap water is safe to drink — bring a reusable bottle
- Smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces, including bars and restaurants
- 21+ to buy or drink alcohol; bars can legally pour until 4am