There is no doubt that New York is one of the cities that thousands of people dream of visiting someday. If you’re planning your first trip to New York, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, I’ll help you plan your trip to New York step by step.
- Tips for visiting New York for the first time
- Documentation for entering United States
- Best time to visit New York
- How many days to spend in New York
- Booking your flight to New York
- Budget for traveling to New York
- Credit card or cash?
- Where to stay in New York
- Airport transfer
- Plan your New York itinerary
- Book attractions and tours
- New York tourist passes
- Save money on your trip to New York
- Getting around in New York
- Buy an eSIM
- Get travel insurance
- Excursions from New York
- Pack your bags
- Read my New York posts
I’ve visited New York several times, and without a doubt, it’s one of my favorite cities in the world. However, I also admit that my first time in New York was far from “love at first sight.” New York is a vibrant and beautiful city, but all its chaos and dazzling lights can be overwhelming for those visiting for the first time. In this guide, I’ve gathered all the information and tips you need to travel to New York for the first time and make sure your trip is spectacular. *this post contains affiliate links 
Tips for visiting New York city for the first time
1. Documentation for entering New York
The first step is to know the necessary requirements for entering the United States. To travel to New York, you will need two things:
- A passport with at least 6 months of validity at the time of entry into the country.
- VISA or ESTA:
Depending on your nationality, you may need to apply for a VISA at the embassy or not. The VISA costs USD$160 and is valid for 10 years. If you hold a passport from a European Union country, you need to complete the ESTA application. ESTA is a visa waiver, which is processed a few days before your trip and costs USD$14. It is valid for 2 years.
2. Best time to visit New York
The Second Step is deciding when to travel. This, of course, mainly depends on your availability. In my opinion, any time is a great time to visit New York, and each season has its own charm.
- Traveling to New York in winter (December to March)
Winter is the best time to visit New York if you love the cold and want to see Central Park covered in white or enjoy activities like ice skating. December is one of the most popular months in the city since many people dream of spending Christmas in New York. During January and February, you can find much cheaper accommodation than at other times of the year because it’s the low season. Is it cold? Yes, but nothing that can’t be solved with a coat and the right clothes for visiting New York in winter.
- Traveling to New York in spring (March to June)
Spring is one of the most beautiful times to visit New York. The weather is mild, the days are longer, and the city is filled with flowers (especially in May and June). It’s the ideal season in terms of weather because you won’t have to deal with either cold or scorching heat.
- Traveling to New York in Summer (June to September)
Summer is when you can enjoy many outdoor activities like concerts, rooftop bars, and picnics. However, in a city with as much concrete as New York, the heat can be overwhelming and might drain your energy for walking around. If you want to visit during this time, I recommend going in June or September, which are the months with milder temperatures.
- Traveling to New York in Autumn (September to December)
Autumn is another great time to visit the city to avoid extreme cold or heat. The trees in Central Park turn vibrant shades of red and orange, pumpkins and Halloween decorations appear (October 31), and the city celebrates Thanksgiving (late November). No matter when you go, there are always thousands of activities to do in New York, and you’re sure to have an amazing time!
3. How many days to spend in New York
Another important thing to consider is the duration of your trip. Time in New York is never enough because there’s so much to see and do. For a first-time visit, I recommend at least 7 days in New York. If you have more time, even better! You could combine 7 days in New York with 3 more days in a nearby city.
4. Booking your flight to New York
Once you’ve decided on your travel dates and the duration of your trip, it’s time to look for your flight. To find the cheapest airfare, I recommend using Skyscanner. Many airlines fly to New York, and there are often great deals, so on either of these two apps, you can set up alerts to get notified when prices drop for your selected dates.
5. Budget for traveling to New York
The budget for your trip will obviously depend on the duration of your stay and the type of trip you want to have. New York is an expensive city, but there are several things you can do to save some money. Below are some approximate expenses to give you an idea and help you calculate your budget:
- Budget hotel: USD$60 to $120 per night for a double room
- Mid-range hotel: USD$120 to $300 per night for a double room
- High-end hotel: Over USD$300 per night for a double room
- Metrocard with unlimited rides for 7 days: USD$34
- New York Pass (4 days): USD$304
- New York CityPASS: Starting at USD$145
- Broadway show tickets: USD$60 to $120 per person
- Fast food or deli meal: USD$10 to $20 per meal per person
- Sit-down restaurant meal: USD$15 to $50 per meal per person
- Coffee: USD$4 to $6
This should give you a good starting point for planning your budget depending on your preferences!
6. Credit card or cash
A question that may arise when planning your trip is how much cash you should bring. In New York, just like the rest of the United States, you can pay with a credit card almost everywhere. So, I recommend carrying only a small amount of cash, just in case, or for small purchases like a snack on the street. To avoid commission fees when exchanging currency with your card, there are 3 cards I recommend for travel. These are virtual accounts, although you can also request a physical card. It’s super useful to have at least one of them for traveling abroad:
7. Where to stay in New York
One thing you should start looking for, I’d say in parallel with booking your flight, is accommodation. In general, the sooner you book, the better price you’ll find. There is a wide range and variety of lodging options for all budgets. New York is divided into 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Most of the attractions are located in Manhattan, where you’ll spend the majority of your time. That’s why I recommend looking for accommodation in Manhattan for your first trip to New York.
Some well-located, reasonably priced hotels in New York:
- YOTEL NEW YORK: A futuristic design hotel just a few blocks from Times Square
- POD 51: A hotel with affordable prices in the heart of Midtown Manhattan
- ROW NYC at Times Square: A hotel with excellent value for money
Read this post for more detailed information and recommendations
Outside of Manhattan, accommodation tends to be cheaper, but keep in mind that you’ll spend time and money on the subway. So, if you’re looking for lodging in a neighborhood close to Manhattan, make sure there’s a subway station nearby.
8. Airport transfer
This is something I recommend organizing from home, especially because when you arrive, you’ll be tired and won’t have the energy to figure out how to get to your hotel. There are 3 airports in New York: Newark, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy. You can arrive at any of them depending on the airline you fly with and the country you’re flying from. The options to get from any airport to the city are:
- PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
This is the cheapest option but also the most complicated and time-consuming, as it usually involves a combination of bus + subway/metro. The approximate price per person is USD$8 to $16.
- SHARED SHUTTLE TRANSFER
From any of the airports, shared shuttles depart, making several stops in Manhattan at hotels and important points in the city, like Grand Central Terminal, Port Authority, or Penn Station. Getyourguide offers this shared transfer for around USD$30. In my opinion, this is the best option for getting into the city because you don’t have to worry about anything upon arrival, and it’s quite affordable.
- PRIVATE TRANSFER
The most comfortable option is to book a private transfer. A driver will wait for you at the airport and drop you off directly at your hotel door. It’s a bit more expensive since the transport is completely private (it could be a car or a van if you’re in a larger group).
Book a private transfer to your hotel here You can also take an Uber or a taxi, but honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it because it’s an expensive option and not very fast.
9. Plan your itinerary
The most fun part of planning your trip to New York is starting to look at all the places you want to visit and the things you want to do. There are so many activities to choose from, so I recommend writing down everything you want to see and organizing your itinerary by areas to make the most of your first visit to New York. Here are two posts that will help you plan your itinerary:
>> The best things to do in New York City
10. Book tours and attractions
Some attractions and activities in New York are very popular, so I recommend booking tickets in advance to avoid wasting time in line. It might also be worth purchasing a tourist pass, but I’ll talk more about that in the next section. Recommended Tickets to Buy in Advance:
- Tickets for popular Broadway shows like The Lion King, Aladdin, or Wicked.
- Tickets to the Empire State Building. Book here.
- Tickets to The Edge. Book here.
- Tickets to the One World Trade Center. Book here.
- Tickets for NBA games.
Tours and Excursions in New York:
- New York Contrasts Tour: A tour of Harlem, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn.
- Gospel Mass and Harlem Tour.
- TV and Movie Locations Tour: A tour of the most famous shows filmed in New York.
11. New York tourist passes
There are several tourist passes in New York that bundle multiple attractions under one price. These passes usually allow you to save quite a bit of money on attractions. Since it’s your first time in New York, it’s likely that buying one of these passes would be a good idea. There are four main New York tourist passes:
If you want to know the differences between these passes and which one is best for you, check out my post: New York attraction passes
12. Save money on your trip to New York
As you can see, tickets for attractions and tours can be a bit expensive. But there are always ways to save some money, and the good news is that many museums in New York have days with free or discounted entry. I recommend checking each museum’s website to see which days and times they offer free admission. Of course, on these days, there are usually more people, and lines can form, but it’s a great option if you’re on a budget. Another way to save money in New York is to take advantage of free tours:
13. Getting around in New York
- Walking: The best way to explore Manhattan is to walk, walk, and walk. Every block has something interesting to see, so you’ll be walking a lot (make sure to wear comfortable shoes).
- Subway: However, Manhattan is huge, and you’ll need to take the subway to get to certain places. The subway is the fastest and cheapest way to get around the city.
The only thing you need to move around the subway in New York is to buy a Metrocard, a rechargeable card that works for both the subway and city buses. You can purchase it at any subway station. There are several types of Metrocard fares. With the “Pay-Per-Ride” Metrocard, you are charged for each individual ride ($2.90 per trip). If you plan on using public transportation a lot, it’s worth buying the 7-Day Unlimited Ride Metrocard, which gives you unlimited subway and bus rides for one week for USD$34. I don’t recommend taking taxis to get around Manhattan because there’s a lot of traffic, and you’ll actually get to your destination much faster on the subway.
14. Buy an eSIM for your trip
Having internet during your trip will be very useful for checking maps, making inquiries, and more! Stay connected on your trip with Airalo, an eSIM company that offers more than 200 countries and regions. I always use it on my travels and love it. Get USD$3 off with my code “IVANA7073”.
15. Get travel insurance
For this or any other trip, remember that having travel insurance is essential, even if it’s not a country requirement. Healthcare in the United States is extremely expensive, so it’s very important to have travel insurance in case you need it. I always use Assist Card, which is provided by my credit card, and luckily, I’ve never had to use it.
Click here to get a quote for Iati travel insurance
16. Excursions from New York
A mistake many people make the first time they visit New York is trying to visit other cities in just a few days, leaving little time to explore New York itself. If it’s your first time in the city and you have less than 7 days, I recommend focusing solely on exploring New York. If you have more time, you can venture out of New York to visit nearby cities like Washington DC, Philadelphia, or Boston. I suggest dedicating at least 2 days to these cities since they are large and also have a lot to offer. These posts can help you plan your getaway from New York:
17. Pack your bags
You’re almost all set for your first trip to New York and to explore this amazing city—just one last thing to do: pack your bags! Don’t forget to bring comfortable shoes because you’ll spend a lot of time walking. If you’re traveling in winter, here’s a packing list to help you know what to bring.
Plugs in the United States are different from Europe, for example, so I always bring a universal adapter like this one. Another thing I recommend is bringing a portable charger for your phone, because you’ll be out all day taking photos.
18. Read my other posts about New York
- Best things to do in New York City
- Where to stay in New York: best areas and hotels
- Is the New York Pass worth it?
- Cheap hotels near Times Square
- New York 7 day itinerary
- New York attraction passes comparison
- New York winter packing list
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means, if you click on certain links within this post and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read more about it here.
